B36604:186
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.
First, It makes a weak Soul strong and able to bear; and this it doth divers ways.
1. By purging out of the Soul those enfeebling & weakening Distempers; not only guilt in general, which is to the Soul, as a wound upon the bearing Shoulder, Rom. 5.1. The removal whereof enables the Soul to bear any other burden, Isa. 33.24. But it also removes Fear, that Tyrant Passion, that cuts the Nerves of the Soul. For, as Faith comes in, so Fear goes out: Look in what degree the Fear of God is ascendant in the Soul, proportionably the sinful fear of the Creature declines and vanisheth, Esa. 8.12, 13. This fear ⟨p. 71⟩extinguishes that, as the Sun-shine puts out fire: The Righteous is bold as a Lyon, Prov. 28.1. The word [Greek or Hebrew]signifies a young Lyon in his hot blood, that knows no such thing as fear: And look how much of the Soul is empty of Faith, so much its filled with fear: Why are ye fearful, O ye of little Faith? Mat. 8.26. Certainly, it's a rare advantage, to be freed from the common distraction, in times of common destruction: and this advantage the Soul hath by Faith.
1. By purging out of the Soul those enfeebling & weakning Distempers; not only guilt in general, which is to the Soul, as a wound upon the bearing Shoulder, Rom. 5.1. The removal whereof enables the Soul to bear any other burden, Isa. 33.24. But it also removes Fear, that Tyrant Passion, that cuts the Nerves of the Soul. For, as Faith comes in, so Fear goes out: Look in what degree the Fear of God is ascendant in the Soul, proportionably the sinful fear of the Creature declines and vanisheth,