Brethren therefore, whether in the ministry or not, I beseech you, “pray for me,” that I may never suffer justly, as an evil-doer, but only for righteousness sake. O pray that I may not deny my LORD in any wise, but that I may joyfully follow him, both to prison and to death, if he is pleased to call me to seal his truths with my blood. Be not ashamed of CHRIST, or of his gospel, though I should become a prisoner of the LORD. Though I am bound, the word of GOD will not be bound: no; an open, an effectual door is opened for preaching the everlasting gospel, and men or devils shall never be able to prevail against it. Only pray, that, whether it be in life or death, CHRIST may be glorified in me: then I shall rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
And now, to whom shall I address myself next?
_Fifthly_, To those, who persecute their neighbours for living godly in CHRIST JESUS. But, what shall I say to you? Howl and weep for the miseries that shall come upon you: for a little while the LORD permits you to ride over the heads of his people; but, by and by, death will arrest you, judgment will find you, and JESUS CHRIST shall put a question to you, which will strike you dumb, _Why persecuted you Me_? You may plead your laws and your canons, and pretend what you do is out of zeal for GOD; but GOD shall discover the cursed hypocrisy and serpentine enmity of your hearts, and give you over to the tormentors. It is well, if in this life GOD does not send some mark upon you. He pleaded the cause of _Naboth_, when innocently condemned for blaspheming GOD and the king; and our LORD sent forth his armies, and destroyed the city of those who killed the prophets, and stoned them that were sent unto them. If you have a mind therefore to fill up the measure of your iniquities, go on, persecute and despise the disciples of the LORD: but know, “that for all these things, GOD shall bring you into judgment.” Nay, those you now persecute, shall be in part your judges, and sit on the right-hand of the Majesty on high, whilst you are dragged by infernal spirits into a lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, and the smoke of your torment shall be ascending up for ever and ever. Lay down therefore, ye rebels, your arms against the most high GOD, and no longer persecute those who live godly in CHRIST JESUS. The LORD will plead, the LORD will avenge, their cause. You may be permitted to bruise their heels, yet in the end they shall bruise your accursed heads. I speak not this, as though I were afraid of you; for I know in whom I have believed: only out of pure love I warn you, and because I know not but JESUS CHRIST may make some of you vessels of mercy, and snatch you, even you persecutors, as fire-brands out of the fire. JESUS CHRIST came into the world to save sinners, even persecutors, the worst of sinners: his righteousness is sufficient for them; his Spirit is able to purify and change their hearts. He once converted _Saul_: may the same GOD magnify his power, in converting all those who are causing the godly in CHRIST JESUS, as much as in them lies, to suffer persecution! The LORD be with you all. Amen.