Thirteen Sermons, Account · Sermons 5-8

Thirteen Sermons · Account · Sermons 5-8

p. 79SERMON V. VI, VII, VIII.

2 Tim. 1.8.

Be not thou therefore aſhamed of the teſtimony of our Lord, nor of me his priſoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Goſpel, according to the power of God.

MY Text you ſee is in the Epiſtle of Paul to Timothy, the ſecond Epiſtle that he wrote to him. Who this Timothy was, the Scripture abundantly telleth us, the name ſignifieth one that feareth God; it was the uſual courſe of Parents in thoſe days to give their Children names, that might either expreſs their ſenſe of the mercy that God had given them, as Samuel [begged of God] Reuben [ſee a Son,] Simeon [hearing] Levi [joined] Judah [praiſe;] or ſuch as might expreſs the Childrens duty to God; ſuch was this name Timothy; ſome think Timothy was born at Lyſtra, a place in Aſia; there Paul found him, Acts 16.1.2. Then came he to Derbe and Lyſtra; and behold a certain Diſciple p. 80was there, named Timotheus, the Son of a certain Woman, which was a Jeweſs, and believed; but his Father was a Greek. Which was well reported of by the Brethren that were at Lyſtra and Iconium. chap. 14.6. They were aw…re of it, and fled unto Lyſtra and Derbe, Cities of Lycaonia—His Father was a Greek, his Mother was a Jew, Acts 16.1. Her name was Eunice, her Mother Lois, they brought him up from a Child in the knowledge of the Scriptures, 2 Tim. 1.5. When I call to mind the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt firſt in thy Grandmother Lois, and thy Mother Eunice, and I am perſuaded that in thee alſo, chap. 3.41, 15. But continue thou in the things which thou haſt learned, and haſt been aſſured of, knowing of whom thou haſt learned them. And that from a Child thou haſt known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wiſe unto Salvation, through faith in Chriſt Jeſus. His Father being a Greek, he was not circumciſed at his birth, but afterwards, Acts 16.1, 2, 3. After which, Paul took him about with him in his Travels, and made great uſe of him; ſometimes he was ſent as a Meſſenger, 1 Tim. 5.11. Sometimes as a Preacher, and he had many bodily weakneſſes, ſo as he was glad to drink a little wine for his ſtomach ſake, but he abounded with excellent graces, faith, wiſdom, temperance, he was at laſt ordained a Miniſter with the impoſition of the hands of the Presbytery, 2 Tim. 1.6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou ſtir up the gift of God, which is in thee, by the putting on of my p. 81hands, the Apoſtle telleth us he had none like minded to him, Phil. 2.19.20, 21, 22. But I truſt in the Lord Jeſus, to ſend Timotheus ſhortly unto you, that I alſo may be of good comfort, when I know your ſtate. V. 20.For I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your ſtate. For all ſeek their own, V. 21.not the things which are Jeſus Chriſts. V. 22.But you know the proof of him, that as a Son with the Father, he hath ſerved with me in the Goſpel; he calls him his Brother, his Beloved Son, faithful in the Lord, his natural Son in the faith, the Miniſter of God, his fellow helper, he joineth him with himſelf. At laſt he leaveth him at Epheſus, but he ſeemeth not to have been there when he wrote this Epiſtle, 2 Tim. 4.12. And Tychicus have I ſent to Epheſus. This Epiſtle ſeemeth to have been written the laſt of the Epiſtles, and a little before Pauls death, 2 Tim. 4.6. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. Paul died (as is ſaid) in the 37th year after Chriſt, in the 14th year of the reign of Nero.

This Epiſtle, as the reſt, conſiſteth of a Preface, wherein is ſhewed the ſubſtance of the Goſpel, the Preface is in the five firſt verſes.

The ſubſtance of the Epiſtle is hortatory, conſolatory, and minatory; he exhorteth Timothy, v. 6. To ſtir up the gift of God that was in him— and this he preſſeth by ſome arguments. v. 6.7. For God hath not given us the ſpirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a ſound mind; in the verſe where the text is, he exhorteth him, not to be aſhamed of the teſtimony p. 82of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, nor of him, though a priſoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Goſpel, which he preſſeth by ſeveral arguments, to the end of the 12th verſe.

This verſe is made up of an Exhortation, and the Argument, the Exhortation is in three branches.

1. Not to be aſhamed of the teſtimony of the Lord Jeſus.

2. Not to be aſhamed of St. Paul, who was at this time a priſoner.

3. To partake of the afflictions of the Goſpel; the Propoſitions of the text are theſe.

Prop. 1. That Miniſters and Chriſtians have a teſtimony to give unto our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in the giving of which, they are not to decline a Priſon.

Prop. 2. That it is the duty of faithful Miniſters and People not to be aſhamed to give this teſtimony, nor of others when they do give it.

Prop. 3. There are Afflictions that are proper to the Goſpel.

Prop. 4. That both Miniſters and People ought to be partakers of the afflictions of the Goſpel.

Prop. 5. It muſt be through the power of God, that any one is inabled to partake of the afflictions of the Goſpel. According to the power of God. It is the third of theſe only that I intend to make the ſubject of my diſcourſe, the others will fall in in the handling of that.

Prop. That it is the duty both of Goſpel Miniſters, and Chriſtians owning the Goſpel, not to p. 83be aſhamed of the teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, nor of the afflictions of the Goſpel, but to be partakers of them.

In the handling of this Propoſition there are theſe Queſtions, which I ſhall ſpeak unto in their order.

Qu. 1. What is meant by the teſtimony of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

Qu. 2. What afflictions are they, which are ſaid to be the afflictions of the Goſpel?

Qu, 3. When may men be ſaid to be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of our Lord, and how far are we bound not to be ſo?

Qu. 4. Why are we bound not to be aſhamed of the teſtimony of Chriſt, and why ought we not to be partakers of the afflictions of the Goſpel?

Qu. 1. What is meant by the teſtimony of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt?

A Teſtimony is an atteſtation which any one giveth concerning any perſon, or concerning any thing; In every teſtimony there is to be conſidered three things.

1. The Perſon, who giveth the Teſtimony.

2. The Thing, to which the Teſtimony is given.

3. The Way, by which the Teſtimony is given. As to the preſent Teſtimony of which we are ſpeaking, the Perſons that give it, are the Miniſters of the Goſpel, ſuch a one was Timothy, but they are not all ſo, Rev. 6.9. St. John ſaith, —I ſaw under the Altar, the Souls of them that were ſlain for the Word of God, and for the teſtimony which they held; every p. 84Miniſter is a ſpecial witneſs, and to bear his Teſtimony, and every good Chriſtian is alſo to be a witneſs. It is ſaid of Chriſt, 1 Tim. 6.13. —who before Pontius Pilate witneſſed a good confeſſion; every Chriſtian ought in this to be conformable unto Chriſt.

2. Another thing which is to be conſidered in a Teſtimony, is the thing or perſon to which it relateth, for the term Teſtimony is a Relative word, and the proper Correlate to it is Truth, which relates again either to a Propoſition, or to a matter of fact; no perſon can be under any obligation to give Teſtimony to a lie, but now truth relateth either to a Propoſition, or to a fact; every man is a debtor to the truth, and is bound as a man to bear Teſtimony. Chriſt telleth Pilate, John 18.37. —to this end was I born, and for this cauſe came I into the world, that I ſhould bear witneſs unto the truth— but when I ſpeak of the teſtimony that every good Chriſtian is bound to give, I underſtand it not thus largely; for though it be that every good man is under an obligation to teſtifie the truth in any cauſe, yet the Miniſters of the Goſpel, and every good Chriſtian is under a more ſpecial obligation to give teſtimony to ſome truths, and theſe are the truths of the Goſpel, the truths that relate to Jeſus Chriſt; this is that the text calleth, the Teſtimony of our Lord, which may be taken in a double ſenſe.

p. 851. Either for that Teſtimony which our Lord bare of himſelf.

2. Or the Teſtimony which every good Chriſtian is bound to give to the truths of the Goſpel. Chriſt bare a Teſtimony of himſelf; he teſtified that he was the ſon of God, that he was the King of Zion, that he was the true Meſſiah; but I underſtand it yet larger; every Miniſter of the Goſpel, and every good Chriſtian is obliged to bear a Teſtimony to the great truths of the Goſpel, which relate to Jeſus Chriſt, as our Lord and Saviour; there is a Teſtimony which he ought to bear to thoſe Propoſitions of truth, and to thoſe matters of fact, which the Goſpel containeth and relateth concerning Jeſus Chriſt as the Saviour of the world.

3. The third thing which is conſiderable in a Teſtimony, is the way of giving it; the proper giving a Teſtimony, is by the words of our mouth; either with an oath, or without an oath; it is one thing for a man to believe a Propoſition, and another thing for him to give Teſtimony to a Propoſition; he believeth a Propoſition, that hearing it, doth in heart conſent and agree to it, that the Predicate is well fitted to the Subject, whether he ſpeaketh a word, yea, or no; but he teſtifieth, that with his words owneth and declareth his faith, Rom. 10.10. For with the heart man believeth unto Righteouſneſs, and with the mouth confeſſion is made unto Salvation. It is not enough for a Chriſtian ſecretly in his heart to agree to the truths of the Goſpel, but he is bound to give p. 86a Teſtimony; If thou ſhalt therefore confeſs with thy mouth the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and ſhalt believe in thy heart that God hath raiſed him from the dead, thou ſhalt be ſaved. You may obſerve, there are two things made neceſſary to to Salvation.

1. A heart believing the Propoſition of the Goſpel.

2. An external confeſſion or profeſſion.

There is a double confeſſion, a Chriſtians duty.

1. A confeſſion of ſin.

2. A confeſſion of truth.

Either confeſſion is an open acknowledgment with our lips, thus you read in Scripture frequently of confeſſing of Chriſt, only it may be there is this difference betwixt a Teſtimony and confeſſion; any open, aſſerting, vindicating, and defending Chriſt and his Goſpel, is giving a Teſtimony, but when it is done in the face of Enemies, in deſpight of oppoſition, this is confeſſion, Matth. 10.32. Whoſoever therefore ſhall confeſs me before men, him will I confeſs alſo before my Father which is in Heaven, Luke 12.8. —whoſoever ſhall confeſs me before men— thus, John 12.42. Many believed on him; but becauſe of the Phariſees, they did not confeſs him. So that the teſtimony of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſignifieth, that open acknowledgment of Chriſt, and profeſſion of the truths of the Goſpel, relating to Chriſt, which is the duty of every good Chriſtian.

p. 87Qu. 2. What is here meant by the afflictions of the Goſpel.

The Original doth ſomething differ, foreign, ſuffer thou evils together with the Goſpel; where the Goſpel is brought in as if it were a Perſon by a figure; a Perſon that is ſubject to evils. Timothy is exhorted to ſuffer evil with the Goſpel; this leads me to the conſideration what thoſe afflictions are, what thoſe evils are to which the Goſpel is ſubjected; there are ſeveral evils to which the Goſpel is ſubjected, or rather evils from three ſorts of perſons.

1. From the true Profeſſors of it; ſuch as own Chriſt in truth and ſincerity.

2. From the falſe and ſeeming Profeſſors of it.

3. From the profeſſed enemies of it.

The afflictions of the Goſpel are the afflictions which men are ſubjected to, from their owning and profeſſing of the Goſpel, and theſe I ſay are from 3 ſorts of Perſons.

1. From ſuch as are the true and ſincere profeſſors of it, they may bite and devour one another, and be thorns and goads in one anothers ſides. Theſe commonly are ſo from one of theſe two heads.

1. From an overheated zeal for the maintaining of different apprehenſions in ſome matters of truth.

2. From ſuch corruptions as do attend Gods people, conſidered as men, made up of fleſh and blood.

1. From an immoderate zeal for the maintaining p. 88of different apprehenſions in ſome matters of truth; truth is an uniform thing, and is but one; two contradictory Propoſitions cannot be true; but ſince the fall of man none have the ſame apprehenſions, there are different apprehenſions concerning truth; it is true, we have the promiſe of the Spirit of truth to guide us, and to lead us into all truth; but the ſenſe of the promiſe muſt not be extended ſo far, that becauſe all Chriſtians have the ſpirit of God, therefore they ſhall all be guided, that they ſhall not have miſapprehenſions in a Propoſition of truth, they ſhall be guided into all neceſſary truth, they ſhall not miſcarry in any apprehenſion of truth, upon which the ſalvation of their Souls depend; but they may be miſtaken as to a multitude of particular Propoſitions, one may judge one thing, and another another thing, yet they all hold the foundation the fundamental truths of the Goſpel; but they may have very different apprehenſions as to ſome particular truths: now through an over-weaning opinion of our own apprehenſions, there are very great differences, and alſo hard cenſurings and condemnings of one another, and theſe are great afflictions, but ſuch as have attended the Goſpel from the very beginning; they were ſuch different apprehenſions that cauſed the firſt Chriſtian Synod. Acts 15.1, Some came and taught the neceſſity of circumciſion— ſuch differences there were, Rom. 14.2. For one believeth he may eat all things, another who is weak eateth herbs; hence they judged, deſpiſed, condemned p. 89and cenſured one another, and the Apoſtle perſuadeth to a friendly carriage one towards another, a mutual forbearance one of another, in theſe different apprehenſions in matters of truth of a lighter nature; mens immoderate zeal for their own opinions, have in all times begot great heats, and have cauſed great afflictions to the Miniſters of the Goſpel, and to the Profeſſors of it, and have been a great root of bitterneſs amongſt Gods own people, we have ſeen enough of it in the age, and in this part of the Church, wherein the Lord hath caſt our lot.

2. Another root of this bitterneſs hath been, Thoſe paſſions that the beſt of men have been ſubject to. Elijah was a great man of God, yet, Jam 5.17. Elias was a man ſubject to like paſſions as we are— and the Apoſtle writing to the Corinthians, telleth them, 1 Cor. 3.3. —Whereas there is among you envying and ſtrife, and diviſions, are you not carnal? the Apoſtle telleth us, Jam. 4.5. —that the Spirit that is in us luſteth to envy. Envy is a peeviſh paſſion, it maketh us to repine at the good of another, and though it ought to be rooted out of the heart of Gods people, and is in a great meaſure, yet ſomething of it remaineth, and it is very often ſeen, that when ſome Miniſters of the Goſpel excel others in Parts, or in Grace, or private Chriſtians ſo exceed; through this luſt of envy which is in the hearts of others, they are expoſed to cenſures, and to be evil ſpoken of, others grudging at them; which are all fruits of the old man which are in us, p. 90ſtrife, and contention, Acts 15.39. And the contention was ſo ſharp betwixt them, that they departed aſunder, one from the other, the difference betwixt Paul and Barnabas was ſo very ſmall, that it was onelyonly whether they ſhould carry John with them, yea, or no, but it waxed ſo hot, that Paul and Barnabas upon it left one another, Paul went one way, and Barnabas went another way, theſe are ſome of the afflictions of the Goſpel, not cauſed by the Goſpel, but incident to them who promote the Goſpel.

2. But a ſecond ſort of men that raiſe up afflictions to the Miniſters and Profeſſors of the Goſpel, are falſe Brethren; men who have received the truth, but not in the love of it, who from ſome luſts would pervert the Goſpel of Chriſt, and become great enemies to the ſincere Profeſſors of it, and that chiefly two ways.

1. By broaching and publiſhing ſome Doctrines that are contrary to the truths of the Goſpel, the Apoſtle experienced ſome of theſe in the firſt beginning of the Goſpel; no ſooner was the Goſpel preached in Galatia, but there aroſe ſome that troubled them, and would pervert the Doctrine of Chriſt; upon this account it is, that the Apoſtle to the Philippians calleth the Jews thoſe of the conciſion, St. John telleth you of many Antichriſts that aroſe in his time, ſo as you read ſomething of this in almoſt every Epiſtle of the Apoſtles, theſe things have conſtantly given a great deal of trouble to the faithful Miniſters of the Goſpel, p. 91and alſo them who have been the ſincere Profeſſors of it.

2. By aſperſing the faithful Miniſters and Profeſſors of the Goſpel, to leſſen their reputation, and make them odious unto people, ſometimes affixing crimes to them that they never deſigned in their hearts, ſometimes by aſperſing them as weak & unlearned men; you ſhall ſee this was a great art they uſed againſt St. Paul, as you will obſerve by reading over the Epiſtle of Paul to the Galatians, and his Epiſtles to the Corinthians, this maketh him ſpeak ſo much in his own defence, and in the commendation and magnifying of his Office, nay, they ſpeak of him as if he were a reprobate, they ſought a proof of Chriſt in him, 2 Cor. 13.3. which cauſed him to ſay, Since you ſeek a proof of Chriſt ſpeaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak— & v. 4. —for we alſo are weak in him, but we ſhall live with him by the power of God; he ſaith, v. 6. But I truſt you ſhall know we are not reprobates. v. 7. — I pray to God that you do no evil— but that you ſhould do that which is honeſt, though we be as reprobates. Theſe are a ſort and kind of afflictions which the Goſpel of Chriſt hath always met with in the true Profeſſors of it; now the root of this is nothing but wrath, and malice, and envy, luſt liveth and reigneth in the hearts of ſuch, who though they have made a profeſſion of the truth, yet they never received it in the love of it.

3. The afflictions of the Goſpel are thoſe afflictions which are brought upon the faithful p. 92Miniſters and Profeſſors of the Goſpel for their Profeſſion, from the open and profeſſed enemies of it; now theſe are to be conſidered in their kinds, and in their cauſes; In their kinds; In ſhort, they are all ſorts of external afflictions, man can kill the body, and hurt the outward man, but he can do no more; but ſo far as they can, they will go; reproaches and calumnies reſpecting men in their honour and reputation, rifling their eſtates, caſting them into Priſons, taking away their lives; in ſhort, whatſoever can be afflictive to the outward man, for there are no ſort of external afflictions, but we ſhall find that the true and ſincere Profeſſors of the Goſpel have met with, James was killed with the Sword, Stephen was ſtoned to death; the Apoſtles were often impriſoned, others, as the Apoſtle ſaith, had trial of cruel mockings, and ſcourgings, yea, of bonds and impriſonments, they were ſtoned, they were ſawn aſunder, they were tempted, they were ſlain with the Sword, they wandered about in Sheep-skins, and in Goat-skins, being tormented, of whom the world was not worthy; the ſtory of Scripture, and the ſtory of the ſeveral Martyrs doth ſufficiently tell us what the afflictions of the Goſpel are, but why the Goſpel ſhould ſuffer ſuch things, or men ſhould ſuffer ſuch things for the publiſhing, owning, and profeſſing the Goſpel, may ſeem a little wonderful, and deſerveth a further enquiry; for if we conſider the nature of the Goſpel, the very import of the word is no other then a good meſſage, or good tidings; the Angel p. 93gave the Goſpel its true name; when he proclaimed, Luke 2.10. —behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which ſhall be to all people. So as there is nothing in the whole ſyſteme of the Goſpel, that can deſerve any hatred of it, the Goſpel is nothing elſe but that good ſaying, that, Jeſus Chriſt is come into the world to ſave Sinners; —That God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth on him ſhould have everlaſting life; what hath Chriſt done? or what is there in the Goſpel that ſhould provoke the luſts and paſſions of men to give any oppoſition, that there ſhould be any affliction entailed to the Goſpel?

1. I anſwer, the true root of this lieth in that enmity which God hath ſet betwixt the Woman and her ſeed, and the Serpent and his ſeed, you have it, Gen. 3.15. And I will put enmity betwixt thee and the Woman, and betwixt thy ſeed and her ſeed— the Womans ſeed was Chriſt, the Serpents ſeed are vile, wicked, and ungodly men, there is an enmity, an implacable enmity betwixt theſe two, and ſo long as the world endureth, this enmity will abide, and the Devil will be managing a deſign to drive Chriſt, and the Goſpel of Chriſt out of the world; all the reproaches of Miniſters and Godly Chriſtians, all their bonds and impriſonments which they ſuffer for the Goſpel, they are but the fruits and product of this enmity, this hatred and antipathy which is betwixt Chriſt and the Devil, and the ſeed of Chriſt, and the ſeed of the Devil.

p. 942. Another reaſon of it lieth in the nature of the Propoſitions of the Goſpel, as to the Doctrine of faith, and as to the precepts of the Goſpel, ſo far as it concerneth holineſs, the ſublimity of the firſt, and the purity of the latter, and its exceeding ſtrictneſs. The ſublimeneſs of the Doctrine of faith, raiſeth it two ſorts of enemies.

1. The ignorant perſons of the world.

2. Thoſe men who have idolized their own reaſon, and are determined to believe nothing but what they can fathom by their own reaſon.

1. For the firſt, ignorant Perſons; the Apoſtle telleth us of ſome who ſpeak evil of what they know not, there is nothing more unworthy of a man then this, yet there is nothing more ordinary, eſpecially when men apprehend the ways and perſons that they ſpeak evil of, are enemies to their luſts and corruptions, the Apoſtle telleth us, 1 Cor. 2.7, 8. —we ſpeak the wiſdom of God in a myſtery, even the hidden wiſdom which God ordained, before the world unto our glory. Which none of the Princes of this world knew, for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. The wiſdom of God ſignifieth the Goſpel of Chriſt, and the Apoſtle ſaith, the Princes of this world did not know it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. The moſt ignorant perſons, if they be alſo looſe in their lives, are enemies to the Goſpel of Chriſt.

2. Men that have idolized their own reaſon, p. 95and entertained a fancy that they ſhould comprehend the higheſt myſteries of the Kingdom of God, that which maketh them enemies to the Goſpel of Chriſt, is their zeal; they are puff'd up in their own opinion of their own reaſon, and are certain enemies to whatever they cannot comprehend with it; now the Doctrines of the Goſpel being of that nature, that ſublime nature, that ignorant perſons cannot comprehend them, and men of reaſon cannot fathom them with their own reaſon, they become enemies unto them, and to the true Profeſſors of them; hence it was that the Philoſophers of old were ſuch enemies to the Goſpel of Chriſt.

2. As the ſublimity of the Propoſitions of the Goſpel is one great reaſon of the oppoſition which it meeteth with in the world; ſo the exceeding purity and holineſs of the precepts of the Goſpel is another reaſon; take the Goſpel, as it bringeth news of a Saviour who died for ſinners, it pleaſeth them well enough; but look upon it as it containeth a ſyſteme of precepts, an obedience to which, muſt be given in order to the obtaining of that ſalvation, ſo it quite croſſeth the grain of fleſh and blood, as it teacheth us that no Drunkard, no Fornicator, no Swearer ſhall come into the Kingdom of God, thus they cannot approve of it; and this maketh them enemies, as to the Doctrine of the Goſpel, ſo to the Miniſters and Profeſſors of it; for though they have ſo much luſt as will not ſuffer them to comply with the Doctrine of the Goſpel, yet they p. 96have alſo ſo much pride, that they cannot endure themſelves to be contradicted, and outdone by the Profeſſors of it; but this is enough to ſhew you what the afflictions of the Goſpel are, of which the Apoſtle would have Timothy content to be a partaker; and what that teſtimony of Chriſt is, of which he would not have him to be aſhamed; I come now to the next Queſtion.

Qu. 3. When men may be ſaid to be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of our Lord; and what the meaning is, to be partakers of the afflictions of the Goſpel?

To be aſhamed of the teſtimony of Chriſt, I conceive ſignifieth two things.

1. To be aſhamed, or afraid to give a teſtimony unto Chriſt, and to the truth of the Goſpel, to be afraid to give a teſtimony of Chriſt, becauſe of the oppoſition of men is a great ſin; it is contrary to the precept. Fear not them who can kill the body, and can do no more, but fear him that is able to caſt Body and Soul into Hell-fire— but to be aſhamed of this teſtimony, is a greater ſin; becauſe the temptation is higher under the former, then under the latter; to be aſhamed of the teſtimony of Chriſt, is to decline, to own, and profeſs Jeſus Chriſt; when there is no great danger that threatneth us in ſuch a Profeſſion, we have an High-Prieſt that can have compaſſion upon our infirmities— but when no ſuch danger threatneth a man, only he may ſuffer a little in his honour and repute amongſt men, and they may not have ſo good an opinion of him, & for p. 97this to decline the publick owning and profeſſing of Chriſt, it muſt needs be a very great ſin; it is a dreadful Text, Mark. 8.38. Whoſoever therefore ſhall be aſhamed of me and my words in this adulterous and ſinful generation, of him alſo ſhall the Son of man be aſhamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy Angels. For a man to be afraid to own Chriſt and his Goſpel, and the profeſſion of it, when utmoſt danger threatneth him, is ſin enough; it arguing that the fear of man prevaileth in him above the fear of God; but for a man, when no ſuch danger threatneth him, to be aſhamed, and to think it beneath him to own the Goſpel, and to love the honour that is from men, before the honour that cometh from God, is a very dreadful tranſgreſſion.

2. That man is aſhamed of the teſtimony of Chriſt, That is aſhamed of others, for the teſtimony which they bear to Jeſus Chriſt; I muſt confeſs, I think this is that which the Apoſtle here chiefly intendeth, Paul was now a Priſoner, and at Rome, the condition of Priſoners you know, is a low and contemptible condition, now for a perſon to be aſhamed to be a friend, or companion, or to own the relation to, and acquaintance with any, becauſe they are giving a teſtimony to Chriſt, and for that teſtimony are hated, maligned, and perſecuted, is to be aſhamed of the teſtimony of our Lord, It is reported of that famous Emperor Conſtantine the Great, that he would often kiſs the hole of Paphnutius's eye, that was bored out for the profeſſion of the Goſpel.

p. 98What is the meaning of the phraſe, foreign— Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Goſpel—

1. Negatively; it doth not imply that it is the will of God, that any man ſhould throw himſelf into the afflictions of the Goſpel, the beſt of afflictions are trials and temptations, no man ought to pull trials upon himſelf, we read indeed of ſome in the Primitive times that offered themſelves to the ſtake, and owned. themſelves to be Chriſtians, ambitious of the Crown of Martyrdom, but theſe things are miranda, to be admired, not imitanda, to be imitated; no man is bound to put his ſelf upon ſuffering afflictions, no not in defence of the Goſpel of Chriſt, we ought to ſee our call clear to ſuffering, as well as doing; in that ſenſe therefore this precept muſt not be underſtood. But,

2. It ſpeaketh unto every Chriſtian to expect that his owning and profeſſing of the Goſpel, ſhould meet with afflictions; and to be content to take a ſhare in them, Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Goſpel — look that the Goſpel ſhould be afflicted, and be contented to take thy ſhare with the Goſpel in its afflictions; our Saviour telleth us; That no Prince goeth out to war with another, but he firſt ſitteth down, and conſidereth whether he with 10000 ſhall be able to meet with his enemy with 20000. Chriſtians; before men undertake the profeſſion of the Goſpel, they ought to ſit down and conſider what the Goſpel will coſt them; for the tempers of our ſpirits under divine p. 99providences, are much according to our expectation; if we expect nothing but good, and meet with nothing but evil, the evil ſinketh us, we did not look for it, Mala inopinata graviora; but this is not all, to be content to take our part in afflictions with the Goſpel, if God calleth us to ſuffer for owning and profeſſing the Goſpel of Chriſt, and not think it ſtrange; we ſhould not murmure and repine againſt it, or take any unlawful courſe to decline; but to caſt our lot with Profeſſors, and to take our ſhare with them, and to be content to ſuffer evil with them, who ſuffer for the name of Chriſt, or for the profeſſion of any of his truths; nay, it may be there is ſomething more our duty than this; and that is, to rejoice that we are counted worthy to ſuffer any thing for the name of our Lord Jeſus, Acts 5.41. Singing in the priſon into which we are thrown, as Paul and Silas did; taking the ſpoiling of our goods with joy.

3. Nay, there is ſomething more in this phraſe, viz. a ſuffering together with others that ſuffer for the Goſpel, though we do not ſuffer at all, and indeed this is properly foreign; we ought to have a ſympathy with the Goſpel, and the Profeſſors of it, it is that which the Apoſtle urgeth, and thus it anſwereth that text Rom. 12.15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep: both theſe are put together in that phraſe, in the Epiſtle to the Hebrews, Heb. 10.34. For you had compaſſion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the ſpoiling of your goods— Both theſe are the p. 100duty of good Chriſtians; to ſuffer with them that ſuffer for the Goſpel; and to be content to ſuffer themſelves, if God calleth them to it in defence of the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; as the Apoſtle had upon him the care of all the Churches, 2 Cor. 11.28, 29. So he had upon him the ſorrow and affliction of all the Church of Chriſt; the Apoſtle in that Chap. v, 23. telleth us what ſtripes, what impriſonments, what deaths he was in; and then he telleth us, that he did not thus only ſuffer with, and for the Goſpel, but alſo he was afflicted, and he burned with others; and this is the duty of every Chriſtian, they ought to partake joyfully, and with ſatisfaction to take their ſhare in thoſe afflictions, to which the preaching or owning the Goſpel doth expoſe them, and alſo to bear the burthens of others, and to be content to ſuffer with them, to bear ſome ſhare in their ſorrow; in their trials and afflictions. I come to the next queſtion.

Qu. 4. Whence ariſeth this obligation upon Chriſtians; and why are they thus to partake of the afflictions of the Goſpel, and not to be aſhamed of the teſtimony of our Lord?

This Queſtion hath two Branches.

Qu. 1. Whence ariſeth this obligation upon them not to be aſhamed to give this Teſtimony, nor of it when given?

Qu. 2. Whence ariſeth this obligation upon Chriſtians to be partakers of the afflictions of the Goſpel?

For the firſt of theſe; whence this obligation doth ariſe upon Chriſtians not to be aſhamed p. 101of the teſtimony of our Lord? I ſhall open it to you in ſeven or eight particulars.

1. From the will of God. This is the true and proper foundation of all duty; the will of God, and the duty of Chriſtians are Correlates; nothing can be our duty towards God, but what is the will of God towards us, and nothing can be the will of God towards us, but it muſt become our duty; this is the will of God; it is the will of God that we ſhould not be aſhamed of the teſtimony of our Lord; neither our ſelves, to give teſtimony unto Chriſt nor his Goſpel, nor yet of them who do give ſuch teſtimony. It is indeed the will of God concerning ſome more eminently then others; but concerning all Chriſtians, it is the will of God; it is ſpoken concerning all, Rom. 10.9. That if thou ſhalt confeſs with thy mouth, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and ſhalt believe in thine heart that God hath raiſed him from the dead, thou ſhalt be ſaved, Mat. 10.32. Whoſoever therefore ſhall confeſs me before men, him will I confeſs alſo before my Father which is in Heaven. The Apoſtle writeth to the Theſſalonians, 1 Theſ. 3.3. That no man ſhould be moved by theſe afflictions, for your ſelves know that we are appointed thereunto, Col. 4.12. It is the duty of Chriſtians to be compleat in all the will of God. It is not only the will of God that men ſhould pray, that they hear the word, and receive the Sacrament, but they ſhould give their teſtimony, and not be aſhamed of the teſtimony of Chriſt their Lord, 2 Tim. 4.5. Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions— p. 1022 Tim. 2.3. Thou therefore endure hardneſs, as a good Soldier of Jeſus Chriſt. Miniſters and good Chriſtians are witneſſes; and they are Soldiers, and therefore they ought to endure hardneſs, and to be ready to give their teſtimony.

2. It appeareth from the relation that every good Chriſtian ſtandeth in to Chriſt as his Lord; foreign; mark the words, that thou be not aſhamed of the teſtimony of our Lord; every ſubject is bound to give his teſtimony for the King, becauſe he is his Soveraign Lord; every Servant is bound to give his teſtimony for his Maſter, becauſe he is his Lord: Chriſt is our Lord, and therefore there lieth an obligation upon us to give teſtimony for him; would not your Prince take it ill, if you ſhould refuſe being called, to teſtify the truth for him? & would not your Maſter take it ill, if you ſhould refuſe to give your temony for him? Surely Chriſt, who is our Lord, muſt take it ill from us, if we refuſe a teſtimony to him. If every man, becauſe that he is a debtor to the truth, taketh himſelf obliged by the law of Charity to give a teſtimony to the truth for his Neighbour, when his eſtate, or his life is concerned, or any thing of his intereſt: and every Subject taketh himſelf more highly concerned to give his teſtimony to the truth on the behalf of his Prince, or on the behalf of his Maſter, becauſe there is a relation betwixt the Prince and the Subject, and betwixt the Maſter and the Servant; certainly there muſt needs lie an obligation p. 103upon every Chriſtian who owneth Chriſt as his Soveraign Lord and Maſter, to give a teſtimony unto Chriſt; it is a teſtimony for the Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth, for him whom we call our Father, whom we own as our Maſter; every Teſtimony to the Goſpel, and the truth of the Goſpel is a teſtimony to Chriſt; every teſtimony for Chriſt, is a teſtimony for him, who is our Lord, and whom we own, and avow to be our Lord.

3. This obligation ariſeth from that gratitude which we all owe to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, every one looketh upon himſelf indebted unto him who hath done him good; and there is nothing more uſual in that caſe, then to promiſe a requital, and to expreſs a trouble that we know not how to make him or her amends, and to expreſs our willingneſs to it; the teſtimony of our Lord, is the teſtimony of him who left his Fathers Throne, and came down upon the Earth, and clothed himſelf with our nature, and died in our ſtead, that we might not periſh for ever & ever, he aſcending up into Heaven, hath left us in charge with his truth, Philip. 1.27. —ſtriving together for the faith of the Goſpel, Jude, v. 3. —that you ſhould earneſtly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints. Now which of you, if you had but an ordinary friend like your ſelves, who had done you ſome great and eminent kindneſs, and left you in charge but to give a teſtimony unto him and for him, ſhould not think your ſelves under an obligation to it! Oh! how great is the obligation p. 104which lieth upon every Chriſtian that liveth in the world to bear his teſtimony for Chriſt, if he doth but conſider what Jeſus Chriſt hath done for him; ſhall Chriſt come and die for us, love not his life unto death, and ſhall we be aſhamed to give a teſtimony unto him, or to be partakers of the afflictions of the Goſpel of our deareſt Lord, this ought not to be; if the kindneſs of a man layeth an obligation upon us, to do what in us lieth to ſerve him; ſurely the kindneſs of the Lord our Saviour layeth a much higher obligation upon us.

4. Another thing from whence this obligation doth ariſe, is from the duty incumbent upon us to be conformable unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, we ought to ſtudy a conformity to him in his life, and in his death; in his life he commandeth us to be holy as he is holy; in his death, thus the Apoſtle prayeth, for a fellowſhip of his ſufferings. For this cauſe was I born, and for this cauſe did I come into the world, that I might bear witneſs unto the truth; and it is particularly ſaid of him, that before Pontius Pilate, he witneſſed a good confeſſion, 1 Tim. 6.13. He endured affliction in the firſt publication of the Goſpel; what was the teſtimony Chriſt gave but this? that there were a people in the world who were very dear to him, choſen unto eternal life for him, though he was the eternal Son of God, thought fit to cloath himſelf with fleſh, and to die upon the Croſs, that he might redeem this people unto himſelf; now it is our duty to be conformable to p. 105Chriſt, conformable to this teſtimony, not being aſhamed of this teſtimonony, conformable alſo in not being aſhamed of Affliction; this yet is advantaged by another conſideration: that we are to fill up the Afflictions of Chriſt, Col. 1.24. Who now rejoyce in my ſufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Chriſt. The ſufferings of Chriſt are either thoſe things which he ſuffered in his own perſon: Now concerning them, he ſaid, all is finiſhed, (the Papiſts vainly dream of the filling up of thoſe ſufferings;) or elſe thoſe ſufferings which every good Chriſtian ſhall ſuffer in his Myſtical Body to the end of the World, and there is much behind of the ſufferings of Chriſt, which we are to fill up, and filling them up, we act both in a conformity unto Chriſt, who is our Head, and alſo unto the multitude of the Churches that have gone before us, who have taſted of this Cup, and drank a little of it, but there is much more of theſe that is yet to be filled up.

5. The Obligation ariſeth upon Chriſtians from the nature of the Goſpel, and the truths of it, to which we give our Teſtimony. I have told you before in this Diſcourſe, that every Man and Woman is a Debtor to truth, no Man ought to decline a Teſtimony unto truth; but now by how much any truths are of greater moment, of greater weight and importance, by ſo much we are the greater Debtors to them; you have the ſubſtance p. 106of the Goſpel in that one Text, 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the World to ſave Sinners. He ſaid true, who ſaid that Chriſtians could better want the Sun in the Firmament, than that one piece of the Goſpel; the truths of the Goſpel are of that high importance, that the comfort and peace of all the Souls of the People of God in this Life, and the eternal Salvation of the Souls of all People in the Life to come, doth depend upon the ſtability of them; if the truths of the Goſpel did not ſtand firm and fixed, the Souls of Chriſtians are undone to all eternity, there is no foundation of peace for them in this Life, there is no hope of an eternal Salvation for them in that Life which is to come: We ſtand therefore highly concerned to give a Teſtimony to theſe truths; and to be partakers of afflictions in giving a Teſtimony to thoſe truths, and to that Goſpel, upon which ſo much of our eternal intereſt and concern doth lye, there is no truth but we owe a Teſtimony to it, but there are ſome Propoſitions of Truth, that are not of that moment, that we ſhould endure affliction for the juſtification of them; but the truths of the Goſpel are of that nature that no Teſtimony we can give to them can be too high no affliction we can ſuffer for them, can be too great.

6. A Sixth Obligation that lyeth upon Chriſtians, is from the ſtation they take up in the World; I ſhall here inlarge upon Three things;

p. 1071. They are God's Witneſſes.

2. They are God's Soldiers.

3. They are God's Children and Servants, and Chriſt's Members.

1. Every Chriſtian is the Child of God, the Servant of God, the Member of Chriſt, now ſhould a Child be aſhamed to atteſt the truth for his Father? or ſhould a Servant be aſhamed to atteſt the truth for his Maſter? or ſhould a Member be aſhamed to atteſt the truth for its Head? ſhould the Tongue be aſhamed to ſpeak for the Head? Which of you that are Parents, if you had a Child that ſhould be aſhamed (if called) to ſpeak the truth for you, would not diſown ſuch a Child? There is never a Chriſtian but is the Son or the Daughter of God, the Child of God; and his relation to God doth oblige him not to be aſhamed of this Teſtimony.

2. We ſtand in the Relation of Witneſſes; 1 Pet. 5. Ch. v. 1. Paul calleth himſelf a Witneſs of the ſufferings of Chriſt, Acts 1.8. Chriſt when he left the Earth told his Diſciples, You ſhall receive power, after that the Holy Ghoſt be come upon you, and you ſhall be Witneſſes unto me, both in Jeruſalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermoſt part of the Earth. Indeed good Chriſtians ought ſome to be ſpecial Witneſſes, Acts 10.41. Not to all the People, but unto Witneſſes, choſen before of God. But every Child of God is the Lord's Witneſs; though there lieth an eminent Obligation upon ſome, (eſpecially the Miniſters of the Goſpel) yet every Child of God is to p. 108be the Lord's Witneſs, and to give his Teſtimony for God.

3. Every Chriſtian ſtandeth in the Notion of a Soldier; hence the Apoſtle ſpeaketh to Timothy to endure hardſhip as a good Soldier of Chriſt, all Chriſtians are required to fight the good Fight, and our Life upon Earth is but a Warfare; wherein we are to fight the good Fight, and ſhall a Soldier decline the Fight, and refuſe to be partaker of the Battel? How ſhall we diſcharge either the relation of Children to our Father, or Servants to our Lord, or Members to our Head, or Witneſſes, or Soldiers, if we ſhall either be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of Chriſt, or afraid to be partakers of the afflictions of the Goſpel:

7. Another Obligation that is upon us, is from thoſe private Laws that we have laid upon our ſelves; and that two ways.

1. By our Baptiſm.

2. By our Profeſſion.

We are all Baptized, and the Apoſtle ſaith, we are Baptized into Chriſt; one part of the ſenſe of which is, that we are Baptized into the profeſſion of Chriſt; no perſon is Baptized, but he taketh a Vow upon him to be the Lord's Servant; beſides, our profeſſion is another private Law that we have laid upon our ſelves; the name of a Chriſtian is an Obligation upon us to act for Chriſt, and to ſerve the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; the Preſs-mony you know obligeth the Subject to fight for his Prince; there is no Chriſtian p. 109but beſides the general Laws that are laid upon him, hath layed a private Law upon himſelf, both by his Vow and Promiſe in Baptiſm, and by his taking upon him the name of a Chriſtian; how doth he deſerve the name of a Chriſtian, that is aſhamed of the Teſtimony of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; how doth he anſwer his Vow in Baptiſm, that refuſeth to fight under the Lords Banner, and to give a Teſtimony unto Chriſt, when he is called thereunto.

8. There lyeth a great Obligation upon us from our duty of conformity to our Fellow-members, we are not only the Members of Chriſt, but are alſo Members one of another, Epheſ. 4.25. For we are Members one of another. The Church of Chriſt from the beginning of the World, unto the end of it will be but one, and we ought to be as Members like one another, ſo that the example of the Saints and Servants of God in all Ages, who have ſtood up in teſtimony of the Goſpel, or who have been partakers of the Afflictions of the Goſpel, layeth an Obligation upon us to go and do likewiſe; that as we might have a fellowſhip with Chriſt in his Death, and in his Teſtimony, and his Afflictions, ſo that we might be conformable unto thoſe Saints and Servants of God which have been before us, and to their Teſtimony; John glorieth in this, and putteth into his Titles, Rev. 1.2. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, —He calleth himſelf, v. 9. — Their Brother p. 110and Companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and patience of Jeſus Chriſt. — For the word of God, and for the Teſtimony of Chriſt, Rev. 6.9. The Angel ſaw under the Altar, the Souls of them that were ſlain for the word of God, and for the Teſtimony which they held. And the ſeed of the Woman, with whom the Dragon was wroth, are deſcribed to be ſuch as keep the Commandments of God, and have the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, Rev. 19.10. The Angel telleth John, — I am thy fellow Servant, and of thy Brethren, that have the Teſtimony of Jeſus —

9. A Ninth Obligation that is upon us, not to be aſhamed of this Teſtimony of our Lord; is the reward that ſuch ſhall have, who ſhall not be aſhamed, and the danger they run that are aſhamed. I will put both theſe together; becauſe the proof of them lieth in the ſame Texts, Mark 8.38. Whoſoever therefore ſhall be aſhamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and ſinful Generation, of him alſo ſhall the Son of Man be aſhamed, when he cometh in the Glory of his Father, with the Holy Angels, Matth. 10.33, But whoſoever ſhall deny me before Men, him will I alſo deny before my Father which is in Heaven, Luke 12.8. Whoſoever ſhall confeſs me before Men, him ſhall the Son of Man alſo confeſs before the Angels of God. The danger lieth here, that if we be aſhamed of Chriſt, he will be aſhamed of us; if we deny him, he will deny us, 2 Tim. 2.12. If we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reign with him; if we deny him, he will alſo deny p. 111us. The reward you ſee is, if we ſuffer with him, we ſhall reign with him, Rom. 8.17. If ſo be we ſuffer with him, that we may be alſo glorified together. If we confeſs him, he will alſo own, confeſs, and acknowledge us before his Father which is in Heaven; this I take to be what every one will grant, that by the very Law of Nature every one is bound to decline that which will bring evil upon him, and to do that which will bring him any valuable and conſiderable good; ſo that let us but conſider the danger of Chriſt's diſowning us, and the good of Chriſts owning us at the day of Judgment; and we ſhall eaſily underſtand what Obligation lieth upon us, not to be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of our Lord; and to be ready to give our Teſtimony to him, and to the Goſpel; but may ſome ſay, who are thoſe whom Chriſt will own or diſown at the laſt day, and how will Chriſt diſown Men in the day of Judgment?

I ſuppoſe you may underſtand it from ſome Texts, Math. 7.21. Not every one that ſaith unto me, Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven, Matth. 25.31, 32, 33, 34. Our Saviour telleth us, Math. 7.22, 23. Many will ſay to me in that day, Lord! Lord! have we not propheſied in thy Name? And in thy Name have caſt out Devils. — And then will I profeſs unto them, I never knew you: Depart from me you workers of Iniquity. And in that Text, Luke 13. v. 15.27. —Ye begin p. 112to ſtand without, and to knock at the Door, ſaying, Lord! Lord! open unto us, and he ſhall anſwer and ſay unto you, I know you not whence you are: v. 27. — Depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity, then ſhall be weeping and wailing, and gnaſhing of Teeth. Conſider this, we all muſt once dye, and after Death come to Judgment; if Men have here diſowned Chriſt and his Goſpel, and ſhall then cry, Lord! Lord! open to us, open the Kingdom of Heaven, do not caſt us out of thy ſight for ever; Chriſt will then ſay to that Man who hath been aſhamed of his Teſtimony: No, Thou wert aſhamed to own me, and my deſpiſed Perſecuted Truths and Servants, now I will not own thee. Chriſt will ſay to him depart from me, I know you not; but what is it for Chriſt to own a Man? You may learn that from that Text, Matth. 25.34. Then ſhall the King ſay unto them on his right hand, come you Bleſſed of my Father, Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you, from before the foundation of the World. Now conſider with your ſelves, doth not there lye upon a Man an Obligation to ſave his own Soul, and to keep himſelf out of everlaſting burning; the ſame Obligation lyeth upon all Men not to be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of our Lord; but to be partakers of the afflictions of the Goſpel; the ſame Obligation that the Law of nature layeth upon every Man to look to his higheſt concern, the ſaving his Soul, the keeping himſelf in favour with God; I ſhall add but one thing more.

p. 11310. The laſt thing from whence this Obligation doth ariſe, is from the oneneſs of the Body of Chriſt: This ſhould engage us to ſuffer evil together with the faithful Miniſters, and the faithful Profeſſors of the Goſpel; that we may ſhew our ſelves to be true Members of Chriſts myſtical Body: We ſee in a natural Body, it is impoſſible that one Member ſhould ſuffer and not another; the reſt will feel it, though they may not feel that particular pain, which it may be doth fix only in this or that Member, yet there is affliction in the whole Body; the whole Body is diſquieted and troubled, though only the Head aketh, or the Tooth, or the like; ſo will it be in the myſtical Body of Chriſt, though it may be there are but ſome particular Members of the Body that do ſuffer, yet there will be never a Member of that Body but will ſuffer a Sympathy; every Chriſtian will not be ſlain, will not be impriſoned, or plundered, but if any of them be ſo evil intreated, all the reſt that are true Members of this Body, will feel ſomething of the ſuffering of thoſe Members that do ſuffer; ſaith the Apoſtle, is any Man afflicted, and I burn not? St. Paul commendeth the Philippians, Philip, 4.14, 15. Notwithſtanding you have well done, that you did communicate with my affliction, v. 15. No Church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only. The Apoſtle ſpeaketh thereas you may judge by the 15th. Verſe, of a Communicating by giving and p. 114receiving; but this was the fruit of the other; the Philippians Sympathized with St. Paul in his afflictions, and felt his miſery, and this made them to communicate with him in that ſtate by relieving of him, and indeed thoſe Profeſſors that do not ſo communicate with the afflicted Children of God, give a very ill proof that they are the true Members of the myſtical Body of Chriſt; I have opened the Doctrine to you. Let us now conſider what improvement may be made of it.

Uſe 1. What you have heard reflecteth ſadly upon them, who refuſe to give a Teſtimony of their Lord: Or,

2. Are aſhamed of thoſe who do give this Teſtimony. You have heard how many Obligations there are upon us to it; but how few are there who are ſenſible of theſe Obligations?

1. How many are aſhamed of the Teſtimony of our Lord! aſhamed to own thoſe truths which their Lord owned; thoſe truths for the Teſtimony of which their Lord died, St. Paul glorieth of himſelf, that he was not aſhamed of the Goſpel of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; for, ſaith he, It is the power of God to Salvation, Heb. 11.16. — God is not aſhamed to be called their God, Heb. 2.11. —Chriſt is not aſhamed to call them Brethren: Shall a poor Worm be aſhamed to be called the Child of God, or the Servant of God, to be called a Godly Man or Woman; how many Profeſſors had we ſome years ſince, p. 115that are turned back and gone▪ a little tribulation and perſecution is ariſen becauſe of the truths of Chriſt and they are offended. We may ſay of our times, as the Apoſtle ſaid to the Hebrews; None hath yet reſiſted unto Blood — and yet how few have we that do reſiſt ſtriving againſt Sin; I tremble to think of that Text, —Whoſoever is aſhamed of me before Men, of him ſhall the Son of Man be aſhamed. We have too many that think it enough to pray, to hear, to read; but forget this piece of their duty; to bear a Teſtimony to our Lord; nay how many are there, who are aſhamed of thoſe who do give their Teſtimony; aſhamed of the Chains, and Bonds, and Impriſonments, and reproaches of the Miniſters and People of God; they are not only aſhamed to own the Teſtimony of the Goſpel themſelves, and to come in as Witneſſes for Chriſt, but they are aſhamed of them who do; but I hope I ſpeak to none here who are of that Complexion.

Uſe 2. It may be ſome will ſay, how ſhall I know if I walk up to my duty in this particular; if I be not aſhamed of the Teſtimony of my Lord; and be a partaker of the afflictions of the Goſpel? I ſhall give you two or three notes, which are ſufficient for this diſcovery:

1. When the diſcredit of the Goſpel, maketh us neither to think it beneath us to own the truth, of the Goſpel, nor thoſe who own and profeſs it. There is a time when the Goſpel hath a credit in the World; the Prophet Zechariah p. 116Propheſied of a time. Zech. 8.23. —When ten men ſhall take hold out of all Languages of the Nations, even ſhall take hold of the Skirt of him that is a Jew, ſaying, we will go with you, …or we have heard that God is with you: That Propheſie is fulfilled under the Goſpel, God ſometimes giveth the Goſpel ſuch a credit in the World, that every one thinketh it an honour to him to be accounted a Chriſtian, this is a time when it is hard to diſcern whether a Man will be aſhamed of the Goſpel; but there is another time when the Goſpel hath as much diſcredit, ſo as it fareth with the ſtrict Profeſſors of it, as it did with the Goſpel at firſt, Acts 28.22. — For as concerning this Sect, we know that every where it is ſpoken againſt. Now is the time for a Man to try himſelf, whether he will be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of Chriſt; we have ſeen it in the very times that we have lived in, the Goſpel, and the Profeſſion of it hath been a credit unto Men, it hath been Mens greateſt honour to profeſs the Goſpel with the greateſt ſtrictneſs; God hath turned the Tables upon us, and we now live in a time when as the Prophet ſaith, Iſa. 59.14, 15. Judgment is turned away backward, and Juſtice ſtandeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the ſtreet, and equity will not enter. — And he that departeth from evil maketh himſelf a prey, — when it is a reproach to be a godly man, now if at ſuch a time as this, a Man thinketh it beneath him to ſtand up for the truths or Chriſt, to own the Miniſters of Chriſt, p. 117and give a Teſtimony for Chriſt this Ma… is aſhamed of the Teſtimony of Chriſt … hinted to you before, there is a differen… betwixt being afraid and being aſhamed … good Chriſtian may be ſometimes afraid … a day of great temptation, but he is never aſhamed; but when a Man is aſhamed, that he thinketh it beneath him to profeſs the truth, or to own the Profeſſors of it, this Man is aſhamed of the Goſpel; but if a Chriſtian at ſuch a time finde… his Heart cleaveth to the intereſt of God, and to the true Servants of God, though he may be under ſome temptation of fear, and … not … ſo much as another, it is a great infirmity, but it is not a being aſhamed of Chriſts Teſtimony.

2. When no temptation can prevail upon as to live a Converſation contrary to the Goſpel. Every Man is obliged to give a double Teſtimony to the Lord; a vocal Teſtimony, and a real Teſtimony; we give a real Teſtimony unto Chriſt, when we dare practically live up to the avowed truths of the Goſpel in the vileſt and worſt of times; it is true we are obliged to a vocal as well as a real. Teſtimony, and a good Chriſtian doth not diſcharge his duty in giving teſtimony to the Goſpel, by a meer living up to the Rules of it; there is ſomething more required of a Chriſtian than this: But it is as true that neither doth a Chriſtian give a Teſtimony to the Goſpel, that openly profeſſeth and owneth it in the face of its enemies, p. 118unleſs he liveth up to the rules of it; nay indeed that Man who talketh for the Goſpel, and liveth not up to the rule of it, giveth a Teſtimony againſt the Lord, inſtead of giving a Teſtimony for him; what hath any Man to do to take the Word of God into his mouth, when he hateth to be reformed, and caſteth the Law of the Goſpel behind his back. But that Man or Woman who truly liveth up to the rule of the Goſpel, in Apoſtatizing and declining times, is not aſhamed of his Teſtimony; though perhaps ſome fear of temptation may not make him ſo bold for God as another, yea as ſome hypocritical and falſe Profeſſors.

3. When a Man is truly afflicted for the ſufferings of others, who ſuffer for the Profeſſion of the Goſpel, 2 Cor. 11.29. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? When a good Chriſtian can ſay of himſelf, and ſay it in truth; what Miniſter, what good Chriſtian, what companion of Chriſt is afflicted and perſecuted, and I am not afflicted for them? I burn not in their Fires? Now this Sympathy with our Fellow-members, when it is in truth, will diſcover it ſelf many ways.

1. It is firſt diſcernable a Man's own Heart, When no circumſtance of a Man's felicity, or proſperity can ballance his ſenſe of the afflictions of others; you have a notable inſtance of this in Nehemiah, Chap. 2. v. 1. He was Cup-bearer to the King, and had not uſed before to be ſad in his preſence, v. 2. The King p. 119ſaid unto me, why is thy countenance ſad, ſeeing thou art not ſick? This is nothing elſe but ſorrow of heart, — He anſwered, v. 3. — Why ſhould not my countenance be ſad, when the City, the place of my Fathers Sepulchres lieth waſte, and the Gates thereof are conſumed with Fire. It is ſaid, Eſther 3.15. — The King and Haman ſat down to drink, but the City Shi… was perplexed. That Man is not a partaker of the afflictions of the Goſpel, that can ſo down to drink, that can be merry as at other times when the intereſt of Religion is under-foot; but that Man is a true partaker of the afflictions of the Goſpel, whoſe Heart burneth for the afflictions of others; who ſuffer for the truths and Goſpel of Chriſt.

2. Our being a partaker of the afflictions of others is evident; When we do what in … lieth to relieve them: Communicating with their afflictions, and to their afflictions; helping to bear one anothers Burdens, and ſo fulfilling the Law of Chriſt, Gal. 6.2. So then it is the Law of Chriſt for Chriſtians to bear one anothers Burdens. They ſhould bear them upon their own Spirits, having great ſorrow of heart and affliction? They ſhould bear them before the Lord, when ever we go to God, as the High-Prieſt carried upon his Breaſt, the Names of all the Children of Iſrael ſo we ſhould carry the Names of all the true Profeſſors; and in the firſt place the Names of all thoſe who ſuffer for the Name of Chriſt; and we ſhould help and bear them with our hands p. 120too: Remembring thoſe who are bound, as if we were bound with them, foraſmuch as we are in the Body.

Uſe 3. In the laſt place, Let me perſwade with you a little for this duty of not being aſhamed of the Teſtimony of our Lord, nor of any of his Priſoners, and being partakers of the afflictions of the Goſpel.

1 Not to be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of our Lord: Now in ſpeaking to this branch of Application, I will enquire:

1. To what of Chriſt this Teſtimony is due; whether to all Propoſitions concerning Chriſt, or to ſome only?

2. What kind of Teſtimony it muſt be; that it may be accepted of the Lord?

3. What Arguments ought to prevail with us; to partake of the afflictions of the Goſpel?

4. What directions may be uſeful in the caſe?

Qu. 1. To what of Chriſt is this Teſtimony due?

The proper Object of a Teſtimony, is a Propoſition or a Fact, the truth of one or the other: Now the Propoſitions that relate unto Chriſt are of ſeveral natures, of different natures, and of different moment: Some concern the Doctrine of Faith, ſome concern the Worſhip of God, ſome concern the Kingly Office of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſome concern the Rule of a Chriſtians Life: I know no Propoſition of the Goſpel, but a Chriſtian is a debter to, and ought to bear a Teſtimony p. 121unto; but yet they are not all of equal import, the nature of Propoſitions doth very much differ.

1. According to what doth depend upon them.

2. According to the evidence that they have in Scripture.

1. According to what dependeth upon them. Some Propoſitions of truth are the foundation; look as it is with the foundation of a Houſe, take it away and the whole Building tumbleth to the ground: So there are ſome Propoſitions of the Goſpel, that the whole Fabrick of Goſpel truths lieth upon them, the whole Body of truth is built upon them; here now the Obligation of our Teſtimony lieth higher, and riſeth higher and further, but there is no truth that we are not debtors unto.

2. According to the evidence that they have in the Goſpel; there are different apprehenſions concerning truth, for although the Goſpel hath revealed all truth, yet not all with the ſame evidence, ſo that Chriſtians have differed concerning truth, and every man as he believeth, ſo he ought to ſpeak, ſo he ought to live; but the apprehenſions that ſome men have had, that they are bound to give a Teſtimony to every Propoſition of truth which they do in heart imbrace, hath begot a great deal of ſtir; the Apoſtle giveth another Rule when he ſaith, Haſt thou Faith? Have it to thy ſelf before God: There are ſome Propoſitions of which a Chriſtian may have a particular perſwaſion, and of p. 122which he may be very confident of the truth of them, but yet they will not bear the weight of a Teſtimony to the diſturbance of the Church of Chriſt; now a good Chriſtian ought to regulate his Teſtimony accordingly.

Qu. 2. What kind of Teſtimony is that, which a good Chriſtian is bound to give unto the Lord?

I will open this to you in ſeven or eight particulars.

1. He ought to give a knowing, believing Teſtimony; there is a Teſtimony of Faith, and a Teſtimony of Faction; that Man giveth a Teſtimony of Faith, that doth in his Heart believe what he with his Mouth confeſſeth, and as the Apoſtle ſaith, as he believeth ſo he ſpeaketh: So in this caſe a Chriſtian muſt ſpeak as he believeth, and when he ſpeaketh and owneth, and defendeth a truth, becauſe he believeth it to be the eternal truth of God, this is a Teſtimony of Faith; but then there is a Teſtimony of Faction when a man runs with a multitude to atteſt a truth, and crieth for it, but underſtandeth not, and believeth not what he profeſſeth; I would have every Chriſtian not to be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of Chriſt, but I would have him be ſure that it be a Teſtimony of Faith that he giveth, not a Teſtimony of Faction; for a man to give a Teſtimony to truth, if it be in Faction, it is abomination to God, whatſoever is not of Faith is Sin; The word not mingled with Faith profiteth not; and a Teſtimony p. 123not given in Faith ſignifieth nothing: Oh! Chriſtians beware of this, that none of you in this day be factious Profeſſors, be not aſhamed of the Teſtimony of your Lord. But firſt, ſee that you underſtand it, ſee that your ſelves believe it to be a good Teſtimony; a Man or Woman will have very little peace or comfort in giving a Teſtimony to that, which either he knoweth not, or in Heart believeth not; when a Man believeth and therefore ſpeaketh, he ſpeaketh that with his Lips which his Soul hath firſt examined, and he ſeeth bottomed in the Word of God, and in Heart agreeth and aſſenteth to, this is his Teſtimony; take this note with you in every Teſtimony, let it be vocal or real, let it be a Teſtimony of Faith, not a Teſtimony of Faction, and a meer running along with a cry, like the rout of Epheſus, when Acts 19.32. Some cried one thing, ſome another, for the Aſſembly was confuſed; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

2. It muſt be a Loving Teſtimony, or it is not accepted, Faith and Love m…ſt be the principles of all thoſe actions that do or can ſpeak any obedience unto the Will of God; if a Man receiveth the truth, and not in the love of it, it is of no effect; as whatſoever is not of faith is Sin, ſo whatſoever is done, and not out of love, is not accepted of God: Love is that which giveth the ſweet ſavour to all our doings, and to all our ſufferings for God; If ſaith the Apoſtle, I give all my p. 124goods to the poor, and my Body to be burnt, if I have not love, it is all nothing. Let a man give never ſo great a Teſtimony to Chriſt, if he doth not this out of love, it is out of ſome evil principle of contradiction or faction, or ſome ſtubbornneſs of Spirit, and God accepteth it not; it is not a Chriſtians ſaying, I am for the true Doctrine, I am for pure Worſhip, and I am for the Kingly Government of Chriſt, but his doing this out of a true pleaſure and delight in theſe things, out of a true love to God, and zeal for the glory of God: And this is another thing that I fear in a crowd that give Teſtimony in an evil time, as that ſome teſtifie they know not what, ſo that others teſtifie rather out of a principle of contradiction or fullenneſs, than out of a true principle of love to Ordinances and truths; hence you ſhall obſerve, that as in a ſerene and fair time there are a multitude of Profeſſors that are like Swallows that will ſtay with the Goſpel in its Summer time; ſo you ſhall obſerve there are a multitude of others that in a time of oppoſition, eſpecially when the Perſecution reacheth not high, buſie to give their Teſtimony to truth, which when they may imbrace freely they never regard, and make no conſcience of; you have an example of both theſe at home; on the one ſide we had a company of Profeſſors that have now forſaken us and fled, and embraced this preſent World; in a time of temptation they are gone away, and you ſhall obſerve a multitude p. 125of others that cried out lately for Sacraments, and againſt robbing Chriſtians of the Sacrament of the Supper, the great pledge of Chriſts Love: Now that none hindreth their coming to them, they regard not the Sacrament, both theſe were ſick of the ſame Diſeaſe, they gave or thought they gave ſome teſtimony to their Lord, but their Teſtimony was equally acceptable to God, neither the one nor the other was out of a love in their heart to Chriſt, and to his truth and ordinances, but meerly out of faction and turbulency of Spirit, or for ſome baſe worldly end. I would have you own the Teſtimony of Chriſt, I would have you fear being aſhamed of it, as you would fear that Chriſt ſhould be aſhamed of you at the day of Judgment; I would have you …onfeſs him, as you would have him to confeſs you, as you would expect he ſhould confeſs you. But be ſure you give your Teſtimony out of love, as what you know, and in heart truly believe and agree to; ſo out of a burning love and zeal in your heart to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

3. Our Teſtimony ought to be a Judicious Teſtimony; it is one thing that God requireth when we ſwear that it ſhould be in truth, righteouſneſs and judgment: Thou ſhalt ſwear the Lord liveth in truth, righteouſneſs and judgment: Swearing is an Atteſtation, a Solemn Atteſtation of a truth. The Teſtimony which I am now ſpeaking to is not neceſſary to be performed by Oath, though we p. 126ought not to refuſe if called to that, but as it muſt be to the truth, in righteouſneſs, ſo it muſt be in judgment: The judgment that I would have attend the Teſtimony of which I am now ſpeaking, is not a judgment that the thing is true, the truth of Chriſt, but that it is a truth of that nature that will bear the weight of ſuch a Teſtimony too, as it muſt bear if it bear any; for I muſt tell you, though truth, all truth be a very ſacred pin, yet every ſuch pin hath not an equal degree of ſtrength, and will not bear a like weight; I am afraid we have too loud a Teſtimony to ſome truths, which though they may have ſpoken the faith of Chriſtians, and their love, yet have not ſpoken the Wiſdom and Prudence of Chriſtians; ſuch Teſtimonies were thoſe the Chriſtians gave, Rom. 14. For things that were in themſelves of an indifferent nature, and yet Chriſtians on either ſide were too warm. Any Chriſtian is thus far bound to give his Teſtimony to every truth, as not to deny it.

2. In his own particular practice to own it; but we ought not to make a party for every truth: Now this dependeth upon this great truth. That though there be no truth of God but we ought to own, and being convinced of to Practiſe, yet there are ſome truths of God, as to which God willeth not that we ſhould be contentious; For God hath given his people a Latitude in them without hazard of their Salvation, and therefore we muſt give our Teſtimony to truth with prudence, a prudential p. 127judging of the weight and value of a truth, before we give a zealous Teſtimony to it.

4. Our Teſtimony muſt be with prudence: Prov. 8.12. I Wiſdom dwell with Prudence: Wiſdom doth often ſignify Grace, and truly all true Grace in a Soul ſhould dwell with Prudence, we are commanded to be wiſe as Serpents, and to walk circumſpectly not as fools, Matth. 10.16.Matt 10:16but as wiſe; there is a great deal of prudence to be uſed in giving our Teſtimony to our Lord; our Lord himſelf, if you obſerve him, did it with prudence, and we ought to let our Wiſdom dwell with Prudence: This Prudence muſt not be extended ſo far, as to deny any neceſſary truth, or to diſſemble ſo as to declare our ſelves againſt it, or not to own it, for it muſt be ſuch a prudenc… as is oppoſed to impiety, if there be a failure in piety, there can be no prudence: Prudence doth not ſo much reſpect the doing, or the not doing of the thing, as the manner of the doing of it: In general we then give our Teſtimony with prudence, when we give it without any juſt offence to Jew, Gentile, or the Church of Chriſt; a Teſtimony of our Lord may be ſpoiled by the heighth of our Spirit through pride ſhewed in judging, contemning, and deſpiſing of others, or through the boiſterouſneſs and the paſſion of our Spirits, or by our noiſe and clamours; ſo that to the prudence of a Teſtimony there are three things required.

1. Humility in oppoſition to Pride: Pride is p. 128a Colloquintida that maketh all our Meſſes of duty and Service to God bitter; God abhorreth the proud, he abhorreth a haughty and contentious Spirit, he giveth grace to the humble, and he accepteth his Teſtimony. Paul ſaith, Acts 20.19. He ſerved the Lord with all humility of mind. — We are bid to put on humility of mind, — Col. 3.12. and 1 Pet. 5.5. To be clothed with humility. — Humility is our garment, a Chriſtian muſt do nothing but in humility; in what he doth in the ſervice of God, there muſt be a vein of humility, and in that part of our ſervice to God where humility is wanting, in that part a Chriſtian always walketh naked, and Men ſee his ſhame, a faſtidious, ſcornful contemning ſufferer, is no Chriſtian ſufferer.

…. Another thing is meekneſs with reſpect to paſſion: This is often called for, we are bid to put it on, Col. 3.12. And the Miniſter is to inſtruct in meekneſs thoſe that are without. The Apoſtle beſeecheth you by the weakneſs of Chriſt; meekneſs is oppoſed to frowardneſs and paſſion; a paſſionate Teſtimony to a truth is at beſt but an imprudent and indiſcreet Teſtimony; The wrath of man worketh not the righteouſneſs of God.

3. A third thing that commendeth a Teſtimony is courteſy, in oppoſition to moroſity and ſoureneſs; when Feſtus told Paul, That much Learning had made him mad, he anſwered, I am not mad moſt noble Feſtus: Obſerve with how much complement Paul ſpeaketh to Feſtus and others, while he was bearing p. 129teſtimony unto the truth of God; the ſoureneſs and moroſity of a Chriſtians behaviour in bearing his teſtimony, maketh his teſtimony more unlovely, and not ſo prudent as it ought to be.

4. A Fourth thing is peaceableneſs: The Servants of God muſt not ſtrive; there is nothing more aſperſeth the Goſpel, and the Profeſſion of it, then the imprudence of a Profeſſor of it in the managery of his buſineſs.

5. Your Teſtimony unto God muſt be uniform and ſincere, it cannot be uniform if it be not ſincere; the teſtimony of the Life muſt agree with the teſtimony of the Lips; you know a Witneſs that contradicteth his teſtimony, doth by it make his teſtimony invalid; he that liveth contrary to his Profeſſion, giveth himſelf the lye; he teſtifieth with his Lips, but he denieth in his Life. The Apoſtle telleth us of ſome, Titus 1.16. They profeſs that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and diſobedient, and to every good work reprobate. You ſhall obſerve therefore, that when the Devil at any time gave a teſtimony to a Truth concerning Chriſt and the Apoſtles, they conſtantly refuſed and would not hear him ſpeak, the teſtimony of one of the Children of the Devil, is rather a diſhonour and weakning of the Truth, than any ſtrengthning and credit, and confirmation; a Man that is Holy in his Life, bearing teſtimony with his Lips, is a great Servant of God; he by his Mouth p. 130declareth what he believeth; and by his Life he declareth that he doth indeed not mock and diſſemble with the World; but he believeth what he profeſſeth to believe: You ſhall ſee in ſome caſes, ſome fooliſh Witneſſes do more hurt than good; ſo a Chriſtian may do more miſchief than good to the Goſpel of Chriſt, by his owning of it, and profeſſing to it.

6. Let it be a bold and undaunted Teſtimony, he is a good Witneſs in a cauſe, who ſpeakeſt modeſtly, and with all due reſpect to thoſe, to whom he giveth his Teſtimony, and who agreeth; and doth not contradict himſelf, and yet is bold and couragious, ſpeaking with freedom; hence you ſhall find that word foreign is often uſed about the teſtimony that the Apoſtles did bear to the truth; a free, bold teſtimony in any cauſe doth it great ſervice, while the ſtammering liſping Witneſs, that uſeth no freedom in his Speech, rather hurteth a cauſe, than doth it good; the Scripture ſpeaketh much of, and commendeth a Chriſtians boldneſs; a boldneſs in Faith, and Prayer, and a boldneſs in a bearing teſtimony to our Lord; when we are not afraid of the Faces of men that would outface the truths of God; a Chriſtian ſhould be bold in the Faith, bold in Prayer, and bold in his Confeſſion.

7. Let your Teſtimony be a hearty teſtimony, a free, ready, chearful teſtimony; God loveth a chearful giver, (ſaith the Apoſtle) indeed in all our Gifts unto God, it is ſo: p. 131God loveth a freedom and chearfulneſs of Spirit, we ſhould not be ſubpoena'd into a Teſtimony to our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, indeed we are ſubpoena'd by that dreadful Text, Matth. 9. A Chriſtian ſhould give a Teſtimony freely, not to provoke and challenge danger, and dare a Trial, but when he ſeeth ſuffering at hand, ſo that God calleth him to give a teſtimony to him, and to the truths of the Goſpel, then chearfulneſs becometh a Chriſtian, chearfulneſs as it is oppoſed to grudging.

8. I will add but one thing more, it ſhould be a patient Teſtimony, Rev. 19 St. John giveth this Character of himſelf; I John who alſo am your Brother and Companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and patience of Jeſus Chriſt, — Patience under evils is what is often called for in Scripture, and preſſed upon the Servants of God, with a great variety of Arguments; by a patient Teſtimony I underſtand three things.

1. A patient continuance in the Teſtimony of Chriſt; a flitting, and incertain Chriſtian in the truths of God, who is of one mind to day, and another mind to morrow, is no good Witneſs in the cauſe of Chriſt, ſemper idem is the true Motto of every Chriſtian, of every ſuch Witneſs, he that is one day of one mind, another day of another, like a Wave of the Sea toſſed about, may poſſibly get to Heaven at laſt, as through fire, but he is no good Witneſs for Chriſt; you know amongſt men a good Witneſs muſt abide by p. 132his teſtimony; if he varieth, his teſtimony is weakned: Therefore Chriſtians are highly concerned to examine Propoſitions well before they profeſs them, and when they profeſs them, to think well with themſelves before they part with them; a man never is a good witneſs for the Lord in that point, wherein he hath been incertain himſelf.

2. It muſt be a patient teſtimony with reſpect unto thoſe affronts which he may ſuffer from men, while he is giving his Teſtimony, a good and ſteady Witneſs in your Courts is not moved by the affronts of any Lawyer that ſetteth himſelf to baffle him out of his Teſtimony; he that is a good Witneſs in the cauſe of Chriſt, muſt not be affected at the affronts of Men that would baffle him out of his Teſtimony; he muſt be patient both as to the flatteries and enticements of enemies, and alſo as to their frowns and menaces.

3. A patient Teſtimony muſt be a Teſtimony attended with that patience, which they had need of, who may ſuffer for giving their Teſtimony; for though no Man ought to ſuffer for bearing Witneſs to the truth, yet there is nothing more ordinary then for men and women to ſuffer for giving a Teſtimony unto truth; and thus now I have ſhewed you, what kind of Teſtimony it is, that every good Chriſtian is bound to give unto the Lord. I have but two things more to do; firſt to encourage you to it by ſome Arguments; then to direct you in the fulfilling of it; now for p. 133Arguments to perſwade you not to be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of Chriſt, you have heard enough already; I have ſhewed you a Ten-fold Obligation lying upon you.

1. It is the Will of God.

2. Remember Chriſt is your Lord?

3. You cannot otherwiſe ſhew your gratitude to him, for that Teſtimony which he gave for you.

4. Thus you ſhall be conformable unto Chriſt, and what is behind of the ſuffering of Chriſt, ſhall be filled up in you.

5. Remember the nature of the Goſpel, and of the truths of it.

6. Conſider the Station which you take up in the World, of a Witneſs, a Souldier, a Child to our Heavenly Father, a Servant to a Heavenly Maſter.

7. Remember the private Law that you have laid upon your ſelves.

8. Remember the duty which lieth upon you to be conformable to your fellow members.

9. Remember the danger of forbearing, and the reward of your giving this Teſtimony.

10. Conſider your oneneſs with the Members of Chriſt, after all theſe, what need any further Arguments; yet becauſe we are of our ſelves not forward unto this, our Hearts are awk, and backward to the partaking of the affliction of the Goſpel, and averſe to the giving of this Teſtimony; let me by way of a further Argument in this cauſe, p. 134name to you, and preſs upon you the Arguments which the Apoſtle uſeth in this place, and by which he himſelf preſſeth this Exhortation.

1. The firſt lieth in thoſe words foreign, according to the power of God: One great diſcouragement that is upon our Spirits to keep us in a day of Teſtimony, that we ſhould not teſtify, is the fear we ſhould never be able to ſpeak and to give our Teſtimony. To give a Teſtimony for our Lord is a noble thing, to receive a Crown, the Crown of Martyrdom, is a great dignity. But when the Lord by his providence ſeeketh out for us, to ſet this Crown upon our Heads, we too frequently hide our ſelves, and the reaſon is, we diſtruſt our ſelves, but Chriſtian! fear not, we ſhall have the power of God; it is a wonderful thing to obſerve, that the power of God hath been ſo ſeen in no other thing as in this; you read of a Teſtimony that Stephen gave to the Goſpel: Firſt a vocal, then a real Teſtimony, Acts 6.9, 10. And they were not able to reſiſt the Wiſdom, and the ſpirit by which he ſpake, Stephen had then a diſpute with the Libertines. The power and preſence of God from the beginning of the Goſpel hath been ſeen in nothing more, than in Gods aſſiſtance of his Witneſſes, you have a promiſe, Luke 12.12. For the Holy Ghoſt ſhall teach you in the ſame hour, what you ought to ſay, Matth. 10.19, 20. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you ſhall ſpeak, for it ſhall be given you in that ſame p. 135hour, what you ſhall ſpeak. For it is not you that ſpeak, but the ſpirit of your heavenly Father which ſpeaketh in you. Luke ſaith, When they bring you unto the Synagogues, and unto Magiſtrates and powers, take no thought how or what thing you ſhall anſwer, or what you ſhall ſay, for the Holy Ghoſt ſhall teach you in that ſame hour what you ought to ſay. It is a promiſe that ſome have applied to the aſſiſtance of God in the performance of other duties, as Prayer, Preaching, &c. and it may be there hath been but an ill uſe made of that promiſe; the promiſe in the firſt place manifeſtly relateth to a time of teſtimony, I do not ſay but there is a dabitur in hora, which thoſe who are much with God in Prayer, and which the Miniſters of the Goſpel … experience, but that promiſe reſpect… not that ſo much, as it reſpecteth men in confeſſion, and their Teſtimony for Chriſt; in giving our Teſtimony for Chriſt, the Spirit of God ſhall aſſiſt, words ſhall be given us in that hour, and courage and ſtrength ſhall be given us in that hour, you ſhall not give a Teſtimony for the Goſpel, you ſhall not ſuffer affliction for the Goſpel in your own ſtrength, it ſhall be according to the power of God, the Holy Ghoſt ſhall teach you what to ſay, and what to do, and you ſhall experience that it is not you that ſpeak and act, but the Spirit that dwelleth in you, what you do in this caſe ſhall be according to the power of God, you ſhall not ſpend meerly upon your own Stock, you ſhall ſpend upon p. 136Chriſts Stock when you are upon Chriſts Service, you ſhall ſpend upon the fulneſs of the Spirit of God; and there have been many experiences of thoſe that could never find the preſence of God ſo ſtrong in the conſolation of their Spirits, as in that hour; be not therefore aſhamed of the Teſtimony of your Lord, for not only the thing which you teſtify, is the Teſtimony of the Lord, but your action in teſtifying, the teſtimony which you give ſhall be from the Lord, the Holy Ghoſt ſpeaking in you; ſo that this is a great Argument, it is a ſtanding up for Chriſt, and the Spirit of God ſhall uſe your tongue and your hand.

2. Another Argument the Apoſtle uſeth, is fr… the nature of the truth to which you teſtify, and the perſon for whom you teſtify: You teſtify for the truth, which bringeth eternal Salvation; you teſtify for him, who hath called you with an holy calling, and he hath done this freely, not according to your works, but according to his own grace, for him who hath aboliſhed Death, and brought Life and Immortality to light through the Goſpel. The Apoſtle ſaith, He was not aſhamed of the Goſpel of Chriſt, for it is the power of God to Salvation. I told you before, that every one is a debtor unto truth, there is ſuch a cognation betwixt a rational Soul and Truth, that every rational Soul is a debtor to truth, he is a debtor to own the truth as to himſelf, and to own the truth as to another; and I told you by how much a truth is of higher importance p. 137to our or anothers intereſt, by ſo much a Man or Woman is a greater debtor, a Man is a debtor to the truth, when it concerneth but his honour and reputation, and when it concerneth his eſtate; but much more when it concerneth Life; and ſo when it is for his Brother, by how much his Brother is more concerned, by ſo much he is more obliged; and as the nature of the truth raiſeth his obligation, ſo the relation of the perſon increaſeth it; a Man is bound by the Law of charity to give teſtimony to the truth, on the behalf of his Neighbour, much more on the behalf of his Brother, and higher yet on the behalf of his Father or Mother that begat him and brought him forth, but yet his obligation riſeth higher when it is for his Saviour, for him who hath done him the greateſt kindneſs that ever was done, without which he had better never have been born; ſuch is the Teſtimony that we are bound to give unto Chriſt: The truth is of higheſt import, the perſon is of the higheſt concern: Oh! be not aſhamed of the Goſpel of Chriſt, which is the power of God to your Salvation, of the Goſpel, which bringeth Life and Immortality to light, you teſtify for Chriſt who Witneſſed a good confeſſion before Pilate, who hath done more for you than all the friends you ever had in the World could do, for him who hath called you with an holy calling; this is another Argument to enforce this Exhortation, the conſideration p. 138for whom and for what this Teſtimony is given.

3. Another Argument which the Apoſtle bringeth here to perſwade Timothy not to be aſhamed of this Teſtimony, is his own example, v. 12. For the which cauſe, I alſo ſuffer theſe things, nevertheleſs I am not aſhamed. — The Apoſtle ſaith, God is not aſhamed to be called their God. And he ſaith of Chriſt, Heb. 2.11. He is not aſhamed to call us Brethnen: Shall we be aſhamed to teſtify his truth? Shall we be aſhamed of the name of his Witneſſes? And obſerve the reaſon why the Apoſtle ſaith he is not aſhamed. I am not aſhamed, for I know in whom I have believed, and I am perſwaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.

4. Let me uſe one Argument further with you; Bleſſed be God, we yet can ſay, as Heb. 12.4. You have not yet reſiſted unto Blood, ſtriving againſt ſin. There are divers Arguments in that Text to make a Chriſtian valiant in his ſpiritual fight.

1. That a Chriſtians fight is againſt ſin.

2. That in this fight of Chriſtians againſt ſin, we ought, (if called to it) to reſiſt unto Blood.

3. By how much the leſſer the Trial is, that God calleth to us to undergo, by ſo much the greater obligation is upon us to endure it; all a Chriſtians fight and ſtriving is againſt ſin: He giveth a Teſtimony to the Doctrine of the Goſpel; it is againſt ſin to prevent the coming in of damnable errors, which would p. 139ſink the Souls of people into eternal ruine and deſtruction; he giveth a Teſtimony for the pure Worſhip of God, it is to keep out Superſtition and Idolatry; he giveth a Teſtimony for the Government of Chriſt, this is alſo againſt ſin, againſt thoſe that ſay the Lord ſhall not rule over them or others, but we will rule over you; all our fight, all the reſiſtance that we make is againſt ſin. Now the fight againſt ſin is ſo noble a fight, that every good man ought to reſiſt unto Blood, rather to die than to ſin againſt God, or to ſuffer ſin to prevail in the World; but now when God doth not call us to lay down our Lives, but only to bear a lower Teſtimony, there our obligation riſeth much higher; if God had called us to lay down our Lives, ſhould we not do it? How much more when the Lord only calleth us to give a Teſtimony? St. John, Rev. 6.9. ſaw them under the Altar, that were ſlain for the Teſtimony that they held.

5. Laſtly, Conſider, you ſhall overcome by your Teſtimony, Rev. 12.11. John ſaw the Devil overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their Teſtimony,— Magna eſt veritas, Truth is a great thing, and it will prevail, look back upon the former Ages of the Church, the Witneſſes which God raiſed up to his Truth in the beginning of the Goſpel were very few; the perſons ſeemed contemptible, yet God overcame the whole World by them, and brought the whole World into ſome profeſſed ſubjection p. 140to the Goſpel of Chriſt, often before the Church had degenerated, many errors prevailed, at laſt Popery prevailed; then ſtood up Luther in Germany, thoſe that look upon that Story would have thought it impoſſible that Luther's Doctrine ſhould have prevailed in the World; but they overcame by the word of their Teſtimony, and to that Victory they held, doth the Proteſtant Religion owe it ſelf: Now this ſhould greatly encourage us not to be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of Chriſt, it hath ever been victorious, and ſhall be to the laſt; it is by the Faith and patience of the Saints and Servants of God, who ſtood cloſe to their oppoſers, and managed their ſpiritual fight, that the Goſpel hath obtained, and they ought ſtill to hold faſt; for they are ſure of victory ſo long as Chriſt remaineth King in Sion. I ſhall add but a few words more, and that is to direct Chriſtians what they ſhould do, that they may not be aſhamed of their Teſtimony.

1. Look that you be rooted and grounded in truth; a Tree that is not well rooted, you know is very eaſily ſhaken, Col. 1.23. If, (ſaith the Apoſtle) you continue in the Faith, grounded and ſettled— The truth is to make a Chriſtian that he ſhould not be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of the Lord; he had need of a double ground, he had need be grounded in Faith according to that Text, Col. 1.23. And he had need be rooted and grounded in love according to that Text, Eph. 3.17. —that p. 141you being rooted and grounded in love, Col. 2.7. Rooted and built up in him, and eſtabliſhed in the Faith — Chriſtians! look to this, every Witneſs ought to underſtand the cauſe well to which he is to give his teſtimony; many a poor Creature beareth a teſtimony to they know not what, labour to be rooted in the Faith, rooted in love, and rooted in Chriſt; that Soul that is filled with the knowledge of truth, and warmed with the love of truth never faileth in an hour of teſtimony; that Soul that is either ignorant of the ground of that truth which he pretendeth to own and defend, or that wanteth a love for God, never holdeth longer than till he meeteth with a contradiction.

2. Look up to the power of God for your aſſiſtance, I told you theſe words in the Text, according to the power of God, might be taken as an Argument to perſwade Chriſtians not to be aſhamed of the Teſtimony of the Lord, becauſe the power of the Lord ſhall be manifeſted for them; but they may alſo be interpreted, as ſignifying that which we ought to have an Eye to in our Teſtimony, and in our ſuffering affliction; we have no ſpiritual enemy we can prevail againſt in our own ſtrength, our enemies you know are the World, the Fleſh, and the Devil; for the Fleſh the Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 8.13. —If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the Body you ſhall live. Never yet was luſt mortified by meer moral Arguments, and for the Devil, we are bid to take upon us the p. 142whole Armour of God, to reſiſt him, ſtrong in the Faith, and it is the ſame for the World; Our help is in the name of the Lord, and therefore it hath been obſerved, that none in an hour of Teſtimony have come off worſe than thoſe who have been moſt confident; our Book of Martyrs telleth us of two that were in priſon together, the one was very confident and couragious, and told the other that his fat ſhould fry in the fire next day, the other was very timorous and fearful; the firſt recanted and denied the truth, the ſecond was burnt at the Stake. David might poſſibly mean it of his external enemies, but he repeateth it thrice; My enemies compaſſed me about, but in the name of the Lord I will deſtroy them; they compaſs me about, yea they compaſſed me about, but in the name of the Lord I will deſtroy them; they compaſſed me about like Bees, they are quenched as the fire of Thorns, for in the name of the Lord I will deſtroy them. It muſt be ſo as to our ſpiritual enemies, we ſhall never prevail, but in the name of the Lord.

3. Remember in your Teſtimony, There is more with you, than there is againſt you: While we bear Teſtimony to Chriſt, God is with us, Chriſt is with us, the Spirit is with us, all the Holy Martyrs are with us, there is none but ſinful men againſt us; Chriſt the faithful and true Witneſs is with you, Rev. 1.5. From Jeſus Chriſt who is the faithful Witneſs, — He was the firſt Witneſs. The Apoſtle St. John ſaith, 1 John 5.7. There p. 143are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt —What did the Father witneſs? This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleaſed. This is the Lord our righteouſneſs. What did Chriſt witneſs? He witneſſed a good confeſſion before Pontius Pilate; he owned himſelf to be the Son of God, the Saviour of the World, that they that believe on him ſhould not be aſhamed; he owned himſelf to be the object of our Faith, to be the Lord our righteouſneſs; the Spirit teſtified the ſame thing, and the Spirit beareth witneſs for us and in us.

4. Fourthly, Would you not be aſhamed of your Teſtimony; love not the World, nor the things thereof, nor the perſons therein, take heed of being ſwallowed up in the love of creature comforts and enjoyments: How dwelleth the love of the Father in him that doteth on the World? The World taketh off Chriſts witneſſes, both the Men of the World, and the things of the World, you muſt be fond of none of theſe.

5. Take upon you the whole Armour of God, of which you read, Eph. 6.14. Stand therefore having your Loins girt about with truth, and having on the Breaſt-plate of righteouſneſs, and your Feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of peace, taking the ſhield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation, the Sword of the Spirit. Finally pray always with all Prayer and Supplication in Spirit, watching thereunto with all perſeverance.