they are willing to be reproved for sin to be instructed concerning duty they hear they keep the word as well as hear it Prov. 10. 17. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction So Prov. 6. 23. For the commandment is a Lamp and the Law is light and the reproofs of instruction is the way of life The word of God hath not only a convincing and a converting and an edifying power put 't will put the crown at last upon the head of the faithful therefore the Apostle affirms it able to give the inheritance Act. 20. 32. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified 4. They who are Heirs to the Crown of Life do mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirits help they do it Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live The Heirs of life are weary of the body of sin and death therefore they crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts of 〈◊〉 They mortifie their members on earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence covetousness which is idolatry Col. 3. 5. Every sin that they see they look upon with an eye of grief and hatred and strike at it 5. They who are heirs to the Crown of Life have their fruit unto holiness Rom. 6. 22. But now being made free from sin and become the servants of God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life The pure in heart shall see the Lord Mat. 5. 8. his back parts now his face in glory And truly the holy are only fit to behold the Holy One. Art thou an enemy to holiness Thou art an enemy to thy own life The heirs of life understand that Jerusalem above is an holy City therefore they apply plead the promise of sanctification they cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. 6. They who are heirs to the Crown of Life persevere to the end they are faithful to the death as the Texâ— speaks they hold fast what they have that none may take their Crown away they not only begin but finish their course and keep the faith and so they receive a Crown of righteousness at the hand of the Lord the righteous Judge USE III. Suffer I beseech you a few words of Exhortation and I shall conclude with them 1. Let the serious and believing consideration of this Crown of life enliven and quicken you to every duty Art thou hearing for a Crown and praying for a Crown and wilt thou hear carelesly and pray coldly Doth not such a Kingdom as heaven is deserve thou shouldst use an holy violence to take it what slothful and dead when such glory is in view Oh strive to enter in at the strait gate that when thou seekest to enter in at Heavens door and cryest Lord Lord open to me entrance may not be denyed 2. Let this Crown of life be made use of to silence Satan to fence thee against temptation When the Devil tells thee of â—ase and gain and pleasure which sin will afford reply Come O thou lying and deceitful spirit put thy â—ase and gain and pleasure into one Ballance of the Sanctuary and I will put the Crown of life and glory into the other and what is sinful â—ase to the Saints rest or the gain of gold to the Saints glory or pleasures for a moment to eternal rejoycing Satan will not know what to say to this but perceiving unlikelyhood of prevailing will flee from you 3. Let this crown of Life loosen your hearts from the world Do not defile and load your selves with thick clay do not stick fast therein when such glory is so certain and near at hand Be not desirous of or content with a portion in this life since you are just entring upon a better Live as strangers and pilgrims on earth declare plainly that you seek a better country then the world hath any 4. Let this crown of Life steel your hearts against sufferings Fear not what enemies can do since the keyes of heaven hang not at their girdle nor glory is given of their pleasure Our Lord set the joy before him so he endured the cross and despised the shame Heb. 12. 2. and if you imitate him you shall at length sit down where he is at the right hand of the throne of God 5. Let this crown of life set you above the fear of dissolution it cannot be enjoyed till you are gone from hence you must dye before you can live the life above Let your death be natural or violent you must not be startled or amazed The Angels are ready to do their office to convey you to paradise Christs arms are open to receive you which are a part of his purchase and his redeemed ones Christ understands what 't is to dye 't is an unusual tryal which you can have experience of but once unusual strength shall be afforded If death were but lookt upon only as a dark passage into the glorious and lightsome inheritance it would be no longer terrible but desireable 6. let this crown of Life make you long for your Lords appearing Oh cry unto him to remove time and dayes out of the way and that the wheels of his chariot may make greater hast Long for the time when the heavens shall break asunder and the fairest of ten thousand shall shew his face through the clouds and sit upon his great white throne to judge the world in righteousness When he comes his reward will be with him Rev. 2 2. 12. Never a Saint shall be seen without a crown at that day And Oh what a spectacle will it be to behold the Head and all the members together every one having on a rich and sparkling diadem The Saints are described to be such as love their Lords appearing And there is reason they should wish for it For when Christ who is their life shall appear then shall they also appear with him in glory FINIS
't is but reason that to the last we should be stedfast Cardinal Wolsey indeed was weary of the service of King Henry the Eighth and said If he had served God so faithfully as he had done the King God would not have forsaken him in his gray hairs But Christ is another kind of Master than any other Potentate Old Polycarpus said he had served Christ for several Scores of years and knew nothing but good by him and therefore in his old age he chose to suffer any thing rather than deny him The harder we follow after Christ and the longer we continue his disciples we discover new beauties new pleasures new treasures and so we can never find just reason to exchange since 't will be so much for the worse but just reason to the contrary since Christs lovliness and fulness and libetality in communicating of that fulness doth daily more and more abundantly appear 3. If we are not faithful to the death all that we have done before will be lost we shall lose those things which we have wrought and miss of our reward That 's a full place Ezek. 18. 24. But when the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity and doth according to all the abâ—minations that the wicked man doth shall he live All his righteousness that he hath â—one shall not be mentioned in his trespass that he hath trespassed and in his sin which he hath sinned in them shall he dye By the righteous man we are to understand one that by profession is righteous and outwardly unblamable performing the duties required of him if he give out and turn aside all his duties will be lost all his hearing all his prayers all his deeds of justice and mercy will not be mention'd he continues not stedfast which shews he was never sincere however others were deceived in him and himself too USE The only Use of this Doctrine shall be to admonish all that profess the name of Christ to persevere to the end Depart from iniquity but never from your Lord. When first you give up your selves to Christ reckon upon this that you must ever abide with him Your closing with Christ is a marriage and this Husband never dies you must not give away your selves to another The Arguments to perswade you to be faithful till death are these 1. Many unfaithful ones at death tremble and are in horrour because of their Apostacy Conscience often awakes when the King of terrours is within view a dreadful sound is in the backsliders ears trouble and anguish make him afraid and prevail against him as a King ready to the Battel To have ones spirit wounded with anâ— tollerable stroke to have the Dâ—vils accusing the creatures all failing sins set in order before the eyes calamity as a storm ready to hurâ— one out of the would and God so far from piâ—ving as to laugh at ones destruction and to be comforted in the vengeance that is inflicted Ezek. 5. 13. must needs be very dreadful But this is the doleful case conclusion of many baâ—â— slâ—ders 2. Death is near at hand think net much of so short a time to be faithful If a Master should say Work hard to day and I will give thee an inheritance for thy life verily the most slothful would not think much of the heat and burthen Now God sayes abide in my service for a little while and then you shall rest from all your labours and sufferings and that rest shall be for ever Oh how should this encourage 3. Faithfulness to the death will take away the fear of death Death will be look upon a Messenger to tell you that your Lord can no longer brook your absence to tell you that your warfare is accomplished and that having been faithful in your Masters business you must enter into your Masters joy Be but faithful unto death and Christ will stand by you at death and after death he will receive you The Ninth Doctrine Vpon those that continue faithful unto death Christ will certainly bestow a Crown of Life and Immortality 〈◊〉 If the eye of Faith were but more open and strong-sighted how would this Crown glister and shine What a vehement inducement would it prove to perseverance In the handling of this Doctrine I shall first endeavour to shew what and what manner of life the text speakes of Secondly in what regard this life is called a Crown Thirdly lay down some arguments to prove the certainty of the certainty of the doctrine that the faithful shall be thus crown'd with immortality then close with the uses In the first place I am to shew what and what manner of life the text speakes of A subject I confess more fit for an Angels tongue then mine The soul while imprisoned in the body is of a narrow capacity and apprehends but little of that glory which is above The actual inhabitants of the new Jerusalem can bâ—â—t tell what kinde of habitation it is They that are but passing through the wilderness of this world know but little what manner of life is lead in the heavenly Cannaan yet since we have a Map of this blessed land of promise in the word let us take a view of it and let us view so long till we cry with Augustines mother Quid hic facimus What do we here and groan with pangs of desire to be gone from hence and possessed of our heavenly country Now what the word speaks of this life above in these particulars I shall declare 1. That life above will consist in the nearest union and conjunction to God Life natural is the result of union between the soul and body and life eternal of the union between the soul and God And truly to be banished and separated from the Lord for ever will be the second death The Apostle comforts the Thessalonians with this Chap. 4. Epist 2. v. 17. So shall we ever be with the Lord. How near their God will the Saints be admitted hereafter His dwelling in them is comparatively called an Absence in respect of that presence in the other world to be vouchsafed These three things will be consequent upon this union to God 1. One will be the vision or seeing of God sayes the Apostle 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then I shall know even as also I am known The Saints shall no longer complain of darkness of ignorance of those horribiles dubitationes as Melancthon calls them horrible doubtings concerning God with which they are sometimes haunted They shall see God immediately and what they behold how will it raise their love and joy and wonder The Lord said to Moses Thou canst not see my face and live q. d. Such a sight would be so glorious as that thy fraile nature would be overwhelmed by it But the perfected Saints are strengthened for such a felicity their life lies in looking
Fatling together a little Child shall lead them And the sucking Child shall play on the hole of the Asp and the weaned Child shall put his hand on the Cockatrice Den They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain But most certainly this peace and concord shall be among the Saints above no biting no devouring one another no diversity of judgments but all will agree in the same truth no alienation of affection for love to the Lord and to one another will be perfect the spirit that lusteth to envy will be cast out selfish ends will carry none aside disputes will be at an end the wounds which divisions have made will be closed How good and pleasant will be that unity when all the Saints will be of one of the right mind 6. The life above will be lead among the most suitable society The Saints will then have bid farewel to Mesâ—ech and the Tents of Kedar they shall no longer dwell among revilers at holiness the openly prophane the scandalous or lifeless professors of Religion no filthy communication or conversation in heaven to vex their righteous souls no contempt of God no provoking the eyes of his glory no cursing swearing pride wantonness to be heard or seen in the heavenly City When they come thither they will say How blessedly unlike is this to that place and company which we came from Glorified spirits innumerable companies of Angels will be their companions these will be glad to see them safely arrived unto rest For if there be joy in heaven at the conversion of a sinner we may very well infer there will be joy likewise at the Saints Coronation 7. That life above will fully answer its end The Saints were formed by the Lord for himself and they will be eternally shewing forth his praise and glory They will never entertain so much as an unbecoming thought of God but to magnifie and extol him will be their everlasting business their hearts and their Harpes will be ever in tune to sound forth his Name Now they do but lisp and stammer out his praises but then how seraphical will their Songs be and they will never be weary of singing Hallelujahs Oh what extasies of joy and love with what ravishment of spirit with what unconceivable raptures of delight will the whole Assembly and Church of the First-born joyn together saying Amen blessing and glory and wisdome and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 7. 12. The triumphant Saints will perfectly answer the design of God in their Creation in their new Creation they will glorifie him for ever who upon them hath bestowed eternal Glory 8. The life above will be an everlasting life Death it self will be destroyed and swallowed up in victory The eternity of the Saints joyes and enjoyments makes them infinitely of the greater value Heaven would be no longer Heaven were they ever to be turned out of it all the sweetness would be imbittered with the thoughts of its period But adored be the riches of mercy the inheritance is said to be incorruptible the Kingdome cannot be moved the Crown of glory fadeth not away the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. ult Howâ— ye damned spirits your miseries are everlasting you are banished from God and shall never be called back but be unconsumed fewel for unquench able flames Triumph and râ—jâ—yce ye glorified Souls As long as God is he will be your God your portion your reward as long as God is you shall live in his presence and enjoy him Thus you see what what manner of life the Text speaks of In the second place I am to shew upon what score this Life is called a Crown 1. This Crown intimates that the Saints are Conquerours They have run the Race and won the prize they have fought the good fight of Faith and laid hold on eternal life They may truly say super-superamus we are more than conquerours They have being strengthned by him that loveth them conquered the whole World conquered the Principallities and Powers of Hell conquered themselves too their own lusts and passions and affections All other Battels are but petty skirmishes to the spiritual combate mortal men are but inconsiderable enemies compared with fleshly lusts and evil Angels All the Conquerours recorded in History are hardly worth the mentioning with a Christian that endures and overcomes And what is Lawrel to that Crown at last put upon the Christians Head 2. This Crown speaks the honour and dignity whereunto the Saints are advanced Though exceedingly filled with contempt and the scorning of those that are at ease yet even here the Saints are Kings Priests Rev. 1. 5 6. Vnto him that loved us â—nd washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever And when they come to Glory they are actually crown'd then 't is evident the World was not worthy of them and that far better than what the world could bestow is freely given them Heaven is called a Kingdome the Reward a Crown to shew 't is no mean prize the Christian aimes at What is all the height and grandeur on earth to the Kingly dignity put upon believers What are all the Kingdomes of the world and the glory of them to reigning with the Lord for ever The four great Monarchies by the Holy Ghost are compared unto four great Beasts Dan. 7. 3. Surely earthly Crowns are but base and sordid to the heavenly 3. This expression a Crown of life is used to shew that the Crown fades not will never be less bright for wearing 't will never be thrown off 't is a living Crown a Crown of immortality In the next place follow the Arguments to prove the Doctrine that the Saints shall be thus Crowned and they are these 1. One shall be drawn from the Fathers good pleasure This good pleasure Christ declares to the little flocks encouragement Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little Flock 't is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome And this his counsel is immutable he will do this his pleasure This pleasure he hath plainly signified in his Covenant and Promises wherein Glory as well as Grace is assured and hereby he hath heightned beliâ—vers hopes and expectations and certainly to frustrate them is not consistent with his truth and goodness 2. A second Argument shall be drawn from Christs purchase He hath purchased that possession for his Saints in the next world he hath bought that Crown by his Cross In the New Testament the Lord Jesus hath bequeathed life to them and by the Death of Himself the Testatour this Testament is confirmed Heb. 9. 16. So that this Life is as sure as 't is sure our Lord dyed 3. A third Argument shall be drawn from Christs entring into life and taking
A COVERT FROM THE STORM OR The Fearful encouraged in Times of SUFFERING FROM Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed ye shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life By Nathanael Vincent a Preacher and Prisoner of Jesus Christ and written during his close confinement when few could come at him but his God who yet abundantly made up the want of other company London Printed in the Year 1671. To Him that is Higher than the Highest and will shortly come to judge the world in righteousness Most Mighty Lord A Prisoner approaches to thy footstool and not without some confidence because he is confiâ—ed not for evil doing but for well doing That which men account his crime thou hast made his duty and by doing this he hath incurred their displeasure but he hopes he hath avoyded thine He was willing to cast the Net over a great many that the more might be taken and by being taken set indeed at liberty He was desirous that the Subjects of thy Kingdome might be multiplyed therefore he spake to such great multitudes and he verily thinks however men may censure it thou dost not call it Rashness or Zeal not according to knowledge Since thou hast commanded thy Messengers to go into the High-wayes and as many as they find to bid to the Marriage Since thou layest an injunction upon them to preach the Gospel to every creature surely thou 〈…〉 r didst intend their compassion and care should be confined to a very few Oh therefore that every Five of them that hear thy voyce and follow thee might be increased unto so many thousands Thin Congregations are a lamentable sight Let them therefore fly as a Cloud and as Doves to their windows Incline the hearts of Magistrates to pity and moderation let their Sword be drawn only against those that are Malefactors truly so called not against such as would fain be at work for thee and turning many unto righteousness Convince them that 't will be the design and desire of a godly Ministry to make their Hearers better Subjects to their earthly Rulers as well as to the King of Saints Thy Prisoner who is in this Gate-house during thy will and pleasure earnestly Petitions for his liberty He deserves to be laid aside but desires to be used he would fain have the Prison Dore open to let him out but is a great deal more earnest to have the Pulpit dore open to let him in that he might again be preaching of thy Gospel He longs to be warning the secure who see not the Sword drawn out against them to be stopping the madmen who are making such hast to eternal destruction to be inviting the miserable to mercy the lost unto a Saviour Where is thy zeal thy strength O Lord and the sounding of thy Bowels and thy mercies are they restrained Oh pity immortal Souls that are going to Hell by Droves and in some places the Pastours are so far from hindring that being exemplary for loosness and impiety they go before them to perdition Thy Prisoner blesses thee that ever he had the honour to be in bonds for thee The worse of thee even thy Cross is not at all to be disliked The enlargments of his heart have been greater then when he was at liberty his peace hath been more perfect Thy presence is so sweet that he would go to any place to have more of it Thou hast given in that grace which is glory begun he confidently believes this Gaol will make him more meet for the glorious liberty of thy Children and that he shall praise thee for ever for what he hath endured Thy Servant can say it with boldness before thee that he honours the Authority thou hast set over him he hath put others in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers to be ready to every good work and remembers it is his own duty to be thus subject Only he hath preached contrary to the Magistrates Command because thy Command is so express for preaching and thou pressest it upon Pastours as they love thee to feed thy Lambs to feed thy Sheep Oh thou dreadful and heart-searching Judge cause the integrity of thy Noneonforming Servants to shine so bright as to break through all unreasonable prejudices Let their righteousness be brought forth as the Light and their judgment as the Noon day that that severity may be at length ashamed of it self that 's used towards them Oh hasten hasten thy second appearing that the secrets of hearts may be discovered and that it may be made manifest before men and Angels who have worshiped thee the rightest way who most have sought thee and least themselves Thy Servant being taken off from preaching was willing to be some way beneficial to thy Church therefore his Pen hath been going when his tongue could not And if souls are edified and encouraged if thy Kingdome and Name and Glory be any way by this Writing advanced then the highest end will be attained which is aimed at by him who is not who would not be his own but by millions of Obligations is engaged to be Thine Eternally Nathanael Vincent TO THE READERS Especially those that were wont to be his Hearers Readers NEed Arguments be used with the toss't in a tempest to put into an Haven or with the pursued by the avenger to fly to a Sanctuary Their danger is the best Rhetorick to perswade them to that which is for their own security And if your danger were more deeply and rightly apprehended you would hasten to the Lord whose Name is a strong Tower and who hath promised to be an hiding place from the wind a covert from the Tempest as Rivers of water in a dry place and as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land Isa 32. 2. The Devil hath great wrath because he knows he hath but a short time We in this latter age of the World must expect more furious assaults from him because the day of Judgment unto which he is reserved is hastning His instruments are enraged and drive on furiously But what is all their force and power to the strength of that Almighty Lord who if you leave to him and trust in him hath covenanted to uphold you How inconsiderable is their anger when your believing thoughts have dwelt a little upon his kindness and compassion Be not affrighted at the Cross of Christ 't will when felt and sweetned be found no more a burthen to you than wings are to the Bird flying in the air or Sails to the Ship cutting through the Sea 't will be a means to mend your pace and make you run swifter in your Race towards the Prize of the high Calling of God If your Lord had not known the easiness and usefulness of his yoak he would never have required
you to have taken it upon you I have Preached much to your incouragement Now I am taken off a sad silence is imposed on me Only my mouth is still open to the Lord for you that you may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God I could not have satisfied either you or my self unless in this my restraint and retirement I had written somthing that might be a furtherance to your faith joy in this hour of temptation The blessing of the Father of Spirits go along with this Book Oh that believers may be strengthened and refreshed by it And if enemies read it with an ill mind the Author wisheth that by reading it their minds may be changed and for their own sakes as well as his made better Nathanael Vincent ERRATA Before you read I pray correct these faults else the sense will be quite spoyled in some places PAge 37. Line 12. for confess read profess Page 43. line 14. for preservation read preservative Page 47. line 18. for doth uphold read do uphold Page 53. line 15. for offences read offenders Line 16. of the same page for heartily read presently Line 17. for very read many Line 18. for even read seven Page 77. line 10. for Goal house read Gatehouse Page 88. line 9. for ever read even Page 100. line 21. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Page 104. line 23. for religious enemies read enemies of Religion Page 107. line 3. for expressive read express Page 108. 116. for shal read should Page 109. line 1. for their read this Page 113. line 3. for loved read bestomed Page 119. line 12. blot out upon you Page 120. line 5. for but read best Page 121. line 27. for fear of God is seen read face of God is seen Page 123. line 27. for communion read coniunction Page 124 line 6. for fall read fâ—l Line 16. of the same Page for filled read killed Page 125. line 8. for unspeakable read uncapable Line 22. of the same Page for attended read attained Line 24. for mouths are songs read mouths are full of songs A COVERT FROM THE STORM Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life A Light is hung up at the porch of this Book which is so very mysterious the three first Chapters are more easy to be understood than those that follow Here the waters of the Sanctuary are but up to the head but presently they grow so deep as that the tallest must be fain to swim I am perswaded that one reason why the Holy Ghost speakes so sublimely is that man when he reads may sometimes lay aside the book and cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth and being the more humbly sensible of his own ignorance and weaknesses may pray with the greater earnestness that the Spirit who was the Inspirer would also be the Interpreter of the Revelation Seven Epistles or Letters dated from Heaven indited by the Son of God are sent to the seven Churches of Asia He who knew their works owns what is right taxes what was a miss and calls to repentance and amendmenâ— and charges them to hold fast those good things which they had received as being a treasure highly worth the keeping The Captain of their salvation encourages to quit themselves like men that overcoming they might in the end be crown'd The Text I have chosen lyes in the Epistle sent to the Church in Smyrna Poor they were in the World and yet rich towards God and it is not unlikely that for the securing of their spiritual riches as to worldly things they had been impoverished Christ knew their works and as their works so likewise their tribulation he knew also how to support them under the heaviest and most pressing burthens nay to render all their troubles advantagious by conducing to their more perfect purity and peace and therefore bids them in no wise to be afraid Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer c. Our Lord came to deliver not only from the sting of Death and from the curse of the Cross and affliction but from the fear of both The words may be analysed or resolved into three parts First Here 's a general encouragment against all kinds of suffering Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Secondly Among other sufferings imprisonment is specified and foretold where take notice 1. who is the procuring cause of imprisonment and he is the Devil 2. The persons imprisoned Some of you All the Saints shall not be in bonds together 3. The end of their imprisonment which their God aims at in permitting it 't is that they may be tryed 4. Although they have tribulation it shall not be long-liv'd it shall last but ten dayes that is a very short season Thirdly We have a strict charge given Be thou faithful and that even to the death Perseverance must run parallel with our lives Fourthly A sure and glorious promise perswading to this faithfulness and enduring to the end I will give thee a Crown of life Here 's a Crown a word that carries great dignity and advancement This Crown is a Crown of life or a living Crown The Garland that 's put upon the heads of triumphant Saints will never wither their Crown will never fade there will be no death to throw it off again when once they have received it This Crown shall be given to shew that what they do or can do bears no proportion to such a reward Neither their active nor passive obedience is meritorious Grace Grace must be written round the Crown of glory because freely bestowed I will give this Crown sayes Christ I who have purchased it by my death who have it in my keeping who am the Lord of glory and alive for evermore The text is very fruitful and affords several very excellent and useful points of Doctrine I shall raise these nine which flow naturally from the words and insist upon them all The first Doctrine is this He that will be a Saint shall be a sufferer The second this No sufferings should cause the Saints to be afraid The third this Among other troubles sâ—me Believers endure bonds and imprisonment The Fourth this The Devil is the imprisoner of Believers The Fifth this That Saints are imprisoned that they may be tryed The Sixth this The Tribulation of Believers will not last alwayes after ten dayes that is a short time a period will be put to it The Seventh Doctrine is this Whatsoever sufferings a Christian is exposed to he must be faithful The Eighth this A Christians faithfulness must run parallel with his life to the very death he must be stedfast The Ninth and last is this Vpon those who continue faithful to the death Christ
holy violence towards him Ever be telling him what you need what you desire and be encouraged by the promise he hath made to satiate the weary and to replenish every sorrowful soul Jer. 31. 25. Fellowship with God will make solitude pleasant you will find though alone that you have the best company If you are continually almost speaking to God by supplication and thanksgiving and hearing what he speaks to you by his Word and Providences and Spirit you will have reason to profess that a Prison is one of the best places of abode next to the Sanctuary and the New Jerusalem 5. Let imprisonment be improved so as to further your progress in sanctification Ransack every corner of your hearts Deal much more severely with your lusts than men can deal with you cry out with violence against your fleshly and worldly inclinations 'T is sin that deads and imprisons your Spirits the more sanctified you are the more you will be at liberty Tell the Lord and speak it â—â—â—m your very hearts that sin is the worst of all your adversaries and that the remainders of the old man are worse than any fetters in the world Never let the Lord alâ—â—â— till you find the body of death pining and dying sensibly away the world as a contemptible thing more under your feet and your inward man encreasing strength and growing up a pace to the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Epâ— 4. 13. USE II. Of Consolation to imprisoned believers Several things may be suggested as grounds of comfort and encouragement 1. God can come at his people through barr'd and bolted doors No dungeon can keep the Prisoner close from him We read that the Lord came to his Disciples the door being shut and said Peace be unto you And if he come into the Prison the Door being shut and by his Spirit say Peace be to thee the Prisoners heart will leap for joy he will say not how dreadful but how delightful is this place this is no other than the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven Our adversaries let them dispose of us where and how they please cannot keep God from us or us from God they cannot shut us up from his presence and where his gracious presence is vouch safed there is rest all inconveniences and miseries are so light that they are hardly worth the taking notice of 2. The heart may be enlarged where the body is confined The Soul may be brought out of Prison when the body is committed to it In the Mittimus the form of Law runs thus That the Goalet take the body of such an one Verily over the spirit they have no power What believer would not be content to be confined upon condition his heart might be made more free to duty more free in duty upon condition his desires might swell and overflow and his longings after the God of all grace might grow much stronger than the thirst of the most sensual after pleasures or of the most worldly minded after Gold and Silver 3. The Lord who will condimn those that visit not the Prisoners Mat. 25. will not fail to visit them himself And as they more need refreshments they shall surely enjoy them He will behold them wich a reconciled face and say to them I am your light and your salvation be not terrified with the darknesse of the calamitous day wherein you live The groaning of the prisoner doth pierce the Heavens and enters into the ear of the Lord of Sabaoth who will return an answer of peace and consolation 4. The Prisoners of Christ are Prisoners of Hope They are in but during the King of Saints his pleasure If Christ say Come forth even a Lazarus shall break out of a Grave And if he have the Key of the Grave surely the Keyes of prisons are at â—ommand they cannot hold any whom he hath a mind to set at liberty Prisons may soon grow sick of the Saints and vomit them out as the Whale did Jonah However it will not be long e're the day of glorious liberty and of full Redemption come and then the adversaries of the Saints will be bound hand and foot and thrown into outer darkness and the Saints will have liberty to enter into the Kingdome prepared for them to see God face to face without any lett from others or themselves and to live eternally in his presence where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Psal 16. ult The Fourth Doctrine The Devil is the imprisoner of Believers Sayes the Text Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison The words may be referred more particularly to the Ministers or more generally to the Saints in Smyrna 1. More particularly to the Ministers As by One Candlestick the whole Body of the Congregation so by One Angel the whole company of the Pastours are 〈◊〉 understood Vnto you I say and to the rest in Thyatira Rev. 2. 24. That is unto you the Ministers and the rest of believers So here The Devil shall cast some of you into prison that is you who are the Shepherds that so against the flock he may have the greater advantage Faithful Ministers Satan never could neither can he now endure He endeavours if he can to corrupt them to puff them up with pride to draw them aside by filthy lucre to make them fall some way or other and he does it with this design that their doctrine may be the loss heeded and his Kingdome not so much weakned by them But if he be not able to corrupt he will be industrious to discourage them They trouble him will not let him alone they will not suffer the strong man armed to keep his house in peace but by warning exhorting reproving rebuking the secure and ungodly endeavour to dispossess him No wonder if the Devil wax angry at them and fling them out of their houses into places of confinement The Prince of darkness would not that these Stars should shine he would fain have these Candles put under Bushelsâ— for Light discovers what Satan is what a defiled hateful and hating spirit it discovers what his works be namely to pollute us and by polluting to fit us for perdition Light also discovers what sin is and the unconceivable needfulness and excellency of the Lord Jesus And hereupon the Devils Vassals several of them are made to bethink themselves and are delivered from the Power of darkness and translated into the Kingdome of the Son of God Gol. 1. 13. The joyful sound of mans salvation is harsh in Satans ears he imprisons therefore the Publishers of these glad-tydings and close somtimes that the flock may be edified neither in a publick nor more private way 2. The words may be referred more generally to the Saints in Smyrna Every member of Christ the Devil hates and would fain tear from him every sheep this roating Lion would make his prey therefore he raises persecution to dishearten them
Lords work we tell the World that our Master is exceeding gracious and who knows but that by this means the number of his servants may be increased 2. The man that 's faithful proclaims his Lords power The power of Christ doth rest upon him else he would be unstable as water who through Christ strengthening of him is like the very Rock unshaken and the more weak the Believer is the more glorious is his power in whom he believes USE I. Of Reproof and I shall direct it to two sorts of persons 1. The fickle and unconstant are to be reproved Their spirit is unstedfast with the Lord if the World make proffer of its good things or threaten them with evil Vain hopes draw them away vain fears drive them away from Christ Somtimes they seem to be his humble Servants but this is only an hypocritical kind of complement Self they are resolved to serve to please and to secure whatever become of Christ his Honour and his Gospel 2. They are to be reproved that are in an ill sense faithful Faithful to their sins which are the worst masters unmoveable in their resolution to make provision for the flâ—sh to fulfil the lusts thereof There is a strange stouâ—ness of spirit and fixedness in evil that is to be found in thousands Their neck is like an iron sinew their brow like brass they make their faces harder then a rock they refuse to return Say what we will sin is their master and sin they will serve though they be told an hundred and an hundred times that death is its wages They aâ—e as unchangeable in evil as the spots of the Leopard â—or the blackness of the Ethiopian Oh that we would learn of sins vassals to be as faithful to the best as they are to the worst Lord. USE II. Of Exhortation Let me press you to be faithful 1. How many obligations lye upon you to be stedfast infinite millions of encouragements â—he gives you the more constant the more comfort and peace is found Great peace have they sayes David that love thy law and nothing shall offend them Every mercy of those many thousands you receive should be a cord to â—ye you faster unto God and what strange kind of hearts have you if so many cords are sâ—apt asunder and so many obligations are forgotten 2. Whom do you leave when you are unfaithful you forsake that Lord whose loving kindness is so excellent who is able to perform all things for you whose all-sufficiency can furnish you though never so indigent This God you leave and for what do you leave him 'T is for that which is not bread 'T is for that which can never satisfie Isa 55. 2. 3. By unfaithfulness you not only deprive your selves of the Lords goodness but engage him against you Ezra 8. 22. His hand is upon all them for good that seek him but his power and his wrath is against those that forsake him And wrath armed with such power is dreadful God greatly abhors the backslider when his ancient people turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers 't is said When the Lord heard this he was wroth and greatly abhorred Israel Psal 78. 57 59. 4. If you are faithful with God you shall find by experience his wayes to be truth and mercy Psal 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies His promises you shall experience to be true his mercies will all in mercy be 〈…〉 oved Nay there will be mercy in every affliction in every distress mercy supporting mercy reviving mercy turning all things to the best As the Philosophers stone is said to turn all meâ—tals into gold USE III. Of direction how to be made faithful 1. Be sensible of the treachery of your own spirits and let this make you the more jealous of your selves all your dayes Watch ye stand fast sayes the Apostle If you would stand fast you must be exceeding vigilant Watch that nothing come in at the door of your senses which may prove a snare and that nothing go out of your heart which may defile you When first the heart begins to grow weary of well-doing or to hearken to the tempter observe it and being apprehensive of your danger cry to be quickned and established 2. Pray to be upheld by the spirit of the Lord. Thus did David Psal 51. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty life holiness strength Grieve not the spirit but be obsequious to him and he will strengthen you with might in your inward man When Christ was about to go away and part with his Disciples he promises to send the spirit who should abide with them for ever and 't was by this spirit that they were born up and carried thorow all their work and the difficulties that attended it 3. Plead the Covenant one clause whereof is this I will not turn away â—from them to do them good and I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32. 40. Again he saith Jer. 3. 19. Thou shalt call me my Father and shalt not depart from me Prize these promises plead them believe them and as sure as God is faithful he will make you faithful whatever your sufferings or temptations be The Eighth Doctrine A Christians faithfulness must run parallel with his life to the death he must be stedfast This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the death may have a double interpretation 1. Be thou faithful to the death that is be thou unmovable though it cost thee thy life to be so Prefer not thy life before that Lord who laid down his life to redeem thee from death and who will recompence the loss of life temporal with that life that 's everlasting A Christian is to resist even unto blood striving against sin as the Apostle speaks he must choose rather to part with his blood than to lose his God 2. Be faithful to the death that is all thy dayes be faithful that when death comes and the Lord by death he may find thee doing his work doubling his talents standing up for his interest notwâ—thstanding all derision and opposition The Reasons why we should be faithful to the death are these 1. Much of the former part of our life hath been lost therefore all the remainder should be the more faithfully devoted to God The time past of our life may more than suffice to have dishonoured him therefore all the rest of our time in the flesh should be lived not to the lusts of men either our own lusts or the lusts of others but to the will of God 1 Pet. 4. 2 3. The whole was his due let him not be denyed that part which is behind 2. The longer we know our Lord and the closer we keep to him the better we shall like him therefore
and gazing at him whose glory should it but shine forth would overwhelm the most sanctified mortal here on earth And when the 〈◊〉 of God is seen the soul is all light all love All the excellencies and beauties in the creatures whereby affection is attracted in comparison of what is to be seen in God are not so much as the thousandth part of the least spark of fire compared with the Sun when it shines in its greatest strength and noon-tide glory The face of God will then be smooth not one frown to be seen not one look that will manifest the least displeasure Nothing but smiles and glorious aspects which will evidently shew the incomprehensible greatness of his love unto and joy that he takes in the perfectly purified vessels of glory 2. Another consequent of this union to God will be likeness to him But as for me sayes David I will behold thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Psal 17. 15. The sight of God will be transforming and that likeness will cause abundant satisfaction The beholding of the Lord in his ordinances does in a degree change us into the same image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. ult and much more the beholding of him in his kingdom 1 Joh. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Then the Image of God begun here will be compleated Here 't is but like a rude draught like a picture in dead colours but then the piece will have had Gods last hand upon it the work will be finished and Oh how exactly like will all the children be to their holy and heavenly Father Now they hunger and thirst after righteousness but then the promise of filling them will be fulfilled and performed to the uttermost 3. Another consequent of this union to God will be the full enjoyment of him The Saints paâ—t after the Lord now as the chased Hart after the water-brooks but in glory they shall have as much of God as they can desire or contain The holy Ghost tells us that God will be all in all 1 Cor. 15. 28. All that they can wish all sufficient to fill them to the brim The goodness and power and faithfulness and love of God have sometimes deep and sweet impressions on the Saints now But whot will the impressions then be how durable how transporting they shall lye as it were with their heads at the fountain of living waters perpetually no thirst no scantiness will be complained of These are the consequents of that near union and communion to God wherein this life above will consist 2. That life above will be most holy and unspotted Sin will be pardoned and quite and clean abolished Filia devâ—rabit Matrem Death the daughter will put an end to sin the mother Believers though alive by grace do carry a body of death about with them which makes the condition somewhat like theirs who fâ—ll into the hands of the Tyrant of old called Mezentins who Mortua jungebat corpora vivis Componenâ— manibusque manus atq oribus ora Virg. joyned the members of a living man to a dead carkass the hands and breast and face of the one to those of the other But when the Saints are come to glory the body of death will be â—illed though the natural body will be raised yet the body of sin will never have a resurrection Instead of Oh wretched who shall deliver us will be glory and everlasting praise to him who hath made us free from sin the worst of evils and from all the lesser miseries that attend it The Spouse of Christ will then be presented a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but 't will be holy and without blemish Eph. 5. 27. Then the blood of Christ will have had its perfect operation The Saints will be washed white as Snow they will look as white or whiter then Adam did in innocency All spots will be done off Every wrinkle wil be smoothed and the members every one of them like their head altogether lovely The Church is now fair as the Moon spots it hath with its fairness sometimes it waxes sometimes it wanes but when 't is translated to heaven 't will be clear as the Sun it self Canâ— 6. 10. 3. That life above will be most sweet and pleasant The Saints shall no longer cry out vanity and vexation of spirit as they did when under the Sun But God will wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things be past away Rev. 21. 4. When they come to live in the presence of God their Joy will be so full as to be un 〈…〉 able of any addition when they are at Gods right hand their pleasures will be for ever Even in this vail of tears there is a peace attended which passes all understanding a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory So that the Saints mouthes are songs in the house of their pilgrimage Oh then how short and unsuitable are out apprehensions of the pleasures dealt forth in the heavenly paradise 4. That life above will be most secure and safe Dangers will then be all gone thorow When we are entring into the gate of the New Jerusalem we shall shake hands with all the enemies that before molested us and not so much as one of them will be able to follow us The great gulph between us and them will keep them off at an everlasting distance There will be no danger either from within or from without No serpent in that paradise to tempt man again to fall from his restored innocency The heart will confired in goodness 't wil never have the least inclination to decline from God There will be no need of that vigilancy and standing upon our guard that now is necessary for our hearts will be perfectly cured of their deceitfulness and there will be no adversaries to lay snares for us 5. That life above will be most quiet and peaceable 'T is not improbable that in the latter dayes there will be a more peaceable Church state than as yet there hath been when that promise and others of the like nature will be more visibly accomplished Isa 11. 4 5 6 7 8 9. The Branch of Jesse with righteousness shall judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth he shall smite the earth with the Rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he sâ—â—y the wicked and righteousness shall be the girdle of his loyns and faithfulness the girdle of his reins The Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lye down with the Kid and the Calf and the young Lion and the
possession of the Kingdome He liveth and was dead and behold he is alive for â—vermore He is set down with his Father in his Throne and is gone thither partly to this end that he might fit Crowns and prepare Mansions for his persevering followers Joh. 14. 2. 4. A fourth Argument shall be drawn from the forâ—â—asts of this glorious life that at present are vouchsafed Life spiritual is Life eternal in the Bud and the Bud will at length be fully blown In Ordinances an heaven upon earth is somtimes enjoyed Oh then how are the things unseen made evident When faith and spiritual sense and experience go together then there is that which the Apostle calls a full assurance of understanding Col. 2. 2. 5. A fifth Argument shall be drawn from the earnest of the Spirit Eph. 1. 13 14. In whom after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the carnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his Glory And in other places we read of the â—arnest of the Spirit The Spirit of wisdome and revelation makes the Saints know what is the hope of their Calling and what the riches of their glorious inheritance And the Lord gives his Spirit not only to reveal this to them but as an earnest and pledge to assure them of it and that after they are made meet to be partakers of the life and glory which he hath promised they shall undoubtedly enjoy it I come at last to the Uses USE I. Of Instruction We may learn the woâ—ul condition of the ungodly a Crown there is but not for them a glorious life above but they shall dye the everlasting death By the ungodly I mean they that allow themselves in sin which the Word and Conscience tels them they ought to cast away Not only the open unbeliever but the secret hypocrite is concerned who is an unbeliever as well as the other When these do read of Heavens joyes it should fill them with sorrow to consider that their triumph will be but short and their joy will last but for a moment Job 20. 5. There are these Five things that will exceedingly aggravate the loss of life to the ungodly 1. This life was proffer'd often to the ungodly in the Gospel The Fountain of living waters was not a Fountain sealed but 't was set open and yet this Fountain was forsaken for the sake of broken Cisterns The Spirit and the Bride say come the Ministers of the Gospel say come and the sinners pressing necessity and want sayes Go and drink of the waters of life since thou mayest do it freely Rev. 22. 17. and yet he refuseth to accept the invitation Pardon goes as it were a begging and Glory a begging in the Gospel and yet neither are accepted though offered upon terms most just and reasonable Oh how will it torture the damned to reflect upon this that they would not come to Christ though life was assured upon their coming Joh. 5. 40. 2. 'T will heighten the misery of undone sinners to consider what they preferr'd before this Crown of life Oh where were their wits when sin was cherished in their hearts while Christ stood at the door When the world that is so empty so unstable â—o ensnaring was lookt upon as a better inheritance then that which is incorruptible 3. Some that perish have been not far from the kingdom The spirit of God hath striven their own spirits have been startled and almost perswaded to turn indeed and if they had done so they would have lived this crown had been their own But some sin or other was a cord to hold them fast some command wherein suffering self-denial strictness is enjoyned made them first demur then consulting with flesh and blood to take offence at Christ and so away And 't is an hightning of misery to have been near to happiness through our own fault and folly to have miss't of iâ— 4. The ungodly hereafter will have other apprehensions of this crown which they have slighted When they see the Prophets and Apostles and Saints in the Kingdom and do perceive what a lustre their crowns have what bliss and glory is their portion Oh how will they grow mad mad at themselves for grief and vexation that they were so soâ—tishly ignorant to contemn such a treasure 5. Despair of ever gaining that Crown of Life will seize upon them Now there is hope but hereafter the door of heaven and the door of hope too will be shut and never open'd more No prayers will be heard no tears will move compassion Christ the giver of life will say depart ye cursed and the invitation to come to him will be heard no more for ever How will desperation torture them when they consider what they have lost and how their loss is irreparable Fools they lived and fools they dyed and then after-wisdom cannot at all avail them Bring these things to mind consider and shew your selves men O ye transgressours When life and death were set before you why should death as the best of the two be chosen USE II. Of Examination It highly concerns all to examine whether they have a right to this Crown of life or no Most expect it but most will be ashamed of their ungrounded hope and expectation To help you against deceiving your own souls in this self-examination I shall describe those that have a title to this Crown that are indeed the heirs of life by these ensuing characters 1. They who have a right to the Crown of life are believers on the Son of God Joh. 3. ult He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life What is it to believe on Christ 'T is to recieve him as he is offered in the Gospel How is Christ offered in the Gospel As a Prince and as a Saviâ—ur Christ cannot be received as a Prince but the dominion of sin must be pulled down He cannot be received as a Saviour but our own righteousness and strength must be look't upon as insufficient and unavaluable to salvation He that thus hath accepted the Son hath life by him 1 Joh. 5. 11. This is thâ— record that God hath given us eternal life anâ— this life is in â—his Son seek it elsewhere 〈◊〉 you will never find it 2. They who are heirs to the Crown of life are quickned by the Spirit 'T is the Spirit that quickens Joh. 6. 63. Sometime they were dead in trespasses and sins but God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved them did quicken them by the holy Ghost Eph. 2. 4 They are alive to God his spirit dwels in them they breathe after him they walk in his wayes they do his work they aim at his glory And this life spiritual is the forerunner of and preparative to that which is eternal 3. They who are heirs to the Crown of life diligently hearken to the word of God
will certainly bestow a Crown of life and immortality The First Doctrine He that will be a Saint shall be a sufferer The Spirit speaks hardly any thing more expressely then he doth this truth The Apostle tells what afflictions and persecutions he met with and peremptorilvaffirms that none shall escape Perse-secution they shall meet with if not in one kind in another Drops shall fall upon every Saint though some may be wet with greater showers 2 Tim. 3. 10 11 12. But thou hast fully known my Doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering charity patience persecutions afflictions which came unto me at Antioch at Janium at Lystra what persecutions I endured there But out of them all the Lord delivered me yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Consult also Act. 14. 22. Confirming the souls of the Disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God The journies end is glorious but the way is â—ough that leads to it it lies through many tribulations Self-denial and the Cross are doctrines which Christ preached to all his followers Luk. 9. 23. And he said unto them all if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Two things are here to be inquired in to One is whence the sufferings of the Saints arise The other What is the reason of this dispensation Or Why the Lord suffers those he loves to be thus exercised First Whence the sufferings of the Saints arise They are both from the god of thâ—â— world and from the world it self Earth and Hell do both combine to trouble the heirs of Heaven as they are going to their inheritance 1. The Saints sufferings arise from the god of this world So Satan in Scripture is called He commands the generality of the world who are at his service and are lead by him at his pleasure and those whom he cannot rule he is resolved what he can to molest and disquiet The Devil began betimes righteous Abel did feel the effects of his enmity and hatred and he continues this persecuting Trade unto this very hour And till the whole Body of Christ be taken up where the Head is Satan will be as a thorn to pierce and trouble them It will not be amiss to examine the matter further and to search into the cause why Satan thus endeavours to load the Saints with sufferings 1. The Devil bears an implacable hatred to the Saints Head the Lord Jesus He would fain have killed Christ from the birth and incited Hered to make such weeping and lamentation in Rama because of the children that were so inhumanly butchered Mat. 2. Our Lord was tempted by the Devil Mat. 4. who would gladly have foiled the Second as he had done the First Adam but he could not prevail The Devil is said to have put it into the heart of Judas to betray Christ All which plainly shews his hatred of the Son of God The works of Christ and of Satan are quite contrary Satans work is to murther and destroy therefore he hath his name Apollyon Rev. 9. 11. But Christs work is to save The Son of God was manifested to this very end that he might destroy the works of this Destroyer and the Son of God hath got the Victory He hath spoyled Principalities and Powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in his Cross Col. 2. 15. He is now ascended on high and is at his Fathers right hand And the old Dragon being full of wrath to see him so exalted spiâ—s his venom at the Members which are in his reach for the Heads sake And surely our Lord will look upon himself as the more obliged to stand by his suffering servants since 't is for his sake partly that this adversary is so liberal of his arrowes and shoots so many at them 2. The Devil is full of envy at Believers themselves Aâ—â—oon as ever he had sinned presently the chains of darkness were clapt upon him he was immediately cast down to hell no patience being shewn no pity extended no means of recovery offer'd 2 Pet. 2. God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into chains and darkness to be reserved unto judgment But believers though by nature the children of wrath and disobedience are pitied pardoned adopted saved A Remedy is provided and that Remedy made effectual through the application of it to their recovery and the recovery of their lost blessedness Now this fills Satan with envy which is both his sin and torture and envy stirs him up to do what mischief he is able 3. The Devil dislikes holiness where-ever he finds it He hates indeed all the children of men but those that are sanctified and renewed in a special manner As he is utterly destitute of so he utterly derests and abhors the image of God which shews the fearful depravation of his nature 'T is no wonder he runs to the utmost length of his chain to harm the Saints who have put off the old and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4. 24. Sin is arrived at its full growth 't is come to its perfection in the Devil Holiness he strikes at and endeavours to discourage and hinder where-ever he finds it Those who resemble Satan in this the measure of their iniquity is fuller than they are aware of 4. The Devil designs by the persecuting of the Saints to promote his interest and Kingdom This Prince of darkness is a very proud spirit he would by his good will have the whole world his slaves and vassals How does he rage when any of them whom he lead captive are rescued from him He is sedulous to establish his Throne and Principality Oh that Saints were as zealous and diligent to advance the honour and interest of the King of Saints The Devil hopes to promote his Kingdom not only by flattering sinners into his subjection but also by affrighting them from the service of another Lord. There are these five wayes whereby Satan is like to be advantaged in times of suffering 1. He is likely to get advantage by discouraging the weak in faith He hopes that they who have but weak hands and feeble knees will not easily get over those slumbling blocks which in times of trouble are cast in their way And if their hearts do faint and fail not only they themselves but Religion looses ground and what ground is lost the Devil gaine He set upon Peter when he was weak and how far did he prevail Peter falls most shamefully and his fall cost him dear and how was the prejudice against Christ in the High-Priests Hall encreased when one of his followers thus with cursing and swearing did so utterly deny him Satan desires to have weak Saints especially that he may sift them as