And if this be so, what a case would they bring the Nation into, by giving far greater Liberty to all, than ever I made use of! Unless they still except a Liberty of contradicting themselves, they must look for other kind of usage, ⟨image 13⟩when Libertinism is set up. Yea if they will seek the ruin of the Church and Cause of Christ, they must look that we should take Liberty to contradict them, and to speak for Christ and the souls of men, till they have deprived us of tongues, or pens, or lives; And they must expect that we obey God rather than men, and that, as Paul did Peter, Gal. 2. 11. we withstand them to the face; and that Satan shall not be unresisted, because he is transformed into an Angel of Light; nor his Ministers be unresisted, because they are transformed into the Ministers of Righteousness; nor the false Apostles and deceitful workers, because they are transformed into the Apostles of Christ] 2 Cor. 11. 13, 14, 15. Nor must they think to do so horrid a thing, as to weave their Libertinism, & Toleration of Popery into a new Fundamental Constitution of the Common-wealth, which Parliaments must have no power to alter, and that the1 ages to come shall curse us for our silence, and say that Ministers, and other Christians were all so basely selfish, as for fear of reproaches or sufferings, to say nothing, but cowardly to betray the Gospel, and their Country. If the rattling of the hail of persecution on the tiles, even on this flesh, which is but the tabernacle of our souls be a terrible thing; ⟨image 13⟩how much more terrible is the indignation of the Lord, and the threats of him that is a consuming fire! If you can venture your life against an enemy in the field, we are bastards and not Christians if we cannot venture ours, and give them up to persecuting rage, as long as we know that we have a Master that will save us harmless, and that the God whom we serve is able to deliver us, & that he hath charged us not to fear them that kill the body, and after that can do no more, &c. and that he hath told us that we are blessed when men revile us and persecute us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely for his sake; bidding us, Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is our reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the Prophets that were before us, Mat. 5. 10, 11, 12. and when we are told that he that will save his life shall lose it;
And if this be so, what a case would they bring the Nation into, by giving far greater Liberty to all, than ever I made use of! Unless they still except a Liberty of contradicting themselves, they must look for other kind of usage, ⟨image 13⟩when Libertinism is set up. Yea if they will seek the ruine of the Church and Cause of Christ, they must look that we should take Liberty to contradict them, and to speak for Christ and the souls of men, till they have deprived us of tongues, or pens, or lives; And they must expect that we obey God rather than men, and that, as Paul did Peter, Gal. 2. 11. we withstand them to the face; and that Satan shall not be unresisted, because he is transformed into an Angel of Light; nor his Ministers be unresisted, because they are transformed into the Ministers of Righteousness; nor the false Apostles and deceitful workers, because they are transformed into the Apostles of Christ] 2 Cor. 11. 13, 14, 15. Nor must they think to do so horrid a thing, as to weave their Libertinism, & Toleration of Popery into a new Fundamental Constitution of the Common-wealth, which Parliaments must have no power to alter, and that the1 ages to come shall curse us for our silence, and say that Ministers, and other Christians were all so basely selfish, as for fear of reproaches or sufferings, to say nothing, but cowardly to betray the Gospel, and their Countrey. If the rattling of the hail of persecution on the tiles, even on this flesh, which is but the tabernacle of our souls be a terrible thing; ⟨image 13⟩how much more terrible is the indignation of the Lord, and the threats of him that is a consuming fire! If you can venture your life against an enemy in the field, we are bastards and not Christians if we cannot venture ours, and give them up to persecuting rage, as long as we know that we have a Master that will save us harmless, and that the God whom we serve is able to deliver us, & that he hath charged us not to fear them that kill the body, and after that can do no more, &c. and that he hath told us that we are blessed when men revile us and persecute us, and say all manner of evil against us falsly for his sake; bidding us, Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is our reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the Prophets that were before us, Mat. 5. 10, 11, 12. and when we are told that he that will save his life shall lose it;
- 1I know that it hardeneth thousands in impenitency, to say that Others have done worse; and Is the matter mended with you? And will it also e•se men in he•l to think that some others suffer more?I know that it hardne•h thousands in impenitency, to say that Others have done worse; and Is the matter mended with you? And will it also e•se men in he•l to think that some others suffer more?
