A30241:2031
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 83: The Application of the fore-going Observation, both to the Godly and the Wicked, tendin…
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.
1. As it followeth in that Text, Great is your reward in Heaven. The more vilified and debased here, the more glorified and honoured in Heaven: So that wicked men, while they think to do thee a mischief, they are instrumental to thy great glory. They make thee more happy, and more glorious; It's as if a man should be angry with another, and in stead of stones he throw precious pearls and diamonds at him, which the man takes up and enriches himself with; or as if a man threw bread at a dog, in stead of being hurt by it, he is glad of it, and takes it up, and eats it. Thus it is with wicked men, their reproaches, their slanders and oppositions make thee more refined and blessed; all these will be like so many crowns of glory set upon thy head: As the waters did not drown the Ark, but lifted it up nearer to Heaven.
1. As it followeth in that Text, Great is your reward in Heaven. The more vilified and debased here, the more glorified and honoured in Heaven: So that wicked men, while they think to do thee a mischief, they are instrumentall to thy great glory. They make thee more happy, and more glorious; It's as if a man should be angry with another, and in stead of stones he throw precious pearls and diamonds at him, which the man takes up and enriches himself with; or as if a man threw bread at a dog, in stead of being hurt by it, he is glad of it, and takes it up, and eats it. Thus it is with wicked men, their reproaches, their slanders and oppositions make thee more refined and blessed; all these will be like so many crowns of glory set upon thy head: As the waters did not drown the Ark, but lifted it up nearer to Heaven.
2. Rejoice, because hereby God honours and puts a glory upon thee, that thou shouldst be one who shalt be reproached and vilified for him. Admire the goodness of God herein, and say with David, I will be more vile still. Thus the Apostles ⟨p. 432⟩went away rejoicing, they were accounted worthy to suffer for Christs Name,