Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London

On the other side, the poor receive the Gospel: and as the poor do receive the Gospel, so they hold it, and keep it, and suffer for it. So that 'tis true then in regard of privileges and enjoyments.

On the other side, the poor receive the Gospel: and as the poor do receive the Gospel, so they hold it, and keep it, and suffer for it. So that 'tis true then in regard of priviledges and enjoyments.

Secondly, this is true in regard of abilities: many that are first in regard of ability, shall be ⟨p. 39⟩last in suffering for Christ; and many that are last in abilities, shall be first in suffering for the Name of Jesus Christ.

Many that are first in Abilities: so the disciples, when Christ said to them, Are ye able to drink of the cup that I am to drink of? and are ye able to be baptized with the baptism that I am to be baptized with? Yea Lord (say they) we are able. But when Christ came to suffer, 'tis said, They all forsook him and fled. First, in point of abilities; and last, in point of suffering. But Mary, and a company of weak women, cleaved unto Christ, and followed him to the very last: the first were last, and the last were first. And look into the Book of Martyrs: where do you find the Martyrs growing? do you find them growing upon Universities? Few were Scholars and Doctors that were Martyrs, but growing in Country-towns and Villages. So 'tis said of Origen, that when he was a young man, about sixteen or seventeen years old, his mother was forced to hide his very Shift from him, so that he was ashamed to go into the streets; for otherwise he would have gone to have suffered Martyrdom. But afterwards, when he came to be a great Doctor, then he offered to the Idols; insomuch as they cried out, Origen hath sacrificed! While he was weak and young, very forward to suffer: when he was grown strong, and had abilities, then backward. The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.