Apples of Gold (continued)
4. Fourthly and lastly, Who but a bad man would adventure the loss of the king's favor to gain the favor of his slave? Who but a stark Bedlam would run the hazard of losing the judge's favor upon the bench, to purchase the good will of a prisoner in the dungeon?
Socrates preferred the king's countenance before his coin; and so must you prefer the favor of God, the countenance of Christ, Psalm
4:6-7, and the things of eternity—above all the favor and friendship of all the men in the world. When your nearest friends and dearest relations stand in competition with Christ, or the things above, you must shake them off, you must turn your backs upon them, and welcome Christ and the things of your peace. He who forsakes all relations for Christ, shall certainly find all relations in Christ; he will be father, friend, husband, child; he will be everything to you, who take him for your great all.
Objection 3. Yes—but I shall meet with many reproaches from one and other, if I should labor to be godly early, if I should seek and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of my youth. Now, to this I answer,
1. First, What are reproaches, compared to the great things that others have suffered for Christ his gospel, and the maintaining of a good conscience? What is a prick of a pin compared to a stab at the heart? what is a chiding compared to a hanging, a whipping compared to a burning? No more are all the reproaches you can meet