Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

First, when Gods servants, and their cause, are accused, and condemned, you must not be silent, you ⟨p. 233⟩must not let it pass, as being afraid to be accounted one belonging to them. Luther in an Epistle to Staupitius, a German Divine, says, That when Jesus Christ is condemned and blasphemed, it is no time to fear, but to cry out; yea he professes, that he had rather be accounted any thing, then to be accused of wicked silence in Gods cause; Let me be reputed ¹proud, covetous, an adulterer, a murderer, an enemy to the Pope, guilty of all kind of vices, so I be not found guilty of wicked silence, when the Lord Christ suffers. In Eusebius his History, l. 5. c. 3. we find a Letter that the Christians of Vienna, and Lyons in France, sent to their brethren in Asia and Phrygia, in which they tell of a notable example of a brave Noble man, Vetius Epagathus, appearing in the cause of the Christians, not being able to bear their unjust dealings against them, when he heard those vile accusations against them, and condemnations of them, he desired that he might be heard to plead for the brethren, but those at the Tribunal being utterly against it, because he was a Noble man, the President would not admit of his petition, but only asked him if he were a Christian, he professed aloud, that he was, and so was taken amongst the number of Martyrs, and called the Advocate of Christians.

First, when Gods servants, and their cause, are accused, and condemned, you must not be silent, you ⟨p. 233⟩must not let it pass, as being afraid to be accounted one belonging to them. Luther in an Epistle to Staupitius, a German Divine, says, That when Jesus Christ is condemned and blasphemed, it is no time to fear, but to cry out; yea he professes, that he had rather be accounted any thing, then to be accused of wicked silence in Gods cause; Let me be reputed ¹proud, covetous, an adulterer, a murtherer, an enemy to the Pope, guilty of all kinde of vices, so I be not found guilty of wicked silence, when the Lord Christ suffers. In Eusebius his History, l. 5. c. 3. we finde a Letter that the Christians of Vienna, and Lyons in France, sent to their brethren in Asia and Phrygia, in which they tell of a notable example of a brave Noble man, Vetius Epagathus, appearing in the cause of the Christians, not being able to bear their unjust dealings against them, when he heard those vile accusations against them, and condemnations of them, he desired that he might be heard to plead for the brethren, but those at the Tribunal being utterly against it, because he was a Noble man, the President would not admit of his petition, but onely asked him if he were a Christian, he professed aloud, that he was, and so was taken amongst the number of Martyrs, and called the Advocate of Christians.