The Saints' Everlasting Rest

Secondly, Did they not on the contrary renounce their own Honour and Esteem, and call themselves Vile and Miserable Sinners, and speak worse of themselves then the most impious wretch will do, and extol nothing but God and his Son Jesus? Thirdly, Did not their Master foretell them, that they should be so far from getting credit by his Service, that they should be hated of all men, and their names cast out as evil doers? Did they not see him spit upon, and hanged on a Cross among thieves before their eyes, some of them? Did they not find by experience, that their way was every where spoken against? And the reproach of the Cross of Christ was the great stumbling block to the world? And could men possibly choose such a way for Vainglory? I am persuaded it is one great reason why Christ would have the first Witnesses of the Gospel to suffer so much, to confirm their Testimony to future Ages, that the world may see that they intended not to deceive them. 5. Consider also what a multitude these Witnesses were: How could so many thousand of several Countries lay the plot to deceive the world? They were not only thousands that believed the Gospel, but thousands that saw the Miracles of Christ, and many Cities and Countries that saw the Miracles of the Apostles. 6. And the Testimony of all doth so punctually accord, that the seeming contradiction in some smaller circumstances, doth but show their simplicity, and sincerity, and their agreement in the main.^* 7 And lastly, The very enemies acknowledge this matter of Fact; only they ascribe it to other causes. They could not deny the Miracles that were wrought: Even to this day the Jews acknowledge much of the works of Christ, but slanderously father them upon the power of the Devil, or upon the force of the name of God sewed in Christs thigh, and such like ridiculous Stories they have: even the Turks confess much of the miracles of Christ, and believe him to be a great Prophet, though they are profest enemies to the Christian name.

Secondly, Did they not on the contrary renounce their own Honor and Esteem, and call themselves Vile and Miserable Sinners, and speak worse of themselves then the most impious wretch will do, and extoll nothing but God and his Son Jesus? Thirdly, Did not their Master foretell them, that they should be so far from getting credit by his Service, that they should be hated of all men, and their names cast out as evil doers? Did they not see him spit upon, and hanged on a Cross among theeves before their eyes, some of them? Did they not finde by experience, that their way was every where spoken against? And the reproach of the Cross of Christ was the great stumbling block to the world? And could men possibly chuse such a way for Vainglory? I am perswaded it is one great reason why Christ would have the first Witnesses of the Gospel to suffer so much, to confirm their Testimony to future Ages, that the world may see that they intended not to deceive them. 5. Consider also what a multitude these Witnesses were: How could so many thousand of several Countreys lay the plot to deceive the world? They were not onely thousands that believed the Gospel, but thousands that saw the Miracles of Christ, and many Cities and Countries that saw the Miracles of the Apostles. 6. And the Testimony of all doth so punctually accord, that the seeming contradiction in some smaller circumstances, doth but shew their simplicity, and sincerity, and their agreement in the main.