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…

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,² have persecuted them that have been born after the spirit; and that the seed of the Serpent have been still a multiplying of troubles upon the seed of the woman. Would any man take the Churches picture (saith ⟨p. 370⟩Luther) then let him paint a poor silly Maid, sitting in a wilderness, compassed about with hungry Lyons, Wolves, Bores and Bears, and with all manner of other cruel hurtful Beasts, and in the midst of a great many furious men assaulting her every moment and minute, for this is her condition in the world. As certain as the night follows the day, so certain will that black angel, persecution, follow holiness where-ever it goes. In the last of the ten persecutions, seventeen thousand holy Martyrs were slain in the space of one month. And in Queen Mary's days, or if you will in the Marian days, not of blessed, but of most abhorred memory, the Popish Prelates in less then four years, sacrificed the lives of eight hundred innocents to their Idols;