A30592:698
Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…
Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of a self-denying heart, delivered in a treatise upon Hebrews II, 25, 26 / by Jeremiah Burroughs.
London: printed by John Field, 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.
Brethren, Gods people are to strive, and contend with the world above all people, and that for God; now then, that we may manifest unto the world, that when we do contend with them, that it is merely-for ⟨p. 301⟩God, when it comes to our selves, and our own causes, we should be the most yieldable people in the world. There is a time when we must contend with the world, our consciences put us upon it, and the cause of God puts us upon it, and then they say we are stubborn proud spirits; now to take off this reproach, and to convince them, it is not self-will; therefore when it is only your own cause, yield to the utmost you can, and this will convince them, when you do not yield, that it is not for self, but for God, and conscience.
Brethren, Gods people are to strive, and contend with the world above all people, and that for God; now then, that we may manifest unto the world, that when we do contend with them, that it is meerly-for ⟨p. 301⟩God, when it comes to our selves, and our own causes, we should be the most yieldable people in the world. There is a time when we must contend with the world, our consciences put us upon it, and the cause of God puts us upon it, and then they say we are stubborn proud spirits; now to take off this reproach, and to convince them, it is not self-will; therefore when it is onely your own cause, yield to the utmost you can, and this will convince them, when you do not yield, that it is not for self, but for God, and conscience.
Fourthly, do good for evil, this is that which the men of the world cannot do. We must labour to do 1some singular thing for God; if you only do good for good, the Publicans can do so, but we must do good for evil. As it is reported of Bishop Cranmer, they used to say of him, If they would have Bishop Cranmer their friend, let them do him some ill turn: Do you not think how you may be even with them that have done you an ill turn, but rather go home, and all the way you are going, be musing, and studying how you may return some good to that man that hath done you wrong, and so you shall not be even with him, but above him; by this you shall heap coals of fire upon his head: This beseems the people of God, that are the peculiar of God. It was a notable speech that Balaam had in