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TESTIMONIES AGAINST PERSECUTION.

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gainst such as murmur at, hate and persecute those hat cannot in conscience join to their form of doctrine and worship, though they should make it as like our doctrine and practice as possibly they can invent; nay, though it should be the very same in outward appearance, and in every circumstance provable by Scriptures, and the words which we have left upon record, yet if men take upon them to preach such doctrines, and imitate such practices, by virtue of any outward ordination or approbation of people, which have itching ears, without a true leading of the Spirit of God; though pretending to the anointing and leading thereof, shall do it for a name, honour, or lucre's sake; and shall persuade, advise, or give consent, that outward authority, or the civil magistrate, shall compel men into conformity thereunto, or else in person, estate or otherwise shall outwardly punish such as refuse to conform, though upon never so false grounds; or shall compel any man from that way of worship which, in his own mind, he is per suaded is right, or shall defend his own way of worship by carnal weapons; behold, I [who am a child of the Virgin that is espoused to the Lamb, brought forth in the return of her captivity, and have the mind of Christ herein] do testify in his name, and by his Spirit, that such are adulterate children, not begotten of God, nor born of his royal seed, nor owned by Jerusalem, which is free, and is the Mother of us all."1

(1) John Whitehead's Collection, called “Gospel Labours,” p. 98, 99.

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CHAPTER XXV.

Patience under Persecution.

NOTWITHSTANDING the various exercises the people of God meet with from the ungodly world, both of profane and empty professors, yet they are not without spiritual support and sweet enjoyments of inward peace, which the Lord gives and leaves with his,1 and which the world can neither give nor take away.

He that was after the flesh (of old), persecuted him that was after the Spirit ; as it was then, so it is now. Michael and his angels, and the dragon and his angels, are so contrary, that the one makes war againt the other. But though the old dragon made war with the woman, and the remnant of her seed, yet he who suffered in the flesh, cometh in Spirit to reign in ten thousand of his saints:3 and the Lamb and his followers shall prevail, not by sword or spear, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.

Neither is this warfare only general, as between these two great leaders, but everyone that overcomes will first know their particular conflicts with the evil one, his temptations to resist, and his evil insinuations to withstand.

Wherein the various workings of satan to discourage the mind are met with, one while rendering the work impossible, our difficulties invincible, multiplying our fears, mustering up distrust within, if possible to hinder. But, as the upright trust in the Lord, and make him their arm, they shall go on, and thereby

(1) John xiv, 27. (2) Gal. iv, 29. (3) Jude, verse 14.

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prevail; and by every faithful resisting, the enemy's power will grow weaker, and the soul strengthened and encouraged by every victory, to trust still in the Lord, and go on in the holy warfare till it is accomplished.

But such should remember, they must have on the breast-plate of righteousness; for whoever enters into a warfare with the evil one, must as well make war against unrighteousness in himself, as against satan, the author of it; stand, therefore, upright to God, swerve not to the world, nor to favour the selfish man in his unrighteous ways.

Take, also, the shield of faith, and be acquainted how to use it: and this is not intended of faiths, as creeds or opinions composed by men, for their followers to believe, as a band of society to distinguish them from those of opposite creeds; as the Apostle said, in the world there are gods many; so we may say in our day, in the world are faiths many. But that which I now intend is, the faith of the operation of God, the faith by which the just live,3 the faith by which Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompence of reward; by faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible; through faith he kept the passover and the sprinkling of blood; through faith some endured cruel mockings, and scourgings, bonds and imprisonments; 4 yea tortures, and cruel death, not accepting deliverance.

(1) Eph. vi, 14. (2) Col. ii, 12. (3) Heb. x, 38.
(4) Heb. xi, 24 to 28.

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THE EXAMPLE OF MOSES,

Here is a notable description of the power of true faith, By it, Moses was enabled to refuse the power and grandeur, and worldly honour of an opulent kingdom, choosing rather sufferings with the people of God, and enduring the reproaches of Christ (when the name Christian was not known), valuing those scorns of the ungodly as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. And this he did not do in an insensible stupid mind, but his noble choice was in true wisdom, choosing from a sense of better objects. By faith he had respect to the recompence of reward, which as much exceeded what he forsook, as heavenly joy doth the earthly, or heavenly glory the glory of this world; or an eternal pleasure in God doth exceed the pleasures of sin, that are but for a season, and leave a dreadful sting upon the consciences of men ; a worm that never dies.

How great and excellent was his choice above our worldly wiselings now, who choose this present evil world.

By faith he feared not the wrath of Egypt's king, having an eye to the King of kings, whose greater power was to be obeyed, and whose almighty arm was his preservation and deliverance.

And as by faith it was that he refused the world and its glory, so by faith was he enabled to perform religious actions also; by faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood.

And that which I desire in this point is, that all men might have faith. Take the shield of faith. whereby to resist the fiery darts of the evil one; for where this is not practiced, it is in vain for men to boast of their faith, The saints' faith overcame the world; but too many, notwithstanding their pretence

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of faith, the world overcomes them. Pride overcomes some; avarice, lust, wrath, malice, envy, prodigality, drunkenness and lasciviousness overcome many; and, whilst they call themselves Christian, they are antichristian, and serve this present evil world, and the sinful pleasures or passions of it. It is in this faith the people of God make war against satan, that they may overcome him and his works in themselves; faith in Christ the arm and power of God manifest near unto men that they may be ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμέντι με Χξις 1 by Christ inwardly enabled to withstand the wiles of satan; and those who so overcome the evil in themselves, will be encouraged to withstand the temptations of the world from without.

And by a continuing in the same exercise, go on to serve the Lord in righteousness and holiness, 2 without which men cannot see God, no more than they can please him without this faith.

Peter well said of old, "Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time."4

And those who thus witness the power and goodness of God, to preserve them from evil, which was their sorrow, they will love him with a sincere and very fervent love, and with a steady zeal go on to serve him, in resisting the allurements of satan, who may offer worldly vanities or sinful pleasures, interest or ambition, the fading glory or transitory grandeur of this world: but they who are born from above, and have tasted of the goodness of God (persevering) will have their eye to better pleasures, to lasting joys, (1) Gell's Essay. (2) Luke i, xxv. (3) Hebrews xii, 14.

(4) 1 Peter i, 5.

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