Finally, When you cannot possibly, or may not lawfully serve God as Soldiers, be willing to serve God as Sufferers. God knows whether you may ever be put upon the bearing of any Testimonies to the Truths or Ways ⟨p. 33⟩of Jesus Christ, which may incur the Frowns of all Standers-by. Now it will be a greater magnanimity to suffer Disgrace and Poverty and Imprisonment cheerfully, than it is to defend a Fe••d of Lentils singly against an whole Army of Philistines, or to slaughter six hundred of 'em with an Ox-goad. Be ready with a passive Obedience, to follow Him whom the Apostle styles in Heb. 2.10. The Captain of our Salvation, made perfect through Sufferings. Soldiers have sometimes had their Superstitions about Crosses, but most certainly it is the most real Christianity to take a Cross imposed by the Providence of the Lord Jesus on us, and to lay the ragged Tree upon our shoulders until it do there bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness. The name that our K. Edward 1. (the comeliest of men) had, when called Crouch-back, because of the Cross which he wore on his Back, very well befits a Soldier, when Crosses and Trials are carved out for him by the God of Heaven. Christian Soldiers should be as willing to entertain Crosses, I mean Sorrows, and Troubles, for the sake of the Gospel, as the Primitive Christian Soldiers were to throw by the military Crowns which were proffered unto them. The Ancients have with very eloquent ••nes ⟨p. 34⟩celebrated those Forty Soldiers, who for the professing themselves Christians, were content to undergo the fiery exquisite Anguish of being Frozen to death. Let every one of us in like sort be content to endure the bleakest▪ the most nipping and piercing winds that can blow upon us for our Faithfulness unto the Son of God. O be among the Armies in Heaven […] the Lamb, and if ever you should (thanks be to God you yet have not) to do with Persecutors, be unto them no otherwise than as Sheep before the Shearers.
Finally, When you cannot possibly, or may not lawfully serve God as Souldiers, be willing to serve God as Sufferers. God knowes whether you may ever be put upon the bearing of any Testimonies to the Truths or Wayes ⟨p. 33⟩of Jesus Christ, which may incurr the Frowns of all Standers-by. Now it will be a greater magnanimity to suffer Disgrace and Poverty and Imprisonment cheerfully, than it is to defend a Fe••d of Lentiles singly against an whole Army of Philistines, or to slaughter six hundred of 'em with an Ox-goad. Be ready with a passive Obedience, to follow Him whom the Apostle styles in Heb. 2.10. The Captain of our Salvation, made perfect through Sufferings. Souldiers have sometimes had their Superstitions about Crosses, but most certainly it is the most real Christianity to take a Cross imposed by the Providence of the Lord Jesus on us, and to lay the ragged Tree upon our shoulders until it do there bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness. The name that our K. Edward 1. (the comliest of men) had, when called Crouch-back, because of the Cross which he wore on his Back, very well befits a Souldier, when Crosses and Tryals are carved out for him by the God of Heaven. Christan Souldiers should be as willing to entertain Crosses, I mean Sorrows, and Troubles, for the sake of the Gospel, as the Primitive Christian Souldiers were to throw by the military Crowns which were profered unto them. The Ancients have with very eloquent ••nes ⟨p. 34⟩celebrated those Forty Souldiers, who for the professing themselves Christians, were content to undergo the fiery exquisite Anguish of being Frozen to death. Let every one of us in like sort be content to endure the bleakest▪ the most nipping and peircing winds that can blow upon us for our Faithfulness unto the Son of God. O be among the Armies in Heaven 〈…〉 the Lamb, and if ever you should (thanks be to God you yet have not) to do with Persecutors, be unto them no otherwise than as Sheep before the Shearers.
