29 I : N every Age of the World, we find this Word verified, all that will live godly in Chrift Jefus, fball fuffer Perfecution. Now that the Heathens, and fuch as call not upon God, fhould perfecute those that follow the Lord Jefus, is no Wonder ; but that Profeffors of his Gofpel fhould lift up the Heel one against another, and smite their Brethren with the Fift of Iniquity, may seem as amazing, as it is generally to be deplored, by every fincere and upright Christian And yet fo it is; among thefe there have arisen vain Janglings and perverfe Difputings of Men of corrupt Minds. Of this and the fatal Confequences thereof, you have many deplorable Inftances in the following Pages; not only in the general Account of the ten firft Perfecutions, but likewife in a more particular Account of the Lives and Sufferings of the holy Apoftles, the most eminent of the primitive Fathers, and many other godly Perfons, both of the Clergy and Laity in latter Times; who, in the midft of a perverfe and crooked Generation, were as burning and fhining Lights. a 2 Some |