Ant. I confess that this is a strong temptation, and requireth much Self-denial and Faith to conflict with it. I pray consider what Counsel Jesus Christ giveth in this case, Matth. 16.24. Let a man deny himself take up his cross, and follow me. I confess that this is harsh Doctrine to flesh and blood; but I will tell you a Cordial against it, Matth. 19.29 Every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren, or Sisters, or Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands for […] Names sake, shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life. Trust God in this Promise, and see if he do not perform it. And be assured, it is better to trust God in a way of well doing, then to trust to wicked and vile men in a way of sin. If God will punish you, all your men, especially the worst of them, cannot save you; but if all your men should forsake ⟨p. 47⟩you, and yet you choose Christ, and be true to him, then Christ will certainly t•ke care of you. And further, this is but a fear that humane Reason maketh; try the Lord, it may be he will make all your men to stick the closer to you. You think the better sort will stick to you, it is but the loss of the worser sort, at the worst, and if you trust in the Lord, he can over-rule the hearts of the worst of men, and they shall no• forsake you. Besides you may put it to the trial, put it to the public Vote; if you should do so, I do think that they will all promise to stick unto you if you pray to God: and then this Objection is cut off in the beginning of the work. Consider also what Christ hath said, Mat. 11.29, 30. he commands such as come to him, to take up my yoke, and learn of me, for I am meek, and lowly of heart, and ye shall […] rest to your souls: For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. You fear that this will be burdensome, heavy, and to your loss; try the Lord if he do not make this Objection easy and light unto you: and see if it do not prove that you are more afraid then hurt. Christ will not suffer any body to lose by him, at last. Nay you shall be a certain and a great gainer by it, both in this world, and in the world to come.
Ant. I confess that this is a strong temptation, and requireth much Self-denial and Faith to conflict with it. I pray consider what Counsel Jesus Christ giveth in this case, Matth. 16.24. Let a man deny h•mself take up his cross, and follow me. I confess that this is harsh Doctrine to flesh and blood; but I will tell you a Cordial against it, Matth. 19.29 Every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren, or S•sters, or Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands for 〈…〉 Names sake, shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life. Trust God in this Promise, and see if he do not perfor• it. And be assured, it is better to trust God in a way of well doing, then to trust to wicked and vile men in a way of sin. If God will punish you, all your men, especially the worst of them, cannot save you; but if all your men should forsake ⟨p. 47⟩you, and yet you choose Christ, and be true to him, then Christ will certainly t•ke care of you. And further, this is but a fear that humane Reason maketh; try the Lord, it may be he will make all your men to stick the closer to you. You think the better sort will stick to you, it is but the loss of the worser sort, at the worst, and if you trust in the Lord, he can over-rule the hearts of the worst of men, and they shall no• forsake you. Besides you may put it to the trial, put it to the publick Vote; if you should do so, I do think that they will all promise to stick unto you if you pray to God: and then this Objection is cut off in the beginning of the work. Consider also what Christ hath said, Mat. 11.29, 30. he commands such as come to him, to take up my yoke, and learn of me, for I am meek, and lowly of heart, and ye shall 〈…〉 rest to your souls: For my yoke is easie, and my burthen light. You fear that this will be burthensome, heavy, and to your loss; try the Lord if he do not make this Objection easie and light unto you: and see if it do not prove that you are more afraid then hurt. Christ will not suffer any body to lose by him, at last. Nay you shall be a certain and a great gainer by it, both in this world, and in the world to come.
