Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity,…

Fourthly, A fourth Excellency of Preparation for Sufferings lies in this, that it hath a tendency to convince and awaken the drowsy World. O! if the Lords people would but fall about this work in earnest, and live as people that are providing for a Storm, and resolve in the strength of God to run all hazards and hardships for Christ, I am persuaded it would be of more use, to startle and convince the World, than all the Sermons that ever they heard: for here is that which dashes and cuts the throat of all our labours, we preach up Self-denial, and contempt of life and liberty for Christ. Now though they hear us preach the necessity and excellency of these things, and hear you profess them as your Principles; yet when they look upon the lives of Professors in times of danger, and find no proportion betwixt Profession and Practice; when they see us cling to the World, and are as loath to give it up as others; when ⟨p. 30⟩they observe Prisons and Sufferings, affright and terrify us as much as those that make no Profession; when they see us start like Hares at every sound, and that we live not loose from the World, as men prepared to let it go, and give it up for Christ: Why then they conclude that we dare not trust our own Principles, when it comes to the push: And how can they be persuaded to believe that which they think we our selves do not really believe, although we persuade them to believe it?

Fourthly, A fourth Excellency of Preparation for Sufferings lies in this, that it hath a tendency to convince and awaken the drowsie World. O! if the Lords people would but fall about this work in earnest, and live as people that are providing for a Storm, and resolve in the strength of God to run all hazards and hardships for Christ, I am perswaded it would be of more use, to startle and convince the World, than all the Sermons that ever they heard: for here is that which dashes and cuts the throat of all our labours, we preach up Self-denial, and contempt of life and liberty for Christ. Now though they hear us preach the necessity and excellency of these things, and hear you profess them as your Principles; yet when they look upon the lives of Professors in times of danger, and find no proportion betwixt Profession and Practice; when they see us cling to the World, and are as loath to give it up as others; when ⟨p. 30⟩they observe Prisons and Sufferings, affright and terrifie us as much as those that make no Profession; when they see us start like Hares at every sound, and that we live not loose from the World, as men prepared to let it go, and give it up for Christ: Why then they conclude that we dare not trust our own Principles, when it comes to the push: And how can they be perswaded to believe that which they think we our selves do not really believe, although we perswade them to believe it?