this promise is to those that fight the good fight that finish their course that keep the faith c. Ah how many are there that fight indeed but is it the good fight They are fighters against God opposers of his interest they would if possible root the very name of of God and profession of Godliness out of the world They have such an antipathy to piety that as they say of the Basilisk it hath such an emnity to man that it will fly upon his picture so they have such an enmity to Christ and holiness that they fly upon any Persons or things who have any thing of Christs Image and Superscription upon them others are fighters great disturbers of humane societies with their quarrels But now for the good fight which is to be managed against our passions exorbitant affections and all the motions of the Soul that are contrary to the will of God how few of those are to be found that fight this fight How few are those that will manage an opposition for the glory of God against the temptations of the world How few are there that can glory in this that they have finished either their more general course as Christians or more particular Course as Christians under such or such circumstances How full is the world of those who have yet their first step to take in the way of Gods Commandments their life is a meer walking in the counsels and Imaginations of their own hearts a meer gratification of their sensitive appetite not only as moving contrary to the law of Christ but to the very law of reason Living beneath the better sort of heathens How many more whose only business is to heap up gold as dust and silver as thick clay but the way of Religion and holiness they have not known How few are there that mind the duties of their particular relation but as they use their own Souls as if they were the meer condiment of their bodies so they behave themselves to their Wives Husbands and Children as if they had no trust of their Souls committed to them How many that have lost the faith first delivered to the Saints and are fallen into pernicious and damnable heresies making Shipwrack both of faith and a good conscience Can these men possibly love the appearanâ—e of Jesus Christ But leaving others let us take the advantage Use 3 of this discourse to enter into our own Souls and to commune with our own hearts inquiring whether we be such Persons as when we shall be ready to dye shall by any Providence of God be made apprehensive that the time of our departure is at hand shall be able to say that henceforth there is laid up for us a Crown of Righteousness which the righteous Judge shall in that day give out to all such as love the appearance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To satisfy us as to these things we have heard in the explication of this text that we have several things to inquire upon they may be reduced to six or seven heads 1. What opposition we have made to the carnal desires and motions of our own hearts contrary to the revealed will of God You shall observe that a sinful walking in holy Writ is very ordinarily expressed by a walking according to the counsels and imaginations of our own hearts so contrary are the natural desires counsels and imaginations of the heart of man to the revealed will of God there is no surer sign of a wicked man then for him to walk after his own imaginations or for him to use Jobs expression to suffer his heart to walk after his Eyes Hence self-denial is by our Saviour made the condition and character of being one of his disciples and we are often in Scripture Commanded to mortify our members and the deeds of our bodies This kind of conversation which lyeth in the gratifying of our sensitive appetites is the broad way in which many walk but it is the high way to eternal destruction 2. What opposition we have made to the world either the men of the world or the things of it attemping either to frown or flatter us out of the duty which we owe unto God He who is at the worlds beck cannot be at the Command of Christ If we be the Servants of men we cannot be the Servants of God As Christ pleased not himself so neither did he please the men of the age wherein he lived in their oppositions to the will of his Father It is most certain that the generality of the men of the world love no Child of God as such they are two different seeds betwixt which there ever was and ever will be an emnity If they take us by the chin and kiss us it is but that they may have the better opportunity to smite us under the fifth rib The truth is their open war is better than their dissembled amity but that also requires in us wisdom when to oppose so as not to suffer as evil doers and courage and resolution that we may be able to stand 3. How we walk as to our more general conversation It is certainly a true saying grande est Christianum esse non dici It is a great thing not to be called but to be a Christian and in Christianity Tantum es quantum agis a man is just so much as he acteth in an uniform obedience having a regard to all the Commandments of God He that wilfully breaketh any of Gods Commadments is guilty of all for there is the same reverence due to God as to one Precept as unto another We have also further to enquire 4. How we discharge the duties of our particular Relations Not only how we run that race which we have to run in Common with others but that particular course which God hath set us how we have managed our duties as parents Children Husbands Wives Masters Servants Magistrates or Subjects Ministers or People c. 5. What steadiness wee keep as to the faith once delivered to the Saints It is true every warping in opinion from the truth is not damnable but we must take heed of warping in such points as a warping in is inconsistent with the exercise of repentance and faith I will not undertake punctually to determine what things are to be believed upon pain of damnation but I am sure every one that doth not repent and believe in or close with the Lord Jesus Christ is in an ill condition and from thence it follows that such opinions drank in as hinder the exercise of repentance or faith must needs be pernicious unto Souls 6. What particular faith and dependance we keep up in God and the Lord Jesus Christ The Scriptures are so full of texts giving testimony to the necessity of faith in Christ in order to eternal salvation that I need not instance in many see John 3.18 36. the Scripture saith expresly that he that believeth not shall be damned
us willing to suffer the spoiling of our goods with joy but a knowledge that we have in Heaven a far more enduring substance that we should ever be willing to part with our dear and sweet relations but upon the sight of better company if the Heathen upon the contemplation of the Immortality of the Soul could be content to make an end of their Lives surely we may hope that our contemplation of the pleasures that are at Gods right hand should dispose and prepare us for the parting with the pleasures of sin which are but for a season the things which are seen they are temporal saith the Apostle the things which are not seen they are eternal What was that which made Jacob endure the cold nights and watchings but the sight of Rachel He had a prospect of a Rachel his satisfaction in her was that which he thought would ballance all at last The quicker view of eternity any Soul hath the cheaper all the World will be unto him 7. Labor for a good stock of Faith Patience and Wisdom The more full assent you give to the Proposition of the Word and the firmer reliance you have upon the Promises the better you will endure an evil hour you will easily understand the reason of this if you consider that persecution lieth in nothing else but in your being straitned or suffering in things visible and sensible and faith is the evidence of things not seen I told you before that persecution only toucheth us in sensible parts for else indeed they were no afflictions let me shew you the force and power of Faith in this matter to bring a man into a state fitting for persecution 1. Faith sheweth an invisible God 2. It sheweth us invisible things Faith sheweth unto us an invisible God There is nothing so much emboldneth the Soul to sin as our not seeing of God the Fool hath said in his Heart There is no God no God that hath such an eye to see no God so omnipotent no God so strict and severe in Justice as he is said to be Now the more a man seeth of an invisible God the more a man despiseth all visible sensible things 2. Faith sheweth unto the Soul invisible things and those of an infinite transcendency and supereminent excellency above all things that are visible 1 Cor. 2.9 10. Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit Psal 16.11 at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Heb. 11.16 a better Country Heb. 11.26 a recompence of reward Heb. 10.34 a better and enduring substance In all persecution there are two things poena sensus poena damni there is a pain of sense and there is a smart in prisons and in death Now Faith armeth the Soul shewing him a God more armed to punish him in case of sin than persecution is armed to make him sin Luke 12.4 Be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do saith our Saviour but fear him that can cast both Body and Soul into Hell-fire This taketh away all the pain of sense in persecution sense telleth a man the Persecutor can do no more than kill the Body Faith drowns this by shewing the Soul a God that hath the Keys of Hell and Death in his hand and that can and will cast the Soul into Hell fire for the pain of sense it is plain that Faith devoureth all that and for the pain of loss it taketh away that Is it pleasure that maketh thee loth to endure persecution Faith sheweth the Soul the pleasures at Christs right hand where are fulness of pleasures for evermore is it profit that maketh thee loth to endure persecution Faith sheweth the Soul a more enduring substance a recompence of reward which is infinitely above thy proportion of labour yea and Faith evidenceth this to the Soul and giveth the Soul such an evidence of these things that the Soul hath no more doubt no more fear of these things than if it had these other things sensibly before its eyes therefore labour for a stock of Faith when I say labour for it I mean but two things study the promises of God that you may understand them and the compass of them pray to God to make them stick to your Souls and as this Faith doth it and hath a great influence upon the Soul to make it valiant in its spiritual fight so that Faith which is the reliance of the Soul upon the Lord Jesus Christ hath a very great power and influence for this teacheth the Soul to rest and rely upon Christ alone for Salvation and layeth the strongest and highest obligation imaginable upon the Soul to love the Lord Jesus Christ and again to do nothing that may give an offence unto him by disobedience to any of his Commandments 8. Endeavour to furnish your selves with patience Patience is either to be considered in the act or in the habit I now speak of the habit of patience a power to exercise patience patience is usually by Divines said to be active which is a power to wait the good pleasure of God for the fulfilling of the promise or passive a power quietly to bear the dispensation of God to us Both of them are highly necessary 1. For the first a power to wait for God for the fulfilling of the promise Heb. 10.36 37. For you have need of patience that after you have done the will of God you might receive the promise For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry The staying of thâ— Vision to an appointed time and Gods not making hast in the fulfilling of the promise is that which sheweth us the need of this patience 2. The second is a power to bear the good pleasure of God and to suffer what is his will Both these are wonderful needful unto a Soul in an hour of persecution If you ask me how we shall come by patience the answer is easie the more faith the more patience for faith begetteth patience and because the habits of both are infused by God Prayer is the great means both to obtain these and all other influences and habits of grace from God Endeavour to furnish your selves with the grace and habit of patience patience is the suffering grace 9. Labour for spiritual wisdom Wisdom is a practical habit which directeth us to use the best means in order to a good end this wisdom doth not teach you to deliberate at all about the thing whether you should suffer or no but only concerning the manner and the circumstances of the thing to do it in the best manner is as God shall have most honour and your own Souls most peace and comfort You know our Saviour saith be wise as Serpents and the Apostle James to his Exhortation to
Archangel and with the trump of God 1 Thessal 4.26 with ten thousands of his Saints Jud. 14. This is by the Apostle called a glorious appearance as 1 Pet. 1.7 Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Whether his first or second appearing be here meant I doubt If it be understood of the first the sense is much the same with that Rejoicing in Christ Jesus in opposition to an having a confidence in the flesh mentioned 3 Philip. 3. In this sense the loving his appearing is the loving of him as God manifested in the flesh the accepting and receiving of him as our Saviour and the Mediator betwixt God and man a breathing after him and delighting in him if we understand it of the latter that appearing of Christ which is yet to come we shall further open the duty by opening the 2d thing 2. What this is to love his appearing Love is nothing else but a pleasant motion of the Soul of man towards an Object by which discerning some goodness and excellency in it it takes a secret complacency in the meditations and speculations of it By desire moves toward it if it hath not obtained a full fruition and enjoyment of it and rejoyceth and delighteth in it if it have A love towards the second appearing of Jesus Christ cannot at present discover it self in the imbraces of joy and delight by which love in a Soul discovers it self to an object to which it is united but only 1. In desires after it while the Soul crieth out I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ or rather come Lord Jesus come quickly 2. In a joy and delight arising from the certain belief speculation and contemplation of a thing yet future There is a rejoycing of hope as well as of fruition for hope especially that hope which is the daughter of that faith which is the evidence of things not seen giveth the Soul an union though of the lowest degree with its object and so is productive of a proportionable joy Now my text saith that for all those who thus fight the good fight finish their course keep the faith and love the appearance of Christ there is laid up a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge will in that day give out In that day there is another little question what that day is 1. In the day of death Paul indeed had been speaking in the verse before of the time of his departure which he had told us was at hand and it is certain that at the day of death the Souls of believers do immediately pass into glory but yet this seemeth not to be the day here mentioned 2. Rather the day of Christs second appearing Emphatically called that day because there never was nor ever will be any day like unto that day the People of God shall in the day of their departure be taken into glory that is their Souls shall but their bodies rest in their graves until that day so as the glory of the Saints before that day the day of Christs coming to Judgment shall be imperfect but in that day they shall be Crowned If any man asketh from whence this shall be the text gives us a double account of it 1. In saying it shall be given it is not the price of our combate but it is the consequent of it from the free grace and gift of God The gift of God is eternal life Rom. 6. Fear not little flock saith our Saviour it is your Fathers will to give you a kingdom My sheep faith he hear my voice and follow me and I give unto them eternal life The Lord hath given Christ power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to whomsoever he pleased Joh. 17.2 2. The text calls it a Crown of Righteousness and saith the righteous judge will give it God in all his acts of grace hath a care to declare his righteousness In the justification of a sinner he so declareth his grace that he also declares his righteousness Rom. 3.25.26 speaking of Christ whom saith he God hath set forth to be a propitiation through his blood to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his Righteousness that he might be just and the Justifier of him who believeth in Jesus So in the glorifying of Souls God will not act only as a gracious God rich in mercy communicating his goodness to his creatures but he will also act as a righteous judge in his giving out of the Crowns of glory he hath so ordered things that they are also crowns as of glory and favour so of Righteousness 1. Of Christs Righteousness being the price and purchase and of the Fathers Righteousness as it is but a just and righteous thing that he should satisfy the Covenant of Redemption and fulfil the eternal contract made with the Son of his love and it is also a righteous thing that God should fulfil his promises of life made to them who believe in him whom God hath sent and be obedient to his Commandments 1. The reasonableness and Righteousness of God in giving out of this crown then appears from Gods designation Covenant and promise The Crown of Righteousness is Christs to give he hath purchased it the Father hath given it to his disposal and he hath so willed that those who have it should first fight for it first run the race and course which he hath in his word lined out for them The promises of the new name the white stone the hidden manna are all made unto those who overcome those who will obtain must run 1 Cor. 9.24 2. There is a great relation between a fight a conquest and a crown I observed to you before that the promises of Heaven are made to such as overcome Rev. 2.17 ch 3.12 ch 3.21 Rev. 21.7 There is a relation also betwixt running in a race and getting of the prize Gal. 2.2 Gal. 5.7 1 Cor. 9.24 Again there is always a relation betwixt the means and the end The means in this case must not be natural but instituted now these are the means which as I have shewed you God hath appointed in order to the obtaining of this blessed end But I have spoken enough Doctrinally and shall now come to the application of this discourse This as indeed all other Gospel Propositions Use 1 leads us to the consideration of the transcendent Love of God to poor Creatures 1. In providing for us a Crown 2. Making it a Crown of Righteousness 3. Laying it up for us 4. Giving it to us 1. In his providing for us a Crown God in Scripture is said to have prepared for us Mansions Rest a better Country a more induring Substance but this is not all he hath also prepared for us a Crown If those who are tickled with honour and so inamoured with dignity
out of the world all the reproaches of Ministers and Godly Christians all their bonds and imprisonments which they suffer for the Gospel they are but the fruits and product of this enmity this hatred and antipathy which is betwixt Christ and the Devil and the seed of Christ and the seed of the Devil 2. Another reason of it lieth in the nature of the Propositions of the Gospel as to the Doctrine of faith and as to the precepts of the Gospel so far as it concerneth holiness the sublimity of the first and the purity of the latter and its exceeding strictness The sublimeness of the Doctrine of faith raiseth it two sorts of enemies 1. The ignorant persons of the world 2. Those men who have idolized their own reason and are determined to believe nothing but what they can fathom by their own reason 1. For the first ignorant Persons the Apostle telleth us of some who speak evil of what they know not there is nothing more unworthy of a man then this yet there is nothing more ordinary especially when men apprehend the ways and persons that they speak evil of are enemies to their lusts and corruptions the Apostle telleth us 1 Cor. 2.7 8. we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory Which none of the Princes of this world knew for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory The wisdom of God signifieth the Gospel of Christ and the Apostle saith the Princes of this world did not know it for if they had they would not have crucified the Lord of glory The most ignorant persons if they be also loose in their lives are enemies to the Gospel of Christ 2. Men that have idolized their own reason and entertained a fancy that they should comprehend the highest mysteries of the Kingdom of God that which maketh them enemies to the Gospel of Christ is their zeal they are puff'd up in their own opinion of their own reason and are certain enemies to whatever they cannot comprehend with it now the Doctrines of the Gospel being of that nature that sublime nature that ignorant persons cannot comprehend them and men of reason cannot fathom them with their own reason they become enemies unto them and to the true Professors of them hence it was that the Philosophers of old were such enemies to the Gospel of Christ 2. As the sublimity of the Propositions of the Gospel is one great reason of the opposition which it meeteth with in the world so the exceeding purity and holiness of the precepts of the Gospel is another reason take the Gospel as it bringeth news of a Saviour who died for sinners it pleaseth them well enough but look upon it as it containeth a systeme of precepts an obedience to which must be given in order to the obtaining of that salvation so it quite crosseth the grain of flesh and blood as it teacheth us that no Drunkard no Fornicator no Swearer shall come into the Kingdom of God thus they cannot approve of it and this maketh them enemies as to the Doctrine of the Gospel so to the Ministers and Professors of it for though they have so much lust as will not suffer them to comply with the Doctrine of the Gospel yet they have also so much pride that they cannot endure themselves to be contradicted and out-done by the Professors of it but this is enough to shew you what the afflictions of the Gospel are of which the Apostle would have Timothy content to be a partaker and what that testimony of Christ is of which he would not have him to be ashamed I come now to the next Question Qu. 3. When men may be said to be ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord and what the meaning is to be partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel To be ashamed of the testimony of Christ I conceive signifieth two things 1. To be ashamed or afraid to give a testimony unto Christ and to the truth of the Gospel to be afraid to give a testimony of Christ because of the opposition of men is a great sin it is contrary to the precept Fear not them who can kill the body and can do no more but fear him that is able to cast Body and Soul into Hell-fire but to be ashamed of this testimony is a greater sin because the temptation is higher under the former then under the latter to be ashamed of the testimony of Christ is to decline to own and profess Jesus Christ when there is no great danger that threatneth us in such a Profession we have an High-Priest that can have compassion upon our infirmities but when no such danger threatneth a man only he may suffer a little in his honour and repute amongst men and they may not have so good an opinion of him for this to decline the publick owning and professing of Christ it must needs be a very great sin it is a dreadful Text Mark 8.38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy Angels For a man to be afraid to own Christ and his Gospel and the profession of it when utmost danger threatneth him is sin enough it arguing that the fear of man prevaileth in him above the fear of God but for a man when no such danger threatneth him to be ashamed and to think it beneath him to own the Gospel and to love the honour that is from men before the honour that cometh from God is a very dreadful transgression 2. That man is ashamed of the testimony of Christ That is ashamed of others for the testimony which they bear to Jesus Christ I must confess I think this is that which the Apostle here chiefly intendeth Paul was now a Prisoner and at Rome the condition of Prisoners you know is a low and contemptible condition now for a person to be ashamed to be a friend or companion or to own the relation to and acquaintance with any because they are giving a testimony to Christ and for that testimony are hated maligned and persecuted is to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord It is reported of that famous Emperor Constantine the Great that he would often kiss the hole of Paphnutius's eye that was bored out for the profession of the Gospel What is the meaning of the phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel 1. Negatively it doth not imply that it is the will of God that any man should throw himself into the afflictions of the Gospel the best of afflictions are trials and temptations no man ought to pull trials upon himself we read indeed of some in the Primitive times that offered themselves to the stake and owned themselves to be Christians
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
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
Magistrates and powers take no thought how or what thing you shall answer or what you shall say for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in that same hour what you ought to say It is a promise that some have applied to the assistance of God in the performance of other duties as Prayer Preaching c. and it may be there hath been but an ill use made of that promise the promise in the first place manifestly relateth to a time of testimony I do not say but there is a dabitur in hora which those who are much with God in Prayer and which the Ministers of the Gospel 〈◊〉 experience but that promise respectâ—â—â— not that so much as it respecteth men in confession and their Testimony for Christ in giving our Testimony for Christ the Spirit of God shall assist words shall be given us in that hour and courage and strength shall be given us in that hour you shall not give a Testimony for the Gospel you shall not suffer affliction for the Gospel in your own strength it shall be according to the power of God the Holy Ghost shall teach you what to say and what to do and you shall experience that it is not you that speak and act but the Spirit that dwelleth in you what you do in this case shall be according to the power of God you shall not spend meerly upon your own Stock you shall spend upon Christs Stock when you are upon Christs Service you shall spend upon the fulness of the Spirit of God and there have been many experiences of those that could never find the presence of God so strong in the consolation of their Spirits as in that hour be not therefore ashamed of the Testimony of your Lord for not only the thing which you testify is the Testimony of the Lord but your action in testifying the testimony which you give shall be from the Lord the Holy Ghost speaking in you so that this is a great Argument it is a standing up for Christ and the Spirit of God shall use your tongue and your hand 2. Another Argument the Apostle useth is frâ—â— the nature of the truth to which you testify and the person for whom you testify You testify for the truth which bringeth eternal Salvation you testify for him who hath called you with an holy calling and he hath done this freely not according to your works but according to his own grace for him who hath abolished Death and brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel The Apostle saith He was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to Salvation I told you before that every one is a debtor unto truth there is such a cognation betwixt a rational Soul and Truth that every rational Soul is a debtor to truth he is a debtor to own the truth as to himself and to own the truth as to another and I told you by how much a truth is of higher importance to our or anothers interest by so much a Man or Woman is a greater debtor a Man is a debtor to the truth when it concerneth but his honour and reputation and when it concerneth his estate but much more when it concerneth Life and so when it is for his Brother by how much his Brother is more concerned by so much he is more obliged and as the nature of the truth raiseth his obligation so the relation of the person increaseth it a Man is bound by the Law of charity to give testimony to the truth on the behalf of his Neighbour much more on the behalf of his Brother and higher yet on the behalf of his Father or Mother that begat him and brought him forth but yet his obligation riseth higher when it is for his Saviour for him who hath done him the greatest kindness that ever was done without which he had better never have been born such is the Testimony that we are bound to give unto Christ The truth is of highest import the person is of the highest concern Oh! be not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God to your Salvation of the Gospel which bringeth Life and Immortality to light you testify for Christ who Witnessed a good confession before Pilate who hath done more for you than all the friends you ever had in the World could do for him who hath called you with an holy calling this is another Argument to enforce this Exhortation the consideration for whom and for what this Testimony is given 3. Another Argument which the Apostle bringeth here to perswade Timothy not to be ashamed of this Testimony is his own example v. 12. For the which cause I also suffer these things nevertheless I am not ashamed The Apostle saith God is not ashamed to be called their God And he saith of Christ Heb. 2.11 He is not ashamed to call us Brethnen Shall we be ashamed to testify his truth Shall we be ashamed of the name of his Witnesses And observe the reason why the Apostle saith he is not ashamed I am not ashamed for I know in whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him 4. Let me use one Argument further with you Blessed be God we yet can say as Heb. 12.4 You have not yet resisted unto Blood striving against sin There are divers Arguments in that Text to make a Christian valiant in his spiritual fight 1. That a Christians fight is against sin 2. That in this fight of Christians against sin we ought if called to it to resist unto Blood 3. By how much the lesser the Trial is that God calleth to us to undergo by so much the greater obligation is upon us to endure it all a Christians fight and striving is against sin He giveth a Testimony to the Doctrine of the Gospel it is against sin to prevent the coming in of damnable errors which would sink the Souls of people into eternal ruine and destruction he giveth a Testimony for the pure Worship of God it is to keep out Superstition and Idolatry he giveth a Testimony for the Government of Christ this is also against sin against those that say the Lord shall not rule over them or others but we will rule over you all our fight all the resistance that we make is against sin Now the fight against sin is so noble a fight that every good man ought to resist unto Blood rather to die than to sin against God or to suffer sin to prevail in the World but now when God doth not call us to lay down our Lives but only to bear a lower Testimony there our obligation riseth much higher if God had called us to lay down our Lives should we not do it How much more when the Lord only calleth us to give a Testimony St. John Rev. 6.9 saw them under the Altar that were slain for the Testimony that they
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
Sometimes taking the wise in their own craftiness Job 5.12 13. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty so that their hands cannot find their interprise he taketh the wise in their own craftiness and the Counsel of the froward is carried head-long Thus the Jews experienced the presence of God in the case of Hamans conspiracy to destroy them all Infinite instances might be given of this in all ages 2 Sometimes he will fit his people sufficiently to deal with them Luke 21.15 I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your Enemies shall be able to resist This was verified as to Stephen Acts 6.20 Of whom it is said Acts 6.20 That his adversaries were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake Hence Christ commanded his first disciples that when their enemies should deliver them up they should take no thought how or what they should speak for it should be given them in that same hour what they should speak For saith our Saviour it is not you that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you Matth. 10.19 20. This was eminently made good to the first and most famous Ministers of the Gospel and hath in its measure been since made good in all succeeding ages so as plain illiterate ignorant creatures have been able to put to silence the wisest and most learned of their proud and cruel adversaries 3. Sometimes the presence of God is seen with his people in giving them a great liberty and freedom of Spirit so as they have not been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 straitned in their own bowels they have been straitned as to room for their bodies shut up in close prisons but their Spirits have been at perfect liberty This liberty of our Spirits is seen in a Well pleasedness a satisfaction and contentment with the will of God concerning us So as we are never less in prison then when we are in prison and the Truth is a prison is nothing to him who hath his Soul and spirit at liberty Those who have read any Martyrologies have found instances enough of this how many Servants of God have found in prisons and under their great variety of sufferings the greatest freedom of their Spirit both for doing and suffering and from slavish fears imaginable 4. Sometimes they experience the presence of God with them giving them courage This was that boldness which the Sanhedrim took notice of in Peter and John Acts 4.13 which made them marvel and it is said that they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus God sometimes will not let his people see his power in delivering them from an evil nor his wisdom in countermining their Adversaries but they shall experience him making them couragious and valiant in the spiritual fight so as they shall not be afraid at what man can do unto them Nothing destroyeth a man in sufferings but slavish fears and dejections whiles the Spirit of a man holds he can bear his infirmity he may be cast down but he cannot be destroyed You shall observe it in reading the History of the Church as recorded in holy writ or in other Books that it hath pleased God sometimes to pick out some persons to be his witnesses to some Truths with these now the presence of God hath not been to cover them and preserve them from their Enemies nor yet to deliver them once faln into their hands but giving them a mighty Spirit and courage to go thorough their sufferings For this was the Apostles prayer Acts 4.29 And now Lord behold their threatnings and grant unto thy Servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word This was Paul's declar'd expectation and hope Phil. 1.20 That in nothing he should be ashamed but that with all boldness as always so now Christ should be magnified in his body whether by life or death Such is reported to have been the courage of Cyprian when he heard the Sentence of condemnation published against him He thanked God for it and when the Proconsul would have had him to have deliberated upon it he presently and boldly replied In re tam justâ nulla est deliberatio there was no need of deliberation in so just and righteous a Cause Such was the Spirit of Basil when the Emperour Valens threatned him with punishment and banishment Pueris illa terriculamenta propone saith he Scare Children with those Bugbears you may take my life from me but the confession of the Truth you cannot take from me 5. Lastly To name no more sometimes God 's not forsaking his people when they are persecuted appeareth in consolatory influences The consolations of God in such an hour are not small with them Stephen saw the glory of God and Christ sitting at the right hand of God when the stones were flying about him to take away his life Infinite almost are the stories that might be produced out of Ecclesiastical History to this purpose One when the fire was put to the wood under him to burning crying out Methinks you strew Roses under my feet That of Mr. Samuel who is reported to have had the day before his death one in white appearing to him and bidding him be of good comfort after that day he should never hunger nor thirst more And that of Robert Glover who is reported to have cried out to his Fellow-Martyr O Austin he is come he is come And that of Ridley to Latimer Be of good comfort said he God will either moderate the flames or strengthen us under them But these stories are endless and every where occurring in Ecclesiastical History Q. But will some say May one that feareth God build upon this and exercise a Faith in this experience of Paul as having in it the force of a promise Are there no instances of the Servants of God who have been sufferers for his Name sake and for Righteousness sake who have despaired and been forsaken Sol. 1. I answer When we speak of exercising Faith we must find some Word of God to be the object of that Faith for tho God be the object of our Faith yet we know nothing of God of this nature but in the Revelation of his Word So as tho God be the primary and remote object yet the promise is the proximate object Secondly There are general promises of God's presence with his people in danger such as that Isa 43.1 2. When thou passest thorow the waters I will be with thee and thorow the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest thorow the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Now these are the objects of peoples Faith and every Child of God may repose a sure trust and confidence in God that they shall as to him be made good and prove Yea and Amen Thirdly For particular promises of preserving from dangers or deliverance out of dangers or comfort or courage it is enough if they be made
that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodys sake which is the Church That which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ Is there any thing behind of Christs sufferings Hath he not suffered and entred into his glory where he is impassible living with and unto God where he can suffer and die no more The sufferings of Christ are to be considered in a double notion either as Expiatory or Exemplary If we consider them as Expiatory there is nothing of them behind nothing of them to be filled up He said upon the Cross All is finished And he trod the Wine-press of his Fathers wrath alone there was none of the people with him But if you consider them as they were Exemplary as he suffered setting us an example so there is much of the Afflictions of Christ to be filled up and they are to be filled up in the bodies of his Saints Or else thus Christ is taken personally or mystically Christ mystically is the Church he the Head Believers Members both making but one body and that his body which is the Church Now of Christ taken in this sense much of his Afflictions are to be filled up And Christians suffering in conformity to Christ is a Testimony to them that they are Members of an afflicted Christ yea and also that they are Members of that body of which Christ is the Head for in all Ages it hath been the Lot of those who would live godly in Christ Jesus to suffer persecution 3. It turns unto a Testimony to them both of the truth and of the strength of their Faith The Apostle describing Faith Heb. 11.1 calleth it the evidence of things not seen the substance of things hoped for For saith the Apostle What a man seeth why doth he yet hope for Many talk of Faith few understand it The work of Faith lies in a being persuaded of God and depending upon God for the things which we do not see Now it is the want of this Faith which makes men shrink in a day of Trial. The Apostle Heb. 10.34 ch 11.13 14 16. concludes from the Servants of God of whom he there speaks taking joyfully the spoiling of their goods that they knew in themselves that they had in Heaven a better and an enduring substance And from their confessing that they were Strangers and Pilgrims upon the Earth that they plainly declared that they sought a Country and desired a better Country that is an heavenly Mens unwillingness to suffer the loss of any thing that shall be made up with so great advantage speaketh them at least weak in Faith and but faintly persuaded of that better state and that they find a difficulty to depend upon God's Word for it But when men can freely for the Name of Christ leave their Country and go into Banishment part with their Estates and be content to be stript of all they have part with their Liberty and be content with a Prison part with their Lives and bid Death even a violent and most ignominious Death welcom it argueth that they both truly and strongly believe what God hath revealed concerning a better Country a more enduring Substance the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God a life everlasting and full of glory and not only that they are persuaded of the truth of the things but they depend and rely upon God and by hope patiently wait upon God for the bestowing these things upon them and making them their portion Now what would not many a good Christian give for an Evidence of the truth and reality of his Faith How many doubts how many fears hath he oft times about it An ability to suffer for the Name of Christ mightily tends to their confirmation The Apostle therefore putteth them together Phil. 1.29 Vnto you it is given on the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake Suffering a freedom to suffer is a great confirmation of our Faith both to our selves and also to others 4. It will be a Testimony to the people of God of their Love to him True Faith worketh by Love Love to another is discerned in nothing more than in suffering for them and indeed this is the heighth of Love It speaks a Soul to have discerned a great excellency in Christ and in heart to cleave to him that rather than part with him will suffer the loss of any thing Upon this account among the Heathens is celebrated the Love of Pilades and Orestes Theseus and Pirithous c. But see it in Paul Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless and I account all things but loss for the excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ The Soul that may have had its doubts and fears whether it loveth Christ or no measuring its affections to this spiritual invisible Object by the motions of its affections to Objects more sensible which indeed is not a true and just measure can doubt no longer when once the Lord hath enabled the Soul to suffer for his Name sake it speaks a Soul to love Christ more than all sensible things when to serve and enioy him it hath freely parted with whatever it had of sensible enjoyments and satisfaction Nothing speaks Love like a deep suffering for the Object beloved Gen. 22.12 Now saith God to Abraham I know that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thy Son thine only Son from me That term of fear and fearing God in the Old Testament hath often a larger sense than as signifying that passion which we call fear God then knows that a Soul loveth him and the Soul it self may know that it loveth God when it can readily and chearfully suffer for his Names sake 5. Lastly It will be to a Soul not only a Testimony of Faith and Love and Patience and Perseverance and Constancy Steadiness and Unmoveableness in the work of the Lord but it will be also a Testimony of the Soul's Zeal for God Zeal is rather the intention of all the affections than a particular affection of it self A small degree of Love will not carry a Soul thorough sufferings That Love must be at a great degree of warmth which shall carry a Soul thorough great difficulties great trials great losses 6. To these I may add one thing more Suffering for the Name of Christ is a Testimony of the presence of God with the Soul The Three Childrens induring the fiery Furnace was a Testimony of a fourth persons being with them Dan. 3.15 Daniel's being in the Den of Lions and induring that danger turned to him for a Testimony of God's special presence with him and sending his Angels to stop the mouths of the Lions Paul's couragious suffering was a Testimony to him that the Lord stood by him and strengthened him 2 Tim. 4.17 A Christian needs desire no more than a
patience presently subjoineth this of wisdom If any of you want wisdom let him ask it of God there is a great wisdom to be used in suffering 2 Tim. 2.5 And if a man also strive for masteries yet is he not Crowned except he strive lawfully To this of the Apostle is subjoined v. 3. Thou therefore endure hardness as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ This point of wisdom to be used in suffering is a large point and I cannot speak so much to it as I should I shall only here say that it lieth very much in avoiding needless provocations of our adversaries either by word or deed they will be angry do we what we can but certainly it is the wisdom of a Christian to avoid needless provocations by suffering as patiently as meekly and calmly as we are able 10. Would you prepare for an hour of persecution walk close with God Walking holily and closely with God is the duty of a Christian at all times both with reference to his eternal Salvation and in reference to his peace but never more needful than at such a time Deut. 23.9 You shall find this passage When the Host goeth forth against thine enemies then keep thee from every wicked thing Israel was not only concerned to take heed of wickedness at all times but especially then for fear of provoking God when the Lords Sword is drawn when the Lion roareth the Beasts of the Forrest tremble when a man entreth into persecution he goeth out to Battel this is our Battel with the world We do at all times stand obliged to take heed of sin but more at such a time than at another Our Lord speaking of his coming saith Blessed is that Servant whom when his Master cometh he shall find so doing When the Lord letteth loose the men of the world to execute their rage against the people of God the Lord doth come in a way of wrath and anger against his own people you had need at such a time take heed to your selves every one girdeth his Rayment close to him in a time of Winter and pulleth his Cloak close about him in a storm though a Christian standeth obliged at all times to walk close with God yet if ever he may give himself a liberty and looseness as to a garment of holiness certainly it should not be in the Winter it should not be when a storm is coming 11. Be much in Prayer As we do nothing in our own strength so do we much less suffer in our own strength Philip. 1.29 For unto you it is given on the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake It is a gift and it must be given to us of God for to suffer all gifts we have from God are obtained by asking the Lord giveth his holy Spirit unto them that ask it and reason teacheth us to double our Petitions and to double our fervour and heat in petitioning when the mercy we ask is more necessary for us or at such a time when we stand in a more special and particular need of that mercy which we go to God for our Lord hath taught us this by his example He went and prayed and thrice repeated the same words that is the same matter of prayer I say by that example our Lord hath shewed us what is our great duty in such a time to pray to God either that the Cup may pass from us or that he would furnish us with grace and strength to glorify God in the fire thus much for the first Question Quest 2. What is the duty of Christians when the hour of persecution is come upon them Here in the first place is a case of Conscience to be spoken to about flight Whether it be lawful for Christians to fly in a time of persecution to avoid the storm There have been very different opinions of Divines some have asserted it utterly unlawful to fly others moderate it and say That before a Christian is taken he may fly but if he be taken they think he ought to stand to it and not to fly others have affirmed it as a duty to fly I do not think the case is to be spoken to in the general because circumstances will much alter this case as to flight or voluntary withdrawing our selves 1. It is lawful for a Christian to fly when the cause of God cannot be advantaged by his stay but may be prejudiced and when particular ties do not oblige him for to stay our Saviour bids his Disciples Math. 10.23 When they persecute you in this City flee you into another I know some say that this was only a permission of a duty enjoined the Disciples of our Lord to the intent the Gospel may be Preached but there is no question of this that self-preservation is a duty that we owe to our selves and the very Law of Nature obligeth to it when some particular law of God doth not countermand the law of nature so long as there is any probable hope that the cause of God may be advantaged by our stay that a man standeth as a stake in a Hedg take it out and the Hedge falleth he must not stir but when the case is so as a mans stay can no way further the interest of God he may lawfully withdraw it is a rule in War when the Field is lost no Captain doubteth of providing for himself so though a man be a Minister of the Gospel and of great use in a place yet when he seeth the Church is dispersed and he can do no good by his stay there is no question but in this case he may fly and secure himself 2. It is yielded on all hands That when the persecution is personal it is lawful for a Christian to avoid the dint of it when a particular Minister is aimed at or a particular Christian and there be others who if he be gone may do his work and bear up the cause of God I say in this case it hath been granted to be the duty of persons to fly in a time of persecution in short I take it to be the duty of Christians in such cases to withdraw when they can do it without sinning against God the flight barely considered is no sin if no other sin attendeth it If a man hath boasted of his standing and then fly if a man cannot stir but he must betray the interest of God in the place where he is or fail in his discharge of his duty to them whom the Lord hath set him in near Relation to he may sin But in the general when a man can withdraw and by his withdrawing not run into a neglect of any other duty by which he is tied to glorify God or to do good to the Souls of others I believe it to be so far from the duty of a Christian not to fly as it is his duty to fly I conclude therefore 1. In the first place It is the duty