A29699:133
Paradise opened, or, The secrets, mysteries, and rarities of divine love, of infinite wisdom,…Paradice opened, or, The secreets, mysteries, and rarities of divine love, of infinite wisdom,…
Paradise opened, or, The secrets, mysteries, and rarities of divine love, of infinite wisdom, and of wonderful counsel laid open to public view also, the covenant of grace, and the high and glorious transactions of the Father and the Son in the covenant of redemption opened and improved at large, with the resolution of divers important questions and cases concerning both covenants ... : being the second and last part of The golden key / by Thomas Brooks ...Paradice opened, or, The secreets, mysteries, and rarities of divine love, of infinite wisdom, and of wonderful counsel laid open to publick view also, the covenant of grace, and the high and glorious transactions of the Father and the Son in the covenant of redemption opened and improved at large, with the resolution of divers important questions and cases concerning both covenants ... : being the second and last part of The golden key / by Thomas Brooks ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
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.
Let (saith Ignatius) Fire and Cross, Invasion1 of Beasts, breaking of bones, pulling asunder of members, grinding of my whole body, and what else the Devil can inflict, come,2 so I may hold Jesus Christ. Lucius thanked him that brought him forth to su••er, and said, that he should be free from those evil Masters, and go to God, a good Father and King. Germanicus, when he was brought forth to be torn in pieces, and devo••ed by wild Beasts; (The Governor persuading him to be mindful of his Youth, that he might be spared) of his own accord, incited the Beasts against himself. Sanctus being under Tortures for professing3 himself to be a Christian, unto every question propounded to him, he answered, I am a Christian; whereby he occasioned his Torments to be continued to death. Can we think that Saint Laurence would have accepted of deliverance; who, lying on a ⟨image 32⟩red hot Grid-iron, over burning Coals, with an invincible spirit, thus said to the Tyrants; Turn the side broiled enough, and see what thy burning fire hath done: And being turned, and throughly broiled on the other side, saith thus again; Eat that which is broiled, and try whether raw or broiled be the sweeter. Hippolytus, when he was tied to wild Horses to be pulled asunder, thus prayed; Let them rend my limbs, do thou, O Christ, wrap up my soul. To omit other particulars of the Ancient Martyrs in the Primitive Times; with whose courageous speeches manifesting a contempt of death, of which Volumes might be filled; it is indefinitely recorded of many, who were famous for their4 Wealth, Nobility, Glory, Eloquence and Learning; that nevertheless, they preferred true Piety and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, before all these: And though they were entreated by many of their Kindred and Friends otherwise; yea, and by others in great place, and by the Judge himself, that they would take pity of themselves, their Wives, and Children: Yet would they not be induced and entreated by so many, and great ones, so to be aected with the love of this life, as to forbear the Confession of our Saviour, and to set light by the denial of him. Thus you see what little reckoning or account the Christians of old have made of their Lives, Liberties and Estates, or whatever else was near or dear unto them, when these things stood in competition with Christ, his Truth, his Worship, his Ways, his Interest;