The one thing necessary Preached in a sermon at Pauls, before the Right Honourable…

3. A third remora or hindrance in this work is open violence; Gal. 4. 29. as he that was borne after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now; no sooner doth a man give up his name to Christ, and seriously set upon the working out his salvation, but the world raiseth her train-bands, and sets all the Militia of hell against him. Gods Church is like Abraham's ram tied in a bush of thorns; witness the ten persecutions in the ⟨p. 18⟩time of Nero, Domitian, Trajan, &c. a man strictly holy is the white that is shot at; if the worlds music will not prevail, it hath its furnace ready; 2 Tim. 3. 12. be assured, Christ and his cross are never parted. It is with us in our building for heaven, as it was with the Jews in their building the wall. Every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon, Nehem. 4. 17. So we must not only be builders, but warriors; with one hand we must work, and with the other hand hold a weapon, viz. the sword of the Spirit, and fight the good fight of faith; this is another hindrance in the work; no sooner do we begin to set out for heaven, but bonds and afflictions abide us, Acts 20. 23. The world sounds an alarm, and no cessation of arms till death.

3. A third remora or hindrance in this work is open violence; Gal. 4. 29. as he that was borne after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now; no sooner doth a man give up his name to Christ, and seriously set upon the working out his salvation, but the world raiseth her train-bands, and sets all the Militia of hell against him. Gods Church is like Abrahams ram tied in a bush of thornes; witnesse the ten persecutions in the ⟨p. 18⟩time of Nero, Domitian, Trajan, &c. a man strictly holy is the white that is shot at; if the worlds musick will not prevaile, it hath its furnace ready;