Perhaps, Reader, thou art one of them that thinketh, that the settlement and happiness of the Church, must be won like a game at foot-ball; and therefore scruplest not to toss it in the dirt, and tumultuously to strive with and strike up the heels of all that are against thee, (so that peaceable passengers cannot safely come near your game or pass the streets.) But when you have got the Ball, have you done the work? Are you still so ignorant as not to know, how uncertain still you are to keep it, and that one spurn can take it from you? And ⟨image 13⟩[…] ⟨image 13⟩[…] ⟨image 14⟩suppose you could secure all your conquests, are the Churches healed ever the more? Mens hearts must be conquered before this healing work is done. And therefore the Apostle saith that we are more than Conquerors, when we are killed all the day long and accounted as Sheep to the slaughter, Rom. 8. 34, 35. that is, it is more gain and honour to our selves, to suffer in faith and patience by our enemies, than to conquer them in the field; And it is more profitable also unto them, and tendeth to a more desirable conquest of them: Because when Conquerors do but exasperate them; and if we hurt their bodies, we harden them the more against our cause, and against the means of their own Salvation, our patient Martyrdom and suffering by them, may •end at last to open their eyes, and turn their hearts, and save their souls, by showing them the Truth, the Goodness and the Power of Christ, and of his Word and Spirit. This is the meaning of being more than Conquerors. The Irish are conquered by us, but not converted: The Scots and English were conquered by Cromwell, but their hearts were not conquered, nor their Religion changed by him. They that think that if they could get and keep the upper ground, and have Dissenters bodies and ⟨image 14⟩estates at their will, they could soon settle the Church in Unity and Concord, do tell all the world, how ignorant they are of the nature of Christianity, and of the fear of God, and of the means of the peace and Concord of the Church: Either you would give up your own judgments and Consciences, or practice your selves to the will of men, if you were in their power, or not. If you would not, why should you think that others will? If you would, you do but tell the world, that you are Atheists, and have neither a God, nor Conscience, nor Religion.
Perhaps, Reader, thou art one of them that thinketh, that the settlement and happiness of the Church, must be won like a game at foot-ball; and therefore scruplest not to toss it in the dirt, and tumultuously to strive with and strike up the heels of all that are against thee, (so that peaceable passengers cannot safely come near your game or pass the streets.) But when you have got the Ball, have you done the work? Are you still so ignorant as not to know, how uncertain still you are to keep it, and that one spurn can take it from you? And ⟨image 13⟩〈…〉 ⟨image 13⟩〈…〉 ⟨image 14⟩suppose you could secure all your conquests, are the Churches healed ever the more? Mens hearts must be conquered before this healing work is done. And therefore the Apostle saith that we are more than Conquerours, when we are killed all the day long and accountea as Sheep to the slaughter, Rom. 8. 34, 35. that is, it is more gain and honour to our selves, to suffer in faith and patience by our enemies, than to conquer them in the field; And it is more profitable also unto them, and tendeth to a more desirable conquest of them: Because when Conquerors do but exasperate them; and if we hurt their bodies, we harden them the more against our cause, and against the means of their own Salvation, our patient Martyrdom and suffering by them, may •end at last to open their eyes, and turn their hearts, and save their souls, by shewing them the Truth, the Goodness and the Power of Christ, and of his Word and Spirit. This is the meaning of being more than Conquerours. The Irish are conquered by us, but not converted: The Scots and English were conquered by Cromwell, but their hearts were not conquered, nor their Religion changed by him. They that think that if they could get and keep the upper ground, and have Dissenters bodies and ⟨image 14⟩estates at their will, they could soon settle the Church in Unity and Concord, do tell all the world, how ignorant they are of the nature of Christianity, and of the fear of God, and of the means of the peace and Concord of the Church: Either you would give up your own judgments and Consciences, or practice your selves to the will of men, if you were in their power, or not. If you would not, why should you think that others will? If you would, you do but tell the world, that you are Atheists, and have neither a God, nor Conscience, nor Religion.
