A39682:355
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. Season. The eleventh special season calling for this diligence to keep our hearts is, when sufferings for Religion come to an height; then look to your hearts: Matth. 24. 8, 9, 10. All these are the beginning of sorrows, and they shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all ⟨p. 164⟩nations for my names sake: and THEN shall many be offended. When sufferings for religion grow hot, then blessed is he that is not offended in Christ, troubles are then at an height. (1) When a mans nearest friends and relations forsake and leave him, Micah 7. 5, 6. 2 Tim. 4. 16. When a man is engaged alone (2) When it comes to resisting to blood, Heb. 12. 4.(3) When temptations are presented to us in our sufferings, Heb. 11. 37.(4) When eminent persons for profession turn aside, and desert the cause of Christ, 2 Tim. 2. 19. (5) When God hides his face in a suffering hour, Jer. 17. 17. (6) When Satan falls upon us with strong temptations to question the grounds of our sufferings, or the Souls interest in Christ: Now tis heard to keep the heart from turning back, and the steps from declining Gods ways. The eleventh question then shall be this.
11. Season. The eleventh special season calling for this diligence to keep our hearts is, when sufferings for Religion come to an height; then look to your hearts: Matth. 24. 8, 9, 10. All these are the beginning of sorrows, and they shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all ⟨p. 164⟩