A30241:1980
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 81: Of Suffering for Christs Cause, And how it engageth God to take care of such as so suff…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1It cannot be denied but that even the best Christians who are hated, and do suffer in the world, have yet many imperfections cleaving to them, and do discover many infirmities of the flesh, so that as none can be perfect in love of God, or in any other grace, so neither in enduring the hatred of the world, oh how hard is that Rule of our Saviours, Mat. 5. when men revile to be patient, when men curse to bless, and to render all good for all evil? These things do so transcend humane power, that many miscarriages, several indiscretions, and many carnal fears are apt to interweave themselves; Now when the matter or cause ⟨p. 423⟩of our sufferings in Christs, and for his Name, and if the heart be mainly set for God and his honour, though subject to weaknesses, such may plead Christs assistance for all that, neither may they fear, Christ will disown them, because of such adhering infirmities; Do we not see the Scripture commending some as eminent, when yet at that very time there was some imperfection; Abraham's Faith so highly commended, Rom. 4. yet had some diffidence mixed with it; Jobs Patience so greatly exalted, yet had some impatience breaking out, God then takes not notice of thy weakness but of thy Grace, and the godly sufferer may comfort himself, that though he hath imperfections, yet it is not for them the world hateth him; As Bradshaw that holy Martyr said, Though he was a sinner, and had many Infirmities, yet his Enemies did not put him to death for them, but for the quarrel of Christ, which he had espoused, and the Truths of Christ which he preferred above his own life:
1It cannot be denied but that even the best Christians who are hated, and do suffer in the world, have yet many imperfections cleaving to them, and do discover many infirmities of the flesh, so that as none can be perfect in love of God, or in any other grace, so neither in enduring the hatred of the world, oh how hard is that Rule of our Saviours, Mat. 5. when men revile to be patient, when men curse to blesse, and to render all good for all evil? These things do so transcend humane power, that many miscarriages, several indiscretions, and many carnal fears are apt to interweave themselves; Now when the matter or cause