The Church of God hath never been in a better condition, then when their persecutors have raged most; the raging of persecutors have not darkened the excellency of the Church, but the scandalous lives of members of a Church have darkened the glory of the Church: though by persecution others may be afraid to make profession of the truth, yet all the persecution in the world cannot take off mens consciences, and cause them in their consciences to think such are not in the truth, because they are persecuted; but the scandalous lives of those that are Professors, do make men think in their consciences that this way is not right, and therefore make them think they do God good service in hating such men, persecuting such men, and there is more evil in this, to be an occasion to make men think this way is not good, then to make men afraid to venture upon this way. And therefore consider what a great deal of mischief scandalous lives do, and if you find your hearts inclining to any sensual way, that you are like to give scandal, take heed of it, for it is the greatest mischief that can be devised. Those who join with the Church of God, should walk so, as to be an ornament to it, not a stain, a blot, to cast filth upon it; Isa. 49. 18. Behold these that gather themselves to thee, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as ⟨p. 288⟩with an Ornament: Consider how far many of you are from being an ornament to the Church; are 1not your lives rather blemishes? This is a sore evil. Better it is to endure any misery, then to do that which shall make Gods people ashamed of us.
The Church of God hath never been in a better condition, then when their persecuters have raged most; the raging of persecuters have not darkned the excellency of the Church, but the scandalous lives of members of a Church have darkned the glory of the Church: though by persecution others may be afraid to make profession of the truth, yet all the persecution in the world cannot take off mens consciences, and cause them in their consciences to think such are not in the truth, because they are persecuted; but the scandalous lives of those that are Professors, do make men think in their consciences that this way is not right, and therefore make them think they do God good service in hating such men, persecuting such men, and there is more evil in this, to be an occasion to make men think this way is not good, then to make men afraid to venture upon this way. And therefore consider what a great deal of mischief scandalous lives do, and if you finde your hearts inclining to any sensual way, that you are like to give scandal, take heed of it, for it is the greatest mischief that can be devised. Those who joyn with the Church of God, should walk so, as to be an ornament to it, not a stain, a blot, to cast filth upon it; Isa. 49. 18. Behold these that gather themselves to thee, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as ⟨p. 288⟩with an Ornament: Consider how far many of you are from being an ornament to the Church; are 1not your lives rather blemishes? This is a sore evil. Better it is to endure any misery, then to do that which shall make Gods people ashamed of us.
- 1Malo miserandum quam erube secudum Tert. de fuga. pers.
