It is necessary that we should suffer, because we have sinned; and
if God will have us suffer a little while here for his word, instead
of suffering for our sins in hell, let us be content, and count it a
mercy with thankfulness.
The wicked are reserved to the day of destruction, they shall be
brought forth to the day of wrath. How kindly, therefore, doth God
deal with us, when he chooses to afflict us but for a little, that
with everlasting kindness he may have mercy upon us.
Since the rod is God's as well as the child, let us not look upon
our troubles as if they came from and were managed only by hell. It
is true, a persecutor has a black mark upon him; but yet the
Scriptures say that all the ways of the persecutor are God's.
Wherefore as we should, so again we should not, be afraid of men: we
should be afraid of them, because they will hurt us; but we should
not be afraid of them as if they were let loose to do to us and with
us what they will. God's bridle is upon them, God's hook is in their
nose; yea, and God hath determined the bounds of their rage; and if
he lets them drive his church into the sea of troubles, it shall he
hut up to the neck; and so far it may go and not he drowned. Isaiah
8:7, 8.
"May we not fly in a time of persecution? Your pressing upon us that
persecution is ordered and managed by God, makes us afraid to fly.
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