The Life of Faith in Times of Trial and Affliction, Consideration 15
CONSIDERATION. XV. Suffering Christianly is a special gift of God.
MAny look upon Suffering for the Name of Christ, with an evil eye, and with prejudice; and because of the misapprehensions they have of it, they cannot complye with it; whereas a right view of it would make it less terrible, yea more lovely and desireable. The Apostle, writting to the Philippians Chap. 1. vers. 29. giveth them ground to think well of the cross of Christ, when he said, for unto you it is given, in the behalfe of Christ, not only to beleeve on Him, but also to suffer for His sake. He had been exhorting them, in the foregoing Verses, that they would stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel, and in nothing be terrified by their adversaries: and after he had told them, that the opposition of the adversaries was an evident token to them of Perdition, & that their own standing & withstanding was an evident token to themselves of Salvation, and that of God; He subjoineth this ground of encouragment; that it was granted unto them, as a special favour, and that in the behalfe of Christ, not only to beleeve on Him, but also to suffer for His sake. In which words, these Three Particulars are chiefly considerable, in order to our present designe.
1. That suffering, for the sake of Christ, is a special gift of God, and not a thing that meer natural Strength and Courage can reach.
2. That it is a gift purchased by Christ, and given on His behalfe, or for His sake; and not for any thing in us.
3. That it is a gift, in some respect, beyond that excellent gift of faith.
But before I speak particularly to these points, I shall premit these three things considerable.
1. Though to bear any crosse, or crossing dispensation, outward or inward, in a christian acceptable manner, be beyond the power of nature, and natures strength, and is the pure gift of God: yet here we are mainely to speak of that Trouble, Afflictions and Crosses, which the followers of Christ are put to suffer by wicked Men, and for avowing of His truth and Interest, of what measure or degree so ever it be; for, this is that which is here understood, and whereof the Apostle is speaking, as the forgoing and following Verses cleare.
2. Nor do we hereby understand every Trouble, that wicked persons create unto the Godly (though unto a Christian deportment, in such a case, the special grace and gift of God be required:) but of that, which is properly for the Name of Christ, for adhereing to His truth and cause: for of this doth the Apostle speak, when he mentioneth suffering for Christs sake.
3. Nor do we speak of Suffering here, simply considered; but of suffering, accompained with its Christian Concomitants, or of Suffering in a Christian, humble; self denied, handsome and cleanly manner; this being the Suffering, which is to be called the gift of God; and not that, which may be undergone, upon a carnal account, and may flow from a carnal Principle, and be intended fo… some carnal end.
Having premised these things, we come to speak to the first point, and shew, That suffering in a Christian manner, for the Name of Christ, is the meer gift of God, and beyond the reach of all natural Strength and Courage: Which will be sufficiently clear, if we but take a view of such particulars, as are requisite unto a Christian way of suffering for Christs sake, some only of which we shall content ourselves here to name: as
1. To the end, that one suffer as a Christian, for the sake of Christ, it is requisite, that he be a Christian indeed, a beleever in Christ indeed; for a man in nature can act nothing, as a Christian, as wanting the divine principle of all Christian Actions: This is imported in the Text, now before us, where the gift of faith in Christ is supposed as existent, before the gift of suffering. Now it is beyond all debate with the orthodox, that to beleeve in Christ, and to become a Christian indeed, is beyond the reach of nature; and the same Text here evinceth faith to be given of God; so also is it expresly said to be the gift of God, and not of ourselves Ephes. 2. 8. And therefore, this Christian suffering for the sake of Christ, must be the special gift of God.
2. Unto suffering Christianly it is requisite, not only that the sufferer be aBeleever; but also, that faith be acting on God, through Christ, and resting upon the promises of outgate, and of an everlasting recompence, and of throw-bearing, and the other objects of faith, necessary to be eyed, in such a day; for if this be not, even the beleever may fainte and fall backward, as we see in Peter: Now this present acting of faith being the gift of God, through His grace and influences, it is manifest, that Christian suffering, unto which this is requisite, must be also His gift.
3. Hope is also requisite unto a Christian suffering; for hereby must the sufferers head be born-up, when he is swimeing thorow the sea of Persecution; it is the Souls anchor, which must not be wanting in a storme; it is his helmet, and must not be a missing in the day of battel. Now this hope being the special gift of God, and his work 1 Pet. 1: 3. 2 Thes. 2. vers. 13. it is manifest, that Christian suffering, unto which this hope is so necessary, must be His special gift.
4. Patience is likewise hereunto requisite, for without it, there will be nothing but wearying, fainting, fretting, repineing, and sinful longing to be from under the Crosse; hence there is so great need of patience, Heb. 10. vers. 36. Luk. 21. vers. 19. Iam. 1. vers. 4. 2 Pet. 1. vers. 6. And it is so much pressed Iam. 5. v. 10, 11. 1 Tim. 6: 11. And commended 1 Thes. 1. vers. 3. 2 Thes. 1. vers. 4. Revel. 2: 2, 9. Now this patience is not the work of nature, but His work, who is the God of all patience Rom. 15. vers. 5. And therefore Christian suffering must be His work and gift also.
5. Humble submission and calmness of spirit is also requisite unto a right way of suffering; for a proud, haughty, unquiet and undaunted spirit, will never take a right lift of the crosse: and this must also be wrought by the free and powerful grace of God, and must be of Him, from whom every good gift, and every perfect gift cometh down; even of the Father of lights Iam. 1: 17. And therefore, Christian suffering, unto which this is so requisite, must be of Him also.
6. Such, as will suffer Christianly for Christ, must have Courage, Boldness, and Christian Resolution; as accounting it their glory and honour to suffer for His sake, and as remembering, that as, on the one hand, their cheerful, couragious and valiant suffering for the Interest of Jesus, is no small encouragment to others to adhere to Him, and to His cause; so, upon the other hand, to suffer discouragedly, and with a fainting heart, is no small disadvantage to the cause, Enemies being thereby more hardened, and friends discouraged. And this Courage and fixed Resolution must only be had from God, Nature will not fournish this. They must be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might Ephes. 6. vers. 10. And as this is from the Lord alone, so must the grace of Suffering Christianly be.
7. He, who would suffer as a Christian, must have his Conscience sprinkled, God must be pacified, all quarrels must be taken out of the way; for the sense and apprehension of an angrie God, and sin and guilt looking the man in the face, will much dash, discourage and fainte him, in his sufferings, Now it is unquestionable, that God's manifesting himself satisfied and well pleased with the man, is His own free gift; it is His proper work to sprinkle consciences from dead works; and so must this Christian suffering be from Him, which dependeth hereupon.
8. When one is questioned for the Cause of Christ, before learned and able States-men and Politicians, or before learned Church-men, he will have need of something, wherewith to answere his Accusers; and so be in case to give a glorious Testimony to the Truth, and the cause of Christ, otherwise the adversaries will think, they have cause to triumph, when he is made speachless (though that Christian Martyr-woman, who said, she could not disput for Christ, but she could burn for Him, did sufficiently refell all the Arguments of her Adversaries, which were but meer Sophismes) especially if the maine crime be coloured-over with some alleiged personal fault; In this, or the like cases, it is necessary, that the accused have pertinent, clear and pungent reasons of his actions, in readiness, whether to refell what is falsely alleiged; or to defend what is just and righteous. Now whence shall this be had, or from whom is it to be expected, but from Him, who hath promised that it shall be given them, in that hour Mat. 10. vers. 19. But when they deliver you up, take no thought, how, or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you, in that same houre, what ye shall speak. And therefore Christian suffering, unto which this is so necessary, must be given of God also.
9. Such as are suffering for Christ's sake, had need to be very fixed, stayed, and stedfast, in adhereing to their Principles, as unshaken with any winde of temptation; for cedeing and yeelding, in matters of a Testimony, dishonoureth the Lord, whose truth is questioned; encourageth and confirmeth Enemies, and stumbleth and marreth the confidence of others; therefore such as would suffer aright, must stand to the truth, and not yeeld in an hoofe, nor sell or give away the least point of truth. And this fixed, and stedfast adhereing to the truth, is of God alone. He who stablisheth us in Christ, is God 2 Cor. 1: vers. 21. And when Paul is pressing the Thessalonians to stand fast 2 Thes. 2. vers. 15. He addeth Vers. 16, 17. Now our Lord Iesus Christ himself, and God even our father—Comfort your hearts, and stablish you, in every good word and work. And therefore so must the Christian suffering be of Him alone.
10. A Christian sufferer for Christ must have a Christian love to Christ; for it is this that maketh the sufferers not count their life dear to the death for Christ, and maketh them hazard all for Him; they love him better, than they love Father, or Mother, or any thing else in a world, and therefore are content to lose all for Him, and His sake. Now, love is of God, who is love. 1 Ioh. 4. vers. 7, 8. And it is one of the fruites of the Spirit Gal. 5. vers. 22. And must be from the God of all grace; for we love Him, because He first loved us 1 Ioh. 4. vers. 19. And therefore so must this right suffering be from Him.
11. Before one can suffer aright for Christ, and His cause, he must be dead and mortified to this world, and to all the Riches, Honours and Pleasurs, to the lust of the eye, to the lust of the flesh, and to the pride of life, as Iohn speaketh 1 Ioh. 2: 16. Yea he must be dead to himself, and to his own life, otherwayes these will hang as weights upon him, and hinder his swimeing through the sea of affliction and persecution. Now this self denial being the singular gift of God, suffering, unto which it is so necessary, must be His peculiar gift also.
12. Unto Christian Suffering for the sake of Christ, it is necessarily requisite, that the Sufferer have fresh Influences from the Spirit of God, to stirre up the graces of God in him, and to carry him thorow; for if these be withheld, a very Peter will sinfully and shamefully deny his Master: now, it is unquestionable that these Influences must needs flow from the fountaine, and be the effects of Gods grace and love; and therefore so must Christian suffering be, which cannot be without these.
By these particulars the first point is clear: And as for the Second Viz. That this gift of suffering is purchased by Christ, is a fruit of His death, and is obtained for His sake, and bestowed in His behalfe. To you it is given in the behalf of Christ to suffer, we need not insist upon it, seing it is certaine, and undeniable, that every gift of this kind, and every spiritual grace, is purchased to us by the bloud and merites of Christ; He laid down His life to purchase heaven to His own, and every thing else, that was needful for them, in the way to heaven. In Christ are we blessed with all spiritual blessings, in celestials Ephes. 1. vers. 3. Every spiritual blessing cometh to us, in and through the Covenant of Grace, and of this Covenant Christ is the Mediator; so that every blessing of the Covenant is purchased by Him. This is also manifest from what was said, in confirmation of the former Point; for all these favours, requisite unto a Christian suffering, as the grace of Faith, Hop, Courage, Stedfastness, Patience; Humility &c. are purchased to us by Christ; and consequently so must this gift of Christian suffering be purchased also.
The third point followeth, to wit, That this gift of Suffering Christianly for the sake of Christ, is a gift, in some respect, beyond faith: for the Apostle saith. It was given to these Philippians, not onelyonly to beleeve, but also to suffer, which expression, not only, but also, importeth a sort of gradation, and giveth some eminency and excellency unto the last; as Ioh. 5: vers. 18. and 13. vers. 9. Act. 19. vers. 27. and 21. vers. 13. Rom. 5. vers. 3, 11. and 8. vers. 23. and 13: 5. 2 Cor. 7: 7. and 8: 10. Ephes. 1. vers. 21. and else where. We shall clear this further, by mentioning some particulars.
1. This Christian-suffering for the cause of Christ, doth presuppose Faith, as we said above; and so must be a gift given, over and above faith.
2. Many have the gift of faith, who never receive this gift of suffering; many precious beleevers go to their grave in peace, and know not what it is to die for witnessing to the Name of Jesus, on a scaffold, or to suffer at the hands of Persecuters, upon that account. It is reported of famous Luther, that he oft wished and praied for this; and yet God thought fit, he should die on his bed in peace. This gift then of suffering, not being common to all, to whom faith is common, must have some peculiar excellency, as being more rare.
3. Yea even all those beleevers, who are called to suffer for the cause of Christ, cannot alwayes win to this gift of Christian & Valiant Suffering for the sake of Christ, but through temptation and carnal fear over-powering them, may for a time shrink, cede and fainte, and thus wrong their own peace, harden the Adversaries, discourage the Godly, wrong the Cause, and dishonour the Lord; as we see in Peter, when he denied his Master, and that with Curses and Execrations, whose faith yet failed not, the Lord having prayed for that Luk. 22: 32.
4. Though it be a matter of no small, difficulty to beleeve; yet some may win over that difficulty, that cannot win over the difficulty of Suffering Christianly, in bearing Testimony to the truth of Jesus, as that instance of Peter cleareth. It being then a matter of greater difficulty to suffer aright, than to beleeve, this gift of suffering must be a greater gift.
5. Unto Suffering for the sake of Christ, in a right manner, there is requisite (as we saw above) a greater concurrence of the graces of the Spirit of God; & a necessity also for a greater concurrence of divine Influences, to carry the soul thorow.
6. This suffering for Christ's sake hath a special piece of honour attending it: Hence the Apostles rejoiced, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Christ Act. 5. vers. 41. And Peter 1 Pet. 4. vers. 13. desireth those, he wrote unto, to rejoice, in that lot; and Paul Rom. 5. vers. 3. saith, we glory in tribulations; yea he speaketh of this, as in some respect, a step above their rejoiceing in the hope of the glory of God, Vers. 2. for he bringeth it in, with a not only so, but also. Which manifestly cleareth the excellency of this gift of Suffering.
7. Christian Suffering for the Name of Christ, is a common and publick good, being edifying to the Body, and so advantagious to many: A mans faith is mainly profitable to himself, and is thereunto ordained; But Suffering in a right manner is profitable unto many; to Enemies and Persecutors it giveth a dash, and leaveth some ground of conviction; and Friends are much encouraged thereby; yea the whole Church receiveth advantage; for thereby a noble Testimony is given to the truth, and the bloud of the Martyres becometh the seed of the Church.
8. Suffering for the cause of Christ, in a Christian manner, maketh the Sufferers to be like Christ and conforme to the Captaine of their Salvation; as one now graduat, or advanced to an higher class; Christ came to bear witness to the truth, and suffered upon the account of bearing Testimony to the truth; and those, who are honoured with this special gift, are made in a special manner conforme unto Him, and thus are greatly honoured.
9. As Sufferers for the cause of Christ are thereby advanced to great honour and dignity, so are they usually admitted to great neerness and access to God; the Lord loveth to let out of himself unto them, in a special manner: that is a confirming expression, which we have 1 Pet. 4: 14. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of God and of glory resteth upon you. Sufferers have, even here, an happiness, and an happiness upon the account of their suffering (were it but) reproach, for the Name of Christ; and who can tell how rich and great this happiness is, and wherein it consisteth? The Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon them; this Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of glory, working in them all His glorious graces, whereby He prepareth them for glory, and comforteth their souls, as if they were in the suburbs of glory, resideth in them, and resteth upon them, as the sure earnest of glory: wherefore this Suffering for His Name must be a great matter.
10. This Christian suffering for the Name of Christ maketh way for a greater degree in Glory: If we suffer with Him, we shall also reigne with Him, 2 Tim. 2: vers. 12. If we suffer with Him, we shall be glorified together, Rom. 8: vers. 17. There is a noble word to this purpose 2 Cor. 4: vers. 17. For our light Affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory. The Glory, that our momentany Affliction worketh for us, is eternal, and the Weight of that Crown is eternally Weighty, that can never be fully weighed: Nay, It cannot be told by Hyperbolee's heaped upon Hyperbolee's; all these will come short of expressing the Weight thereof. We finde in the Book of the Revel. Chap. 7: ve…s. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. that there were some discernable from others, and more remarkable, having on a distinguishing rob, as a peculiar livery in Glory; They are said to have had White Robs, and who were these? Such as came out of great Tribulation. They were made to wear on earth a red livery of bloud; but now in glory they are shineing in white: And it is added Vers. 15, &c. Therefore are they before …he Throne of God, and serve Him day and night, in his Temple, and He that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the Sun light on them any more, for the Lamb, which is in the midst of the Throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of Waters: And shall wipe away all teares from their eyes.
We shall now come to speak something, in order to the improvement of these Truthes, which we have confirmed.
First, The faith of these Truthes would give a check unto several evils, that we are too ready to comply with, in a day of trial, and discover unto us several things, for which we are to check and rebuke ourselves, as
1. Do not some finde an Antipathy at the cross working and striving in them, even when the Cross is yet far off? Do they not finde some aversness of soul therefrom? Now this evil would meet with a check, if these Truthes were beleeved? No beleever findeth any aversness from faith; but he is still desaring more and more of it, and praying, Lord increase our faith; for he knoweth how excellent and necessary it is. And now, seing the grace and gift of Suffering is, (as we have shown,) in several respects above and beyond faith, should they be unwilling to receive it, if God shall be pleased to honoure them with that? Might not the beleever hence say to himself, are there any of the Gifts of God to be refused, or rejected? Are not all His Graces and Gifts excellent and lovely? Why doth my heart then so much stand out against this? How is it, that I am not more in love with the Glorious Cross of Christ? Especially seing it is an honour, that isnot conferred on every one, and an honourable Gift, purchased by the precious blood of Christ, that hath purchased nothing that will harme us, or nothing but what is excellent and desirable? Why then am I so little in love with suffering for the sake of Christ? Ought I not to be ashamed of and displeased with my self, upon this account? Ought I not to check this aversness?
2. The faith of this would give a check unto our readiness to shift the Cross, when we are called to make ready for it, and when it seemeth to be at the door: For, would we say, what? Shall we devise meanes to shift suffering for the Cause of Christ, when He is calling us to it? What, shall we meditate a way of shifting and putting away such an honourable Divine Gift, more excellent than faith, in several respects? What unsutable & unworthy carriage must this be? Is it a gift of God, and such a gift of God, and a gift given in the behalfe of Christ, as purchased by His Merites and Death; and shall we thus sinfully, basely and unworthily shift it by our door; and rather sinne, than embrace it, and make it welcome? What a shame were this?
3. The faith of these things would give a check unto our fool-hardiness and too rash adventuring on sufferings, without a due call; and as if our strength were able to carry us thorow. Too many are too confident, and promise too much upon their own Ability, Parts, Resolution and Strength, as if the stood in need of no more; and as if this Suffering for the sake of Christ were not a pure gift of Grace, that must come down from above from the Father of Lights, through Jesus Christ. Now the faith of these Truthes, would check these thoughts. Any that know what true faith is would be dissatisfied with such, as would talk of it, as a thing in their power, and which they could put in Act, when they pleased, because they would know, that such boasted of what they had not; and that faith was not in their Power, but was the special and purchased gift of God. So would the right thoughts of this put us from ever thinking to venture on suffering, in our own strength, & put us to look to Him, from whom every good gift and every perfect gift cometh, through Jesus Christ, and waite on Him for it.
4. The faith of this would likewise rebuke our readiness to fainte, when we aer called to suffer, or engaged in it; and put a check to our saying: Alas, we will never win thorow this Sea of Affliction, one day or other, we shall shamefully fall, and betray the cause, and so come off with disgrace; and would put us to look off ourselves, and to look up unto the giver, who giveth freely; and to the Purchaser, who will receive all that He hath purchased. Must we not thus carry, in order to faith, when we beginne to feare, that it shall fail us; Do we not comfort ourselves with this, That faith is the free gift of God, and is purchased by Christ, and is not of ourselves? And why should we not do so, in order to suffering, which is also the free gift of God, and is purchased by Christ? When we are like to be discouraged with the thoughts of our own weakness, and unfitness to contend with Horsemen, and with the swellings of Jordan; should we not look upon it, as the gift of God, whereby He can make us strong, even when we are weak, to the Glory of His free Grace? And when we are discouraged with the thoughts of our unworthiness, and thereupon inferre, that God will never honour us, with bearing faithful Testimony unto His Truth; should we not, in humility and in the acknowledgment of our own Unworthiness, and Provocations, look to Him, as the great and free giver, who giveth nothing because of our merites: He gave us faith freely, notwithstanding of our former Provocations and great unworthiness; and may He not also give us this gift, when He calleth us to the duty, freely through Jesus, the great Purchaser?
5. The faith of this would give a check to that humore, whereby some are ready to sacrifice to their own net, and to burn incense to their own drag; that is, to be puffed up, and vainly proud of their carriage, when they have been helped to carry honestly in a day of trial, as if they by their wit and courage had done it, or as if it had not been given them, in that houre: what would such have to be proud of, who beleeved, that this grace was freely given to them, and that, in the behalfe of Christ? And who saw, that if it had not been so, they had never been able to have endured the storme; Would not they see cause to say, Not unto us, not unto us, but unto God be Glory;
Secondly, From these Truthes, we may be informed of several things, the knowledge of which may be useful, in an evil day: As
1. We may hence be convinced of the difficulty of Suffering Christianly, for the Cause of Christ: It is not Natural Courage, Stoutness, or Fear of Shame, or the like, that will be able to carry thorow: No, no, A Divine purchased, Grace and Gift must be had, or there will be no standing. Many, in a calme day, may think it no great matter to suffer upon Christ's account, and may seem very resolute, willing and ready to suffer; but when the storme beginneth to blow to purpose, and they are put to it, they finde it some other thing. than they imagined: And what wonder? It is not a thing that Nature can command, nor Natural Strength and Courage can enable for: but Divine Help is required thereunto. It must be given, and given in Christ: and this saith, there is no small difficulty in it.
2. We may hence see a fundamental Reason, why some are honoured with suffering for the Cause of Christ, and others not; It is the free gift of God, and purchased by Christ, and so is bestowed onelyonly on those, for whom it is purchased, and on whom free grace will bestow it. As also, whence it cometh to passe, that of two, who are both called to witness to the truth by suffering, one is honourably helped thorow, the other fainteth. The one hath gote the free gift, the other not: It is true, other provoking causes may come here into consideration, as bringing this on; but yet this is principally to be considered, our sins may provoke the Lord to withold this gift; and when it is not given, there will be no suffering for the sake of Christ, in a Christian manner.
3. We may hence be informed concerning the ground of this honour being bestowed upon any: It is not for their eminency of parts, or worth, or any such thing in them; but purely of free grace, and on the behalfe of Christ.
Thirdly, Upon the ground of these Truthes, we may read several Duties, called for at our hands, in a day of Suffering. As
1. In such a day, when stormes are at hand, we should not be troubled with perplexity and anxiety of Spirit; nor disquiet or discourage ourselves with feares and apprehensions, that we shall fainte in the day of Adversity, and shall not be in case to stand stedfast in the storme: For our strength and standing is not in our own hands, It is in Gods Hand; His gift must make us sta…, and nothing else.
2. We should be looking off ourselves and all that is within us, and not think, that any thing of that kind will be able to carry us thorow; But fix our eye upon the gracious Giver, and lay hold on Christ by faith, and expect the thorow-bearing Gift and Grace, in and through Him; In such a day, we would do well to renounce all within us; that we may not lean to it, and so betake ourselves alone to the fountaine of free grace, and expect what is necessary in that day, from Him, who giveth freely and upbraideth not.
3. And in order to this, seing this gift is bestowed only in and through Christ, we should study before hand, to get our Interest in Christ made up, that so we may have ground to expect a grant of this gift for His sake; for none else can expect this, but such as are reconciled to God through Christ.
3. We would also labour to be in good termes with God, and to be keeping our Conscience void of offence both before God and Man, lest He be provoked to with-hold this gift from us. When we have been walking neer God, and keeping carefully Communion with Him, we may go to Him with the greater Confidence and Boldness, and ask this gift, through Christ.
Fourthly, We may hence see, what Duties we are especially called to, in the day, when we are actually and particularly called to bear witness to the Truth, and to suffer upon the account thereof. As
1. We should make the Cross of Christ welcome, because it is Gods send; all that God sendeth should be welcome; This is a special Gift, and a purchased Gift; and therefore it should be heartily embraced, both because of the Giver, and because of the Purchaser. It is true, flesh and bloud have no will of Suffering, nature is averse from it; yet Spiritual Reason and Grace should say, God will give me nothing on the behalfe of Christ, but what is good and necessary for me; and seing Suffering for Christs sake is of that nature; and is so excellent a Gift, beyond faith it self, in so many respects, why should I storme? Why should I quarrel upon that account? Why should I not rather embrace it with love, and give it an heartsome welcome?
2. Not only upon this account should we accept of that favour heartily and cheerfully; but also we should accept thereof with Joy and Gladness, rejoicing that free grace would put that singular honour upon us: As we had cause to rejoice, when He was pleased to single us out from many others, no worse than we were, and bestow faith upon us; so have we cause to rejoice, in His pitching upon us, and going by many others, better than we are, in the matter of Suffering. Should we not count it all Joy, when, for Christs sake, we fall into manifold temptations, because the Lord is thereby honouring and enriching us with this rare and precious Gift? Should we not, upon this account, Glory in Tribulations, as in so many enriching gifts, freely bestowed on us of God, and purchased by Christ?
3. Hereby should we learne to beware of fretting or repineing at the trouble, that the Crosse and Testimony of Jesus bringeth with it; and choose rather to be thankful for such an honourable gift, as this Suffering for the sake of Christ is: Nay the more our trouble and harassing be, let us look upon ourselves as the more honoured of God; and therefore called to be thankful and to bless; seing we should blesse Him, for all His Benefites; and this is among the chiefe of His benefites.
4. We should then be wholly dead to ourselves, and to any stock of strength or courage, that we may imagine to be in us; that we may not think of standing upon our own legs; for these will fail us: And should fix our eye on this Father of Lights, from whom every good gift must come; and by faith depend upon Him, and seek this from Him, in prayer through faith. We have encouragment now to go to God, through Jesus, to seek this gift, because it is a gift, and because it is a gift purchased by Christ.
5. And especially should this be our exercise, when at any time, we finde our heart like to fainte, and our strength like to faill us, and we are like to sinck. Then should we double our …uites, and renew our acts of Faith, upon the ground of Christs Purchase, and the Fathers Grace and Readiness to bestow what we need, and cannot now want, of His own Free Grace, and good Will.
Lastly, There is here a sure ground of great Comfort laid down; and this is the plain scope of the words; for the Apostle is comforting these Christians of the Church of Philippi, against the Cross, with this, (among others) that to suffer for Christ's sake was a gift of God, and a gift bestowed upon them through Jesus Christ: So that there is here comfort against many Discouragments As
1. Against the thoughts of the greatness of the difficulty: we are ready to cry out; Oh we cannot wrestle thorow this Cross, wherein are so many difficulties, and each more insuperable than another: But this may comfort us. That there is a gift of God for it, which will make all difficulties superable: we of ourselves, as of ourselves, cannot wreastle thorow; but this gift can enable; and that there is nothing called for at our hands, but what this gift will enable us to do: this gift will bear all our Charges, and keep our heads above, when swiming thorow the most dangerous Seas,
2. This may comfort against the thoughts of Rageing, Strong and Cruel Adversaries; for this gift will enable; if it be given to Suffer, we shall be helped to Suffer all their Rage and Cruelty, and not fear, or fainte.
3. It may comfort us against the thoughts of our own weakness: we are but like a reed shaken in the winde, and cannot endure much: Yet as when the gift of faith was given all our corruption and unbeleefe, and all the Power of Satan could not hinder our closeing with Christ; so, when this Gift of Suffering is bestowed, through Jesus Christ, all our inward weakness and aversness shall not hinder our through-bearing: We shall then go in the strength of that gift, without wearying or fainting; for we shall then be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His Might.
4. It may Comfort against the apprehensions of our own sinfulness and great unworthiness, whereby we may fear, that He shall forsake us, because of our provocations, and not helpe us thorow: For this being the gift of God, and given in the behalfe of Christ, we cannot think, that it can be given for any worth in us: What ever our sins be, we may look to Him, when we are called to bear witness to His Truth, who is a great and a free Giver, and have hope that He will make us Partakers of that free Gift, in and through Christ. Beggars look for a free almes, though they can plead nothing but poverty and want; and are far from pleading their own worth and merites: He gave us faith, at first, which we neither did, nor could merite; and why may He not also give us this gift, when He calleth us to the duty?
5. It may comfort against the faintings of others, whom we apprehend to have been more able to ride thorow the storme, than we are: We are ready to say, How can such as I am stand, when the like of Peter fainted so foulely? But this is comfortable, that it is not any stock of Grace, or inward Strength, Resolution and natural Courage, or the like, that will carry thorow; but the gift of God; and without this gift of God, the strongest will not stand; and with it, the weakest will be enabled to stand-out the trial: And when God denieth this for a time unto strong Christians, for His own Holy Ends, He may give it to the weak, and so carry them thorow; that all may see, it is His gift that doth the thing, and nothing else.
6. This may also comfort us, against the thoughts of our unpreparedness to meet with the trial; for the matter of our throwbearing dependeth not upon our fitness, and preparation for the Exercise; but upon the Gift of God; and this gift will be more glorious and excellent in their eyes, who knowing themselves to have been very far out of case, for such a trial, were yet enabled by vertue of that gift to stand, and to suffer for the sake of Christ.
7. So it may comfort against the sorrowful thoughts of their former Miscarriages, Faintings and sinful Shunnings of a faithful Testimony, which may readily cause such apprehend, that the Lord will stand by them no more, but forsake them, as they did formerly forsake Him: This, I say, may comfort them, that it is a gift, and a gift of God, and a gift, purchased by the bloud of Jesus, by which they must be helped; and what is of that nature, may be given, notwithstanding of all that hath past; all Gods gifts being free, and the more unworthy they be, on whom they are bestowed, the glory of free grace shineth forth the more, and the worth and value of the Merites of Christ is more conspicuous.