A55301:160
Armatura Dei, or, A preparation for suffering in an evil day showing how Christians…Armatura Dei, or, A preparation for suffering in an evil day shewing how Christians…
Armatura Dei, or, A preparation for suffering in an evil day showing how Christians are to bear sufferings, and what graces are requisite thereunto : suited for all good Christians in this present time / by Edward Polhil ..., Esq.Armatura Dei, or, A preparation for suffering in an evil day shewing how Christians are to bear sufferings, and what graces are requisite thereunto : suited for all good Christians in this present time / by Edward Polhil ..., Esq.
London: printed for Tho. Cockerill, 1682
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.
But the Protestants took it as a sign, that the Church should revive and flourish again, like the bush that burned, and was not consumed. The true Church, which is founded in Christs blood, is not propagated or multiplied by Martial Arms, but by patient Sufferings: This is the true way to do good to the Church, and to continue the Gospel among us; if we are indeed in a posture for suffering, and ready to Seal up the Truth with our Blood, we may comfortably hope, that, whatever Sufferings come, the Gospel and gracious Presence of God shall not finally depart from our Nation.
But the Protestants took it as a sign, that the Church should revive and flourish again, like the bush that burned, and was not consumed. The true Church, which is founded in Christs blood, is not propagated or multiplied by Martial Arms, but by patient Sufferings: This is the true way to do good to the Church, and to continue the Gospel among us; if we are indeed in a posture for suffering, and ready to Seal up the Truth with our Blood, we may comfortly hope, that, whatever Sufferings come, the Gospel and gratious Presence of God shall not finally depart from our Nation.
3. Pious Sufferers do give an evident token to the Persecutor, that the wrath of God will come upon him. When the Emperor Commodus was worshipping Jupiter, Vincentius, Eusebius, Peregrinus, 1and Potentianus, went about and exhorted the People, to depart from the Worship of Devils, and honour the One only true God, lest they perished with Commodus; and soon after they suffered Martyrdom for the same thing. Though all the Martyrs did not in words warn the Persecutors, that the Wrath of God would come upon them, yet they all by their patient Suffering gave them an evident token of it. St. Paul exhorts the Philippians to patient suffering upon this account; Stand fast, saith he, in one Spirit, with one mind, striving together for the Faith of the Gospel, and in nothing terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of Perdition, but to you of Salvation, and that of God,