I say again, if persecution be properly taken for the punishment of the Innocent for Truth, or Righteousness sake, it ought not to be found in a Christian Church, but is usually found in a false and Antichristian Church, but I cannot (as the Discusser doth) make it a mark of the Christian Church, to be persecuted, and a mark of a false Church to persecute. For a Mark is such a sign as belongeth, omni, soli, & semper, as a mark of the Church must agree to every Church, and at all times to the Church, and only to the Church. But to be persecuted, is not found in every true Church, at least not at all times: For after the conversion of Paul unto the Faith of Christ, the Churches had rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, Acts 9.31. shall we say they were then no true Christian Churches, because they wanted this mark of the Church, to be persecuted? Again, we read, that after the destruction of Antichrist, the Churches of the Saints ⟨p. 142⟩shall have rest and rule a thousand years, Revel. 20.4. Shall their freedom from persecution, be a dissolution of the Church-Estate? The like may be said of the New Jerusalem (the Churches of the Jews, after the destruction of Gog, and Magog) when God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and take away Death (violent Death) sorrow, crying, and pain, (Rev. 21.4.) shall they then cease to be Churches, when persecution ceaseth?
I say againe, if persecution be properly taken for the punishment of the Innocent for Truth, or Righteousnesse sake, it ought not to be found in a Christian Church, but is usually found in a false and Antichristian Church, but I cannot (as the Discusser doth) make it a marke of the Christian Church, to be persecuted, and a marke of a false Church to persecute. For a Marke is such a signe as belongeth, omni, soli, & semper, as a marke of the Church must agree to every Church, and at all times to the Church, and onely to the Church. But to be persecuted, is not found in every true Church, at least not at all times: For after the conversion of Paul unto the Faith of Christ, the Churches had rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, Acts 9.31. shall we say they were then no true Christian Churches, because they wanted this marke of the Church, to be persecuted? Againe, wee read, that after the destruction of Antichrist, the Churches of the Saints ⟨p. 142⟩shall have rest and rule a thousand yeares, Revel. 20.4. Shall their freedome from persecution, be a dissolution of the Church-Estate? The like may be said of the New Jerusalem (the Churches of the Jewes, after the destruction of Gog, and Magog) when God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes, and take away Death (violent Death) sorrow, crying, and paine, (Rev. 21.4.) shall they then cease to be Churches, when persecution ceaseth?
