A30579:459
Gospel-conversation
Gospel-conversation: wherein is showed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Cripplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nigh, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.Gospel-conversation: wherein is shewed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Criplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwyn, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nye, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1650
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.
7. Use. From hence may appear the wickedness of the world, that they should reject Christ and His Kingdom. ⟨p. 281⟩That they should not […] it, that's not so much wonder; but that they shou•• […] it, and persecute it, and reject it; there appears their wickedness.
7. Ʋse. From hence may appear the wickedness of the world, that they should reject Christ and His Kingdom. ⟨p. 281⟩That they should not 〈…〉 it, that's not so much wonder; but that they shou•• 〈…〉 it, and persecute it, and reject it; there appears their wickedness.
You will say, How doth it appear? From my Doctrine it appears thus: If Christs kingdom be not a kingdom of this world, it would do men no hurt at all, it no way would hinder any lawful comforts or honours here in this world; it is not opposite unto the kingdoms of the world, that is, so as to hinder any thing that is good in the world, the kingdom of Christ may be set up, and the world need be never the worse for it. Indeed, it doth oppose the wickedness of the world, but it doth not oppose any thing that they dare say themselves to be good Herod persecuted Christ, because he heard a King of the Jews was born: But it was without cause; Jesus Christ He did not come to take the Kingdom of Herod away from him: The Kings of the Earth (the text saith) they conspire together, and are engaged against Christ: it is their wickedness; Christ, He doth not envy them or their Kingdoms, they may live and be the Kings of the earth still, and yet the kingdom of Jesus Christ may go on; the truth is, that the kingdom of Jesus Christ doth not intrench upon any Civil Liberty of men, and it's their hatred to it, that makes them think it cannot stand with Civil Peace; the kingdom of Christ may be set up, and Civil Liberty maintained. You may have your estates still, and yet have the kingdom of Christ, and you may be in place of Rule and Government, and have outward honours still, and yet be of the kingdom of Christ. It's true, if you be brought into the kingdom of Christ; perhaps God may call you sometimes to suffering, but then it is so as you will be willing to it, you shall never be called to suffering, but you shall see cause to be willing to it, you shall have as much good by what you suffer, as you hav […] of outward comforts: but this I speak, that the kingdom of Christ entrenches not upon any Civil Liberties of men: they may enjoy all their lawful comforts, their Estates, their Rule, their Government: and yet the