The Great Corruption of Subtle Self, Sermon 6
SERMON VI
Matthew 16, 24. Then ſaid Jeſus unto his di… ciples, if any man will come after me, let h… deny himſelf, and take up his croſs, and f… low me.
OUR Lord Chriſt having diſcovere… ſomewhat of the temper and di… poſition of his Diſciples, and f… lowers, to be very loath, ſhy i… ſcarring to meet with the Cro… as Peters advice to him plainly manifeſted; a… plyes himſelf to inſtruct, and give them the Leſſon for the time to come, how they may … only get free from that propenſion to ſhift Croſ…es and difficulties, that occur in the w… of Duty, and of following him, that is ha… …y incident to all men, but alſo how they may get …hemſelves ſweetly compoſed for profitable, and comfortable meeting with, and going thorow …heſe Difficulties and Croſſes, and guarded againſt …uch ſinful ſcarring at them; If any man (ſayeth he) will come after me, in hope to reign with me eternally hereafter, he muſt not ſeek himſelf; but on the contrary, muſt deny himſelf, and ſtudy to be without all inordinat reſpect to himſelf; yea, he muſt be ſo far from ſeeking himſelf; that he muſt denyedly take up his croſs (and that dayly, as Luke hath it) and follow me; And this is the 2d. Qualification which Chriſt requireth of his followers, That we are now to ſpeak a little to.
The Words indeed are borrowed, and met… phorical, yet they ſet out obviouſly enough the afflictions that Gods People meet with in following him, in the way of Duty. The Croſs properly is that Tree, or piece of Tree made uſe of in theſe times, for executing and putting men to death, by crucifying them, and ſo it ſignifies, and ſets forth not only a painful, but alſo an ignomineous and ſhameful Death; It is ſaid of Chriſt, Heb. 10.2. That he ſuffered pleaſantly the pain of the Croſs, and regarded not the ſhame of it; Hence it is ordinarly taken in the Scriptures of the new Teſtament, to hold out the great and ſore, the painful and ſhameful ſufferings and afflictions that the followers of Chriſt are called to lay their account to meet with, and which they often actually meet with, himſelf having ſuffered, and died this way, as he was man; To this purpoſe ſayeth the Lord, Matth. 10.38. He that taketh not his croſs and followeth after me, is not worthy of me; That is he that is not content to meet with any ſort o… ſuffering in following of me, even ſuch as I m… ſelf met with from men, is not meet to follow me… His Croſs implyes not only ſuffering, and affliction in the general, but that ſort of affliction which every follower of Chriſt in particular muſt reſolve, & lay his account to meet with; The Croſ… that is appointed & ſhaped out for him, as to ſuch and ſuch circumſtances in particular, For as much (ſaye h the Apoſtle, 1 Theſ. 3.3. as ye your ſelves know that we are appointed thereunto: Taking up of the Croſs, is a following forth of the ſame ſimilitude, to point out this, that as a follower of Chriſt muſt reſolve to have the Croſs on his back dayly, ſo he muſt not unduely decline, or ſeek to ſhift it; neither muſt he be drawn and dragged to it with grudging and repining, but he muſt be ready pleaſantly to take it up, and patiently to bear it, when ever he is called to it, be ready to ſubmit to every croſs diſpenſation that the Lord ſhal pleaſe to carve out to him.
In the Words, we have three main things implyed. 1. The Lot and Meaſure that the followers of Chriſt may meet with, and ſhould lay their account to meet with in following of him, the Captain of their Salvation, and that is the Croſs. 2ly. The Duty that Believers are called to in reference to the Croſs, and theſe afflictions that they are to meet with, Let him take up his croſs, and that dayly, as Luke hath it. Chap. 9.23. 3ly. We have this Duty conſidered, as it ſtands betwixt theſe two, Let a man deny himſelf, and Let him follow me; for thus the words relate to the Scope that Chriſt drives at in this place.
As for the firſt of theſe, it contains in it ſeveral things, as 1. That Believers are to reckon to meet with ſad afflictions, in following Chriſt, and no leſs than ſuch as are both painful and ſhameful, and accompanied with reproach, compared here to ſufferings on the Croſs. 2ly. That they are to lay their account to meet with theſe continually, they muſt reſolve to take up their Croſs dayly. 3ly. That there are (beſide the general afflictions of the People of God) ſome proper and peculiar to every one of them, every man is to have his ſhare of the publick, general, and common Croſses and Afflictions, and his particular Croſs beſide. 4ly. That they muſt reſolve to meet with theſe, even in the following of Chriſt, and while they are in their Duty; we ſhal take in all theſe in this one Doctrine. That Believers, even in their following of Chriſt, and in the doing the Duties they are called to, are ordinarly accompanied with conſiderable croſſes, afflictions and difficulties; Chriſts Words laying it down, as a concluſion not to be controverted, that his followers muſt reſolve to bear the Croſs dayly, and with no leſs certification than that, otherwiſe they cannot come after him, give a very clear riſe to the Doctrine; and the truth of it being ſuch, that none do profeſſedly call it in queſtion, let be down-right deny it, that it might be judged unneceſſary and ſuperfluous, to offer at any proof of it; yet the practice of moſt calling for it as neceſſary, we ſhall ſpeak a little to the clearing, and confirming of the point; the truth whereof is manifeſted by the Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament, and by the experience of the People of God, in all Ages: There are three ſorts of afflictions that the People of God meet with, & that are ſpoken of in the Scriptures. 1. Some that are properly chaſtiſements 1 Cor. 1.32▪ So the Corinthians are ſaid to be chaſtened of the Lord, for prophaning the Lords Table, That they may not be condemned with the world; Theſe are not the afflictions, ſo much at leaſt, meaned here. 2ly. Some are properly tryals that the people of God meet with, in following of their Duty, and not properly for their Duty, and while they are walking tenderly; Such were holy Jobs afflictions, which he met with, while he was ſincerely and faithfully, in a great meaſure about his Duty to God and man, very ſharp ones: neither are theſe ſo much intended here. 3ly. Some that Believers meet with from men, becauſe of their faithfull following, and cleaving cloſs to their Duty, while they ſuffer in their Eſtates, Perſons, &c. for well-doing; Theſe are the Croſſes and Afflictions mainly meant here, though we would not exclude the former ſorts; they muſt reſolve, both in their Dutie, and for their Dutie, to meet with the Croſs, to be reproached and perſecuted; Take but one paſſage out of the Old Teſtament, Pſal. 44. v. 22. Where the People of God ſay to him, For thy ſake we are counted as ſheep for the ſlaughter, and all this is come upon us, yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falſly in thy covenant: and this is ſo ordinary a Lot, that Paul cites it, Rom. 8.36. As a truth verified in his time, and to be verified in all times following; And if we come to the New Teſtament, beſide that juſt now mentioned, Rom. 8. See 1 Cor. 4.9. I thank God (ſayes the Apoſtle) he hath ſet forth us Apoſtles laſt, as it were appointed to death, for we are a ſpectacle to the world, and to angels and men; we are fools for Chriſts ſake; but ye are wiſe; we are weak, but ye are ſtrong; ye are honourable, but we are deſpiſed; even unto this preſent hour, we both hunger and thirſt, and are naked, and buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; being reviled, we bleſs; being perſecuted, we ſuffer; being defamed, we intreat, we are made as the filth of the world, and are as the off-ſcourings of all things unto this day. And ſee how he inlarges this, as the way of his fighting, and doing Duty. 2 Cor. 6. In much patience, in afflictions, in neceſſities, in diſtreſſes, in ſtripes, and impriſonments, in tumults and labours, &c. And 2 Cor. 11.23. In labours more aboundant, in ſtripes above meaſure, in priſons more frequent, in deaths often, of the Jews I ſuffered five times fourtie ſtripes ſave one, thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I received ſhipwrack, a night and a day I have been in the depth, in journieing often, in perills by water, in perrills by robbers, in perills by my own countrey men, in perrills by the heathen, in perills in the city, in the wilderneſs, in the ſea, and by falſe brethren, &c. So Heb. 10.32, 33. Where there is a great ſight of afflictions ſpoken of, Partly, while Believers were made a gazing-ſtock by reproaches, and afflictions, partly while they became companions of them who were ſo uſed; and ſuffered the ſpoil of their goods joyfully, and Heb. 11. throughout; How largely is this Doctrine followed forth, Chap. 12. And all the Cloud of believing Witneſſes brought in, in the exerciſe of their Faith, walking thorow Sufferings; yea, it's ſo received a Truth, that in the Old and New Teſtament, we find it laid down (as it were) in Maximes, Pſal. 34.19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: Acts. 14.22. Through much tribulation we muſt enter into the kingdom of God; 2 Tim. 3.12. All that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus ſhall ſuffer perſecution: No man that will reſolve to keep a good Conſcience but he muſt reſolve to have this for his Lot; and we find both the Old and New Teſtament joyned together, for verification of this Truth, Gal. 4.29. But as then, he that was born after the fleſh, perſecuted him that was born after the Spirit, ſo is it now; Theſe that have nothing of Gods Grace in them, will ſtill perſecute thoſe that have it, the Seed of the Serpent will always perſecute the Seed of the Woman, ſo that the followers of Chriſt are not, even in their doing of Duty, exempted from Croſſes and Afflictions, and that of the ſharpeſt, and moſt ſearching nature: if it were needful to follow forth the confirmation of this by reaſons, ſeveral might be given, but take only a few of many, in ſome paſſages of Scripture; the first whereof, is, Rom. 8.29. Whom he did fore-know thoſe he predeſtinat, to be conformed to the image of his Son; Who hath chalked out their way wherein they muſt follow him through many afflictions to Glory, that ſo they may be made conform to him, both in holineſs, and in ſuffering; which holy Image of his in them, is the Butt of the wicked worlds malice, and perſecution; I ſay, he makes uſe of afflictions, to further their ſpiritual conformity to him, who, as he learned obedience by ſuffering, (though he needed not) ſo Believers are brought up at the ſame School, that their haughtineſs may be laid, their dulneſs rouzed and helped, and they taught obedience. The 2d place and reaſon is, in Deut. 8.2, 3. Where Moſes gives this for a reaſon, why the Lord keeped Iſrael ſo long in the wilderneſs, even that he might humble them, and prove them, and know what was in their heart, &c. Where first, we ſee that the deſign of afflictions is to humble Gods People; whileſt all things go well with them they are ready to be puft up, & to think well of themſelves, and of their duties, but God brings on croſſes to put them upon a ſearch, and to make a diſcovery to them of their ſin, and ſo layes their pride, and in this reſpect there is a neceſſity of affliction. 2ly. That all afflictions come to prove the People of God, and to try what is in their heart; not ſo, but that God knows exactly what is in their heart, but he will needs have them to know it alſo; Believers are ready to ſay in their proſperity, (as David did, Pſal. 35.) We ſhall never be moved; and never to think of being ſhaken; but God cauſeth, or permits a Croſs-wind to blow, and then ſomewhat comes whereof they did not think, and makes them change their tune, and ſay, Thou hide thy face, and I was troubled; And this is both profitable, & needful that they may know that they are not ſo ſtable, and immovable as they imagined. 3ly. That they may know, That man lives not by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God; That is, That man lives not ſo much by outward means, and ſecond cauſes, as by Gods bleſſing; which is another uſe and end of afflictions, even to bring his People off from leaning to ſecond cauſes and means, to a more immediat dependance on God himſelf; and to make them look beyond plowing, ſowing, harveſt, labour, our own diligence, pains, ſkill, prudent foreſight, and fore-caſting, care and dexterous management, for through-bearing, direction, guiding, and proviſion in all things they ſtand in need of; for if proſperity went alwayes along with the Dutie, men would readily be by aſſed, and inclined to follow dutie for wrong ends; therefore the Lord will have it otherwiſe, that it may be known who they are that follow him, for proſperity attending duty, and who for the right end. The 3d and laſt place, (containing another reaſon) which I ſhal name, is if that which we have, Rom. 5.3. We glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, &c. We are not troubled at afflictions (as if he ſaid) becauſe we get ſo much good of them; and what is that good? Tribulation draweth forth Grace into exerciſe, and makes it to grow, which did before much languiſh, and in a manner lye by; there are ſeveral Graces in a Chriſtian, that are not (to ſay ſo) in ſuch a capacity of acting, and being exerciſed, as when they are under the Croſs; what hath patience to do, that hath not affliction, and tribulation to try and exerciſe it? or how ſhal experience grow without patience? and how ſhal hope grow ſtrong and ſhine, where there is little or no experience? therefore Tribulation comes and works Patience, and Patience Experience, and Experience Hope; Tribulation not only affords occaſion and matter to Patience, but through Gods bleſſing works it, by tameing the Perſon, bringing low the height and haughtineſs of his Spirit, and making him put his mouth in the duſt; (and this is one good that comes by afflictions) and Patience again bringeth forth experience, when a man is brought to a ſuffering Lot, and by ſuffering calmed, and meekned, he gets many experiences of Gods love, tender care, and vigilant providence; that he would rather have than want his ſufferings; he gets the experience of Gods faithfulneſs, in making good his Promiſes, in ſuſtaining and bearing thorow under ſuffering; and as many troubles as he hath, he gets as many out-gates, neither would he want ſuch ſweet experience, whatever his Croſſes may be, that he falls under; and this is a Second Good that comes by affliction; a Third Good is, that experience brings forth hope; For when Chriſtians are accuſtomed to afflictions, and find the good of them, and get freſh experience of Gods faithfulneſs, and love under them, they ſcar not ſo much at them; for the bleſſed out-gates that they have gotten before, give them ground to hope for moe; and this makes them pleaſantly, chearfully, and couragiouſly to march through all their Af…ictions and Tribulations.
The Firſt Uſe ſerves, to diſcover the great unſuitableneſs of our practice to this Truth; There is not any Truth leſs controverted, nor more confirmed, How comes it then to paſſe, that we look upon the Croſs, eſpecially when i… comes for Duty, as it were a ſtrange and uncouth thing, whereof we had never heard before, or, as if God had oblidged himſelf to keep the Croſs from of us? Think it not ſtrange (ſayeth the Apoſtle 1 Pet. 4.12.) concerning the firie tryal, as if ſome ſtrange thing happened unto you; O! do not think your ſelves exempted from, or ſet quite without the reach of any Tryal, Affliction, or Tribulation that any of the People of God have met with before you, or in your time.
The 2d. Uſe ſerves, to reprove our too great averſeneſs from, and ſtarting at Tryals, Croſſes, Afflictions, and Tribulations, Let us put our ſelves to it, and enquire how theſe two can ſtand together, to wit, the certainty of their ſuffering perſecution, that will live Godly, and our fancieing that a godly man, not only may, but muſt be free of perſecution? 2ly. if it be a certain truth, that the People of God muſt enter into his kingdom through much Tribulation,, how comes it to be ſo little believed, and that ſo very few are found laying their account with it in particular? Is not this undenyably evident, by ſo much ſinfully diſtempering fear of it, and ſeeking anxiouſly, and unwarrantably to ſhift and ſtave it off ere it come, by thinking ſhame of it, and freting under it, when it comes, and by impatient longing to be freed from it? alas, theſe are ſhread and ſad evidences, that it is not really and throughly believed, that the kingdom of God muſt needs be entered into through much tribulation.
The 3d. Uſe ſerves, to provock us to wonder, that ſeing Chriſt thus bargans and capitulats with all his followers, without exception, that they take up their croſs dayly and follow him, through the ſtraiteſt and darkeſt ſteps of trouble; we are ſo little actually put to it, for every day that we are free of ſome great Croſs, is more than condition, and ſpeaks Chriſt (to ſay ſo) to be better than his word; every day of ſuch freedom layes a new obligation on us, to be thankful, and to bear our little Croſſes the more patiently; to this purpoſe, the Apoſtle be ſpeaks the Chriſtian Hebrews, Chap. 12.4. Ye have not yet reſiſted unto blood, in ſtriving againſt ſin; It was bleſſed Jeſus his lot, and of multitude of his Martyrs to ſuffer to Blood and Death; ſhould we then, becauſe of our little pettie ſuffering, fret and be anxious? It's both our ſin and ſhame, it's but very little that we have yet ſuffered in compariſon of what we ſhould lay our account with, and in compariſon with what others have ſuffered; why then is there ſo much un-warrantable ſnifting of ſuffering, and ſo much repineing and grudging under it, as if God dealt more hardly with us than with others?
The 4th. Uſe ſerves for warning, That ſince laying account with ſuffering is ſo neceſſary, ye would not think of getting it ſhifted, going about too diligently, by carnal wiles to ſhift, becomes a ſnare to many; let never your ſelves think, that ye can live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, and eſcape all ſuffering and perſecution; if ye ſhift Chriſts Croſs ſinfully, ye will bring Chriſts curſe on you; This is the great guilt of the body of our Land, and of this Place, that many having in a manner, laid by the Croſs of Chriſt, dare hazard on the curſe of Chriſt without dread of it; This will be found to be a fooliſh exchange, it's far better, without all doubt, to follow Chriſt with the Croſs, than to meet him and the Curſe; they will never repent it, who have choſen affliction rather than Sin, and to follow Chriſt with the Croſs rather than to comply with any ſinful courſe or practice; O! how dreadful will it be to all them (under whatſoever ſpecious and plauſable like pretences they may do it) that have by refuſing to follow Chriſt, bearing his Croſs, run themſelves into the danger of his Curſe, the Lord ſave us from ſuch deſperat folly and madneſs.
The 5th. and Laſt Uſe (which may be the First Doctrine, from the Second part of the Text, to wit, the Duty called for from Chriſts followers, which is, to take up their Croſs) is. That ſince there are none who ingadge to be followers of Chriſt, but muſt reſolve before hand, on whatſoever difficulties they may meet with in the way; and ſince the Croſs is ſo certain, they would not unſuitably ſtrive againſt it, but prepare for to take it up, and carry it after him; what man, (ſaith our Lord, Luke 14.) going to build a houſe, ſits not down firſt to count the coſt; or, what king going to make war with another King, ſits not down firſt, to conſult, if he be able to meet with him, &c. Where his Scope is ſo obviously to this purpoſe, that we need not ſay any thing more particularly to that notable paſſage; The reaſon of the Doctrine is, becauſe not only is the Croſs neceſſary, and unavoidable, but alſo becauſe thoſe are ſo fooliſh, as not to prepare for it before it come, will very readily be ſurpriſed with it, when it comes; if they be not by ſuch previous, ſerious forecaſt and reſolution at a point, eſtabliſhed, and ready armed to encounter the Croſs, when it marcheth up furiouſly againſt them, they will be taken at a great diſadvantage, and will not be able to ſtand it out, but will readily run, and be routed; hence it is, that in a day of tryal, ſo many miſcarry, and fall off. If it be here inquired what I mean, by preparing for the Croſs ere it come? Ye may take it in theſe few directions; the Firſt whereof is, That we would indeavour to have our intereſt in Chriſt clear, otherwiſe it's hardly poſſible that we can indure the Croſs; hence it is, that the Apoſtle beſpeaks the Chriſtian Hebrews, Chap. 10. v. 34. Ye took joyfully the ſpoiling of your goods, knowing in your ſelves, that ye have in heaven a better and induring ſubstance; this was one main ground, on which they did ſo chearfully ſuffer the ſpoiling of their goods; the ſuitably indeavoured certainty of the one greatly facilitats the ſuffering of the other. 2ly. We would through Grace ſtudy to carry denyedly, in reference to all earthly injoyments and comforts; we would, as the Apoſtle exhorts, 1 Cor. 7. v. 31. Uſe the world as not abuſing it; We would ſo uſe all things in the world, that we may not be brought under the power of any of them, holding a looſe grip of them all, ready to forego our hold of Wife, Children, Houſes, Lands, Money, even of all Relations, and Injoyments, as if they were none of ours, when the Lords calls to it; In a word, we would ſeek to be crucified with Chriſt, and to have the world crucified to us, and our ſelves crucified to the world, and weaned from it; a notable preparation for bearing the Croſs. 3ly. We would ſtudy to be much taken up with the ſeriou… thoughts of things not ſeen, to come, and eternal, to admit thoſe things to have great weight with us, and to be much converſant with them, even to have our hearts and our converſations in heaven; This was it that greatly influenced Moſes refuſal to be called the Son of Pharaohs daughter, and his choice of a ſhare of the People of God their affliction, even the reſpect that he had to the recompence of reward, Heb. 11.24, 25, 26. And the Apoſtle Paul gives this as a reaſon why he made ſo light account of affliction, 2 Cor. 4. While (ſayeth he) we look not at the things that are ſeen, but at the things that are not ſeen, for the things that are ſeen are temporal, but the things which are not ſeen are eternall; Few ſerious and ſtayed thoughts of Heaven, little delightful dwelling in the contemplation of the approaching full manifeſtation of the glorious priviledges of the Sons of God, with much minding of earthly things and groveling in the earth, make the Croſs ſeem very terrible, and even intolerable; whereas heavenly mindedneſs, and much looking at things unſeen and eternal, notably ward off the dint of the blowes of afflictions, that they do not much get in on the heart, to divert from following of Chriſt, by anxious and vexatious thoughts about them. 4ly. We would ſtudy to be much in forecaſting of, and in acquainting our ſelves with the ſaddeſt difficulties ere they come; not looking at our ſelves, as exeemed from the heavieſt and moſt ſadly circumſtantiated afflictions that any of Gods People have met with; Thus ſhal that which is leſs be the better born, unjuſt ſhame & reproach will not be thought ſo very much of, neither will there be ſuch ſtartling at a croſs word, nay, not at Bonds and Impriſonment, and ſpoiling of Goods, when we have laid our account in our thoughts to meet with the greateſt afflictions: God hath hitherto keeped the greateſt part of us from any very conſiderable perſonal Tryalls, and Tribulations, and we are ready to look at theſe as being quite worn out of uſe; but we would bring them near, and habituat our ſelves in our thoughts to them, and by Chriſtian bearing leſſer ones, be fitting our ſelves againſt the coming of the great Croſs and Tryal; if we cannot indure little pettie Tryals, ſuch as a frown, a check, or a word of reproof from others, how will we behave, when it comes to greater Sufferings if the running with Foot-men weary us, how will we be able to contend with Horſes? if we faint in the land of peace, what will we do, when it comes to the flowings of Jordan? 2ly. When many of you are upon every trifling occaſion, chideing; jangling and brauling in your Families, and every ſmal matter awakens Paſſion; and when we are not learning Chriſtianly to bear the ſmalleſt things, how can we expect to be able to bear the greateſt Croſſes? It were very deſirable, that we made it our ſtudy to accuſtome our ſelves dayly to bear our little Croſſes ſuitably; when injuries are offered to us, though we be not called to be outterly ſenſleſs under them, yet we would learn to carry them with Chriſtian meekneſs, and moderation; but when men allow themſelves in their Paſſion, and Revenge, becauſe of Injuries do… them, and proudly ſcorn and diſdain to take … affront, this teacheth proud Self a habitual wa… of carrying thus on every occaſion, and mightil… unfits for future greater Tryals.
From the Duty that a follower of Chriſt is ca… led to. Obſerve. 2dly. That the followers of Chri… would heartily welcome, and chearfully ſubmit unt… the croſs that they may meet with for his ſake, an… on his account: Let him take up his croſs, Inſinuats That he is not to reaſon or diſpute againſt, no… ſinfully to ſhift it, neither is he reluctantly to be drawn and dragged to it, but to take it up w…llingly and pleaſantly (when called to it) and when it is taken on, to carry it contentedly and chearfully, without all grudging, fretting, or repining: There are ſeveral things that do both confirm and preſs this point. As 1. The great good that comes by willing, ready and chearful taking up, and bearing of Chriſts Croſs, ſuch as the tryall and improvement of Graces, furthered conformity to Chriſt, acceſs to glorifie him, much of the Spirit of God, and of Glory reſting on the Sufferer, the honeſt Sufferer for Chriſt, even all the peaceable fruits of Righteouſneſs, that afterward wait on them that are exerciſed thereby; It's true, no affliction is for the preſent joyous, but grievous, and even the Believer in Chriſt may find difficultie, yea, not only ſo, but much averſneſs, and reſiſtance from the unrenewed part, but the regenerat part makes him patiently and pleaſantly to ſtoup; Thus the Lord ſayes of Peter, That he ſhould be carried whither he would not; There was in him not only a purely naturall averſion from Suffering, (ſuch was in bleſſed …eſus himſelf, without any the leaſt ſinfull diſcompoſure) but ſomewhat culpably ſo, through …he remainder of indwelling Corruption, but the regenerat part, through aſſiſting Grace prevailled, ſo that he glorified God by his Suffering of a violent Death. A 2d. Thing that confirmeth, and preſſeth this, is, not only the great good and benefit that cometh to us by it, which makes Paul to glorie in the midſt of tribulations and James to exhort Chriſtians, to count it all joy when they fall into divers tentations; but alſo the great and honourable priviledge that is in being counted worthy to ſuffer for his name, rejoyce (ſayes Peter) in as much as ye are partakers of Chriſts ſufferings: And if we conſider a little more particularly, we will find, that there are a great many priviledges, that wait honeſt and chearful Sufferings for Chriſt, beſide all the good of it. As namely 1. When God puts the honour on ſome to be inſtrumental in high and honourable pieces of ſervice to him, particularly in ſuffering for him, which is moſt honourable; giving them not only to believe in Chriſt, but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake, (as it is, Philip. 1.29. Where there is an obſervable gradation) all Believers have not this honour. 2dly. There is a meaſure of myſtical Chriſts Sufferings to be filled up; For as Chriſt is not compleat without his body, the Church, ſo his Sufferings in that reſpect are not compleat till that appointed meaſure be filled up. So, Col. 1, 24. Believers are ſaid, to fill up what is behind of the ſufferings of Christ myſtical, and there is thereby a great priviledge, and piece of honour put upon them; It's true, their Sufferings are neither meritorious nor ſatisfactory to Divine Juſtice that is already done to their hand, it being the peculiar and incommunicable priviledge of the perſonal ſufferings of Chriſt, but to be joyned with him in the ſame work, in order to the ſam… general end, viz. The glorifying of God, is, doubtleſs a great honour. A 3d. Priviledge is, that Believers Sufferings for Chriſt make way according to Gods diſpoſal, and order of things, for more eminent degrees of Glory, Matth. 5.11.12. It's true, they merit none, yet he hath in his wiſdom ordered that connection, and promiſed, that if we ſuffer with him, we ſhall alſo reign with him; and if we ſuffer with him, that we ſhall alſo be glorified together with him, 2 Tim. 2.12. Rom. 8.17. And ſays the Lord to his Diſciples, Luke 22.28, 29. To this purpoſe, Ye are they that have continued with me in my tentations, and I appoint unto you a kingdom, &c. It is not indeed by way of merit, but by way of connection, that much Suffering is recompenſed with much Glory: It's a righteous thing with God (ſays the Apoſtle, 2 Theſſ. 1.6. to render tribulation to them that trouble you, and to you that are troubled reſt with us; There is a ſort of Righteouſneſs, in making much Suffering for Chriſt to be followed with much Glory, ſo that though the Saints righteouſneſs, be a righteouſneſs of Grace, yet there is ſomewhat in Gods Righteouſneſs, and equal, or ſuitable way of dealing, that me…s out great Glory, according to great Sufferings for Chriſt. A 4th Priviledge is, more livelineſs in Duties, more immediat acceſs to God under the Croſs, a greater nearneſs to him, and greater manifeſtations of of his comforting preſence under Suffering for Chriſt, then is ordinarly attained unto otherwiſe; So much is declared by the Apoſtle, 1 Pet. 4.14. If ye be reprached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of God, and of G…y reſteth upon you. A 5th Priviledge is, That Sufferers for Chriſt are ſomeway equalled to the moſt eminent Saints, Prophets and Apoſtles, that have gone before them; To this purpoſe, ſays our Lord to his Diſciples, Matth. 5. v. 11, 12. Bleſsed are ye when men ſhal revile, and perſecute you; for ſo did they perſecut the Prophets that were before you; And to be dealt with as all the great men of God, and the Prophets before us were, and to be put in the ſame rank, roll, and catalogue with them, is no ſmall Priviledge, nor is it any little honour, for ſuch poor creatures as we are, to be thus highly ranked, and claſſed. There is a 3d thing that confirmeth, and preſſeth the Point, and that is, the Fountain whence this willing taking up, and chearful bearing of Chriſts Croſs flowes, which is, the believing contemplation, and conſideration of the Love of God in Chriſt, of the faithfulneſs of his Promiſe, and Covenant, and of his tender Fatherly care, and pity towards his Children; Ye have forgotten, (ſaith the Apoſtle) Heb. 12.5. the exhortation that ſpeaks to you, as to Children; My ſon, deſpiſe not thou the chaſtning of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him. (Importing, that they had forgotten the nature of affliction, and of the relation that they ſtood in to God, when they fainted under the Croſs,) For whom the Lord loveth, he correcteth, and chaſtneth every ſon whom he receiveth, and if ye indure chaſtiſments, ye are dealt with as Sons, &c. As if he had ſaid, Gods ch…ſtning puts this honour upon you in that, as it flowes from his ſpecial Love, ſo it declares you to be his Sons; all your chaſtiſements are effects of his Fatherly Love to you, and of his tender care of you, and by this Character he d…fferenceth you from baſtards.
The Firſt Uſe ſerves, to exhort, ſtir up, and provock all Chriſts Followers, ſweetly to take on, and chearfully to bear the Croſs of Chriſt, when he calls to it, and layes it on; We would rejoyce, and be exceeding glad, and count it all joy; we would rejoyce, in as much as we are made partakers of the ſufferings of Chriſt, as our Lord, and his Apoſtles James and Peter from him exhorts us: Ah! how far are we removed from this in our practice? we ſhould glory in tribulation, and glorifie God in the fires, yea, ſhould make our Croſs for Chriſt a great ground of our chearfulneſs and joy; not that we would have Chriſtians either to be raſh and haſtie in drawing on Suffering on themſelves, even in a good cauſe, or to be carnal, vain, conceity and proud under it; but when the Lord calls us to it, we would readily ſtoup to take on his Croſs, and carry it handſomly and chearfully, that we may commend, and give a good word to the Croſs of Chriſt to others, that they may know the exhortations to Sufferings this way, and the promiſe made to honeſt Sufferers are not in vain, that they may be incouraged to adventure on Suffering for Chriſt when he calls to it, in hope of being made, to experience, ſomewhat of the ſame allowance for …eir honourable through-bearing.
The 2d. Uſe ſerves to reprove, not only our …ſuitable ſhifting of the Croſs, but alſo our …avie and heartleſs bearing of it, when God …yes it on; It may be, when we cannot poſſibly …et it ſhifted without groſs and palpable guilt, …e will ſtoup, as it may be, to take it on, but …e unwilling to bear it far, and are ready to …eary greatly of it; It's true (as I ſaid) we …ould not be culpably acceſſory to the bringing … it on our ſelves, but when he layes it on, we …ould not ſhew ſuch averſion from it, neither …ould we account it to be ſo heavy and uneaſie a …oke, nor walk with ſo much diſcouragement …nder it, as if it were not the honourable Croſs … precious Jeſus Chriſt, and as if there were no …romiſe of an out-gate from it, nor of aſſiſtance … bear it; or, as if our life conſiſted in the a…undance of theſe outward things; this is …ertainly exceeding blame-worthy, and very un…ecoming the followers of Jeſus Chriſt.
The 3d Uſe ſerves to teach us, not to tye our …omfort to an outward proſperous condition in …he World; nor to be anxious, when our proſpe…ity is turned to adverſity; but to labour to be …lear in our Duty, and to walk evenly in follow…ng of Chriſt, not being very ſolicitous what we may meet with, in following him; for if we conſider rightly, we will find, that mens ſinful …hifting of the Croſs, and their earkingly care…ull way of walking under it, is that which hightheth the difficultie of it, and makes it to become doubly a Croſs; whereas, if there were a Chriſtian reſolution before hand to take it on, and a kindly ſtouping to it, when it comes; … would blunt the ſharp edge of the Croſs, lighten it, and make it eaſily portable: Much mor… might be ſaid, in proſecut…ng of this Uſe, whic… we will not now inſiſt in, only conſider well, an… lay due weight on our Lords words, eſpecially when the Croſs is come to our door; If any ma… will come after me, let him deny himſelf, take up hi… croſs and follow me; and the Lord himſelf graciouſly inable us to do ſo.