A29686:500
A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…
A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain discovery of, or, what men are worth for eternity, and how 'tis like to go with them in another world ... / by Thomas Brooks ...A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain discovery of, or, what men are worth for eternity, and how 'tis like to go with them in another world ... / by Thomas Brooks ...
London : Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock ..., 1669
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.
First, That they were not the worst, but the best of men, viz. Saints; that they were not sinners but Saints, that they were not drunkards, swearers; adulterers, murderers, oppressors, Sabbath-breakers, but Saints; Saints by calling, Saints by their high & holy calling, Saints by profession, Saints by a Gospel-conversation. The Saints have I cast into prison.
Secondly, To cast a man into prison for theft, for murder for perjury, is no iniquity; I but says he, many have I cast into prison for professing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. O! 'tis dreadful to persecute men merely for professing of Christ, and yet this I did; though their profession and practise went together, though they lived as they profest, though I had nothing against them, but in the matters of their God, yet upon that very single account did I persecute them.
Secondly, To cast a man into prison for theft, for murder for perjury, is no iniquity; I but sayes he, many have I cast into prison for professing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. O! 'tis dreadful to persecute men meerly for professing of Christ, and yet this I did; though their profession and practise went together, though they lived as they profest, though I had nothing against them, but in the matters of their God, yet upon that very single account did I persecute them.
Thirdly, If it had been but one, or two, or three, or five, §3or ten Saints that I had persecuted, the matter had not been much. O, but they were a great number; many of the Saints did I cast into prison. I have been a cruel ravening wolf, that have sucked the blood not of a few, but of many of the precious lambs of Christ; I have neither spared nor pitied any sex, but have broken into every house, haling and dragging both men and women to prison,