First, This Reason is evident, Because hereby we plainly demonstrate, that our Faith in Christ, and acknowledging of him, is upon divine and spiritual grounds, that we do not know Christ, and the Christian faith after the flesh, Matth. 13. This discovered the thorny ground not to be true and right soil, because in time of temptation, when the scorching Sun did arise, then all the hopeful fruit began to wither. This apostatizing from Christ in time of such temptations, is so great a matter, that we are constantly to pray for the grace and assistance of God therein, that we be not left to our selves. For Peter being forsaken in some measure only, how dreadful was his fall? And for this end it is that God suffereth persecutions and troubles to accompany the profession of his truth, that so it may be known who are sound, and who hypocrites. If thou art but chaff, this winnowing will drive thee away. They are but a very few that acknowledge Christ upon spiritual and enduring grounds. So that though the world rage, though enemies be furious and bloody, yet they stand like Mount Zion, that cannot be moved. Many become Christians, as some did Jews in Mardochee's time for fear, and because the State favoured the Jews. Outward restraint maketh many take the title of Christians, but they live the life of Heathens, because the pleasures of sin are present, and affect the sense. Orant quia timent, peccant quia volunt, They pray and perform outward religious duties, because they are afraid; but they sin, because their will and pleasure inclineth thereunto. Now these drossy Christians, when they are brought to the fire, they presently melt away. It cannot be denied but that men may suffer much for a while at least, and yet at last deny Christ, as we have sad instances in Ecclesiastical History; but many times such, with that famous Cranmer, did prove the more courageous, and took an holy revenge upon themselves. This accompanying Christ in his dangers, hath a notable promise, Luke 22. 28. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations, therefore I appoint unto you a Kingdom, that ye may eat and drink with me, and sit on thrones judging Israel. Even as Christ manifested his pure love to us, that in the midst of all the agonies and miseries he grappled with from God and men, yet he did not give over our cause, but completed our redemption for us.
First, This Reason is evident, Because hereby we plainly demonstrate, that our Faith in Christ, and acknowledging of him, is upon divine and spiritual grounds, that we do not know Christ, and the Christian faith after the flesh, Matth. 13. This discovered the thorny ground not to be true and right soil, because in time of temptation, when the scorching Sun did arise, then all the hopefull fruit began to wither. This apostatizing from Christ in time of such temptations, is so great a matter, that we are constantly to pray for the grace and assistance of God therein, that we be not left to our selves. For Peter being forsaken in some measure only, how dreadfull was his fall? And for this end it is that God suffereth persecutions and troubles to accompany the profession of his truth, that so it may be known who are sound, and who hypocrites. If thou art but chaff, this winnowing will drive thee away. They are but a very few that acknowledge Christ upon spiritual and enduring grounds. So that though the world rage, though enemies be furious and bloudy, yet they stand like Mount Sion, that cannot be moved. Many become Christians, as some did Jewes in Mardochees time for fear, and because the State favoured the Jewes. Outward restraint maketh many take the title of Christians, but they live the life of Heathens, because the pleasures of sinne are present, and affect the sense. Orant quia timent, peccant quia volunt, They pray and performe outward religious duties, because they are afraid; but they sinne, because their will and pleasure inclineth thereunto. Now these drossie Christians, when they are brought to the fire, they presently melt away. It cannot be denied but that men may suffer much for a while at least, and yet at last deny Christ, as we have sad instances in Ecclesiastical History; but many times such, with that famous Cranmer, did prove the more couragious, and took an holy revenge upon themselves. This accompanying Christ in his dangers, hath a notable promise, Luke 22. 28. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations, therefore I appoint unto you a Kingdome, that ye may eat and drinke with me, and sit on thrones judging Israel. Even as Christ manifested his pure love to us, that in the midst of all the agonies and miseries he grapled with from God and men, yet he did not give over our cause, but compleated our redemption for us.
