^,^-. ao'"' -
The good Fight ^f Faith ^ in the.(
again [I (he Kingdom of S A jl n ;\\
Exemplified in a
S E R MO N
Preach'd at the Pariih-Church of
St. Clements Danes, Weftminfier,
On tha 2^th of March, 170'.
A T T H E
F U N ERA L
• OF
Mr. JOHN DENT,
Who was barbarouliy murder'd in the doing hfs
• Duty, in the Execution of the Lavvs againft Pro-
, fanenclsand Immooliry.
nJH -
I Tim, Vi. Vcn 12.
Fi^t the good Fight of Faith^ lay hold on Eter-nat Lif .
whereunto thou art alfo CalleJ, andbafi prcfifsd a
. Good VrofeJJion before many IVttnrJJes,
> ^ J — . * ■ - — ■ — — '
By Thomas Bray^ D. D. Minifter of St. Botolfb^Aldgate.
^uhlijjoed at the Requefi ofthejufiicss ofVeace, of the Societies for
Reformation of Mi»nners, a?:d other Ge7Jtlemen that heard it.
Lonion: Printed by ti. Hills fm Black-fry'ars^ nc2it the
Water- fide. For the Benefit of the Poor.. I'^op.
To the Ju dices of the Peace, and other Gentlemen, at whofc
Requeft the following Sermon was made Publick.
Gcntlcmeni
Il^ijh I might have been esicus^d the Puhlifiing s Difceurfi etrnptfed
Vfiihji much hafl^and amidjifo nuch hurry, as ntuji needs render it t§9
crude and undigejied to appear ih Print j but the Confideration which
g^ve force to your Commandi^ is the Occajitn vhieb maybe here taken to
fubli/h to the IVtrld^ that great Countenance which Jo maiiy Perfins of Di»
fiinaion have given to the CMJSE OF GOD IN THE REFORMATION
OF MANNERS, by attending the Funeral of a Martyr in thts blejfed Cauje.
It was a glorious Sight, and will be of fingular Uje undoubtedly, as well
to animate thofe excellent Penftns, who have devoted themfelves to this, the
beji Service to God and their Country, as to dijcourage the impious and im-
njoralPVr etches of both Sexes j to have fe'en upwards 0/30 Conjlables and
Beadle^ j A alfo between 20 and 50 o{^ the venerable Clirgy to preceed the
Corps J I zjujfices of the Peace holding up the Pall, and immediately foU
lowing it', and a great Train ofothtr Gentlemen of§luality. Among theni,
fome Aldermen, and laflly above 1 000 worthy Citizens and other condttm
'^ing this blejfed Saint to ^U Grave, It was djight, at which the Powers
ef Dat knefs, I am perfwaded, did Tremble j and I believe is no fmall Ter»
Tor te thoje fivil-Ooers, who are in Nature alfo themfelvti Devils, as much
as they can be in humane Shape ;. for hereby they may conclude, that as
fnuch as Impiety and Immorality have advanced of late Tears ; yet God
hat thofe,who will alfo advance on to meet them whatever they Juffer by iti
jindas Jo noble an jlppearance was a comfortable Sight, as it re^eSs thi
Caufe,fo hkenifife as it regards the Perfon whojtiffered thus glorioufly in it.
It was not his Birth and ^ality, nor his Ejiate andPofts in Publick,whtlJt
he lived, {foryoit knew him to have been but a mean Man ) that could in-
duce you to give himfueh uncommon Rejpeils at his Death. Butjeveral
Centlmen in the Commijpon, which you do Jo much adorn, found in htm ^
throughout his many Tears Service in the Great bujinejs p/ Reformation
of Manners, /. e. in bringing before you the lewd and diforderly Criminals^
SI mofi extraordinary Zeal, itith a perJeH Integrity, and a jingle Aim at
ihe Glory of God nndthe Good of his Fellow Creatures. And this made yon
Jo greatly value and re fpeEi him, whiljl he livid -^ aiidt6 honour him, as
you have done, when dead. And upon the whole, when the Magijiracy of
this Nation, /hall come univerjally to appear thus publickly. as, for ever
blejfed be 'the Almighty, you more and more do, in the Caufe of God and
Good Men, ( And when they fk all have read Mr. DifneyV mojl incompara-
ble Eflay upon the Execution of the Laws, as I hope all -bill ) in the midfi
of our Melancholy on theOccafion of fo publick a Degeneracy both in Prin-
ciples andPraffrce j it gives a comfortable Profpeliof an happy Recovery
•J the Church of God its primitive State of Piety and f^irtue, arid that
the Kingdom oj Satan will not fiand long j n6r Sataniail Men viUftt in<^
fult and murder the Servants ofChrifl without End, '.
'And that the Almighty may increafe the Number of fuch Minifters of
God for Good, as you/hew yourjelves to be^ is the hearty Prayer of
GentIeiiicn,Youf mod Affcdlionatc and Obedienc humbJc Servant,r, DRAT,
( i^
1 TIM. VL Vcr. xii, : . .^ v
Fight tie good Fight of Faith^, lay hold on Eternal Lifi^
whtreunto thou art alfo calledydndhafi p'ofefs*d aGoodTro^
feffion before many Witnejfes,
i"
I Little ^bought, that a late Difcourfc I m^6e before many of jou, fliould
be a Prologue to Co "fatal a Tragedy as we have here prefenrcd to us.
As I then told you that there are two Powers in the World contendi-
ng for Dominion oyer Mankind :; God, i^nd our Lord Jefus Ghrift our
ightful Lord and.Sovereigni and rhe Devil that Arch-Rebel, and Ufur-
per; And that in this War the whole World is cngag'd, and none can
Hand Neuter ; So now our fad experience fhews us this Truth, that
we who profefe our feives the Servants of [elus Chrifl, mii({ fight the goad
Fight of. Faith, as we xoiU lay hold on Eternal Life, that thsrettnto we are
called, and hav^ frofefed in our Baptifnlal Covenant a good ProfeJJion
iefore many Witneps,
But to illuilrate this fnatter the better to you^ I Ihall proceed as
follows, .
Firjiy I will remind you of your Chriftlan Profeflion, Covenant and
fengagementsj (hewing you that as the State of one in Covenant with
jGod, is a State of Warfare ; To oiir Ba^ti final Covepant, is a Military
b<if^ taken by us, to be faithful Soldiers under the great Captain
of our Salvation Jefus Chrid, in his and our War againft Satan, and
the Powers and Works of Darkncfs,
Secondly, Tliat it being of abrdure Neceffity that we continue Faith-
ful in our Covenant unto our Lives end ; and yet there being an Enmi-
ty, as between the Serpent himfclf, -and the Seed of the Woman, fp be-
tween the Seed of both, viz. The Wicked and Righteous, . the latter are
almod furc to undergo PcrleciuJons from the formerjand that therefore ic
is a Duty incumbent upon the Sons and Servants of God in Covenant with
hira, conftantly to refift the Temptations of the Serpent, and his Seed
to confefs Chrifl and his Truths, and to JUaod Hrm in his Caufe even
imto Martyrdom.
Thirdly, I will (hew you what Spiritual Weapons and Armour you
inu(i u(e in this (harp GonHid and Engagement • and how by ulingthezn
you (hall become Vjftorious. The Armour whereby we fliall certainly
become ViSorious; if we put it on, and make u(e of it, is Faith . Figbf
the good Fight of Faith, And,
Fourthly, 1 will move yoiRby all means to Fight, to ftand your
Ground, and daily more and more to gain upon your Spiritual Advcrfa-^
ries, the Devil, the World, and the FleQi 5 and in, a Word, to ^ beat
down Satan's Kingdom, in this your Chriftiftn Warfare*. I will mov«
you to this from the following Coniiderations. , , ,,
i/,' Becaufe this is ^ good Fight, well worthy our Enga|;meQC ia.i.r|
ana
an^ the fittefl in the World to cxercife our Courage abd^oui* Skill. r/^i&^
ihg good Fight cf Faith,
2.dly, Becaufc if we become Vicloriou5 in th!s ?rght, we fliall hy hold
on Eternal Life ;/we (hall be crowned with grear|r Honours than in our
Earthiy Conquefts, even with Eternal Life ; tay hold on Eternal Life.
id/y, I will excite you to be vigorous, refoliite, and fteady in your
ChrUtian Warfare^ becaufeweare thereunto called -, TJ^e Nature of ouf
Profeflfioo, engages us to be fo : Whereunto roe are alfo calisd,
4.fh!yy Becaufe we have fo publicJily and folemnly engaged to fight
under Chrift's Banner j and it will be our. ucraoft^Difgrace a/id Cowardis
to fly from it our felves, and to^ive way in the Battle j efp^cially ha-
ving made fuch Publick and Solemn Engagements to the contrary ; {Ve
have profefs'd a good ProfeJJion, d:c.
And then, lafifyt becaufe the Examples of (lout Leaders are of migh-
ty Consequence to encourage tho(e that follow them, to do their Parts
alfo bravely, I will reprefent to you with what Courage, Refolution, and
undaunted Magnanimity, the Martyrs that have gone before you have
fought in 'this Chriftian Warfare; and particularly oar good Brother
here before us.
Firft, / will remind you of your Chrifiian Profejjiony Covsnant^ and
Engagements 'y Skewing you, that as the State of one in Covenant -soith
Gody « a State of Warfare ; jo otir ^aptifmal Covenant is a military
Oath taken by za to he faithful Soldiers under the great Captain of our
Salvation feju^ Chrifl in this, which it both his and our War againji
Sst any and the Powers and M^orks of Darknefs.
I have besn long of this Perfwafion, and for any thing I can (ce, mud
ever continue of the fame Opinion, that there is nothing within the whole
Corapifs ot^our Religion of greater Confequence to be well underftood
and throughly apprehended by us, than the whole do£trine of the covenant
cf Grace, viz. the occafon thereof by Reafon of the Fall, the Nature,
Terms and Conditions, of the fame -, By whofe Mediation it was obtained
for f/^, by what y^jjijiance wefhall be able to perform ity and our Obliga-^
tions thereunto. And that, as for many other Reafons, not here to be
mentioned, and for which I mufl: therefore refer you, ( <» ) as well as
for the knowledge of the thing it felf, to what I have laid elfewhere j fo
particularly for this? Thatas-the State of a Chriftian, as fuch, is a Stats
of Warfare j fo our Baptifnal Covenant is a military Oath taken by us
to be faithful Soldiers under the great Captain of our Salvation Jcfus
Chrift, ia this which is both his and our War againft Satan, and ths
Powers and Works of Darknefs.
That the Srat^of a Chriftian is a Sta^ of Warfare, wherein the Sin-
ner is on the fide of Satan, and the true Chriftian in theCaufeof God, I
did at large (hew you on thofc Words of St. John, i Epift, 3. S/^Ver.
He that coynmiiteth Sin is^f the Devil i For the Devil finneth from the
Beginning : And the whole Difcourre being on that SubjeA, I {hall not
( a; Leciures on the Preliminy ^*e(i^ and Anjw, of the Ch, Cat. or
the Jhort Dijcourfe on the Bapt. C9v. repeat
repeat that matter her but rather refer you to the Difcourfe it fcf for Sa-
tistadlion,
But that our Bapti final Covenant is a Military Oath, taken by us ro(
be.fdirhful Soldiers under the great Captain bf our Salvation Jcfus
Chrfft, in this our War againfl: Satan, and the Powers and Works of
Darltncfs ; As this is a poait not yet fpoken ro^ fu ic may well dcfeVve
our Confiderarion. That the Roman Soldiersiwere conflantly wont to take
a Miliia}'y Oath to their General, is what eyery one who is any thing
feen in their Antiquities, does very well know ; as alfo that fuch their
Oath was caird a Sacrament, whence the Phrafe Sacramtnto fe ohjlringe'
re, tobind ones fcif under the Oath or Sacrament, when they took 'i'^CA
an Oath to be faithful to their General. And \\\ allufion to this, it is,^
that both the Ordinances of Baptifm and the Lord's Supper are alfo cal-
led Sacraments; Becaufe in the one we did firft enter, in rhe other we ra-
tific fuch our Covenant with God, our Lordjefui Ghrift ^ in the moft fo^
lemn maaner obliging our felvcs therein utterly to Renounce the Devil^
and allhcre to Chriftour Rightful Lord and Mafter to our Lives endj
And here I cannot but admire the Wifdom of our Church above any
whether Reform'd or others, that i'o agreeably to the whole Tenor of
Scripture, and to the Pra6licc of the ancient Church,' under the Form of
z%2ilitary Oath, flie enters and binds down all her Children to an Uttec
Abjuration of Satan, and a faithful Service and (li'id Allegiance no
Chrift. Take the Scripture from one end to the other, and it confiftsof
a Hifloryof a long and fierce Wai* between Chrift and his Church onon^BJ*
fide,, and Satan and his Adherents on tlie ether j together Vith the Laws
of ChrilVs Subjects ; in conforming to which they muft exprefs their Al-
legiance to him, And the conftanc Phrafe of the ancient Church in the
entring of any of its Children by Baptifm into Covenant with Chrift^
was altogether Military,, zs may be fcen in TertttUia7i, the Conftitutions.
called Apoftolical, St. Cyprian, Ambrofe, Cyril ot Jerufalem, and ia
whom not. So that from the beginning it has been always thought, and
it continues ftiU to be efteemcd, that as the State of a Chri.^'an is a mere
V/arfare under Chrift his General, againll Satan that great Rtbel j So oar
Baptifwal Covenant is the Oath of Allegiance we have taken to Chrift
our Saviour; the Military 0<:ir^ whereby w.e-havc bonncf our felves to
trve faithfully under him. And thus much may fuffice fir the firft.
Prace^ we on next tdour next Hesd ot Oifcourfe; Namely co fliew, ;
Secondly, That it being ofahfolt&te Uecefp.ty, 'that roe coTnti'/iue faithful}
in our Covenant unto our Lives en'd. And yet chere beifig anEnmity, a^
hf.txceentheSirpenthimfelf and the Seed of the Woman \ So between the
Seed of both, viz. %hi Wicked and the RJghteous; the latter are .almofi
[ure t4f undergo PerffCHtian from the former. And that therefore it is /s
JDuty incumbent upon the Sons and Servants, of Ged, in Covenant K>Jih
h.irA^ con^^nily to refift the Temptation of the Serpent and his Seed ;. to
^pnfefsChrifl and his Truths-, and-tO:.fiand.firm to .ki:.Caufs sve'/i u?iy./.
MartyrdQr?i^
( 6 )
Having taken this Military Oath to Chrift ; it isofabfoluirc Ncccflir^,
that we continue Faithful in our Covenant with him, to our Lives end.
This if we do not. we (hall come under the Guilr of being Covenant
Breakers^ and fuch you will find among feaiful Company, Rem, i. 5,1,
We (ball be alfo guilty of the higheil Perjury. And know, that asrfbe
Lav ii made for the Lawlefs and Di [obedient, for the Ungodly, and for
Sinners, for Unholy, and Profane, for Murdefers of Fathers, and Mur'
defers of Mothers, for Manfiayers, for Whoremongers for them who de-
fie themfelves, for MenfeTtUrs, for Lisrs ; So for perjured Perfons, i
'tim. I. p, 10. And as the Law is made find againfl them, fo it will be
one Day CKecmeAfeverely upon them. But then you are coconfider
withal,
That there being an Enmity, as between the Serpent himself, and the
Seed of the Woman ; (b between the jieed of both, viz. The Wicked and
the Righteous, the latter arc alrooft fore to undergo Perfecution from the
Former. The Serpent is the Devil, and the 5eed of the Woman is the
MeJJiahowt Lord Chrift ; And as, foon after the revolt of Mankind fronx
God to Satan, a perpetual and bloody War proclaimM between the Devil
and his Vaflals, and CW^ with his Subjeds, in thofe remarkable Words,
Gen. 3 . 15. / TviSput Enmity between thee and the Woman, and between
ihy Seed and her Seed j itfhall bruife thy Head, and thou (halt bruije hit
Heel; And in the fame Words, it was foretold that Chrift and his Follow-
ers fhould fuffer fcverely from Satan and his Affociates j fo the Malice of
the Satanical Crew ('id foon appear, and continues evenunto this -Day,
*The peculiar Chara£lfr of Satan i^ that he is a Murderer; and thofe
who arc of a like murderous Difpofninn with him, are faid to be his
ChiUrsn, John s- 4+. Te are of your Father the Devil, and the Lujl of
your fat hsr ye will do-: He was a murderer from the beginning. And
this U'fpoii'ion boch of him and .hem, was very early exemplified in his
Firft t^prn Cain, who was of that wicked one j and/lew his Brother Abel,
jind wherefore flew ye him? becaufe his own Works were evil, and his
Brother s Good. Ah ! here is the true Caufe generally of whatever
Murders, and always of the Perfeciitions and Maflacrees which have been
in the Wf.fid. Impious and wicked Men, horrible and outrajgiobs Swear-
ers, Protaners of hJs ibcred Name and Word, Breakers of his Sabbaths,
and Contemners of his Ordinances, as alfo thofe Sons of Bj;<i/, Adulte-
rers, Whoremongers and Drunkards. Thefe as well as Idolaters, are
his profefs'd Votaries, and are ufually his more immediate Servants, who
conftanrly attend his Chappel, the Play-Houfe, And now the faithful
Subjeds, and true Servants of God, as they are the veryrcverfe of all this
in themfelves ; fo they with an Heroick Zeal, for thd Honour of their
Lord and Matter, labour all they can to bring off thofe wretched Men from
their vile Servitude to Sin and Satan j and for this both Satan ar.d^Satani-
cal Men rage horribly againft them,»revileand malign, and gnalh .their
Teeth upon them, a. id if they can, will murder and deilroy them. Thus
ftandls the Truth of i^he Cafe, and then, marvsl net, m^ Brcthxen, if
'( 7 )
tie WtirU hate you^ i John 3. 15. nor be ye (Jifcouraged at it ; fbr what
fays the great Captain of your Salvation, your Leader, John ij. 18,
ip, 20, II. If the the Wtrld ha^e you^ ye knov it hmted rne before it
hated y9H, Jf ye soere of the World, the iVorld would love its own ; but
bicaufe you are not of the World, but I have chofenyouout of the World;
Therefore the World hat eth you. Remember the Word that I faidunto
you^ the Servant is not greater than the Lord, if they have perfecuted
mt, thefxoill aljo perfe cute you -, if they have kept my faying, they will
keep yours alfo. But all thefe things will they do untoyeu, for my t7ame't
fake, becaufe thty know not him that fent me. Thus you fee in what no-
ble Strains your great General does roufe up your Courage, and be noc
diflieartned.
^But let every Son and Servant o£God, who is in Covenant with him,
and (q has taken the Military Oath 10 be faithful to,'and to ftick by him,
look upon it as a Duty incumbent upon him, conftantly to relifl and re-
pel the Temptations of the Serpent and his Seed, so confefs Chrifl and
his Truths; Nay, and to Oand firm in his Caufe, even to Martyrdom
itfelf, if there (hould be occafion. You have entred into Covenant
with him, to renounce the Devil and all his Works, the Pomps and Va-
nities of this wicked World, and all the (inful Lufls of the Flefh ; to be-
lieve all the Articles of the Chriflian Faith j and to obey God's holy Will
and Commandments, and to walk ki the fame all the Days of your Life.
And you mufl make it your firfl care, in your own Perfons, to rtfifl and
repel- whatever Temptations he himfelf, or his under Tempters, the WorliJ
atqd the Flefh, fhall ply you withal, to induce you to falfifie your Vows
to God. And both his and their Temptations beipg very many, vanous-
and wilcly, as I have already largely fliew'd the World (b-) you mufl be
very watchfal.and veryRefoluce,left you be cnfnar'd and overcome by thenn
But when through the Afliftance of God's Holy Spirit, which will not upon
your earnefl Prayer for it, be wanting to your Support, you fiiall find'
your Virtue pretty well cffablifhed, proceed in the Name ot God,
To Confefs openly and bravely your Adherence to Chrift in the Vindi-
cation of his Caufe, of his Truths, and of his Laws. And accordingly-
iif any Impudent Blafphemer, fhall vilifie and redicule the Scriptures, or-
arrogantly difpute againft any the Fundamental Articles of your Faith ;
or fhall deride Piety and Virtue, and be found in the breach of any the
Capital parts thereof, by profane Curfing and Swearing, by the protana-.
ti6nof the Lord's-day, by Rioting or Drunkennefs, by Chambering and'
Wantonnefs, if they appear incorrigible, and beyond the force of Per-,
firaflon to reclaim, give them not only to underfhndi but to feel, that-
we live under a Chhftian Government, and that as yet, Thanks to our-
Law-makers, who are gone before^ us, there ar« Laws to reftrain their,-
Madnefs. .
And thaS: you muft by Virtue of. your Military Oath, or Covenants^
fland . firm « in- God's Caufe, even to Martyrdom it felf, if therfr,v^ould be*;
(8)
Qccafion. Ic is a vulgar Error crept into Mens Head?, that in thofe Na-
tions where Chrirtianiry is cniecrain'd, or at leaft pr::)fer6'<i in the purity
thcrC' f, there is n;i place f9r Marryrdom, Such luppofe \lartyrdom is a
ftiffcno.; ij Death la rhe ProT- iiior»or\^nricai:on, ot' the Do^nnal part
of Chriitiaoity oniy, ofall'v; ^f ii>m- Article of i heir Greed j but that
as to the pradical parr, to (utrcr wik. reference tothar, does not deferve
the noble and glorious Title of a Vlartyr Bur the Truth .»? otherwiie. And
Martyrdom pr. perl) ngniiies a fuffering even to Deaih, in the Tcitiroo-
ny and Acknov/k dgme.it of God's Sovereign Authoriry over ns, be .t with
rel'peiJit to anj Truth i e requires us to believe, or i>f any Duty h. obliges
, us to difcharge. And m this latter acceptation fokn the Bapitfl was ^
Martyr, when he was beheaded from having frankly teprovM Hero/i for
marrying his Brother P^*7ij>'8 Wife 5 And I will be bold to affirm, cUr godd
Brother here before us, as he was murdered in the heft Service ii\
the World , the promoting a RefcrmAtton of maiiners , may alfo
deferve the mcft noble of all Titles, that of ^^r/j'»-. In both the Au-
thority of God is tqoil'.y alTcrted, in both therefore the Crown of Mar-
, tyrdom is equally att**in'd. And in either cafe, fhould any of usbcprovi-
totially calld foith to give our Teftimony to God's /Authority ; either
• by confeirmgfhim and his Divine Triuhs, or by yielding Obedience to his
Commands, wt, muft do it at the hazard of our Lives, and the expeiicc
of our Blood : Not'fearing thm which kill the Body, but are net able to
'km (he Soul: but rather fe^ving him which is able to deftrey both body and
Soul in Hell, Mar. 10. 28. And thaf this we might be able tpdo, {hould
it be the Divine Will and rleafure to call 41s forth, at the Expcnce j eve;).
of ourBlood to afierthis Caufe, I fliall proceed,
Thirdly, 7o (kero ycu what Spiritual Weapons and Armour yott muft
fife inlhi! (karp ConfliEi awi EngagevQent. And how by ufvg them, you,
fhdl become yiElorioui^ The Armour whereby we fhall certainly become
Fifforiou/y it we putitoD, ^anfl make ufc ot it, is Faith. F/ght the good
Fight of Faith. This is rhe Dircdion ct Sz.Paulm the very cafe we are
upon, our Spiritual War-'are, or the Fighting God's Caufo againft all the
Powers ofDarkncfs, ff^ wrefile not againji Fle/h and Blosi, not only
againft Humane torcc and violence, and corrupt Nature, but againft
Principalities, i^gainft Pov^erj, againft the Rulers of the Darknefs of this
World, agai?iji Spiritual IVickednefs in High Places. Wherefore take tin-
to yon the rchole armour of God, that ye may be able towitkftandin the'
Evil Day, andha-ymg done all, to (land. Stand therefore, having your
Loyns girt^about with Truth, and ba jing on the breaji plate ofR:ghtS'
fiuluefs', and^your feetfhod soith ths Preparation of thf Gofpel cj Peace ^
Above alU taking the fhteld of Put h,' wherewith ye fhall be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of Salvation, and
ihsSvfordof the Spirit, r»hich is the Word of God -.Praying aljvays with
all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto w'ithals
Perfe'vsra7jce, d^d Supplicatio?^ for all Saint s^ Eph^ 6. iz, sj, I4»
" ' ' ' J 5-.
(9) •
l^, 1 6, 17, 1 2. Hero we are direded indeed ro tbe whole Armonr of God.
whereby we may be able to ftand againfl: thd'^ileq of the Devil j and a.
noble Hace of Scripture it is, worthy a Comment upoa every Part otjt,
would Time permit. Bir that which the Apudle himftlf more particu'
larly recommerKis to our Ufe, is Faith; Ahve all, take the Sfoield of
Faith^ and the Force of that is what alonr I can now {^iik to. And as
7je>iihonf Faith it m impojfible to pleafe God. by djfchargijg as we ought,
our Covenant Engagements to hira ; fo in Virtue of ir thore are no Diffi-
culties in our Chnilian Warfare, be thly never fo great, but wc may o-
vercome ; as appc'ai'S by what others have done bi;fore us in the Strcngrb
ofic ; a noble Record of whofe Gloiioui Atcbievents, wirh a molt pa-
" tbetick Ex'iorration to follow their Steps,' we have in the i 1 and iz Chap-
ters to th;- Hebrews ; a Place of Scripture which will yield an exceeding
great Suppor^ to thofe who are call d forth to the more rough and dan-
gerous Services of Religion, and fuch as may probably bring them at laft
CoMartyrddm, in the paufeof God againft Satan ^ ^nd which therefore
I would particularly recommend to the ferious Medirarion of many here.
But of what Nature, you will fay, is ihar Faith, by the Virtue of
which we can do fuch mighty Things j and how fliall we uie ir, fo as
to become Fi^oriotis by it ? A ad to fura up, in as few Words as poffible,
^hat may be to cur prefent Purpofe j in Qiort it is this, a wclj-grounded
firm Ferfwafion, that it is God who gave us our Being, and all that we are,
and alHhat we have, fo that we are entirely his Property, and ought to
live and die folely to his Glory. T^at he continually exerofcs a watch-
iiil Providence over us, fuch as a wife Pi ince dots over his People j So
that we are to look upon our felves as his Subjefls, ro yield our lelves
o'-icdicr.t to his Laws, and to reckon" upon both our Ptrioosand Services
^,as abfolutJy at his Apj?ointment : That when at the Infligati^on of Safi«n,
Mankiid had revolted over from God to him ; tlfe divine Goodnefs, m
stier Compaflion room; r'eplorable Condition, as Rebels ro the belt of
Mjfters, and Slaves to the cruelleft of Tyrants, did fend his own*Son into
the World to bring us'back to him our God, and to redeem and refcuc
us from uncher the Po/er of the Devil j So that we ought moft devoutly
to look up ;o hinia.*our great Deliverer and Redeemer. That in order
to compafs a compkat Redemption for us, by mediating an entires Recon-
ciliation between God and os; tho' himfelf in Nature God, be took upi.n
him that\of M.wn. and being God- Man, a middle Perfon between GudaiKi
UP, he put on a Treaty of Accommodation between us, fbr«which fureiy
wc can never fufficiently blcfs him; Ti]*t under this Charade r of ^:?^-
dmtQi\ he firft took upon him the Quajity of a Prophet^ tp inlighten our
. l>enighted Minds i.i our W5y hom^* to God, and to pn iVribe us the Tejms
attd Conditions of that Covenant, on whofe Conditions alone he would
receive us to Mercy. And fmely this we ought ro clofe with j And tiiac
He moreover, becayfe the divine juflice muft be fully fatisfy'd for fo high
an Affront dooe to God by 'our Revolt, rook upon him tlje dfrice of a
P^;>/?, to chit Degree, gs never v?as done before or fine? 3 even fo as to
la/
( le)
hy down his Life, and ofifohis own mod precious B!aod z Sacrifice for
OS ro atconc and appeafe tnc Wrath of his Father conceived againft us j
(athat we arc his purchaled Poffeflion with a Wirncfs. And after his Su€-
ferings on g^rth, having afcendcd into Heaven, and there being vc/ted
with ail the Power and Authority of a King over his Church, were com-
mitted altogether to his Governmenr, and we are under his Condu^ ; and
muft therefore look upon our fches as altogether his Subje6b, Servants,
and Soldiers ; to fight his Battles againft his and our Enemy the Devil ,
In difcharging our ^arts well in which Warfere, as becomes us in the fcve-
ral Polls and Stations in which he (hall 'allot us, wc may aflurc our felvcs
of being infinitely and unfpeakably Rewarded by him, for fo he has pro-
mised us J But if we (hall prove recreant and Rencgadoes, and Revolt
*gain over to the Devil, he will moft direfally puniftj us j for fo.be hat
plainly Threaten'd. And this may4)e fufficient at prefent to. be fpojife (q,
?s to the matter of that Faith whereby we may come off Vi^or.ious and
Conquerors in the Day of Battle.
But if you do demand farther, How ^re we to u(e this noble Wcappn,
of Faith, and when mo{^ feafonably ? Why, you ar^ always with great
Serioufnefs, and great Intenfenefs and Apphcation of Thought, lovtcdU
tate upon ihefc awful Point? now mentioned. But cfpcclally whenever
ynj find your feif likely to be engaged in the Rcgllance of any ftrong
Temptation to violate any one Article of our Covenant with God, or in
any Difficult and dangerous Scrvic?, whereby we are call'd forth to' do him
eminent Honour : Then efpeci^lly be fure you have your Eye fixt upoa
thofe great Things, Braying^ vithsl all Prayer ari4 Supplication m the .
Spirit J For fo St. />^«/ advifes us, that we fhould do in Concurrence
With Faich, Epa,6, 18. And being thus prepared and arm'd with Faiih
and Prayer, you may fafely throw your (elves into the Heat of the Battle ;
and no doubt you willcome off Conquerors. And fuch is the Nature of
^^h's Warfare, that you will be more the Conquerors fhoqW ypu fall and
*4c in the Field. But this being a Service fo very formidable to humane
^Jature, it behoves me furcly therefore to lay befoie you, fome very ur-
gent and powerful Reafons td engnge you in itj And this was my fourth,
ftropofil. And I will move you to this from the following Confide -
rations.
I ft, Beeaufe this ii a good Fight, weS worthy our Engagement in it^
and thefittefi in the World to exircije our Courage and ottjr SkiU ; Fight:
the good Fight of Faith, It is a good Fight upjpn a double account -, firft,
becaole it tends to make our f elves Gaod^ And next, beeaufe it ttnds ta
wake the World Good. And truly the Fight muft begin firil at home, and
with our fclves, or we (hall have little Succefs^abroad. ^ut this I need.,
not urge to you, who are fufficiently fenfible, how warchful an Eye the.
World has uppn you, that you be your (elves reformed, who fo nobly en-
deavour the Reformation of others. And it muft be attributed* to the
jjeculjar Pi'bvidencc of God over your Undertaking that Malice it felf has^
^^Qt in fa long a t:n:c bjjen able to find afia.Hr cither ipyow fc]vcs or Con-
( ,1 )
du£^, with refpe£l to that great Work, fuch as may dcftrve its Animad*-
verfion. To pafs on rhtrefore.
Next. As it is 2 good Fight, well worthy our Engaging in, in that it
tends to make us in our fehes fogood ; To much more as it will do a great
deal -of G^ff^ /w the World. The World, as it Is, is bad, very bad, God
he knows j And were He not infinite in his Patience, Forbearance, Long-
Suffering, and Goodncfs, as he is in his Holineis and Juitice, we had e'er
this been in rcfpeft of PuniQiment, as well as of Sin, as Sodonty andm»d9
likg untoGomorrha. And undoubtedly wefhould e'er this have come up
to the heighth both of their Sin, and Fate j but that fo many excellent
Perfons ( of which? our Brothe^ here before us was truly a great one^
with the Zeal of Phineas, have brought fo many of the Criminals to ex-
emplary Puniflimcnt, to the Terror of Evil-doers ; and fo the Plague
h'ls ji^yed* And if this Fight of. Faith then, does not good to the World,
I know not what does. And it has been a Thoufand times an Amafement
to me, that a^y ferious Chriftian fliould arraign it ; That the Ssns oj Be-
Hal, the avowed Servants of the Devil, (hould gnafli their Teeth againft
it, and take fo much Pains to mifrcprcfent and 6ely it, I do nor in the
leaft wonder ; for why ? The Devil u the Father of Lies, and the Works
6f their Father they will do . It is natural to them. But that any fincerc
Chriftian, and that any efpepiaUy, who are chief Members in the Hou-
fiibld of Piiih^ fhould exprefs any evil Will to this noble Fight of Faith,
and thofe who are fo ^lorioufly engaged in it j to fpeak my Mmd freely.
It perfcdly confounds me whenever I think of ir : for my Life I cannot
account for it.
But yer, tho» many will not with that diabolical Emnity arid Fury as
fome very vifibly^do, outrage this blejled and good Work, and thofe who
are fo fignally engaged in it » yet too many of thofe who take themfelves
fbr very good Chriftians, think they may cxcufe themfelj^es from this
the rougheft patt of this Fight of Faith, gs not htm^iahd to it ; but
to roufe up thcfe Perfons our of fo dangerous a Sloth and Indifference in
the /flw^and exteifdedV^^v between God and Satan j That I may keep
clofc to the Method I have propofed, having,
^dly. Shewed that the Crovns of Glory belong only to thofe who flial!
endure Hardfliipsand Sufferings in this fpiritual Warfare ; And wirhal, of
what a luftrouB Native thofe Qroxons will be, far beyond the fading Gar^
lands which arc obtained by Earthly Conquefts ; I will proceed to (hew,
that there is no baptized Chriftian ( and 1 am not Latitudmarian cxxl -igh,
to reckon thofe who defpife and affront the Ordinance of Bapcifm, in the
Kunnber of Chriftians) but is called, even to this Degree of Warfare.
But firft ofallkt me tell you, th*at thoie who are pioufly, aipbitiouJ
ofCroTOffis of Glory, mud endure many Hardfhip?, and grievous Suffer-
ings in this fpi ritual Warfare. The Apoftle indeed m the Account
^hich he gave of the Gofpel, faying, that vse wufl, through, much Trthu-
'^ ration, enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Aits i4.2Z. feems to intimate,
that Chri/liiinity brin^s.^jcjany TribuUtions necejfarily aloag wit^it j and
■ ^v ^ - ••'■ .■"■:■' ■'" ' • -•• .: ^ :•■ ■' ib
(12)
€q our learned Hammond undcrrtands thole Worda. And lyuly'tbo' to^
Hades a Man may go with a »vhoIe Sk[n^ yc: I much doubc, whether in
fhe fl-reighc and narrow way to Heavin, i..a: more unfrequented and un-
trodden Path, he fliali no«: inevifhbly mee: wich briars^w^ Thorns^ and
receive fome Scratches and Scars, at ka/l. Bur admit in the more hakion
and peaceable Days of rhs Church, it may be otherwife 5 fo that an Ad-
mittance into che lower Sratious oF Blifs ( as there are many Maniions in
our Farher*s Houfe ) may b- obtained by ihoil- who have fuffcred nothing,
either in U^e, Goods, or Rtputation j yci. the Crowns of Glory wilJ, j
fear, fall to none of their Sharfc, But ti»it diftinguifhed R^»i«y^, fcems
all along referved for thofe who are content, thrcuglfreurh Xnbularion,
to make their way to Heaven. Such a one was $•■■ Paul, he had fought
a Good Fight, he had finifkedhis Courfey he h.-id ketrt the Faiih-y and
thenceforth he became afTured, there teas laid up for him a Croipn af
liiighteoufnefsy 2. Tim, 4. 7, 8. And fuirh is he to whom th^v Degree of
Bleffednefs is declared, James i. 12. Elejfed^ts the hUn that endurttk
Tfn,ftati0H, that is. Affliction^ for v>hen he is tried, he flictU receive ^
Crown of Lifgy which the Lord hath promifed to them that love him.
And fach wasth<2 Church of ^»;^r«^, Rev. 2*9, 10. I kfiovo thy Works
and Trihulat'tony jaies the Firfi and thi Lafl^ Fear not thofi things rphich
ihoujhalt fttfer. Beholdy the De,vid {haU caji fome of you into Prtfin,
that ye may be tried^ And ye /hall have Jribulatio?! ten Days, -^ be t hoik
faithful unto Death, and I rt>i II give thee a Crovon of Life.
But how fhall I defcribe how full of Luftre thofe Crowns will be ? How;
far beyond {he fading Glories obtain'd by earthly Conquers? How fading,
bow uncertain thefe Latter are, *tnay be eafily made appear. It is what
we fee every Day. One unfortunate A<3ion fliall efface the Memory of
many triumphant Campaigns: Nay the mt re Envy of thpfe worthlefs
Creatures who lie foking at Home, -m Eafe and Luxury, (hall tear off the
tiaorels, the* frefii and verdant, from the Brows of th'e moft glorious.
H'jroes returning from the Toils of War. Bnt the Crown of Gonfelfors
and Martyrs in rhc Caufe of Gcd, is not of fo tranfitofy a Nature. The
farmer Fight to obtain a corruptible Crown, but theje an incorruptible.
I Cor. 5). ly. No, thefe fhall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth nof
away. And if you want to be further fatisfied in the blifsful State of thofe
' who have come out of Tribulation, you have i^t nohigr defcribed. Rev. 7.
IS, I <^, 17, *Ihevefore are they before t.he Throne of God, and ferve him
TX0,f and Night in his Temple ; Ajid he that ptteth on the Throne fk all
dwelt among them, TJ^eyJJiidl hunger no more, neither thir ft any more,
neither fhall the S/^w lig'-'t on them, nor any heat 5 for the Lamb which
ii in the midjl of the Throne Jpau feed tP^an-^ and fhall lead thein
unto living Fount avij oflVaten j end God (liall w/pe away alfTears front
their Fyis^ ' ' **
Such are thq glorious Pv^-wa-ds of all who fhail fignalis^e them£-lves in
the Service oi"(? d Ggainft: rhe Dominion of Sa^an. And hence it li, that
( n )
■ 'ih-i ptrfuuted for Righteoufrefs Sake, N-y, and hence it is, that ther
arc bid to reioice j na.y, and ro leap for Joy in the parall-1 Place, Luke 6.
2.3. Accordingly hence it isrhac the Apoftles, when they roere beaten bj-
fore the Sanhedrim for giving their Teftimony for Chrift, departed frem
the Prefence of the Council repicing that they were counted worthy to
fuftrfl:ame for hit fake, A^s 6, ^i. And, laftly, hence it is that Chri-
ilians, in the primitive Times, even crouded the heathen Tribunals to re-'
ceive the Crown of Martyrdom, of which* we have Inftances innumerable
in Ecclefiafticai Hillory.
But notwithftanding thefe fo glorious Promifes, and noble Examples ;
Many, very many j {o they can butefcape Hell, and barely enter the King-
dom of Heaven, will be contented to be Door-Iteepers there, tho' here they
are eager enough of uppermoft places. But this they would rather than pals
through Briars and Thorns In the way, bei^g of too tender and delicate a
Conftiturion forfooth, to bear rough and hard Ufage : And they ho.;c
they may at lead enter the Kingdom of Heaven ; bccauf&as they fuppole,
allChriftiansare not called to Su(Tcrings. Bur,
in. I (hall now (hew them the contrary 5 and that they, even they, be
they who they will, are thereunto called. And that I may be .ure to com-
prehend all J I fay, that there is no Mortal Man or Woman upon Earth,
from the Prince upon the TJirone'to the Beggar opon the Dunghil, but is
thereunto called. My Meaning is, there is no one Chriaian, but who in the
Srarion hjsis in,fome way or other, is bound to di(countenance,difcourage,
and when milder Methods will not do, to bring to condign Punirhment,(he
" Workers and Works of Darknefs, Blafhhemy, profane Hwearingand Cur-
fing, Lewdnejs, Profanation of the Lorcfs Day^ excefjlve Drinking, ard all
diflblute, immoral and diforderly Practices, whereby God is/o highly dilho-
nourcd, and the Devil fo diredly feiVd ; and this notwithltanding the ill
Ufage they meet with inthc way of their Duty 5 And this I would ptpve
with refpea to Princes, Mtniflers, Magif}rat€S,^nd the People j but that on
a late Occafion, to which this is but a forrowful Appendage. I havealread/
done it : And to thatlmuft again refer you. Andfhall therefore, ini^ead oi
particular Arguments to each Rank and Degree of Men, proceed to my
IV.*Mo:ive,which I amfure concludes all baptized Perfons undef the Ob-
, ligation J and that is, tha't all fuch have fo publickly and fokmnly engaged
to fight under Chrid's Banner; and it will be our utmoft Difgrace, and the
highefi Degree of Cowardice ( pardon the Expreflion. for 1 think there can
be nothing high and truly great in Cowardice) to fly from our baptifiqal
Covenant our feJves,and give way in the Day of.Barrel ; el^ecialJy having
made fd pnblick and folemn Engagements to the contrary. M^^e have pro-
feffed a good Profejfion before many IVitnefes. And whit arc thofe foiemn
and publick Engagements made in Bapnfm ? Why (here we have in the
Prefenco<)f God and his Church, renounced the Devi/, and all hus iVorks^
the World alfo, dndthe Flejh ; we have profcfs'd to believe ( a thing quite
different frvm the Infidelity and Profanenefs fure which now reigns ) all
thi Articlisofotfr Qhrijiian Faith 'i And we have engaged to obc^ j what ?
Alt
AU Gods holy Will and Commandments^ and to walk in the fams^ wi^houz
Tcrgiverfation, upon any difficulties and dangers, tir our Li^es End. And
I am fure, among the principal of God's Commands thofe muft rake place,
which put us upon promoting the Peftrudlon of Satan, and the Advan-
cement of Chhft's Kingdom. Thus all have made a good ProfeJJion before
many Witnefes ; yea before many and great Witnefles, even God, Angels
and Men. And this maybe thought fnch a Covenant or military Oath, as
I have explained it, as may be deem'd enough to oblige us to the good
Fight of Faith, in what Field foever, be it a Field of Blood, into which
Providence (hall call upon us to fight it.
But Further yet, the more ftridly to engage us • Our Holy Mother this
Church, from the Honour and Regard, it peculiarly bears to bur Saviour,
(as appears by its concluding every Colled^, every Prayer, I had alnjoft faid
every Petition it makes, in his Name) Si!»^jr every baptised and covenanted
Member of it, with the Sign of the Crofs ; That being the Banner under
which we are to fight : In token that hereafter he /hall not be a/hamed to
€onfejs the Faith of Chriji crucified, and manfully to fight under his Ban-
Tier againfi Sin^ the World, and the Devil, and to continue Chrifi's faith-
ful Soldiers and Servants unto our Lives End. And furely this Engagement
of our baptifmal Covenant and Oath fo folemnized, is fo ftrong, that No-
thing cati be more forcible. Thus you fee all baptiz'dChriftians with us ef-
pccially, are doubly concluded under an Obligation to fight the good Fight
ef Faith, But all you will fay are not in the peaceable Times of the Church
thereunto called. In Times and Places of Perfecution, as linder Pagan or
heretical Powers, the true Servant} of God are often called forth to fuffer,
they wiirown $ but where orthodox Chriftianiry is the national Religion,
and by Law efiahli/h^d, as God be prais'd it is with us, there is no Room
to fuffer. No, what not for Righteoufnefs Sake ? Martyrdom, as I before
told you, is aTcftimony given to the Authority of God, as well with Re-
fpcft to the Preceptive as t'hc'doftrinal Part of Religion. And that in an
ijiablifh'd Chiirch Men may he pointed oiit for Death, for aflerting and
flanding up for his Laws, we have too fad an InftahCe before us. And as to
an inferior Degree of fuffcring j if any one (hall attempt to do any uncom-
inonor confiderableGood to the Advancements of Chrift's Kingdom in the
World J I am very much miftaken if he fhall not foon bring the World
about his Ears } as much Chriftian as it is fuppofed to be. A Gallio that
€aresfor none of thofe things, may pafs through the World peaceably e-
nough, but whether with what Pace he (hall reach Heaven, 1 very much
doubt. For I think as he is lifted in a War, where thcutmoft Vigour i^ re-
quired, he h called to Ibmething more, than what he thinks tobcionocenc
but is in Reality to be good tor nought. In (hort, this is a War whereunto
we areC/»//V; and this is an Argument fo prefling to roufe us from Sloth
or Indifferency in it ; that I need nocadd more. However,
V, And Lafily, Bccaufe the Example of (lout Leaders is of fuch migh-
ty Confequence to encourage thofe that follow them to do theif Parts alfo
bjatcly, I Will tcpr^fcnt t^jouwith what Courage, and undaunted Mag;-
nanimit/,'
hanirftity, the Martyrs fieretoforc have fought in the horr?ft Parts f>f tke
Battle in this Chriftian Warfare ; and particularly our good Brother htfre
before us. And hcTe I might lay before you a glorious Scene of triumphant
Acchievemenc and Sufferings in the pulling down che Kingdom of Satan,by
the Apoftlesi Confeflors, Martyrs, in rhe fevcral Ages of the Church, down
throughout the Times of Pagan and Papal Fcrfecution and Tyranny, But
this would be to rranfcribe a Martyrology, and I muft refer you to the Hi-
Hory it felf of the Martyrs. But as to the Manner of their heroick Brsiverf
and Sufferings, I cannot better give it you, than in the very Words of the
Apoftle, Heb. 1 1 . i z. The Capters* I before fo carncftly recommended to
your moft ferious Ciinfideratiori, to fortify you in all your Undertakings,
dnd to fiipport you undtr whatever Sufferings in fo glorious a Caufe and
Conoid; The Words are thcfe beginning at the 5 3-'^. By Faith they fub-
dutd Kingdoms^ rirought Righteoufnefs, ebtained Promifes, dipped tht
Mouths of Lions, quenched the f^iolence of Fire, efiaped the Edge of the
S9ordy out oflVeaknejs were made Jirong^ waxed valiant in Ftght, turn'
td to fight the Armies of the Aliens. Women received their dead raifed to
Life again j and others were torturd, not accepting Deliverance, that
they might obtain a better RefurrecUon. And others had try al of cruel
Mockings ' and Scourgings^ yea moreover, of Bonds, and Imprifonment^
They were p one d^ they were faun afunder, were tempted, were pain with
tht Sword I They wandred about in fheep- skins, and in Coat-skins, heing
deftitute, afflKBed, tormented. {Of whom the World was not worthy )
they wandred in Dejerts^ and in Mountains, and in Dtns and Caves of tkn
Earth. And theje all have obtained a good RepoH through Faith,
And now what have 1 more to do, but to give you fome Account al{b
of your dear Brother, who(e Obfequies we du here folemnixei- that yotf
inty fee how nearly he trod in the Steps, and has been honoured with tht
Fate of the preceeding Confeflors and Martyrs. And that for your Ex-
ample and Encouragement in this glorious Fight. And the Account I caa
give of him with good Affurance is this.
That he has been above Thirty Yeari a f!ri£l ProfelTor of Religion, ani
led his Life accordingly.
That he had a grcad Zeal for G6d's Honour, and the Salvation of
Souls, and a great Hatred again (I Sinj which made him almod from the
firft engage himfelf in the Work of Reformation of Manners.
That in the 17 or i^ Tears, that he has been concernM in it^ done io
all that Time could ever fix upon him, any Thing that #as either vi'icked
diflioneft or j even his worft ot Enemies, the Whores, and Rogues, couW
not but give him a good Word j nay have been heard to fay, that the;^
Believed him to ad therein, merely from Confcicnce.
That he had been aiding and adiding to the apprehending and prole*
iiuting of feveral Thoufands of lewd and profligate Ferfom, befides a vaft
Number of Sabbath Breakers, prophane Swearers, and Drunkards.
That he was of a fwect, gentle arrd courr^oas Temper, and of a very
^crdeft, and humble Behaviour ^ ?efy good natur*d, and alvrstys ready to
( i6r)
ferve anc! aH^ft every one, even his very Enemies ; ant! he had a Gngular Piainncfs
and Sincerity fhining thro* all his /\aions j He v as very, courageous, and fear'd no
Encounter, yet had great CalmneH and Prefeno -i'Mind m Danger.
Tha: he has often been m\i^k, abufed, be?.r';r\, raobi>'d, ?rtd woirnied and in
very great Danger of h^s ll-^ein deteding, and bringing t > Ja.Hce, the lewd and
diforde ly Ptrfons. And was the iirft, that took i'.tj i'.i. Arms fp i^n- .■■•g the
Rioter*, Mr. JOHN COOPER, a Conftable,* about Seven Year/ fince rder'd
in the Execution of his Office, in (iipprcffing the publick.L';v.'dn'?ft,' and D 'c !ers at
MAY FAIR, tho* there weie then above Fourty Soldiers, wirb r; c.r :,words
i^iawn.
That tho' he wa? almoft continually in Hunger, and Broi's,- and by his great Pains'
andconftant Labour and Service in the Work, he had very much br ke and im-
j;^air'd his Health, and Stren^rth, yet he was unwearied in !■ to' the Very laft.
And in his i ft Work you fee, he has fallen a Viaim by the Sword of God's Ene-
mies, being rcu-dered by Three private Soldiers ; a fort of Men, I am fbrry to
Tpeak it ( of whom if we may judge by their horrid Oarhs and Curfes, and by thSir
wicked Lives and Mani:ers, which with too much Werance liirdy ^^''^"\ their Com-
inanders, they are permiued tolead) who, tho* they receive the Chriftians Pay, are
Night and Day fighting the Devils Bartle^ Thus this brave Soldier of JcfusChrift
has fallen. And this fnort and true Account I have g vca of him for 7°^^ Example
and Encoura;;ement who furvive him, that you zlCo may proceed conquering, and to
conquer in the iame glorious Fight. •
It may feem indeed at firft Sight tq be rather a Difcouragement to y<)u. But yoa
may remember what you have often heard, that the Blood of the Mzftyrs was the
iSeed of the Church. Anti the Church of God has indeed ever flourifhed the het-
teir forbe'ng watred by the Blood of the Martyr. And I believe alfb it will do the
like amongft us. for the Innocent and precious Blood which has been lately (hed in
this Caufe of Reformation of Manners. It is but a few Years fince that hone^
Man Mr. C OO PER feH a Martyr in the Caufe , by the hands of &n Athieft^
aflifted al(b by Soldiers, for fe'ching before Juftice fbme of Satans Vaflals out- of
, that horrible Den of Impiety, May-Faij j and yoj have heard how that innocent
Kfan's Bloaj|has cried, and does ft ill cry for Vengeance, fo aj to caufe the worthy
Magiftrates and Juries, both of City and Gouny, to petition to hive that execrable
Place of Debauchery and Impiety totally put down ; and I hope the Cry both of if,
and tkem, and of many other good Men throughout the Nation, joining widithero,
wiH be fbon heard.
And now ehe Blood whilh has been fhed on the like Occafion, and in the very
fame Manner ^ how know you but that it al(b may cry (b, loudly, as tofhakethc
Very Foundations of the Play-Koufe ; a Seminary of A'l^eifin, Impiety and Im-
iBofality, not at all fnferior to the other. And would ndt-its Fall rejoyce your
Hearts ? Courage, Courage, brave Soldiers of God, and of^oiir Lord Jefus Chrifi:.
There is no hurt yet, Our martyred Brother has loft nothing, ^am fure, for he
has received his Crown of Glory. And your bleffed Caufe, I ara'perfwaded. will
fuflFer nothing by it j it will be more firmly eftablifhed, it will be better cemented
by his Blood. ,
Upon the wbole then j perfevciie in the Name of God, to fight the gooi Fight
of Faith, to lay hold on eternal Life, whereunto ygu are not only called, but hjiVc
Wltneflfeda good ConfeiTiOfl before many Witneffes.
.Nay, and f oro the very Example of the Martyr before you, let me exhort ynu^
my beloved B-etliren , that ye be ftcdfaft, unmoveable, always abounding in the
Work of* the Lord, tbraftn'jch as you know, that your Labour Is ri^t in vain in the
lord Aaien, Amcn»
i.)
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