Heautonaparnumenos

But (mark ye) with this difference it is; Our Happiness here is but Inchoate, not as hereafter it shall be, Consummate. Here our Paradise is beset with Briars and Thorns, not as the First, where was nothing but what was profitable and delightful ⟨p. 56⟩Therefore though our Saviour promises a Hundred fold here, yet 'tis with Persecution: and therefore the Apostle tells us, we must run our Race with Patience; ¹for in another place he says, We had need of Patience, that so we may attain the Premise.

But (marke yee) with this difference it is; Our Happinesse here is but Inchoate, not as hereafter it shall bee, Consummate. Here our Paradise is beset with Bryars and Thornes, not as the First, where was nothing but what was profitable and delightfull ⟨p. 56⟩Therefore though our Saviour promises a Hundred fold here, yet 'tis with Persecution: and therefore the Apostle tells us, we must runne our Race with Patience; ¹for in another place hee sayes, We had need of Patience, that so we may attaine the Premise.

1. 1Heb. 12.1. Heb. 10.36.

For the need we have of this Patience arises hence, because of that Cross we must bear, as soon as we begin to Deny our Selves; for so it follows in the Text, Let him Deny himself, and take up his Cross. What Cross is that? it is no other but that which wicked, Self-willed men will lay upon our backs. For, though we, for our parts, Deny our Selves never so much, yet, because the World will not do so too, so long as we remain in the Body, that will hate and persecute us, as those that do the Works of Darkness hate,