Philadelphia, or, a treatise of brotherly-love Shewing, that we must love all men: love the wicked in general: love our enemies: that the godly must especially love another: and the reasons of each particular love. The manner of our mutual love; the dignity, necessity, excellenc, and usefulness of brotherly-love. That the want of love, where love is due, is hatred, shewed in divers particulars. The greatness of the sin of malice and hatred; with the reasons why wicked men hate the saints: together with cautions against those sins that break the bond of love. Many weighty questions discussed, and divers cases cleared. By William Gearing, minister of the word.

SECT. VII.

ON the other side there are cases, that do more immediately concern the Brethren, wherein we may be called to lay down our lives for them; yet in these our principal aim must be at the Glory of God. As for Example.

1. If we be put to it to confess some things by others of the Godly, which may bring them into danger through the malice of wicked men. In this case we should rather dye than hurt them by such confessions, lest we be accessory to the mischief, which by that means the Adver∣saries are like to bring upon them. I have read of one Firmus, an holy Bishop of Tagesta, St. Augustine's Countrey, in Africk, who when the Emperor (not then a Christian) required de∣livery, or (at least) the discovery of a Chri∣stian, which he had with great care hidden from the Tyrant, resolutely answered, Nee pro∣dam, nee mentiar, I will neither lye, nor be∣tray my Brother: from which resolution, no torments then inflicted (which were many and sharp) could draw or enforce him. Mr. Fox in his acts and monuments tells us of Cuthbert Simpson, who being Deacon of the Protestant Congregation in London, in Queen Maries days,

was apprehended and charged to discover the names of those that were Members of the Con∣gregation, which he utterly refused to do, and would not yeeld to do it by any torture, but constantly suffered death, and cruel wrackings also before his death; insomuch that bloody Bonner did openly in the hearing of divers per∣sons, extoll him, for his wonderful patience. So, if Christians living under Popish Persecutors, should be driven to meet together in Ships or Woods, or other private places to perform the Worship of God together, if any Christian should be privy thereunto, although himself might escape untoucht in Body, Goods, Liber∣ty, upon condition only, that he would de∣tect and discover them, he ought rather to en∣dure the spoiling of all his Goods, or the loss of Liberty, or of Life, rather than serve the malice of the Adversaries, in laying open the Brethren unto the cruelty of malicious Ene∣mies.

2. When any necessary duty is required at our hands for the good of the Brethren, and of the people of God, which we are bound to perform, although with hazard of our lives, we must be content to put our lives in our hands, and not withdraw our hand from helping them in such a case. So those that are in any Countrey cal∣led to the wars in defence of the Church a∣gainst the Pope and his adherents, or against the

Turk, against Gog and Magog, and to stand up in defence of the Gospel. In like manner those that are called by any special relation to others, or any special office to supply others in time of the Pestilence, or other infectious diseases, ought in Love to hazard their Lives for their good, and not be wanting to them; unless in some Cases, when by helping some they are like to hinder many more.

Therefore it is generally held, That the Ministers of the Gospel are not tyed to visit those that are sick of contagious diseases, be∣cause it would make their people to shun th••m in the publick Congregation, and so be an oc∣casion of depriving the people of the Ordi∣nances of God, although themselves should escape the infection. But yet, where there are divers Ministers in the same place, I should conceive it fitting, that one or more according to the number of the infected, should be em∣ployed in this work, and that the publick ser∣vice of the Congregation should be discharged by others. As when the Plague was at Geneva in Calvin's time, there being divers Ministers in in the City, three of them (whereof Calvin was one) offered themselves to this service; and so it was to be decided, by Lot, which of the three should be the man. Such cases like∣wise may happen concerning the necessary re∣lief of the Godly, who are imprisoned or ba∣nished

by Popish Persecutors; as many were in Queen Maries days. In a word; When any necessary duty, which we owe to the people of God, may be likely to endanger our Lives, we must not shrink back to save our Lives.