nay, nor under the feet of these under him. Indeed it is true, this is a testimony at this time to come to preach and hear preaching after this manner! but O for such a testimony (that if it was in our power we should have set about it): for my part I would think it our duty, if probably we could think to get away to go and tell them to their faces, that they are traitors to God and abominable persons: we have often said in the fields, that our king hath been a traitor to God, and when we go to a town to declare it by paper, the most part are offended in our Lord at this time.—I'll tell you I desire not to say it to take the praise to myself, but I say, if the testimony be adhered to it will give them a sore blow, even that paper that hath fallen accidentally into their hands, and hath been left at crosses.If the testimony given at Rutherglen, May 29, 1679 had been adhered to, we would have seen other things than we have seen, the Lord would have countenanced his people, and owned their testimony:I say, set about giving of testimonies, this shall hasten God's coming out of his place to save his children.
3. They overcame by not loving their lives unto the death, that is, by suffering, and indeed suffering gives a noble dish to enemies; we never lost any thing by cleanly suffering, but gained much by those who lost their lives on fields and scaffolds: but there are many that will say, indeed we should suffer, but say they, we should not fight. But let me see the man that says he is not for fighting; (it is true, if the Lord call not to it, it should be so) but for suffering; that man is certainly infatuated and misled by the tempter who will suffer like those who cry down defensive arms when they come to suffer, and are not willing to suffer any loss as to their own matters, but they will suffer the gospel to go away; we are ashamed of such folk, ever pretending for suffering, and yet still yielding to temptations; never one act the enemies have made these years bygone but ever they yield tothem;
