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…

First, By the same reason you may say, To what purpose did the Spirit of God cause this Chapter to be written, with many other passages of the like nature, which treat of afflictions, and that from Pagans? Certainly, though we be not for the present exercised as they are, yet the record of this, the Doctrine about this is of very great concernment. Therefore

Secondly, Though thou art not called to be a Martyr, or to suffer from such enemies, yet there is none that will live godly, but they shall meet with afflictions one way or other. We read of no child of God without his tribulations. None can come into Canaan, but they must first go through a wilderness: They must first with Christ suffer, and so enter into glory. We told you, that there are afflictions of divers sorts; There are real, and there are verbal afflictions. Though thou doest not suffer in thy life, and in thy liberty, yet thou mayest in thy name, and in thy outward comforts. There is no man, which liveth in a zealous, lively manner for God, and endeavouring to pull down the kingdom of Satan; but the Devil and his instruments will raise opposition enough against him; and therefore it is good to hear Sermons about sufferings for Christ. For though thy troubles be not such great and bloody ones, as the Martyrs have been, yet thou art to drink part of this bitter cup: The Lord he hath given thee a portion in these tribulations: and truly there is not the least affliction befalls us in the way of God, but if God did not preserve us, and keep us by his grace, we should sink under it. The frown of a man, the fear of a mock is ⟨p. 258⟩enough to discourage us from our duty, if God doth not corroborate us. If therefore the world doth not hate us, if that be not a professed enemy to us, we may justly doubt, whether we be the Woman's seed, or not rather the Serpents seed. Seeing therefore thou hast thy tribulations more or less, and that for righteousness, thou mayest improve this truth for thy edification.

Secondly, Though thou art not called to be a Martyr, or to suffer from such enemies, yet there is none that will live godly, but they shall meet with afflictions one way or other. We read of no child of God without his tribulations. None can come into Canaan, but they must first go thorow a wildernesse: They must first with Christ suffer, and so enter into glory. We told you, that there are afflictions of divers sorts; There are real, and there are verbal afflictions. Though thou doest not suffer in thy life, and in thy liberty, yet thou mayest in thy name, and in thy outward comforts. There is no man, which liveth in a zealous, lively manner for God, and endeavouring to pull down the kingdom of Satan; but the Devil and his instruments will raise opposition enough against him; and therefore it is good to hear Sermons about sufferings for Christ. For though thy troubles be not such great and bloody ones, as the Martyrs have been, yet thou art to drink part of this bitter cup: The Lord he hath given thee a portion in these tribulations: and truly there is not the least affliction befals us in the way of God, but if God did not preserve us, and keep us by his grace, we should sinke under it. The frowhe of a man, the fear of a mock is