Martyrs.

In the house of the forest of Lebanon you find pillars, pillars; so in the church in the wilderness.  Oh the mighty ones of which the church was compacted; they were all pillars, strong, bearing up the house against wind and weather; nothing but fire and sword could dissolve them.  As therefore this house was made up of great timber, so this church in the wilderness was made up of giants in grace.  These men had the faces of lions; no prince, no king, no threat, no terror, no torment could make them yield.  They loved not their lives unto the death.  They have laughed their enemies in the face, they have triumphed in the flames.  None ever showed higher saints than were they in the church in the wilderness.  Others talked, these have suffered; others have said, these have done; these have voluntarily taken their lives in their hands, for they loved them not to the death, and have fairly and in cool blood laid them down before the world, God, angels, and men, for the confirming of the truth which they have professed.

That which makes a martyr, is suffering for the word of God after a right manner.  And that is when he suffereth not only for righteousness, but for righteousness’ sake; not only for truth, but of love to truth; not only for God’s word, but according to it, to wit, in that holy, humble, meek manner that the word of God requireth.  A man may give his body to be burned for God’s truth, and yet be none of God’s martyrs. 1 Cor. 13:1-3.

Christian courage.

When we see our brethren before us fall to the earth by death, through the violence of the enemies of God, for their holy and Christian profession, we should covet to make good their ground against them, though our turn should be next.  We should valiantly do in this matter as is the custom of soldiers in war; take great care that the ground be maintained, and the front kept full and complete.

There are but few when they come to the cross, cry, Welcome, cross! as some of the martyrs did to the stake they were burned at.  Therefore, if you meet with the cross in thy journey, in what manner soever it be, be not daunted and say, Alas, what shall I do now? but rather take courage, knowing that by the cross is the way to the kingdom.  Can a man believe in Christ, and not be hated by the devil?  Can he make a profession of Christ, and that sweetly and convincingly, and the children of Satan hold their tongue?  Can darkness agree with light?

The Christian warfare.

Departing from iniquity is not a work of an hour, or a day, or a week, or a month, or a year; but it is a work that will last thee thy lifetime, and there is the greatness and difficulty of it.  Were it to be done presently, or were the work to be quickly over, how many are there that would be found to have departed from iniquity; but for that it is a work of continuance, and not worth any thing unless men hold out to the end; therefore it is that so few are found actors or overcomers therein.  Departing from iniquity, with many, is but like the falling out of two neighbors; they hate one another for a while, and then renew their old friendship again.