B36604:100
Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity,…
Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity, excellency, and means of our readiness for sufferings are evinced and prescribed; our call to suffering cleared, and the great unreadiness of many professors bewailed. By John Flavel minister of Christ in Devon.Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity, excellency, and means of our readiness for sufferings are evinced and prescribed; our call to suffering cleared, and the great unreadiness of many profesours bewailed. By John Flavel minister of Christ in Devon.
London: printed for Robert Boulter, 1681
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.
But now, if this be fore-seen, then there is a singular advantage in a mans hand, either to •se the means of preventing those approaching Calamities, Zeph. 2.3. or if it cannot be prevented, yet to take Sanctuary in Christ, Mic. 5.5. to run to the Promises and Attributes, Esa. 26. ult: and so have a good Roof over his Head while the Storm falls, and the Weather is tempestuous abroad. And therefore certainly, this Preparation is an excellent thing. Whatever the Spirit of God speaks in the commendation of fore-seeing Evils, is with respect to this Duty of preparing for them; for fore-sight of Evils, without preparation, rather increases, than diminishes the misery.
6. A sixth Excellency of Preparation, lies in the influence that it hath into a Christians stability in the evil day. You cannot but know, that your stability in that critical hour of Temptation, is a choice and singular Mercy, in as much as all you are worth in the other World depends upon your standing then, Rev. 21.7, 8. Rom. 2.6, 7. Luke 22.28. Neither can you be ignorant how much you are like to be tried and put to it then, whether you respect the Enemy that engages ⟨p. 34⟩you, Eph. 6.12. or your own weakness, who have been so often foiled in lesser trials, Jer. 12.5. All the Grace you have, will be little enough to keep the Field, and bear you up from sinking; and therefore it cannot but be a blessed thing, to be able to stand and cope with the greatest difficulties, in such a nick of trial as that will be. Now he that expects to do this, must put on the whole Armour of God. See