B36604:378
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.
2. And as these have no habitual readiness for sufferings, and consequently must be ruined by them, so there are others that may be truly godly, and have the root of the matter in them, who are yet far from an actual readiness, and so continuing, are like to be a reproach to Religion when their Trial comes. For it is not a little Grace in the sleepy habit that will secure you from falling scandalously by the hand of temptation: And although that Seed of God which is in you, will recover you again, and prevent total and final Apostasy, yet oh consider what a sad thing it is to enter into, and be conquered by temptation, to be led away in triumph by the Tempter, and made a reproach to Christ. O it's a sad consideration to think how many there be amongst the people of God, that discover little or no actual preparation for sufferings, As first;
2. And as these have no habitual readiness for sufferings, and consequently must be ruin'd by them, so there are others that may be truly godly, and have the root of the matter in them, who are yet far from an actual readiness, and so continuing, are like to be a reproach to Religion when their Trial comes. For it is not a little Grace in the sleepy habit that will secure you from falling scandalously by the hand of temptation: And although that Seed of God which is in you, will recover you again, and prevent total and fiual Apostacy, yet oh consider what a sad thing it is to enter into, and be conquered by temptation, to be led away in triumph by the Tempter, and made a reproach to Christ. O it's a sad consideration to think how many there be amongst the people of God, that discover little or no actual preparation for sufferings, As first;
1. Upon how many of the Saints is the Spirit of slumber poured out: Even the wise as well as foolish seem now to be sleep. There is a twofold spiritual sleep; the first is total, upon wicked men: and it's one of Gods sorest and dreadfullest strokes upon their soul, *Isa. 29.10