Seasonable counsel, or, Advice to sufferers

The man then that is concerned in this advice, is he that suffereth from the hands of men, for keeping of the word of God. And this is he that has licence, leave, yea a command to commit the keeping of his Soul to God in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

We will a little enlarge upon this. He that keepeth the word of God, is such an one that has regard to both the matter, and manner thereof. The matter is the Truth, the Doctrine contained therein; the manner is that comely, godly, humble, faithful way of doing it, which becomes a man that has to do with the Law and Testament of God. And both these are contained in the Text. For, first, here is the will of God to be done; and then, secondly, to be done according to his will. Let them that suffer according to his will. Which words, I say, take in both matter, and manner of doing. So then, the man that here we have to do with, and to discourse of, is a man that in the sense now given, suffereth. That which makes a Martyr, is suffering for the word of God after a right manner. And that is, when he suffereth, not only for righteousness, but for righteousness sake: not only for truth, but of love to truth; not only for Gods word, but according to it: to wit in that holy, humble, meek manner as the word of God requireth. A man may ⟨p. 49⟩give his body to be burned for Gods truth, and yet be none of God's martyrs. 1 Cor. 13.1, 2, 3. Yea, a man may suffer with a great deal of patience, and yet be none of Gods Martyrs, 1 Pet. 2.20. The one, because he wanteth that grace that should poise his heart, and make him right in the manner of doing: the other, because he wanteth that word of the Holy One that alone can make his cause good as to matter.

We will a little enlarge upon this. He that keepeth the word of God, is such an one that has regard to both the matter, and manner thereof. The matter is the Truth, the Doctrine contained therein; the manner is that comely, godly, humble, faithful way of doing it, which becomes a man that has to do with the Law and Testament of God. And both these are contained in the Text. For, first, here is the will of God to be done; and then, secondly, to be done according to his will. Let them that suffer according to his will. Which words, I say, take in both matter, and manner of doing. So then, the man that here we have to do with, and to discourse of, is a man that in the sence now given, suffereth. That which makes a Martyr, is suffering for the word of God after a right manner. And that is, when he suffereth, not only for righteousness, but for righteousness sake: not only for truth, but of love to truth; not only for Gods word, but according to it: to wit in that holy, humble, meek manner as the word of God requireth. A man may