An Offer of Farther Help to Suffering Saints, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Demonſtrating the Excellency of a prepared Heart, for the worſt of Sufferings.
NOw to evince the Choiceneſs and Excellency of a ready and prepared Spirit to entertain, and chearfully obey a call from God to the greateſt Sufferings, thereby to ſet an edge upon your Deſires, and quicken your Endeavours after it; be pleaſed to ponder theſe following Particulars, wherein much of its Excellency will appear.
1. It will bring the heart to an holy Reſt and Quietude in a Suffering hour, and ſo prevent that Anxiety and perturbation of Spirit, which puts the ſinking weight into Affliction. The more Care, Fear, and Trouble thou haſt before a Trouble comes, the more Calm, Quiet, and Compoſed thy Spirit will be when the Affliction is come indeed. It is admirable to conſider with what peace and holy ſubmiſſion Job entertain'd his Troubles, which conſidering the kind and quality of them, together with the manner in which they befell him, one would think they ſhould (at leaſt) have ſtartled and amazed him, and put his Soul (though gracious) into a ſtrange Confuſion: But you ſee the contrary, he is very quiet and compoſed in his Spirit, little Tumult or Diſorder appears in his Thoughts, but he worſhips God, owns his Hand, and ſubmits to his Will, Job 1.20, 21. Whence was this? Surely had they come by way of Surprize, as holy as he was he could not have carried it thus; but he had in the dayes of his Peace and Proſperity prepared for ſuch a Day as this, and ſo they neither came unexpectedly, nor found him unprepared for them, Job 3.25, 26. I was not in ſafety, neither had I reſt, yet trouble came. The thing which he feared (as he ſaith there) came upon him. He laid it to heart before it came, and therefore it neither brake nor diſtracted his heart when it came.
So Habakkuk he ſtood upon his Watch-Tower, i. e. receſſum mentis, ſaith Mr. Calvin; his own retiring Thoughts, making Obſervations from the Word upon probable Events. Yea, and ſeeing a Storm of Judgement gathering in the Clouds of the Threatnings, he trembled in himſelf before it fell, Cap. 3.16, 17. And ſee what advantage this was of to him, Verſ. 17.18. he had Reſt in the Day of Trouble; yea could rejoyce, when all outward Staves and comforts were gone. There is a double Reſt in the Day of Evil; a Reſt of Deliverance, and a Reſt of Contentation; it was this later that this holy man enjoyed in that Evil Day, and that as the conſequent of his ſerious Preparation.
But now if Troubles come by way of ſurpriſal, How amazing and ruining do they often prove? 'Tis a ſad thing to feel Trouble before we ſee it, and to be paſt hope before we have any …fear. Thoſe Troubles (ſaith one) that find men ſecure, do uſually leave them deſperate. What advantage hath that Enemy to ruine you, that comes upon your back, and falls upon you unawares? This is the miſery of the careleſs World. For Man alſo knoweth not his time, as the Fiſhes that are taken in an evil Net; and as the Birds that are caught in the ſnare, ſo are the Sons of Men ſnared in an evil time, when it falleth on them ſuddainly, Eccleſ. 8.12. Thus periſhed the old World: But one Noah provided for the Flood, and onelyonly he with his Family preſerved in it; all the reſt were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in Marriage, till the Flood came and ſwept them all away, Matth. 24.38. Men will not uſe their fore-ſeeing Faculties; but becauſe it's all well, yet therefore they conclude it ſhall be ſo to morrow. Philoſophers tell us, that immediatly before an Earth-quake, the Air is very quiet and ſerene; and before the great Rain falls, the Wind uſually lies. We may not conclude Reſt and Peace from the Report our Senſes make to us, from the poſture of ſecond Cauſes, (and yet what is there, look which way you will, but ſpeaks Troubles and Diſtreſſes coming upon the World) but rather we ſhould make a Judgment from the Word, upon condition of the Times; for there you have the Decrees of God, and a Draught of the Deſigns of Providence, to the end of the World, Zeph. 2.1, 2. Here you may ſee the Signs of the Times, and what days are to be expected. And then, if you can upon this fore-ſight, get into your Ark before the Cataracts of Heaven be opened, and the Sea-Shores unbar'd, and the Waters prevail above the Mountains; Oh what a benefit will this be! how mayſt thou ſit (Noah like) medius tranquillus in undis! Safe from the fear of evil, and enjoy reſt and peace in thy own Spirit, when the Earth is full of Uproars, Tumults, and Deſolations.
2. It is a bleſſed and excellent thing to prepare for ſufferings, becauſe ſuch preparations do plainly ſpeak a truly gracious heart, that is in earneſt with Chriſt, and is ſerious in the matters of Religion. Believe it Soul, this one thing will be the cleareſt diſcovery of the integrity of thy heart in profeſſion. He that makes account of ſufferings, and is ſeriouſly at work upon his own heart, to fit it for ſufferings, and take his Lot with Chriſt where ever it falls, this is the man that hath deliberately cloſed with Chriſt upon his own terms, and is like to be the durable Chriſtian.
As for Hypocrites (Chriſts Summer-Friends) they have either their Exceptions and ſecret Reſervations, to ſecure a Retreat, if ever it come to hot ſervice, or elſe they ruſh inconſiderately into the profeſſion of Chriſt, never examining the terms which he propoſes to all that will follow him, nor ſealing thoſe Indentures, Mark 8.34. upon which he onelyonly allows us to call him Maſter.
The neceſſity of a rational and adviſed cloſure with Chriſt upon theſe terms, is by himſelf fully ſet forth in that excellent Parable, Luke 14.25, 26, 27, 28. wherein conſider, (1.) The occaſion, ver. 25. There were great Multitudes with him, Chriſt began to grow in requeſt among them, they flockt from all parts to him, to hear him; but Chriſt knew well enough, that if once they ſhould come to underſtand their work, and what the Conditions and Terms of their admiſſion into his ſervice are, it would quickly thin and diminiſh that great multitude, and reduce that great Hoſt like Gideons, into a little handful. (2.) And therefore he reſolves candidly and plainly with them: and in ver. 26, 27. he propounds his Terms, and writes down his Conditions, the ſum of which is this, he muſt deny himſelf, that is, at leaſt in praeparatione animi, in the preparation of the mind, if not actually: So that this is the Hinge upon which all our Profeſſion turns, and the ſtreſs of the whole buſineſs lies. And (3.) to evince the rationality of his Terms, and that he expected no unreaſonable thing at their hand, he clears it by a double inſtance, or reſemblance, to what men uſe to do in other caſes. (1.) That of a Builder, no man that exerciſeth Reaſon will begin to build an Houſe, and not be provided to defray the Charge of it: It were a ridiculous vanity, for a man to lay a large Foundation, and not have a ſtock to carry up the Walls, and compleat the Work. (2.) That of a Souldier, no man would with 10000. engage an Army of 20000. that would be impar congreſſus, an unequal Match indeed; what could he expect but to be overpowred with Numbers, and ſwallowed up? Poſſibly they may intend to face, but no man would think they intended to fight the Enemy on ſuch a diſadvantage.
Why thus ſtands the caſe, In our ingaging in the Profeſſion of Chriſt, a man muſt ſit down and compute the coſt and charges of being a Chriſtian, and deliberately weigh the worſt, as well as the beſt; and having ſo done, if then he be content to run all hazards with Jeſus Chriſt, and expects to ſave no more but his Soul, (for indeed he that thinks to ſave any thing but his Soul by Religion, is a Fool for ſo thinking). If I ſay he be content to fore-go and hazard all the reſt for Chriſt and accordingly when dangers appear, and difficult times come on, doth in good earneſt fit and make ready himſelf for the worſt he can fore-ſee, why this is the man, that deals honeſtly with Chriſt, and is ſincere, hearty, and reall in his Tranſactions with him. For want of this conſideration at firſt, and ſuitable preparations from time to time, as need requires, and new troubles approach; I ſay, for want of this it is, that ſo many faint and fall back in the day of trouble, and furniſh Hell with ſo many Tryumphs over Religion, and the ſincere-hearted Profeſſors of it. It was for want of depth of Earth, (i. e.) a deep conſideration, and rooted Reſolution at firſt, that the Stonyground Hypocrite ſo quickly withered, when the Sun of Perſecution began to ſhine fervently upon him, Mat. 13.5, 6.
And wherefore is it think you? that God doth make ſuch deep Wounds by Conviction upon mens hearts at firſt, and terrifie them with ſuch dreadful Repreſentations of their guilt, in the Glaſs of the Law, Act. 2.37. Rom. 7.9. Why ſurely, as God aims at the unbortoming of the Man by this, and ſtriking him off that falſe and conceited Foundation of his own Righteouſneſs, ſo he doth it to make Chriſts Terms and Conditions appear rational and eaſie to him, that being delivered out of that miſerable ſtate by Chriſt, he may never open his mouth grudgingly and repiningly againſt Chriſt, whatever Troubles he ſhall from thenceforward meet with for his ſake, Ezek. 16.63.
So that it muſt needs be a good proof and teſtimony, of the ſincerity of our hearts, in the profeſſion of Chriſt, when we thus fit our ſelves to ſuffer with him, and are content to bear his Croſs, as well as wear his Crown: And is it not a bleſſed thing, for a man to find a fair Evidence of this in his own heart? What can be more comfortable to him on Earth?
3. This preparation is an excellent thing, becauſe it's that which prevents and cuts off the ſcandal of the Croſs, and the offence that others take at the ſufferings of Chriſt.
Now, by Chriſts own Teſtimony, that Soul is bleſſed that is not offended in him. Mat. 11.6. And truly, there are not many among the Throng of Profeſſors, upon whoſe Heads this bleſſing falls; how many in a ſuffering hour, are diſguiſed as perſons that have met with a diſappointment? They expected much peace, honour, and proſperity, from Chriſt, as Mat. 20.20, 21. but finding now their Expectations fruſtrated, and their Carnal Intereſts rather expoſed, then ſecured by their profeſſion of him, they go back like thoſe, Joh. 6.66. and walk no more with him. And it is very obſervable, that Chriſt dates the offence that men ſhall take at him, from the beginning of ſorrows, Mat. 24.8, 9. All theſe are the beginning of ſorrows, and then ſhall many be offended. This is the beginning of Apoſtacy from Chriſt. But now if thou be one that makeſt it thy buſineſs, to fore-ſee and provide for Troubles before they come upon thee, this will prevent thy ofſence when they come, Joh. 16.1, 2, 3, 4. Fore-ſight of them takes off both the ſtrangeneſs and terrour of them. Great peace (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) have they that love thy Law, and [nothing] ſhall [offend] them; or, be a ſtumbling block to them, as it is in the Heb. No! Why they meet with Priſons, Death, Baniſhments, yea, but they ſhall not ſtumble or be offended at theſe things, but paſs peaceably over them, becauſe they meet with no more then they expected.
And is not this a bleſſed thing, think you, that whatever falls out in thy way ſhall not offend thee, or make any alteration on thy Judgment of Chriſt and his ways, but he ſhall be as lovely, and his ways as ſweet and deſirable under Perſecution, Scorn, and Contempt, as in the greateſt flouriſh of Proſperity? Yea, though thou be broken in the place of Dragons, and covered with the ſhadow of Death, yet ſhall not thy heart be turned back, nor thy ſteps decline from his ways, Pſal. 44.18, 19, 20. Why, this bleſſedneſs comes upon the heart of the prepared Chriſtian.
4. A fourth Excellency of preparation for ſufferings lies in this, that it hath a tendency to convince and awaken the ſecure and drowſie World. O! If the Lords people would but fall about this work in earneſt, and live as people that are providing for a Storm, and reſolved in the ſtrength of God to run all hazards and hardſhips for Chriſt, I am perſwaded it would be of more eaſe to ſtartle and convince the World, then all the Sermons that ever they heard. For here is that which daſhes and cuts the Throat of all our Labours; we preach up Self-denial and Contempt of Life and Liberty for Chriſt. Now though they hear us preach the neceſſity and excellency of theſe things, and here you profeſs them as your Principles; yet when they look upon the Lives of Profeſſors in Times of Danger, and find no proportion betwixt your profeſſion and practice, when they ſee you cling to the World, and are as loth to give it up as others; that Priſons and Sufferings are as formidable things to you as others, and that you live not looſe from theſe things, as men that are in a preparedneſs to let them go, and give them up for Chriſt: Why then they conclude, that you dare not truſt your own Principles when it comes to the puſh; and how can they be perſwaded to believe, that which they think your ſelves do not really believe? They have Eyes to ſee what you can do, as well as Ears to hear what you can ſay; and as long as they ſee you do no more then others, you may talk your hearts out, e're they will believe your way is better than others.
But now when Perſecution ariſeth, did they ſee you providing your ſelves for it, and putting on your Harneſs to enter the Liſts, carry your deareſt Enjoyments in your hands, and put on the ſhooe of preparation, to follow the Lord through the rougheſt wayes of Sufferings: this would convince to purpoſe, and preach the excellency of Chriſt, the vanity of the Creature, the rationality and certainty of Chriſtian Principles, in a more intelligible and rouzing Dialect to them, than all our cheap and eaſie Commendations of them did. And hence it is, that Noah was ſaid to condemn the World, Heb. 11.7. By Faith Noah being warned of God, of things not ſeen as yet, (i. e.) of the Deluge that was coming, though no appearance of it yet, the Heavens being as clear as ever: yet believing the Threatning, he was moved with fear: the fear of God, an effect of his Faith in the Word of God, moved, (i.e.) impelled him to his Duty: Set him about his preparation-work, to provide an Ark; and this was it by which he condemned the World, left them excuſeleſs: For they not onelyonly heard of an approaching Flood by his Miniſtry, but now ſaw he himſelf believed what he preached, by his daily preparations againſt it came. O conſider this, how much it would tend to the Worlds Conviction. Now they will ſee that you are in good earneſt, and that there is a reality in godlineſs. This will induce them to ſearch into the matter more then ever, and remove thoſe prejudices they have taken up againſt the good ways of God, as if they were but Phantaſms and Conceits.
5. In the next place, this fore-ſight and preparation, muſt needs be an excellent thing, becauſe the Spirit of God every where ſets an honourable Character upon it, and always mentions ſuch perſons with ſome ſingular commendation and reſpect. Theſe onelyonly are the Wiſe-men in the Judgment of God; and all the reſt (what great Polititians ſoever they are famed to be among men) are accounted Fools, Prov. 22.3. Eccleſ. 2.14. The Wiſe-mans Eyes are in his head; that is, he is a foreſeeing man; but the Fool goes on and is puniſhed: Ruſhes on without conſideration, ſuſpecting no danger that he at preſent ſees not, and ſo ſmarts for his folly. Beloved, there are Signs of the Times, as well as of the Weather, Math. 16.3. You may ſee the Clouds of Judgment gathering before the Storm falls upon you: And this is the meaning of Zeph. 2.1, 2. Gather your ſelves together, before the Deerce bring forth, and the Day paſs as the Chaff. Where there is a Conception of Judgment, there will be a Firth, unleſs the Reformations and Prayers of the Saints give it a miſcarrying Womb. But it requires Wiſdom to diſcern this; they muſt be men of much obſervation, that can deſcry it at a great diſtance: yet this may be done, by conſidering what GOD hath done in like Caſes in former Ages, when Nations have been guilty of the ſame ſins as now they are: For God is as juſt now as then, and hates ſin as much as ever he did; and partly, by attending to things preſent, to what fulneſs and maturity the ſins of a Nation are grown, Joel 3.16. or what beginnings of Judgment are already upon a people, as Harbingers and Fore-runners of more at hand, Luke 2.30, 31. 1 Sam. 2.12. Or what is the univerſal Vote and Cry of Gods Miniſters, who are his Watch-men to fore-ſee danger, Ezek. 3.17. and his Trumpeters to diſcover it, Numb. 10.8. and when theſe have one mouth given, certainly there is much in it, Luke 1.70. Or laſtly, by pondering thoſe Scripture-Prophecies that yet remain to be fulfilled: They muſt all go out their times, and accompliſh their full number of Years and Moneths; but certainly they ſhall be fulfilled in their Seaſons.
By attending to theſe things, a Chriſtian may give a near gueſs at the Judgments that are approaching a Nation, and ſo order himſelf accordingly, Eccleſ. 8.5. A wiſe mans heart diſcerns both time and judgment. And this is (even in the Judgment of God) a choice point of Wiſdom. Whereas on the contrary, heedleſs and careleſs ones, that regard not theſe things, are branded for Fools, and upbraided with more bruitiſhneſs than the Beaſts of the Field, or Fowls of the Air, Math. 16.3. Jer. 8.7. The Stork in the Heavens, the Swallow, Turtle, and Crane, obſerve their Seaſons of departing, and returning, upon the approach of the Winter and Spring, and that by a natural inſtinct, whereby they prolong their lives, which elſe muſt periſh. But though God hath made Man wiſer then the Fowls of the Air, and Beaſts of the Earth, which by inſtinct will quit colder Climates, or run to the Hedg when Winter or Storms approach, yet the Heavens may be aſtoniſhed at this, to ſee Nature caſt by ſinne ſo far below it ſelf, and that in reaſonable Creatures.
But now, if this be fore-ſeen, then there is a ſingular advantage in a mans hand, either to uſe the means of preventing thoſe approaching Calamities, Zeph. 2.3. or if it cannot be prevented, yet to take Sanctuary in Chriſt, Mic. 5.5. to run to the Promiſes and Attributes, Eſa. 26. ult. and ſo have a good Roof over his Head while the Storm falls, and the Weather is tempeſtuous abroad. And therefore certainly, this Preparation is an excellent thing. Whatever the Spirit of God ſpeaks in the commendation of fore-ſeeing Evils, is with reſpect to this Duty of preparing for them; for fore-ſight of Evils, without preparation, rather increaſes, then diminiſhes the miſery.
6. A ſixth Excellency of Preparation, lies in the influence that it hath into a Chriſtians ſtability in the evil day. You cannot but know, that your ſtability in that critical hour of Temptation, is a choice and ſingular Mercy, in as much as all you are worth in the other World depends upon your ſtanding then, Rev. 21.7, 8. Rom. 2.6, 7. Luke 22.28. Neither can you be ignorant how much you are like to be tryed and put to it then, whether you reſpect the Enemy that engages you, Eph. 6.12. or your own weakneſs, who have been ſo often foiled in leſſer tryals, Jer. 12.5. All the Grace you have, will be little enough to keep the Field, and bear you up from ſinking; and therefore it cannot but be a bleſſed thing, to be able to ſtand and cope with the greateſt difficulties, in ſuch a nick of triall as that will be. Now he that expects to do this, muſt put on the whole Armour of God. See Epheſ. 6.12, 13, 14. There's no expectation of ſtanding in the evil day, except your feet be ſhod, that is, your Wills prepared, with the preparation of the Goſpel of Peace.
It is true, that our ability to ſtand, is not from our own inherent grace; for by his ſtrength ſhall no man prevail, 1 Sam. 2.9. and yet it is as true, that without grace, both inherent in us, and excited and prepared for action, we cannot expect to ſtand: For theſe two, Grace inherent in us, and Grace exciting and aſſiſting without, are not oppoſed, but co-ordinated. Grace in us, is the Weapon by which our Enemy falls; but then that Weapon muſt be managed by the Hand of the Spirit.—Well then, look upon this as a choice mercy, which tends ſo much to your ſtability.
7. A ſeventh Excellency of a prepared Heart, is, that it is a very high teſtification of our love to Jeſus Chriſt, when we thus ſhew our willingneſs to take our Lot with him, and follow him whereever he goes. What an high expreſſion of love was that of Ruth, to her Mother Naomy; I will not go back, but where thou lodgeſt I will lodge, and where thou goeſt I will go. 'Tis excellent, when a Soul can ſay to Chriſt, as Ittai to David, 2 Sam. 15.21. Surely, in what place my Lord the King ſhall be, whether in Death, or in Life, even there alſo will thy Servant be. This is love indeed, to cleave to him in a time of ſuch diſtreſſes and dangers. This is love which the Waters cannot quench, nor the Flood drown, Cant. 8.6. Probatio amoris, eſt exhibitio operis: If you love Chriſt indeed, ſhew your love by ſome fruits of it; and ſurely, this is a very choice fruit and proof of it. There be many that profeſs a great deal of love to Chriſt, but when it comes to this Touch-ſtone, it appears falſe and counterfeit, but a meer flouriſh, when no danger is near: But that Soul which buckles on the Shooe of Preparation, to follow him through Thorns and Briars, and over the Rocks and Mountains of Difficulties and Troubles, loves him indeed, Jer. 2.2, 3. Beloved, it's one of the choiceſt Diſcoveries of your love to your Maſter Chriſt; yea, it is ſuch a teſtification of love to him, as Angels are not capable of. They ſhew their love by their readineſs to do his Will, in the execution of which they fly as with Wings, Ezek. 1.24. But you onelyonly have the happineſs of teſtifying your love, by your readineſs to ſuffer for him, and is not this excellent?
8. When the Heart is prepared for the worſt Sufferings, it's an Argument that your Will is ſubdued to the Will of God; for till this be done in a good meaſure, you cannot ſtand ready to ſuffer for him: But now, to have the Will ſubdued by Grace to the Will of God, is a very choice and excellent frame indeed; for in this the main power of Grace lieth: Look in what Faculty the chief Reſidence and ſtrength of ſinne was, in the ſame, the chief Reſidence and power of Grace, after Converſion, is alſo: Now it is in the Will, that the ſtrength and power of ſinne (before Converſion) lay. See Joh. 5.40. Pſal. 81.11. Jer. 44.16, 17. And indeed, it was the Devils ſtrong Hold, which in the Day of Chriſts Power, he ſtorms and reduces to his Obedience, Pſal. 110.3. Oh what a bleſſed thing is this! the Will rules the Man, it hath the Empire of the whole Man, it commands the Faculties of the Soul, imperio politico; and it commands the Members of the Body, imperio deſpotico: Now to have Chriſt and Grace rule that, which rules and commands your inner and outer Man too, is no ſmall Mercy: And a better Evidence that it is ſo cannot be given than this, that you ſtand ready, or do ſeriouſly prepare your ſelves to ſuffer the hardeſt things for Chriſt: If your Will can like that Work, it's an Argument Grace hath conquered and ſubdued indeed.
9. This Preparation of Heart to Duty, is an excellent thing, becauſe God is ſo abundantly pleaſed with it, that he oftens excuſes them from ſufferings in whom he finds it, and accepts it, as if the ſervice had been actually done. So Abraham, Gen. 22.12. he was ready to offer up his Iſaac's life to God; but God ſeeing his Servants heart really prepared, and ready for that difficult ſervice, and high point of Self-denial, provided himſelf another Sacrifice inſtead of Iſaac. Abraham ſhall have his Iſaac back again, and that with advantage; for he hath with him not onelyonly a choice Experiment of his love to God, but Gods high approbation of him, and acceptation of his Offering. It was all one, in reſpect of Divine acceptance, as if he had bin ſlain; and ſo the Scripture repreſents it, Jam. 2.21. And in this ſenſe, that Promiſe is often made good to Gods People, who ſtand ready to give up their Iſaacs, their lives, liberties, and deareſt enjoyments, to the Lord; He that will loſe his life for my Names ſake ſhall ſave it, Luk. 9.24.
Now what a bleſſed thing is this! you may this way have the Crown of Martyrdom, and yet not ſhed one drop of blood for Chriſt actually. Ah how kindly doth God accept it at his poor Creatures hands, when he ſees how willing they are to ſerve him with their beſt enjoyments! It is well (ſaith he to David) that it was in thy heart, 1 King. 8.18.
10. And then laſtly, to add no more, it is beyond Controverſie an excellent and bleſſed thing; becauſe ſhould ſuch a Chriſtian, after all his pains and preparations, be overborn, and fall by Temptation, yet this preparation of his heart excuſes his fall, from thoſe aggravations that are upon the falls of others, and will give him both ſupport under ſuch a condition, and encouragement to hope for a ſpeedy recovery out of it. Ah! it's no ſmall comfort, when a poor Soul that hath been overborn by temptation, can come to God and ſay, Lord, thou knoweſt that this was not a wilful departure from my duty, but contrary to the bent and reſolution of my heart, thou ſaweſt my diligence before-hand to prepare for it; thou ſaweſt my fears and tremblings of heart about it; O Lord forgive, O Lord recover thy Servant, waſh away this ſpot, it is one of the ſpots of thy children, an infirmity, not a Rebellion: This may much ſtay the Soul.
Surely in this caſe, thou haſt many grounds of comfort that another wants: For thy ſin being but an infirmity, (1.) It's that which is common to all Saints, Pſal. 103.11, 12, 13, 14. (2.) God hath mercy and pardons for ſuch ſins as theſe; elſe woe to the holieſt Soul, Pſal. 130.3, 4. Solomon, upon this ground, pleads for mercy for them that prepared their hearts, 2 Chron. 30.18, 19. and God hath laid in ſweet grounds of encouragement for ſuch Souls, Numb. 15.27, 28. Heb. 5.2. How tenderly doth Chriſt deal with the Diſciples under this kind of ſin, Mat. 26.41. and though they forſook him for a time, yet received them again! though they fled from him, yet they all returned again, and appeared boldly for Chriſt afterwards, and ſealed their Confeſſion of him with their blood: and that which recovered them again was this, that their fall and departure was contrary to the reſolution and ſtanding frame and bent of their hearts; for they reſolved all to cleave to him to the death, Mat. 26.35. whereas thoſe that engaged in a profeſſion of him inconſiderately, and never reſolved nor prepared for the worſt, fell off from him, and never returned any more, Joh. 6.66. So then, upon the whole, you cannot but grant, that it is a very bleſſed and excellent thing, to prepare thus for the greateſt Sufferings that can befall us for Chriſt: We come next to ſhew wherein it lies.