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3. Hence also arm your selves to endure hardness; he that will resolve not to sell the Truth, and never go from that resolution, must expect (and accordingly prepare) to meet with a thousand hazards, and combat ten thousand difficulties in the preservation of it; Paul knows not in particular, what things shall befall him for the Truths sake, but this he is well aware of that bonds and afflictions do abide him. After that we have bought the Truth, and been at never so much cost for it, if Satan and wicked men may have their wills, they will never suffer us to enjoy the quiet possession of it, but do all they can to cast us out of this inheritance: and though it be not always actually so, yet there is ever great reason to expect that it may so be, that if we will not sell the Truth, we may dye for it: if Naboth will not part with his inheritance, ⟨p. 167⟩he must part with his life, and this is an hard chapter to Flesh and Blood; nature relucts here, Skin for Skin, and all that a man hath will he give for his life. They are not the tender and delicate, but the hardy and exercised Christians who are like to endure such a shock as this is, hence therefore the Apostle gives Timothy that advice, 2 Tim. 2. 3. Thou therefore endure hardness as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ; he is a man indeed, who when he sees all creature comforts going, his house rifled, his goods confiscated, his family dispersed, his person seized and laid up in Irons, and his very life exposed to cruelty and rage, and all this for Truths sake; thou can with a cheerful countenance, and undaunted soul, look upon all this, and say with Paul, none of these things move me, nor do I count my life to be dear, so I may but save the Truth, and we may live and die together: he who doth but read what this stood these Worthies of old in, recorded in Heb. 11. 3• &c. will say those were not tender chits, but hardy Soldiers of Jesus Christ.

3. Hence also arm your selves to endure hardness; he that will resolve not to sell the Truth, and never go from that resolution, must expect (and accordingly prepare) to meet with a thousand hazards, and combate ten thousand difficulties in the preservation of it; Paul knows not in particular, what things shall befall him for the Truths sake, but this he is well aware of that bonds and afflictions do abide him. After that we have bought the Truth, and been at never so much cost for it, if Satan and wicked men may have their wills, they will never suffer us to enjoy the quiet possession of it, but do all they can to cast us out of this inheritance: and though it be not always actually so, yet there is ever great reason to expect that it may so be, that if we will not sell the Truth, we may dye for it: if Naboth will not part with his inheritance,