A man, though his cause be good, ought not by undue ways to run himself into suffering for it; nature teaches the contrary, and so doth the Law of God. Suffering for a truth ought to be cautiously took in hand, and as warily performed. I know that there are some men that are more concerned here than some: the Preacher of the word, is by Gods command made the more obnoxious man, for he must come off with a woe, if he preaches not the Gospel. (1 Cor. 9.16.) He therefore, I say (doth ⟨p. 99⟩and) ought more to expose himself than other Christians are called to do. Yet it behoveth him also to beware, because that Christ has said to him, Behold, I send you forth as Sheep, or Lambs, in the midst of Wolves, be ye therefore wise as Serpents, and harmless as Doves, (Mat. 10.16. Luk. 10.3.) A man is not bound by the Law of his Lord, to put himself into the mouth of his enemy. Christ withdrew himself, Paul escaped the Governors hands, by being let down in a basket over the wall of the city. (2 Cor. 11.32.33.) And Christ hath said, If they persecute you in one City, fly ye to an other. If they will not let me preach here, I will take up my Bible and be gone. Perhaps this is because I must preach in some other place. A Minister can quickly pack up, and carry his Religion with him, and offer what he knows of his God, to another people, (Acts 13.44, 45, 46, 47.) Nor should a Minister strive, I think, with the Magistrate for place, or time. But let him hearken to hear what God shall say by such opposition. Perhaps the Magistrate must drive thee ⟨p. 100⟩out of this place, because the Soul is in another place that is to be converted, or helped by thy Sermon to day. We must also in all things, show our selves to be such as by our profession we would that men should believe we are, to wit, meek, gentle, not strivers, but take our Lord, and our Brethren the Prophets for our examples.
A man, though his cause be good, ought not by undue ways to run himself into suffering for it; nature teaches the contrary, and so doth the Law of God. Suffering for a truth ought to be cautiously took in hand, and as warily performed. I know that there are some men that are more concerned here than some: the Preacher of the word, is by Gods command made the more obnoxious man, for he must come off with a wo, if he preaches not the Gospel. (1 Cor. 9.16.) He therefore, I say (doth ⟨p. 99⟩and) ought more to expose himself than other Christians are called to do. Yet it behoveth him also to beware, because that Christ has said to him, Behold, I send you forth as Sheep, or Lambs, in the midst of Wolves, be ye therefore wise as Serpents, and harmless as Doves, (Mat. 10.16. Luk. 10.3.) A man is not bound by the Law of his Lord, to put himself into the mouth of his enemy. Christ withdrew himself, Paul escaped the Governours hands, by being let down in a basket over the wall of the city. (2 Cor. 11.32.33.) And Christ hath said, If they persecute you in one City, flie ye to an other. If they will not let me preach here, I will take up my Bible and be gone. Perhaps this is because I must preach in some other place. A Minister can quickly pack up, and carry his Religion with him, and offer what he knows of his God, to another people, (Acts 13.44, 45, 46, 47.) Nor should a Minister strive, I think, with the Magistrate for place, or time. But let him hearken to hear what God shall say by such opposition. Perhaps the Magistrate must drive thee ⟨p. 100⟩out of this place, because the Soul is in another place that is to be converted, or helped by thy Sermon to day. We must also in all things, shew our selves to be such as by our profession we would that men should believe we are, to wit, meek, gentle, not strivers, but take our Lord, and our Brethren the Prophets for our examples.
