A55301:34
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.
1. The Christian must secure to himself a good Cause; he must take care not to suffer as an Evil doer; this is not grateful to God, nor honourable among Men; in it Christ is not imitated, but Christianity is shamed: Such Sufferers are the Devils Martyrs; it cannot be reasonably expected that they should have the gracious Presence of God, or any comfort in Conscience; their own hearts cry out, Guilty, and plainly tell them, that their Suffering is but the just wages of their Iniquity. A Christian must be sure, that there be no guilt in that which he suffers for. Holy Daniel saith, that Innocency was found in him, Dan. 6.22. He speaks not of the innocency of his Person, as if he were without sin; but of the innocency of his Cause, for which he suffered: His praying against a Law did not merit a Den of Lions; he broke the Humane Command only to keep the Divine. It highly concerns the Christian to have an innocent Cause; it is the Cause, not the mere Suffering, that makes the Martyr. Again, the Christian must take care, that he suffer not as a Busy-body in other mens Matter; he must not have his own Station, nor forfeit Gods protection, ⟨p. 17⟩he must abide with God in his Calling, and do his own Business. God took care of the Bird sitting over her young in her Nest, Deut. 22.6. but not of the wandering one. The learned Johannes Fancius, of a Minister of the Gospel in his Prince's Court, turned Minister of State to his Prince, and was at last for some evil Counsel, condemned to dye; and before he suffered, he much lamented the leaving of his Calling, and left this Distich.
1. The Christian must secure to himself a good Cause; he must take care not to suffer as an Evil doer; this is not grateful to God, nor honorable among Men; in it Christ is not imitated, but Christianity is shamed: Such Sufferers are the Devils Martyrs; it cannot be reasonably expected that they should have the gratious Presence of God, or any comfort in Conscience; their own hearts cry out, Guilty, and plainly tel them, that their Suffering is but the just wages of their Iniquity. A Christian must be sure, that there be no guilt in that which he suffers for. Holy Daniel saith, that Innocency was found in him,