The Saints Everlasting Rest, Treatise 1 · Chapter 7 · Section 13
§ 13.SECT. XIII.
5From abuses and persecutions of the world. Revel 6.9, 10.5. ANd as we Rest from the Temptations, so also from all abuses and persecutions which we suffer at the hands of wicked men. We shall be scorned, and derided, imprisoned, banished, butchered by them no more; the prayers of the souls under the Altar will then be answered, and God will avenge their blood on those that dwell on the Earth. This is the time for crowning with thorns, buffetting, spitting on; that is the time for crowning with glory:2 Tim. 3.12. Rom. 8.17. Matth 10.22 & 24.9 2 Thes. 1.9▪ 10. John 15.19. & 17.14. Now the Law is decreed on, That whosoever will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution; then they that suffered with him, shall be glorified with him. Now we must be hated of all men for Christs Name sake, and the Gospel; then will Christ be admired in his Saints that were thus hated. Now because we are not of the world, but Christ hath taken us out of the world, therefore doth the world hate us; then because we are not of the world,John 7 7. & 15.18, 20. & 5.23. & 17.22. 1 Cor. 4 9.13. Lam. 3.45. Heb. 10.43. Isai. 8.18. Luke 6.22. Agesilaus dicere solitus est, se vehementer admirari, eos non haberi in Sacrilegorum numero, qui laederen… eos qui Deo supplicarent, vel Deum venerarentur. Quo innuit, eos non tantum Sacrilegos esse, qui Deos ipsos, aut templorum ornatum spoliarent; sed eos maximè qui Deorum Ministros & praecones contumeliis afficiunt, Aemyl. Prob. Luke 16.24. Psal. 83.4. but taken out of their calamity, therefore will the world admire us. Now as they hated Christ, they will also hate us; then as they will honor Christ, so will they also honor us. We are here as the scorn and off-scouring of all things; as men set up for a gazing-stock to Angels and men, even for signes and wonders among professing Christians: They put us out of their Synagogues, and cast out our name as evil, and separate us from their company. But we shall then be as much gazed at for our glory, and they will be shut out of the Church of the Saints, and separated from us, whether they will or no. They now think it strange, that we run not with them to all excess of riot, speaking evil of us, 1 Pet. 4.4. they will then think more strange, that they ran not with us, in the despised ways of God, and speak evil of themselves; and more vehemently befool themselves for their carelesness, then ever they did us for our heavenliness. A poor Christian can scarce go along the streets now, but every one is pointing the finger in scorn, but then they would be glad of the Crums of his Happiness. The rich man would scarce have believed him, that would have told him, That he should beg for water from the tip of Lazarus finger. Here is a great change! We can scarce now pray in our Families, or sing praises to God, but our voyce is a vexation to them. How must it needs torment them then, to see us praising and rejoycing, while they are howling and lamenting? How full were their prisons a while ago, and how bitter their rage? How did they scatter the carkasses in the fields? and delight themselves in the blood of Saints? How glad would they have been, if they could have brought them to ruine, and blotted out their name from off the Earth? How did they prepare, like Haman, their Gallows? and if God had not gainsaid it,Psal. 2.4. the execution would have been answerable. But he that siteth in Heaven, did laugh them to scorn, the Lord had them in derision. O how full were their hearts of blood, and their hands of cruelty! I am perswaded the next generation that knew them not, will scarcely believe the fury of their rage. Blessed be the Guardian of the Saints, who hath not suffered the prevalency of that Wrath, which would (I believe) have made the Gun-powder Treason, the Turkish Slavery, the Spanish Inquisition, the French Massacres, to have seemed acts of clemency. But the Lord of Hosts hath brought them down, and his Power and Justice hath abated their fury, and raised to his Name an everlasting Trophee, and set up a Monument of Remembrance in England, which God forbid should ever be forgotten.Judges 5.23. So let all thine (uncurable) enemies perish, O Lord.Psalm 9.12. When the Lord maketh inquisition for blood, he will remember the precious blood which they have shed; and the Earth shall not cover it any more. Their hopes are, that they shall yet again have a prevailing day. It is possible, though improbable. If they should, we know where their rage will stop. They shall pursue but as Pharaoh, to their own destruction; and where they …all, there shall we pass over safely, and escape them for ever.John 7.34.36. & 8.21, 22. Revel. 12.16. For our Lord hath told them, That whither he goes, they cannot come. When their flood of persecution is dryed up, and the Church called out of the Wilderness, and the new Jerusalem come down from Heaven, and Mercy and Justice are fully glorified,Heb. 11. then shall we feel their fury no more. There is no cruel mockings and scourgings, no bonds, or imprisonments, no stoning or sawing asunder, tempting or slaying with the sword, wandring in Sheep-skins or Goat skins, in Deserts or Mountains, Dens or Caves of the Earth; no more being destitute, afflicted or tormented: We leave all this behinde us, when once we enter the City of our Rest; the names of Lollard, Hugonots, Puritan, Roundheads, are not there used; the Inquisition of Spain is there condemned; the Statute of the six Articles is there Repealed, and the Law De Haereti…is comburendis more justly executed; the date of the Interim is there expired; Subscription and Conformity no more urged; Silencing and Suspending, are there more then suspended; there are no Bishops or Chancelors Courts; no Visitations, nor High Commission Judgments; no Censures to loss of Members, perpetual Imprisonment or Banishment. Christ is not there cloathed in a Gorgeous Robe, and blindfolded,Matth. 27.29, 30. nor do they smite him, and say, Read, who struck thee: Nor is truth clothed in the Robes of Error, and smitten for that which it most directly contradicteth; nor a Schismatick wounded, and a Saint found bleeding; nor our Friends smite us, whilest they mistake us for their enemies: There is none of all this blinde, mad work there. Dear Brethren, you that now can attempt no work of God without resistance, and finde you must either lose the love of the World, and your outward comforts, or else the Love of God, and your eternal Salvation; consider, You shall in Heaven have no discouraging company, nor any but who will further your work, and gladly joyn heart and voyce with you, in your everlasting joy and praises. Till then, possess your souls in patience:Luke 21.19. Job 31.36. Heb. 11.25. James 1.2. Dan. 3.17. Binde all reproaches as a crown to your heads; Esteem them greater riches then the worlds treasures: Account it matter of Joy, when you fall into tribulation. You have seen in these days, that our God can deliver us; but this is nothing to our final conquest:2 Thes. 1 7. 1 Pet. 3.17. & 4.14, 15. He will recompence tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled Rest with Christ. OnelyOnly see to this, Brethren, That none of you suffer as an evil doer, as a busie-body in other mens matters, as a resister of the commands of lawful Authority, as ingrateful to those that have been Instruments of our good,Jude 8. 2 Pet. 2.10. as evil-speakers against Dignities, as opposers of the Discipline and Ordinances of Christ, as scornful revilers of your Christian Brethren, as reproachers of a laborious, judicious, conscientious Ministry, &c. But if any of you suffer for the Name of Christ,1 Pet. 4.14. happy are ye; for the Spirit of God, and of Glory resteth upon you: And if any of you begin to shrink, and draw back, because of opposition, and are ashamed, either of your Work, or your Master; let such a one know to his face, That he is but a base-spirited, cowardly wretch, and cursedly undervalueth the Saints Rest, and most foolishly over-valueth the things below, and he must learn to forsake all these, or else he can never be Christs Disciple; and that Christ will renounce him, and be ashamed of him,Luke 14.26, 27, 33. before his Father, and the Angels of Heaven. But for those that have held fast their integrity, and gone through good report, and evil report, and undergone the violence of unreasonable men, Let them hear the word of the Lord; Your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my Names sake▪ said, 2 Thes. 3.2.Let the Lord be glorified; (they had good words and godly pretences) but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed, Isai 66.5. Your Redeemer is strong, the Lord of Hosts is his Name, he shall throughly plead your cause, that he may give rest to his people, and disquietness to their enemies, Jere. 50.34.