2.I4 VERSE 2. c G01449. c Zech.3.8. Et-ay s.is. z King.9.1 ler PhILI47. Tir.z.zo. glorie of the Well. her; e no two that will livegodly can be without them. Even in Abrahams houfc, which wasat that time, ifnot the fole,yet the moll glorious Churchon theearth,there was a Perfecutour, and d as it was then,jo ü it now, faith the Apofile. The Saints of God ever have beene, and everwill be to the worlds end efleemed for e wonders, and markes, and mad-men, and proverbs of reproch. And hereby the Lord dochprovide to makehis Gofpell more glorious, becaufe bee giveth men hearts to fuffer (command reproch for it.To receive, the wordin affisflion, andyet with joy, is anexemplary thing, which maketh the found and glory of the Gofpell to fpread abroad. Now then, if perfecution,bee thus an appendant to the Gofpell, every man mull refolve to receive it in fome af- fli&ion,vvhen he mutt be put todifcard his wicked com- panies, to (hake off his flattering and (harking lulls, to forfakehis ovine will aud wayes, to runne a hazard of undeferved fcorne, difiepuration and mifconfirunions in the world, and yet for all this to fet an highprice up- on the precious truths ofthe Gofpell ftIlI, is not this to receive the Word in much affli&ion ? And furely till a man can refolve upon this conclufion, I am ready to be bound, and to die for the nameofIefus, I count not my life, much leffe my liberty, peace, credit, fecular accom- modations &are, In I may find) my courfe with joy; Lord, my will is no more mine, but it (ball be in all things fubje&unto thee; hee can never give fuchenter:- tainment to the Word as becommeth foglorious a Go- fpe11. All his feeming profeffionand acceptation, is but like the Gadarens cotartefle in meeting ofChrift, which was onely tobe ridof him, "'daub. 8.34. Lafily,we should fromhence learne a further Chrifti- andude, which is to adorne this glorious Gofpell in an holy converfation. This ufe the Apofile everywhere makesof the Gofpell of Chrift ; that wee fhould walke as becommeth the Gofpell, that we should in allthings adorne
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