1. That such as will live godly in the world must and will suffer persecution, for the trial and exercise of their faith and patience, purging away of their dross, and for weaning their hearts from a present world, and for confirmation of the truth, 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 4:12; John 15:3.
It is good for either man or woman to be first married and engaged with Christ ere they be engaged with any other, otherwise we shall never carry well in a marriage state. When once the heart hath made its choice, it is hardly brought to choose Christ; and therefore our days of youth are days of choice, in which we are to “remember our Creator” (Eccles. 12:1). The Lord was merciful to me, in engaging me with Christ ere I settled any other way, “Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 6:33).
The Lord’s people walk by rule; their life is fitly compared, Heb. 10:1, to a race; and I have therefore thought upon some general rules to be observed as the foundation of all true religion.
