Page:Two godly letters of the pious martyr Mr. James Renwick.pdf/13

( 13 ) within these limits. O judgements! sudden and sore wasted judgements are coming on Britain and Ireland. Christ mounted on the red horse of severity, will ride through the breadth and length of thir lands. The appearance of some parties did fill many with temporal expectations; but they did not make some change their thoughts: As they knew little of God's way, who looked for such good from such hands; So, I thought them fools who conjectur'd that a delivery should come before a desolation. I say again, be well resolved against what man can do unto you: For, there are no more Christians than there are Martyrs in resolution and affection: The kingdom of heaven must be taken by violence, and the violent take it by force; and the more and greater difficulties be in the way, a right fight of the kingdom makes the way the more pleasant. O fear not difficulties: For many trials, that, when looked upon at a distance, seem big and mounting, yet when they and ye meet, ye shall find them nothing. If I could commend any thing beside Christ, it would be the cross of Christ: These things which make carnal on-lookers think my condition hard and miserable, make me think it sweet and pleasant: I have found hazards, reproaches, contempts, weariness, cold, night-wandrings, stormy tempests and deserts so desirable, that it is a greater difficulty to me, not to be ambitious of these things, than to submit unto to them. O rejoice in the cross, for it is all paved with love! the fewer that will bear it, it is your greater honour to be friends to it: Follow Christ with the cross upon your backs, and set none else before you, as your leader; for man is a poor, fallible; changeable creature: Let it be your care not to fall upon the stumbling-blocks cast in your way; neither to cast stumbling-blocks in the way of any: Wo to the world because of offences: Tho' ye have your own share of the revilings of this time, yet be not reproached into reproachers; Though the sowerness of