N00255:40
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.
A man suffers in the cause of God, & so is persecuted, when he suffers for his godliness. As 1 Joh. 3. 12. Cain slew Abel his brother, because his works were Righteous. Or, for bearing witness to any Truth contained in the word of God. As in Rev. 1. 9. & 6. 9. & 20. 4. We read of them that were slain for the word of God. Hence one of the Martyrs when he came to die, held his Bible in his hand, before the people, saying Behold! Here is that which has brought me hither. In such a case, Suffering is a blessed Testimony. Or, for opposing, & testifying against any thing that is condemned in the word of God. He is persecuted, that suffers for opposing any corrupt Opinion in matters of Faith, or Worship: which was the case of Daniel, & the three Worthies; and of the Christians in the Primitive Times: and in these latter Ages also, the Churches of God have been subject unto horrible slaughters for opposing Antichristian Superstitious Doctrines; especially, when the Lords faithful witnesses began boldly to declare against the Pope, & Church of Rome, they were exposed unto great & grievous persecution, on that account, as the Scripture foretold it should come to pass. Rev. 14. 9, 13. He also is persecuted, that suffers for bearing witness against any sinful Practice. If a man set himself against the sins of the Times, for that his Life and Blood may be taken from him; Heb. 12. 4. & Then is he persecuted, Then is he a Martyr. Such an one was Zechariah the son of Jehojadah; who was stoned ⟨p. 6⟩to death for his faithful Testimony against sin, 2 Chron. 24. 20, 21. And John Baptist, who was beheaded for bearing witness against the Uncleanness which some great persons in those Days Lived in, Mat. 14. 3.