Scripture Light the Most Sure Light, Sermon 25
THE GREAT THINGS Faith can Suffer.
Hebrews, 11.35.Preached at Olaves in Silver-ſtreet. Decemb. 27. 1655.
And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better Reſurrection: And others had tryal of cruel mockings, and ſcourgings: Yea, moreover of bonds, and impriſonment. They were ſtoned, they were ſawn aſunder, were tempted, were ſlain with the Sword; they wandred about in Sheep skins, and Goat skins, being afflicted, deſtitute, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy, they wandred in Deſerts, and in Mountains, and in Dens, and Caves of the Earth.
THis Eleventh Chapter of the Hebrews, being a a Chronicle of the old Teſtament-Beleevers; we find here the report of a doing, and a ſuffering F…ith. The Doing Faith is deſcribed, and commended by ſeveral Inſtances at large in the former part of the Chapter; and more compendiouſly, and briefly, at verſe 32. What ſhall I ſay more? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Sampſon, and of Jeptha, of David alſo, and Samuel, and of the Prophets: who through Faith, ſubdued Kingdoms, wrought Righteouſneſs, obtained Promiſes, ſtopped the mouths of Lyons, quenched the violence of Fire, eſcaped the edg of the Sword; out of weakneſs were made ſtrong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens, women received their dead raiſed to life again.
In the Words that I have choſen to ſpeak unto at this time, you have another ſort and Rank of Beleevers, famous in their Generation for their Suffering Faith. I have ſpoken unto the former in a Neighboring Congregation, having ſhewed, that this Faith wil do great things. Now in theſe words, we have a Suffering Faith; for by faith they ſhould be carried through theſe Sufferings; thus are the words to be underſtood. Others by faith were tortured; and others by faith had trial of cruel mockings, and ſcourgings; and others by faith were ſtoned, lawn aſunder, &c. It ſeems then, that theſe the Apoſtle here ſpeaks of, were ſuch as lived in the time of the Macchabees; they did not l ve after Chriſt, for it is ſaid at verſe 39. They received not the Promiſe, Chriſt was not come when they lived. And they did not live in the times of the Prophets, or before; for the Apoſtle had brought down his Chronicle unto the daies of the Prophets, as ye read in verſe 32. So that theſe muſt needs live in the times of the Macchabees. It ſeems then that Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtories, may at ſome times be made uſe of, in the preachi…g of …ai…h.
Now the things that theſe Beleevers ſuffered, were great, hard, and very many. Here ar… nine ſorts of Sufferings ſet down in the Text. 1. It is ſaid that they were racked, or tortured: ſome read it, beaten with Clubs, b…t it comes al to a reckoning; for when they were racked th…y were beaten with Clubs: And the Apoſtle ſaith, that they accepted not deliverance, that they might be partakers of a better reſurrection; upon which words, ſome do think that there are degrees of …lory, and that the Suffering Saints ſhould have a better degree of Glory at the Reſurrection; but the word better, is ſpoken in compariſon with that deliverance that was offered to them. In Scripture Phraſe, Afflictions are Deaths, and when a man is delivered from an Affliction, he hath a Reſurrection: When a man hath been ſick, and at the Grave, and raiſed to health again, he hath a Reſurrection, in Scripture Language: Now this Reſurrection, or deliverance, is refuſed, hoping for a better Reſurrection, having an eye to the great, and laſt, and better Reſurrection. That is the firſt, They were tortured, or racked. And 2. They had cruel mockings; there is a mocking, and there is a cruel mocking, when a man ſhal inſult over another, and laugh at him in his miſery, this is a cruel mocking; as the Jews derided our Savior on the Croſs; this is a great aggravation of Affliction, this they endured: that is a ſecond, They had trial of cruel mockings. And 3. They were ſcourged, and whipt up and down like Rogues, as if the World was too good for them, they not worthy to live. And 4. They were in bonds, and Impriſonment. 5. They were ſtoned. 6. They were ſawn aſunder. And 7. They were tempted; ſome read it burned, by the change of a Letter or two, they read it ſo, and were burned: but it ſ…ems their Afflictions were filled with Temptations, and Temptation is a great aggravation of Affliction: ſo they were tempted. And 8. They were ſlain with the Sword. And 9. They wandered up and down in Sheep Skins, and Goat Skins, being deſtiture, afflicted, tormented, in Mountains, and Caves, and Dens of the Earth, driven from their own Habitation; and theſe are ſuch, of whom it is ſaid here, the world was not worthy: And theſe hard things they endured by faith, faith the Apoſtle. So that here now you ſee what hard things faith wil ſuffer, true ſaving faith (for of that the Apoſtle ſpeaks here) is a ſuffering Grace, a bearing Grace, it wil carry us through al Afflictions, although they be never ſo great: and ſo the Doctrine from al the words is this: True ſaving Faith …an, Doct. and will ſuffer very hard things.
It is that Grace that wil carry us through al afflictions, and ſufferings, though they be never …o great: True ſaving Faith can, and will ſuffer very hard things.
This Doctrine lies upon the ſurface of the words, and al the words together ſpeak it; but for the further opening, and cleering of it. Firſt I ſhal labor to ſhew you that it is poſſible that a true Beleever, one very precious in the Eyes of God, may meet with moſt unworthy things from the hands of men. Secondly: That faith wil carry through theſe. And Thirdly: How, and by what means faith wil carry a man through theſe.
Firſt: It is poſſible that a true Beleever, one very precious in the eyes of God, may meet with moſt unworthy uſage from the hands of men; theſe were hard things, and unworthy that theſe Beleevers ſuffered; yet they were ſuch of whom the world was not worthy. You know there is an old enmity between the Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent; a malignant diſpoſition in the men of the world againſt the Saints, and People of God, they muſt work as they are; the wicked, and men of the world, are an unworthy people. But becauſe you judg your ſelves unworthy (ſaith the Text) Lo, we turn to the Gentiles, becauſe ye judg your ſelves unworthy. Go (ſaith our Savior unto his Diſciples) and preach, and if any be worthy ſtay; the men of the world are unworthy, an unworthy people: Yea, they are an unreaſonable people, abſurd men, impertinent men that have not Faith. They are compared in Scripture unto beaſts for their unreaſonableneſs; Beware of Dogs, ſaith the Apoſtle. When our Lord and Savior Chriſt, did ſend out his Diſciples to preach the Goſpel, Beware of men ſaith he; I do not ſay, tak… heed, and beware of Lyons, and Bears, but beware of men, you ſhal find ſuch unreaſonable dealing by men, therefore beware of men. Now if the men of the world, be an unworthy People, and unreaſonable, wil ye wonder that the Saints, and People of God, meet ſomtimes with unworthy uſage from them? It is poſſible. To raiſe it a little higher; poſſibly, the more precious a man is, the more unworthy uſage he may meet withal. The Apoſtle Paul was a moſt precious man in his day, and Generation, and yet what unworthy uſage had he? It is ſaid in 1 Cor. 4.11. Ʋnto this preſent hour, we both hunger and thirſt, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place, and labor working with our own hands; being reviled, we bleſs; being perſecuted, we ſuffer it; being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and the off-ſcouring of all things unto this day: We are the filth, we are made the filth of the world, and the off-ſcouring of al things unto this day. Some think that the Apoſtle here, doth relate unto that of one man dying for the People, the guilt of al the People being upon him. Others, that it is a ſimilitude taken from a kind of Tumbrel, and Veſſel that goes up and down the City, that ye throw al the filth into. But I rather take the two Greek words, foreign, and foreign, to relate unto that in Lament. 3. verſe 45. Thou haſt made us as the off-ſcouring, and reffuſe in the midſt of the People. In the Hebrew, Thou haſt made us the off ſcouring, and the filth, and reffuſe in the midſt of the People: Thus Paul was made, and yet Paul a precious man; he labored more abundantly than they al. So that I ſay, it is poſſible that the more precious a man is, the more unworthy uſage he may meet withal from men
Yea, to raiſe it a little higher: It is poſſible that a man may meet with moſt unworthy dealings therefore, becauſe he is precious in the eyes of God; not only in regard of men; but in regard of God: For God doth ſomtimes ſo order things in his Providence, that he doth put men to ſuffer hard things, becauſe they are precious in his Eyes. Ʋnto you it is given, not only to beleeve, but to ſuffer. Suffering ſomtimes is a Gift, it is a great Gift: A ſuffering Gift, ſaith Chryſoſtom, is a greater Gift, than the Gift of Miracles; for ſaith he, if God do give me a Gift to work Miracles by, I am in Gods debt; but if God do give me a ſuffering Gift, he is pleaſed thereby to become my Debtor; ſuffering ſomtimes becomes as a reward for Doing. Ye read of the Heifers that brought home the Ark out of the Philiſtims Country, that when they brought the Ark home, the Iſraelites they take the Heifers, and they offer up the Heifers unto God for a Sacrifice; why ſo, ſaith one? it is an il requital to the Heifers: No, the Heifers could not have a higher Honor put upon them; this their Suffering, is a Reward for their Doing. And ſo, what greater Honor can a man have after al his Doing for God, than to be called forth to Suffer, and to bear witneſs to the Truth? Indeed we do not think thus, but you wil ſay, O! ſurely God doth not love me, becauſe he puts ſuch hard ſuffering work upon me. But I pray tel me, Suppoſe that a General ſhould have ſome great Work or Service to do, and he ſhould ſingle, and pick ſome half a dozen Soldiers for to go upon this work; would theſe Soldiers ſay, ſurely the General doth not prize us, he doth not honor us, nor love us, becauſe he puts us upon this hard Service: No, but they wil ſay the contrary; ſurely the General prizeth us, loves us, and honors us, becauſe he puts us upon ſuch a hard Service as this is. So here, it doth rather argue that the Lord doth honor, love, and prize you, in that he puts you upon a hard work, and Service. But now, if theſe things be true, then ſurely this firſt Branch is ſufficiently made out, That a man may be very precious in the Eyes of God, and yet meet with moſt unworthy uſage from the hands of men. That is the firſt thing.
Queſt. Secondly. You wil ſay, How ſhall a man be able to go through theſe hard things, and Sufferings? what will carry him through them?
Anſw. True ſaving Faith wil do it, and nothing but this Faith wil do it; I had verily fainted in mine affliction (ſaith David) but that I beleeved. It is Faith, and Faith alone, that wil keep from fainting under ſuffering. And to make this out a little unto y…u.
Firſt: The more aſſurance of Gods Love any man hath, the more able he wil be to encounter with Sufferings, and with afflictions: the ſight of G…ds Love, doth cauſe Love in us to God, Amor amoris cauſa, Love is the cauſe of Love, and much Water cannot quench Love, it endures al. Now the Aſſurance of Gods Love grows upon Faith, it is the Flower of Faith; Faith is the Stalk, Aſſurance is the Flower; Aſſurance is the Cream of Faith, Let us draw neer with ful aſſurance of Faith.
Secondly: The more that any man is …ble to gather up, and to mannage his Experiences, the more able he wil be to ſuffer, to encounter with Sufferings; Experience is a great Help in Suffering times. Now it is Faith, and only Faith, that can gather up, and mannage Experiences. The Lord (ſaith he) that delivered me from the Lyon, and the Bear: it was Faith that did gather up this Experience, and did mannage it. So in Pſal. 56. When I cry unto thee (at verſe 9.) then ſhall mine Enemies turn back: how do you know this? ſaith he, this I know, how? for God is for me; this I know, for God is for me: I have this experience of God, that he is with me, and for me; and therefore I know it. But
Thirdly: The more that any man is able to apply the Promiſe, the more able he wil be to ſuffer, to incounter with Sufferings; the Promiſe is a great Shelter in a rainy day. Now there is nothing but Faith that can apply the Promiſe, the Promiſe is the Plaiſter that none but the warm hand of Faith can lay on upon the Sore; if it be laid on by any other hands, it wil not ſtick. I have heard of a poor, doubting Soul, drawi…g neer to her Death, and the Miniſter preſſing one Promiſe after another; O Sir (ſaith ſhe) theſe are gracious Promiſes; but they wil not ſtick upon my heart. And what is the Reaſon that the Promiſe indeed doth not ſtick upon many hearts, but becauſe it is laid on by the chil, and cold hand of Unbelief? Remember Faith hath a warm hand, and only Faith hath a warm hand to lay on the Promiſe. But then again.
Fourthly: The more that any man doth ſee his Call cleerly, his Cal to Suffer, the more able he wil be to encounter with his Sufferings. Now it is Faith only that doth Trade with the Call of God; Gods Call is a great Wal, a ſtrong Wal; Gods Call can make a Wal of Water. When the Children of Iſrael went through the red Sea, the Water ſtood like a Wal on each ſide; it was Gods Cal that made thoſe Wals: there is nothing but Faith that doth converſe with the Call of God, and makes out the Cal of God. Three things cal us to ſuffer: 1. The Commandement of Chriſt, If thou wilt be my Diſciple, thou muſt deny thy ſelf, and take up thy Croſs. 2. The Example of Chriſt, for thereunto are we called, in 1 Pet. 2.5. Chriſt hath left us an example of Suffering. And 3. Suffering ſtrength with ſuffering opportunity. Now there is nothing but Faith is able to diſcern theſe things; and therfore Faith, and Faith alone, is that Grace under Chriſt, which can carry us through our affliction, and Suffering, although they be never ſo great.
Object. But you wil ſay, We have heard, and read of many that have ſuffered hard things, and yet had none of this Faith, no true ſaving Faith, and yet have ſuffered great, and hard things.
Anſw. True, you have heard, it may be, of ſome Jeſuites, dying for their Religion; it is poſſible that a wicked man may ſuffer much, and that upon the account of his Religion too: but as Auſtin ſpeaks, There is an unlikeneſs of ſuffering in the likeneſs of Suffering; As ſaith he, Gold is in the ſame Fire with the Wood, and with the Straw; with the ſame Fire, the Straw is conſumed, and the Gold is refined: Things ſuffered may be alike, and yet a great unlikeneſs in the ſuffering. And to cleer up this to you, that you may ſee that Faith alone is able to do this.
Firſt: Though a wicked man may ſuffer very great, and hard things, yet he may alſo ſuffer as an evil Doer: If ye ſuffer for evil doing (ſaith the Apoſtle) what thanks have ye? But Faith, true ſaving Faith, it doth wel, and ſuffers ill. And
Secondly: Though a wicked man may ſuffer much, and very hard things, yet he doth not ſuffer upon choyce, he would chuſe rather, if it were at his choyce, to make a breach upon Conſcience, than a breach in his Eſtate, for to loſe his Conſcience, than to loſe his Life; he doth not ſuffer upon choyce. Faith doth. By Faith Moſes choſe rather to ſuffer Affliction with the People of God. True ſaving Faith, it ſuffers great, and hard things, and that upon choyce. And
Thirdly: Though a wicked man may ſuffer much, yet he doth not lay the ſtreſs of al upon the word of Faith, the ſtreſs of al is laid upon ſomwhat elſe. Faith loves to ſuffer, and it laies the ſtreſs of al a mans Sufferings, upon the word of Faith.
Fourthly: Though a wicked man may ſuffer much, and that upon an account of Religion; yet it may be he is ſullen, or froward, or diſcontented, not cheerful: but Faith ſuffers cheerfully. Paul, and Silas, ſung in the Stocks, and the Primitive Chriſtians took with joyfulneſs, the ſpoiling of their Goods. And ſo the Martyrs in Queen Maries daies. It is reported that when Mr. Philpot was in the Dungeon, the Biſhop ſent to him to know why he was ſo merry? Seeing a pair of Stocks in the Dungeon, (ſaith he) there's a pair of Organs that I have not played on yet, making himſelf cheerful in the time he was in the Dungeon: And meeting with a Miniſter that had recanted, and informing him better, the Miniſter made a Recantation of his Recantation, and was as cheerful as any others. Faith ſuffers cheerfully.
Fiftly: Though a wicked man may ſuffer much, and that upon the account of his Religion; yet he wil reſt upon his Sufferings. Faith wil make one ſuffer, and keep one from reſting upon ones Suffering. As in regard of Duty, Faith wil make one perform a Duty, and it wil keep one from reſting upon that Performance: So in regard of Sufferings, Faith wil make one ſuffer, and it wil keep one from reſting upon ones Suffering: In caſe that a man hath done much, Faith wil put him on to ſuffer, as if he had done nothing; and in caſe a man hath ſuffered much, Faith wil put him upon doing, as if he had ſuffered nothing: according to that of our Savior; He that will be my Diſciple, let him deny himſelf, and take up his Croſs, and follow me; follow me, when? after a ſuffering; not to ſit down, and reſt there, but to follow me after a Suffering. Again
Sixtly: Though a wicked man may ſuffer much, and that upon the account of his Religion, and be very confident; yet he wil give in at laſt. I have read of a great Atheiſt that was burnt to Death in Paris, for blaſpheming of Jeſus Chriſt; and as he was going to the Stake, ſaith he to the Fryars and Prieſts that followed him; Behold! how boldly I go to the Fire: as for your Lord and Maſter Chriſt, he went trembling to his death, and ſweat drops of blood; but I, in the ſtrength of Reaſon, under which I ſacrifice my Life, go with boldneſs unto theſe flames: But when he came there, and his Tongue was cut out for Blaſphemy, the Story ſaith, that then he cried out, and roared out like a Bull; vidi ego hominem, ſaith the Author, I ſaw the man, I ſaw him when he was at the Stake: In the time of his Liberty, he was looſe; in the time of his Impriſonment, he was ſullen; and when he was at the Stake, he was mad, with horror of Conſcience, mad. O! but true ſaving Faith wil not flinch, and give in at laſt. The three Children, did not only come to the Fire, but rid out the ſtorm. But I ſay no more in this, only thus.
Seventhly: Though a wicked man may ſuffer much, and that upon the account of his Religion; yet he doth not bring forth the quiet fruit of Righteouſneſs: but true ſaving Faith doth, it ſuffers, and brings forth the quiet fruit of Righteouſneſs. So that now you ſee by al this, that it is Faith alone; it is true ſaving Faith, and Faith alone, that wil carry a man through Sufferings. But then,
Queſt. Thirdly. You wil ſay, How, and by what means, can Faith do this? What is there in Faith to do it, to carry a man through hard things, and through all Sufferings, although they be never ſo great?
Anſw. 1 Firſt: It is the work of Faith, to make a man reſign, and give up his wil, to the wil of God; and when a man can do ſo, what may he not ſuffer?
Anſw. 2 Secondly: It is the work of Faith, the proper work of Faith, to cleave cloſe unto the Commandement of God. True, Satan, I am an unworthy Creature; but God hath commanded me to beleeve: True, I am a great Sinner; but God hath commanded me to beleeve. Faith doth peremptorily ſtick unto the Commandement, and it leaves God to anſwer unto the Objections, and Inconveniences that follow upon his Obedience to the Commandement, it leaves that to God. By Faith Abraham, when he was called to go out, obeyed, not knowing whether he ſhould go. Now when a man can do this, what may he not ſuffer?
Anſw. 3 Thirdly: It is the proper Work of Faith to cloſe with the Goſpel, whereby the Soul doth receive the fulneſs of the Spirit, the Promiſe of the Father. Now when a mans heart is filled with the Spirit of God, what may he not ſuffer? Pray do but conſider the Apoſtles, after that the Spirit came upon them, you know they would ſuffer any thing, though it were never ſo great: before the Spirit came upon them, though they had the Perſonal preſence of Chriſt, they could not ſuffer any thing, though it was never ſo ſmal. Now Faith doth cloſe with the Promiſe of the Goſpel, whereby the Soul doth receive the Spirit of God, the Promiſe of the Father.
Anſw. 4 Fourthly: It is the proper Work of Faith, to look upon the recompence of Reward. By Faith Moſes had an Eye to the recompence of Reward, and ſo choſe Affliction with the People of God. Saith our Savior to his Diſciples, Let not your hearts be troubled; How ſo Lord? Saith he, I go to prepare a place for you: In my Fathers Houſe, there are many Manſions. Faith ſhews one the Glory, and the Joyes of Heaven; and when a man ſees thoſe things, what may he not ſuffer?
Anſw. 5 Fiftly: The more that a man can ſee the hand of God as a Father upon the Rod, the more able he wil be to ſuffer, and the more cheerful. Ye bring a Child to School, and he ſees the School hung with Rods, in every corner a Rod, and the Child is afraid: but if his Fathers Houſe be ſet with Rods, the Child is not afraid in his Fathers Houſe. Now Faith, true ſav…ng Faith, wil ſhew one the hand of a Father upon the Rod. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, ſaith Faith: I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, for thou Lord haſt done it, ſaith Faith.
Anſw. 6 Sixtly: The more a man can ſee to the end of his Affliction, and Suffering, the more able he wil be to go through it. Now Faith tels a man that there is an end: No temptation (ſaith the word of Faith) hath befallen you, but what is common; and with the Temptation, there is an out-let, there is a door, a door in the Ark, although the door may be under water, and the out-let may be under water. Faith doth not only tel a man that there is an end, but that the end ſhal be good, and al ſhal work together for his good; yea, it tels a man, that his affliction ſhall be but for a moment, and that moment ſhal be recompenced with abundance of Comfort, Pſal. 30. ver. 5. For his Anger endureth but a moment; in his Favor is Life: Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy cometh in the morning. So alſo in Iſa. 54. verſe 7. For a ſmal moment have I forſaken thee; but with great mercy will I gather thee: In a little Wrath I hid my Face from thee for a moment; but with everlaſting kindneſs, will I have mercy on thee, ſaith the Lord thy Redeemer: Faith tels us this. Now when a man knows, and conſiders this, what may he not ſuffer?
Anſw. 7 Seventhly: It is the proper work of Faith, to look on both ſides of the Diſpenſation; there is a dark ſide, and there is a light ſide, in Affliction, and Suffering: Sence and Reaſon looks only on the dark ſide, but Faith looks to both ſides of the Diſpenſation. It is written of Mr. Latimer, the bleſſed Martyr, that when he was to go to the Stake, taking leave of his fellow Priſoners, ſaith he, Be of good Comfort, O my Friends, and Brethren; for though we go to the Stake to day, and be burnt to Fire, we ſhal light ſuch a Candle in England, as ſhal never be put out; we ſhal make ſuch a Fire in England to day, as ſhal never be quenched: he ſaw both ſides of the Diſpenſation, becauſe he beleeved. Faith wil ſhew one both ſides of the Diſpenſation.
Anſw. 8 Eightly: It is the proper Work of Faith, to ſee one contrary in another, or through another: it wil ſee the Smiles of God, in the midſt of Frowns; it wil ſee Love, in the midſt of Anger; it will ſee Order in the midſt of Confuſion; it wil ſee Mercy in the midſt o… Miſery; it wil ſee a door of Hope in the Valley of Achor. Faith, it looks upon things with the Proſpective of the Promiſe; and the Promiſe ſpeaks on this wiſe, in Deut. 32. verſe 36. ſaith the Lord there, The Lord ſhall judg his People, and repent himſelf for his Servants, when he ſees that their power is gone, and there is none ſhut up, or left. Faith (I ſay) ſees one contrary in another, or beyond another; and when a man can do ſo, what may he not ſuffer? And
Anſw. 9 Ninthly, and laſtly: If God do engage to help and ſuccor in afflictions, and if the Lord do count himſelf engaged to ſuccor, deliver, and help in Affliction, becauſe men truſt in the Lord; ſurely Faith can do very much in the day of Affliction. Now I pray look into Scripture, and you ſhal ſee that the Lord is engaged upon this account, in Pſal 37. laſt; And the Lord ſhall help them, and deliver them; he ſhall deliver them from the wicked, and ſlave them, becauſe they truſt in him. So in Iſai. 26. verſe 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee, becauſe he truſteth in thee. Mark the words, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, ſo you read it; but in the Hebrew, the words run thus; Thou wilt keep peace, peace; not peace and doubting, not peace and trouble; but peace, peace, why? becauſe he truſteth in thee. But I cannot truſt in God, I have no aſſurance of Gods Love: Mark the words, he wil keep him in peace, peace, whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee; he doth not ſay, who hath aſſurance of Gods Love, but if it be but a Faith of Relyance, though it be not a Faith of Aſſurance; he wil keep him in peace, peace, whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee, becauſe he truſteth in thee. Now if the Lord be thus engaged to help, and ſuccor men that do beleeve, then certainly Faith can do very much in a ſuffering day. Now I have given you an account of the General, how it comes to paſs that Faith can do it: Faith wil carry us through al our Sufferings, though they be never ſo great, and you ſee how Faith can do it, and ſo the Doctrine is cleer.
Now for Application.
If true ſaving Faith be ſuch an accommodation unto al our Suffering,Applic. then in caſe that any of you are to ſuffer any great Suffering, the firſt thing you do, cal in for Faith: As I ſaid upon the former Doctrine, ſeeing that Faith wil do great things; and therefore if you have any great thing to do, cal in for Faith: So now I ſay upon this Doctrine, Seeing that true ſaving Faith can, and wil ſuffer very hard things, in caſe you have any thing to ſuffer, firſt cal in for Faith, cal in for Faith. If you have a great ſickneſs, you wil ſend for the beſt Phyſitian that hath the moſt skil at ſuch a Diſeaſe. Faith hath the beſt skil at your Suffering, and therefore ſend, and call in for Faith as ſoon: as ever you come to the brink of theſe Waters, cal for your Faith, and look to your Faith.
Object. You wil ſay, But theſe are no ſuffering times, the Winter is paſt, and there is no ſuffering now.
Anſw. Then bleſs God, and praiſe the Lord that you have ſo much Goſpel Liberty as you have. But our Lord and Savior ſaith, that in the laſt daies, there ſhal be ſuch great tribulation as never was; and I am ſure we are fallen into the laſt daies: our Brethren in the Vallies of P…edmont, they have ſuffered; and the Apoſtle commands us to be in bonds with thoſe that are in bonds, and to be afflicted with thoſe that are afflicted; what do you know what your Faith may do for them?
But to come a little neerer our ſelves; Is there never a Servant here that ſuffers from an evil Maſter, that would fain go to the Ordinance, frequent the Ordinance, but checked, ſcorned, and deſpiſed by his Maſter? Is there never a Husband here, or Wife here, that ſuffers hard things from his, or her Relation, meerly upon the account of Religion? Is there never a man or woman here, that hath ſuffered hard things from the hand of his, or her Kindred, ſince they began to look towards Chriſt? Is there never a Profeſſor here that ſuffers from the hand of ſome Profeſſor? what devouring among us, biting, conſuming one another? Of al reproachings, and ſufferings, you wil find thoſe moſt bitter that come from Profeſſors, when one Profeſſor doth reproach another, and ſlander another, and perſecute another. Now, if there be any here, unto you I ſpeak, cal in for Faith, whatſoever your Sufferings be, cal in for Faith.
But ſuppoſe there be none of theſe Sufferings among us, who knows how ſoon you, or I may be called forth to Sufferings, if not in the PublicK, yet in our Particular? I have heard of a good man, and woman, that were feaſting at a great Dinner upon the account of Gods Goodneſs, and Mercy to their Family; and while they were at Dinner, celebrating the goodneſs of the Lord to their Family, them and their Children, comes a Meſſenger in, and ſaith, One of your Children is dropt into the Well, and drowned Beloved in the Lord, Who knows how ſoon a Relation of yours, or mine, may be in the Well? how ſoon ſuch a Comfort of yours, or mine, may be in the Well? Wherefore cal in for Faith, in al your Sufferings cal in for Faith.
Queſt. You wil ſay unto me, What ſhall we do that we may ſo ſtrengthen, or improve our Faith, as that we may bear up in a way of beleeving againſt Sufferings; for I am a man, or a woman that (I confeſs) have met with Sufferings, and I am ſeldom out of Sufferings, ſomtimes in my Body, ſomtimes in my Name, ſomtimes in my Eſtate, ſomtimes in my Relation, and the Lord knows what I may be called to ſuffer; what ſhall we do, that we may ſo ſtrengthen, or improve our Faith, that we may bear up in a way of beleeving, againſt al our Sufferings?
Anſw. 1 Firſt of al, Conſider frequently what great things the Lord hath done for you already: I will remember the years of the right hand of the moſt high; I will remember all thy wondrous works, ſaith the Pſalmiſt; ſtirring up his Faith, and getting ſtrength from Faith. The Conſideration of what great things God hath done for you already, wil engage your heart, and make you willing to ſuffer: For Example, go along wih me a little, and I wil inſtance only in that great matter of your firſt Converſion, and turning to God. That day that thou were converted, and brought home to God, al thy ſins were pardoned, paſt, preſent, and to come; I ſay, vertually thoſe that are to come. That day that thou were converted, and brought home to God, thou wert made the Child of God, and Heir of the Kingdom which is incorruptible, undefiled; and which fadeth not away. That day thou wert converted, and brought home to God, thou hadſt the Key of the Scripture put into thy boſom, I ſay, thou hadſt the Key of the Scripture put into thy boſom to wear it, I mean the Spirit of God: That day that thou were converted, and brought home to God, thy old Nature was taken away, and thou were made partaker of the Divine Nature. That day that thou were converted, and brought home to God, thou wert received into Union with Chriſt, and into Communion, thou wert received into Union, and into Communion with the Father, and with Jeſus Chriſt. That day that thou wert converted, and brought home to God, thy Soul was freed; thoſe that the Son makes free, they are free indeed; though your wil were not libera, yet it was liberata; as ſoon as a man is converted, and brought home to God, he is free to Duty, though not free from Duty; and he is free from his ſin, though he be not free to his ſin. That day thou wert converted, and brought home to God, thou wert received unto the ſpecial Protection of God, though not to free, yet to ſanctifie, and ſweeten your Affliction. That day you were converted, and brought home to God, you had a Right, and Title given you unto al the Ordinances, Jus ad rem, though not in re; they are your Fathers Plate, and as a Child you may drink out of your Fathers Plate. That day thou wert converted, and brought home to God, thou hadſt a ſpecial Right and Title given thee unto al the Creatures: you may look up to Heaven, and ſee the Stars, and ſay, theſe are my Fathers Candles; and when you hear the Thunder, you may ſay, this is my Fathers Voyce, and when you ſee the Sea, you may ſay, this is my Fathers Fiſh-pond; and when you ſee the Godly men of the World, you may ſay, theſe are my Fathers Children; and when you ſee wicked men, you may ſay, theſe are my Fathers Diſh-clouts to make his Children clean; and when you conſider of the Devils, you may ſay, theſe are my Fathers Hang-men, his Executioners; and when you ſee the Gold, and Riches, and Wealth of the World, you may ſay, this is my Fathers Dung-hil. I ſay, that day thou art converted, and brought home to God, God doth great things for you in that moment. Now the more that you conſider what great things God hath done for you, the more your heart is engaged to God; and the more your heart is engaged, the more willing, and able you wil be to ſuffer.
Secondly: If you would ſtrengthen your Faith to ſuffer great, and hard things, ſtudy much the Book of the Revelation, which is a ſtanding Cordial for the relief of the Saints, in ſuffering in Anti-chriſtian times; and ſtudy, and read, and commend to your Children, the Book of Martyrs, where you have Examples to the Life, of the People of God, dying for the Faith: but above al things, ſtudy much the Sufferings of Chriſt. Faith, true ſaving Faith, it loves to dwel in the Wounds of Chriſt; and beleeve it, the ſight of a ſuffering Chriſt wil teach one to ſuffer; nothing like it: the example of Chriſt, eſpecially the ſight of Chriſts Sufferings, wil not only teach you to ſuffer, but wil ſanctifie your heart by the Suffering, and wil provoke you to ſuffer. What! ſhal the Lord Chriſt ſuffer ſuch great things for me, and ſhal I ſuffer nothing for him? Study the Sufferings of Chriſt.
Thirdly: If you would ſo ſtrengthen your Faith as you may be able to ſuffer hard things, conſider much, and frequently, the great gains of Suffering, poſſeſs your heart therewithal. Beloved, Suffering times are gaining times; and if your heart, and mind were but poſſeſt with that Truth, it would not be a hard thing to ſuffer hard things, and that by Faith: I ſhal therefore ſpend a little time to make out this, for the ſtrengthening of your Faith, that ſuffering times are gaining times.
Suffering times are Teaching times; Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſtiſeſt, correcteſt, and teacheſt out of thy Law: Schola Crucis, Schola Lucis: The Croſs is Gods free School, where we learn much: Suffering times are teaching times.
As Suffering times are teaching times, ſo ſuffering times are ſindiſcovering times; Afflictions recal ſins paſt, and prevent ſin to come; Afflictions ſhew us the emptineſs of the Creature, the fulneſs of God, the vileneſs of ſin. When Adonibezek had his Thumbs and Toes cut off, he could remember his own ſin. You ſee how it is in Winter, when the Leaves are off the Hedges, you can ſee where the Birds Neſts were; when the Leaves were on in Summer time, you could not ſee thoſe Neſts: And ſo in proſperous times men do not ſee the Neſts of their hearts and lives; but when their Leaves are off, then their Neſts are ſeen. Suffering times, are ſin-diſcovering times.
As Suffering times, are ſin-diſcovering times; ſo Suffering times, are Self-bethinking times. You ſee many a man run on in the day of his Proſperity, and never bethinks himſelf. When the Prodigal was pinched, then he bethought himſelf; and Manaſſes in Priſon, then he bethought himſelf: and ſaith Solomon, praying for the People in Adverſity, If then they ſhal bethink themſelves. There is many a man that (I may ſay) doth owe his Convertion to his Affliction, and can ſay. If I had not been afflicted, I had never been converted. Suffering times, are Self-bethinking times.
As Suffering times, are Self-bethinking times; ſo Suffering times, are fruitful, and growing times: Every Branch in me he pruneth, that it may bring forth more Fruit. Suffering times then, are growing times.
As Suffering times, are growing times; ſo Suffering times are Truth-advancing times: In the time of Proſperity we loſe Truth, in time of Adverſity we find Truth, and bear our Teſtimony for Truth, then Truth is advanced. It is a good Obſervation that Marloret hath upon Dan. 8. to ſhew that Truths were advanced by Suffering; verſe 11. it is ſaid of the little Horn, He hath magnified himſelf even to the Prince of the Hoſt, and by him the dayly ſacrifice was taken away, and the place of the Sanctuary was caſt down: And an Hoſt was given him againſt the dayly Sacrifice by reaſon of Tranſgreſſion, & it caſt down the Truth to the ground, and it practiced, & proſpered: That is (ſaith he) not the Horn, as it is ordinarily carried; for it is in the Feminine Gender, which only can relate to the word Truth, not to the Horn; he caſt down the Tru h, and the Truth practiced and prevailed. So that Suffering times, are Truth-advancing Times.
As Suffering times, are Truth-advancing Times; ſo Suffering times, are uniting times: In times of Proſperity, Profeſſors they wrangle, fal out, divide; but when the Shepheards Dog comes, then the Sheep run together. Suffering times are uniting times.
As Suffering times, are uniting times; ſo Suffering times, are Praying times: He that wil pray, we ſay, let him go to Sea, there he wil be ſick, and that wil make him pray, that is the meaning; In their affliction they will ſeek me early. Suffering times, are praying times.
As Suffering times, are praying times; ſo Suffering times, are Soul-aſſuring times: There is many a man or woman goes up and down many years doub…ing, and hath no aſſurance; and when they grow ſick, God doth ſend in his Evidence for Heaven by the hand of that ſickneſs, and he hath Aſſurance for Heaven that never had it before: according to that in Hoſ. 2.14. I will allure her, and bring her into the Wilderneſs, and ſpeak to her heart. Comfort ye, comfort ye my People, ſaith your God: ſpeak ye comfortably to Jeruſalem, becauſe her Iniquity is pardoned: When? In the day of her Warfare: for her Warfare is accompliſhed, her Iniquity is pardoned; for ſhe hath received double from the hand of the Lord. Suffering times, are Soul-aſſuring times.
As Suffering times, are Soul-aſſuring times; ſo Suffering times are Weaning times: when this Muſtard is laid upon the Breaſt of the World, then are we Weaned. Suffering times, are Weaning times.
Laſtly: Suffering times, are Heavenly times, and glorious times; when the World is moſt bitter, Heaven taſts moſt ſweet, and glorious; for ſaith the Apoſtle, Then ſhal the Spirit of God, and of Glory reſt upon you: When? In Suffering times, When the People of the Lord doth Suffer, the Spirit of Glory ſhal reſt upon them. Suffering times, are Glorious times. And if al th…ſe things be true, then ſurely you wil ſay with me, Suffering times are gaining times. And if you would but think of this, and poſſeſs your heart with it, you would be more willing, and able to ſuffer. Chriſtians, they boggle at Sufferings, and they ſtartle at Sufferings; what is the reaſon? they do not know the Gains of Suffering. But is this true, That Suffering times, are garning times? that Suffering times, are teaching times? that Suffering times, are Sin-diſcovering times? that Suffering times, are Self-bethinking times? that Suffering times, are growing times? that Suffering times, are Truth-advancing times? that ſuffering times are Uniting times? that Suffering times, are praying times? that Suffering times, are Soul-aſſuring times? that Suffering times, are Weaning times? that Suffering times, are Glorious times? then ſurely, Suffering times, are Gaining times. And if thou would'ſt ſtrengthen thy Faith (Chriſtian) ſo as thou maieſt be able to endure hard things, think upon this much, and preſs it upon thy own Soul, carry this away with thee, if no more; Suffering times are gaining times; O my Soul, Suffering times, are gaining times: and thus you ſhal be able to hold out, and ſuffer. And thus I have done with the main Doctrine. There are two or three Obſervations that lie about the words; I wil only give you them, and ſo conclude.
Firſt you may conſider here, what the Perſons were that ſuffered hard things; the Text ſaith, they were ſuch, of whom the World was not worthy: then greatneſs of Sufferings, and Affliction, are no ſufficient reaſon why you ſhould doubt of Gods Love, or of your own everlaſting Condition. Here were very hard things that theſe Beleevers ſuffered, and yet they were ſuch of whom the World was not worthy: Shal I then doubt of my Condition, or queſtion Gods Love, becauſe my Afflictions are great? I muſt not. But you wil ſay, My Afflictions are very ſtrange, and none like mine; one cannot hear of ſuch an Affliction as mine is, not in an Age. And I pray, in your Age, have you heard of a Man or Woman ſawn aſunder? thus were theſe, of whom the World was not worthy. But my Afflictions are thick, they come very thick. And ſo did theirs here. But my Afflictions are filled with Temptations; I am not only afflicted, but I am tempted, and Temptations grow upon mine Afflictions. So it was with theſe here, they were tempted, not only afflicted, but tempted, and yet ſuch of whom the World was not worthy. But my Afflictions are ſuch as make me Unſerviceable. So in the eye of Reaſon theſe Afflictions made theſe Beleevers, they were whipped up and down like Rogues: and I pray you tel me, who would ever have thought in the eye of Reaſon, that Pauls Miniſtry ſhould have done any great good, after he had been whipped up and down like a Rogue? yet Pauls Miniſtry was bleſſed, and though you think your Afflictions make you unſerviceable, if God cal you to them, he wil take care for your Service. But my Afflictions are ſuch as find me al alone; I am afflicted, and afflicted, a man or woman of Affliction, and I have none to pity me. So it was here with ſome of theſe; they wandred in the Wilderneſs, and they were in the Caves, and Dens of the Earth, and ſuch of whom the World was not worthy. Poſſibly then, thy Afflictions, man or woman, may be very great, and yet thou maieſt be precious in the Eyes of God, and ſuch a one of whom the world is not worthy. And therefore now, if there be ever a man or woman here in al this Congregation, that labors under any great burden, I ſay to that Perſon, queſtion not thy Condition, doubt not concerning Gods Love, becauſe of the greatneſs of thy Affliction; thy Affliction may be very great, and yet thou maiſt be a Perſon, of whom the World is not worthy in Gods account. I wil give you this Parable, apply it your ſelf: Suppoſe you ſee a company of children playing together one while, and may be afterwards fighting; and then you ſee a man come and carry away one of theſe Children, and he ſtrikes him, but he lets the other alone, and he ſtrikes them not; which of theſe Children, wil you ſay, this man is a Father unto? wil ye not ſay, in al likelyhood he is a Father unto that Child that he carries away, and ſtrikes. I leave you to apply it.
Secondly: You may obſerve upon what accompt they ſuffer theſe hard, and grievous things; upon the accompt, ſaith the Text, of a better Reſurrection: Then what ſhal we ſay to thoſe that would ſteal away from you, the Doctrine of the Reſurrection? It may be, men wil not ſpeak out here with you, but they have done it with us, and nibble at this Doctrine: What ſhal we ſay to them? they are Enemies to your Faith, they are Enemies to your great relief in Suffering times, they are Enemies to your good Conſcience, a good Conſcience is a great matter in Suffering times. I remember a Speech of a good Miniſter, when he was ſilenced in the Biſhops time, and had his Living taken from him; Wel (ſaith he) I praiſe the Lord, though I have loſt my Living, I have ſaved my Conſcience and this Conſcience is a great matter in Suffering times. Now by their having an expectance of a better Reſurrection, they refuſed the preſent Deliverance, and ſo kept their Conſcience. Do there therefore come in men among you, to ſteal away this great Doctrine of our Reſurrection? avoid them, avoid them, that they may be aſhamed, hold cloſe to this Doctrine: As you deſire (Chriſtians) to have Comfort in a rainy day, and a bottom for your Faith in Suffering times, hold faſt this Doctrine of the Reſurrection, and this Doctrine that you have been inſtructed in from the Word.
Thirdly, and ſo to end: Ye may obſerve here, by what means they ſuffered theſe hard things, and that is, as you have heard, by Faith; ſurely then, it is no eaſie thing to beleeve, with this true ſaving Faith; a hard thing to beleeve. This true ſaving Faith can do great things, and it can ſuffer hard things; true ſaving Faith wil make it eaſie to do great things, and eaſie to ſuffer hard things. But it is hard to get this true ſaving Faith. You wil ſay, If a man were in the Sun, he might go round the World in a day; but it is hard to get into the Sun. So this true ſaving Faith, wil make a man to do great things, and to ſuffer hard things; but it is a hard thing to get it, and few there be that have it. We read of Elias, that when the Lord had given him a power to ſhut Heaven, that it rained not for three yeers, and an half, he went away, and hid himſelf; they could find him before: ordinary men might be found; but Elias that did this great Work, could not be found. So an ordinary Faith may be found out; but this true ſaving Faith, that doth great things, and ſuffers hard things, is hardly to be found. There is a common Faith that grows every where: As it is in your Flowers and Plants; ye have your Field Time, and your Garden Time; ye have your Field Roſe, and your Garden Roſe; your Field Roſe grows every where, but your Garden Roſe grows not every where: You have Pibble Stones every where, but Diamonds are not to be found every where. So there is a Pibble Faith, and a Field Faith, an ordinary Faith, and this you may have every where: But this Diamond, this Garden Faith, to ſuffer hard things, it is hard to be found, few there be that have it, and therefore few can do great things for God, or ſuffer hard things from men. Wherefore beloved in the Lord, give me leave to end with this Exhortation, to beſeech you in Chriſt Jeſus, to get this Faith, above al getting, get this Faith; you that have not this true ſaving Faith, get it. Some there be here, it may be, that have Faith good enough to ſwear by; but not Faith good enough to live by: true ſaving Faith, a Beleever can live by, but he cannot ſwear by it. A true Beleever is very ſenſible of his Unbelief; ſaith he, there was never a more unbeleeving heart than mine, I think there is not a man, or woman in the World, is troubled with ſuch an unbeleeving heart as I. True ſaving Faith is ſenſible of Unbeleef; and therefore you that have not this true ſaving Faith, labor to get it; above al get it: Get this true ſaving Faith, and you that have this true ſaving Faith, improve it, uſe it, do great things for God, and ſuffer hard things from man; yea, certainly, if you have this true ſaving Faith, you wil be able to do great things for God, and to ſuffer very hard things from man; for that is the Doctrine at this time, True ſaving Faith can, and will ſuffer very hard things.
FINIS.