Use 3 It is a word of direction. Namely, we are to advise, how to prepare our selves for the fiery trial; begin the right way, and persevere constantly, be marvellous empty, and then be fit to bear trouble; men think to out-brave misery; one, saith he, resolved of it, he will die, that he will, before he will be a Papist; No, this bold boasting is an argument, thou wilt not bear the cross when it comes to the trial; commonly these men fly off in time of persecution. But the duty God commands is this, look into thy heart, and take notice what is most delightful to thy soul; Is it honour ease, credit, &c. Is thy life dear unto thee▪ Examine this wisely in the best of thy ⟨p. 93⟩meditations, and when you have found what is dearest, then bring your souls to a holy contempt of it: what a man tramples upon, he is content another should tread on: soldiers when they come into the field, do accustom themselves to hardness: the truth is brethren, we know not how soon God may call us to suffer; were the enemies on our borders even now, how would you bear it? would you then be willing to renounce the honour you have esteemed, the riches you have embraced? then renounce them now, and you will not be perplexed when you leave them. If Satan goes against you, and pursues you, and saith, if you follow these courses, you must part from these and these comforts, if you take this way, you must look for misery, you must look to be despised of father and mother, and brother and kindred. You must never look to come to preferment, &c. now, will you be fenced; renounce all aforehand, do you tell me of honour, saith the self-denying heart, let honour look to it self; but say to him, what will become of your liberty? your liberty will be gone, saith the soul, let liberty look to it self, I will look to duty: this is once, and all that is required at my hands.
Vse 3 It is a word of direction. Namely, we are to advise, how to prepare our selves for the fiery tryall; begin the right way, and persevere constantly, be marvellous empty, and then be fit to beare trouble; men thinke to out-brave misery; one, saith he, resolved of it, he will die, that he will, before he will be a Papist; No, this bold boasting is an argument, thou wilt not beare the crosse when it comes to the tryall; commonly these men flie off in time of persecution. But the duty God commands is this, looke into thy heart, and take notice what is most delightfull to thy soule; Is it honour ease, credit, &c. Is thy life deare unto thee▪ Examine this wisely in the best of thy ⟨p. 93⟩meditations, and when you have found what is dearest, then bring your soules to a holy contempt of it: what a man tramples upon, he is content another should tread on: souldiers when they come into the field, doe accustome themselves to hardnesse: the truth is brethren, we know not how soon God may call us to suffer; were the enemies on our borders even now, how would you beare it? would you then be willing to renounce the honour you have esteemed, the riches you have embraced? then renounce them now, and you will not be perplexed when you leave them. If Sathan goes against you, and pursues you, and saith, if you follow these courses, you must part from these and these comforts, if you take this way, you must looke for misery, you must looke to be despised of father and mother, and brother and kindred. You must never looke to come to preferment, &c. now, will you be fenced; renounce all aforehand, doe you tell me of honour, saith the selfe-denying heart, let honour looke to it selfe; but say to him, what will become of your liberty? your liberty will be gone, saith the soule, let liberty looke to it self, I will looke to duty: this is once, and all that is required at my hands.
