A29687:600
The crown & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered…The crovvn & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered…
The crown & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered in LVIII sermons from Heb. 12. 14, where you have the necessity, excellency, rarity, beauty and glory of holiness set forth, with the resolution of many weighty questions and cases, also motives and means to perfect holiness : with many other things of very high and great importance to all the sons and daughters of men, that had rather be blessed then cursed, saved then damned / by Thomas Brooks ...The crovvn & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered in LVIII sermons from Heb. 12. 14, where you have the necessity, excellency, rarity, beauty and glory of holiness set forth, with the resolution of many weighty questions and cases, also motives and means to perfect holiness : with many other things of very high and great importance to all the sons and daughters of men, that had rather be blessed then cursed, saved then damned / by Thomas Brooks ...
London: printed for H. Crips, 1662
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.
Fourthly, some may further object and say, We see that no persons Object. 4 on earth are exposed to such troubles, dangers, afflictions and persecutions, as those are exposed to, who mind holiness, who follow after holiness; these are days wherein men labour to frown holiness out of the world, and to scorn and kick holiness out of the World; and do you think that we are mad now to pursue after holiness? Now to this great and sore objection, I shall give these following answers.
Fourthly, some may further object and say, We see that no persons Object. 4 on earth are exposed to such troubles, dangers, afflictions and persecutions, as those are exposed to, who mind holiness, who follow after holiness; these are days wherein men labor to frown holiness out of the world, and to scorn and kick holiness out of the World; and do you think that we are mad now to pursue after holiness? Now to this great and sore objection, I shall give these following answers.
First, It must be granted, that afflictions and persecutions has §1been the common lot and portion of the people of God in this world. Abel was persecuted by Cain, 11 Joh. 3.12. and Isaac by Ishmael, Gal. 9.29. That seems to be a standing Law, All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. A man may have many faint wishes, and cold desires after Godliness, and yet escape persecution; yea he may make some assays and attempts as if he would be godly, and yet escape persecution; but when a man is thoroughly resolved to be godly, and sets himself in good earnest upon pursuing after holiness, and living a life of godliness, then he must expect to meet with afflictions and persecutions: 'Tis neither a Christians gifts, nor his graces; 'tis neither his duties, nor his services that can secure him; whoever escapes, the godly man shall not escape persecution in one kind or another, in one degree or another; he that will live up to holy rules, and live out holy principles, must prepare for sufferings: All the Roses of holiness are surrounded with pricking Briers. The History of the ten persecutions, and that little book of Martyrs, the 11. of the Hebrews, and Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments, with many other Treatises that are extant, do abundantly evidence, that from age to age, and from one generation to another, they that have been born after the flesh,