The Saints' Everlasting Rest

First, It is evident that they were neither fools nor knaves, […] but men of ingenuity, and extraordinary Honesty: There needs no more to prove this then their own Writings, so full of enmity against all kind of viciousness, so full of conscientious zeal, and heavenly affections: Yet is this their Honesty also attested by their enemies; sure the very remnants of Natural Honesty are a Divine off-spring, and do produce also certain effects according to their strength and nature: God hath planted and continued them in man, for the use of societies, and common converse; for if all Honesty were gone, one man could not believe another, and so could not converse together. But now supernatural extraordinary Honesty will produce its effect more certainly: If three hundred, or three thousand honest godly men should say, they saw such things with their eyes, he is very incredulous that would not believe it. 2. It is apparent that neither Prophets, Apostles, nor Disciples in Attesting these things could drive on any designs of their own. Did they seek either Honour, or Ease, or Profits, or worldly Delights? Did their Master give them any hopes of these? or did they see any probability of their attaining it? or did they see any of their fellows attain it before them? 3. Nay, was it not a certain way to their ruin in the world? Did not their Master tell them when he sent them out, That they should be persecuted of all for his sake and the Gospels? Did they not find it true, and therefore expect the like themselves? Paul knew that in every City Bonds and Afflictions did abide him: and they lay it down as a granted Rule, That he that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution. Now I would fain know, whether a mans Self, his State, his Liberty, his Life, be not naturally so near and dear to all, that they would be loath to throw it away, merely to deceive and cozen the world? All that I know ⟨p. 199⟩can be objected, is, That they might do it out of a desire to be admired in the world for their godliness and their suffering. Answ. First, Go see were you can find thousands, or millions of men that will cast away their lives to be talked of.

First, It is evident that they were neither fools nor knaves, 〈…〉 but men of ingenuity, and extraordinary Honesty: There needs no more to prove this then their own Writings, so full of enmity against all kinde of vitiousness, so full of conscientious zeal, and heavenly affections: Yet is this their Honesty also attested by their enemies; sure the very remnants of Natural Honesty are a Divine off-spring, and do produce also certain effects according to their strength and nature: God hath planted and continued them in man, for the use of societies, and common converse; for if all Honesty were gone, one man could not believe another, and so could not converse together. But now supernatural extraordinary Honesty will produce its effect more certainly: If three hundred, or three thousand honest godly men should say, they saw such things with their eyes, he is very incredulous that would not believe it. 2. It is apparent that neither Prophets, Apostles, nor Disciples in Attesting these things could drive on any designs of their own. Did they seek either Honor, or Ease, or Profits, or worldly Delights? Did their Master give them any hopes of these? or did they see any probability of their attaining it? or did they see any of their fellows attain it before them? 3. Nay, was it not a certain way to their ruine in the world? Did not their Master tell them when he sent them out, That they should be persecuted of all for his sake and the Gospels? Did they not finde it true, and therefore expect the like themselves? Paul knew that in every City Bonds and Afflictions did abide him: and they lay it down as a granted Rule, That he that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution. Now I would fain know, whether a mans Self, his State, his Liberty, his Life, be not naturally so neer and dear to all, that they would be loath to throw it away, meerly to deceive and cosen the world? All that I know