Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4, Verse 7-9

Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4 · Verse 7-9

p. 131Vers. 7. That the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Vers. 8. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.

Vers. 9. Persecuted, yet not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

I Have spoken largely of the Verse before, wherein you may Remember, that the Apostle might take a way all suspition of Arrogancy in taking too much upon himself, He saith, we carry treasures but in earthen vessels. The end of which dispensation of God is, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of man.—There we shewed there is a power, and an excellent power in the Ordinance of God.—And that this is p. 132of God, and exclusively not of us. All which we have propounded at large.

We shewed, There is a blessed presence of God and of his power, and sweetnesse, and goodnesse, in all his Ordinances, He distilleth, and conveyeth whatsoever is in his Fathers brest to us by his Ordinance, he doth good to us by men like our selves, As the D…vill conveyeth all his mischief by men unto me: So God conveyeth all his good by men to men, but they are but the Co…du…s, for the vertue and excellency of the power is of God.

Things otherwise seeming alike, differ in regard of vertue, as cold water diff…rs from hot water, they differ not in colour, but in ver…u…. It is the Spirit of God that accompanyeth his Ordinance, that giveth power, and vertue, and efficacy to it. For the Ministers of the Gospell are Ministers, and no more, nor no lesse, to be regarded as Ministers, and no farther. To regard them more, is to make Idolls of them, to deny them lesse, is to deny their due right. This should stir up a wonderfull care of diligence in all the wayes and courses that God hath sanctified to convey grace by. They that be Gods Children love Gods presence wheresoever they find it, and because God vouchsafeth his presence in his Ordinance,Gods children love Gods presence. therefore they regard it, and remember allwayes, to give the glory of all to God. For the power and excellency is of God, and not of us. Why gaze ye on us, as if we by our own power had cured the man? It is not from man, but from God.Acts 4.Acts 4

Now to come to the 8. Verse. VVe are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, &c.

The Apostles words have an elegant Antithesis, of things seeming contrary. We are perplexed, not in despair, persecuted, not forsaken, cast off, but not destroyed. There is a kind of Elegancy in the dispensation of God. And this serveth to the former argument, to shew that we carry these treasures in earthen vessels. That we should not despise the earthen vessels because they be weak, he sets down what befalls them in the world, and how God supports and giveth supply of comforts, suitable to the distresse. He grants we be troubled on every side, yet not distressed, perplexed, but not in despair. Those that are to deal with enemies, and are to prevent objections, they must grant the worst that may be granted, that so they may make their p. 133Apology better. Saint Paul freely granteth all that can be objected by any that look on the outside of the professors, and Ministers of the Gospell. I grant these fall out, and yet it must be granted, God hath a speciall care likewise, as you shall see in the unfolding of the words, which we will particularly go over, and then joyntly raise out of them some Observations.

We are troubled on every side. The word signifieth pressed, Exposition of the words. Afflictions pressures.foreign, but yet not oppressed. God suffers his Children to be pressed, Afflictions, they are the wine-presse of God, to presse out of them all that is good, to the view and taste of others; They have good liquor in them, but it is not tasted of, but by pressure. For the most part Spices relish not, savor not, unlesse they be beaten. So it is with grapes, unlesse they be pressed. The works, the Enemies of the Church, and the Children of God do, is to presse the ill that is in them, and to presse out the ill that is in themselves. For at the same time they presse out by trouble, and disgracefull usage, better men than themselves,Wicked men by afflicting the godly, declare their own malice. at the some time they presse out and make apparent their own malice, and poyson. So that afflictions are discoveries of their evill, and of good mens good. And it is helpfull for the Church, that there be be both, that all men may be known, and the thoughts of men discovered, And that the graces of the good, may be also manifested. And therefore he saith, we be troubled, or pressed on every side.

Indeed, foreign, in the originall signifieth in every place, in every time, as here on every side, for the Children of God are on every side pressed: Sometimes from above, God seemeth to be their Enemy, and sometimes from within, by the terrour of conscience; And sometimes on the right hand, vexed with their friends, and sometimes on the left hand, vex…d with their Enemies, and sometimes round about them with the states and conditions of the times, sometimes from beneatk, with S…tan… molestations and vexations, something before them, fear of H…ll, damnation, and trouble to come, and something behind them, remembrance of former sins. So that they be press…d on every side, yet not distressed foreign, or oppressed, or altogether distressed, as the word signifieth, not altogether in desperate straights, When the body i… …n straights and pinch…d, p. 134that it cannot tell what way to turn. And the mind in straightThe people of God in distresse are not desperate. doth not know whither to retire, but Gods Children are no in such straights: For though they be troubled on every side, yet they are not streightened in spirit, they have large hearts; as David saith, Psal. 118. and Psal. 18. Thou hast set my feet at large, and Psal 119. and verse 92. He declares how God had inlarged his heart. And so God inlargeth the paths of his Children, though they be afflicted, yet they be not so streightened, but they find inward inlargements. Inlargednesse of prayer to God, they can v…nt their desires to God la…gely, before men, they are bold to maintain Gods cause; They find a large heart in regard of inward peace and comfort; and indeed, …here is never a Child of God, but he hath incomparably a larger heart than wicked men. All wicked men are all vainly hearted, base spirited persons, but the Child of God hath a large heart, for the grace of God, and sense of heavenly comforts inlarge the heart, and so he hath a more Heroical spirit than any worldling hath. So that though they be in pressure, yet they be not over press…d. Wicked men have a Prison in their own brests, Take a wickedWicked men imprison their own hearts. man that is not besotted, when he understandeth himself, though he be never so free, though above all men, though a Commander of the world, yet he is imprisoned and streightened in his own heart, his conscience upbraids him with his sinnes, commands him to come before the Tribunal seat of God. In greatest liberty he is oftentimes in straights, for abusing that liberty. But a Child of God can in all afflictions lay open his Soul before God; so much for that particular.

Perplexed, yet not in despair. The word is elegant in the originall foreign, we are perplexed, but not in extremity, the word in the originall signifieth want of Counsell, what course to take, when a manis in such difficulty for want. Want offoreign haerere & in…ps esse consilij Erasm. things necessary, and then want of Counsell to get them supplied, breedeth perplexity. Now saith Paul, we want many things, And therefore among other troubles, the Apostle reckons, Hunger, Thirst, Fasting, 2 Cor. 11. 27. Gods Children are oftentimes in want, not only of outward things, but seemingly in want of Counsell what course to take for a time. In regard of danger, what a difficulty was Abraham in, when he was to offer his Son Isaac, his eldest Son, his only Son, the Son ofGen. 22. 1, 2, 3.Gen 22:1Gen 22:2Gen 22:3 p. 135the promise? And Jacob when he parted with Benjamin, andGen. 43. 13. Exod. 14. 10. 11, 12.Gen 43:13Exod 14:10Exod 14:11Exod 14:12 thought he had lost Joseph, Moses at the red Sea, present to your selves, what straits he was in, the mountaines were on either side, the Red sea before them, the Egyptians behind them? In1 Sam. 30. 6.1 Sam 30:6 what straight was David when they were ready to stone him? certainly exceedingly great. In what straight was Jonas in theJonah 1. 17.Jonah 1:17 belly of H…ll, the Whale in the depth of the Sea? and so Gods Children are oftentimes not onelyonly in want of help, but in want of Counsell. So that they be a most at their wits ends, not knowing what course to take.

Yet we are not in despair, foreign, For God at the pinch of time cometh, and as it was in Abrahams case, in the Mount appeared, when the Knife was ready to cut the throat of Isaac, then God sheweth himself. So Moses at the Red-sea, he was in wonderful straights perplexed, And he cryeth to God, Why dost thou cry to me, saith God, though he said nothing, God made way for him through the Red-sea, God makes hisSighs and groanes are loud cries in the eares of God. Dan. 6. 16. Exod. 2. 3.Dan 6:16Exod 2:3 way where he findeth none, he can divide the Red-sea, and cause Jordan to fly back. When the wayes be desperate, and the plunges extream, then God makes way for his Children. God is wonderfull near to them in their extremities, He was nearer to Daniel than the teeth of the Lions, and nearer Moses than the water was, when he was swimming in his Basket; God is nearest in danger when it is nearest of all. When Jonah wasJonah 2. 1.Jonah 2:1 in the Whales belly, he was in wonderfull perplexity, it could not be otherwise, And yet at the same time God inlarged his heart, that he did not despair. So that you see the words are true, Though Gods Children are perplexed, yet they be not in despair; They have a God to go to at all times, at the worst, they can send forth their sighes, and groanes, though they cannot speak; And those sighes and groanes are great cries in Gods ear. God knoweth the desires of their soules, God hath an ear in their very hearts, and knoweth the meaning of his own Spirit, joyning with their spirits. No man is in a desperateNote. condition that can pray, And though he cannot pray in words, yet Prayer being matter of affection and desires to God, and any man being in such extremity may do that; there is no Prayer but it fetcheth help from Heaven, there is not a groan lost, that is sent to Heaven, and therefore though they be perplexed yet not in despair.

p. 236The Church seemed to be in a perishing condition, and David saith, I am cast out of thy fight, yet thou heardest the voice of Psalm 31. 22.Ps 31:22my Prayer, yea, a Prayer joyned with such expressions, that I said, God …ath forsaken me. The spirit sighes and groanes, and God regardeth such a Prayer. And so, that howsoever in regard of the flesh, we be in desperate conditions, yet the spirit hath an eye to God, and moveth a sigh and tear to him, and at the same time fetcheth help from Heaven. You see then the poynt is clear.

Verse 9. We are persecuted, but not forsaken; foreign, the Greek word signifieth to persue; God sometimes personates an Enemie, and seemeth to be against us, and that is an heavy case, it was Jobs case, Thou writest bitter things against me. InJob 13. 26.Job 13:26 Divine temptations God seemeth to be our Enemy; We are persecuted and persued, sometimes by the arm of the Almighty, sometimes again by Satan, and by his Instruments, when we have made by conversion to God escape from the world, the world sendeth Hue and Crie out after the Saints, pursuing and labouring to bring them to their old conditions and labours, to trip them in their waies, the Children of God have been from the beginning of the world, so persued, that they never leave persuing them, till they have driven them to death, and evenThe worlds malice against the Saints. 1 Tim 3. 12.1 Tim 3:12 to Heaven it self. And this is the state of all Gods Children, if once any will be righteous. Whosoever will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution. He may be Civill, and no man will say black is his eye, but if he have power of Religion, and labour to expresse it in his conversation, he shall have persecution of the tongue, or of the hand; Saint Austine saith well, Though we live well in times of peace, yet, Audi, audi, mi Frater, begin to live as a Christian should live, and see if you be not persued, you shall find a Babylon in Jerusalem. And truly, in times of peace, a man will find enemies enough at home. For it is almost equally difficult to be truly righteous at all times. In the primitive Church the doctrine of Religion was opposed in applying the truth of Doctrine.

Now the power of practisers, at all times Religion hath been so much persecuted, as may stand with salvation, The D…vill is content with profession, the thing may stand with lust and sin, but so much as is necessary to bring to Heaven that hath been allwayes under persecution, in one kind or other. p. 137Though persecuted, yet not forsaken, viz. of God; No, so far from being forsaken of God, that God is never nerrer them, than when trouble is neerest of all. Be not far off, saith the Psalmist, for trouble is nigh, Then there is most use of Gods presence andPsal. 22. v. 11Ps 22:11 Comfort. In persecution usually the Soules of Gods people fly under the shadow of his wings, and being driven to him, they find more support and succour, than at other times. It was a good speech of the Landgrave of Hessen, (Philip the First, that was of fame and note,) to Charles the fift, when not only the Duke of Saxony, but he was taken Prisoners, and a great while continued so: How did you all the time demean your selves?After the fiercest persesecutions the sweetest consolations. said he, I found those divine Comforts that I never felt before. So that there is certain evidence of Gods presence in persecution, and standing out in a good cause, which Gods Children never felt before, as after. There is a hidden Manna conveied to them, which is appropriated to those times, so saith he, we be persecuted, but not forsaken; nay God is never neerer, than at that time.

When there is a new Moon, The space between the old and new is Interlunium, that it is as good as lost now, yet hath more light in it self than ever it had, for it is neerer the Sun than ever, though it appears not to the world. And though the comforts of the Soul appear not in afflictions, yet then God shineth more upon them, than at any other time.

Cast down, but not destroyed. Cast down, by persecution prevailing; persecution prevailing doth cast men down, and give them the worst in the eye of the world, but yet we are not destroyed. The Children of God go masked, many thousands of them, to the sight of flesh and blood, and in app…arance of flesh destroyed. But they be nothing lesse than destroyed. For to take it at the worst, though their meat is taken from them, yet they are not distressed.

1. For what is the worst the world can do? they away their lives which they must leave ere long, and thereby they are made partakers of their wish, whi…h every Child of God hath, to depart and to be with C…. Now when they drive them out of the world, they make them partakers of what they most desire, for they have more Commu…ion with God in Heaven than ever they had before, they are in their seats and proper place.

p. 1382. Again, though in regard of some particulars, the Church may seem to be des…royed, some boughes are cut, yet the body remaines, so in regard of the whole Body they are not destroyed.

3. In regard of the inward man, they are not destroyed, They take courage still, and comfort still, while they are in the world, when they go out of the world, they have accomplishment of all desires; put case God deliver them not, butGod delivers his people in not delivering them. give th…m up to death, he delivereth them, in not delivering th…m, For what is Death, but delivering them from all trouble? when he delivereth not in particular danger, he giveth them a generall deliverance by death from all trouble whatsoever.

4. Again, there is a double deliverance, There is an inward secret deliverance, and an apparent open deliverance. Put case they be cast down, and not openly delivered, yet secretly they are delivered, that is, from fear, and despair, the Soul is set at liberty within. So that though they be cast dawn, yet not destroyed.

5. If they be destroyed to the appearance of the world, it is but seed sown, Saints are the seeds out of which grow many other,Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae. The blood of Martyrs is the seed of the Church. As often as we are mowed and cast down saith Tertullian by your cruelty, it is but an allurement to our profession. So when they seem to be destroyed, they be but seed sown, and out of their ashes many rise out of them. How much are we beholding to the bloody times in this Kingdome, for this after glorious Church?

6. Not destroyed in this world, while they have any work to do; you may imprison them, fetter them, but God will work a miracle, rather than his Children shall be taken out of the world, before they have done their work. The three young men in the fornace, the fire shall cease to burn, rather than they shall, before their hour cometh. In the Gospell Christ was not hurt by them, for his hour is not yet come; they cannot hurt one hair of the head. They are afflicted, but not oppressed; Dan. 3. 27.Dan 3:27They are persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

From all which we may raise some generall trut…s, and p. 139make use of all that hath been spoken

Doct. First of all we may from hence observe, That troubles and afflictions of Gods people in this world, they are many, and they are great, and growning. They wax greater and greater, till Gods time be appointed. Here is distresse, persecution, perplexity, casting down, they be many and manifoldly different in their kind; And then they be great, for here he rekons the greatest troubles that can befall except death it self, which is usually included. And then there be degrees of them, to be afflicted is lesse than to be perplexed, and persecution added to perplexity, Then to persecution without, is added the trouble following: And not only afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, but cast down.

That is no matter, Mille mali species, mille salutis erunt, If a thousand waies of trouble, there will be a thousand wayes of deliverance. God is never at a loss to help his Children, therefore God grant we are so, so, but we are not in distresse, we despair not, we are not forsaken, we are not destroyed.

Wee, that is, Paul, and not only wee, as men, and wee as Christians, but wee as eminent men. For the troubles of Gods Children happen to them as men, sometimes sicknesse, Death, losses, crosses; Sometimes as Christians, as they be magligned and opposed by the wicked world; Sometimes in an eminent calling, as Pharoah, that desired to slay the male Children, speciallyExod. 1. 16.Exod 1:16 that were strong & able to do service, they were objects of malice. Now we are thus used not only as men, & Christians, butThe most eminent of Gods people are subjected to most eminent afflictions. as eminent men. So that it is the condition of the most eminent of all, to be thus used. It pleaseth God to let his Children ind…r… many and manifold, and great troubles. Now what is the reason of this? I might be large, but I will give a few.

1. Of necessity, There must be a conformity between the members Reason 1 and the head. It behoved Christ to suffer that he might enter into glory. And all we in our time must suffe…, and so enter into glory. We are predestinate to conformity to our head, weRom. 8. 29.Rom 8:29 are not only predestinate to salvation, but to all between us and salvation. We are ordained to passe through such and such good actions, such and such turnings, there is no man, but hath so many actions to perform, so many sufferings to indure, to which they be by God ordained.

p. 1402. And again, the best of Gods Children, have something to be wought out of them by a spirit of burning, and affliction, the best need refining.

3. And again, Grace needeth tryalls, and exercise, and increase; now God sanctifieth all these, passing from vessell to vessell, these transfusions, to word out what is evill, to try, exercise, and increase what is good.

4. And if there were no more but the malice of Satan, and his cursed seed, the seed of the Serpent, it is not possible to avoyd the Crosse. And God, that his Children may not love the world, hath made the world hate them; And it is safe forWhy the Saints love not the world. Gods people, to have the hatred of the worst people, their hatred will do them more good, than their love, their hatred breeds a separation, and commands a separation in conclusion, For what shall we do with Familiarity and Aquaintance with them, whose company we cannot injoy in Heaven? And therefore God will have his Children exercised with the worst men, and then he desires to take them out of the world, and to set God up in his due place. God is God, and the Creator, when we be stript of all worldly comforts; Then vanity is vanity; God will not have us Idolize any thing below, and therefore suffers us to fall into extream wants, and dangers. Many other reasons there be which I do give you but a tast off.

You see then the state of Gods Children in regard of the world, But what is it i… regard of him? They be not forsaken, they be not utterly cast …ff. So they are patient in both, patient in regard of the tro…ble they meet with in the world, patient in regard of Gods dealing with them. God forsakes them not, so as to destroy the…, He leaveth them not in a desperate condition, as he doth the wicked.

Doct. 2. Again, Observe this, That the life of Gods Children in this world is a mixt life, woven of Afflictions and of Comforts, intermixt of both. It tasts of both the malice of the world, and the goodnesse of God.

They oftentimes injoy sicknesse, they be sometimes in dumps, and sadnesse, Their life is woven of comfort and discomfort,Manifold afflictions have manifold consolations. and it is good for them in this wor…d to be so, till they be in their proper place in Heaven. And this is our Comfort allwayes, though troubles be many and manifold, and great, and p. 141growing, and the last day worst, yet as the waters of afflictions grow, so do their Comforts, and the graces of the Spirit grow like waters of the Sanctuary, as troubles increase, so the waters of Consolation increase: And it is better to be in trouble, than to be kept from the Trouble without the Comfort; there is more sweetnesse in affliction, than in freedome from it without the sweetnesse. If we look to the world you see what we may look for; If we look to Heaven, you may see what to expect thence.

Ʋse. If this be so, that their condition is thus mixt, it is good in our Prayers to allege to God our ill condition, to argue ex…remity, Help Lord, for vain is the help of Man, Save Lord, the water is entred into my Soul, help Lord, if thou wilt not, none will, if thou canst not, none can. God will be bound with these arguments. It was the speech of Philo, A mans help faileth, where Gods begins.

And it a good argument to allege to God in matters of sin,Psal. 25.Ps 25 Lord pardon, Lord forgive, for my sins are many and great. This is a good argument with God, for he is infinite in mercy, therefore allege it as a binding argument.

But if God himself seem to be our Enemy, what course shall we take then? Sometimes God acts a part that is not his own, that he may shew afterward a greater mercy. In such times we must get the eye of faith, and break through the cloudes between the Soul and Gods face, and see his Fatherly Countenance in Jesus Christ. Faith hath peircing eyes, and breakes through the Cloudes between God and us, and bindeth him with his own nature, and promise, whatsoever part he acts, Lord howsoever thou dealest, thy nature in Christ is gracious, mercifull, Thou hast made rich promises, that thou wilt not fall from. Forsake me not. Bind him with his word, with his narure, he cannot deny his word, his nature, himself, allege them to him in Christ, and allege his own promise, and they will be effectuall.

Obj. 3. Again, we see here, that it is a good art, and needfull in times of trouble, to look to the good, as well as to the ill. The Apostle doth not only confesse ingenuously all the ill that the enemies might object to weaken the reputation of the Gospell, They are people cast down and despised, All this is true, but p. 142we are not forsaken, we are not in despair, not destroyed. This is a good art in every affliction, It is better to have ourHow to behave our selves in afflictions. This is a good art in every affliction, It is better to have our eyes on the good, than to have our eyes altogether upon the ill; God hath taken away one Child, he might have taken many, God hath afflicted with sicknesse, but he might have taken away our witts: Therefore have not both eyes fixed upon the grief, for that is Satans policy to rob God of his glory, and our Soules of comfort.

Ʋse. Therefore learn a blessed skill from hence, when there is objected any thing by Satan to disgrace the Gospel or discourage it, reject the objections of Satan with better. It is so I confesse; yet God seemeth to be displeased, and I am afflicted, but God is a gracious God, hath left many comforts, his Word, and Promises, and therein I will trust, he hath given me his Spirit to support me. Thus return all the temptations of Satan, learn to be as witty and ingenious to argue, that for the strengthening of our faith, which may drive us to the acknowledgement of Gods goodnesse and mercy, as Satan is to do the contrary, Judg. 6. 13. God be with thee thou valiant man, but if God be with us, why is it thus with us? And so Gods people look all to the grieveance, why are we persecuted, and in distresse, and want, and at our witss end? Now, but consider the comfort as well as the discomfort, learn that heavenly wisedome from Saint Paul.

Let no man be discouraged, if he findeth himself sensible of the grief he lyeth under, we be fl…sh, and not spirit, God knoweth whereof we are made, and therefore he layeth not whole loads upon us, but in anger he remembers mercy, you see how he deales with the Apostle Paul, and others in his case, therefore if we be sensible of trouble, God can help, no man more sensible of grief than Christ, Christi do…or, dolor maximus. For he had perfect wisedome to apprehend, and a sound body. Saint Paul speaks of these things, as wonderfully sensible, but here is true Patience, when we be sensible to the uttermost of the grievance, and yet withall are but sensible of the grievance. Why should I smite them any more? saith God to the Prophet. ItIsa. 1.Isa 1 is not only sin, but judgement to be given up to hard hearts, not to feel the condition; well Saint Paul was sensible of his condition.

p. 143Obj. Thou wilt object, what is this to us? we live in calm times, and in Joy, Health, and Prosperity, and know not what these things mean, that Paul speaks of?

Answ. Beloved, the more we be beholding to God, but do we know to what times the Lord may call the best of us all? therefore we must be prepared before hand, Comforts are not God sought for in prosperity, will be found in adversity.found in Adversity, that were not sought for in Prosperity, as Austin saith. In times of peace, people should provide for Warr and defence, and so in times of Peace, let us think of these things, our conditions may alter, howsoever the state may continue, yet we that live under our Vines and Fig-trees, do we know how the Lord may exercise us? may not he exercise us with Afflictions of mind, and Persecutions of body? may not he exercise us with trouble of Conscience, and bring us into straights, which is a spirituall Martyrdome too? In times of Prosperity Gods Children know better what do, and whom to depend on, because then he keeps them off from inward troubles.How to prepare for trouble in times of prosperity. And therefore seeing we know not how long in our personall condition we may be, as we are, it is not amisse to think on these things.

And to direct us a little what to do, now in times of Peace and Quietnesse.

1. Labour to preserve our peace with God by all meanes, that when changes come, as changes may come, and will come, one way or other, We may say with the Apostle, I am afflicted, but not forsaken. If we make not God now our friend, if we shall now multiply sin, and guilt, and run into Gods books more and more, it will be a Hell, when trouble and sicknesse, and persecution come. And therfore as ye will have God our friend, when we stand most in need of him, So let us labour to keep God our friend now at this time, the desperate course that many loose persons take, they run into an old course, they let the reigns loose to licentiousnesse; Let their tongue lie, and swear, and deny nothing that they affect, Is there not times and moneths for these wilde asses to be taken in? In their moneths you may take them; therebe moneths of trouble, and moneths of sicknesse,Constant and great sinners must expect small comforts and when their former courses have been nothing but a perpetuall provoking of God, what comfort can these persons have? And therefore as we desire to have God stand by us, and help p. 144at every pinch, labour for peace with him now in time of prosperity.

2. Let us be constant in his cause, in his Religion, that is so constant to us, And this constancy of the spirit, and the best things will be an evidence to us, that we have found him constant in his love to us.

3. And that we may quiet our selves the better, If such times come, be carefull, and treasure up promises for the time toPromises are to be treasured up for time to come. come, that we may allege them to God; get good liquor into our hearts, that when times of pressing come, there may be good Wine, If good knowledge be not gotten before hand, what will afflictions presse out but murmurings and despair, and something that was there before; therefore treasure up now, all we can, there is a spending time will come. Josephs hard years may overtake us, we know not into what distresse we may be brought. And because God is the best friend in extremity, be sure we offend not him for any creature, because let the Creature do his worst, yet God will allwayes be sure to be our friend, And if God be our friend it matters not, who is our enemy.

4. I cannot press all that may be pressed out of this poynt. Labour at all times to maintain a good conceipt of God, and his goodness, If Satan suggest, he will cast us off, and that there is no hopes for us in our God, answer again…, It is not so, Labour to have a spirit of faith, to beat back all such temptations, you shall see strange temptations & yet excellently answered, Yet God is Psal. 73. 1. The holy man trusteth God in all ConditionsPs 73:1good to Israel. When the Child of God is low, yet he keeps good conceipts of God, though things go strangely, I know not what to make of my condition, & of the Churches, yet God is good.

The Reason is, when we be at worst, God can help us. And therefore come those comfortable exceptions in the Psalmes, Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth them out of all, Psal. 118. They were afflicted sore, but not delivered to death. So here mark the exceptions, We be in straights, persecuted, and cast down, but yet delivered.

Thus labour for a good Conceipt of God. The like things you may observe out of these words of the Apostle, And I besech you let us make use of them, for the right knowledge of these things. Hence it is said, Rom. 8. That in all these we are more than Conquerours, a strange speech, in afflictions, pressures, p. 145casting down, We are more than Conquerours, and how cometh this? We are more than Conquerours, in him that loved us in Jesus Christ, more than Conquerours, because we overcome, when we seem to be overcome, becaufe Religion hath grown even by blood, and suffering. Saint Austine saith, by straights and afflictions the Church hath been delivered and spread abroad, to the utter mostparts of the world.

We are more than Conquerours, in all these, in a treble regard.Rom. 8. 37Rom 8:37

1. Specially in regard of our selves, for the Devill aymeth at separation between God and us. Now what shall separate us, saith the Apostle.

The Devill intends a divorcement, but when by a Spirit of Faith we draw near to God, and cleave fast to God, then the Devills policy is overthrown. The more the world driveth us from God, the faster we cleave to God; And then we be more than Conq…erours.

2: In regard of spirituall courage. The more Gods Spirit is depressed, the higher it riseth. The enemie labours to quail the spirits of them that be good, but they cannot do it, for the Spirit of God is invincible. And the spirit of a Christian being supported by an higher spirit than their own I can do all things through Christ that strengthensme. Therefore they are more than Conquerours, by the invincible Spirit of Christ.

3 And then they be more than Conquerours, in regard of the cause. The Devill labours to drive men to the dislike of the cause, and Religion, by suffering disgrace, but they cannot.

Obj. 5. And therefore I beseech you let me conclude with a poynt of incouragement, considering it is spoken with a great deal of courage, we are afflicted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed, Let it incourage us to take the cause of God in hand, and go through with it in spight of Satan & his Instruments, and fear nothing that shall befall us; why should we fear the Devill? let no man think wh…t the Devill threats, but what God promises. Therefore fear nothing, for God will make it good, he will be never nearer, than when we stand most in need of help. And therefore set upon Gods cause with courage, and not only on the cause of Religion, but cause of p. 146honesty and Justice. The truth of God in any kind is dear… Gods truth dearer than our lives.than our lives. The worst that can befall us is to be persecuted and distressed, you shall have more comfort from Heaven, than discomfort from the world, and what do you lose then?

Therefore let us all support our selves with this, there is more force in Gods help from Heaven to secure, and support by an inward invincible strength, than there is in the world, or Satan the Prince of the world, to cast us down, we have more for us, than against us. When we be stript of all, yet know, that God is the God of all, when he hath taken all, yet he leaveth himself. We have all at the Fountain, all at the Spring; Therefore let that be ground of Resolution, If I perish, I perish, saithHester 4. 16.Esth 4:16 the good Woman: but never depart from God, from Religion, from Justice, from the cause of the Church, because I know God will be like himself, he cannot deny himself, but constantly deales with his Church and Children, as in former times. It cannot be otherwise with me, than Paul the great Apostle of the Church, if that befalls me, that did befall Paul, as I am in Pauls distresse, so I may look for Pauls support and Comfort.

The Apostle to avoid the objection of the scandall of the crosse by which they were the lesse accepted in the hearts of many, sets down the state of the people of God in this world, take them at the worst; He speaks here of himself not only as a man (since the fall of our weak nature is subject to many calamities) But he speaks of himself as a Christian, opposing the sins of the world, And he grants what they may object. We are troubled on every side, but not in distresse. The Apostles take advantage from the troubles they were in, to advance the love and mercy of God in those troubles, we lose nothing by them, for that which is gained in any trouble, is better than that that can be lost. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, so as we know not what to do, when we are in such straights. Take a Christian at the worst, yet he hath freedome to the throne of grace by the spirit of prayer, and God looks upon him in the worst condition, the more straight his condition is, the more large his Spirit is, therefore though troubles increase, yet his comforts increase.

Secondly, We are persecuted with wants, and by reason of p. 147wants we know not what course to take, so that we are oftentimes perplexed, but yet not in despair, for God supplieth. This I unfolded before.

A Christian man hath some bottome in his worst condition to uphold him, but take a man out of the state of grace, andGraceless persons no bottome to stand upon. he hath no bottome to stand upon, but he sinkes presently in any trouble of Mind or Conscience to Hell, though never so strong in wit, and parts. He cannot encounter with a divine temptation, he hath no power with him above himself. We see Achitophel, that wise Politician, he was a bad man, and what became of him? he hanged himself, so Cain, Judas, and Saul; What saith Saul in his perplexity, the Philistins are upon me, trouble is upon me, and God hath forsaken me, a pittiful complaint, and this may be the complaint of all carnall men, the Philistins are upon me, trouble is upon me, and God hath forsaken me. But the Children of God when they are perplexed, they do not despair; it is a pittiful case with those that shall d…sire the mountains to cover them; your wicked persons that now out look any body, that despise every one but themselves, the time shall come when they shall desire the mountains to cover them, a pittiful streight that they cannot tell where to be take themselves, as Christ saith, Matth 24. O but the Child of God in his worst he hath something to stay himself upon, though he be in deep troubles, there is a help above him, a power of God to support him on the left hand and on the right. If there be a hight and a depth of troubles, there is a hight and a depth of mercy to support them.

Thirdly▪ Persecuted, but not forsaken; grant what is to be granted, we are persecuted, how far? they will never leave us till they have taken us out of the world; & what hurt do they them? drive us nearer to God. God owneth his Children most when the world owneth them least, and there is a blessing pronounced upon all those that suffer for good causes, Blessed are you when Matth. 5.Matt 5men persecute you, for great is your reward in Heaven, as he said, i… is a Kingly thing to suffer evil, &c. I am sure it is a Christians condition to do good and suffer evil.

In sufferings let us look to three things.

1. First, to the Cause, considering that it be free from sin.

p. 1482. To look to our carriage in the cause, that we carry not our selves tempestuously.

3. Look to those that persecute; let them persecute, and though they do, you shall not be forsaken; though a man may desert him that stands for him, and his Cause, yet when the Children of God shall stand for God, he will not desert them in his Cause; though persecuted, yet not forsaken.

The fourth is, Cast down, but not destroyed; persecutionHow far persecution prevail…th. prevails sometimes to casting down, but yet we are not destroyed, we are cast down, trodden down, insulted over, but not de…royed. Beloved, you see the great persecution of the Church, what a pittiful condition the Church hath been brought unto within these late years, trodden down, yet not destroyed, for they are partakers with Christ that is now in Heaven, and they are assured of a bless…d resurrection, and therefore not destroyed, when they seem to be destroyed in the eyes of the world, a he said before, they are earthen vessels; so every man is but an earthen v…ssel, but it is much that an earthen vessel should be cast down and yet not broken, they may be cast down, but not destroyed; for when the enemies have done the worst they can to destroy them, that destruction i… no destruction but salvation.

Again, We are cast down, but not destroyed; we see here is a Obs. kind of el…quence of things as well as words; here is a sweet harmony of things, they are afflicted, but not in despair; perplexed, but not distressed; persecuted, but not forsaken, every one o… these are greater than the former. I shewed you Gods Children are troubled in this world, and their troubles grow more and more till they are scarce able to bear them, and then God giveth a gracious promise, that he will not suffer us to be tempted above our 1 Cor. 10.1 Cor 10strength; for God I m…ts the time and the measure of all troubles in this world, he stands by and turneth the glasse, and limits the measure, thus far shalt thou go and no further, as we may see it in Job's Case, and his promise is, that the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the back of the righteous. This is one comfort that a Christians times are not in the enemies hands, but our times as David saith, are in thy hands, our times of coming intoPsal. 31.Ps 31 trouble, and ou… times of going out of trouble are in the hands of God; as he made all things in the first Creation in number, weight, and m…asure, so he rules and governeth all things in p. 149number, weight, and measure, especially his Church, he will not put in a dram too much; he weigheth their strength, and weigheth their crosses, and exactly observeth what their strength is able to bear; for he is a most wise F…ther; and that is ourAs troubles, so comforts increase to the people of God. comfort, what soever falls upon us; if troubles grow upon us, comforts shall grow; if they grow great in number and measure, comforts shall grow great in number and measure too; for he is a God of comfort, he comforts in every trouble, as we see here, perplexed, cast down, persecuted, yet God hath comfort for every one of these.

Obser. last. Again, here see the comfortable condition of Gods Children in this world, all their happiness is not reserved for Heaven, but they are happy in affliction it self; in them there is comfort; there is support not only in Heaven, but in the very time of affliction, as we may see it in Psal. 44. According to the multitude of my thoughts, thy comforts delighted my soul, according to my distracted thoughts, thy comforts have refreshed my soul, there be present comforts in troubles that keep Gods Children from despair. Saint Paul nameth the lowest comforts that Gods Children have here, though they are persecuted, yet theyPersecution argueth not Gods forsaking of his Saints. are not forsaken; though they are cast down, yet they perish not. He sheweth here, that if we regard not the great matters that we shall have in Heaven, yet God dispenseth his comforts here now in the time of troubles, here is matter of comfort and not of despair. Miserable Heathens that had not the knowledge of God in Christ, what condition were they in? as one saith, I would pray, but my prayers are in vain; they were in great misery, wantingNote. the knowledge of God in Christ, they fell into despair. So in the Church, those that are not acquainted with God, in great troubles fall to despair, but you see the comfortable condition of a Christian take him at the worst.

Vers. 10. It followeth, Alwayes bearing in our bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodies; here he addeth a comfort to those that suffered before, shewing the end of all that God intends; we bear in our bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus, he calls all troubles by the name of dying; this is the first.

All the troubles Gods Children are exercised with here, areAfflictions called deaths. named with the name of dying.

p. 1501. Because troubles are little deaths, death is not the last parting of soul and body, but every separation from comfort is a kind of death, therefore he calls afflictions dyings, because they make way for greater deaths; he calls afflictions dyings from the intent and purpose of the persecutors, for their intent is, if it were in their power, to kill.

2. Likewise it is called a dying, because this is in the preparation of spirit that they are ready to dye, for no man is a true Christian but he labours to deny Father and Mother, and all Comforts, and resigns himself to Christ; If I can serve him with mine honour, yea with my life, he shall have it, so that I am ready to dye upon all occasions, as you may see in the next verse, We are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that is, the enemies expose us to death, and if it were in their power the… would kill us.

Quest. B…t why doth he call his troubles a dying of the LordSufferings of Believers, why they are called the sufferings of Christ. Jesus?

Ans. 1. There be some troubles that Christ suffered, which we cannot; as the Curse of the Law, and the Wrath of God due to our sins; these Christ suffered alone, He trod the Wine-presse of Isa. 63 3.Isa 63:3Gods wrath alone, in these there is no partaking.

2. There is another dying, a dying in his mystical body, his Church, he suffers affliction in every Christian, he was stoned when Stephen was stoned, Christ was beheaded when John Baptist Acts 7. 59.Acts 7:59was beheaded, and in prison when Paul was in prison, Christ suffered in all the Martyrs, by reason of that union between him and his Church; so that besides that he suffers in every Christian; This is called the dying of the Lord Jesus.

3. Because he measures out to every one their Cup, afflictions are called a Cup, and therefore they are his, because they are measured out by him.

4. And then they are his dyings, because by them they areThey that expect to reign with Christ must suffer with him. made like unto him; he suffered first, and then every Christian must express that suffering; as he suffered and entered into glory, so we must suffer with him, if we mean to reign with him.

5. And then again, they are called the dying of the Lord Jesus, because Christ hath a fellowship and communion with them in all their dyings, as a Christian hath communion with Christ when he dyeth, we are crucified with him; so Christ suffers p. 151with us, he is afflicted with us, reproached with us, as Moses, Heb. 11. counted the rebukes of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt. Christ enters into prison with us, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me? Christ takes upon him allActs 9.Acts 9 the wrongs done to his Children, as done to himself; as it argueth madness in those that persecute, so a sweet comfort to them that do suffer, that they have Christ to suffer with them; the presence of Christ so sweetens every thing, as he said, The presence Madness to persecute, comfortable to suffer.of Christ made the Gridiron sweet unto Lawrence; a beam of Christs presence that is now in Heaven, scatters all troubles; the presence of Christ made Paul sing in prison, the presence of Christ sweetens all conditions and all places whatsoever, because our dyings are the dyings of Christ; Christ hath fellowship and communion with us in them.

6. Then again, they are the dyings of Christ, because they divorce and wean us from the world; now we being separated from worldly comforts, are fitter for farther fellowship and communion with Christ, as you shall see afterward; thus we see some reasons why all the miseries of a Christian are called the dyings of our Lord Jesus.

We see then there must be a dying of the outward man, first there must be little dyings, and then a consummation of all; and why? because sin is so invested and so sunck into our natures, that without death it cannot be divorced; afflictions are to make a divorce between sin and our nature, for no unclean thing can enter into heaven; as the Spirit did separate sin in the nature of Christ, so doth the Spirit of God purifie the nature of every man by afflictions; because grace needs help, therefore afflictions joyn as fire with grace, to make a more perfect separationGrace separateth sin from the soul. between the soul and sin, together with the sanctified Spirit there is a spirit of burning. When the canker hath seized deeply on metals, it must passe through the fire before it can be purged; so the nature of corruption hath so eaten into our naures, that we need fire to purge it out.

Flesh and blood, saith the Apostle, shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven; What is the meaning of that? that is, there be some remainders of corruption in it, untill this body be returned to dust, till the Lord make this body of ours new again, which is now so stained with sin, it shall never enter into Heaven. O…r p. 152bless…d Saviours body the third day (before he saw corruption) did rise again, because there was no sin in him, and therefore it was not necessary he should see corruption.

Now divers reasons there were why he should not see corruption, but all our bodies must be turned to dust, or changed, which shall have the force of a death, as 1 Cor. 15. And therefore we bear in our bodies the dyings of the Lord Jesus.

Ʋse. This should sweeten all our afflictions that we are dying with Christ, whereby Christ hath communion with us, and whereby we are fitted for communion with Christ, as put case we have sickness or trouble, &c. Christ took upon him flesh, but what? as it was in Adam unpassible? Christ took upon him our passible nature, as subject to suffer cold, and hunger, and pain, of weariness, and it is fit our bodies should be conformable to the body of Christ, for we are predestinate to be conformed to Christ, and therefore when we are put to pain in our Callings, or troubled for good Consciences, and thereby wear out our bodies, itChrist did and suffered more than we can do or suffer. is but as Christs body was used, he took a body that he might suffer, and going about doing good, and be put to hardship; therefore if we be p…t to hardship, it is no more than our Lord Jesus Christ did; and therefore those that be so delicate that will take no pains, indure no sickness, the wind must not blow upon them, the Sun must not shine upon them, they love no saving-goodness, nothing of the Spirit of Christ, who out of love took our nature upon him, obnoxious to all pain and labour, though not infirmities of our particular persons, yet of our nature; he took upon him our miserable nature, our passible nature; and then he hath our nature in Heaven; if ever we will be glorified with him in Heaven, we must be content to take upon us his miserable nature here, that our flesh may be used as his was, even to death if there were occasion; if we be humbled to death, happy is that mortification that brings us to conform with Christ whasoever it is; and therefore be not discouraged, let what will come, come on this body of ours.

Now if you ask me, who are the happy men in the world? truely those that are most active in good, and suffer most forWho they are that come nearest to Christ. good, for they are th… fl…sh of Christ; what did the fl…sh and nature of Christ? he did all the good he could, and suffered all the evill that the pride and malice of mans nature could possibly p. 153lay upon him, he therefore that doth most good, and suff…rs most ill, he commeth neerest to Christ, and carrieth about with him the marks of the Lord Jesus.

To passe on in the words.

To what end is all this? that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies; what is th… life of J…sus? you all know what life is, I will speak of it as a Divine, especially.

1. You know that the life of Jesus is either the life secret in himself, and therefore he is called our life; I am the way, the John 14. 5▪John 14:5the truth, and the life, when Christ our life shall appear. Christ is life, as having life in himself as God. or,

2. Else the life of Jesus as Mediator, and as God and Man, and so it is here …eant; life is first founded in the God-head, he is the living God, and therefore wise, and powerfull, and all, because h… is l…ving; but life as it is in God doth not comfort us a whit, but rather is matter of terrour, because we have no communion with God …sidered absolutely without a M…diator; and th…refore we must consider of life as derived to a middl… P…rson, a M…diator God-Man; so that life is derived to us by Christ our Brother, who hath taken our nature, our Christ is derived to us in our nature. God alone doth not comfort us, meer man alone doth no good, John 6. The argument is profoundly followed by our Saviour, the flesh profiteth nothing, the Humane nature without the Divine profiteth nothing, it is the Spirit that quickens; Look to the death of Christ, consider Christ dying as man, he doth us no good at all, if he had not been God, as God he could not have dyed, but the Person of God dying in our nature, makes his fl…sh bread indeed, and his blood drink indeed, that is, the soul may feed upon theChrist as a Mediator or Life. satisfaction, the sacrifice of God-man, as full satisfaction to Gods Divine Justice; so that the Spirit, & the Flesh, the Divine and H…mane nature, is the ground of all Life.

1. First, of the life of sentence, whereby we are freely acquitted from sin, for there is life of sentence, when a Malefactor waitethChrist the Author of the life of sentence, for d…ath and hath a life of sentence given him; so Christ is the Fountain and Author of this life of sentence, for that God in our nature dyed to satisfie God, and therefore we be acquitted; the guilt of our soul is taken away, and a life of sentence is conveyed to us.

p. 1542. The life of Jesus is as the life of an head, we have not only life through Christ, but life in Christ, and not onelyonly life through Christ as Mediator, but life in Christ as an Head, conveying the same Spirit that is in himself to every Member; so that if you will have the Fountain of Life, here it is, God is the first living, he is life it self; God conveyeth life to the Mediator God-Man, he restores life to us, the life of sentence, and hathChrist conveyeth the life of sanctification. likewise conveyed the life of Sanctification to us; sometimes ye read both of God, and Christ, Mediator, The Father liveth, and I live, and because I live, you shall live also, John 5. But to come nearer to our selves.

3. The life that commeth from Jesus, commeth first upon his own Person, then by the second on us; Christ exercised this life first upon himself, in raising himself from the grave; Christ as God raised himself, as Man from the grave, and so he is called the Lord of life, he hath the key of Hell and of the Grave, LordChrist the Lord of Life. of Life, Lord of Death, because being dead, he as Lord of Life, raised himself again.

Now after he had exercised this power in giving his body life again, so by the same power by which he raised his own dead body, by the same he raiseth every Christians; so that every Christian is raised and quickned by the life of Jesus, that is, by the power by which Jesus quickned himself being dead in the grave, and that is S. Pauls meaning, Phil. 3. That we might find the power of his Death, and the vertue of his Resurrection; there is vertue in Christs Resurrection, what is that? it is nothing but the quickning power whereby the body of Christ was raised out of the grave, and Paul desires to feel the power and vertue of that Resurrection from the Life of Jesus.

And therefore in particular, what is the vertue of Christs Resurrection, whereby Christ did raise himself?

The vertue of it in us, is first of all, the same Spirit that raised his body out of the grave, doth raise us out of any affliction, or quickens and strengthens us in it.

The argument is from the greater to the lesser, if Christ hath such an Almighty power to quicken his own body when it is dead, hath not he power to quicken and strenghten a man in any poor and miserable condition in this world? doubtless he hath, and therefore Paul desires the vertue of this in all his p. 155troubles and dying. And so the life of Jesus is manifested to a man in trouble, when he findeth divine power supporting him above nature in any trouble, or else bringing him out of that condition to a glorious one. Take a man in any uncomfortalbe condition of Soul, perplexed, deserted, cast down by sence of sin, he may be raised to the divine power of Christ to comfort, & to stand stronger by his falls, grow better by his sins.

And because Death is the consummation of all trouble, the life of Jesus is manifested there, when our bodies are in the grave, as Rom. …. If the spirit, that raised Jesus from the grave, be in us, the same shall raise up our bodies when they be turned to dust, and rottennesse.

So then in a word, the life of Jesus is made manifest in us, when we find this life powerfull in the midst of all our worstHow Christ is made manifest to us. conditions, supporting us in our falls, and making us better, and more comfortable afterward, and at length the spirituall life that raised him from the grave, shall raise up our bodies to be conformable to his glorious body now in heaven, St. Paul was cōtent to suffer the dyings of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in him thas is the power of Jesus.

4. To adde another thing, It is not only a manifestation of his divine power in our falls, and raising us from the grave, by the life of Jesus, but withall he infuseth a life to every one, he sanctifieth the soul and body, and worketh the same impressionWhat the life Jesus is. in others, that is in him, that is, his life, when he is meek, we are framed to be meek, he obedient, we are framed to be obedient, he humbled, we are framed to be humbled, he is good and holy, we are framed to be answerable, This is the life of Jesus. And the more we bare in our bodies the life of the Lord Jesus, the more we are like to Jesus, and fashioned to him.

Therefore it may be well called, his power, and his inward grace; because it cometh from him, it makes us like to him altogether, and it tendeth to Jesus. It is from Christ, andWhy it is called the li…e of Jesus. maintained by Christ, and it carrieth the soul to Christ, makes us like to Christ, therefore it is called the life of Jesus.

We all know life is a sweet thing, we desire it above all, and fear the contrary Death, above all. Now blessed is that mortification, that dying, that makes us partakers of the life of Jesus. If life is sweet, what is this life of Jesus? Alass, what is a life, to the life of Jesus, that is, to the divine power shewed in us, which was shewed in him.

p. 156Ʋse. You see then that dying to Jesus Christ makes way for the life of Christ; if we will live with Christ, then we must die first; you know all life springs from death, so the life of Christ springeth from death, his own life that he liveth, any spirituall life it was after his death. And so spirituall life in us cometh after dying. The Papists will have a life of their own, others, will have power in corrupt nature, but there is no resurrection without death before, there must be dying, beforeDeath before life. there is a living.

If we will feel the life of Christ, we must be content to car…y bodies dying to Christ. If we will have strength, and power, and joy, and the presence of Christ, then indure the dying of the Lord Jesus. Indure whatsoever he will please to exercise us with all. And if we carry his dyings, we shall be sure to be partakers of his life.

Ʋse. 2. I beseech you consider whether we be partakers of this life, strength, and power, and grace, and comfort. And let us be content then with any condition in the world, wherein we may have Communion with Christ by any thing, that we may be subject to Christ, to be poor, that we may be rich with Christ, to dye to all, that so we may live to Christ, to be nothing to all others, that so we may be all in all to Christ. By dying to Christ, we lose perhaps Health, but we gain it in strength, we may lose countenance, and Friend, we gain it in spirituall things. God takes nothing from his Children, but he giveth better in a better kind. And happy is that parting that is recompenced in an higher kind, happy is that death that is made good by a better life, happy that self-denyall that is made up in Christ, happy that discomfort that is made up with comfort in Christ, and therefore let us not be against any suffering, fear nothing, that God may call us to in this world, no, although death it self, life with Christ is better incomparably, than any thing we lose our life is but a dying life, take it at the best, dye we must. Now if we die suffering afflictions, which are the passage to life, why then there is a benefit made of necessity.Benefit and advantage by dying. We owe to God a death by nature, And now we get an advantage by any thing we suffer for Christs sake. For we have 100. fold for any thing we suffer in this world. It is hard to perswade this reason to flesh and blood, but they that find experience p. 157in it once, as Christians do in sufferings, they find peace and comfort from the presence of Christs Spirit in their soules, they know what a benefit it is to suffer for Christs sake, though with losse of any thing in this world. Would Saint Paul have wanted those whippings, and imprisonments, or wanted his comforts of Christs presence? Would the Martyrs have wanted that sweet comfort they had, for present life? surely they had it offered, they might have entertained it if they would, but they would not. And if glimps of glory, the little life derived to us now supporteth under the troubles of the world, what is the exceeding weight of glory, reserved for us in another world? We can soon fathome and compasse the things we suffer, we know what contempt meaneth, and poverty meaneth, but the life in this world passeth understanding, the peace of God passeth understanding, and is joy unspeakable and glorious. Therefore if there be a measure, and narrow measure of trouble in this world, And that there be inward peace, and glory immeasurable, then we be gainers here, setting aside consideration of Heaven.

Therefore I beseech you let us be willing to undergo any thing, God shall call us to, for

1. We shall find a divine energy of Gods Spirit which we never perhaps had before, nor ever shall have hereafter; Therefore fear nothing, God shall call us to, the comforts of Gods Spirit,The excellency of the Comforts of Gods Spirit. from the life of Christ manifested in the hearts of his Children, are above the course of nature, for it is an high life; the life of Christ is above the life of reason or sense. Therefore suppose troubles lye in sense, the large peace, and inlargement of Spirit, is above them all.

Now as the life of reason is above the life of sense, so the life of grace is above all conditions whatsoever. No inferiour subordinate condition can prejudice the life of grace and comfort;The life of grace Therefore if all Tyrants in the world conspire to make a man miserable, they vexe his outward life, but there is a life of Jesus, and they cannot hinder the influence of grace and comfort to the soul; They cannot hinder the inward peace of inward joy, they be comforts of an higher rank, And therefore if ever God calleth us to stand in a good cause, for Justice, for Religion, never go off, we shall have comforts of an higher rank.

p. 1582. Consider, the worst they can do is, to take this life of ours, which we cannot keep long. These things be easiy to be known, for matter of understanding, but hard to practise upon occasion, therefore we ought to think of them before hand, and to labour more and more, perswaded of the love of God in Christ. And to see the life of Christ quickning them to all holy actions & duty, this is a spiritull life. As Christ whrn he rose, never dyeth more. so he that hath this spiritual life, hath an eternall life, he never dyed more. When Christ begins to quicken our soules, by joyning our spirits with his Spirit, that conjunction is everlasting: And it is neerer after death, than before, when death seperates the Soul from the Body, then comethSpiritual life to be laboured …ter.▪ the conjunction of the Soul to Christ. Therefore labour after the spirituall life, that makes us happier, and happier still, The longer we live, the neerer we are to Christ, and when we die, neerest of all. Labour to feel the power of Christs Spirit quickning our spirit, putting life into them, vigour into them, beauty on them, strength into them by his holy Spirit.

3. Again, When the Body is severed from the life of the Soul, we see how deformed it is, how stiff and unactive it is, we cannot indure the sight of our dearest friend if life be gone. If the life of Christ be severed from our Soules, what carrion Soules have we to God, there is no beauty on the Soul, no strength to duty. But now if we enter upon the first degree of life here, and find the beginning of it in altering and changeing our natures, we are sure to leave farther degrees of it in our death and the consummation of it at our resurrection, then Body and Soul shall injoy the same life, that Jesus doth now. But the scope of the Apostle (which I desire you mainly to remember) is this, that you should fear nothing, nothing can befall us though never so grievous to the outward man.

4. I adde, because we shall …xperimentally feel the life of Christ manifested to us. It is that that makes a Christian expeperience is the life a Christian, what is all knowledge of Christ without experience, but a bare knowledge? If the power that raised Christs Body, raise not our Soules? This is to know Christ to purpose, to know the vertue of Christ. We hear that Christ is powerfully to quicken his own Body. You hear that Chiist is gracious, and good, and full of comfort, p. 159but what is this unlesse we feele it in our selves? It is the expeperim…nall know ledge of Christ, and of the life of Christ that doth us good, and makes us abound in all things. I suffer bonds saith the Apostle for the Gospell, but I am not ashamed, why? I know whome I have beleeved, He felt the power of Christ in all his tribulations and afflictions. When we find by experience, Christ is a quickning Spirit, hath quikened ourWhy Paul is not oshamed of his bonds. Soules to Grace, Comforts, Peace, Joy, in our worst condition, then we know Christ to propose, and then are fit to be carried through all afflictions of the world, and beyond all, and above all, to bear us through all things we meet with in the world between us and Heaven, the life of Christ being a divine life, without a little experience of it, all is to no purpose: And a little of this, beareth down all that stands between us and glory.