B36604:225
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.
And the first Rule is this, Rule. 1 Get a weaned heart from all earthly enjoyments. If the heart be inordinately fixed upon any one thing that you possess in the world, that inordinate estimation and affection of it will strangely effeminate, soften, and cowardice your Spirit when your trial comes, 2 Tim. 2.4. You meet not with a man of courage for God, but had his heart dead to earthly things; so it was with Paul, Phil. 3.8. Since the Apostles days we scarce meet with a greater example of holy magnanimity than Luther; and if you read his story, you will find few men ever set a lower rate on the world then he. All the Turkish Empire in his eye was but a Crumb cast to the Dogs. Germana est haec bestia, pecuniam non curat, Money could not tempt him.
And the first Rule is this, Rule. 1 Get a weaned heart from all earthly enjoyments. If the heart be inordinately fixed upon any one thing that you possess in the world, that inordinate estimation and affection of it will strangely effeminate, soften, and cowardize your Spirit when your trial comes, 2 Tim. 2.4. You meet not with a man of courage for God, but had his heart dead to earthly things; so it was with Paul, Phil. 3.8. Since the Apostles dayes we scarce meet with a greater example of holy magnanimity than Luther; and if you read his story, you will find few men ever set a lower rate on the world then he. All the Turkish Empire in his eye was but a Crumb cast to the Dogs. Germana est haec bestia, pecuniam non curat, Money could not tempt him.
Suffer not guilt to lie upon your Consciences: Rule. 2 It is a fountain of fears, and you can never attain boldness for God, till it be removed, Rom. 5.1, 2, 3. The Spirit of a sound mind is opposed to the Spirit of fear,