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may_v as_o i_o conceive_v pious_o believe_v that_o it_o be_v consonant_a to_o scripture_n as_o well_o as_o to_o the_o stream_n of_o antiquity_n that_o there_o be_v degree_n of_o glory_n but_o not_o according_a to_o the_o roman_a scale_n who_o have_v hammer_v and_o beat_v out_o certain_a little_a crown_n which_o they_o ascribe_v only_o to_o virgin_n to_o martyr_n to_o doctor_n and_o be_v produce_v from_o their_o own_o extraordinary_a merit_n not_o from_o the_o immediate_a ray_n of_o christ_n glory_n shed_v upon_o they_o but_o sure_o the_o metal_n must_v be_v alchemy_n and_o not_o gold_n a_o second_o be_v the_o dignity_n of_o the_o gift_n a_o crown_n be_v the_o emblem_n of_o majesty_n and_o apt_o note_v that_o great_a honour_n to_o which_o the_o faithful_a be_v exalt_v in_o christ_n luk_n 22._o 10._o i_o appoint_v unto_o you_o a_o kingdom_n what_o be_v eternal_a life_n but_o a_o coronation_n day_n do_v not_o the_o scripture_n in_o describe_v of_o it_o set_v it_o forth_o by_o such_o a_o solemnity_n in_o all_o its_o part_n the_o robe_n which_o the_o faithful_a must_v be_v clothe_v with_o be_v the_o long_a white_a robe_n of_o righteousness_n the_o oil_n with_o which_o they_o must_v be_v anoint_v be_v the_o oil_n of_o gladness_n the_o sceptre_n which_o must_v be_v put_v into_o their_o hand_n be_v a_o sceptre_n of_o power_n to_o bruise_v their_o enemy_n under_o their_o foot_n the_o throne_n upon_o which_o they_o must_v sit_v be_v a_o throne_n of_o glory_n the_o feast_n at_o which_o they_o must_v eat_v be_v the_o great_a supper_n of_o the_o lamb_n and_o the_o presence_n in_o which_o all_o must_v be_v transact_v be_v the_o presence_n of_o the_o holy_a angel_n a_o three_o be_v the_o perpetuity_n of_o the_o gift_n it_o be_v a_o crown_n of_o life_n and_o so_o stand_v in_o a_o direct_a opposition_n unto_o the_o crown_n of_o mortal_a prince_n which_o have_v neither_o life_n nor_o length_n the_o gold_n and_o gem_n of_o which_o they_o consist_v be_v both_o liveless_a and_o corruptible_a but_o they_o that_o wear_v they_o be_v far_o more_o transient_a and_o fade_a how_o inconsiderable_a ofttimes_o be_v the_o distance_n between_o the_o joyful_a coronation_n and_o the_o sad_a funeral_n of_o the_o same_o prince_n how_o soon_o be_v the_o powder_a ermine_n exchange_v for_o a_o wind_a sheet_n the_o stately_a palace_n for_o a_o small_a urn_n and_o the_o royal_a collar_n of_o esses_n sparkle_v with_o diamond_n for_o the_o ignoble_a bond_n of_o death_n and_o darkness_n but_o so_o it_o be_v not_o with_o believer_n their_o dignity_n and_o their_o person_n have_v both_o a_o endless_a life_n as_o be_v whole_o above_o all_o violence_n from_o without_o that_o may_v assault_v it_o and_o perfect_o free_a from_o any_o principle_n of_o mortality_n from_o within_o which_o may_v dissolve_v it_o else_o can_v they_o not_o be_v perfect_o happy_a for_o it_o be_v eternity_n alone_o which_o make_v a_o good_a to_o be_v infinite_o better_a and_o a_o evil_n infinite_o worse_o i_o have_v now_o show_v you_o that_o a_o rich_a treasure_n may_v lie_v in_o a_o small_a compass_n and_o that_o a_o little_a spot_n of_o the_o land_n of_o canaan_n may_v bring_v forth_o a_o plentiful_a harvest_n when_o in_o this_o one_o promise_n be_v not_o only_o scatter_v ear_n of_o corn_n which_o like_o the_o disciple_n we_o may_v rub_v in_o our_o hand_n and_o eat_v in_o our_o journey_n but_o load_v wain_n of_o heavenly_a grain_n which_o like_o the_o rich_a man_n in_o the_o gospel_n we_o may_v treasure_n up_o and_o free_o live_v upon_o until_o we_o come_v to_o be_v true_o above_o the_o use_n of_o mean_n and_o to_o derive_v our_o happiness_n immediate_o from_o the_o fruition_n of_o god_n both_o in_o respect_n of_o presence_n and_o of_o influence_n but_o it_o can_v be_v expect_v that_o in_o one_o hour_n such_o a_o ample_a harvest_n shall_v be_v reap_v or_o that_o all_o the_o foregoing_a particular_n shall_v be_v insist_v upon_o by_o i_o i_o shall_v therefore_o without_o break_v the_o order_n of_o the_o word_n begin_v with_o the_o precept_n be_v thou_o faithful_a unto_o the_o death_n and_o in_o the_o explication_n of_o it_o propound_v three_o query_n first_o what_o this_o faithfulness_n be_v which_o be_v the_o duty_n enjoin_v second_o upon_o what_o ground_n it_o be_v absolute_o necessary_a three_o why_o it_o must_v be_v persevere_v in_o unto_o death_n first_o what_o fidelity_n or_o faithfulness_n be_v in_o scripture_n it_o undergo_v a_o various_a and_o differ_a acceptation_n sometime_o it_o be_v put_v for_o the_o steadfastness_n and_o assurance_n of_o belief_n as_o it_o be_v oppose_v unto_o a_o absolute_a diffidence_n such_o as_o be_v in_o thomas_n who_o be_v resolve_v not_o to_o believe_v the_o resurrection_n of_o his_o lord_n unless_o he_o may_v both_o see_v the_o print_n of_o the_o nail_n and_o thrust_v his_o hand_n into_o his_o side_n that_o so_o his_o faith_n may_v have_v the_o security_n of_o the_o touch_n as_o well_o as_o of_o the_o eye_n now_o to_o he_o christ_n say_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d be_v not_o faithless_a but_o faithful_a john_n 20._o 27._o sometime_o it_o be_v take_v for_o the_o profession_n of_o christian_a religion_n if_o any_o faithful_a man_n or_o woman_n have_v widow_n let_v they_o minister_v unto_o they_o 1_o tim._n 5._o 16._o sometime_o it_o signify_v the_o unquestionable_a verity_n of_o speech_n this_o be_v a_o true_a and_o faithful_a say_n 1_o tim._n 4._o 9_o in_o other_o place_n it_o import_v a_o careful_a and_o conscientious_a discharge_n of_o one_o trust_n in_o that_o station_n and_o office_n to_o which_o he_o be_v call_v thus_o moses_n be_v say_v to_o have_v be_v faithful_a in_o all_o god_n house_n as_o a_o servant_n hebr._n 3._o 5._o and_o christ_n to_o have_v be_v a_o merciful_a and_o faithful_a high_a priest_n in_o thing_n concern_v god_n he_o leave_v nothing_o undo_v that_o may_v reconcile_v man_n to_o god_n and_o expiate_v the_o sin_n of_o his_o people_n sometime_o it_o be_v use_v for_o a_o unshaken_a and_o firm_a continuance_n in_o the_o truth_n when_o faith_n in_o christ_n be_v second_v with_o faithfulness_n unto_o christ_n thus_o antipas_n be_v style_v a_o faithful_a martyr_n revel_v 2._o 13._o and_o those_o that_o be_v with_o christ_n be_v say_v to_o be_v call_v choose_v and_o faithful_a revel_v 17._o 14._o i_o shall_v not_o need_v to_o reassume_a these_o several_a sense_n and_o cause_v they_o to_o pass_v before_o you_o as_o jesse_n do_v his_o son_n before_o samuel_n that_o so_o you_o may_v the_o better_o see_v what_o that_o faithfulness_n be_v to_o which_o this_o crown_n of_o life_n be_v promise_v it_o be_v methinks_v clear_a to_o every_o eye_n that_o the_o duty_n both_o enjoin_v and_o reward_v be_v the_o hold_v fast_o of_o the_o name_n and_o truth_n of_o christ_n in_o the_o conscientious_a exercise_n of_o those_o gift_n and_o grace_n which_o he_o have_v betrust_v we_o with_o for_o his_o glory_n the_o opposite_n unto_o which_o be_v in_o the_o scripture_n dialect_n waver_v faint_a weariness_n in_o well-doing_n backslide_v deny_v the_o faith_n and_o such_o like_a sin_n which_o we_o find_v in_o it_o to_o be_v often_o both_o reprove_v and_o condemn_v how_o smart_o do_v paul_n chide_v the_o galathian_o for_o their_o fickleness_n and_o inconstancy_n in_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o gospel_n how_o severe_o do_v christ_n threaten_v the_o asian_a church_n declension_n and_o waining_n in_o their_o profession_n how_o frequent_a be_v he_o in_o his_o admonition_n to_o they_o to_o do_v their_o first_o work_n to_o repent_v to_o remember_v from_o whence_o they_o be_v fall_v to_o hold_v fast_o that_o no_o man_n take_v their_o crown_n what_o be_v all_o these_o expression_n but_o so_o many_o brief_a commentary_n to_o enlighten_v the_o duty_n of_o faithfulness_n i_o shall_v not_o therefore_o make_v use_n
1._o 17_o 18._o sure_o inconstancy_n in_o what_o subject_n soever_o it_o be_v cast_v a_o dark_a shadow_n but_o the_o more_o eminent_a the_o gift_n and_o ability_n of_o any_o person_n be_v the_o more_o remarkable_a be_v the_o blemish_n that_o come_v by_o it_o who_o do_v not_o account_v the_o late_a grotius_n among_o the_o first-born_a of_o the_o learned_a in_o regard_n of_o his_o profound_a and_o various_a knowledge_n and_o yet_o like_o reuben_n he_o lose_v the_o double_a portion_n of_o honour_n and_o respect_n that_o be_v due_a unto_o he_o through_o that_o instability_n which_o be_v observe_v in_o he_o hence_o rivet_n relate_v this_o story_n of_o he_o in_o his_o book_n against_o he_o that_o when_o he_o be_v a_o prisoner_n in_o his_o own_o country_n prince_n maurice_n be_v intercede_v with_o for_o his_o liberty_n deny_v the_o grant_n of_o it_o and_o point_v to_o the_o weathercock_n upon_o his_o house_n say_v en_fw-fr grotii_fw-la caput_fw-la behold_v there_o grotius_n his_o head_n i_o speak_v not_o this_o to_o load_v the_o person_n but_o the_o crime_n and_o to_o show_v that_o a_o christian_n shall_v not_o be_v as_o a_o reed_n in_o the_o wind_n but_o as_o a_o rock_n in_o the_o sea_n which_o amid_o all_o dashing_n of_o the_o wave_n stand_v immovable_a 3._o unstedfastness_n be_v vile_a in_o god_n sight_n and_o carry_v more_o of_o a_o provocation_n in_o it_o than_o many_o other_o sin_n as_o may_v appear_v by_o the_o wrath_n which_o it_o kindle_v in_o his_o breast_n and_o the_o judgement_n which_o he_o inflict_v how_o severe_o do_v god_n recompense_v this_o sin_n upon_o israel_n who_o psal_n 78._o 59_o have_v deal_v unfaithful_o like_o their_o father_n and_o be_v turn_v aside_o like_o a_o break_a bow_n in_o the_o next_o verse_n it_o be_v say_v he_o great_o abhor_a israel_n he_o forsake_v the_o tabernacle_n of_o shiloh_n and_o deliver_v his_o strength_n into_o captivity_n and_o his_o glory_n into_o his_o enemy_n hand_n so_o again_o god_n denounce_v a_o death_n upon_o offender_n in_o this_o kind_n which_o be_v make_v dreadful_a both_o by_o the_o hand_n which_o inflict_v it_o and_o by_o the_o shame_n and_o reproach_n that_o attend_v it_o the_o man_n that_o have_v transgress_v my_o covenant_n which_o have_v not_o perform_v the_o word_n of_o the_o covenant_n which_o they_o make_v before_o i_o etc._n etc._n i_o will_v give_v they_o into_o the_o hand_n of_o they_o that_o seek_v their_o life_n and_o their_o dead_a body_n shall_v be_v meat_n unto_o the_o fowl_n of_o the_o heaven_n and_o to_o the_o beast_n of_o the_o earth_n jer._n 34._o 18_o 20._o if_o then_o we_o may_v take_v the_o magnitude_n and_o dimension_n of_o a_o sin_n by_o the_o punishment_n which_o god_n do_v proportion_n and_o meet_v forth_o unto_o it_o as_o questionless_a we_o may_v because_o god_n in_o all_o his_o judgement_n aim_v at_o the_o clear_n of_o his_o justice_n to_o the_o creature_n and_o that_o he_o do_v not_o without_o a_o cause_n do_v any_o thing_n that_o he_o have_v do_v we_o may_v conclude_v that_o unstedfastness_n and_o falseness_n of_o heart_n in_o the_o matter_n of_o god_n be_v a_o sin_n magnae_fw-la infamiae_fw-la &_o reatus_fw-la of_o great_a infamy_n and_o guilt_n leave_v in_o the_o very_a punishment_n and_o indelible_a stain_n and_o blot_v upon_o the_o memory_n of_o the_o offendor_n a_o five_o ground_n to_o evince_v the_o necessity_n of_o faithfulness_n be_v from_o the_o transaction_n and_o carriage_n of_o the_o great_a and_o last_o day_n in_o which_o every_o man_n must_v give_v a_o account_n for_o himself_o to_o god_n rom._n 14._o 12._o then_o the_o sentence_n pass_v not_o according_a to_o the_o greatness_n of_o place_n or_o measure_n of_o gift_n but_o according_a to_o fidelity_n it_o be_v not_o say_v well_o do_v rich_a learned_a or_o wise_a but_o faithful_a servant_n he_o only_o it_o be_v who_o in_o the_o sight_n of_o man_n and_o angel_n be_v first_o commend_v and_o then_o bountiful_o reward_v enter_v thou_o into_o thy_o master_n joy_n mat._n 25._o 21._o as_o riches_n profit_v not_o in_o the_o day_n of_o wrath_n so_o neither_o wisdom_n nor_o learning_n if_o then_o god_n shall_v ask_v the_o apostle_n question_n 1_o cor._n 1._o 20._o where_o be_v the_o scribe_n where_o be_v the_o wise_a where_o be_v the_o disputer_n of_o this_o world_n how_o silent_a and_o amaze_v will_v all_o stand_v alas_o it_o be_v not_o videtur_fw-la quod_fw-la sic_fw-la probatur_fw-la quod_fw-la non_fw-la which_o will_v then_o stand_v any_o man_n instead_o that_o day_n be_v not_o a_o time_n of_o argue_v or_o of_o plead_n but_o of_o sentence_n in_o which_o as_o the_o faithful_a servant_n be_v reward_v so_o the_o unfaithful_a be_v condemn_v first_o he_o be_v open_o reproach_v thou_o wicked_a and_o shothful_a servant_n thou_o ought_v to_o have_v put_v my_o money_n to_o the_o exchanger_n etc._n etc._n matth._n 25._o ver_fw-la 26_o 27._o and_o then_o final_o judge_v cast_v you_o the_o unprofitable_a servant_n into_o outer_a darkness_n there_o shall_v be_v weep_v and_o gnash_n of_o tooth_n ver_fw-la 30._o o_o therefore_o if_o ever_o you_o will_v lie_v down_o comfortable_o in_o your_o grave_n and_o lift_v up_o your_o head_n joyful_o when_o you_o shall_v arise_v out_o of_o it_o be_v persuade_v to_o practice_v this_o duty_n of_o fidelity_n which_o have_v be_v discover_v to_o be_v of_o such_o absolute_a importance_n for_o the_o obtain_n of_o eternal_a blessedness_n as_o that_o if_o any_o shall_v still_o be_v regardless_o of_o it_o what_o can_v we_o say_v but_o as_o lactantius_n once_o speak_v qui_fw-la in_o vitiis_fw-la sibi_fw-la placent_fw-la nobis_fw-la non_fw-la credent_a etiam_fw-la si_fw-la solemn_a manibus_fw-la gestemus_fw-la such_o who_o indulge_v themselves_o in_o their_o sin_n will_v not_o believe_v we_o though_o we_o carry_v the_o sun_n in_o our_o hand_n and_o so_o i_o pass_v to_o the_o three_o query_n which_o be_v to_o show_v why_o faithfulness_n must_v be_v persist_v in_o unto_o death_n and_o of_o this_o there_o be_v sundry_a ground_n 1._o that_o our_o fidelity_n to_o christ_n may_v parallel_v and_o answer_v the_o fidelity_n of_o christ_n unto_o we_o ibi_fw-la tu_fw-la christiane_n fige_fw-la tui_fw-la cursus_fw-la profectusque_fw-la metam_fw-la ubi_fw-la christus_fw-la posuit_fw-la svam_fw-la do_v thou_o o_o christian_n say_v bernard_n there_o fix_v the_o bound_n of_o thy_o race_n and_o progress_n where_o christ_n set_v his_o he_o faint_v not_o nor_o be_v dismay_v until_o he_o become_v not_o only_o the_o author_n but_o the_o finisher_n of_o our_o salvation_n it_o be_v his_o love_n that_o hold_v he_o upon_o the_o cross_n when_o death_n can_v not_o hold_v he_o in_o the_o grave_a though_o provoke_v by_o his_o enemy_n to_o come_v down_o that_o they_o may_v believe_v but_o what_o will_v have_v become_v of_o our_o expect_a blessedness_n by_o he_o if_o he_o have_v not_o conflict_v with_o shame_n and_o pain_n until_o it_o terminate_v in_o death_n will_v it_o not_o have_v be_v as_o a_o foundation_n and_o build_n 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as_o he_o do_v why_o compelle_v thou_o the_o gentile_n to_o live_v as_o do_v the_o jew_n gal._n 2._o 14._o may_v they_o not_o then_o be_v improve_v as_o effectual_a help_n in_o strengthen_v the_o hand_n of_o other_o in_o well-doing_n while_o they_o behold_v the_o courage_n and_o constancy_n of_o many_o who_o have_v tread_v the_o same_o path_n before_o they_o do_v we_o not_o read_v of_o some_o who_o for_o christ_n name_n have_v take_v joyful_o the_o spoil_n of_o their_o good_n hebr._n 10._o 34._o of_o other_o who_o esteem_v the_o reproach_n of_o christ_n great_a riches_n than_o the_o treasure_n of_o egypt_n as_o moses_n do_v hebr._n 11._o 26._o of_o other_o again_o who_o be_v torture_v not_o accept_v of_o deliverance_n hebr._n 1â—_n 35._o have_v we_o not_o read_v of_o other_o who_o have_v kiss_v their_o chain_n who_o have_v embrace_v the_o stake_n at_o which_o they_o be_v to_o suffer_v now_o have_v not_o we_o the_o same_o cause_n to_o bear_v witness_n unto_o with_o they_o have_v not_o 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