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

Thirdly, this is true also in regard of action, professional action. Many that are first in profession, and of great performance, shall be last in suffering for the Name of Christ. And many that have not been of so great profession, and such ⟨p. 40⟩high performance, shall suffer when it comes to it; they shall suffer for the Name of Christ. You have an instance in the Parable of the stony ground; it receives the Word with joy: yet notwithstanding, when tribulation and persecution arise because of the Word, by and by they are offended. So they were high, and first in profession, yea action too, and yet the last in suffering.

So on the other side, you know the stories there that go together: a certain man comes to Christ, and saith, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. Saith Christ, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not whereon to lay his head. Then Christ comes to another, and saith to him, Follow me. Lord, saith he, I must go bury my father. Why let the dead bury their dead. What's the meaning of this, but to show thus much, That the first shall be last, and the last shall be first, in forsaking their worldly interests for Christ, and for the Name of Christ?

So on the other side, you know the stories there that go together: a certain man comes to Christ, and saith, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. Saith Christ, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not whereon to lay his head. Then Christ comes to another, and saith to him, Follow me. Lord, saith he, I must go bury my father. Why let the dead bury their dead. What's the meaning of this, but to shew thus much, That the first shall be last, and the last shall be first, in forsaking their worldly interests for Christ, and for the Name of Christ?