First, That the sufferings for Christs sake, are as various and as extensive as any comforts we have, that we may be deprived off. So that it's a fundamental qualification in every Disciple of Christ, to love him before Father or Mother, yea life it self: For if Christ be not preferred before the dearest comforts we have, one time or other, we shall be endangered to betray Christ, and rather deny him then suffer for him, which is a most dreadful condition. I mean, it is very terrible to be in the number of those, whose hearts are so glued to these earthly things, that they cannot suffer for Christ; they cannot part with all, when he calls for it: But the Disciple of Christ, must be prepared to suffer in any thing, and at any time. Sometimes the sufferings are more extreme and grievous, sometimes less, and more easy. The former is called [Greek or Hebrew], Heb. 10. 32. and 1 Pet. 4. 13. [Greek or Hebrew]. The greater are, imprisonment, or banishments, or death it self: And commonly, death for Christ, hath not been a mere ordinary death, but accompanied with those torments and exquisite pains, that could be invented. Insomuch, that if you look over all Histories, you cannot find any such terrible and barbarous sufferings, as the people of God have been put upon. And truly, there is no godly man, but he is to have a fundamental qualification for this. There are also lesser sufferings, which though called so comparatively to greater, yet in themselves are very bitter and grievous: Such are reproaches, scoffs, and derisions. Heb. 11. they are called cruel mockings. 1 Pet. 4. 14. when he had spoken before of a fiery trial, then he mentioneth reproaching for Christs sake. Ismael is said to persecute Isaac, yet the Scripture called that playing with him. It was in scoffs and mocks, that this persecution was; therefore thou art a persecutor by the tongue, as well as the hand, though thou dost not cast in prison: Though thou dost not bring wood, and kindle the fire at the stake, yet thy ⟨p. 199⟩flouts, thy derisions, thy mockings, these are a persecution, and the godly in these suffer for Christ. I shall instance in one thing more, and that is their Names and Repute; in this Christians have wonderfully suffered. Christ was traduced for an Impostor, for one that had a Devil, and doing the Miracles he did by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils;
First, That the sufferings for Christs sake, are as various and as extensive as any comforts we have, that we may be deprived off. So that it's a fundamental qualification in every Disciple of Christ, to love him before Father or Mother, yea life it self: For if Christ be not preferred before the dearest comforts we have, one time or other, we shall be endangered to betray Christ, and rather deny him then suffer for him, which is a most dreadfull condition. I mean, it is very terrible to be in the number of those, whose hearts are so glewed to these earthly things, that they cannot suffer for Christ; they cannot part with all, when he calls for it: But the Disciple of Christ, must be prepared to suffer in any thing, and at any time. Sometimes the sufferings are more extream and grievous, sometimes lesse, and more easie. The former is called 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Heb. 10. 32. and 1 Pet. 4. 13. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. The greater are, imprisonment, or banishments, or death it self: And commonly, death for Christ, hath not been a meer ordinary death, but accompanied with those torments and exquisite pains, that could be invented. Insomuch, that if you look over all Histories, you cannot find any such terrible and barbarous sufferings, as the people of God have been put upon. And truly, there is no godly man, but he is to have a fundamental qualification for this. There are also lesser sufferings, which though called so comparatively to greater, yet in themselves are very bitter and grievous: Such are reproaches, scoffs, and derisions. Heb. 11. they are called cruel mockings. 1 Pet. 4. 14. when he had spoken before of a fiery tryal, then he mentioneth reproaching for Christs sake. Ismael is said to persecute Isaac, yet the Scripture called that playing with him. It was in scoffs and mocks, that this persecution was; therefore thou art a persecutor by the tongue, as well as the hand, though thou dost not cast in prison: Though thou dost not bring wood, and kindle the fire at the stake, yet thy ⟨p. 199⟩flouts, thy derisions, thy mockings, these are a persecution, and the godly in these suffer for Christ. I shall instance in one thing more, and that is their Names and Repute; in this Christians have wonderfully suffered. Christ was traduced for an Impostor, for one that had a Devil, and doing the Miracles he did by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils;
