An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

The Heretic that suffers, because he hath a false and erroneous persuasion; therefore he hath a false and a deceitful comfort, and therefore is but like one in a dream, pleasing himself with great imaginations, when he awakeneth poor and hungry: but the true sufferer, he hath joy, and he knoweth his joy is good, and upon •ound grounds, which never can be taken away.

The Heretick that suffers, because he hath a false and erroneous perswasion; therefore he hath a false and a deceitfull comfort, and therefore is but like one in a dream, pleasing himself with great imaginations, when he awakeneth poor and hungry: but the true sufferer, he hath joy, and he knoweth his joy is good, and upon •ound grounds, which never can be taken away.

Secondly, Christ doth comfort, by informing of us aforehand of all the ¹troubles and sufferings which will necessarily accompany the true profession of faith in his Name. Is not our Saviour often upon this subject? Doth he not frequently fore-tell his Disciples, what reproach and hatred they shall meet with? Doth not the Scripture also in several places insist upon this point, That all who will live godly must suffer many tribulations; That the Disciple must not be above his Master. Yea, that we are appointed and set by God to afflictions, they are the effect of our predestination, as well as grace and glory is. Now in this we may be comforted, Christ hath done is no wrong; he hath told us what we must look for, it's no more then we expected, The fiery trial is not a strange thing. Surely this maketh way for much comfort, that we looked for afflictions aforehand; we prepared an Ark against the deluge should come. The Devil he being a deceiver dealeth contrary to Christ, for he tempts with pleasant baits hiding the hook; he showeth thee pleasure and profit, but not a word of that hell and torments which will necessarily follow thereupon. But Christ tells thee of the worst at first, and keepeth his best wine to the last.