N00255:35
A sermon wherein is showed that the church of God is sometimes a subject…A sermon wherein is shewed that the church of God is sometimes a subject…
A sermon wherein is showed that the church of God is sometimes a subject of great persecution; preached on a public fast at Boston in New-England: occasioned by the tidings of a great persecution raised against the Protestants in France. / By Increase Mather, teacher to a church of Christ. ; [Eight lines of quotations]A sermon wherein is shewed that the church of God is sometimes a subject of great persecution; preached on a publick fast at Boston in New-England: occasioned by the tidings of a great persecution raised against the Protestants in France. / By Increase Mather, teacher to a church of Christ. ; [Eight lines of quotations]
printed for Samuel Sewall, 1682
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.
Q. 1. When may a man be said to be persecuted?
Ans. This is, When a Christian doth suffer in the cause of Christ. There are three things necessarily implied, in order to Mens being among the Number of the Lords persecuted ones.
Ans. This is, When a Christian doth suffer in the cause of Christ. There are three things necessarily implyed, in order to Mens being among the Number of the Lords persecuted ones.
1. They must be exposed unto Sufferings. Persecuted ones are passive ones. They suffer some Evil or other from the world. The Greek word ([Greek or Hebrew]) properly signifieth a Following of another: And it is sometimes used in a good sense: Thus, 1 Thes. 5. 15. Follow that which is good. and Thus, Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace, & holiness. But usually, the word is taken in an evil sense: even To follow another to do him Hurt. When a man does pursue another with a resolved mind never to cease, until he hath obtained his evil desire on him. Here is the persecutor, & the persecuted. In such a way did Saul, & those with him, follow David; and therefore does he say, Ps. 119. 157. Many are my Persecutors, & my enemies. & Ps. 142. 6. Deliver me from my Persecutors: for they are stronger than I.
1. They must be exposed unto Sufferings. Persecuted ones are passive ones. They suffer some Evil or other from the world. The Greek word () properly signifieth a Following of another: And it is sometimes used in a good sence: Thus,