The Christians two chief lessons viz. self-denial, and self-trial. As also the privilege of…The Christians tvvo chiefe lessons viz. selfe-deniall, and selfe-tryall. As also the priviledge of…

1 Such as will dwell in the house of our Saviour, but the bread of affliction, and the water of tears will not down with them, they must have dainties, or else nothing will down with them; these are unfit for our Saviour. Doth any one take a servant on this proviso, that he must never be corrected, and that he must fare daintily, whatsoever his Master hath? Nay, no man will take a servant on these terms, yet this is the madness of many, you are content to be Professors, but you must have dainties; you would be sons, but you would not be corrected; no, God takes none but whom he corrects. There is a generation that would be christians, but they would have no Cross: they christians? we have a name that we are alive, but we are dead; if a man should tell you, you are none of Christs, you would think it very ill: whereas your conscience tells you, you are not able to bear the breath of the wicked in scorns and scoffs, how then will you bear the weight of ⟨p. 76⟩all the Cross? it is with such men as with Hushai, they would be on the best side: if prosperity and peace forsake the Gospel, men forsake it, 2 Sam. 16.18.¹ Hushai comes to Absalom, and Absalom saith, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? nay saith Hushai, but whom the Lord and this people shall choose, him will I serve: so if Popery should come, if the Priests should ask men why they forsake their religion: nay, would many men say, but what religion the Pope and his shavelings shall choose, will I be of: oh if persecution should come, this Cross would scare many thousands, Matth. 27.42.² If he will come down from the Cross, we will believe him. Oh there is a company of dissembling hypocrites that will say to our Saviour, if it be an imprisoned Saviour, they will none of him, but if not persecuted, never saved, if not bear the Cross, never look to wear the Crown, either bo•h or none.

1 Such as will dwell in the house of our Saviour, but the bread of affliction, and the water of teares will not downe with them, they must have dainties, or else nothing will downe with them; these are unfit for our Saviour. Doth any one take a servant on this proviso, that hee must never be corrected, and that he must fare daintily, whatsoever his Master hath? Nay, no man will take a servant on these tearmes, yet this is the madnesse of many, you are content to be Professors, but you must have dainties; you would be sonnes, but you would not be corrected; no, God takes none but whom hee corrects. There is a generation that would bee christians, but they would have no Crosse: they christians? we have a name that wee are alive, but we are dead; if a man should tell you, you are none of Christs, you would think it very ill: whereas your conscience tells you, you are not able to beare the breath of the wicked in scornes and scoffes, how then will you beare the weight of