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the_o sense_n of_o the_o text_n and_o show_v its_o design_n and_o reprove_v some_o mistake_n about_o it_o first_o then_o to_o contend_v for_o the_o faith_n include_v the_o make_v a_o open_a and_o constant_a profession_n of_o it_o not_o any_o way_n to_o dissemble_v or_o detain_v the_o truth_n in_o unrighteousness_n for_o any_o advantage_n in_o the_o world_n or_o for_o fear_n of_o persecution_n like_o these_o false_a and_o dissemble_a gnostic_n who_o rather_o than_o venture_v any_o thing_n will_v say_v as_o other_o say_v and_o comply_v with_o false_a religion_n soon_o than_o expose_v themselves_o to_o danger_n the_o apostle_n contrariwise_o will_v have_v christian_n own_o what_o they_o be_v confess_v christ_n before_o man_n and_o not_o be_v ashamed_a for_o his_o testimony_n as_o they_o believe_v in_o their_o heart_n so_o to_o confess_v with_o their_o mouth_n as_o st._n paul_n speak_v or_o in_o word_n of_o st._n peter_n to_o be_v ready_a always_o with_o meekness_n to_o give_v a_o answer_n 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society_n and_o the_o law_n of_o christian_a magistrate_n make_v these_o useful_a and_o of_o great_a necessity_n a_o due_a regard_n be_v to_o be_v have_v to_o they_o and_o a_o good_a man_n be_v oblige_v to_o conform_v in_o every_o thing_n which_o god_n have_v not_o forbid_v but_o yet_o these_o be_v not_o of_o the_o same_o moment_n as_o article_n of_o faith_n for_o instance_n that_o there_o be_v no_o roman_a purgatory_n although_o i_o firm_o believe_v it_o as_o it_o be_v declare_v by_o our_o church_n yet_o that_o can_v be_v so_o certain_a nor_o of_o so_o great_a a_o interest_n to_o i_o as_o what_o god_n himself_o have_v reveal_v with_o the_o great_a perspicuity_n that_o the_o blood_n of_o jesus_n christ_n cleanse_v we_o from_o all_o sin_n and_o according_o i_o be_o not_o to_o be_v so_o intent_n nor_o so_o concern_v in_o the_o deny_v of_o the_o one_o as_o in_o the_o profess_v and_o believe_v of_o the_o other_o will_v christian_n of_o different_a communion_n thus_o distinguish_v between_o the_o divine_a and_o save_a article_n which_o be_v a_o point_n of_o christian_a faith_n and_o the_o human_a decision_n and_o constitution_n it_o will_v much_o contribute_v to_o make_v up_o the_o breach_n of_o christendom_n and_o qualify_v that_o mischevous_a and_o persecute_v zeal_n which_o lay_v a_o great_a weight_n upon_o difference_n of_o opinion_n than_o upon_o unity_n of_o the_o same_o creed_n for_o the_o most_o part_n our_o loud_a contention_n be_v about_o that_o which_o be_v less_o material_a and_o more_o disputable_a contrary_a to_o st._n judas_n who_o will_v have_v we_o be_v earnest_n for_o what_o be_v essential_a the_o faith_n once_o deliver_v to_o the_o saint_n which_o be_v to_o be_v contend_v for_o not_o because_o it_o be_v we_o and_o so_o to_o be_v maintain_v with_o anger_n and_o impatience_n of_o contradiction_n as_o we_o do_v those_o opinion_n we_o be_v wed_v to_o but_o because_o it_o be_v god_n deliver_v by_o our_o bless_a lord_n to_o the_o primitive_a saint_n for_o the_o common_a salvation_n of_o mankind_n then_o if_o any_o deny_v and_o deprave_v that_o faith_n they_o forfeit_v the_o benefit_n of_o it_o which_o be_v infinite_a and_o so_o be_v great_a loser_n and_o much_o to_o be_v pity_v and_o if_o we_o ourselves_o embrace_v and_o keep_v it_o steadfast_o to_o the_o end_n we_o shall_v obtain_v the_o end_n thereof_o even_o the_o salvation_n of_o our_o soul_n and_o that_o be_v enough_o to_o engage_v we_o to_o make_v a_o free_a and_o constant_a profession_n of_o it_o as_o long_o as_o we_o live_v second_o this_o contend_v for_o the_o faith_n by_o a_o open_a profession_n be_v so_o far_o from_o include_v any_o thing_n of_o sight_v or_o violence_n for_o the_o defence_n of_o religion_n that_o it_o signify_v the_o quite_o contrary_a the_o utmost_a meekness_n and_o patience_n in_o suffer_v for_o the_o truth_n many_o be_v very_o apt_a and_o forward_a to_o contend_v for_o their_o faith_n or_o rather_o their_o faction_n by_o a_o zeal_n of_o opposition_n 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bloody_a scourge_n to_o themselves_o st_o judas_n be_v too_o well_o acquaint_v with_o they_o and_o too_o well_o know_v by_o his_o own_o experience_n the_o mischief_n of_o this_o sort_n of_o temper_n and_o of_o such_o proceed_n to_o exhort_v christian_a convert_v to_o contend_v for_o christ_n in_o that_o manner_n as_o the_o jew_n do_v for_o moses_n he_o know_v that_o our_o bless_a saviour_n will_v not_o let_v his_o servant_n fight_v for_o he_o nor_o rescue_v he_o with_o the_o sword_n from_o the_o hand_n of_o the_o civil_a magistrate_n that_o he_o tell_v his_o apostle_n they_o shall_v not_o disturb_v nor_o oppose_v prince_n but_o shall_v be_v bring_v before_o king_n and_o ruler_n for_o his_o name_n sake_n and_o that_o his_o promise_n of_o a_o immortal_a crown_n be_v not_o to_o fight_v and_o martial_a courage_n upon_o his_o account_n but_o to_o meekness_n and_o patience_n and_o remain_v
faithful_a unto_o death_n he_o that_o shall_v lose_v his_o life_n for_o my_o sake_n shall_v find_v it_o so_o here_o this_o apostle_n who_o have_v the_o example_n and_o the_o word_n of_o our_o saviour_n and_o know_v full_a well_o his_o mind_n in_o this_o exhort_v his_o afflict_a disciple_n not_o to_o follow_v the_o step_n of_o those_o heretic_n who_o in_o time_n of_o trial_n fall_v away_o and_o as_o he_o say_v will_v deny_v their_o saviour_n rather_o than_o suffer_v for_o his_o sake_n but_o to_o persevere_v unto_o the_o end_n contend_v earnest_o for_o the_o faith_n they_o have_v receive_v a_o zeal_n of_o adherence_n to_o christ_n to_o confess_v and_o own_v he_o before_o man_n which_o be_v here_o recommend_v do_v not_o beget_v fierceness_n or_o wrangle_a contention_n in_o the_o mind_n but_o a_o peaceable_a constancy_n a_o resolution_n to_o be_v firm_a and_o unmovable_a in_o passive_a grace_n as_o the_o great_a victory_n of_o a_o christian_a be_v to_o die_v for_o his_o saviour_n so_o the_o noble_a contention_n be_v to_o suffer_v for_o he_o according_o be_v say_v of_o those_o christian_a conqueror_n who_o st._n john_n see_v with_o palm_n in_o their_o hand_n that_o they_o love_v not_o their_o life_n unto_o the_o death_n in_o the_o language_n of_o the_o church_n certamina_fw-la martyrum_fw-la the_o combat_n of_o martyr_n be_v their_o endure_a patient_o the_o pain_n and_o reproach_n of_o their_o martyrdom_n they_o be_v call_v the_o athleae_n or_o champion_n of_o christ_n and_o the_o constancy_n of_o their_o passion_n upon_o his_o account_n be_v their_o victory_n hence_o the_o sign_n of_o the_o cross_n come_v to_o be_v so_o venerable_a and_o so_o frequent_o use_v among_o primitive_a christian_n in_o those_o day_n of_o severe_a trial_n they_o will_v by_o that_o token_n before_o christ_n great_a enemy_n and_o persecutor_n own_o themselves_o to_o be_v his_o servant_n who_o for_o they_o have_v die_v on_o the_o cross_n and_o declare_v that_o they_o be_v ready_a cheerful_o also_o to_o lay_v down_o their_o life_n for_o his_o sake_n he_o must_v labour_v hard_a with_o himself_o to_o overcome_v flesh_n and_o blood_n that_o will_v arrive_v to_o this_o resolution_n and_o therefore_o this_o be_v the_o most_o earnest_a contention_n a_o christian_a can_v undertake_v for_o the_o faith_n to_o lay_v down_o his_o life_n for_o it_o and_o sign_n and_o confess_v it_o with_o his_o blood_n and_o then_o three_o we_o may_v observe_v as_o a_o consequent_a from_o this_o that_o if_o this_o be_v a_o duty_n and_o here_o enjoin_v by_o st._n judas_n much_o more_o be_v it_o a_o incumbent_a duty_n open_o to_o profess_v the_o faith_n of_o christ_n crucify_v when_o the_o do_v of_o it_o be_v not_o attend_v with_o any_o such_o persecution_n or_o danger_n if_o under_o heathen_a emperor_n when_o christianity_n be_v oppose_v and_o everywhere_o speak_v against_o yet_o its_o professor_n be_v oblige_v free_o and_o sincere_o to_o declare_v themselves_o and_o own_o their_o relation_n to_o christ_n though_o they_o die_v for_o it_o much_o more_o be_v they_o bind_v to_o this_o that_o live_v under_o christian_a prince_n under_o law_n that_o enforce_v their_o obligation_n to_o confess_v that_o true_a catholic_n and_o apostolic_a faith_n which_o be_v once_o deliver_v to_o the_o saint_n if_o we_o be_v bind_v thus_o to_o contend_v for_o it_o in_o a_o way_n so_o difficult_a even_o by_o death_n as_o the_o moble_z army_n of_o martyr_n if_o god_n shall_v make_v it_o our_o case_n much_o more_o be_v we_o to_o profess_v it_o when_o we_o can_v do_v it_o with_o safety_n nay_o and_o have_v many_o encouragement_n and_o advantage_n in_o the_o world_n in_o the_o performance_n of_o this_o great_a duty_n god_n of_o his_o special_a favour_n to_o we_o have_v make_v it_o our_o interest_n even_o in_o this_o life_n we_o may_v now_o dwell_v in_o church_n and_o exercise_v ourselves_o to_o all_o godliness_n and_o be_v as_o virtuous_a and_o as_o devout_a as_o ever_o any_o christian_n be_v without_o incur_v any_o inconvenience_n we_o need_v not_o fear_v for_o our_o faith_n lest_o it_o shall_v be_v suppress_v if_o we_o ourselves_o betray_v it_o not_o by_o our_o lukewarmness_n and_o indifferency_n for_o it_o we_o be_v even_o subject_a to_o the_o infliction_n of_o our_o magistrate_n for_o neglect_v the_o duty_n of_o our_o christian_a worship_n and_o so_o we_o lose_v and_o suffer_v much_o more_o for_o not_o be_v faithful_a to_o christ_n than_o for_o own_v relation_n to_o he_o so_o that_o now_o when_o divine_a providence_n make_v it_o so_o easy_a and_o so_o profitable_a we_o ought_v very_o serious_o to_o mind_v this_o exhortation_n to_o contend_v earnest_o for_o the_o faith_n once_o deliver_v to_o the_o saint_n by_o a_o open_a and_o constant_a profession_n of_o it_o and_o in_o the_o second_o place_n also_o by_o conform_v our_o life_n to_o its_o rule_n and_o precept_n that_o mighty_o conduce_v to_o the_o establishment_n of_o the_o faith_n and_o require_v a_o very_a serious_a application_n and_o endeavour_n of_o our_o side_n we_o must_v hold_v the_o mystery_n of_o faith_n in_o a_o pure_a conscience_n as_o the_o scripture_n say_v and_o our_o heart_n be_v to_o be_v purify_v by_o faith_n it_o be_v a_o very_a preposterous_a zeal_n to_o be_v earnest_a against_o the_o error_n of_o other_o man_n understanding_n while_o the_o depravation_n of_o our_o own_o will_n be_v unreformed_a a_o man_n shall_v raise_v loud_a clamour_n against_o another_o mistake_n not_o know_v to_o the_o person_n guilty_a of_o it_o while_o he_o himself_o transgress_v know_o in_o thing_n which_o his_o own_o conscience_n check_n and_o which_o be_v express_o forbid_v by_o his_o religion_n this_o look_v very_o odd_a and_o such_o zeal_n be_v to_o be_v suspect_v not_o to_o be_v so_o much_o for_o god_n as_o for_o a_o temporal_a design_n for_o our_o faith_n lay_v the_o great_a stress_n of_o our_o duty_n and_o of_o our_o hope_n upon_o our_o own_o work_n the_o choice_n we_o make_v of_o do_v good_a or_o evil_n if_o thou_o will_v enter_v into_o life_n keep_v the_o commandment_n neither_o the_o unrighteous_a say_v the_o apostle_n nor_o fornicaters_n nor_o idolater_n nor_o adulterer_n nor_o thief_n nor_o covetous_a nor_o drunkard_n nor_o reviler_n nor_o extortioner_n shall_v inherit_v the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n they_o that_o believe_v this_o and_o remain_v impenitent_a in_o any_o of_o these_o sin_n they_o may_v dispute_v for_o their_o opinion_n but_o they_o contend_v not_o for_o the_o faith_n rather_o as_o much_o as_o in_o they_o lie_v they_o confute_v it_o with_o their_o own_o work_n for_o so_o st._n paul_n join_v together_o faith_n and_o a_o good_a conscience_n and_o tell_v we_o that_o they_o that_o put_v away_o the_o one_o soon_o make_v shipwreck_n as_o to_o the_o other_o 1_o tim._n 1.19_o the_o seed_n of_o infidelity_n be_v in_o vice_n it_o corrupt_v the_o very_a dictate_v of_o reason_n vile_a and_o vicious_a affection_n raise_v objection_n against_o those_o divine_a and_o holy_a truth_n which_o reprove_v and_o condemn_v they_o a_o ill_a life_n and_o a_o good_a religion_n sincere_o profess_v be_v inconsistent_a so_o that_o in_o some_o case_n it_o may_v be_v say_v of_o a_o christian_a who_o gross_o and_o wilful_o prevaricate_v against_o his_o rule_n in_o the_o word_n of_o st._n paul_n he_o have_v deny_v the_o faith_n and_o be_v worse_a than_o a_o infidel_n therefore_o when_o a_o man_n have_v learn_v the_o fundamental_o of_o religion_n and_o know_v his_o duty_n the_o great_a stress_n of_o his_o endeavour_n must_v next_o be_v lay_v upon_o the_o performance_n of_o it_o that_o he_o shall_v fight_v under_o christ_n banner_n against_o his_o own_o evil_a inclination_n against_o all_o sin_n and_o immorality_n this_o contention_n st._n judas_n here_o recommend_v by_o describe_v those_o heretic_n against_o who_o he_o write_v as_o very_o impure_a in_o their_o life_n and_o factious_a and_o ungovernable_a in_o their_o deportment_n they_o walk_v after_o their_o own_o lust_n filthy_a dream_n who_o defile_v the_o flesh_n despise_a dominion_n and_o speak_v evil_a of_o dignity_n by_o exhort_v christian_n to_o contend_v earnest_o for_o the_o faith_n in_o opposition_n to_o these_o he_o mean_v not_o only_o their_o false_a doctrine_n but_o also_o their_o evil_a deed_n against_o which_o he_o be_v most_o vehement_a and_o indeed_o it_o require_v a_o more_o earnest_a contention_n for_o a_o man_n to_o subdue_v his_o own_o corruption_n than_o to_o assent_v to_o a_o reveal_v truth_n it_o be_v a_o thing_n of_o more_o difficulty_n to_o obey_v the_o holy_a commandment_n than_o to_o embrace_v a_o article_n of_o belief_n withal_o this_o obedience_n to_o divine_a precept_n be_v that_o which_o our_o primitive_a faith_n most_o of_o all_o recommend_v that_o which_o be_v universal_o assent_v to_o by_o all_o sort_n of_o christian_n there_o be_v no_o controversy_n in_o this_o point_n of_o