But now come we to the evils that he suffered;1 for Gods people must suffer evil for well-doing, his Brother hated him, laid a train for him, slew him. Abel was the first Martyr, the first man that died for goodness; he was Gods first; Witness, as Steven was Christs. Those that will live godly in Christ must suffer persecution, 2and of whom, even of the dearest friends they have in the flesh, and how far even to the lying in wait for their lives and taking the same away. The Lord would have the first blood that was spilt, spilt in his quarrel, in his holy quarrel, in standing for righteousness sake, that we which follow after might learn to stick close to this cause, and not to fear to lay down our lives for it. S. John tells us, no wonder if the world hate us. The world is the number of unsanctified men in the world, these will hate such as Abel the righteous, yea if Father be unrighteous and Son righteous. Brother righteous and Brother unrighteous, Husband righteous and Wife unrighteous, the Father, Brother, Wife, will hate and malign the child, the Brother and the Husband. God hath put enmity betwixt the seed of the Woman and of the Serpent; good and bad are of two contrary natures, what the one loveth the other hateth, and contrarily, this contrariety in disposition will breed contrariety in affection. He that is Cain, a formal Hypocrite and satisfieth himself with a bare outside service, will hate him that worshippeth in spirit and in truth,3 They that are after the flesh will persecute them that are after the spirit, and all that will live godly must suffer for it. Prepare your selves to meet with the same measure that Abel met withal; you had need of patience saith our Saviour. Be not discouraged at the hatred and ill usage of wicked men, but have respect to the recompense of reward, look to the end of your faith, set the joy before your eyes and fear not any of these things that you may suffer. An over-tender spirit is not fit to be Christs Soldier, if you will reign with him you must be crucified with him. Arm, arm my Brethren, arm, you are in the battle, you must expect knocks, but be not dismayed, the victory shall be yours. God will so stablish you that you shall not be driven out of the way of righteousness, by any thing that Satan can do by the world:
But now come we to the evills that he suffered;1 for Gods people must suffer evill for well-doing, his Brother hated him, laied a traine for him, slew him. Abel was the first Martyr, the first man that died for goodnesse; hee was Gods first; Witnesse, as Steven was Christs. Those that will live godly in Christ must suffer persecution, 2and of whom, even of the dearest friends they have in the flesh, and how farre even to the lying in waite for their lives and taking the same away. The Lord would have the first bloud that was spilt, spilt in his quarrell, in his holy quarrell, in standing for righteousnesse sake, that we which follow after might learne to stick close to this cause, and not to feare to lay downe our lives for it. S. Iohn tells us, no wonder if the world hate us. The world is the number of unsanctified men in the world, these will hate such as Abel the righteous, yea if Father be unrighteous and Sonne righteous. Brother righteous and Brother unrighteous, Husband righteous and Wife unrighteous, the Father, Brother, Wife, will hate and maligne the childe, the Brother and the Husband. God hath put enmity betwixt the seed of the Woman and of the Serpent; good and bad are of two contrary natures, what the one loveth the other hateth, and contrarily, this contrariety in disposition will breed contrariety in affection. Hee that is Caine, a formall Hypocrite and satisfieth himselfe with a bare outside service, will hate him that worshippeth in spirit and in truth,3 They that are after the flesh will persecute them that are after the spirit, and all that will live godly must suffer for it. Prepare your selves to meete with the same measure that Abel met withall; you had need of patience saith our Saviour. Be not discouraged at the hatred and ill usage of wicked men, but have respect to the recompence of reward, looke to the end of your faith, set the joy before your eyes and feare not any of these things that you may suffer. An over-tender spirit is not fit to be Christs Souldier, if you will raigne with him you must be crucified with him. Arme, arme my Brethren, arme, you are in the battell, you must expect knocks, but be not dismaied, the victory shall be yours. God will so stablish you that you shall not be driven out of the way of righteousnesse, by any thing that Satan can do by the world:
- 14. His adversity, was hated and killed by his Brother.
- 22 Tim. 3.12.
- 3Gal. 4.29.
