A Covert from the Storm, Doctrine 1
The Firſt Doctrine:
He that will be a Saint ſhall be a ſufferer.
The Spirit ſpeaks hardly any thing more expreſſely then he doth this truth. The Apoſtle tells what afflictions and perſecutions he met with, and peremptorilvaffirms, that none ſhall eſcape. Perſeſecution they ſhall meet with, if not in one kind, in another. Drops ſhall fall upon every Saint, though ſome may be wet with greater ſhowers, 2 Tim. 3. 10, 11, 12. But thou haſt fully known my Doctrine, manner of life, purpoſe, faith, long-ſuffering, charity, patience, perſecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Janium, at Lyſtra, what perſecutions I endured there: But out of them all the Lord delivered me: yea and all that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus ſhall ſuffer perſecution. Conſult alſo, Act. 14. 22. Confirming the ſouls of the Diſciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and we muſt through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God. The journies end is glorious, but the way is …ough that leads to it, it lies through many tribulations. Self-denial and the Croſs are doctrines which Chriſt preached to all his followers, Luk. 9. 23. And he ſaid unto them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himſelf, and take up his croſs and follow me.
Two things are here to be inquired in to. One is, whence the ſufferings of the Saints ariſe? The other, What is the reaſon of this diſpenſation? Or, Why the Lord ſuffers thoſe he loves, to be thus exerciſed?
Firſt, Whence the ſufferings of the Saints ariſe? They are both from the god of th… world, and from the world it ſelf. Earth and Hell do both combine to trouble the heirs of Heaven, as they are going to their inheritance.
1. The Saints ſufferings ariſe from the god of this world: So Satan in Scripture is called. He commands the generality of the world, who are at his ſervice, and are lead by him at his pleaſure: and thoſe whom he cannot rule, he is reſolved, what he can, to moleſt and diſquiet. The Devil began betimes; righteous Abel did feel the effects of his enmity and hatred; and he continues this perſecuting Trade unto this very hour. And till the whole Body of Chriſt be taken up where the Head is, Satan will be as a thorn, to pierce and trouble them.
It will not be amiſs to examine the matter further; and to ſearch into the cauſe, why Satan thus endeavours to load the Saints with ſufferings.
1. The Devil bears an implacable hatred to the Saints Head, the Lord Jeſus. He would fain have killed Chriſt from the birth; and incited Hered, to make ſuch weeping and lamentation in Rama, becauſe of the children that were ſo inhumanly butchered, Mat. 2. Our Lord was tempted by the Devil, Mat. 4. who would gladly have foiled the Second, as he had done the Firſt Adam; but he could not prevail. The Devil is ſaid to have put it into the heart of Judas to betray Chriſt. All which plainly ſhews his hatred of the Son of God. The works of! Chriſt and of Satan, are quite contrary. Satans work is to murther and deſtroy; therefore he hath his name Apollyon, Rev. 9. 11. But Chriſts work is to ſave. The Son of God was manifeſted to this very end, that he might deſtroy the works of this Deſtroyer; and the Son of God hath got the Victory, He hath ſpoyled Principalities and Powers, and made a ſhew of them openly, triumphing over them in his Croſs, Col. 2. 15. He is now aſcended on high, and is at his Fathers right hand: And the old Dragon being full of wrath, to ſee him ſo exalted, ſpi…s his venom at the Members, which are in his reach, for the Heads ſake. And ſurely our Lord will look upon himſelf as the more obliged to ſtand by his ſuffering ſervants, ſince 'tis for his ſake partly, that this adverſary is ſo liberal of his arrowes, and ſhoots ſo many at them.
2. The Devil is full of envy at Believers themſelves. A…oon as ever he had ſinned; preſently the chains of darkneſs were clapt upon him; he was immediately caſt down to hell, no patience being ſhewn, no pity extended, no means of recovery offer'd, 2 Pet. 2. God ſpared not the Angels that ſinned, but caſt them down to Hell, and delivered them into chains and darkneſs to be reſerved unto judgment. But believers, though by nature the children of wrath and diſobedience, are pitied, pardoned, adopted, ſaved: A Remedy is provided, and that Remedy made effectual, through the application of it, to their recovery, and the recovery of their loſt bleſſedneſs. Now this fills Satan with envy, which is both his ſin and torture, and envy ſtirs him up to do what miſchief he is able.
3. The Devil diſlikes holineſs where-ever he finds it. He hates indeed all the children of men; but thoſe that are ſanctified and renewed, in a ſpecial manner. As he is utterly deſtitute of, ſo he utterly dereſts and abhors the image of God, which ſhews the fearful depravation of his nature. 'Tis no wonder he runs to the utmoſt length of his chain to harm the Saints, who have put off the old, and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteouſneſs and true holineſs, Eph. 4. 24. Sin is arrived at its full growth, 'tis come to its perfection in the Devil. Holineſs he ſtrikes at, and endeavours to diſcourage and hinder whereever he finds it. Thoſe who reſemble Satan in this, the meaſure of their iniquity is fuller than they are aware of.
4. The Devil deſigns by the perſecuting of the Saints, to promote his intereſt and Kingdom. This Prince of darkneſs is a very proud ſpirit, he would, by his good will, have the whole world his ſlaves and vaſſals. How does he rage, when any of them, whom he lead captive, are reſcued from him! He is ſedulous to eſtabliſh his Throne and Principality. Oh that Saints were as zealous and diligent to advance the honour and intereſt of the King of Saints! The Devil hopes to promote his Kingdom, not only by flattering ſinners into his ſubjection, but alſo by affrighting them from the ſervice of another Lord.
There are theſe five wayes whereby Satan is like to be advantaged in times of ſuffering.
1. He is likely to get advantage, by diſcouraging the weak in faith. He hopes that they who have but weak hands, and feeble knees, will not eaſily get over thoſe ſlumbling blocks, which in times of trouble are caſt in their way. And if their hearts do faint and fail, not only they themſelves, but Religion looſes ground; and what ground is loſt, the Devil gaine. He ſet upon Peter when he was weak; and how far did he prevail? Peter falls moſt ſhamefully, and his fall coſt him dear; and how was the prejudice againſt Chriſt in the High-Prieſts Hall encreaſed, when one of his followers, thus with curſing and ſwearing, did ſo utterly deny him? Satan deſires to have weak Saints eſpecially, that he may ſift them as wheat: 'Tis well our Lord prayes for them, that their faith may not fail in the hour of temptation.
2. Satan is likely to get advantage, by making the Temporaries fall away. He know… that the Sun of perſecution ſhining …ot, will ſcorch the Seed that's ſown, and ſprings up in ſtony ground, Mat. 13. 21. Temporary believers are quickly offended at Chriſt, and become unbelievers again. I… a ſtorm ariſes, they will leave the Ship where Chriſt is, and loving carnal caſe, and an whole skin, will put in to the next harbour. Let Chriſt be alone, if he will, in a tempeſt, they will not then accompany him. And when many of theſe unſound Diſciples do forſake the Lord, carnal hearts are more confirmed and hardned againſt him; as if 'twere unſafe, and conſequently a very unwiſe part to be of the number of his followers. The going away of temporary believers, is very likely to hinder others from engaging to ſuch a Maſter who is ſo much deſerted.
3. Satan is likely to get advantage in the times of ſuffering, by ſtaving off them that are without, from coming in, and cloſing with Chriſt Jeſus. When any begin to bethink themſelves, to conſider their wayes, and to mind ſalvation, the Devil, eſpecially in the day of calamity, fills their minds with ſuch ſuggeſtions as theſe: That the Croſs of Chriſt is heavy; that 'tis dreadful to be hated of all men; that tribulation will pinch their fleſh; that name, relations, credit, eſtate, nay and perhaps life may be called for, as ſoon as ever Chriſt is cloſed with. And hereby he ſtrangely and ſtrongly prevails upon timerous and corrupted nature. You had better, ſayes Satan, underſtand when you are well, and keep your ſelves ſo; you had better live in peace and plenty, as the moſt of thoſe about you do, than be ſingular in your way, and by that ſingularity make ſo many enemies, and pull down upon your heads ſo many troubles. And truly the fleſh hath an open ear to ſuch counſel, though it be very unreaſonable and pernicious.
4. Satan is likely to get advantage in the time of ſufferings, By leſſening the Saints number. He cares not how many of theſe are cut off; he delights in the high and crying ſin of thoſe who be the Saints Deſtroyers; and he knows that when believers are cut off, though he cannot trouble them, they cannot trouble him any longer, by undermining of his Kingdom, as before they did. Saints, whoſe faith, and love, and hope, ſet them above the fear of ſufferings, are perſons whom the Devil fears, as well as hates; therefore he wiſhes he were well rid of them: theſe will hearten and ſtrengthen their brethren to ſtand faſt in the Lord; theſe conſequently are the marks at which he aims, and would fain quite run them down to the very grave by tribulation.
5. Satan is likely to get advantage in the time of ſuffering, by hindring the preaching and progreſs of the Goſpel. Where perſecution is vehement, Viſion grows rare; in thoſe places where the joyful ſound, the glad tydings of peace, uſed to be heard, there is a ſad ſilence. The Prophets are driven into corners, and not ſuffered to cry aloud to ſinners to awaken them, and turn them from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. And when faithful Labourers are thrown aſide, Satan expects a plentiful harveſt.
Thus the Devil aims at the promoting of his Kingdom, by ſtriking at the Saints: But the Lord commonly at laſt out-ſhoots him in his own bow, and makes theſe ſufferings tend to the ſufferers good, and the Goſpels glory and encreaſe. God can a compliſh his ends by means that ſeem contrary; he can make Satan and perſecutors ſerve his Son by enlarging of his Borders, which they thought and hoped to have narrowed. He can thruſt forth (ſo the word in the original foreign ſignifies) Labourers into his Harveſt again. And though men and Devils ſtand to hinder their entrance and working, if the Lord thruſt them in, in they ſhall go, and work with more power and ſucceſs then ever.
2. The Saints ſufferings ariſe, as from the god of this world, ſo from the world it ſelf. What Chriſt ſaid concerning the Jewes who went about to kill him, may be applied to thoſe who are the troublers of his Members, They are of their father the Devil, and the luſts of their father they will do, John 8. 44. He is a Lyar and a Murtherer, and ſo are they. They firſt raiſe lyes of Believers, confidently affirming them to be rebellious, ſeditious enemies to Kingdomes (though indeed the Pillars of the Nations where they live) and having lyed againſt them, they endeavour their ruine; having miſrepreſented them, they fall upon them: They lye in ſaying, the Saints are not fit to live, and then they ſtrive to root them out of the Land of the living. Thus they make nothing of tranſgreſſing at once both the ſixth and the ninth Commandment.
Now the reaſon which moves the men of this world to trouble the Saints of God is four…old.
1. The Saints are not of the world. Our Lord ſpeaks thus to his Diſciples, Joh. 15. 19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but becauſe ye are not of the world, but I have choſen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Again, he ſpeaks to the ſame purpoſe, John 17. 14. I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them, the reaſon is, becauſe they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Believers are unlike the men of the world, and this unlikeneſs is the ground of diſlike. They dare not be careleſs of their ſouls, fearleſs of God, prodigal of the day of Grace, as the world are. They are not conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of their minds, and they prove what is the good, the acceptable and perfect will of God, Rom. 12. 2. And truly the world is a great enemy to all them that are Non-Conformiſts to its manners, although its manners are ſo exceeding vain and ſinful.
2. The Saints are of God. And the men of the world, who are foreign, it is no wonder if they hate the Saints likewiſe.—Viſam for a ſaevit in umbram. Some Beaſts have ſuch an antipathy to man, that they will run at his Picture where they ſee it. In like manner, the world cannot endure thoſe who have the image of God reſplendent and ſhining in them. Abel was …oted becauſe his works were righteous, 1 John 3. 12. Prodigiouſly ſtrange! that believers ſhould be abhorr'd, becauſe beautified with grace, and be hated becauſe lovely.
3. The Saints are a conviction to the conſciences of the ungodly. 'Tis ſaid that H…rod feared John the Baptiſt, becauſe he was a juſt man and holy. Herods conſcience was ſtruck with an aw, by the majeſty and beauty that appeared in the converſation of that burning and ſhining light. The holineſs of John made Herods wickedneſs the more apparent; and at laſt he makes an end of him who did ſo much diſturb him in his filthy and unlawful pleaſures. Wicked mens conſciences do, not unuſually, reproach them, becauſe they are ſo unlike believers. Do you not ſee, ſayes conſcience to them, how watchful the Saints … leſt they …r into temptation? Do you not ſee how they pray, how they ſtrive, and how they live? Certainly you are in danger of the ſame Hell, which they endeavour to avoid; and capable of the ſame Kingdome, which they uſe ſuch violence to take: And by ſuch language as this their falſe peace is intrencht upon; they cannot ſin with ſuch freedome and delight, but the ſecret and condemning whiſpers of conſcience, ſowr and leſſen their pleaſures: and this exceedingly raiſes their choler; and like ſo many wolves they fall upon the harmleſs ſheep of Chriſt which live among them.
4. The Saints act contrary to the perverſe wills and inclinations of wicked ones. They make conſcience of obeying that injunction, 1 Pet. 4. 2. That he no longer live the reſt of his time in the fleſh, to the luſts of men, but to the will of God. They are taught not to follow a multitude; and to judg that way unſafe and leading to ruine, which is the broadeſt, and moſt crowded with paſſengers. They dare not run with others to all exceſs of …iot, and upon this ſcore they are ſpoken evil of. Two things make the Saints to be maligned by the men of the world; The Saints hate what the men of the world love, and vilifie what the men of the worl… adore.
1. They hate what the men of the world love▪ Believers hatred of ſin is univerſal, they ſtrike at ſin in themſelves and others; they cannot▪ with patience ſee ſuch a curſed thing ſerved by ſo many; they teſtifie o… its evil and deſtructive nature, and hereby though undeſervedly, contract the ill wil… of them who prefer their ſins before their ſouls, and will by no means let their luſts go, though theſe luſts of theirs are ſuch ſure hinderances to their eternal happineſs.
2. The Saints vilifi… what the men of the World adore. As the Epheſians of old ſtood up for their Goddeſs Diana, ſo the worldly minded cry out, Great is the Mammon of unrighteouſneſs. But believers trample upon this idolized clay, they call it as it is, Vanity and vexation of ſpirit, and are not afraid to let the earthly minded know, that it had been better for them never to have com… into the world at all, than to have nothing but the things of the world to be their portion.
You ſee now whence the ſufferings of the Saints ariſe, from the world, and from the god of the World.
In the ſecond place we are to enquire, wherefore it is that God permits the Saints who are ſo dear to him, to be thus exerciſed with ſufferings.
1. Saints are exerciſed with ſufferings, that pride may be hid from them. The ſin of pride cleaves cloſe, ſtands ſtiffly, is not eaſily pull'd down. A mighty hand is fain to be laid upon us, to keep our ſpirits low; and that mighty hand of God is a good hand, when, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, we humble our ſelves under it. Sufferings make us often to reflect on ſin, and to be the more affected at our guilt and vileneſs. Our weakneſs then likewiſe becomes more apparent; we ſee how aſſuredly we ſhould ſink, if an arm from Heaven were not ſtretched forth to ſuſtain us. And when we ſee our vileneſs and our weakneſs, we ſhall not think our ſelves too good to ſuffer, we ſhall not through the haughtineſs of our hearts, fre… and be impatient under our loads; thus to do, is unreaſonable, becauſe infinitely more than we feel hath been deſerved; and the way to force the Lord to withdraw, whoſe preſence is our ſtaffe and comfort Sufferings being ſanctified, are hugely efficacious to our humiliation: bearing the yoke will …ame our ſpirits, and make us to put our mouthes in the duſt, i… ſo be there may be h…pe, La…. 3. 29.
2. Saints are exerciſed with ſufferings, that they may be proved. Their faith, and love, and other graces, which are much more precious than gold that periſheth, are tryed by the fire of afflictions, and abiding the fire, will be found unto praiſe and honour and glory, at the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1. 7. 'Tis a ſign their grace is ſincere… indeed, if they follow the Lamb, though he leads them through fire and water; their faith is ſtrong, or elſe it would fail; their love is ardent, elſe it would cool; they are the Lord Chriſts, not only by profeſſion, but by a real incorporation and ſpiritual union, elſe tribulation would cauſe a ſeparation. The Accuſer of the brethren ſayes perhaps to the Lord concerning believers, Let men but touch what they have, let them be but expoſed to ſuffering for thee, and they will preſently d…ny thee. But when they prove ſtedfaſt as a Rock in the midſt of the moſt boyſterous waves; when they will part with any thing rather than their integrity, their ſincerity is hereby tryed and made manifeſt, and Satans accuſation is evidently proved to be a falſe one.
3. Saints are exerciſed with ſufferings, in order to their refining. Though they are not reprobate ſilver, yet much droſs notwithſtanding is mixed with the right mettal; hence it follows that the furnace of tribulation is but needful. How do believers beſtir themſelvs to keep in with God, when the world frowns, and threatens and ſtrikes at them? Oh then the folly of backſliding is very viſible; how do they cry to have all thoſe wide breaches that ſin hath made, cloſed and made up again! how do their ſpirits make a diligent ſearch after every thing that defiles, and which may prove a dark and uncomfortable cloud between the Lord and them: No luſt but they are more than ordinary earneſt to have it ſlain: And they profeſs perſecution will be eſteem'd a priviledge, if it conduce to more perfect purity; and that they will kiſs the rod that drives ſin and folly far away from them. As the promiſes of ſupport, ſo the promiſes of fanctification are often pleaded, wherein, God engages to cleanſe them from all their filthineſs, to ſave them from all their uncleanneſſes, to give them his ſpirit, and to cauſe them to walk in his ſtatutes, and to obſerve his judgments, and do them, Ezek. 36. 25, 26. The Saints in diſtreſs do hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs, and the Lord doth by degrees ſatisfie that hunger: And the more they are freed from ſin, their ſufferings are the ſweeter.
4. Saints are exerciſed with ſufferings, that they may be weaned from things viſible. Troubles are as ſo much gall put upon the worlds breaſts to wean us from it. In time of tribulation the Lord, not only by his word, but by his Providence, ſpeaks to us after this manner; Ariſe, this is not your reſt, build not your neſt here, the whole Forreſt is ſold to Death, and every Tree muſt ſhortly down. 'Tis in the time of peace uſually that the world inſinuates it ſelf; in trouble its emptineſs is more eaſily diſcerned. As believers are crucifyed to the world, ſo the world is crucifyed unto them, Gal. 6. 14. They behold the world as that which ſin hath brought a curſe upon, and therefore to be watch't againſt, leſt it prove a ſnare; and then they look upon the world with ſuch a kind of eye as the Jewes did upon Chriſt in his exinanition, Iſa. 53. They ſee no form nor comlineſs in it, that they ſhould deſire it. Believers in the evil day, beſide their hard uſage from the world, which makes them leſs to like it, have more affecting thoughts of eternity and the world to come: and hereupon the things which are temporal grow contemptible, and are not counted worth a look, 2 Cor. 4. 18. Whilſt we look not at the thnigs which are ſeen, but at the things that are not ſeen; and not without reaſon, for the things that are ſeen are temporal, but the things that are not ſeen are eternal.
5. Saints are exerciſed with ſufferings, that they may be …ted for, and long for the inheritance that is above. By ſufferings they are made conformable to their Head, and are perfected and ripened more and more for glory. Therefore afflictions are ſaid to work for us a weight of glory. Glory is promiſed to the ſufferer for righteouſneſs ſake; and 'tis a righteous thing with God, to give reſt to them who upon ſuch an account are troubled, 2 Theſſ. 1. 7. By trouble they are made meet for reſt; and the greater the tribulation, the glory 'tis likely will be the greater, to be ſure the more welcome.
When we look round about us, and ſee nothing but matter of grief and ſorrow, …will make us look upward to thoſe manſions on high, and long to be there, where ſi… and ſuffering will come to a perpetual end. In Heaven there will be an eternal calmneſs and ſerenity; no ſons of violence will be there to diſturb the Saints in their praiſes; no enemies will be permitted to roar in that Congregation; no fear of priſon or any other puniſhment will be there; but their joy will be like a full Sea, and not ebb any more for ever: I am now come to the Application.
USE I.
If he that will be a Saint ſhall be a Sufferer, learn from hence, They are far from being Saints, who reſolve to give out when once it comes to ſuffering. Thoſe are not worthy the name of Diſciples, who like the Swallow, will tarry with Chriſt all the Summer, but when the cold and ſtormy Winter approaches, do uſe their wings and leave him. Our Lord ſayes, He that loves Father or Mother, or life it ſelf, more than …, is not worthy of me: that is, he is not fit to make one of my followers. If trouble make you to be offended, and go away from Chriſt, 'tis a ſign you prefer eaſe and peace and proſperity before him, and conſequently that you have not the faith unfeigned of Gods Elect. If you did indeed believe, Chriſt would be precious, and that even then, when he is a ſtone of ſtumbling, and a rock of offence to others, 1 Pet. 2. 7. If you did indeed believe, you would be of the Apoſtles mind, who counted all things but dung, when compared with Chriſt; and eſteeming them but dung, no wonder if he contentedly ſuffered the loſs of them, that his intereſt in his Lord might be ſecured, Phil. 3. 8. For whom I have ſuffered the loſſe of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Chriſt.
USE II.
If he that will be a Saint ſhall be a ſufferer, then 'tis but reaſonable for every Saint to expect ſuffering. Reckon upon it that troubles will be met with in your way to Heaven; none ever arrived to that foreign fair Haven, without being toſs't by ſome tempeſts. He that goes to ſea, is not ſo fooliſh as to think it will be a perpetual calm all his Voyage. He that Liſt… himſelf a Souldier, expects ſomtime or other to be engaged. So a Chriſtian ſhould ſit down, and count the coſt, L…ke 14. before he embarque with Chriſt, before he liſt himſelf under this Captain of ſalvation. And certainly 'twill coſt ſome trouble to be Chriſts follower; none ever faithfully ſerved him, but his fleſh ſmarted for it; though it muſt alſo be affirmed, that this ſmart of the outward, is uſually ſweetned with a far greater pleaſure in the inner man. Our Lord ſpeaks to his Diſciples plainly, and without a Parable, Joh. 16. ult. In the world ye ſhall have tribulation; but that their hearts might not be troubled, he tells them firſt, In me ye ſhall have peace: And he adds ſecondly, Be of good chear, I have overcome the world.
USE III.
If he that will be a Saint ſhall be a ſufferer, then 'tis the Saints wiſdome to prepare for ſufferings. Evil dayes will come; but God hath prov…ded armour of proof, which if you put on, you ſhall be able to withſtand in the evil day, and having done all to ſtand. I might here enlarge in going over the Chriſtians Armour: but I ſhall only ſingle out ſome pieces, which you muſt not fail to get and uſe in a day of ſuffering, and which, if uſed skilfully, no force, either of evil men, or evil Angels, ſhall prevail againſt you. Though no part of the Armour of God be needleſs, yet eſpecially you muſt take
The Shield of Faith.
The Breaſt-plate of Love.
The Helmet of Hope.
And cry by Prayer for continual help and ſupport from above.
1, That you may be arm'd againſt ſufferings, take unto you the ſhield of Faith. Yo… are in a Battel, Men and Devils thruſting ſore at you that you may fall; What ſhift can you make without a Shield? The Shield is Armour to the other Armour. If Faith be ſtrong, your other Graces will have the greater vigour, and ſtand you in the greater ſtead. Faith will make you victorious. This is the victory, ſayes the Apoſtle, that overcometh the world, even our Faith, 1 John 5. 4. And it may truly be ſaid, This is alſo the victory that overcometh the god of this world, even our faith; faith prevails againſt both.
By faith the Worthies of old of whom the world was unworthy, went through all their tryals, and yet theſe tryals were very ſore: They were cruelly mocked and ſcourged, they were ſtoned, they were ſawn aſunder, were tempted, were ſtain with the ſword, they wandred about in ſheep-skins and goatskins, being deſtitute, afflicted, tormented, Heb. 11. 37. 'Tis remarkable, that the Holy Ghoſt in deſcribing their puniſhments, ſiath they were tempted. 'Tis likely fair means were uſed as well as foul, promiſes of preferment, as well as threatnings of torment, to draw them away from their integrity; and this was a ſore temptation. But faith kept them ſtedfaſt, and rendred the temptation ineffectual.
Faith looks to its Author and Finiſher the Lord Jeſus, and ſees the world vanquiſhed by him, and the Principalities and Powers of darkneſs ſpoyled by him; and therefore concludes it will not be long ere more than a conqueſt through him that hath loved the believer will be obtained. And in the mean while Faith relyes upon the word of promiſe, and ſtayes the ſoul on the Lord Jehovah: whereupon the ſoul is both ſupported by an everlaſting arm, and alſo kept in perfect peace, Iſa. 26. 3, 4. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee, becauſe he truſteth in thee. Truſt ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlaſting ſtrength.
2. That you may be armed againſt ſufferings, get on the Breaſt-plate of love. If you love much, you will conſent, when called, to ſuffer much, and not think much of what you ſuffer. If your love to the Lord Jeſus be, as it ought to be, tranſcendent and flaming, many waters will not have power to quench it, all the floods that lift up their waves will not be able to drown it, Cant. 8. 7.
…et your love to Chriſt be ſurely groun…ed. Be well acquainted with your loſt eſtate, your abſolute need of this Saviour, without whom no ſhift can be made, but wrath and ruine are unavoidable. Be well acquainted with Chriſts matchleſs excellency, and how he is admirably, and every way ſuited to your deſires and neceſſities, being a Prophet to inſtruct and reduce the ignorant and erring ſoul, a Prieſt to reconcile his Father to the guilty, a King to reſcue and de…end from all ſorts, even the worſt of enemies. And as he is able, ſo likewiſe ready to do all this, and that for any who deſire that all this may be done for them. I…deed he rejects thoſe who like only his Prieſthood, but count his Kingdome an hard word, his commands grievous; but he never denyed his benefits to any that were willing to have them all without exception, purity as well as pardon and peace, grace as well as glory.
Our Lord is not unwilling you ſhould, take a v…ew of him. He does not deſire to be loved, unleſs, your eyes being enlightned, you ſee ſufficient reaſon. Sin is loved upon a miſtake; and 'tis upon a miſtake that Chriſt is deſpiſed. If ſin were underſtood, it would be abhorr'd: and if Chriſts worth were but weigh'd and righ… ly judg'd of, as he deſerves to be, ſo he would be actually the Deſire of all Nations, as the Prophet calls him, Hag. 2. 7. Know him therefore, and let your love ſpring from a right underſtanding of him, and then nothing will be eſteemed too good or dear to caſt away, that you may hold him faſt. The worlds ſtore is nothing comparable to the benefits, which he hath purchaſed with the price of his blood. And the moſt ſevere Lawes and Edicts of men, the greateſt torments that they can invent or inflict, are nothing near ſo dreadful as that Anathema Maranatha, which is thundred out againſt any man that loves not the Lord Jeſus, 1 Cor. 16. 22. Anathema Maranatha, ſignifies, Let him be a… carſed till the Lord comes. They that love not Chriſt, will have a curſe ly…ng upon them that never ſhall be removed, and that's infinitely worſe than any preſent ſufferings.
3. That you may be armed againſt ſufferings, Let not the Helmet of hope be wanting. Your heads may be lifted up with boldneſs when you have this Helmet on. A lively hope will have a great influence to keep your hearts from ſinking into deſpondency. Hope is ſtiled the anchor of the ſoul both ſure and ſtedfaſt, and entring within the vail, Heb. 6. 19. In the ſtorm of trouble believers ſhould caſt anchor, and their anchour muſt be caſt upward; there's the Rock of Ages, and in him their anchor is to be faſtned. The Ship ſails not while the anchor is caſt. But a Chriſtian differs, his anchor is faſtned, and yet he ſails at the ſame time; which ſhewes that he ſails moſt ſafely in the midſt of the greateſt fluctuations, towards the Harbour of peace. Let Hope be ſtrong. Hope of a happy concluſion will make preſent affliction be endured with patience.
It is the buſineſs of Hope to wait for and expect the accompliſhment of the promiſes. Fides, ſayes Luther, intuetur verbum rei, Spes rem verbi. And ſince the ſalvation which Hope expects, is ſo certain, ſo juſt at the door, and ſo exceeding glorious, hardſhip and labour in the way to ſuch a reſt, may the better be diſpenſed with. When the fl…ſh through weakneſs complains, and is ready to fail, then Hope encourages the heart, and ſayes, Yet a little while, and he that ſhall come, will come, and will not tar…y; I expect him, and deliverance and a reward with him, and this expectation of Hope will never make aſhamed, Rom. 5. 5. This Helmet of Hope is of ſingular uſe, it covers the head of a Chriſtian, in the day of Battel, it wards off the blows of diſcouragement, which would ſtrike the Head under water. For this reaſon the Apoſtle is ſo earneſt, that the believing Romanes, might be made to abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 15. 13.
4. That you may be armed againſt ſuffering, cry by prayer for continual help and ſupport from above. Though you are never ſo compleatly armed, yet there is need of prayer, to call in freſh and renewed auxiliary force from heaven: Therefore the Apoſtle adds, Praying alwayes with all prayer and ſupplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perſeverance, Eph. 6. 18. When men and Devils are wreſtling with you, do you wreſtle with God; and if you can but imitate your father Iſrael, and as Princes prevail with God; if you have power with the Almighty, who then can be too ſtrong, too hard for you?
Fill your mouths with arguments, and cry unto the Lord, That ſince he hath lead you into the field, he would not leave you in the battel; that ſince trouble i… near, he would not be far …ff, but near to help you; that ſince 'tis for his ſake you are perſecuted, by his power of Providence you may be preſerved, and your troubles turned to his honour and your advantage. Tell him, that your enemies are his, and 'tis becauſe you dare not diſpleaſe him, that men are enraged againſt you. Tell him, 'Tis time for him to work, for men have made voyd his Law. Tell him, that you look and long for his ſalvation, and that you will never ceaſe your importunity, till he appear and own that truth and cauſe which men endeavour to bear down, but you are ſtanding up for unto the Death. Prayer hath a mighty p…evalency: Luther ſaid, there was a kind of omnipotency therein. This weapon hath made the Church terrible as an Army with Banners. Perſecutors and Devils likewiſe, have many times by Prayer been worſted.
USE IV.
If he that will be a Saint ſhall be a ſufferer, Let me exhort and perſwade you that are Saints, to bear ſufferings as become you. Let not fretting, or fear, or ſorrow prevail, unto your diſcompoſure; but manifeſt to all the world, that you have ſomthing of God in you, by undergoing what bare nature would ſink under. Suffer not as wilful, but as conſcientious; be able to give Scripture reaſons for what you practice, and for what you refuſe. Beg of the Lord to make your way plain; and the way of duty being diſcovered, though there be a Lion, or a thorn hedge in that way, go forward notwithſtanding.
And among others, let theſe encouraging arguments be pondered by you.
1. God is glorified by your ſufferings: indeed, on your adverſaries part he is evil ſpoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 'Tis a ſign you really believe the Lords greatneſs and power, when you had rather have the whole world your enemies, than him to be your enemy. 'Tis a ſign you indeed believe his goodneſs and his promiſes, when you had rather part with all viſible comforts, than be caſt away from his preſence and favour. And by thus believing you glorifie him exceedingly. It argues alſo that the Lord hath your hearts in good earneſt, when no troubles, no afflictions, which for his ſake you are aſſaulted with, can alienate your affections from him. Further, you proclaim to all, what a good Maſter you ſerve, when your adverſaries by all that they can do, are not able to divert you from following him, cannot compel you to forſake his ſervice. And who knows what convictions in the conſciences of them that obſerve you, may be the effect of your conſtancy? Who knows but that by this means, ſome may be brought to make tryal of your Lord, and ſo to the liking and loving of him?
2. By your ſuffering the Goſpel is advanced. The mighty power and efficacy of the Goſpel is ſhewn forth, when it makes and keeps the Diſciples hearts undaunted, though ſufferings in the moſt fearful ſhapes and forms are objected to their view. How is the Goſpel magnified, when believers are content to be the mark for an adulterous generation to ſhoot at, rather than be aſhamed of it? 'Tis evident, that the Goſpel is from God, elſe it could not thus ſupport and comfort. The Apoſtle tells the Philippians, Chap. 1. 12. that his bonds and confinement, were to the Goſpels furtherance and enlargment; his Brethren grew bold to ſpeak the word without fear, and the word ſpoken was the more readily entertained, being credited by ſuſtaining Paul and other Saints in all their tribulation.
3. By your ſufferings your ſelves are dignified. You are highly graced, when called forth to be the Lords Witneſſes; The Spirit of Glory, and of God reſteth upon you. The Lord ſingles you out to combate with the Powers of earth and darkneſs, and he will encourage, and help, and give you victory. The Apoſtles, when they were beaten, did not murmur, but rejoiced that they were counted worthy to ſuffer ſhame for the name of Jeſus, Acts 5. 41. Shame is dignity, reproach is glory, loſs is gain, ſorrow is joy, pain is pleaſure, when endured for the ſake of Chriſt. Several of the Martyrs in the Marian Perſecution, when they went to the Stake, gave thanks upon this very account, that they died a death ſo noble as to dye Martyrs for the truth againſt Babels abominations, and to aſcend, as it were, …n fiery Charots to the New Jeruſalem.
4. When you are ſuffering, what a ſtock of prayers is going for you. 'Tis an happineſs to be hardly dealt with, ſo we are prayed harder for. Our tribulation makes the bowels of mercy which are in our Brethren to year… towards us; they are bound with us in the ſame Bonds, and ſ…mpathize in our ſufferings; this makes them the more inſtant and earneſt with the Father of mercies on our behalf. When James the brother of John had loſt his life, being killed by the Sword; and Pe…er had loſt his liberty, being apprehended and put in priſon, 'tis ſaid that Prayer was made without ceaſing of the Church to God for him, Acts 12. 5. And Prayer having entered into Heaven, brought an Angel to his reſcue, it ſhook the chains off Peters hands, and cauſed an iron gate of i…s own accord to open to him. Behold the ſtrength of believers prayers!
For my own particular, I ſeriouſly confeſs, that my impriſonment hath moſt happily in this regard befallen me; I have no reaſon to be vexed with, but rather to thank my adverſaries for their kindneſſe in thus confining of me. The ſtrictneſſe and cloſeneſſe of my priſon, hath made my caſe ſ…mwhat peculiar; and that alſo is turned unto good, for hereby the ſpirits of hundreds, both in City and Country, were ſtirred up to pray for me with greater fervency and enlargment: And to have ſo many prayers poured out for One particular perſon, is an ineſtimable priviledge. My Friends, I thank you, G…d hath anſwered your requeſts, I have had that in priſon, which is ten thouſand times better than liberty▪ than the world, than life, than ten thouſand worlds and lives. My Enemies, I cannot but thank you too, becauſe you were the occaſion of the mercies I have received; though I really grieve to think that you did me good with ſo much harm to your ſelves.
5. When you ſuffer, the Lord himſelf ſuffers with you. Not only your fellow Members, but your Head doth ſympathize and feel your burthens. In all your afflictions, he is afflicted, Iſa. 63. 9. You have not an High Prieſt that cannot be touched with the feeling of your infirmities: and the effect of this ſympathie, muſt needs be a moſt tender regard to you, and readineſs to relieve you in due ſeaſon. Luther very well obſerves, that when any member of the natural body is harmed, the ſenſe of pain appears in the head and face, the brows are knit, the forehead wrinkled, and the tongue cryes Oh! the whole countenance is alter'd. And in like manner 'tis in the myſtical Body, when any member is wronged, if the injurious wretches could but ſee the face of Chriſt the Head, they might plainly perceive he feels the ſtroak, and is wounded in the wounds of his faithful followers. Therefore when Paul, while a zealous ſon of the Jewiſh Church, did perſecute the Diſciples of the Lord, and being exceedingly mad againſt them, did hale men and women, and commit them to priſon, Chriſt out of heaven cries out to him, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou Me? And ſince the great Phyſitian is himſelf wounded in your wounds, you may confidently expect an healing balm from him.
6. To encourage you, conſider, Great is the power that reſts upon you in your ſufferings. Such a power as ſhall not only make you ſtrong as David, but as the Angels of the Lord. A Saint ſtrengthned by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob, though ſhot at by the Archers, his Bow ſhall abide in ſtrength; therefore in Scripture he is compared to an iron pillar, to a brazen wall, to a defenced City, Jer. 1. 18. To ſhew, that though he is aſſaulted, and that with violence, yet he ſtands firm and unmoved. Little do the ungodly think who is the Saints helper. The Apoſtle conſidering the ſufficiency of that Grace which is promiſed in the evil day, profeſſeth he was not ſorry for that dayes approach, nay ſo far from that, he glories and takes pleaſure in it, 2 Cor. 12. 9, 10. And he ſaid unto me, my grace is ſufficient for thee, for my ſtrength is made perfect in weakneſs: moſt gladly therefore will I rather glory in mine infirmities, that the power of Chriſt may… reſt upon me. Therefore I take pleaſure in infirmities, in reproaches, in neceſſities, in perſecutions, in diſtreſſes for Chriſt: for when I am weak, then am I ſtrong.
7. Great is the peace vouchſafed to ſufferers. Chriſt ſpeaks of this peace, and having left this Legacy, he adds with reaſon, that they ſhould not …ear or be troubled, Joh. 14. 27. Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you: Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. How many doubts and fears have been cured by tribulation? When this for the Goſpels ſake hath been ſubmitted to, the heart which before trembled, and was diſconſolate, is filled with joy and peace in believing. And indeed, as trouble is an evident token of perdition to the troublers, ſo to them that for well-doing are troubled, 'tis a token of ſalvation, and that of God, Phil. 1. 28. Oh the Songs that have been ſung in the night of diſtreſs! Oh the ſweet refreſhing viſits that the Lord of Glory hath given to his priſoners; ſo that thoſe places of confinement, have been ſomtimes turned into the very ſuburbs of the New Jeruſalem. And let not the greatneſs of ſuffering diſmay any; theſe will but occaſion your fuller joy, and more abundant conſolation, 2 Cor. 1. 5. For as the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt.
8. If you ſuffer with Chriſt, you ſhall alſo reign with him, 2 Tim. 2. 12. And truly the Croſs is light as a feather, if compared with the Crown. Send forth your Faith but as a Spy to the heavenly Canaan; let it take a view of the Glory there; let it bring but a leaf of the Palms that are to be put into your hands, but a gem of the Crowns that ſhortly will be put upon your heads, and you will preſently be of the Apoſtles judgment, when he ſaid, I reckon that the ſufferings of this preſent time, are not worthy to be compared to the glory that ſhall be revealed in us, Rom. 8. 18. Sufferers will find a more abundant entrance into the Kingdome. They are with a great deal of honour pointed at, Rev. 7. 14. Theſe are they which came out of great tribulation, and have waſhed their Robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. How many encouragements are here to ſuffer; ſufficient, if duly weighed, to make you ſuffer, not only with patience, but with gladneſs.
USE V.
I ſhall conclude this Doctrine with a Caution to the unholy: Do not think your condition happy becauſe freed from ſufferings now. Your ſin at laſt will find you out; it is purſuing after you to overthrow you, and it will, if you repent not ſpeedily, overtake you. And though you are not in trouble, like other men, that cleanſe their hearts, and waſh their hands in innocency, Eternity will be long enough for you to be plagued, and (wo wo to you) then your ſufferings will be extreme, being not at all ſweetned with the leaſt mixture of conſolation.