Believers Evidences for Eternal Life, Chapter 2 · Section 5
V.
Overcoming the world by faith, may V.be a 5•h Signe or Evidence of Regeneration. Whatsoever is borne of God overcometh the world; and, This the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Iesus is the Son of God? 1 Joh. 5. 4, 5. Here we have Two adversaries, The victory, The means of victory. 1. Two adversaries; the Regenerate, them that are borne of God, …n one part, who are chiefly Defensive, as the whole armour of God is chiefly Defensive, Eph. 6. 14, to 19. And the world, on the other part, which is principally Offensive, Joh. 15. 18, 19, 20 And what is this world? 1 Partly the men of the world, who have their portion in this present life, Psal. 17. 14. These lie in wickednesse, 1 Joh. 5. 19. these hate the Saints, because they are not of the world, but chosen out of the world by Christ, Joh. 19. 19. Understand then wicked worldlings, with all their persecutions of the righteous. 2 Partly … worlds lusts, the lust of the flesh, the lust … the eyes, and the pride of life, 1 Joh. 2. 16. *Iohan. calvini in loc. & Hier. Zanch. in loc.The lust of the flesh, i. e. not only carnal corruptions, but all the pleasures, delights, and c…ntentments that the flesh or body desires The lust of the eyes, i. e. not only libidinous lustfull looks, but also all that vanity of the eye about the vain pomp, beauty, honours, glory, riches, and glittering splend or of the world. And pride of life, i. e. All that ambition, ostentation, bragging, self-admiring, contempt of others, ca…nal confidence, arising from confluence of worldly enjoyments. These now are the two adversaries, viz. the Regenerate, and the World, the world with all its wicked and their oppositions, with all its lusts & their ensnaring insinuations. 2. The victory not on the worlds side, but on the Regenerates side. Whatsoever is born of God, overc…meth the world. 3. The meanes of this victory, Faith in Christ the Son of God.
All this is wonderfull in our eyes. (1.) What inequality in the Adversaries? The whole world with all its vassals, with all its furies and persecutions, with all its lusts, with all its snares of honours, riches, pleasures, &c. and all this against the Regenerate. Alas, how few, how contemptible, how feeble are they I A little flock, Luk. 12. 32. Worme Iacob, Isa. 41. 14. (2.) What imbecillity of the means of the Saints safety against the world; Faith? Faith, a self-emptying grace, a poor beggerly hand, only rich or strong in receiving from another, and perhaps a weak palsie trembling hand. But the battell is not to the strong. Remember David and Goliah; how weak and naked David, how strong, how harnessed was Goliah? 3 What succesfull prevalencie, notwithstanding, of the Regenerate against the world? Not only their deliverance from, but defence against the world; Not only defence against, but victory over the world: Not only victory, but universall victory: Whatsoever is born of God evercometh the world. Happy Saints! puissant Faith! triumphant Victory! Dost thou overcome the world by faith in Christ? then thou, doubtlesse, art born of God.
Case. But how may I know whether I overcome the world by faith or no?
Resol. Hereby thou mayest discover whether thou conquerest the world by faith, or no: viz. 1. Hast thou true faith in Christ Iesus? 2. Actest thou this faith in Christ victoriously against the world?
Hast thou true faith in Christ? Victory I.over the world is an act of faith in Christ: Faith cannot thus act in thee, till first faith be in thee: thou must first have the faith in Christ, before thou canst use it. Make it clear therefore in the first place, whether thou hast the habit of true faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. How shall I know that? Answ. Look back to those evidences of true faith in Christ, chap. 2. Evid. 2. p. 23, to 28.
Actest thou this true faith now victoriously II.against the world? Every one that is borne of God, hath so much skil and dexterity in the wielding of Faith, as in some measure more or lesse to overcome the world. All true Believers are conquerours, though not equal conquerours of the world. Now they act their faith against the world victoriously, in two respects especially, viz. 1. Against the smiles of the world. 2. Against the frownes of the world. The worlds *Mundus quippe iste periculosior est blandus quam molestus, & magis cavend…s cum, se illici…diligit, quam cam admonet cogitque contemni. Aug. Anasta…. epist. 144.frownes are dangerous; but the worlds smiles are double dangerous: In those, the world professes it self an enemy; in these, pretends it self to be a friend: By those, we are alarm'd to the battel; by these, we are inchanted into security, that we may be surprized. To conquer the worlds frownes, is a mighty victory; but to conquer its smiles, is a double victory. True faith acts and prevailes victoriously against both.
1. True faith acts vigorously and victoriously against the smiles of the world. The world fights against us with its smiles, fawnings, flatterings, &c. of temporal prosperity. Syren-like it sings us, and sinks us: Iudas-like it kisses us, and betrayes us: Ioab-like it kisses us, and smites us under the fifth rib. The honours, high rooms, pomp, splendor, wealth, pleasures, delights, and all the glory of this world, are but sweet poysons that delight us and destroy us, at least endanger us. Remember Lots wise, Luke 17. 32. The young man, Mat. 19. 16, to 23. Demas, 2 Tim. 4. 10. Iudas, Mat. 26. 14, 15, 19. yea, Solomon himself had almost surfeited of these sweet baits, and like the Bee was almost drowned in his own honey.
Now faith victoriously acts against and prevailes over all these subtile smiles, inchantments, and insinuations of the world, divers wayes.
1. By valuing all the prosperity, pomp and splendor of the world, meanly and abjectly in comparison of Christ, and of spirituals. The world prevails upon us when we set too high an estimate or account of sublunaries: we prevail over the world, when we have mean, low, debasing thoughts of it, (as it indeed deserves.) Thus by faith Paul conquered the world, counting not only his Pharisaical perfections and accomplishments, but absolutely all things, [viz. all carnal and worldly excellencies whatsoever] foreign, i. e. Losse and dung for the winning of Iesus Christ, Phil. 3. 8. Thus Moses, though a great Courtier in Pharaobs house, yea, the reputed son of Pharaobs daughter, (a great worldly honour) by faith overcame the world; For, By faith Moses, when he was come to years refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures in Egypt, Heb. 11. 24, 25, 26. What? Refuse to be called the son of a Princesse? Prefer the Saints affliction before Sins pleasures? and esteem Christs reproaches, riches; great riches; yea, greater riches then Egypts treasures? How would he have valued Christs renown, Christs righteousuesse, Christs graces, Christs comforts, Christs glory; that can thus esteem Christs reproaches? Here was a Champion indeed, that could thus trample the worlds honours, riches, pleasures, all under his feet. When will the Courtiers of this world imitate Moses? Excellently said Galeacius *Hist. of Galeacius.the Noble Marquesse of Vico, being tempted with gold to forsake Christ, and returne to Popery: Their money perish with them, that think all the gold in the world worth one dayes society with Iesus Christ.
2. By holding, possessing and using the world, and the things of the world, self denyingly. Thus Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, by faith overcame the world, whilest they so journed in the land of Promise as in a strange countrey, dwelling in tabernacles. Heb. …1. 9. They by faith dwelt in their own land, (it was their own by promise as if it had been a strangers land. Faith weans and loosens the heart from the world; Makes them that have W…ves, be as though they had none, (as the Apostles exhorts,) Them that rejoyce, as though they rejoyced not; and them that buy, as though they possessed not; and them that use this world, as not abusing it, 1 Cor. 7. 29, 30, 31. And this was that gracious disposition of Paul, whereby he conquered the world, viz. by Christ crucified, The world was crucified to him, and he crucified to the world, Gal. 6. 14. i. e. Paul and the world had no more pleasure, comfort, contentment or satisfaction in one another, then two crucified persons can have in one another. When a man is crucified and dead, all his affections to the world, or things of the world are dead with him; all the delights, treasures, advancements of the world, *Eum sibi crucifixum dicit Paulus: quo sensu alibi testatur, omnia se reputasse pro stercoribus. Crucifixio enim mundi est contemptus & abjectio. Addit vicissim se mando crucifixum, quo intelligit sibi susque deque esse, quod nihil fiat, firque tanquam in nihilum redactus: quia nihil ad mortuum pertnea…. Vel certe se mortificatione veteris hominis renunciasse mundo. I. Calvin. in Ep. ad Gal. 6. 14.are dead to him, He is not moved or troubled who have them, &c. This was Pauls self-denying victory over the world.
3. By parting with any, even the dearest worldly treasures or comforts readily for God, and at his command or appointment. Then a man overcomes the world, when he can at Gods pleasure lay it aside, actually shake it off, and that without paine or difficulty; that's a signe he is not enthralled to the world, doth not over-prizeit, over-love it; such a man hath the world, not for his Master, but his servant. Thus Abraham by faith overcame the world, in parting with his native Countrey, (sweet to all) and that chearfully; By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went, Heb. 11. 8. A great victory, but behold a greater. Abraham readily can sacrifice his Isaac, his chief delight in this world. By faith Abraham when he was tryed, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son. Of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called, &c. Heb. 11. 17. Behold and consider this victorious act of Faith. In this Text are these seven amplifications. (1.) His Isaac, i. e. in Hebrew, his laughter; his joy, his delight. (2.) His Son, not his Sheep, or Oxen, or Servant, but his Son. (3.) His begotten Son, not an adopted Son. (4.) His only begotten Son; nor one Son among many, but his only Son by Sarah the Free-woman, by whom he had no more. (5.) This the Son of the Promise, in whom his seed should be called, and all the Nations of the earth be blessed. (6.) This Son sacrificed, (intentionally, though not actually) as a Burnt-Offering. (7.) And all this by Abraham his own Father. O glorious Faith that can make such a man, as Abraham, so part with, as to sacrifice; such a treasure, as Isaac! Canst thou thus part with, thus conquer the world, as Abraham? Excellently to this purpose said George Carpenter of Emering, Martyr in Bavaria, *Acts & Monu. vol. 2. p. 113. Edit. Cond. 1641.My wife and my children are so dearly beloved unto me, that they cannot be bought from me for all the riches and possessions of the Duke of Bavaria: but for the love of my Lord God I will willingly forsake them.
4. Finally, By resting on God alone, at the only Rock and foundation of our true joy and comfort, both while the world is with us, and when the world shall leave us. (1.) While the world is with us, we conquer it by Faith, if we fetch our comforts from an higher & richer spring then the world, viz. God. David in midst of his Royall enjoyments said, Whom have I in heaven but thee, and in earth there's none that I desire with thee; mine heart and my strength faileth, but thou art the strength of my heart, and portion for ever, Psal. 73. 25. And elsewhere, Many say, Who will shew us good? But, Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put more gladness in mine heart, then in the time when their Corne and New-wine increased, Ps. 4. 6, 7. (2.) When the world shall leave us, yet our joy and comforts leave us not, because our God forsakes us not. Thus we overcome the world, when though the world be down, our hearts are up. As Habbakuk, Although the Fig-tree shall not blossome, neither fruit be in the Vines; the labour of the Olive shall faile, and the Fields shall yield no meat; The flock shall be cut off from the Fold, and there shall be no herd in the Stalls: Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation, Hab. 3. 17, 18.
Thus Faith overcomes the worlds smiling, and fawning.
II. True faith vigorously and victoriously acts against the frownes of the world. The world frownes against the Regenerate in all its common tribulations, or speciall persecutions, either by hating, reproaching, spoiling, imprisoning, tormenting, or murdering them. Thus it frowned upon righteous Abel, Gen. 4 8, 9, 10. Upon Isaac, Gal. 4. 29 Upon Israel, Exod. 1. &c. 2. Upon Ioseph, Psal. 105. 17, 18. Upon Iob, Job 1. Upon David, Psal. 73. 14. Upon all the Prophets, Acts 7. 52. Upon all the Apostles, 1 Cor 4. 9. Upon all that will live godly in Christ Iesus, 2 Tim. 3. 12. Yea, upon Jesus *Unicum habuit filium sine peccato, nullum sine flagello.Christ himself, Isa. 53. Phil. 2. 7, 8. Heb 12. 2, 3. Yet Regenerate persons by Faith in Christ, overcome the world in all its frownes and storme,; and this many wayes, viz.
1. By encouraging them against base carnal feares. Feares oft-times more annoy the Saints, then feelings of distresses. Faith steels the gracious heart against these servile feares: and makes it exceeding magnanimous. As in Moses Parents; By faith Moses when he was borne, was hid three moneths of his Parents, because they saw he was a proper child, and they not afraid of the Kings commandment, Heb. 11. 23. In Moses himself; By faith he (viz. Moses,) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King, far he endured as seeing him which is invisible, Heb 11. 27. As also in those valiant Champions; Who through faith, subdued Kingdomes, wrought righteousnesse, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of Lions, quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword, out of weaknesse were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the Aliens, Heb. 11. 33, 34. We are not only (said *Hostes veritatis jam non tantum non perhorrescimus, sed provo…amus; & inimicos Dei jam hocipso quod non cessimus, vicimus. Cypria. Epist. 26. Edit. Goulart. 1593.Cyprian) not afraid of the enemies of the truth, but we provoke them.
2. By enabling to undergo varieties of cruel trials and torments, which without faith would be to flesh and blood most terrible and intolerable. And others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings; yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments: they were stoned, they were sawen asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandred in deserts, and in mountaines, and in dens, and caves of the earth; these all having obtained a good report through faith, Heb. 11. 36, to 40.
*Vidit admirans praesentium multitudo coeleste certamen, certamen Dei, spiritale certamen, praelium Christi; stetisse servosejus voce liberā, mente incorruptâ, virtute divinâ; telis quidem secularibus nudos, sed armis fidei tredentes armatos. Steterunt torti torquentibus fortiores, & pulsantes ac laniantes ungulas pulsata ac laniata membra vice…nt; Inexpugnabilem fidem superare non potuit saeviens diu plaga repetita, quamvis rupta compage viscerum torquerentur in servis Dei jam non membra sed vulnera. Fluebat sanguis, qui incendium persecutionis extingueret, qui flammas & ignes gehennae glorioso cruore sopiret. Cyprian. ad martyres, &c. de Magpalio. Ep. 9. edit. Goulart. 1593.Cyprian hath strange expressions of the Martyres victorious faith in his dayes. The multitude present beheld with admiratinn the heavenly combate, the combate of God, the spiritual conflict, the war of Christ; his servants standing with a free voice, incorrupt minde, Divine strength, armed not with secular weapons, but with weapons of faith: The tormonted stood, stronger then the tormentors: the beaten and but chered members overcame the hands that did beat and butcher them. Cruel stripes oft repeated, long continued, could not overcome their impregnable Faith; no, not though their bowels were digged out, and not so much the members as the wounds of the servants of God were tormented. Their blood gushed out, which even quenched the burning of persecution, yea, extinguished the flames and fire of hell with a glorious stream.
3. By extenuating and asswaging the extremity *Iames Bainham Martyr, as he was at the stake in the midst of the flaming fire, which had now half consumed his armes and legs: he spake these words: O ye Papists, behold, ye look for miracles, and here now ye may see a miracle; for in this fire I feel nomore painthen if I were in a bed of down: but it is to me as a bed of roses. Acts & Mon. vol. 2. p. 301. Lond. 1641.of afflictions and persecutions. Faith so sustaines and refreshes the inwards of the soul under distresses, that they are rather seeming, then real distresses; shadowes, rather then substances; As it were poverty, As it were imprisonment, &c. rather then poverty; imprisonment indeed. As in the Apostles; We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despaire; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed, 2 Cor. 4. 8, 9. And elsewhere more emphatically: As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alwayes rejoycing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things, 2 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Whereas contrariwise through unbelief men are, as rich, yet really poor; as in liberty, and yet in greatest bondage; as rejoycing, and yet in midst of mirth the heart is heavy, &c. Unbelief turns the rod into a serpent; Faith turns the serpent into a rod.
4. By perswading the hearts of the faithful that it is their great priviledge, honour and happinesse to suffer for Christ and Righteousnesse sake; according to those intimations of Scripture: To you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake, Phill. 1. 29. Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousnesse sake, &c. Mat. 5. 10, 11, 12. Rejoyce, in as much as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings: If you be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are you, &c. 1 Pet. 4. 13, 14. Upon this consideration when the Apostles were beaten by the Councel for preaching Christ, They departed from the presence of the Councel, rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name. Acts 5. 40, 41. And what, but Faith, can …d priviledge, happinesse, and matter of joy, in sufferings for Christ? How happy did Cyprian judge their Church, *O beatam ecclesiam nostram, qua sic honor divinae dignationisilluminat, quam temporibus nostris gloriosus martyrum sanguis illustrat! Erat ante in operibus fratrum candida; nunc facta est in martyrum cruore purpurea. FLOR…VSUS EIVS NEC LILIA NEC ROSAE DESVNT. Certent nunc singuli ad utriusque honoris amplissimam dignitatem, ut accipiant coronas vel de opere candidas, vel de passione purpureas. Cyprian, ad martyres, &c. epist. 9. edit. Goulart. An. 1593.That it was made illustrious in his time with the glorious blood of Martyrs! it was (saith he) formerly white with the Brethrens works, but now its purple with the Martyrs blood. Among its flowers are wanting neither Lilies nor Roses: Let all now strive for the ample dignity of this double honour, that they may receive either white crownes for well-doing, or purple crownes for well-suffering.
5. By suggesting to the Soul the spiritual benefit of distresses. Faith makes the heart not only overcome them, but even glory in them: Being justified by faith,—we glory in tribulations; knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, &c. Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day: For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 16, 17. Faith saith, Let me be reproached, poor, imprisoned, or any way afflicted; so I may be weaned from the world, purged from sin, increased in grace, or any way spiritually advantaged. And this is very victorious. *foreign Ignat. Ep. ad Ronan. p. 84, 85. Edit. Oxon. 1644.Ignatius said, I am Gods wheat; let me be ground by the teeth of wilde beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of God.
6. By acting love invincibly. Faith acts or works by love, Gal. 5. 6. And love truly and lively acted towards Christ by faith, proves an army invincible, flame unquenchable. You may kill the lover of Christ, but cannot kill the love of Christ. Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arme, (saith the Church to Christ,) For love is strong as death, jealousie cruel as the grave; the coals thereof, coals of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it, Cant. 8. 6, 7. No waters of affliction, no floods of persecution can drown it; like oyle it swims above the top of deepest waters. Such love not their lives unto the death, Rev. 12. 11. Here's the victory of the Saints.
7. By eying the invisible and invincible God. The worlds punishment (said *Nec plus ad dejiciendum potest terrena poena, quàm ad erigendum tutela divina, Cypri. an, epist. 9. edit. Goulart. 1593.Cyprian) cannot more cast down, then Gods protection lift up. Faith meets with many difficulties and rubs in the way to heaven: but fixing upon the Omnipotent God, and casting the soul in greatest straits and plunges with a sweet recumbency upon the power of God, overcomes them, and triumphs over them all. Thus Moses by faith overcame the wrath of Pharaoh, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible, Heb. 11. 27. Thus the three renowned Jewes by faith overcame the fury, threats and fiery furnace of King Nebuchadnezzar, heated seven times hotter then usual. How victoriously do they express themselves! O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O King: But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden Image which thou hast set up, Dan. 3. 16, 17, 18
8. By improving Christs strength and assistance. All Sampsons strength lay in his head: so all a Christians strength is in his Head Christ. Christ is so potent and victorious, that he hath already overcome the world, John 16. ult. *Qui pro nobis semel mortem vicit, semper vincit in nobis. Cyprian. Epist. 9. edit. Goulart. 1593.He hath overcome the world in his own person, that he might overcome it in his members. Now faith makes out to Christ, engages his strength; as the Vine makes it self strong by embracing the Elm, the Ivy by clasping the Oake Christs strength being engaged, what cannot a Christian do or endure? He can in every state be content. Contentment is a mighty victory over the world; let the world do its worst, nothing can come amisse to a contented man. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where, and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me, Phil. 4. 11, 12, 13. And elsewhere Paul hangs out the flag of defiance against all the terrours of the world. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distresse, or persecution, or famine, or nakednesse, or perill, or sword? (As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep to the slaughter.) Now in all these things we are more then conquerours through him that loved us, Rom. 8. 35, 36, 37. When in Christs might, Christians go out against the world, they go but to encounter with a conquered adversary; they go not so much to Fight, as to Triumph and take the spoile.
9. Finally, Faith in the Regenerate wonderfully conquers the frownes of the world, by fixing a steady eye upon that eternall joy set before them, upon that great recompence of reward: Reckoning that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, Rom. 8. 18. The heaviest affliction is but light, the longest affliction here is but for a moment; and what's that to glory, to the weight of glory, to the eternal weight of glory, to the far more exceeding and eternall weight ef glory? 2 Cor. 4. 17.
Faith therefore having respect to the recompence of reward, behaves it self exceeding victoriously against all the tribulations of the world. For,
1. Hence, Faith under deepest sorrowes keeps up the heart and spirits of Gods children from fainting, 2 Cor. 4. 16, 17, 18.
2. Hence, Faith enables to undergo, not ordinary troubles, but extraordinary tortures, and yet not to accept deliverance, Heb. 11. 35.
3. Hence, Faith instructs them to judge Christs reproaches greater riches then any earthly treasures: And the afflictions of Christians farre sweeter then the pleasures of sin, which can but be for a season, Heb. 11. 26. Whereupon notably Ignatius, *Ignat. Epist. ad Roman. p. 86, 87. Edit. Oxon. An. 1644. & Appendix Ignatian. p. 24. Lond. 1647.The confines of the world and kingdomes of the earth delight not me at all. It is better for me to die for Iesus Christ, then to reigne over the ends of the earth.—For Iesus is the life of Believers. Be not unwilling to have me die. Its a death to live without Christ, &c. Upon like ground blessed Cyprian writing to certaine valiant and faithful witnesses of Christ, that had endured great variety of sufferings, thus comforts them against their bonds, fetters, &c. *Ornamenta sunt ista, non vincula; nec Christianorum pedes ad infamiam copulant, sed clarificant ad coronam. O pedes foeliciter vincti, qui non à fabro, sed à Domino resolvuntur! O pedes feliciter vi…cti, qui itinere salutari ad Paradisum diriguntur! Opedes in seculo ad praesens ligati, ut sint semper apud Dominum liberi! Omnis ista deformit…s detestabllis & tetra Gentilibus, quali splendore pensabitur! Secularis haec & brevis poena, quam clari & aeterni honoris mercede mutabitur! Cypri… … ad Nenasianum, &c. epist. 77. edit. Goulartian. An. 1593.These are not Bonds, but Ornaments: they tie not Christians feet to infamy, but fit them for the Crown. O feet happily bound, which not the Smith, but the Lord shall unbinde! Oh feel happily bound, which are directed by a saving journey to Paradise! Oh feet bound for present in this world, that they may be at liberty with the Lord for evermore!—All this deformity ugly and detestable to the Gentiles. with what splendour shall it be recompensed! This short and secular pain, how shall it be changed for the reward of bright eternall honour!
4. Hence Faith prevailes with them to rejoyce in their sufferings, and take with joy the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves that they have in heaven a better and more enduring substance, Heb. 10. …4. Hence that cruel Bishop Bonner, (observing how comfortably the Martyrs suffered) *Acts & Monumen. Vol. 3. pag. 881. Edit. Lond. An. 1641.oft-times speaking to John Willes, he would say, they call me bloody Bonner. A vengeance on you all: I would fain be rid of you, But you have a delight in burning. But if I might have my will, I would sew your mouthes, and put you in sacks, and drown you.
5. Hence, in a word, Faith so elevates their spirits above their troubles, That having hope of the glory of God, they even glory in Tribulation, Rom. 5. 2, 3. Hence Alice Driver, Martyr, having at the Stake the Ironchaine put about her neck, said, *Acts & Mon. Vol. 3. p. 888. Lond. 1641.O Here's a goodly neckerchief, blessed be God for it. Hence *Acts &. Mon. vol. 3. pag. 177. Edit. Lond. 1641.Dr. Taylor Martyr, drawing towards the place of execution, leapt as men do in dancing, whereupon being asked by the Sheriffe, how he did now, He answered, Well, God be praised, good Mr. Sheriffe. Never better; for now I know I am almost at home. I lack not past two Stiles to go over, and I am even at my Fathers house. Hence Cicely Ormes Martyr, when she was brought to the Stake, laid her hand on it, and said *Act & Mon. Vol. 3. p. 853. Edit. Lond. 1641.Welc…me the crosse of Christ.—Then after she had touched it with her hand, she came and kissed it, and said, Welcome the sweet crosse of Christ; and when the fire was kindled to her, she said, My soule doth magnifie the Lord, and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour. Hence Mr. Iohn Bradford at the Stake *Acts & Mon. Vol. 3. p. 307. Lon. 1641.took up a Faggot and kissed it, and turned his head to the young man that suffered with him, said, Be of good comfort, brother, for we shall have a merry Supper with the Lord this night. And embracing the Reeds said, Straite is the way, and narrow is the gate that leadeth to eternall Salvation, & few there be that find it. Hence, also, That Blessed Ignatius for gaining Christ in glory, which is the highest reward, thus expresseth himselfe to the Romans, *Ignat. in Epist. ad Roman. p. 86. Edit. Oxon. An… 1644. & Appendix Ignatian. 24. Edit. Londin. 1647.foreign, &c.] O that I were with the wild beasts prepared for me; which I wish may be a compendium to me. And I would allure them speedily to eate me up, (and not as with others be terrifyed, so as not to touch them) and if they would not, I would provoke them. Pardon me, I know what is expedient for me, I now begin to be a Disciple. I am solicitous for neither visibles nor invisibles so I may obtaine Iesus Christ. Let fire, Crosse, and the concourse of wild beasts, the cutting, separating and breaking of my bones, the dissipation of my members, the destruction of my whole body, and the torments of the Devil come upon me, only that I may obtain Iesus Christ.
Thus they that are borne of God, overcome the world, Fawning and Frowning, and their victory is Faith in Jesus Christ. Christian, canst thou thus conquer the world? canst thou deny the world? Though perhaps thou canst not dispute for Christ, yet canst thou dye for Christ?