Speculum theologiæ in Christo, or, A view of some divine truths which are either…

We see here, to make men Christians, was an admirable work, a great deal of Power was to be laid out upon it. Such a Faith was to be raised up, as might render them victorious over all the Power and Wisdom of the World.¹ Such a temper of mind was to be wrought, as might make them ready to welcome death in what shape or terror soever it came, and to pour out their dearest blood and life for the Gospel. Those spirits, which before hung about Earth, and these lower things, were to be tuned for Heaven, and wound up to so Divine a pitch, that the whole world should not be able to unbend them, to loosen them from Christ, or let them down into earthly Vanities. The great Emperors, with all their Engines of Power and Cruelty, could not rent them off from the World to come, or piece them to the present evil one. The Philosophers, with all their Arts and Eloquence, could not decoy them from supernatural Mysteries, or induce them to take up their repose in humane Learning or Wisdom. The whole World was annihilated to them, and they unto themselves; they became fools, that they might be wise, and Nothing that God might be All: the Ornaments and Self-excellencies were put off, that they might be complete in Christ. They lay at Gods feet for Mercy, and lived in a continual dependence upon the influences of his Spirit and Grace. In such a work as this the Arm of God must needs be revealed in a very eminent ⟨p. 124⟩manner. Here we have just cause to say, What hath God wrought!

We see here, to make men Christians, was an admirable work, a great deal of Power was to be laid out upon it. Such a Faith was to be raised up, as might render them victorious over all the Power and Wisdom of the World.¹ Such a temper of mind was to be wrought, as might make them ready to welcom death in what shape or terror soever it came, and to pour out their dearest blood and life for the Gospel. Those spirits, which before hung about Earth, and these lower things, were to be tuned for Heaven, and wound up to so Divine a pitch, that the whole world should not be able to unbend them, to loosen them from Christ, or let them down into earthly Vanities. The great Emperors, with all their Engines of Power and Cruelty, could not rent them off from the World to come, or piece them to the present evil one. The Philosophers, with all their Arts and Eloquence, could not decoy them from supernatural Mysteries, or induce them to take up their repose in humane Learning or Wisdom. The whole World was annihilated to them, and they unto themselves; they became fools, that they might be wise, and Nothing that God might be All: the Ornaments and Self-excellencies were put off, that they might be compleat in Christ. They lay at Gods feet for Mercy, and lived in a continual dependance upon the influences of his Spirit and Grace. In such a work as this the Arm of God must needs be revealed in a very eminent