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

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.

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 finde the Martyrs growing? do you finde 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 forc'd 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 suffer'd Martyrdom. But afterwards, when he came to be a great Doctor, then he offered to the Idols; insomuch as they cryed 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.