A29372:269
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.
Sermon 3: The way to obtain a sure and great Reward. SERM. III.
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.
I'll go no further then the text: our Saviour Christ here puts a Verily upon it: Verily: you have the word of Christ for this reward. If an honest man make you a promise, you will believe him, especially if he saith, I protest unto you. Why Jesus Christ hath protested this promise: Verily, saith he, you shall have an hundred-fold in this life, and in the world to come, life everlasting.
Well then, the question is, Why should those that suffer for the Name of Christ have such a great reward as this? Why should those that leave or forsake any worldly interest upon the account of Christ, why should those above all other people be so well rewarded?
I answer: These above all other people, that suffer for the Name of Christ, these are those that do honour Jesus Christ. What is honour? ⟨p. 80⟩Honour, it is the testimony of another's excellency. When I testify of another mans excellency, then I honour him. Now look when a man doth forsake a worldly interest for the truth of Christ, then he testify there's an excellency in Christ: and the greater the worldly interest is I do forsake, and the less the truth is I forsake it for; the more do I testify an excellency in Christ: Christ therefore will be sure to honour them, they shall be well rewarded.
I answer: These above all other people, that suffer for the Name of Christ, these are those that do honour Jesus Christ. What is honour? ⟨p. 80⟩Honour, it is the testimony of anothers excellencie. When I testifie of another mans excellencie, then I honour him. Now look when a man doth forsake a worldly interest for the truth of Christ, then he testifie there's an excellencie in Christ: and the greater the worldly interest is I do forsake, and the less the truth is I forsake it for; the more do I testifie an excellencie in Christ: Christ therefore will be sure to honour them, they shall be well rewarded.