A Guide to Godliness, Book 6 · Chapter 7
CAP. VII.
Of worldly perſecutions, and how we may be ſtrengthened againſt them.
§. Sect. 1 Of the worlds cruelty, in perſecuting the godly.
WE hauehave ſhewed in the former Chapters, what impediments the world, and wicked men caſt in the way, to hinder our profeſſion and practice of the true Religion, which reſpect their iudgment and affections, their words and outward geſtures: and now we are to intreat of thoſe which reſpect their works and actions. And theſe are their contumelious and malicious handling of them, and the bitter perſecutions which they raiſe againſt them, that they may either hinder them wholly from proceeding in the courſe of Chriſtianity, or at leaſt cauſe them to goe on with much diſcouragement and diſcomfort. The which contumelies and perſecutions are great and manifold; as the purſuing of them with all malice and extremity, from place to place, apprehending them as malefactours, haling them before their Iudgment ſeats, falſe accuſations, vniuſt condemnations, impriſonments, and baniſhments, fire and ſword, tortures & puniſhments, executed and inflicted in the moſt exquiſite manner which wit and malice can deuiſe and impoſe. And this malicious rage of wicked men, the Prophet Eſay in liuely manner expreſſeth: The act of violence (ſaith hee) is in Eſa. 59. 6, 7, 8.their hands; Their feet run to euill, and they make haſte to ſhead innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, waſting and deſtruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not, and there is no iudgement in their goings. Neither doth the world vſe ſuch ſpite and ſpleene towards the moſt outragious offender that euer liued, as it doth to the Saints and ſeruants of God, for the truth ſake. For towards them oftentimes it quite blunteth the poynt and edge of humane lawes, and commonly moderateth and mitigateth the extreme rigour of them in their puniſhments; but againſt the faithfull it ſharpeneth the poynt and edge where none is; yea, deuiſeth new lawes, when the old reſtraine their malice. And whereas they content themſelues with thoſe puniſhments which the lawes determine againſt the moſt notorious and hainous offenders, and when they are forced for the ſafety and preſeruation of humane ſocieties to execute them, they doe it as the Law requireth, and oftentimes with ſome pity and compaſſion: contrariwiſe, when they hauehave to doe with thoſe, who being Gods faithfull ſeruants, hauehave made themſelues liable to their lawes, they ſport themſelues in their torments, and out of meere malice to them for their Religion and piety, they execute the Lawes with all ſauage cruelty, adding both by their words and actions, many outrages ouer and aboue thoſe puniſhments which the Law requireth; as we ſee in the example of our Sauiour Chriſt, and the theeues crucified with him. For whereas they contented themſelues with their ſimple death, without any additaments of malice, they could neuer ſatisfie their ſpitefull rage, in vexing and tormenting our Sauior Chriſt, but vſed him with all contumelious reproch, ſpitting vponupon, and buffetting him, ſcourging and crowning him with thornes, ſcoffing and deriding him, mocking and moing at him, giuing vntounto him when he thirſted, gall and vineger, and inſulting ouer him in mirth and triumph, when they ſaw the bitter anguiſh of his ſoule. The which alſo is to be obſerued in the examples of thoſe puniſhments which hauehave been inflicted vponupon moſt hainous malefactours; as murtherers, traytors, paricides, and vponupon the innocent Martyrs of Ieſus Chriſt, if wee compare the one with the other. Of which, no other reaſon can be giuen, but that the world loueth her owne, and hateth thoſe which belong vntounto God, affecting the perſons of wicked men, and ſetting themſelues onelyonly againſt their crimes, not out of any louelove towards God, or ſimple hatred of their ſinnes, as being tranſgreſſions of his Lawes; but out of ſelfe louelove, becauſe their offences are againſt humane lawes, which if they ſhould not be preſerued and maintained, obſerued and obeyed, ſocieties could not ſubſiſt, nor the ſafety and welfare of their owne eſtates bee otherwiſe vpheld. Whereas contrariwiſe, it maligneth and hateth euen the very perſons of the godly, as being the members of Ieſus Chriſt, onelyonly for their profeſſion of Religion, and practice of holy duties, and in theſe reſpects can neuer ſufficiently diſgorge its malice againſt them.
§. Sect. 2 That it hath alwayes been the lot of the godly to bee perſecuted in the world.
Now the meanes to remoue the former impediments, are manifold. The firſt is, to conſider, that it hath alwayes, from the beginning of the world, been the lot of Gods children, to be perſecuted of the wicked; in which regard it is vntounto vsus a notable and comfortable euidence, that wee louelove God, and are beloued of him, when the wicked world maligneth and purſueth vsus with all rage and cruelty, for righteouſneſſe ſake. For thus Cain perſecuted Abel, becauſe his ſeruice was accepted of God. Thus Pharaoh and the Egyptians raged againſt the Iſraelites, when they did but make mention of going into the Wilderneſſe to offer ſacrifice. Thus the wicked Kings, and more wicked Prieſts, perſecuted Gods true Prophets; the Scribes and Phariſes, the Apoſtles of Ieſus Chriſt; the idolatrous Emperours, the Chriſtians of the Primitiue Church; and the limmes of Antichriſt, the holy Martyrs, becauſe they profeſſed Gods true Religion, and brought forth the fruits of it in their holy practice. More particularly, Dauid often profeſſeth, that he was maligned by his wicked enemies without cauſe, onelyonly becauſe he did that which was good, and ſought in all his courſes to be approued of God. And the Apoſtle Paul in many 2. Cor. 11. 23, 24, &c.words ſetteth downe the grieuous perſecutions which hee often ſuffered at their hands, who were enemies to Gods truth. But as theſe holy Saints of God were not by all theſe perſecutions diſcouraged in their courſe of godlineſſe; but the more boyſterouſly the ſtormes of malicious rage blowed againſt them, the more firmely and conſtantly they held the cloke of their Chriſtian profeſſion and holy practice; according to that of Dauid; Many are my perſecutors and mine enemies; yet doe I not decline from Pſal. 119. 157.thy teſtimonies: ſo muſt we doe in this caſe, following their good example, if we would hauehave any comfortable aſſurance that God will thinke vsus worthy to be ranked in this number. And this argument, taken from theſe examples, our Sauiour vſeth to arme his Diſciples againſt this diſcouragement: Reioyce (ſaith he) and be exceeding glad, ſeeing your reward is great in Mat. 5. 12.heauen: for ſo perſecuted they the Prophets which were before you. Yea, our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe hath begun to vsus, that wee may not feare to pledge him, and hath drunke the deepeſt draught in this bitter cup of worldly perſecutions. For what miſchiefe could hell it ſelfe raiſe vp out of her infernall bowels, what cruell rage and exquiſite vexations and torments could malicious wit deuiſe, which were not inflicted vponupon this innocent Lambe, the Lord our righteouſneſſe? Now what can be a more effectuall reaſon to moue vsus with all patience and cheerfulneſſe, to indure the greateſt extremities for Chriſts ſake, then to remember what grieuous torments he hath ſuffered for vsus, who were ſtrangers and enemies vntounto God, and the children of wrath as well as others? For if our great and glorious Generall, and Soueraigne King, hath thus expoſed himſelfe to the extremeſt dangers, and thruſt himſelfe into the thickeſt crowd of enemies, where he hath receiued griſly and mortall wounds, that hee might reſcue and recouer vsus, who were taken captiue by them, and ſet vsus at liberty; how valiantly ſhould we fight his battels, euen vntounto blood, againſt the enemies of our ſaluation, eſpecially conſidering, that he looketh vponupon vsus, incourageth vsus to the fight, ſupporteth and ſtrengtheneth vsus with his grace and holy Spirit, defendeth and ſuccoureth vsus when we are ouer-matched, raiſeth vsus vp when wee are foyled, and holdeth in his hand the Crowne of victory, being ready to ſet it vponupon our heads, when wee hauehave finiſhed the fight? And this argument our Sauiour vſeth to incourage vsus in all our ſufferings and perſecutions: Remember (ſaith he) the word that I ſaid vntounto Joh. 15. 20.you; The ſeruant is not greater then his Lord. If they hauehave perſecuted mee, they will alſo perſecute you. And ſo likewiſe the Apoſtle Peter; For as much then 1. Pet. 4. 1.(ſaith he) as Chriſt hath ſuffered for vsus in the fleſh, arme your ſelues likewiſe with the ſame mind: for he that hath ſuffered in the fleſh, hath ceaſed from ſin, &c. The which our perſecutions we may well ſuffer with greater patience and comfort, if we conſider, that they are not puniſhments for our ſinnes, from all which, Chriſt hath fully freed vsus, but the trials of our faith, which being approued, ſhall be crowned with euerlaſting ioy and happineſſe. In which regard we hauehave cauſe greatly to reioyce (as the Apoſtle Peter ſpeaketh) 1. Pet. 1. 6, 7.though now for a ſeaſon (if need be) we are in heauineſſe, through manifold tentations; that the triall of our faith, being much more precious then the gold that periſheth, though it be tryed with fire, might be found vntounto praiſe, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Ieſus Chriſt. So the Apoſtle Iames, My Iam. 1. 2, 12.brethren, count it all ioy when ye fall into diuers tentations; of which hee afterwards rendreth this reaſon, Becauſe bleſſed is the man that indureth tentation: for when he is tryed, he ſhall receiue the Crowne of life, which the Lord hath promiſed to them that louelove him. And indeed, what a wonderfull priuiledge is this? and what great cauſe doth it miniſter vntounto vsus of comfort and reioycing, when we conſider that the Lord hath vouchſafed vntounto vsus this great honour, to ſuffer afflictions for his owne glory, and the furthering and aſſuring of our ſaluation, when as he might hauehave iuſtly inflicted them, and farre greater vponupon vsus for our ſinnes, and to the burthen of our ſufferings, hauehave deſeruedly added the vncomfortable waight of ſhame and infamie? All which bleſſed priuiledges we ſhall loſe, and run into the contrary miſchiefes, and euen helliſh condemnation, if we ſhrinke from our profeſſion and holy practice, for feare of perſecution, and refuſe to ſuffer for his ſake, who hath ſuffered ſo much for vsus. For he that loueth his life, ſhall Ioh. 12. 25.loſe it; and hee that hateth his life in this world, ſhall keepe it vntounto life eternall. And againe, If any man come to me (ſaith our Sauiour) and hate not his father Luk. 14. 26, 27.and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and ſiſters, and his owne life alſo (namely, when they come in compariſon with Chriſt, and when the louelove of both cannot ſtand together) hee cannot be my Diſciple. And whoſoeuer doth not heare his croſſe and come vntounto me, cannot be my Diſciple.
§. Sect. 3 That our Sauiour hath foretold theſe perſecutions.
Secondly, let vsus conſider that our Sauiour Chriſt hath long agoe foretold, that whoſoeuer wil be his Diſciples, muſt ſuffer in this world troubles and perſecutions, and that thoſe who will attaine vntounto heauenly happineſſe, muſt trauaile vntounto it by that afflicted way which himſelfe and all his ſeruants hauehave gone before them. If any man (ſaith he) will come after mee, Luk. 9. 23, 24, 25let him deny himſelfe, and take vp his Croſſe daily and follow me. For whoſoeuer Mat. 16. 24, 25.will ſaue his life, ſhall loſe it; and whoſoeuer will loſe his life for my ſake, ſhall ſaue it. Now what is a man aduantaged, if he gaine the whole world, and loſe himſelfe, or be caſt away? So the Apoſtles firſt offered the Croſſe vntounto them, who Act. 14. 22.would afterwards weare the Crowne, and hauehave told vsus before-hand, that by many tribulations we muſt enter into the Kingdome of God. And that whoſoeuer 2. Tim. 3. 12. Luk. 14. 27, 28, &c.will liue godly in Chriſt Ieſus, ſhall ſuffer perſecution. And therefore our Sauiour Chriſt ſeriouſly aduiſeth vsus, that before we take vponupon vsus the profeſſion of Chriſtianity, we firſt ſit downe and caſt vp our accounts, examining our ſelues, whether we can be content to ſuffer with him, that wee may afterwards raigne with him; and to indure afflictions and perſecutions in this world, that wee may eternally triumph with him in glory and happineſſe in the world to come. Now what more faire dealing could be vſed, then to tell vsus before-hand what we muſt truſt to, and before hee entertaine vsus into his ſeruice, to acquaint vsus thorowly with our worke which he requireth of vsus, before we can receiue our wages which wee expect from him? If indeed hee had allured vsus to ſerue him, by promiſing that we ſhould inioy pleaſures, riches, and honours in the world, and that for his ſake wee ſhould bee well accepted and fauoured of all men, wee ſhould hauehave had great cauſe of diſcouragement, when wee ſhould come ſo farre ſhort of our hopes, and finde nothing in the world but croſſes and afflictions, paines for pleaſures, pouerty for riches, and for glory, ſhame and diſgrace; for then ſeeing his promiſes faile in things that concerne this life, we had cauſe to doubt of thoſe that reſpect the life to come. But now contrariwiſe, ſeeing he hath foretold, that we muſt in this world ſuffer troubles and perſecutions, and be hated of all men for his Name ſake, and that afterwards, when by our patient ſuffering we hauehave approued our ſaith and louelove towards him, he will crowne theſe his graces in vsus with ioy and happineſſe in the life to come; our afflictions and perſecutions ſhould not daunt and diſmay vsus; yea, rather wee ſhould reioyce in them, as the infallible ſignes of our future hopes, for hauing found Chriſts Word verified in the firſt part of his predictions, reſpecting our afflictions, and perſecutions, we may vndoubtedly expect, that we ſhall finde it alſo true in that part which concerneth our crowne of victory and heauenly ioyes, which after our momentany ſufferings, we ſhall euerlaſtingly poſſeſſe, according to the gracious promiſes which he hath made vntounto vsus.
§. Sect. 4 That worldly perſecutions cannot greatly hurt vsus.
Thirdly, let vsus incourage our ſelues againſt theſe perſecutions, becauſe they cannot greatly hurt vsus; for firſt, they are either light and eaſie, if they be long and tedious; or ſhort and momentany, if they be ſharpe and grieuous. For God hath graciouſly ſo compoſed and framed our natures, that their frailty and weakeneſſe cannot hold out to beare any heauy burthens, and hath made them mortall and of ſuch ſhort continuance, that their afflictions and grieuances muſt needs be ſhort and momentany. Secondly, the greateſt perſecutions which rage and malice can raiſe againſt vsus, can but reach vntounto the body, and onelyonly extend to the time of this life; but cannot at all hurt the ſoule, nor hinder our happineſſe in the life to come. In which reſpect, our Sauiour incourageth vsus againſt theſe perſecutions; Feare not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the ſoule, but Mat. 10. 28.rather feare him who is able to deſtroy both body and ſoule in hell. Thirdly, theſe perſecutions cannot much hurt vsus, becauſe our gracious God keepeth and preſerueth vsus, ſo as we cannot faint and fall, and pulleth out their ſting, ſo as they ſhall neuer be able to giuegive vntounto vsus any mortall wounds. And therefore as the Apoſtle Peter exhorteth, Let them that ſuffer according 1. Pet. 4. 19.to the will of God, commit the keeping of their ſoules to him in well-doing, as vntounto a faithfull Creatour. Fourthly, becauſe in our ſharpeſt perſecutions we are ſo inwardly comforted with the conſolation of Gods Spirit, that in our greateſt ſufferings our ioy may well exceed our griefe. For as the 2. Cor. 1. 5.ſufferings of Chriſt abound in vsus, ſo alſo our conſolation aboundeth by Chriſt; as the Apoſtle found in his owne experience. And this is that laſting and full ioy that our Sauiour promiſed to giuegive, and ſo to continue it vntounto vsus, Ioh. 15. 11.that no man ſhould bee able to take it from vsus. This is that ioy which cauſeth vsus to reioyce in tribulation, ſinging vntounto God with Paul and Silas Pſalmes of praiſe, when our backes are torne with ſtripes, and our feet Act. 16. 25.faſtened in the ſtockes.
§. Sect. 5 Of the patience which the Saints hauehave ſhewed in ſuffering perſecutions.
Fourthly, let vsus incourage and comfort our ſelues againſt all perſecutions, by remembring the patience and meekeneſſe, the ioy and thankfulneſſe which the Saints and holy Martyrs of God hauehave ſhewed, in ſuffering all croſſes and calamities, tortures and grieuous paines which the wicked world could inflict vponupon them. For wel may we go forward in this afflicted way with ioy and comfort, when as we hauehave the Word of God to be our guide, the holy Martyrs of former ages, as precedents for our imitation, and the faithfull that now liue with vsus, to beare vsus company. Thus wee reade that the Apoſtles reioyced, that they were counted worthy to ſuffer ſhame for the Name of Chriſt. Thus the Saints tooke ioyfully the ſpoiling of their Act. 5. 41.goods, knowing in themſelues that they had in heauen, a better and more induring Heb. 10. 34.ſubstance. And when they were tortured, accepted not deliuerance, that they might obtaine a better reſurrection. Others had triall of cruell mockings Heb. 11. 35, 36.and ſcourgings, bonds and impriſonment: They were ſtoned, ſawne in ſunder, tempted and ſlaine with the ſword, &c. And thus the holy Martyrs of the Primitiue Church, and of later dayes, euen tyred their tormentors with their patience and conſtancie, out-faced their moſt bitter tortures with their cheerefull countenances, reioyced in the ſcorching flames, and euen before they died, triumphed ouer death. And therefore (as the Apoſtle exhorteth) ſeeing we are compaſſed about with ſo great a cloud of witneſſes, let vsus Heb. 12. 1.lay aſide eueryevery weight, and the ſinne which doth ſo eaſily beſet vsus, and let vsus run with patience vntounto the race that is ſet before vsus, &c.
§. Sect. 6 That our perſecutions for righteouſneſſe ſake ſhall bee richly rewarded.
Fifthly, let vsus conſider the great and rich rewards which are giuen graciouſly vntounto all thoſe who ſuffer for the truth and righteouſneſſe ſake. For Phil. 1. 29.firſt, in it ſelfe it is an high and holy priuiledge, to ſuffer any thing for the name of Chriſt, which the Apoſtle maketh a higher degree of dignity then ſimply to beleeue in him to iuſtification, which is common to ordinary Chriſtians; For vntounto you (ſaith he) it is giuen in the behalfe of Chriſt, not onelyonly to beleeue on him, but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake; which is a prerogatiue peculiar to the holy Martyrs. In which regard, the Apoſtle Iames would hauehave vsus to account it not an ordinary matter of common reioycing, but of exceeding ioy, when wee are thus tempted and tryed. But how Iam. 1. 2.much more hauehave we cauſe of vnſpeakeable ioy in our greateſt afflictions and perſecutions, if we conſider the preſent comfort which wee feele in conſcience of well-doing, and the inward peace and ioy in the holy Ghoſt, which alwayes accompany our ſufferings, for the profeſſion of the truth, and practice of holy duties; and the future rewards which God hath promiſed to all that indure them with conſtancie and patience? For if wee loſe this life which is mortall and momentany, we ſhall in lieu thereof find ſuch an one as is immortall and euerlaſting; If we ſuffer with Chriſt, we ſhall Ioh. 12. 35.alſo raigne with him. If we be perſecuted for righteouſnes ſake, we are by Chriſts 2. Tim. 2. 12.owne mouth pronounced bleſſed, becauſe the Kingdome of heauen belongeth Mat. 5. 10.vntounto vsus. So the Apoſtle Peter; If ye ſuffer for righteouſneſſe ſake, 1. Pet. 3. 14.happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terrour, neither be troubled: yea, rather as our Sauiour exhorteth; Reioyce, and be exceeding glad, for great is your Mat. 5. 11.reward in heauen. And the Apoſtle Peter likewiſe willeth vsus to reioyce, in as 1. Pet. 4. 13.much as we are partakers of Chriſts ſufferings, becauſe when his glory ſhall be reuealed, we ſhall be glad alſo with exceeding ioy. And ſurely, if we conſider well of it, there can be no greater cauſe of ſound reioycing, ſeeing there is no compariſon betweene our preſent ſorrowes, and future ioyes; betweene our ſmart of afflictions, and ſolace of heauenly delight, either in their quantity or continuance, according to that of the Apoſtle, I reckon that Rom. 8. 18.the ſufferings of the preſent time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be reuealed in vsus; for after that we hauehave ſuffered but a little while, 1. Pet. 5. 10.God will call vsus into his eternall glory by Chriſt Ieſus; and as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, Theſe light and momentany afflictions, ſhall cauſe vntounto vsus a farre more 2. Cor. 4. 17.exceeding and eternall weight of glory. And therefore let vsus not looke to the ſorrowfull ſeed-time, but to the ioyfull harueſt; not to our preſent labours, but to our Sabbath of reſt; not to our bleeding wounds in the Chriſtian Warfare, but to our victory and euerlaſting triumph; not to the fire and faggot, gibbet and ſword, but to the glorious Crowne, which Apoc. 2. 10.ſhall be ſet vponupon his head that fighteth vntounto the death. Let vsus looke to Ieſus, Heb. 12. 2.the Author and finiſher of our faith, who for the ioy that was ſet before him, indured the Croſſe, deſpiſing the ſhame, and is now ſet downe at the right hand of the Throne of God; that ſo following his example, wee may partake with him in ioy and happineſſe. On the other ſide, let vsus ſet before vsus, the dreadfull eſtate of thoſe men at the day of Iudgement, who either to pleaſe men, or to gaine their worldly ends, or finally, for feare of puniſhment, hauehave denyed Chriſt and his Truth, either verbally with their mouthes, or really in their actions. For amongſt other deſperate ſinners, the fearefull Apoc. 21. 8.ſhall be reiected of Chriſt, and hauehave their portion in that lake which burneth with fire and brimſtone. And as they hauehave denyed him before men, ſo he will Mat. 10. 33, 34. & 7. 23.deny them before his Father in heauen; ſaying, Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity; I know yee not. Suppoſe therefore that wee could by neglecting all Chriſtian duties, attaine vntounto the honours, riches, and pleaſures of the earth, which men ſo eagerly hunt after, yet alas, what ineſtimable loſſe is in this purchaſe? for as our Sauiour ſpeaketh; What will it profit vsus to gaine the whole world, and loſe our owne ſoules?Mark. 8. 36.