Page:Strange and wonderful predictions of the Reverend martyr, Mr Christopher Love.pdf/3



Few nights after he was ſentenc'd to be beheaded on Tower Hill, which was on the 22d day of Auguſt, in the year 1651, which was ten days before his appointed time, by the ſentence he received at the bar, being one night viſited by two intimate acquaintances, or boſom friends, as he himſelf call'd them, in their private conference they began to complain to him of the cruelty of the times, and the malice and uſage of the time ſerving brethren, to which Mr Love anſwered, And think you this an evil time: No, no, this is the very time when grace and true godlineſs can be diſtinguiſhed from hypocriſy, many have followed Chriſt hitherto for the loaves, and are now turned back becauſe of the roughneſs of the way, and the ſore trial and tribulation met with by others that are gone before them? There are many in London at this very day, who think to go to heaven in there gilded coaches, and have denied Chriſt's cauſe before man (againſt whom I am now witneſs) and Chriſt in his never failing word has promiſed to deny all ſuch before his father and the holy angels, this is the time to diſcern between him that ſerveth God, and him that ſerveth him not, they formerly were my familiar acquaintances in fellowſhip and ſweet converſe, I ſent this day to have a few words of them here in the priſon, but they would not come, for their countenance is fallen, their conſciences wounded, they cannot look me in the face, because I knew of their reſolution, and was witneſs of their perjuration. But, ah! how will they look the bleſſed of Jeſus in the face in the morning of the reſurrection what anſwer or excuſe will they have for what they have done? O fooliſh people who think to eſcape the croſs, and come to the crown; but I tell you nay, you muſt all ſuffer perſecution, who follow the Lamb, we muſt be hated of all nations for Chriſt's ſake, we muſt come thro' great tribulation, thro' the fiery furnace of affliction, before we can enter the land of joy and felicity; know you not that the ſouls of thoſe that were ſlain for the testimony of Jeſus, are placed under the altar? Happy, happy are theſe men at this day and ever ſhall be happy, who