A29372:159
Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London
Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London by William Bridge, late preacher of the word of God at Yarmouth.Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London by Willam Bridge, late preacher of the word of God at Yarmouth.
London: printed for Nath. Crouch, 1668
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If many that are first shall be last in point of suffering, why then should we not all take heed how we suffer, look to the manner of our sufferings, look to our hearts in suffering? He's a virtuous man, that doth what he should, as he should. So he's not a true sufferer, that suffers what he should, but that suffers what he should, as he should. When we hear how far a man may go in Religion, and yet be unsound, and go to hell; then we should say, Good Lord, I will then look to my heart in prayer, and look to my heart in duty. So in point of suffering, if many that are first shall be last, and the last first; then I will look to my heart in suffering, if ever I be called to suffer.
If many that are first shall be last in point of suffering, why then should we not all take heed how we suffer, look to the manner of our sufferings, look to our hearts in suffering? He's a vertuous man, that doth what he should, as he should. So he's not a true sufferer, that suffers what he should, but that suffers what he should, as he should. When we hear how far a man may go in Religion, and yet be unsound, and go to hell; then we should say, Good Lord, I will then look to my heart in prayer, and look to my heart in duty. So in point of suffering, if many that are first shall be last, and the last first; then I will look to my heart in suffering, if ever I be called to suffer.
Secondly, if that many that are first shall be last in suffering-work, why then should we not walk humbly under all our sufferings? The first shall be last, and the last shall be first. A man who hath prayed a prayer, or performed a duty, he should do as one that hath written a Letter; why he will read over the Letter, and then he mends it, and then he looks over the letter, and throws dust, dust, dust upon the Letter. And so a man when he hath performed any duty, he should look over his duty, and throw dust, I mean humility, and self-denial, upon his duties. So should we do in regard of our sufferings; if ever we be called to suffer, read over our sufferings, and throw dust upon our sufferings, walk humbly ⟨p. 49⟩under them: for many that are first shall be last in point of suffering.