Thirdly, the godliness that is in Christ Jesus, is a 1stirring godliness: if a man will be lukewarm, and as Gallio, not caring which way things go, then many will speak well of him, he is no busy-body, not so hot, and fierce as others are. We read Exod. 8. 28. Pharaoh was content to let the people go, only he would not have them go far; so, many are content that men ⟨p. 15⟩should be Religious, so be it they do not go too far, Revel. 2. 2. Christ saith to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, I know thy labour and thy patience; mark how these two are joined: If the Angel had not laboured so much, it is like he had not suffered so much: If Ministers and Christians will be idle and do little, they are not like to suffer much, a little patience will serve turn; but those who put forth themselves, who are stirring, active, who labour much, they must expect to suffer much. It is very observable that of the seven Churches we read of in the Revelations, there are only two of whose troubles there are no mention; and which are they? the first is Sardis, of which it is said, She had a name that she lived, and was dead: the other was Laodicea, that was neither hot nor cold: These two escaped troubles, but none of the other.
Thirdly, the godliness that is in Christ Jesus, is a 1stirring godliness: if a man will be lukewarm, and as Gallio, not caring which way things go, then many will speak well of him, he is no busie-body, not so hot, and fierce as others are. We reade Exod. 8. 28. Pharaoh was content to let the people go, onely he would not have them go far; so, many are content that men ⟨p. 15⟩should be Religious, so be it they do not go too far, Revel. 2. 2. Christ saith to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, I know thy labor and thy patience; mark how these two are joyned: If the Angel had not labored so much, it is like he had not suffered so much: If Ministers and Christians will be idle and do little, they are not like to suffer much, a little patience will serve turn; but those who put forth themselves, who are stirring, active, who labor much, they must expect to suffer much. It is very observable that of the seven Churches we reade of in the Revelations, there are onely two of whose troubles there are no mention; and which are they? the first is Sardis, of which it is said, She had a name that she lived, and was dead: the other was Laodicea, that was neither hot nor cold: These two escaped troubles, but none of the other.
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