The fiery trial no strange thing delivered in a sermon preached at Charlestown February…The fiery tryal no strange thing delivered in a sermon preached at Charlestown February…

1 Pet. IV. XII. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the Fiery Trial▪ which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.

1 Pet. IV. XII. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the Fiery Tryal▪ which is to try you, as though some strange thing hapned to you.

This Epistle (as is to be seen by the Title or Inscription of it) was directed to Christians dispersed and scattered up and down the World. Whether they were the remainder of the Babylonish Captivity, who returned not with their Brethren into Judea; or the dispersion occasioned by the cruelty of Antiochus, in the days of the Maccabees, of which the Apostle Paul, Heb. 11. 11. 35 &c. or those that fled in the Persecution raised soon after the death of Stephen: recorded Act. 8. beginning (to each of which Interpreters do differently incline) I determine not. But they were such as laboured under the exercise of manifold afflictions, as appears from Chap. 1. v. 6. now, &c. you are in heaviness through many Temptations. For their relie• and encouragement our Apostle doth in every Chapter commix some consolatory and wholesome advise to strengthen and animate them to patience, and help their perfecting: and in the latter part of this Chapter, beginning at this 12th▪ verse, he more particularly counsels, and quickens them about this matter.

THis Epistle (as is to be seen by the Title or Inscription of it) was directed to Christians dispersed and scattered up and down the World. Whether they were the remainder of the Babylonish Captivity, who returned not with their Brethren into Indea; or the dispersion occasioned by the cruelty of Antiochus, in the dayes of the Machabees, of which the Apostle Paul,