B36604:120
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 it is Grace that thus raises the Spirits of men above all the smiles and honours, frowns and fears of men: and no other Principle but Grace can do it. There is indeed a natural stoutness and generosity in some, which may carry them far, as it's said of Alexander, that when any great danger approached him, his courage would rise, and he would say, Jam periculum par animo Alexandri; here is a danger fit for Alexander to encounter: so Pompey when dissuaded from a dangerous Voyage, answered, Necesse est ut eam, non ut vivam; It's necessary that I go, not that I live. But this being fed only by a natural Spring, can carry a man no higher than Nature, and will flag at last. If applause and the observation of the world supply it not, it quickly ebbs and fails.
But now it is Grace that thus raises the Spirits of men above all the smiles and honours, frowns and fears of men: and no other Principle but Grace can do it. There is indeed a natural stoutness and generosity in some, which may carry them far, as it's said of Alexander, that when any great danger approached him, his courage would rise, and he would say, Jam periculum par animo Alexandri; here is a danger fit for Alexander to encounter: so Pompey when disswaded from a dangerous Voyage, answered, Necesse est ut eam, non ut vivam; It's necessary that I go, not that I live. But this being fed only by a natural Spring, can carry a man no higher than Nature, and will flag at last. If applause and the observation of the world supply it not, it quickly ebbs and fails.
But as Grace raises men much higher; so it maintains it even when there is nothing to encourage without; when forsaken of all Creatures, and visible supports, 2 Tim. 4.10. and this it doth three ways: (1) By giving him that hath it a view of far greater things, which shrinks up all temporary things, and makes them appear but trifles and small matters, Rom. 8.18. 2 Cor. 4.18. By Grace a man rises with Christ,