B36604:251
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.
Sixthly, Lastly take notice of the approaches of Eternity; Remember you are almost at the end of Time: and when you come to launch out into that endless Ocean, how will these things look then? It seems glorious, whilst you are in the chase and pursuit of it; but, upon a Death-bed, you will overtake and come up with it, and then you'll see what a deceitful and vain thing it is: Stand by the Beds of dying men, and hear how they speak of it. Oh the difference betwixt our apprehensions then, and now! Thus labour to wean off your Affections, and crucify them to the World.
Sixthly, Lastly take notice of the approaches of Eternitie; Remember you are almost at the end of Time: and when you come to lanch out into that endless Ocean, how will these things look then? It seems glorious, whilest you are in the chace and pursuit of it; but, upon a Death-bed, you will overtake and come up with it, and then you'l see what a deceitful and vain thing it is: Stand by the Beds of dying men, and hear how they speak of it. Oh the difference betwixt our apprehensions then, and now! Thus labour to wean off your Affections, and crucifie them to the World.
2. Mortify your Ambition, and vain Affectation of the Repute and Credit of the World: Oh stand not on so vain a thing as this! judge it but a small thing to be judged of man, to have your Names cast out as evil: Let not Scoffs and Reproaches be such terrible things to you. It is, without doubt, a great trial; else the Holy Ghost had not added a peculiar Epithet to it, which is not given to any other of the sufferings of the Saints: not cruel Tortures, nor cruel Stonings, Burnings, slayings with the Sword; but cruel mockings, Heb. 11.36.
2. Mortifie your Ambition, and vain Affectation of the Repute and Credit of the World: Oh stand not on so vain a thing as this! judge it but a small thing to be judged of man, to have your Names cast out as evil: Let not Scoffs and Reproches be such terrible things to you. It is, without doubt, a great trial; else the Holy Ghost had not added a peculiar Epithete to it, which is not given to any other of the sufferings of the Saints: not cruel Tortures, nor cruel Stonings, Burnings, slayings with the Sword; but cruel mockings,