Eshcol: a cluster of the fruit of Canaan

A Common cause should be carried on by common assistance; that which concerneth all should be supported by all; when persecution ariseth for the words sake, generally it begins with the leaders; the common way to scatter the sheep, is by smiting the shepherds. The best of them is but a brier, and who will leave their Pastor in such ⟨p. 23⟩briers? It is for the Churches sake he is reviled and persecuted, and therefore it is the Churches duty to share with him, and help bear his burden. All the fault in scattering Congregations, hath not been in Ministers: The people stood not by them in their trial; the Lord lay it not to their charge. The Captain is betrayed, and forced to mean conditions with his Enemy, who going on, with assurance of being followed by his Soldiers, looking back in the entrance of danger, he finds them all run away; in England usually, no sooner had Episcopal persecution laid hold of a Minister, but the people willingly received another: perhaps a Wolf instead of a Shepherd; should • wife forsake her husband because ⟨p. 24⟩he is come in trouble for her sake? Would not such a thing be called villainy? Is the crime of a back-slider in spiritual things less? Surely whilst a Pastor lives, if he suffer for the truth, the Church cannot desert him, nor cease the performance of all required duties, without horrid Apostasy.

A Common cause should be carried on by common assistance; that which concerneth all should be supported by all; when persecution ariseth for the words sake, generally it begins with the leaders; the common way to scatter the sheep, is by smiting the shepheards. The best of them is but a brier, and who will leave their Pastor in such