The Life of Faith in Times of Trial and Affliction, Consideration 16
CONSIDERATION. XVI. The Sufferings of Christs Servants are for the advantage of the Church.
WHen persecution ariseth especially against Christs eminent Servants and Followers, then many are ready to draw strange Conc…usions, in their own minde, touching the Church; and to think that the Church shall be utterly extirpated; little considering the wonderful Workings of God, who, by that meane, which, to them, threatneth ruine, is bringing about the welfare and advantage of the Church, to the Glory of His Power and Wisdom. Whereas if it were beleeved, that even by persecution, raised against the Preachers and eminent Professours, the Church should be no loser, the thoughts of such a Dispensation could not cause much consternation.
In order to the speaking a few words unto this, we would take notice of a few Instances, which will confirme the truth thereof, Act. 8: vers. 1. It is said, that at that time, there was a great persecution against the Church, which was at Ierusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the Regions of Iudea and Samaria, except the Apostles; that is, all the Church-Officers were forced to flee, after Stephen was stoned. But did this any harme to the Church? No; but did tend rather to the furtherance of the Gospel; for it is added vers. 4. Therefore they that were scattered went every where, preaching the word; so that by this meanes, the Gospel was spread throughout the Regions about, and that more quickly, than otherwayes, in all probability, it would have been. When Paul is speaking of his Sufferings Col. 1: 24. he saith, they were for them, and not so only, but for the whole body, the Church. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behinde of the afflictions of Christ, in my flesh for his bodies sake, which is the Church. So 2 Cor. 1: 6. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your Consolation and Salvation, 2 Tim. 2: 10. Therefore I endure all things for the Elects sake. Another plaine Instance we have Phil. 1: 12. But I would, ye should understand, Brethren, that the things, which happened unto me, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel.
1. For further clearing up of this, we shall mentione some particular Advantages, which the Church reapeth by the Sufferings of Christ's Eminent Servants and Followers.
1. Their sufferings, upon the account of Truth, serve much to Strengthen and Establish the rest of the people of God, in the faith; for the truth is thereby much confirmed unto them, and made to have some deeper Impression in their hearts, when they see, that the Truthes, which those Servants of Christ delivered unto them, were such, as the Preachers themselves were perswaded of, as truthes, and as weighty truthes; yea and such, as they are ready to seal with their bloud. It is for this cause, that Paul maketh mention of his sufferings, in that Epistle to the Colossians; for he is endeavouring to settle them in the faith, and to keep them stedfast in the day of Temptation. He would have them vers. 23. Continue in the faith, grounded and setled, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel. And because they might have said, what can we do, when you are put to such sufferings, and are shut up in Prison? He obviateth this by saying, I rejoice in my sufferings for you. As if he had said, My Imprisonment and Sufferings are not to your disadvantage, but for your good; and upon that account I rejoice in them. So that this is a notable mean to keep others stedfast in the truth: As, upon the other hand, it is a potent and forcible mean to shake poor people out of their hopes, and to confirme many in Atheisme and Infidelity, when they see such, as have been preaching forth truthes unto them, refusing to stand to them, and avow them, in a day of Temptation: Hence is it, that Satan, seeing this so much for his advantage, doubleth the force of his Temptations and Assaults against such, knowing that the fall of one such may endanger many, and occasione the staggering of multitudes.
2. By this meanes the Gospel is made to spread more, and and that not only by occasion of the banishment of Preachers; as we see Act. 8. but also, that by reason of their very Imprisonment or Persecution to the death many will be made to enquire after the cause, why such are put to so hard sufferings; and after enquirie, some may be made to see, that their Cause is just and righteous, howbeit they be condemned, & thus may be brought to like their cause, & befriend it, & to hate the carriage of the Persecuters: So that the Gospel-truth is no loser, by all the loss that the Preachers suffer, upon the account thereof; for when strangers observe that such men of Understanding, judgment and Conscience, are ready and willing to confirme the truth of what they assert with their bloud, and to suffer any thing rather than deny the same, they beginne to search more seriously after the matter, and to consider its consequences, and come at length to affect that way more in their heart; an Instance whereof we have Phil. 1: 12. 13. He told them vers. 12. that what hardships had befallen him; had fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel, and in the next verse he sheweth, how this was, saying, so that my bonds in Christ are manifest, in all the Palace, and in all other places. The report of his Imprisonment, for the Name of Christ, went far and neer; so that even Caesars Court ringed againe with the noise of it, and they are talking of it among themselves; and severals are converted to the truth thereby, and brought to embrace the Gospel; for he tels us Chap. 4: 22. That there were Saints in Caesar's houshold, all the saints salute you, cheefly they that are of Caesar's houshold.
3. When the Lords eminent Servants are persecuted upon the account of truth, the …ord is (to speak so) more engaged to do for His Church, to owne her, and to counter work the plots and wicked devices of Satan; and this He is pleased, for the glory of His name, to declare and manifest, by making thereby the Gospel to flourish more, in power and life; and to bless the laboures of a few the more The Church did never thrive better, than in the Primitive times, during these hote persecutions. I… time of persecution, the Church is purer, for few adhere to the truth, but such, who have received the truth, as it is in jesus, and have the grace of God in them in truth; then are there fewest hypocrites to be found in the Church, the heat of persecution driveth them away, and driveth the uprght hearted neerer to God, so that their grace & communion with God groweth, their mortification to the things of this life increaseth, and they become more and more crucified unto the world, and the world unto them: So that howbeit the outward bulk of Professours diminish; yet the true hearted grow more lively, strong and vigorous, and the inward man is renewed day by day 2 Cor. 4: 16. So that really the Church suffereth no loss, but is a gainer.
4. By this meanes, many other faithful, zealous and honest-hearted Servants of God, are made (through the Lord's wonderful defeating of the Counsels of Satan) more bold & forward, in owning & declaring the truth: The devil thinks, by the sufferings of some eminent Servants, to discourage and fainte many, as supposing that they will be affrighted from their duty; but the grace and power of God worketh-out the contrary event: As we see Phil. 1: 14. where another fruit of Paul's bonds and Imprisonment is added. And many of the Brethren in the Lord, wa…ing confident by my bondes, are much more bold to speak the word, without fear. So that the Church is a gainer, through the Lord's wonderful working, by all these Sufferings.
5. There is hereby an encouraging exemple laid before others: …is no small advantage unto particular Beleevers, in a time of Persecution, to know of some precedent, of some that have gone thorow the foord before them: Therefore saith the Apostle Iames Chap. 5: 10. Take, my Brethren, the Prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of Patience; so that such Examples are refreshing, and helpful unto their Constancy and Stedfastness; when they see others standing fast in the faith, in the midst of all persecutions, that they meet with, they are animated unto the like stedfastness, and to resolution, in adhering fixedly to the truth: such examples will make even a timorous man wax bold; and the exemplary carriage of sufferers is very encouraging and comfortable, wherefore the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 1: 6. whether we be afflicted, it is for your Consolation. Therefore these Sufferings are much for the advantage of the Church.
6. Hereby is the Church awakened from security, and made to look out for a suffering lot; when thus it is done to the green tree, they are made to take Warning; Such a dispensation is as the sounding of the trumpet for an alarme; and this is no small advantage, when she is raised to her feet, and put in a postour, and made ready for the battel; then she needeth not fear a surprisal; but hath time to prepare, and make ready for the storme.
In order to the Improvement of this Consideration, we would
1. Beware to conclude that all is gone, when we hear or see Christs eminent Servants put to sad sufferings: We are ready to wonder why the Lord should suffer such and such things to be done; why He should suffer such sad things to befall His eminent and useful Servants, who cannot well be missed, one whereof is worth an hundered, so that the Death or Imprisonment of one such threatneth more destruction to the Church, than the loss of many: But we know not the thoughts of the Lord; we know not what He is designing, and what He mindeth to effectuat thereby. And if we beleeved, that even such a dispensation as this could do no harme to the Church; how little would we be troubled at it? If we saw, what an effectual way this were, in the steady, unerring Hand of God, to bring about the spiritual advantage of the Church, how would we lay our hands upon our mouth, and be silent? And though we can not see in particular, what advantage the Church is like to get, by the taking away of such, as were as Pillars of the Church: Yet we should by faith rest assured, that the Head, and Husband of the Church, would not suffer such a Dispensation to come, if He knew not, how to bring good and advantage out of it; and that thereby good seed was sowen, which, though accompanied with teares and bloud, yet should yeeld full sheaves at length, which should be brought home with Joy.
2. We would do well to search ourselves, at such a time, to see if we, as particular members of the Church, be reaping any advantage by what we hear and see of the Sufferings of Christs eminent Servants; as for example, see if thereby the truth of the Gospel become more riveted in our souls, & we becometh more rooted in the faith and assurance thereof, and more fixed in our Resolution to adhere thereunto; See if Truth becometh lovely & desireable to us upon this account; See if grace be growing more within, and if our hearts and affections be loosed more and more from the things of a world, and we be prepared more to quite all for Christ, and His Cause; See if by the example of others we be more animated, and encouraged to avow and abide by the truth, cost what it will; See if these newes be raising us out of our bed, and making us prepare for the battel, and make ready for the approaching storme: & if we finde any such advantage thereby, let us blesse Him, who is giving us meat out of the eater, and doing us good by the dear cost and charges of others.
3. This should comfort such, as are called forth to suffer for the Name of Jesus; they need not trouble themselves with thoughts, what shall become of the Church and Interest of Christ; but leave that upon the Lord; and beleeve, that He shall make it contribute to the furtherance of the Gospel, and to the enlairgment of His Kingdom; Ministers called to suffer may possibly think, Oh what shall become of the poor people? we cannot get preached unto them, as formerly; but what if God make their stedfastness in suffering more advantagious, than their preachings would have been? What if that edifie more, than many preachings did, or would do? Ought not they, upon this Consideration, rejoice in their Lot, and suffer cheerfully, that Christs Interest may prosper more thereby? What know they, what influence their Christian carriage may have on all On-lookers, yea and on Enemies and Persecuters themselves, beside what confirmation friends may have thereby?