ral, but also
in particular, upon every one that has shed the blood of any that unjustly
suffered.

And if any think it strange, that such as live this day can be guilty of
the blood that was shed in the days of the apostles, let them consider,
that the Verity itself pronounced, That all the blood that was shed from
the days of Abel, unto the days of Zacharias, should come upon the
unthankful generation that heard his doctrine and refused it. (Matt.
xxiii.)

The reason is evident; for as there are two heads and captains that rule
over the whole world, namely, Jesus Christ, the Prince of justice and
peace, and satan, called the prince of the world; so there are but two
armies that have continued battle from the beginning, and shall fight unto
the end. The quarrel which the army of Jesus Christ sustains, and which
the reprobate persecute, is the same, namely, The eternal truth of the
eternal God, and the image of Jesus Christ printed in his elect--so that
whosoever in any age persecutes any one member of Jesus Christ for his
truth's sake, subscribes, as it were with his hand, to the persecution of
all that have passed before him.

And this ought the tyrants of this age deeply to consider; for they shall
be guilty, not only of the blood shed by themselves, but of all, as is
said, that has been shed for the cause of Jesus Christ from the beginning
of the world.

Let the faithful not be discouraged, although they be appointed as sheep
to the slaughter-house; for He, for whose sake they suffer, shall not
forget to avenge their cause. I am not ignorant that flesh and blood will
think that kind of support too late; for we had rather be preserved still
alive, than have our blood avenged after our death. And truly, if our
felicity stood in this life, or if temporal death should bring unto us any
damage, our desire in that behalf were not to be disallowed or condemned:
but seeing that death is common to all, and that this temporal life is
nothing but misery, and that death fully joins us with our God, and gives
unto us the possession of our inheritance, why should we think it strange
to leave this world and go to our Head and sovereign Captain, Jesus
Christ?

Lastly, We have to observe this manner of speaking, where the prophet
saith, that "the earth shall disclose her blood:" in which words the
prophet would accuse the cruelty of those that dare so unmercifully and
violently force, from the breasts of the earth, the dearest