* els, yet you shall never pluck the truth out of my heart.' O how is Christ honoured, enemies daunted, and your souls secured by your constancy in a time of danger ! Hold fast what you have re- ceived, and though you lose your heads, yet save your crowns. It was a resolute and noble saying of Luther, when hard put to it to defend the truth of Christ against so many enemies, Eg-o Mar^ i'mus Liitherus, &c. ' I Martin Luther, an unworthy preacher of ' the gospel of Christ, do believe and hold, that this article, viz. ' That we are j stifled before God, by faith alone, without works,
* shall never be overthrown, neither by the Roman Ca3sar, nor ' by the Turk, Tartar, Persian, Pope, with all his cardinals, < priests, and monks. Kings, princes, potentates, and all the de-
* vils in hell, will they, nill they, shall leave me this article un-
Brethren, I much doubt, the wantonness, scepticism, and con- tentions of the professors of this age, have so weakened the autho- rity and reputation of religion in the world, that God will once more call for Christian blood to seal his truths, and convince the world that there is reality in godliness ; and if it should come to that, I even tremble to think what shrinking will l^e among pro- fessors. To prevent which, all that I shall add, shall be in these
586 TIDINGS FROM TfOJIE^ 02,
two words: 1. See the ground you stand on be good; I do Hot speak of the cause, for it is beyond dispute the most glorious cause that was ever sealed by the blood of any witness, but of your con- dition. O see that be good also ! look to it that you die in, as well as for the faith ; are you upon sure and safe grounds as to your eternal state ? If not, but that you be still dubious, it is time to make both sure and quick work, 2. Stand your ground; he deserves to be hanged in everlasting chains in hell that relinquishes such a cause, and such a Christ on earth. Christian, I would fain know, how thou canst imagine to close up thy life more honour- ably, or more comfortably, than by offering it up in defence of the precious truths of Christ, against his bold and blaspheming enemies? The very heathens, heated with love to their country, have made many brave and bold adventures for it ; and will you shrink ? Eph. vi. 13. " O take unto you the whole armour of God, *' that you may be able to withstand in the evil day ; and having " done all, so stand. Stand therefore," &c.
THE END OF THE FOURTH VOLUME^
Princeton Theological Seminary Ubrar^^