their Corn Wine and Oyl Ther 's a spring in divine joy if Gods people want the Stars they shall have the light of the Sun and the enjoyment of God can make up for the want of the creature Fourthly another ground of joy is in respect of the assurance of deliverance from the greatest affliction they are under Who hath delivered us from so great a death 2 Cor. 1.10 and doth deliver in whom wee trust that he will yet deliver us Christ's deliverance is an assurance to Gods people of deliverance out of their tribulations for he that raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead 1 Cor. 6.14 by his own power will also raise up us And God hath rais'd up the Lord ' Christ and will also raise up us by his own power And therefore ye may finde that God encouraged his people under all their persecutions that when their brethren cast them out for his name sake he would take them up and make their enemies ashamed when his hand should be known to his servants Thirdly the exceeding great reward of glory propounded may administer ground of joy and rejoycing under all sufferings and afflictions Christ for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross and despised the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 12.2 Heb. 11.27 Moses haveing a veiw of God and of glory by the spectacles of faith is said to endure as seeing him that is invisible for this cause wee faint not but suffer reproach because wee judge that these light afflictions which are but for a moment worke for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory O Soul who ever thou art that sufferest for Christ's name though hell be behinde thee Heaven is still before Hell this was that Heb. 10.34 those primitive Christians comforted themselves with Knowing with in themselves they had experience in their own hearts assurance in their bosoms that in Heaven they had a better and more enduring substance 40 Mart. This comforted those fourty Martyrs when before they were to suffer they were cast in to water in cold weather now say they we shake for cold but by and by we shall be in Abrahams bosom men may kill the Saints but it is impossible that they should ever hurt them so that an opportunity to suffer for Christ is to be esteemed as a meecy By way of inference from hence Use 1 First take notice of the strength and power of divine grace that is able to make a man suffer contentedly and joyfully 't will make a Christian go through good report and evill report Use 2 Secondly from hence I may observe likewise the great abatement degeneracy and timerousness of spirit that is in Professors of Religion in these latter dayes the Saints in former tymes accounted it an honour to suffer Christ wee account it a burden wee are backward wee are ready to cry out undone if it comes to a little of our Estate liberty or name if ever God call us out to suffering surely he will grant us more grace else were shall shamefully dishonour him O thou spirit of Christianity where art thou become O thou holy joy in sufferings where art thou It is for a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation to think On these things Use 3 Thirdly hence observe the vast difference there is between Saints and sinners the Saints can rejoyced in sufferings so can't the wicked The heart knweth its own bitterness and a stranger doth not intermedle with his joy This is a joy no sgranger intermedles with Prov. 14.10 the world wonders how the Saints go so courageously through sufferings But the Martyrs answer may serve to answer this yee see the fewel that burns me but did yee feel the joy that I feel ye would not wonder The wayes of sin is death but the gift of God is eternall life through Jesus Christ our Lord eternall life is sweet the assured expectation whereof makes men thus to suffer There is a great deal of difference between Saints and sinners upon this account Secondly from hence I might speak matter of just reproofe to the Saints and people of God that are so far from this frame and temper to rejoyce in suffering for Christs name You ought to be joyfull in tribulation but I fear many of you are not patient under the afflictions of the Gospel Were they joyfull under the burning coals of Juniper and shall not wee be patient at least under lesser sufferings Dispondency is a sin as well as murmuring and repineing What an dishonour is it to God to murmur under affliction First what an dishonour is this to Jesus Christ to be dedolent under sufferings when services and sufferings come of heavyly itmust needs be a dishonour to Christ It is a dishonour to a Chaptaine if his Souldiers march on heavyly 2 Sam. 19 2 4. I may allude to that 2 Sam. 19 2 4. where the King wept for his son and the victory that day was turned into mourning and the King covered his face and cryed with a loud voice O my son Absalom O Absolom my son NUm 14.2 my son wat an ugly sight was that of the Isralites digging their graves And all the Children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron and against the whole congregation and said unto them would God that wee had died in the Land of Egypt or would God wee had died in this wilderness It is a great shame for Christians and it is a great dishonour to Christ for Christians to be so dastardly spirited Secondly consider what an unworthy returne is this to the Lord Jesus Christ that suffered so much and so willingly for us I am straitned with in me till this baptisme be accomplished saith Chrit It was no trouble to Christ that he was to die but raither that he died no sooner And shall wee thus returne evill to him for his good to us Shall wee think much to bear the prick of a pin for him that was peirced with a spear for us Thirdly what a discouragement does this offer to profession and Religion in the world it lay's a stumbling-block before many that would fall in with Religion but that they think there is but little in it else the Professors of it would suffer more for it If a standard-bearer in an Army his heart fail it offers a great discouragement to the common Souldier goe on therefore courageously in the profession of holyness The contrary God threatens to his Enemies to Assiria the rod of his anger when he breaks them in peice Isa 10.18 And they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth Isa 10.18 19. And then the rest of the trees of his forrest shall be few that a Child may write them When the hearts of the principall of God flock faile they offer discouragement to all the rest Fourthly it spoiles the acceptance of all your other
Ps 119.114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield I hope in thy word He made the word the man of his Counsels and so it was the man of his comforts Fifthly labour to get a right esteem of sufferings esteem them as a priviledge an honour as well as a duty that will make you suffer joyfully ye must not onely look to your innocency to take heed that you suffer not from God while you suffer for God but turne your afflictions into a right stream and channell to us it is given saith the Apostle not onely to beleive but also to suffer for his sake he looked upon it as a Largess Chrysost saith of Paul that he boasts most of this I Paul the prisoner of the Lord he does not boast of his high offices knowledge of arts and sciences great and glorious Revelations no but the glories in his sufferings as in his own narrative it appeares 2 Cor. 11.23 ad finem capitis 2 Cor. 11 23. in labours more aboundant in stripes above measure in prisons more frequent in death oft c. Sixthly take heed of consulting with flesh and blood the flesh is a jade that will kick at sufferings when Peter grew carnal and fleshly his voice was no better then this Master save thy self which motion Christ rejected with a get thee behinde me Satan Looke not at the making of your own Interest but advance the Interest of Christ and the Gospel your endeavours to save your own selves will but make you stumble at the Cross of Christ Direct 7 Seaventhly labour for a double portion of the Spirit of grace of love and of a sound minde This is our victory whereby wee overcome the world even our faith love is as strong as death as powerfull as the grave the waters of affliction cannot quench but will enflame it 't will make you chose as Moses did rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin which are but for a season Eightly Direct 8. 1 Cor. 15.31 Heb. 13.13 1 Cor. 7.30 take heed of being overcome with love to the world I protest by your rejoyceing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord I die dayly Wee must goe forth unto Christ without the Camp bearing his reproach If wee would rejoyce in the world it must be as if wee rejoyced not and if wee buy as if wee possessed not Our rejoyceing should be in God not in the world for the fashion thereof passeth away in a day of prosperity wee are too apt to be fil'd with carnall joy Gal. 6.14 and oft tymes wee have the more heavenly joy in God in a day of Adversity God forbid I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ whereby the world is crucified unto me and I am crucified unto the world A holy contempt of the world will best lead you to a holy joy in God Direct 9 Ninthly be much in the consideration of Heaven that will make amends fot all your sufferings on earth thou shalt make me glad with the light of thy countenance thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fullness of joy at they right hand there are pleasures for ever more And in the Acts 2.25 26. it is said of David in the person of Christ Psal 16. ult that he foresaw the Lord alwayes before his face therefore did my heart rejoyce and my tongue was glad moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope O the blessed enjoyment of God reserved for the next world the glorious vision and fruition of God that is to be enjoy'd in heaven the communion that is to be enjoyed with the glorious Angels and Saints in Heaven will sweeten all Rejoyce that your names are written in Heaven Luke 10.20 Luke 10.20 in the Lambs book of life if your names are written in blood or in water in the worlds Calander yet they are written in gold in the Lambs book of life with in a few dayes you shall enter into your Masters joy I reckon not the sufferings of this present tyme worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed in us Look upon sin and hell and then sufferings and heaven will appear the highest good I read of one that spent his tyme in reading of three leaves the black leafe of his own sins the red leafe of Christs blood and the white leafe of Heaven and Eternity Three leafes worth the reading of For this cause wee faint not while wee looke not at the things which are seen and temporall but at those things which are not seen but eternall Labour to make a right comparison between the horrour of hell and the happiness of Heaven get a greater assurance of Heaven 1 Pet. 1.3 that ye may rejoyce in the hope that is laid up for you in Heaven This was that those scattered Sants blessed God for Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his aboundant mercy hath begotten us againe unto a lively hope by the resurrecton of Jesus Christ from the dead To an inheritance incorruptable and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you This made them breake out into a triumphant doxology this made the Martyrs hearts leap for joy under their sufferings for Christ even the thoughts of Heaven and that blessed eternity to which they were going holy Ignatius triumphed going to suffer at Rome yea gloried and triumphed to think that the Lord would come to reckon for blood Tenthtly and lastly labour to get your hearts discharged of carnall and slavish fear perfect love casteth out fear be not affraid to die and you will not be affraid to suffer Yee may thresh the body of a poor man but yee cannot hurt the jewel of his soul Threaten saith the Emperour what yee will I fear nothing but sin fear not them that can kill the body and after that have no more that they can doe but I will forewarn you whom yee should fear fear him that when he hath kill'd hath power to destroy both body and soul in hell fire Why shoul'st thou fear a mortall man that hath his breath in his Nostrils or his bigg words or staring face doe men threaten imprisonment God threatens hell Doe they promise great rewards if ye will but comply with them Aske them as the Father did whether they can give that to you they would take from you The sixt Proposition is this That the Consideration of Christs name that is concern'd in the sufferings of the Saints is sufficient to encourage them under them Doct. 6 They rejoyced they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name sake not for their own name The great ground of joy under sufferings is Christs name 2 Cor. 4.11 For wee which live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortall flesh Christs
great question whether wee are most to bless God for making Heaven fitt for us or us fitt for Heaven by affliction The fifth Proposition is this That an opportunity to suffer for Christs name is to be esteemed a great privilege and mercy 't is to be judged the highest Felicity Doct. 5 They rejoyced the Text saith that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name This will be evidenced First fromthe express command of God to his people to suffer with joyfullness 't is the general Character given of the people of God Phil. 3.3 they are such as rejoyce in Christ Jesus Wee are of the Circumsion that worship God in the spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus Rom. 5.1 2 3. And wee rejoyce in Christ Jesus having receiv'd the attonment And so it is the duty and hath been the practise of the Saints to rejoyce in him Sufferings for Christ have been alwayes matter of great joy James 1.2 My brethren count it all joy saith the Apostle when ye fall into divers temptations Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven Math. 5.12 Rejoyce ye in that day when men hath you and separate you from their company rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy Luke 6.22 23. for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets It is the will of God his people should rejoyce alwayes rejoyce ever more 1 Thess 5.16 Especially upon the matters of affliction that 's the will of God towards his people The Cross should not onely be taken up with patience Coll. 1.11 but born with joyfullness Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfullness joyfullness is a help to patience and long suffering under the Cross For example see how the Apostle rejoyceth under all his afflictions I rejoyce that I help to fill up that which is behinde of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh Col. 1.24 for his bodies sake which is the Church But rejoyce in as much as you are partakers of Christs sufferings 1 Pet. 4.13 that when his glory shall be reveal'd ye may be glad wih exceeding joy In whom beleiving though under manifold temptations wee rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 In a tyme of great affliction it was the great commendation of the Thessalonians 1 Thess 1 6. that they received the Gospel with great joy The Church rejoyced when the hand of Gods providence was out against her Hab. 3.17 18. Although the fig-tree should not blossom neither should fruit be in the Vines Hab. 3.17 18. the labour of the Olive should fail and the fields shall yeild no meat yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation And so doe the people of God rejoyce likewise under the stroak of mans violence this hath been their practise nay not onely to joy but to glory in afflictions Wee glory in tribulation also Rom. 5.3 2 Cor. 2.14 Now thanks be unto God which alwayes causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place A Saint is bound to rejoyce in the Lord in good dayes and in evil dayes but especially in tymes of great opposition Neh. 8.10 2 Cor. 6.10 The joy of the Lord is your strength As sorrowfull yet alway rejoycing They tooke joyfully the spoyling of their goods Hebr. 10.34 not only patiently but joyfully Acts 16.25 Phil. 1.20 Paul and Silas did not repine but sung in the prison Paul rejoyced that Christ should be magnified in him whether by life or death The Martyrs endured exquisite torments with admirable patience Divine joy abated outward anguish their souls were wrapped up in joy as if they were in a separated state Paul counted it his honour to suffer reproach and afflictions 1 Tim. 4.10 For this cause wee both labour and suffer reproach because wee trust in the living God The Apostles were not found in the Text blaspheming nor repining nor onely submitting but blessing God yea joying in God They were not men altogether unsensible of injuries yet they that through infirmities foresooke their Master in the strength of his grace and spirit rejoyced to suffer for him remembring Christ told them they were blessed that suffer Now there are sufficient grounds of the Saints thus rejoycing in all their sufferings First in respect of the manifold consolation whereby they are enabled to suffer for as our afflictions abound so our consolations abound much more by Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 1.5 Not onely weight for weight but a preponderating weight of consolation they enjoy while the people of God drink deep draughts of the water of affliction they also draw water out of the wels of Consolation Gods consolations ought not to be smal to his people 2 Cor. 7.4 6. 2 Cor. 7.4 compared with the v. 6. Great is my boldness of speech towards you great is my glorying of you I am fill'd with comfort I am exceeding joyfull in all our tribulation nevertheless God that comforteth those that are cast down comforted us by the coming of Titus though troubled on every side whence arose this joy why God that comforteth those that are cast down comforted us also Though a storme of Haile fell upon their heads yet the sun shine of his favour shone upon their hearts Psal 94.19 In the mid'st of my sad thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul Altho wee meet with stormes without no matter so wee have but peace within In the world ye shall have tribulation alwayes tribulation but in me ye shall have peace John 16.33 therefore be of good comfort Secondly sufferings for Christ's name administers cause of rejoycing because of the sufficiency of grace administred under them My grace is sufficient for thee was Christ's answer to Paul I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not say's he to Peter Under the shaddow of thy wings will I rejoyce saith the Psalmist Under the shaddow of Divine protection and refreshment Thirdly there 's ground of rejoycing in sufferings for Christ's name in respect of the presence of God and Christ under afflictions communicated and enjoy'd Fear not saith God I am with thee when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee Isa 43.2 and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou passest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee God was with the three Children when in the fiery-Furnace with Daniel in the Lyons Den with Joseph in the prison Jeremiah in the Dungeon The Lords presence is with his to the end of the wold The presence of God supports under all burdens and sweetens the bitterest cups of affliction you hast made me more glad with the light of thy countenance then they with the encrease of
blood is the meritorious cause and his spirit and grace the assisting cause and when sufferings come from his name sake as the procuring cause there is alwayes joy in them Therefore when wee suffer for bearing witness to the Truth this is suffering for Christs name when wee thus hold forth the profession of Christs name it tends to the glory of Christ When wee suffer out of Love to Christs honour to his person love to his offices and administrations chooseing to suffer rather then to abate any duty or neglect any communion when wee suffer upon a Gospel account as Christ suffered for the introduction so wee for the confirmation as he for the satisfaction so wee for the edification of the Church that is the valuable account of our sufferings Phil. 2.17 this the Apostle triumphed in Phil. 2.17 there he tells them If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your Faith I ioy and rejoyce with you all There is great reason why this should encourage the hearts of Gods people under all their sufferings because it is but a just returne to him of his sufferings for us it entails us to great honour with him and he is able to recompence us for them all 2 Thess 1.7 2 Thess 1.7 And to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels To close all hence Use 1 First Learn the different excellency there is between the suffering of the Gospel and all other sufferings Sufferings for sin are a cause of sorrow rather then joy some corrections are for sin some for the tryall and probation of grace some for bearing witness to the Truth In corrections for sin wee may have comfort if born patiently and submissively justifying of God and condemning of our self and humbling our selves for the sin that was the provoking cause of them there is comfort in those sufferings that are for the tryall and probation of grace 't will be found for honour and praise at the appearing of Jesus Christ Luke 21.13 But under sufferings for Christ's name much more This will turne to you for a testimony If wee suffer as evill doers our sufferings are not thank-worthie but if wee suffer wrongfully happy are wee Use 2 Secondly by way of encouragement let us not be affraid nor ashamed of the afflictions of the Gospel as the Apostle speaks because they are upon the account of the precious name of Christ no matter though we be disgraced so Christ may be honoured if our names be cutt out so Christ may be exalted The Church and people of God may encourage themselves that they have the name of Christ to bear it out with even that name by which the whole family in heaven and earth is named Saith Calvin let Luther call me Devil so Christ may be magnified by me I care not many will be foreward to suffer upon the account of a temporall Prince and Agent and account themselves honoured thereby how much more honourable is it to suffer for the Prince of life and glory Thirdly how precious ought Christs name to be to the saints if it will make sufferings so sweet what will it not make sweet how precious must that name needs be that wee are concern'd to lay down our names and lives for if call'd for O how sweet is the name of Christ it will like a bunch of Camphire sweeten all to us Let us esteem of that blessed name and count all loss and dross yea and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of it Cant. 1.3 Cant. 1.3 Because of the savour of thy good oyntments thy name is as an oyntment poured forth therefore doe the Virgins love thee To such as beleive Christs name is precious He is admired of his saints and of all them that beleive Nothing shall separate me saith the Apostle from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus If wee love that name wee shall not onely be ready to be bound but to die at Jerusalem for the name of Jesus rather choosing the communion of Gods people and the afflicted state thereof then all the pleasures of sin which are but for a season FINIS