Serm. CLXXXVII. 569 SERMONCLXXXVII. The Evidences of the Truth of the Chriífian Religion. 2 CO R. IV. 3, +. But if our Gofpel be hid, it is hid to them that are loft; in whom the God The of this world bath blinded the minds of them which believe not, left the Eé . on light of the glorious Gofpel of Chrii t, who is the Image of God, fhould" Text. fhme unto them. TAm fill upon the fourth Evidence, which thofe who Iiv'd in our Saviour's time had of his Divine Authority, viz. The Spirit of Prophecy prov'd to be in him, and made good by the Accompliftment of his Predictions. Four Infanccs I have already given, and now proceed to the Fifth and 1aß Infante I (hall give of our Saviour's Prophetick Spirit, viz. in thofe Predictions which forme( the Fate of the Gofpel in the World what Difouragements and Difficulties the fief Publilhers of the Gofpel fhould meet with from the Perfecution which the Powers of the World fhould fit up againft them, and from the Rifing of falle Chrifs and falle Prophets; what Afhfance they fhould find in the carrying on of the Work q and what Succefs the Gofpel fhould have, notwithfanding the Oppoftion that fiaind be made againft it I fhall (peak briefly to theft. I. What Difcouragements and Difficulties the fir( Publifhers of the Gofpe! fhould meet with. Our Saviour foretels two great Difcouragements. r. From the Perfecutions which the Powers of the World fhould fir up againft them, This our Saviour gave his Di(ciples early notice of, when he fir( cali'd them together, and feat them forth, Match. sc. t6, 57, t8. Be. hold, ffend you forth as fheep in the mid/? of Wolves. Be ye therefore wife as Serpents, and harmlßas Doves. But beware of Meng for they will deliver you up to the Councels, and they will fcourge you in their Synagogues. And ye ¡ball be brought before Governours and Kings for my fake. And ver. 21, 2z, And the Brother frail deliver up the Brother to Death, and the Father the Child : and the Children ¡hall .rife up againf( their Parents, and caufe them to be put to death. And ye frail le hatedof all men for my Names fake. And that the Difeiples might not be furprifed with this, when it fhould happen, as an unexpclyed thing, a little before his Death, when he foretold the De- fru&ion of 5erafalem, he repeats this Prediction to them again, as you may fee Matth. 24. 9. Then fhall they deliver you up to be afflilled, and fhall kill you t and ye ¡ball le hated of all Nations for my Names Sake. And Luke zt. 1 z. But before all they ¡ball lay their Hands onyou, and perfecute you, deli. tiering you up to the Synagogues, and into Prijons, being brought before Kings andRulers for my Names fake. And all this we find pun, &ually fulfill'd in thofe Perfecutions that they met with at 7erufalem, and in other Places where-ever they wenn to preach the Gofpel, as you may read at large in the Hifory of the Ails of the Apofles. And afterward in the Perfecutions railed againft the Chrifians by the Roman Emperours, wherein all kind of cruelties and torturee were D d d d exercifed
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