And first, That the way of Christ should have so much opposition and persecution in the world; Did not a man Consider that every Page almost of the Scripture foretells this, it would be enough to dishearten him, Mat. 10.•3. there and in many other places Christ foretells their portion in this world, They shall be ha•ed, that is the highest degree of mens spirits against them, which rests in nothing but the utter destruction of those that are hated, Joh. 15.18. There also are serious Informations against this offence that might be taken at Christs way, and indeed by that passage it is a Sect that is every where spoken against, Act. 26.22. It seemeth many were disheartened, it was enough to keep a man off if it were said, None in the world likes this, you will be the Object of every mans scorn and derision, and is it not the great Temptation still in Heavens way, that so many troubles do abide those that will live godly? They cannot bend and turn their Consciences as the world would have them, They must oppose and discountenance sin, though it be never so advantageous, and by this contrariety of their works to the works of the world, therefore it is they are so much hated; Now these things are hardly born, a man had need again and again go to the Scripture and inform himself saying. This is no more ⟨p. 389⟩then I read daily, then I am to look for, Hence 1 Pet. 4 12. Think it not strange concerning the fiery Trial, as if some strange thing happened to you; Though the afflictions be never so fierce, so terrible, yet do not think this any strange matter, Say Christianus sum, as he did, homo nihil Christiani alienum • me p•to, I am a Christian, and think nothing that may befall a Christian is strange to me; Oh thus we would think that the way to heaven should be a pleasant, smooth, and delight some way; That whenever we are in Christs way, there should be no Hills or Dales, no troublesome passages, but we find the clean contrary, and this is a stumbling block to us, as David said, such things were to him, till he went into the Sanctuary of God.
And first, That the way of Christ should have so much opposition and persecution in the world; Did not a man Consider that every Page almost of the Scripture foretels this, it would be enough to dishearten him, Mat. 10.•3. there and in many other places Christ foretels their portion in this world, They shall be ha•ed, that is the highest degree of mens spirits against them, which rests in nothing but the utter destruction of those that are hated, Joh. 15.18. There also are serious Informations against this offence that might be taken at Christs way, and indeed by that passage it is a Sect that is every where spoken against, Act. 26.22. It seemeth many were disheartened, it was enough to keep a man off if it were said, None in the world likes this, you will be the Object of every mans scorn and derision, and is it not the great Temptation still in Heavens way, that so many troubles do abide those that will live godly? They cannot bend and turn their Consciences as the world would have them, They must oppose and discountenance sinne, though it be never so advantagious, and by this contrariety of their works to the works of the world, therefore it is they are so much hated; Now these things are hardly born, a man had need again and again go to the Scripture and inform himself saying. This is no more ⟨p. 389⟩then I reade daily, then I am to look for, Hence 1 Pet. 4 12. Think it not strange concerning the fiery Triall, as if some strange thing happened to you; Though the afflictions be never so fierce, so terrible, yet do not think this any strange matter, Say Christianus sum, as he did, homo nihil Christiani alienum • me p•to, I am a Christian, and think nothing that may befall a Christian is strange to me; Oh thus we would think that the way to heaven should be a pleasant, smooth, and delight some way; That whenever we are in Christs way, there should be no Hils or Dales, no troublesome passages, but we finde the clean contrary, and this is a stumbling block to us, as David said, such things were to him, till he went into the Sanctuary of God.
