A30570:797
The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs
The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs ; published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]
London: printed by Peter Cole and Edward Cole, 1661
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.
5. Besides, If so be they begin to flinch, presently there are such violent afflictions and persecutions; thundering out of excommunications, and loss of estates, and so many dangers that men are in.
5. Besides, If so be they begin to flinch, presently there are such violent afflictions and persecutions; thundring out of excomunications, and loss of estates, and so many dangers that men are in.
6. Besides, It is hard, Because in the other of Christs government there are but a few mean men, and to come and yield to them this is hard to flesh and blood, and there must be a great deal of self denial to yield to the government of Christ, they count that the greatest bondage, especially considering there may be miscarriages, & many Scandals amongst those that are Godly, & do profess the ways, and ordinances, and liberties of Christ, that except the heart be gracious there is a great deal of difficulty in submitting to it, and people know not what to do but rather buckle under their bondage.
6. Besides, It is hard, Because in the other of Christs government there are but a few meane men, and to come and yeild to them this is hard to flesh and blood, and there must be a great deal of self deniall to yeild to the government of Christ, they count that the greatest bondage, especially considering there may be miscarriages, & many Scandals amongst those that are Godly, & do profess the waies, and ordinances, and liberties of Christ, that except the heart be gracious there is a great deal of difficulty in submitting to it, and people know not what to do but rather buckle under their bondage.
7. Besides: It is a fruit of the curse: not that all that are under that bondage are under the Eternal Curse; But as all outward judgments are part of the curse, so it is a part of the curse to be under the bondage of Antichrist, and not to labour to get from it. I do not say that all that are sick and weak are cursed, but it is a part of the curse; So men that are under that bondage, are under part of the curse, that God will give them over to believe Lies: and though a man hath never so much Learning and understanding, yet if there be a curse of God upon it, never talk of his learning and understanding, if his parts were a hundred times more, they could not help him: It is the work of Faith to deliver from it.