Of Persecution

AUifuU wiUUve Bpdhfi miut aujferpaaecuiiotL’ thenfore strmhen thyself unth these pronwea.

If thou art railed upon for wdl4oing.

•*If je be reproached for the name rf Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of Grod, and of glory, rested upon you.^,

^’Blessedi areye when men revile youp and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against yon falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven; &r so persecuted they the prophets which were before yott>

If titou art persecuted any other ways even

unto decufu

“Re that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.<^ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

When ye lose any earthly blessing for God’s cause, apply, “Everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, tor my name’s sake* shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting nfe.

This is the greatest, and yet lawful usury of all others, — to part with one outward blessing, and to receive a hundred for it; to Ipse a miserable life, and to eutoj eternal life; to suffer a short, tiaiep and to have a great reward in heaven; to be disgraced, and to have the spirit of glory rest upon us. Therefore when thou art raded upon, apply. **Bles8ed am I; the spirit of glory rests upon me« therefore they cannot make me vile.’^

Art thou any way persecuted? Apply» “Theirs ia the Kingdom of heaven; great is your reward in heaven,”

Take they thy life? Apply, “He that bsetk his lije for my sake smill Jind itJ^ Take they away any earthl v bles|ing? “Thou ahalt receive an hundred fold at this present.” Therefore if usurers gladly let out their money, that hope to receive but eight in the hundred; be ashamed of thyself, that thou shouldest not give one for a httn-r dred, when thou hast the promise of him that never failed topclrform*

In partaking with Oodspeofdin sujjlirihgf that thou may est be partaker of their com*- forts.

“As you are partakers of the sufferiajgs; so shall yie be also of the consolation.^

*2Cor.i, 7.

Wkm thou art called forth to defend ikt

truth. *

“When they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak; for it shall be giteo you in that same nour what ye shall speak.*

**I will give you a mouth and wtsdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist Whosoever confesseth me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in hven.’’

When thou fearest thou shalt not be able to speak in defence of the truth, apply *’It shall be ven thee,“though thou hast it not before, “in that hour what thou shalt say.”

If thou fearest the learning of thy adversaries, and thine own simpleness, apply, “I will give thee not only a mouth, but also. 2£yiWom, where against they shall not be able to speak.” If thou want courage,, embolden thyself with this, — Christ will confess the before his Father.^

thou wouldet bring forth aeaaonabkfruU for every estate, aria for every duty.

*^Thott shalt be as a tre« that bringeth forth bis fruit in season.^ He shall bring forth fruit according to his months.*

If thou art to speak, or pray, or do any dutyi that thou mayest do it seasonably, and

have fitting words and thoughts* appltj “Thou shalt bring forth fruit in «tffl«on,”So in every estate, prosperity or adversity, that thou mayest bring forth the fruits of it, apply,“‘rhey shall bring forth fruit in season according to their months.”