For avoiding this, we must have more respect to the assured issue of Righteousness, then to some present⟨p. 154⟩ seeming inconveniences thereof. We know that the Armour which soldiers wear on their bodies, is for the time cumbersome and heavy: yet for safety they refuse not to wear it: they consider that it is much better to endure a small burden for a while, then to endanger their lives, and lose the victory. Now such is the blessed fruit and issue of Righteousness, that all the honour, profit, and pleasure that can be lost, or all the reproach or shame that can be endured for it, are not worthy of the Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge will give unto his righteous servants. It were almost an infinite task to declare what the Scripture, the word of Truth hath delivered concerning the issue of Righteousness. Generally it saith,c The Lord loveth Righteousness. dVerily there is a reward for the Righteous: *Blessings are on the head of the Righteous, &c. Particularly for the righteous person himself in this life, it is said, thate The eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous. fGod will grant the desire of the Righteous gThe Lord delivereth the Righteous out of all trouble. hThe Righteous shall never be forsaken. iThe Righteous shall be glad. kThe Righteous shall flourish like a Palm tree. lThe Righteous are hold as a Lyon. mThe way of the Righteous shineth as the light, &c. For his death, nThe Righteous hath hope in his death. oThe Righteous are taken away from the evil to come. After death,p The memorial of the Righteous shall be blessed. qThe Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance. At the resurrection, rThe Righteous shall go into life eternal. sThe Righteous shall shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father. For their posterity,t The generation of the Righteous shall be blessed. uTheir seed shall not beg their bread, &c.
For auoiding this, we must haue more respect to the assured issue of Righteousnesse, then to some present⟨p. 154⟩ seeming inconueniences thereof. We know that the Armour which souldiers weare on their bodies, is for the time combersome and heauy: yet for safety they refuse not to weare it: they consider that it is much better to endure a smal burthen for a while, then to endanger their liues, and lose the victory. Now such is the blessed fruit and issue of Righteousnesse, that all the honour, profit, and pleasure that can be lost, or all the reproch or shame that can be endured for it, are not worthy of the Crowne of Righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous Iudge will giue vnto his righteous seruants. It were almost an infinite taske to declare what the Scripture, the word of Truth hath deliuered concerning the issue of Righteousnesse. Generally it saith,c The Lord loueth Righteousnesse. dVerily there is a reward for the Righteous: *Blessings are on the head of the Righteous, &c. Particularly for the righteous person himselfe in this life, it is said, thate The eyes of the Lord are vpon the Righteous. fGod will grant the desire of the Righteous gThe Lord deliuereth the Righteous out of all trouble. hThe Righteous shall neuer be forsaken. iThe Righteous shall be glad. kThe Righteous shall flourish like a Palme tree. lThe Righteous are hold as a Lyon. mThe way of the Righteous shineth as the light, &c. For his death, n
- cPsal. 11. 7.
- dPsal. 58. 11.
- *Pro. 10. 6.
- ePsal. 34. 15.
- fPro. 10. 24.
- gPsal. 34. 19.
- h•sal. 27. 25.
- iPsal 68. 3.
- kPsal 92. 12.
- lPro. 28 1.
- mPro. 4. 18.
- nPro. 14. 32.
- oIsa. 57. 1.
- pPro. 10. 7.
- qPsal. 112. 6.
- r
