to a fact every man is a debtor to the truth and is bound as a man to bear Testimony Christ telleth Pilate John 18.37 to this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth but when I speak of the testimony that every good Christian is bound to give I understand it not thus largely for though it be that every good man is under an obligation to testifie the truth in any cause yet the Ministers of the Gospel and every good Christian is under a more special obligation to give testimony to some truths and these are the truths of the Gospel the truths that relate to Jesus Christ this is that the text calleth the Testimony of our Lord which may be taken in a double sense 1. Either for that Testimony which our Lord bare of himself 2. Or the Testimony which every good Christian is bound to give to the truths of the Gospel Christ bare a Testimony of himself he testified that he was the son of God that he was the King of Zion that he was the true Messiah but I understand it yet larger every Minister of the Gospel and every good Christian is obliged to bear a Testimony to the great truths of the Gospel which relate to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour there is a Testimony which he ought to bear to those Propositions of truth and to those matters of fact which the Gospel containeth and relateth concerning Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world 3. The third thing which is considerable in a Testimony is the way of giving it the proper giving a Testimony is by the words of our mouth either with an oath or without an oath it is one thing for a man to believe a Proposition and another thing for him to give Testimony to a Proposition he believeth a Proposition that hearing it doth in heart consent and agree to it that the Predicate is well fitted to the Subject whether he speaketh a word yea or no but he testifieth that with his words owneth and declareth his faith Rom. 10.10 For with the heart man believeth unto Righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation It is not enough for a Christian secretly in his heart to agree to the truths of the Gospel but he is bound to give a Testimony If thou shalt therefore confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved You may observe there are two things made necessary to to Salvation 1. A heart believing the Proposition of the Gospel 2. An external confession or profession There is a double confession a Christians duty 1. A confession of sin 2. A confession of truth Either confession is an open acknowledgment with our lips thus you read in Scripture frequently of confessing of Christ only it may be there is this difference betwixt a Testimony and confession any open asserting vindicating and defending Christ and his Gospel is giving a Testimony but when it is done in the face of Enemies in despight of opposition this is confession Matth. 10.32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven Luke 12.8 whosoever shall confess me before men thus John 12.42 Many believed on him but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him So that the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ signifieth that open acknowledgment of Christ and profession of the truths of the Gospel relating to Christ which is the duty of every good Christian Qu. 2. What is here meant by the afflictions of the Gospel The Original doth something differ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suffer thou evils together with the Gospel where the Gospel is brought in as if it were a Person by a figure a Person that is subject to evils Timothy is exhorted to suffer evil with the Gospel this leads me to the consideration what those afflictions are what those evils are to which the Gospel is subjected there are several evils to which the Gospel is subjected or rather evils from three sorts of persons 1. From the true Professors of it such as own Christ in truth and sincerity 2. From the false and seeming Professors of it 3. From the professed enemies of it The afflictions of the Gospel are the afflictions which men are subjected to from their owning and professing of the Gospel and these I say are from 3 sorts of Persons 1. From such as are the true and sincere professors of it they may bite and devour one another and be thorns and goads in one anothers sides These commonly are so from one of these two heads 1. From an overheated zeal for the maintaining of different apprehensions in some matters of truth 2. From such corruptions as do attend Gods people considered as men made up of flesh and blood 1. From an immoderate zeal for the maintaining of different apprehensions in some matters of truth truth is an uniform thing and is but one two contradictory Propositions cannot be true but since the fall of man none have the same apprehensions there are different apprehensions concerning truth it is true we have the promise of the Spirit of truth to guide us and to lead us into all truth but the sense of the promise must not be extended so far that because all Christians have the spirit of God therefore they shall all be guided that they shall not have misapprehensions in a Proposition of truth they shall be guided into all necessary truth they shall not miscarry in any apprehension of truth upon which the salvation of their Souls depend but they may be mistaken as to a multitude of particular Propositions one may judge one thing and another another thing yet they all hold the foundation the fundamental truths of the Gospel but they may have very different apprehensions as to some particular truths now through an over-weaning opinion of our own apprehensions there are very great differences and also hard censurings and condemnings of one another and these are great afflictions but such as have attended the Gospel from the very beginning they were such different apprehensions that caused the first Christian Synod Acts 15.1 Some came and taught the necessity of circumcision such differences there were Rom. 14.2 For one believeth he may eat all things another who is weak eateth herbs hence they judged despised condemned and censured one another and the Apostle persuadeth to a friendly carriage one towards another a mutual forbearance one of another in these different apprehensions in matters of truth of a lighter nature mens immoderate zeal for their own opinions have in all times begot great heats and have caused great afflictions to the Ministers of the Gospel and to the Professors of it and have been a great root of bitterness amongst Gods own people we have seen enough of it in the age
but yet they are not all of equal import the nature of Propositions doth very much differ 1. According to what doth depend upon them 2. According to the evidence that they have in Scripture 1. According to what dependeth upon them Some Propositions of truth are the foundation look as it is with the foundation of a House take it away and the whole Building tumbleth to the ground So there are some Propositions of the Gospel that the whole Fabrick of Gospel truths lieth upon them the whole Body of truth is built upon them here now the Obligation of our Testimony lieth higher and riseth higher and further but there is no truth that we are not debtors unto 2. According to the evidence that they have in the Gospel there are different apprehensions concerning truth for although the Gospel hath revealed all truth yet not all with the same evidence so that Christians have differed concerning truth and every man as he believeth so he ought to speak so he ought to live but the apprehensions that some men have had that they are bound to give a Testimony to every Proposition of truth which they do in heart imbrace hath begot a great deal of stir the Apostle giveth another Rule when he saith Hast thou Faith Have it to thy self before God There are some Propositions of which a Christian may have a particular perswasion and of which he may be very confident of the truth of them but yet they will not bear the weight of a Testimony to the disturbance of the Church of Christ now a good Christian ought to regulate his Testimony accordingly Qu. 2. What kind of Testimony is that which a good Christian is bound to give unto the Lord I will open this to you in seven or eight particulars 1. He ought to give a knowing believing Testimony there is a Testimony of Faith and a Testimony of Faction that Man giveth a Testimony of Faith that doth in his Heart believe what he with his Mouth confesseth and as the Apostle saith as he believeth so he speaketh So in this case a Christian must speak as he believeth and when he speaketh and owneth and defendeth a truth because he believeth it to be the eternal truth of God this is a Testimony of Faith but then there is a Testimony of Faction when a man runs with a multitude to attest a truth and crieth for it but understandeth not and believeth not what he professeth I would have every Christian not to be ashamed of the Testimony of Christ but I would have him be sure that it be a Testimony of Faith that he giveth not a Testimony of Faction for a man to give a Testimony to truth if it be in Faction it is abomination to God whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin The word not mingled with Faith profiteth not and a Testimony not given in Faith signifieth nothing Oh! Christians beware of this that none of you in this day be factious Professors be not ashamed of the Testimony of your Lord. But first see that you understand it see that your selves believe it to be a good Testimony a Man or Woman will have very little peace or comfort in giving a Testimony to that which either he knoweth not or in Heart believeth not when a Man believeth and therefore speaketh he speaketh that with his Lips which his Soul hath first examined and he seeth bottomed in the Word of God and in Heart agreeth and assenteth to this is his Testimony take this note with you in every Testimony let it be vocal or real let it be a Testimony of Faith not a Testimony of Faction and a meer running along with a cry like the rout of Ephesus when Acts 19.32 Some cried one thing some another for the Assembly was confused and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together 2. It must be a Loving Testimony or it is not accepted Faith and Love mâ—st be the principles of all those actions that do or can speak any obedience unto the Will of God if a Man receiveth the truth and not in the love of it it is of no effect as whatsoever is not of faith is Sin so whatsoever is done and not out of love is not accepted of God Love is that which giveth the sweet savour to all our doings and to all our sufferings for God If saith the Apostle I give all my goods to the poor and my Body to be burnt if I have not love it is all nothing Let a man give never so great a Testimony to Christ if he doth not this out of love it is out of some evil principle of contradiction or faction or some stubbornness of Spirit and God accepteth it not it is not a Christians saying I am for the true Doctrine I am for pure Worship and I am for the Kingly Government of Christ but his doing this out of a true pleasure and delight in these things out of a true love to God and zeal for the glory of God And this is another thing that I fear in a crowd that give Testimony in an evil time as that some testifie they know not what so that others testifie rather out of a principle of contradiction or fullenness than out of a true principle of love to Ordinances and truths hence you shall observe that as in a serene and fair time there are a multitude of Professors that are like Swallows that will stay with the Gospel in its Summer time so you shall observe there are a multitude of others that in a time of opposition especially when the Persecution reacheth not high busie to give their Testimony to truth which when they may imbrace freely they never regard and make no conscience of you have an example of both these at home on the one side we had a company of Professors that have now forsaken us and fled and embraced this present World in a time of temptation they are gone away and you shall observe a multitude of others that cried out lately for Sacraments and against robbing Christians of the Sacrament of the Supper the great pledge of Christs Love Now that none hindreth their coming to them they regard not the Sacrament both these were sick of the same Disease they gave or thought they gave some testimony to their Lord but their Testimony was equally acceptable to God neither the one nor the other was out of a love in their heart to Christ and to his truth and ordinances but meerly out of faction and turbulency of Spirit or for some base worldly end I would have you own the Testimony of Christ I would have you fear being ashamed of it as you would fear that Christ should be ashamed of you at the day of Judgment I would have you â—onfess him as you would have him to confess you as you would expect he should confess you But be sure you give your Testimony out of love as what you know and in heart truly believe
fight and indeed in this piece of it was more a Conquerour then I ever knew any who was so long ingaged in it and at last died the ordinary death of men quietly in his Bed surrendring his Soul into the hands of him that gave it 2 For the finishing of his course how he walked in and out before you I need not tell you you knew the man and observed his conversation For the duties of his Relation as a Minister while he had a publick liberty he was no indiligent Preacher when he was restrained as to that you were also some witnesses of his readiness to that work For his Domestick Relations let his Widow rise up and call him blessed let his Daughter praise him He spent no small proportion of time in opening Scripture and praying with his Family and other exercises of Religion proper to a Family He rather erred by excess then by a defect in those exercises 3. As to his keeping the faith As he was known to all that conversed with him to be sound in the Doctrine of faith So two things spake the exercise of the habit of that Grace in him 1. He was much in prayer It was almost his whole work for some years before he died he did little else but read and pray When he could no longer Pray himself he would continually be solliciting others to the performance of it and when he hardly regarded either Wife or Child coming to him yet he was so regardful of this that he missed Prayer if at any time any of us had come to him and gone away having not prayed with him 2. Much holiness speaketh faith His scrupulosity in his actions lest he should by any of them sin against God was such as indeed was a great part of his Affliction Indeed the latter part of his life being very Melancholick and that disposing him to too many fears and God having for some weeks before he died allowed him but a very incertain use of his reason and much deprived him also of a liberty of speech we had not that lightsome evidence of his desire to be dissolved which we might have expected from such a conversation But his quiet bearing Gods severe hand upon him his free submission to his will without any murmuring or repining added to the former spending of his life in a constant preparation for death may satisfy us that he was one who loved the appearance of our Lord Jesus Now I say if we have a sufficient evidence to hope that he was indeed one who fought the good fight who had finished his course who kept the faith and who loved the appearance of our Lord Jesus what reason have we to mourn Nay if we consider what a man of griefs and sorrows he was in his latter time what an ill habit of body he had contracted what a variety of diseases he was incumbred with and how improbable it was that by the use of any art his body should be recovered to a state of comfort to himself or usefulness to others We have great cause to rejoice in hope That he is crowned with that Crown of Righteousness which the Righteous God hath prepared laid up and will give out to those who love his appearance In ordinary cases where there is no cause of sorrow from a reflection upon the eternal state of the deceased yet there may be some cause of sorrow upon the account of the Churches loss and never was there a greater cause of mourning for Godly Ministers then at this day We have cause upon all such losses to cry out as Psal 12.1 Help Lord for the Godly man ceaseth and the faithful fail from the children of men But in the present case we have not that cause God by his Providence had made him dead to us before he died and except in a miraculous way we could not reasonably have expected a Resurrection a recovery I mean to any degree of usefulness So then if there remaineth no cause of mourning either from the consideration of our friends eternal state or our own loss What remains but that we should lay our hands upon our mouths or if we will open them bless God who hath granted us to see him after so long a scuffle with the great Enemy of Mankind depart in peace that he might see the Lords Salvation and be ever with the Lord as the Apostle expresseth the state of those that sleep in Jesus in another life I shall conclude as the Apostle doth that Chapter wherefore comfort yourselves with these words SERMON III. Deuteronomy 8.18 For it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth THis fifth Book of Moses is called Deuteronomy qu. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a second law because it for the most part containeth a repetition of the law of God formerly given unto this people by Moses Moses having in the former Chapter given them an account of some precepts that God formerly delivered to them he here presseth them to obedience and to make reflections upon what God had done for them he declareth a great tenderness for this people who had been brought up by him and lived upon his hand and an exceeding jealousy lest when they came into the land of Canaan they should forget the great God who had done so much for them and lest they should say in their hearts my power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth but saith he in the words I have read unto you Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth The Doctrines of the Text are two Doct. 1. That it is the Lord who giveth unto people a power to get wealth Doct. 2. That the consideration of this should oblige men when they have gotten estates not to forget but to remember the Lord their God Prop. That it is the Lord who giveth unto a people a power to get wealth There is nothing in the Doctrine that needeth any explication we all know what is meant by wealth my whole business will lie upon the demonstration of this truth that it is the Lord that giveth men power to get wealth and to shew what influence God hath upon men as to their gaining of outward estates 1 Sam. 2.7 The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich Eccl. 6.2 A man to whom God hath given riches wealth and honour chap. 9.11 the race is not to the swift nor the battel to the strong 2. By way of Application to shew what influence this meditation should have upon us I shall spend all my time in answering these two Questions Qu. 1. What influence hath God upon men as to their gaining or keeping their outward estate All wealth and outward estate cometh to a man by inheritance or marriage or by gift or by labour let me shew you a little the influence God hath upon all these I will joyn the two first together 1. It is the Lord that maketh Heirs and
ambitious of the Crown of Martyrdom but these things are miranda to be admired not imitanda to be imitated no man is bound to put his self upon suffering afflictions no not in defence of the Gospel of Christ we ought to see our call clear to suffering as well as doing in that sense therefore this precept must not be understood But 2. It speaketh unto every Christian to expect that his owning and professing of the Gospel should meet with afflictions and to be content to take a share in them Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel look that the Gospel should be afflicted and be contented to take thy share with the Gospel in its afflictions our Saviour telleth us That no Prince goeth out to war with another but he first sitteth down and considereth whether he with 10000 shall be able to meet with his enemy with 20000. Christians before men undertake the profession of the Gospel they ought to sit down and consider what the Gospel will cost them for the tempers of our spirits under divine providences are much according to our expectation if we expect nothing but good and meet with nothing but evil the evil sinketh us we did not look for it Mala inopinata graviora but this is not all to be content to take our part in afflictions with the Gospel if God calleth us to suffer for owning and professing the Gospel of Christ and not think it strange we should not murmure and repine against it or take any unlawful course to decline but to cast our lot with Professors and to take our share with them and to be content to suffer evil with them who suffer for the name of Christ or for the profession of any of his truths nay it may be there is something more our duty than this and that is to rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer any thing for the name of our Lord Jesus Acts 5.41 Singing in the prison into which we are thrown as Paul and Silas did taking the spoiling of our goods with joy 3. Nay there is something more in this phrase viz. a suffering together with others that suffer for the Gospel though we do not suffer at all and indeed this is properly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we ought to have a sympathy with the Gospel and the Professors of it it is that which the Apostle urgeth and thus it answereth that text Rom. 12.15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep both these are put together in that phrase in the Epistle to the Hebrews Heb. 10.34 For you had compassion of me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods Both these are the duty of good Christians to suffer with them that suffer for the Gospel and to be content to suffer themselves if God calleth them to it in defence of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Apostle had upon him the care of all the Churches 2 Cor. 11.28 29. So he had upon him the sorrow and affliction of all the Church of Christ the Apostle in that Chap. v 23. telleth us what stripes what imprisonments what deaths he was in and then he telleth us that he did not thus only suffer with and for the Gospel but also he was afflicted and he burned with others and this is the duty of every Christian they ought to partake joyfully and with satisfaction to take their share in those afflictions to which the preaching or owning the Gospel doth expose them and also to bear the burthens of others and to be content to suffer with them to bear some share in their sorrow in their trials and afflictions I come to the next question Qu. 4. Whence ariseth this obligation upon Christians and why are they thus to partake of the afflictions of the Gospel and not to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord This Question hath two Branches Qu. 1. Whence ariseth this obligation upon them not to be ashamed to give this Testimony nor of it when given Qu. 2. Whence ariseth this obligation upon Christians to be partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel For the first of these whence this obligation doth arise upon Christians not to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord I shall open it to you in seven or eight particulars 1. From the will of God This is the true and proper foundation of all duty the will of God and the duty of Christians are Correlates nothing can be our duty towards God but what is the will of God towards us and nothing can be the will of God towards us but it must become our duty this is the will of God it is the will of God that we should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord neither our selves to give testimony unto Christ nor his Gospel nor yet of them who do give such testimony It is indeed the will of God concerning some more eminently then others but concerning all Christians it is the will of God it is spoken concerning all Rom. 10.9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Mat. 10.32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven The Apostle writeth to the Thessalonians 1 Thes 3.3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions for your selves know that we are appointed thereunto Col. 4.12 It is the duty of Christians to be compleat in all the will of God It is not only the will of God that men should pray that they hear the word and receive the Sacrament but they should give their testimony and not be ashamed of the testimony of Christ their Lord 2 Tim. 4.5 Watch thou in all things endure afflictions 2 Tim. 2.3 Thou therefore endure hardness as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ Ministers and good Christians are witnesses and they are Soldiers and therefore they ought to endure hardness and to be ready to give their testimony 2. It appeareth from the relation that every good Christian standeth in to Christ as his Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mark the words that thou be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord every subject is bound to give his testimony for the King because he is his Soveraign Lord every Servant is bound to give his testimony for his Master because he is his Lord Christ is our Lord and therefore there lieth an obligation upon us to give testimony for him would not your Prince take it ill if you should refuse being called to testify the truth for him would not your Master take it ill if you should refuse to give your temony for him Surely Christ who is our Lord must take it ill from us if we refuse a testimony to him If every man because that he is a debtor to the truth taketh himself obliged by the
men may think they suffer for righteousness sake when they suffer for their iniquity as evil doers as Priests and Jesuites do 3. When the Superiour thinketh himself bound to do it he must do it and where the other thinketh he is bound to suffer he ought to suffer yet the one may be punished for doing the other may be rewarded for suffering 4. When the Magistrate is not bound but only useth his liberty though he thinketh the Subject be bound to obey yet I cannot see how the action shall be excused from persecution the reason is the Superiour may forbear his command the Inferiour cannot avoid his suffering this is in short what I think of this case 9. Remember them that are in bonds Heb. 13.2 Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them You should remember them in your prayers Acts 12.5 Peter was kept in prison prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him Rom. 15.30 Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me Remember them in your visits Mat 25.36 I was sick and you visited me Remember them with your purses In the Primitive Church Christians upon this account had all things common Acts 4.34 For as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things which were sold 2 Cor. 8.14 That now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want Phil. 4.15 No Church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving but you only There is yet one piece of duty behind and that our Saviour here hinteth Rejoyce and be exceeding glad Here are three things I shall insist upon 1. I will open the words to you and shew you the import of them what this is to rejoyce and be exceeding glad 2. I will answer the Question how we can rejoyce and be exceeding glad 3. I will shew you the ground upon which a Christian should be exceeding glad Rejoyce saith our Saviour and be exceeding glad Joy is nothing but the satisfaction of the Soul in the union that it hath with some good thing that is present so as it must necessarily signifie these things Negatively 1. A satisfaction of mind in opposition to grief and trouble and affliction Grief is the true opposite to Joy when we are bid to rejoyce we are bid not to grieve for no man can rejoyce and grieve heartily in a breath persecution is not a thing fit for a Christians tears Indeed there is nothing fit for a Christians tears but only sin and so far there may be matter of grief for us under a persecution if it hath been brought upon us by our sins or by our indiscretion but take it as it is a suffering for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ it is not He slurs the Crown of Martyrdom that droppeth a tear or spendeth a sigh upon it Let men howl and weep that are sent to Gaol and brought to the Gallows for the satisfaction of their lusts but let them take heed of grieving that are only sent to prison or brought to a stake for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ 2. A satisfaction of mind in opposition to discontent murmuring or repining for not only grief which is directly opposite to our joy will spoil our mirth but even a discontent and dissatisfaction will spoil our joy for joy requireth the satisfaction of the mind so as it must be at rest and not tossed up and down with the waves of many fears and cares Christians should not be discontented at God's dispensations they should not grudge nor murmure nor repine at God if he shall please to bring them under such a dispensation as to suffer for his Name sake 3. It implieth a satisfaction of mind in opposition to sollicitude as he whose heart is full of grief or whose heart is full of discontent cannot rejoyce So he whose heart is full of carefulness cannot rejoyce neither This is that which our Lord cautioneth his Disciples against Take no thought of what you shall say and this is the reason that in those fierce and furious times the Apostle did so caution Christians 1 Cor. 7.32 I would have you be without carefulness Phil. 4.6 Be careful in nothing 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you So then when our Lord calleth unto his Disciples to rejoyce and to be exceeding glad he forbiddeth them immoderate grief murmuring and repining at God's dispensations and he forbiddeth them sollicitous and anxious care either what they should say or how they should bear the Cross that the Lord bringeth them under 2. But Secondly There is something positive and this our Saviour doth hint to us by the two words that he useth in this place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the latter word signifieth a great excess of joy which doth not keep within the bounds of the heart but breaketh forth in actions Divines have observed that it answereth an Hebrew word which signifieth dancing joyfully and is used of David 1 Chron. 15.29 dancing before the Ark and this agreeth with James 1.2 Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations where temptations signifieth persecutions Thus the Apostle Acts 5.41 They departed from the presence of the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name It is the duty of Christians not only not to grieve and be troubled not only not to be discontented and to murmure and repine not only to be free from sollicitude and trouble of spirit because of persecution but on the contrary to rejoyce and to be glad yea and that with the greatest excess of joy to leap for joy Obj. But will some Christians say How should a Christian do this Can a man rejoyce in evil Is it not contrary to the very nature of man to rejoyce in an evil Is it not contrary to whatsoever is the duty of a Christian to rejoyce in the afflicting hand of God upon him How then shall a man be glad and rejoyce in persecution and either answer the Law of Nature or the Will and Pleasure of God not taking notice of his dispensations Sol. I answer First It is one thing to rejoyce in the affliction and another thing to rejoyce in the time of the affliction it is one thing to rejoyce when we are persecuted and another thing to rejoyce because we are persecuted God doth not require that of you which is contrary to your Humane Nature God requireth of no man to rejoyce because he suffereth but yet he may rejoyce when he is persecuted he may rejoyce that he is thought worthy to suffer 2. It is one thing to rejoyce in the smart of a persecution another thing to rejoyce in the cause of a suffering and the fruit and effect of suffering God doth not require of any person to rejoyce in the smart of an evil but only in the cause and in the fruit of it which I shall open further to
you 3. It is one thing for a Christian to rejoyce in persecution as it is a token of God's anger and displeasure another thing for to rejoyce in it as a means by which it pleaseth God to make the Soul of his Saints perfect unto glory The Apostle tells us that no affliction is joyous at present but grievous 3 Obj. The last Question which remains is What ground of solid joy and rejoycing hath a Christian under persecution I shall open this to you in several particulars I begin with those of the Text. 1. Because the Lord hath blessed them This is matter of joy Is it not matter of joy to a Christian that he is in such a condition as he is under a blessing yea not under a single blessing but under a treble blessing Is it nothing to you Sirs to be blessed of God to have him who knoweth the state of every Soul in whose hand are all blessings and cursings and whom he blesseth they shall be blessed and whom he curseth they shall be cursed Is it nothing for you to be in such a state that you are sure you are under the blessing of God that you are some of those he hath pronounced blessed thrice over blessed though you be here some of them who are hated reviled and persecuted and spoken evil of falsly for the Lords Name sake 2. Yours is the Kingdom of Heaven You have a phrase very like this which will come into consideration Great is your reward in Heaven I shall not at present consider it in that sense Our Saviour saith elsewhere The Kingdom of Heaven is within you The Kingdom of Heaven within us is the Throne of Christ set up in our hearts 1 Pet. 4.14 The Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you So this shall be an evidence unto you that the Kingdom of God is set up in your hearts Thus the words of our Saviour are made good It shall be unto you for a testimony The Kingdom of Christ is then set up in any Soul when Christ ruleth and other things truckle under him and his Law when a Christian overcometh in a good fight when he is too hard for the World that they cannot flatter him into a disobedience to Christ nor frown him into a disobedience of Christ it is a sign that Christ sitteth as Lord and as King in that Soul and the Kingdom of Heaven is within that man it is a testimony of grace and that the Spirit of God resteth upon that man and the Spirit of Glory resteth on that man On your part saith the Apostle he is glorified 3. Great is your reward in Heaven The Papists make a great stir about the term of a reward as if it must needs be a correlative to a work but as there is a reward of debt as you reward a man that hath laboured for you and done you some valuable service so there is also a reward of grace The Father saith to the Child if you will do such a thing I will give you a new Coat here is a reward given upon the Child's obedience but yet the Child's obedience doth not earn it There is a reward of grace as well as a reward of debt there is a reward of a work which is not always a just reward for a work life everlasting is promised as the reward of them that suffer persecution But our afflictions are saith the Apostle but light and momentany afflictions though they work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory James 1.12 Is not this matter of rejoycing that the reward of a man is great in Heaven 2 Thes 1.7 It is a token to you of rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed 4. They persecuted the Prophets that were before you There is a great cause of rejoycing in this 1. It is no new thing to you it is but what hath been the Lot of the people of God formerly 2. As it is no new thing to men so particularly not to the most eminent Servants of God Such were the Prophets nay the more eminent they were in their Generation the more they have been brought under this Rod. 3. This administreth further comfort to Christians in suffering that those who have professed to the same Religion yet have persecuted those born after the Spirit The Jews owned the same God and the same Religion that the Prophets did yet they persecuted the Prophets Lastly 4. It speaketh you the true Members of the Church You partake of the common afflictions of the Members of it that our Lord might let them know that it was no new thing he saith They persecuted the Prophets which were before you that our Lord might let them know they were not too good for persecution he says So persecuted they the Prophets who yet were the best of the Servants of God lest it should be a trouble to them that persons owning the same Religion were their Enemies he saith So persecuted they the Prophets that he might shew them with whom they had communion in their sufferings namely with the Antient Church of God he saith For so persecuted they the Prophets 5. I must yet rise one note higher you are partakers of the afflictions of Jesus Christ this is a ground of rejoycing Rejoyce saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 4.13 in as much as you are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed you may be glad also with exceeding joy Phil. 1.20 Christ shall be magnified in my body Col. 1.24 Who now rejoyce in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh St. Paul Phil. 3.10 desired to know him and the power of his Resurrection and the fellowship of his Sufferings being made conformable to his Death If saith the Apostle we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together Rom. 8.17 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Thus far I have discoursed the duty of God s people relating to an hour of persecution whether imminent or already come upon them but in all persecution there must be an Agent as well as a Patient Last Vse Must this be the Lot of the Servants of God of all those that will live godly in Christ Jesus to suffer persecution take heed your hand be not upon them Offences must come saith our Saviour Luke 17.1 2. but woe unto him through whom they come It were better for him that a Milstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the Sea The will of God concerning an event will not justifie the proximate cause or agent in an action undoubtedly of all sins there is no sin that is greater in its kind than this 1. Consider with your selves by way of comparison if it be a great sin for a man to do hurt to those that are innocent how
and agree to so out of a burning love and zeal in your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ 3. Our Testimony ought to be a Judicious Testimony it is one thing that God requireth when we swear that it should be in truth righteousness and judgment Thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in truth righteousness and judgment Swearing is an Attestation a Solemn Attestation of a truth The Testimony which I am now speaking to is not necessary to be performed by Oath though we ought not to refuse if called to that but as it must be to the truth in righteousness so it must be in judgment The judgment that I would have attend the Testimony of which I am now speaking is not a judgment that the thing is true the truth of Christ but that it is a truth of that nature that will bear the weight of such a Testimony too as it must bear if it bear any for I must tell you though truth all truth be a very sacred pin yet every such pin hath not an equal degree of strength and will not bear a like weight I am afraid we have too loud a Testimony to some truths which though they may have spoken the faith of Christians and their love yet have not spoken the Wisdom and Prudence of Christians such Testimonies were those the Christians gave Rom. 14. For things that were in themselves of an indifferent nature and yet Christians on either side were too warm Any Christian is thus far bound to give his Testimony to every truth as not to deny it 2. In his own particular practice to own it but we ought not to make a party for every truth Now this dependeth upon this great truth That though there be no truth of God but we ought to own and being convinced of to Practise yet there are some truths of God as to which God willeth not that we should be contentious For God hath given his people a Latitude in them without hazard of their Salvation and therefore we must give our Testimony to truth with prudence a prudential judging of the weight and value of a truth before we give a zealous Testimony to it 4. Our Testimony must be with prudence Prov. 8.12 I Wisdom dwell with Prudence Wisdom doth often signify Grace and truly all true Grace in a Soul should dwell with Prudence we are commanded to be wise as Serpents and to walk circumspectly not as fools Matth. 10.16 but as wise there is a great deal of prudence to be used in giving our Testimony to our Lord our Lord himself if you observe him did it with prudence and we ought to let our Wisdom dwell with Prudence This Prudence must not be extended so far as to deny any necessary truth or to dissemble so as to declare our selves against it or not to own it for it must be such a prudencâ— as is opposed to impiety if there be a failure in piety there can be no prudence Prudence doth not so much respect the doing or the not doing of the thing as the manner of the doing of it In general we then give our Testimony with prudence when we give it without any just offence to Jew Gentile or the Church of Christ a Testimony of our Lord may be spoiled by the heighth of our Spirit through pride shewed in judging contemning and despising of others or through the boisterousness and the passion of our Spirits or by our noise and clamours so that to the prudence of a Testimony there are three things required 1. Humility in opposition to Pride Pride is a Colloquintida that maketh all our Messes of duty and Service to God bitter God abhorreth the proud he abhorreth a haughty and contentious Spirit he giveth grace to the humble and he accepteth his Testimony Paul saith Acts 20.19 He served the Lord with all humility of mind We are bid to put on humility of mind Col. 3.12 and 1 Pet. 5.5 To be clothed with humility Humility is our garment a Christian must do nothing but in humility in what he doth in the service of God there must be a vein of humility and in that part of our service to God where humility is wanting in that part a Christian always walketh naked and Men see his shame a fastidious scornful contemning sufferer is no Christian sufferer â— Another thing is meekness with respect to passion This is often called for we are bid to put it on Col. 3.12 And the Minister is to instruct in meekness those that are without The Apostle beseecheth you by the weakness of Christ meekness is opposed to frowardness and passion a passionate Testimony to a truth is at best but an imprudent and indiscreet Testimony The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God 3. A third thing that commendeth a Testimony is courtesy in opposition to morosity and soureness when Festus told Paul That much Learning had made him mad he answered I am not mad most noble Festus Observe with how much complement Paul speaketh to Festus and others while he was bearing testimony unto the truth of God the soureness and morosity of a Christians behaviour in bearing his testimony maketh his testimony more unlovely and not so prudent as it ought to be 4. A Fourth thing is peaceableness The Servants of God must not strive there is nothing more asperseth the Gospel and the Profession of it then the imprudence of a Professor of it in the managery of his business 5. Your Testimony unto God must be uniform and sincere it cannot be uniform if it be not sincere the testimony of the Life must agree with the testimony of the Lips you know a Witness that contradicteth his testimony doth by it make his testimony invalid he that liveth contrary to his Profession giveth himself the lye he testifieth with his Lips but he denieth in his Life The Apostle telleth us of some Titus 1.16 They profess that they know God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate You shall observe therefore that when the Devil at any time gave a testimony to a Truth concerning Christ and the Apostles they constantly refused and would not hear him speak the testimony of one of the Children of the Devil is rather a dishonour and weakning of the Truth than any strengthning and credit and confirmation a Man that is Holy in his Life bearing testimony with his Lips is a great Servant of God he by his Mouth declareth what he believeth and by his Life he declareth that he doth indeed not mock and dissemble with the World but he believeth what he professeth to believe You shall see in some cases some foolish Witnesses do more hurt than good so a Christian may do more mischief than good to the Gospel of Christ by his owning of it and professing to it 6. Let it be a bold and undaunted Testimony he is a good Witness in a cause who speakest modestly and with all