And now having spoken these things, I bow my Knees unto the Father ⟨p. 90⟩of our Lord Jesus Christ, in humble Thankfulness for His mercy, in giving me to bear this my Testimony to His Truth before so many Hundreds of witnesses. And my Dearly Beloved, you must needs bear me witness at the Last day, that I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole Counsel of God. Two Considerations have induced me (at this time lest it should be too late) to Preach this Sermon. One, is, Because I sometimes hope that I have not long to be in this world. Full Forty Years are expired since God brought me to dispense His Word in this Congregation. It is then high Time for me to be thinking what my Last words shall be. All the men that were belonging to this Church when I first began my Ministry in Bo••on, are gone to another world, one excepted. As for you that are (as most of you are) sprung up since I have been here, I Cha•ge you by the Lord, that you abide in the Truth, and let no Temptation or change of Times move you from your steadfastness in those. Holy ways wherein you have walked. See that you continue in them after I am ⟨p. 91⟩gone from you. But if I must be so unhappy as to remain longer in this Evil world, I look for Persecution- If wonderful Revolutions in the world prevent it not, such a Time is hastening, as upon the whole Protestant Interest, so upon these Churches in a special manner. In all probability a Storm is coming: And what reason have I to promise my self an Exemption from suffering in it. I do not mean only Persecution by the wicked Pens & Tongues of men, in which you know that I have often had a singular share: But I expect that the days are approaching when Snares will be laid for my Life. As in one of the late Reigns it was so, when Treasonable things were by Evil men forged against me. It is Related in the Martyr Books concerning Cranmer, that when malicious Reports occasioned him some trouble, the King told him he was in greater danger then himself was aware of, not only in that his Zeal in the cause of Religion had caused him many Adversaries, but in that it was an easy matter for his Enemies to procure two or three false witnesses against him▪ And, Why not against you (said the King) ⟨p. 92⟩as well as against your Master CHRIST! Who then am I, that I should think to escape with better usage in and from a malignant world?
And now having spoken these things, I bow my Knees unto the Father ⟨p. 90⟩of our Lord Jesus Christ, in humble Thankfulness for His mercy, in giving me to bear this my Testimony to His Truth before so many Hundreds of witnesses. And my Dearly Beloved, you must needs bear me witness at the Last day, that I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole Counsel of God. Two Considerations have induced me (at this time lest it should be too late) to Preach this Sermon. One, is, Because I sometimes hope that I have not long to be in this world. Full Forty Years are expired since God brought me to dispense His Word in this Congregation. It is then high Time for me to be thinking what my Last words shall be. All the men that were belonging to this Church when I first began my Ministry in Bo••on, are gone to another world, one excepted. As for you that are (as most of you are) sprung up since I have been here, I Cha•ge you by the Lord, that you abide in the Truth, and let no Temptation or change of Times move you from your stedfastness in those. Holy wayes wherein you have walked. See that you continue in them after I am ⟨p. 91⟩gone from you. But if I must be so unhappy as to remain longer in this Evil world, I look for Persecution- If wonderful Revolutions in the world prevent it not, such a Time is hastning, as upon the whole Protestant Interest, so upon these Churches in a special manner. In all probability a Storm is coming: And what reason have I to promise my self an Exemption from suffering in it. I do not mean only Persecution by the wicked Pens & Tongues of men, in which you know that I have often had a singular share: But I expect that the dayes are approaching when Snares will be laid for my Life. As in one of the late Reigns it was so, when Treasonable things were by Evil men forged against me. It is Related in the Martyr Books concerning Cranmer, that when malicious Reports occasioned him some trouble, the King told him he was in greater danger then himself was aware of, not only in that his Zeal in the cause of Religion had caused him many Adversaries, but in that it was an easy matter for his Enemies to procure two or three false witnesses against him▪ And, Why not against you (said the King) ⟨p. 92⟩as well as against your Master CHRIST! Who then am I, that I should think to escape with better usage in and from a malignant world?
