A39682:169
A Saint Indeed
A saint indeed: or The great work of a Christian, opened and pressed; from Prov. 4. 23 Being a seasonable and proper expedient for the recovery of the much decayed power of godliness, among the professors of these times. By John Flavell M. of the Gospel.
London: printed by W.R., 1668
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.
11. Rule. Consult the honour of Religion more, and your personal safety less.
11. Rule. Consult the honour of Religion more, and your personal safety lesse.
Is it for the honour of Religion, (think you) that Christians should be as timorous as Hares, to start at every sound? will not this tempt the World to think, that whatever you talk, yet your principles are no better than other mens? O what mischief may the discoveries of your •ears before them do? 'Twas a noble saying of Nehemiah, Chap. 6. 11. Should such a man as I flee? and who being as I am would flee? Were it not better you should dye, than that the World should be prejudiced against Christ by your example? for alas! how apt is the World (who judge more by what they see in your practises, than by what they understand of your principles) to conclude from your timorousness, that how much soever you commend Faith, and ⟨p. 85⟩talk of Assurance, yet you dare trust to these things no more than they, when it comes to the trial. O let not your fears lay such a stumbling-block before the blind World.
Is it for the honour of Religion, (think you) that Christians should be as timerous as Hares, to start at every sound? will not this tempt the World to think, that whatever you talk, yet your principles are no better than other mens? O what mischief may the discoveries of your •ears b•fore them do? 'Twas a noble saying of Nehemiah, Chap. 6. 11. Should such a man as I flee? and who being as I am would flee? Were it not better you sh•uld dye, than that the World should be prejudiced against Christ by your example? for alas! how apt is the World (who judge more by what they see in your practises, than by what they understand of your principles) to conclude from your tim•rusness, that how much soever you commend Faith, and