Sixteen Sermons Volume 2, Sermon 9
SERMON IX. The Encouragement to Suffer for Chriſt; and the Danger of denying him.
Preached on All-Saints Day.
2 Tim. II. 11, 12.
It is a faithful ſaying; For if we be dead with him, we ſhall alſo live with him: If we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reign with him: If we deny him, he alſo will deny us.
IN the beginning of this Chapter, St. Paul encourageth Timothy to continue ſteadfaſt in the Profeſſion of the Goſpel, notwithſtanding the Sufferings which attended it;VOL. II. Verſe 1. Thou therefore my Son, be ſtrong in the grace which is in Chriſt Jeſus; and Verſe 3. Thou therefore endure hardſhip, as a good Souldier of Jeſus Chriſt. And to animate him in his Reſolution, he quotes a Saying, which it ſeems was well known and firmly believed among Chriſtians; a Saying on the one hand full of Encouragement to thoſe who with Patience and Conſtancy Suffered for their Religion; and on the other hand, full of Terrour to thoſe who for fear of Suffering denyed it.
It is a faithful ſaying. This is a Preface uſed by this Apoſtle, to introduce ſome remarkable Sentence, of more than ordinary weight and concernment; 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chriſt Jeſus came into the world to ſave Sinners; and chap. 4.8, 9. Godlineſs is profitable unto all things, having a promiſe of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, Titus 3.8. This is a faithful ſaying, and theſe things I will that thou affirm conſtantly, Serm. IX.that they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good works. And here in the Text, the ſame Preface is uſed to ſignify the Importance of the ſaying he was about to mention; It is a faithful ſaying; If we be dead with him, we ſhall alſo live with him: If we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reign with him: If we deny him, he will deny us.
The Firſt Two Sentences are Matter of Encouragement to thoſe who Suffer with Chriſt, and for him, and are the very ſame in Senſe. If we be dead with him, that is, if we lay down our lives for the Teſtimony of the Truth, as he did; we ſhall alſo live with him, that is, we ſhall in like manner be made Partakers of Immortality, as he is: If we ſuffer or endure as he did, we ſhall alſo reign with him in Glory.
The other Sentence is Matter of Terrour to thoſe who deny him and his Truth. If we deny him, he alſo will deny us; to which is ſubjoyned another Saying much to the ſame Senſe; if we believe not, foreign, if we be unfaithful; yet he remaineth faithful, he cannot deny himſelf; that is, he will be as good as his word, and make good that Solemn Threatning which he hath denounced againſt thoſe, who ſhall for fear of Suffering deny him, and his Truth.
The Words being thus explained, I ſhall begin with the Firſt Part of this remarkable Saying; If we be dead with him, we ſhall alſo live with him: If we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reign with him. This it ſeems, was a noted Saying among Chriſtians; and whether they had it by Tradition of our Saviour, or whether it was in familiar uſe among the Apoſtles, as a very proper and powerful Argument to keep Chriſtians ſtedfaſt to their Religion, I cannot determine. It is certain, that Sayings to this Senſe are very frequent, eſpecially in the Epiſtles of St. Paul. Rom. 6.5. For if we have been planted together in the likeneſs of his death; we ſhall be alſo in the likeneſs of his reſurrection; and Verſe 8. Now if we be dead with Chriſt; we believe that we ſhall alſo live with him. 2 Cor. 4.10. Always bearing about in the body, the dying of our Lord Jeſus; that the life alſo of Jeſus might be made manifeſt in our body; and Verſe 18. For we which live, are always delivered unto death for Jeſus ſake; that the life alſo of Jeſus might be made manifeſt in our mortal fleſh; and Rom. 8.17. If ſo be that we ſuffer with him, that we may be alſo glorified together. Phil. 3.10, 11. That I may know him, and the power of his reſurrection, and the fellowſhip of his ſufferings, being made comfortable unto his death: If by any means I might attain unto the reſurrection of the dead. 1. Pet. 4.12, 13. Beloved, think it not ſtrange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as tho' ſome ſtrange thing happened unto you; but rejoyce, in as much as ye are partakers of Chriſt's ſufferings; that when his glory ſhall be revealed, ye may be glad alſo with exceeding joy.
You ſee that the Senſe of this Saying was in frequent uſe among the Apoſtles, as a powerful Argument to Encourage Chriſtians to Conſtancy in their Religion, notwithſtanding the Dangers and Sufferings which attended it. This is a faithful ſaying: If we be dead with him, we ſhall alſo live with him: If we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reign with him.
And the Force of this Argument will beſt appear, by taking into conſideration theſe Two things;
I. What Virtue there is in a firm Belief and Perſuaſion of a Bleſſed Immortality in another World, to ſupport and bear up Mens Spirits, under the greateſt Sufferings for Righteouſneſs ſake; and even to animate them, if God ſhall call them to it, to lay down their Lives for their Religion.
II. How it may be made out to be reaſonable, for Men to Embrace and Voluntarily to ſubmit to Preſent and Grievous Sufferings, in Hopes of a Future Happineſs and Reward; concerning which we have not, nor perhaps are capable of having the ſame degree of Certainty and Aſſurance which we have of the Evils and Sufferings of this preſent Life.
I. What Virtue there is in a firm Belief and Perſuaſion of a bleſſed Immortality in another World, to ſupport and bear up Mens Spirits, under the greateſt Sufferings for Righteouſneſs ſake; and even to animate them, if God ſhould call them to it, to lay down their Lives for their Religion.
If Men do firmly believe that they ſhall change this Temporal and Miſerable Life, for an Endleſs State of Happineſs and Glory, and that they ſhall meet with a Reward of their Sufferings infinitely beyond the proportion of them, both in the Weight and Duration of it; this muſt needs turn the Scales on that ſide, on which there is the greateſt Weight: And there is a ſufficient ground for a firm Belief of this. For if any thing can certainly be concluded from the Providence of God, this may, That Good Men ſhall be happy one time or other: And becauſe they are very often great Sufferers in this Life; that there is another State remains for them after this Life, wherein they ſhall meet with a full Reward of all their Sufferings for Righteouſneſs ſake.
But beſides the Reaſonableneſs of this, from the conſideration of God's Providence; we have now a clear and expreſs Revelation of it; life and immortality being brought to light by the Goſpel. This St. John tells us is the great Promiſe of the Goſpel, 1 John 2.25. This is the promiſe which he hath promiſed us; even eternal life. And this Promiſe, our Saviour moſt expreſly makes to thoſe who Suffer for him, Mat. 5.10, 11, 12. Bleſſed are they which are perſecuted for righteouſneſs ſake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Bleſſed are ye, when men ſhall revile you and perſecute you, and ſay all manner of evil againſt you falſlly for my ſake. Rejoyce, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven. Mark 10.29. Verily I ſay unto you, there is no man that hath left houſe, or brethren, or ſiſters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my ſake and the Goſpel's; but he ſhall receive an hundred-fold now in this time, with perſecutions, (that is, ſo far as a State of Perſecution would admit) and in the world to come eternal life.
And if ſuch a Perſwaſion be firmly fixt in our Minds; the Faith of another World, and the aſſured Hope of Eternal Life and Happineſs, muſt needs have a mighty force and Efficacy upon the Minds of Sober and Conſiderate Men; becauſe there is no proportion between Suffering for a little while, and being Unſpeakably and Etternally happy. So St. Paul tells us, he calculated the matter, Rom. 8.18. I reckon (ſays he) that the ſufferings of this preſent time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us. The vaſt diſproportion, between the Sufferings of a few Days, and the Joys and Glory of Eternity, when it is once firmly believed by us, will weigh down all the Evils and Calamities, of this World, and give us Courage and Conſtancy under them. For why ſhould we faint; if we believe, that our light affliction, which is but for a moment, will work for us a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of Glory? As the ſame St. Paul aſſures us, 2 Cor. 4.17. If our Minds be but throughly poſſeſt with the hopes of a Reſurrection to a Better and Happier Life; this will make Death, attended even with Extremity of Terror, to be tolerable; as we read of ſome, in that long Catalogue of Saints and Martyrs, Heb. 11.35. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better reſurrection. It would make a Man to rejoyce in the Ruin and Diſſolution of this earthly tabernacle, to be aſſured, that when it is diſſolved, we ſhall have a building of God, a houſe not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens, as the ſame Apoſtle aſſures us, 2 Cor. 5.1. Thus you ſee what Virtue there is in the firm Belief and Perſuaſion of a better Life, to bear up Mens Spirits under thoſe Sufferings and Torments which may ſeem unſupportable to Humane Nature.
And ſo indeed they would be, without an extraordinary Grace and Aſſiſtance of God, to enable them to bear thoſe Sufferings, which his Providence permits them to be exerciſed withal. But of this extraordinary Grace, we are aſſured, not only from the conſideration of the Attributes and Providence of God; but likewiſe from the expreſs Promiſes and Declarations of his Word.
The Attributes of God and his Providence, give us good Grounds to believe that he who loves Goodneſs and Righteouſneſs, and hath a Peculiar Favour and Regard for good Men, will never ſuffer his Faithful Friends and Servants, to be brought into that Diſtreſs for Righteouſneſs ſake, that they ſhall not be able to endure thoſe Evils and Afflictions which befal them upon that Account: And if in the Courſe of his Providence, any thing happen to them that is above the ordinary Conſtancy and Patience of Humane Nature to bear, that in ſuch a Caſe, God will extraordinarily interpoſe, and give them Strength and Patience, Support and Comfort, proportionable to the Evils and Sufferings that are upon them; and that he will either lighten their Burden, or add to their Strength; he will either mitigate their Pain, or increaſe their Patience; either he will check and reſtrain the Effect of Natural Cauſes; as in the Caſe of the Three Children, that were in the fiery Furnace; and of Daniel, who was caſt into the Den of Lions; or elſe, (which comes to the ſame Iſſue,) if he will ſuffer Cauſes to have their Natural Courſe, he will afford Supernatural Comforts to ballance the Fury and Extremity of them. This is very credible, from the meer conſideration of God's Goodneſs, and of the Particular Care and Favour of his Providence towards Good Men.
But beſides this, we have the Expreſs Promiſe and Declaration of God's Word, to this Purpoſe, which puts us out of all doubt concerning that which we had good Reaſon to hope and expect before. 1 Cor. 10.13. St. Paul there tells the Chriſtians at Corinth, that tho' they had met with ſome Troubles, yet they had not been Tryed with the Extremity of Suffering: But when that ſhould happen, they had no cauſe to doubt, but God would enable them to bear it. There hath no Temptation taken you, but ſuch as is common to man; that is, you have not yet been exerciſed with any Trial, but what is Humane; what the ordinary Strength and Reſolution of Humane Nature is able to bear: But in caſe it ſhould come to extream Suffering, and that they muſt either comply with the Heathen Idolatry, or endure Extremity of Torments; they had the Promiſe of God's Help, to ſupport them in that Caſe. God is faithful, ſays he, who will not ſuffer you to be tempted, above that you are able to bear; but will with the temptation alſo make a way to eſcape, that ye may be able to bear it; And then it follows, wherefore my dearly beloved, flee from Idolatry; that is, let no Suffering that you are Tempted withal, make you guilty of this Sin. And 1 Pet. 4.14. The Preſence of God's Spirit, in a very glorious manner, for our Support and Comfort, is promiſed to thoſe who Suffer for him. If ye be reproached for the Name of Chriſt, happy are ye; for the Spirit of Glory and of God reſteth upon you.
And this conſideration, of God's Strength to ſupport us under Sufferings, makes the other, of the Reward of them, a Perfect and Compleat Encouragement; which it could not be without it. For if upon the whole matter, the preſent Sufferings of Good Men were intolerable, and Humane Nature were not Divinely aſſiſted to bear them: How great ſoever the Future Reward promiſed to them ſhould be; they that lay under them would be forced to conſult their own preſent Eaſe and Deliverance. I proceed to the
II. Thing I propoſed to conſider, namely, How it may be made out to be Reaſonable to Embrace and Voluntarily to ſubmit to preſent and grievous Sufferings, in Hopes of future Happineſs and Reward; concerning which we have not, nor perhaps are capable of having the ſame degree of Certainty and Aſſurance, which we have of the Evils and Sufferings of this preſent Life.
Now granting that we have not the ſame Degree of Certainty concerning our future Happineſs, that we have of our preſent Sufferings which we feel, or ſee juſt ready to come upon us; yet Prudence making it neceſſary for Men to run this hazard, does juſtifie the Reaſonableneſs of it. This I take to be a known and rul'd Caſe in the common Affairs of Life, and in Matters of Temporal Concernment; and Men Act upon this Principle every Day. The Husbandman parts with his Corn, and caſts it into the Earth, in confidence that it will ſpring up again, and at the time of Harveſt bring him in a conſiderable return and advantage. He parts with a Certainty, in hope only of a great future Benefit: And tho' he have no Demonſtration, for the Infallible Succeſs of his Labour and Hazard; yet he Acts very Reaſonably: Becauſe if he does not take this courſe, he runs a greater and more certain Hazard, of periſhing by Famine at laſt, when his preſent Stock is ſpent. The Caſe of the Merchant is the ſame, who parts with a Preſent Eſtate, in hopes of a Future Improvement; which yet is not ſo certain, as what he parts withal.
And if this be Reaſonable in theſe Caſes; then the Hazard which Men run, upon much greater Aſſurance, than either the Husbandman or the Merchant have, is much more Reaſonable. When we part with this Life in hopes of one infinitely better; that is, in ſure and certain hope of a Reſurrection to eternal life; and when we ſubmit to Preſent Sufferings to avoid an Eternity of Miſery, which is much more to be dreaded than Temporal Want; this is Reaſonable: becauſe here is a much greater Advantage in view, and a more preſſing Neceſſity in the Caſe; nothing being ſo deſirable to one that muſt live for ever as to be Happy for ever; and nothing to be avoided by him with ſo much Care, as everlaſting Miſery and Ruin. And for our ſecurity of obtaining the one, and eſcaping the other, we have the promiſe of God, who cannot lye; which is all the Certainty and Security that Things Future and Inviſible are capable of.
Nay, I will go lower. If God had made no expreſs Promiſe and Declaration of a Future Happineſs and Reward, to thoſe that ſerve him and ſuffer for him: Yet if any Man out of a ſincere Love to God, and awful Regard to his Laws, endure Trouble and Affliction, if there be a God and Providence this is Aſſurance enough to us, that our Services and Sufferings ſhall one time or other be Conſidered and Rewarded. For as ſure as any Man is, that there is a God, and that his Providence regards the Actions of Men; ſo ſure are we, that no Man ſhall finally be a loſer, by any thing that he doth or ſuffers for him.
So that the Matter is now brought to this plain Iſſue; That if it be Reaſonable to Believe there is a God, and that his Providence Regards and Conſiders the Actions of Men; it is alſo Reaſonable to endure Preſent Sufferings, in Hope of a Future Reward; and there is certainly enough in this Caſe, to govern and determine a Prudent Man, that is in any good meaſure Perſuaded of another Life after this, and hath any tolerable Conſideration of and regard to his Eternal Intereſt.
Indeed, if we were ſure, that there were no Life after this; if we had no expectation of a Happineſs or Miſery beyond this World; the wiſeſt thing that any Man could do, would be to enjoy as much of the preſent Contentments and Satisfactions of this World, as he could fairly come at. For if there be no reſurrection to another life; the Apoſtle allows the Reaſoning of the Epicure to be very good, Let us eat and drink, for, to morrow we dye. But on the other hand, if it be true that we are deſigned for Immortality, and that another State remains for us after this Life, wherein we ſhall be Unſpeakably Happy, or intolerably and Eternally Miſerable, according as we have behaved our ſelves in this World; it is then evidently Reaſonable, that Men ſhould take the greateſt Care of the longeſt Duration, and be content to bear, and diſpenſe with ſome Preſent Trouble and Inconvenience, for a Felicity that will have no end; and be willing to Labour and take Pains, and deny our preſent Eaſe and Comfort for a little while, that we may be Happy for ever. This is reckoned Prudence in the Account of this World, for a Man to part with a Preſent. Poſſeſſion and Enjoyment, for a much greater Advantage in Reverſion: But ſurely the diſproportion between Time and Eternity, is ſo vaſt; that did Men but firmly believe that they ſhall live for ever, nothing in this World could reaſonably be thought too good to part withal, or too grievous to ſuffer, for the obtaining of a Bleſſed Immortality.
In the Virtue of this Belief and Perſuaſion, the Primitive Chriſtians were Fortified, againſt all that the Malice and Cruelty of the World could do againſt them; and they thought they made a very wiſe Bargain, if thorugh many tribulations they might at laſt enter into the Kingdom of God; becauſe they believed, that the Joys of Heaven would abundantly Recompence all their Sorrows and Sufferings upon Earth. And ſo confident were they of this, that they looked upon it as a ſpecial Favour and Regard of God to them, to call them to Suffer for his Name. So St. Paul ſpeaks of it, Phil. 1.29. Ʋnto you it is given, on the behalf of Chriſt, not only to believe on him; but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake. Yea, they accounted them happy, who upon this account were miſerable in this World. So St. James expreſly pronounceth of them, Jam. 1.12. Bleſſed is the man that endureth temptation; (meaning the Temptation of Perſecution and Suffering) for when he is tried, he ſhall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promiſed to them that love him. And this conſideration was that, which kept up their Spirits from ſinking under the weight of their greateſt Sufferings. So St. Paul tells us, 2 Cor. 4.14, 16. Knowing that he which raiſed up the Lord Jeſus, ſhall raiſe up us alſo by Jeſus. For which cauſe we faint not; but tho' our outward man periſh: yet our inward man is renewed day by day. The Sufferings of their Bodies, did but help to raiſe and fortifie their Spirits: Nay, ſo far were they from fainting under thoſe Afflictions; that they rejoyced and gloried in them. So the ſame Apoſtle tells us, Rom. 5.2, 3. that in the midſt of their Sufferings, they rejoyced in hope of the Glory of God; and that they gloried in tribulations, as being the way to be made Partakers of that Glory: And Heb. 10.34. That they took joyfully the ſpoiling of their goods; knowing in themſelves, that they had in heaven a better and an enduring ſubſtance. And for this Reaſon, St. James, Chap. 1.2. exhorts Chriſtians to account it all joy, when they fell into divers temptations; (that is, various kinds of Sufferings) becauſe of the manifold Advantages which from thence would redound to them.
Now what was it that Inſpired them to all this Courage and Chearfulneſs; but the Belief of a mighty Reward, far beyond the Proportion of all their Sufferings, and a firm Perſuaſion that they ſhould be vaſt Gainers by them at the laſt? This Conſideration St. Paul urgeth with great force, 2 Cor. 4.17, 18. Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: whilſt we look not at the things which are ſeen; but at the things which are not ſeen: for the things which are ſeen, are temporal; but the things which are not ſeen, are eternal. If we would compare things, juſtly, and attentively regard and conſider the inviſible Glories of another World, as well as the things which are ſeen; we ſhould eaſily perceive, that he who ſuffers for God and Religion, does not renounce Happineſs; but puts it out to Intereſt, upon terms of the greateſt advantage.
I ſhall now ſpeak briefly to the
Second Part of this remarkable Saying in the Text; If we deny him, he alſo will deny us, To which is ſubjoined in the words following, if we believe not; foreign, if we deal unfaithfully with him; yet he abideth faithful, he cannot deny himſelf; that is, he will be conſtant to his Word, and make good that ſolemn Threatning which he hath denounced againſt thoſe, who for fear of Suffering ſhall deny him and his Truth before Men, Matt. 10.33. Whoſoever (faith our Lord there) ſhall deny me before men, him will I alſo deny before my Father which is in heaven, 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. This is a Terrible Threatning, to be diſowned by Chriſt at the Day of Judgment, in the preſence of God and his Holy Angels; And this Threatning will certainly be made good; and tho' we may renounce him, and break our faith with him; yet he remains faithful, who hath threatned, and cannot deny himſelf.
This is matter of great Terror, and ſeriouſly to be thought upon by thoſe who are tempted to deny Chriſt and his Truth, either by the hope of worldly Advantage, or the fear of temporal Sufferings. What worldly Advantage can we propoſe to our ſelves, by quitting our Religion, which can be thought an equal Price, for the loſs of our immortal Souls, and of the Happineſs of all Eternity? Suppoſe the whole World were offered us in conſideration; yet what is a man profited; if he ſhould gain the whole world, and loſe his own Soul? or what ſhall a man give in exchange for his Soul? as our Saviour Reaſons, Matt. 16.26.
And on the other hand, if the fear of Temporal Suffering be ſuch a Terror to Men, as to ſhake their Conſtancy in Religion, and to tempt them to renounce it; the fear of Eternal Torments ought to be much more Powerful, to keep them ſtedfaſt to their Religion, and to deter them from the denial of it. If Fear will move us; then in all Reaſon, that which is moſt Terrible, ought to prevail moſt with us, and the greateſt Danger ſhould be moſt dreaded by us, according to our Saviour's moſt Friendly and Reaſonable Advice, Luke 12.4, 5. I ſay unto you, my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you ſhall fear. Fear him, who after he hath killed, hath power to caſt into hell; yea, I ſay unto you, fear him. If there can be no doubt, which of them is moſt to be dreaded; there can be no doubt, what we are to do, in caſe of ſuch a Temptation.
I ſhall now draw ſome Inferences from this Diſcourſe by way of Application.
Firſt, If this be a faithful ſaying, that if we be dead with Chriſt, we ſhall alſo live with him; if we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reign with him; but if we deny him, he will alſo deny us. The Belief of it ought to have a mighty influence upon us, to make us ſtedfaſt and unmoveable in the Profeſſion and Practice of our Holy Religion. This Inference the Apoſtle makes from the Doctrine of a Bleſſed Reſurrection, 1 Cor. 15.58. Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; for as much as you know, that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. If any thing will fix Men in the Profeſſion of their Religion, and make them ſerious in the Practice of it; the Belief of a Glorious Reſurrection, and of the Reward which God will then give to his Faithful Servants, muſt needs have a very powerful Influence upon them to this purpoſe. Upon the ſame ground, the Apoſtle to the Hebrews exhorts them to hold fast the Profeſſion of their Faith, without wavering; becauſe he is faithful that hath promiſed. If we be conſtant in the Profeſſion and Practice of our Holy Religion; God will be faithful to the Promiſe which he hath made of Eternal Life, to thoſe who by patient continuance in well-doing, ſeek for Glory and Honour and Immortality.
If under the dark and imperfect Diſpenſation of the Law, Good Men ſhewed ſo much Courage and Conſtancy, for God and Religion, as we read in that long Catalogue of Heroes, Heb. 11. How much more ſhould Chriſtians, whoſe Faith is ſupported much more ſtrongly than theirs was, by a much clearer Evidence of another Life, and a Bleſſed Immortality, than they had; by more expreſs Promiſes of Divine Comfort and Aſſiſtance under Sufferings, than were made to them; and by the moſt Divine and Encouraging Example, of the greateſt Patience under the greateſt Sufferings, that the World ever had, in the Death and Paſſion of the Son of God, who for the Joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, and deſpiſed the Shame, and is ſet down at the right hand of the Throne of God! When we conſider this Glorious Example of Suffering, and the Glorious Reward of it; how can we be weary and faint in our minds! If the Saints and Apoſtles of the Old Teſtament did ſuch great things, by Virtue of a Faith, which relyed chiefly upon the Attributes and Providence of God; what ſhould not we do, who have the Security of God's expreſs Promiſe, for our Comfort and Encouragement! We certainly have much greater Reaſon to take up our Croſs more chearfully, and to bear it more patiently, than they did.
Secondly, We ſhould always be Prepared in the Reſolution of our Minds, to Suffer for the Teſtimony of God's Truth and a good Conſcience, if it ſhould pleaſe God at any time to call us to it. This our Saviour hath made a neceſſary Condition of his Religion, and a Qualification of a true Diſciple. If any man will be my diſciple; let him take up his Croſs and follow me. ſo that we are to reckon upon it, and to prepare for it; that if it comes, we may not be ſurprized, as if ſome ſtrange thing had happened to us; and may not be unreſolved what to do in ſuch a caſe. And God knows, when we may be called to it: However it is wiſe, to forecaſt it in our Minds, and to be always in a Preparation and Readineſs to entertain the worſt that may happen; that if it come, we may be able to ſtand out in an evil day; and if it does not come, God will accept the Reſolution of our Minds, and reward it according to the Sincerity of it. He that knows what we would have done, will conſider it, as if we had done it.
Thirdly, The leſs we are called to ſuffer for God, the more we ſhould think our ſelves obliged to do for him; the leſs God is pleaſed to exerciſe our Patience, we ſhould abound ſo much the more, in the active Virtues of a good Life; and our Obedience to God, ſhould be ſo much the more chearful, and we more fruitful in every good work. If there be no need of ſealing the Truth with our Blood; we ſhould be ſure to adorn and recommend it by our Lives.
Fourthly and Laſtly, If the hopes of Immortality will bear Men up under the extremity of Suffering and Torments, and give Men Courage and Reſolution againſt all the Terrours of the World; they ought much more to make us victorious over the Temptations and Allurements of it. For certainly it is in Reaſon much eaſier to foregoe Pleaſure, than to endure Pain; to refuſe or lay down a good Place, for the Teſtimony of a good Conſcience, than to lay down our lives upon that Account. And in vain does any Man pretend that he will be a Martyr for his Religion; when he will not rule an Appetite, nor reſtrain a Luſt, nor ſubdue a Paſſion, nor croſs his Covetouſneſs and Ambition, for the ſake of it, and in hope of that eternal life, which God that cannot lye, hath promiſed. He that refuſeth to do the leſs, is not like to do the greater. It is very improbable, that a Man will die for his Religion; when he cannot be perſuaded to live according to it. So that by this we may try the Sincerity of our Reſolution concerning Martyrdom. For what Profeſſion ſoever Men make, he that will not deny himſelf the Pleaſures of Sin, and the Advantages of this World, for Chriſt; when it comes to the puſh, will never have the Heart to take up his Croſs and follow him. He that cannot take up a Reſolution to live a Saint, hath a Demonſtration within himſelf, that he is never like to dye a Martyr.