Seasonable counsel, or, Advice to sufferers

First, tho' the Cross, indeed, is grievous to the flesh, yet we should with grace bear up under it, and not be offended at it.

Secondly, and as to the second, tho' we should and ought to be offended with such miscarriage; yet not with Religion, because of such miscarriage. Some indeed, when they see these things, take offence against Religion it self. Yea, perhaps are glad of the occasion, and so fall out with Jesus Christ, saying to him, because of the evils that attend his ways, as the ten Tribes said to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon the King, What portion have ⟨p. 67⟩we in David? neither have we inheritance in the Son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. (1 Kings 12.16.) and so go quite away from him, and cleave no more unto him, to his people or to his ways: But this is bad. Shun therefore the evil ways of Christians, but cleave to the way that is Christian: cast a way that bad Spirit that thou seest in any; but hold fast to thy head and Lord. Whither canst thou go? the Lord Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6.) Whither wilt thou go? there is not salvation in any other (Acts 4.12.) Take heed therefore of picking a quarrel with Jesus Christ, and with his ways, because of the evil doings of some of his followers. Judas sold him, Peter denied him, and many of his Disciples went back and did walk no more with him: but neither himself nor his ways were the worse for that. Beware therefore that thou truly distinguish between the good ways of Jesus Christ, and the evil ways of them that profess him; and take not an occasion to throw away thy own Soul ⟨p. 68⟩down the throat of Hell, because others have vilely cast away their lives by transgressing of the Law of God. Nay let o•her mens faults make thee mor wary; let other mens falls make thee look better to thy goings: Shun the rock that he that went before thee, did split his Ship against, and cry to God to lead thee in a path that is plain and good, because of thy observers.