in the world God comforted Rachel concerning her children that Herod murdered in the stead and upon the account of Christ. He bids her refrain her self from tears by this promise that her children should come again from the land of the enemy from death And again saith he Thy children shall come again to their own border which I think if it be meant in a Gospel sence must be to the heavenly inheritance compare Jer. 31.15 with Matt. 2.18 And methinks this should be mentioned not only for her and their sakes but to comfort all those that either have had or yet may have their children thus suffer for righteousness None of these things as shall be further shewed anon happen without the determinate counsel of God He has ordered the sufferings of little children as well as that of persons more in years And 't is easie to think that God can as well foresee which of his elect shall suffer by violent hands in their Infancy as which of them shall then die a natural death He has Saints small in age as well as in esteem or otherwise and sometimes the least member of the body suffereth violence as well as the head or other chief parts And although I desire not to see these days again yet me thinks it will please me to see those little ones that thus have already suffered for Jesus to stand in their white Robes with the elders of the people before the throne to sing unto the Lamb. But to pass this and to come to that which is more directly intended to be spoken to namely to shew you who doth actively suffer for righteousness And 1. 'T is he that chuseth by his own will and consent to suffer for it All suffering that can be called active suffering must be by the consent of the will and that is done when a man shall have sin and suffering set before him and shall chuse suffering rather than sin He chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and again They did not accept of deliverance that is of base and unworthy terms that they might obtain a better resurrection Heb. 11.25 ver 35. Indeed no man can force a Christian to suffer as a Christian without his own consent All Christians are sufferers of will and consent Hence 't is said they must take up their cross by which taking up an act of their will is intended So again take my yoke upon you which also intends an act of the will Mat. 10.38 Chap. 16.24 Chap. 11.29 This therefore is the first thing that I would present you with Not that an act of the will is enough to declare a man a sufferer for righteousness it standing alone for a man thorough the strength of delusion and the power of an erroneous conscience may be willing to suffer for the grossest opinions in the world But I bring it to shew that actual suffering for righteousness must also be by the consent of the will the mind of the man must be in it Secondly He that suffereth for righteousness thus must also have a good cause A good cause is that which is essential to suffering for righteousness A good cause what is that Why verily It is the truth of God either in the whole of it as contained in the Scriptures of truth or in the parts of it as set before me to believe or do by any part of that holy word This may be called the matter for which one suffereth or as it is called in another place the word of righteousness Heb. 5.13 It may also be called the form of sound Doctrine or the like Because without this word the Matter and nature of Gods truths cannot be known Pilate's question what is truth will still abide a question to those that have not or regard not the word the rule of righteousness John 18.38 See then that thy cause be good thou that wouldest know what it is to suffer for righteousness Step not an hairs breadth without the bounds of the word of truth also take heed of misunderstanding or of wringing out of its Place any thing that is there Let the words of the upright stand upright warp them not to the end they may comply in shew with any crooked notion And to prevent this take these three words as a guide in this matter to thee They shew men their sins and how to close with a Saviour they enjoyn men to be holy and humble they command men to submit themselves to authority And what ever is cross to these comes from ignorance of or from a wresting the rule of righteousness out of its place But more particularly the word of righteousness thy cause within the bounds of which thou must keep if thou wilt suffer for righteousness is to be divided into two parts 1. It containeth a revelation of moral righteousness 2. It containeth a revelation of evangelical righteousness As for moral righteousness men seldom suffer only for that Because that is the righteousness of the World and that simply as such that sets it self up in every mans conscience and has a testimony for it self even in the light of nature Besides there is nothing that maketh head against that but that which every man is ashamed by words to plead for and that is immorality And this is that which Peter intends when he saith And if ye be followers of that which is good who will harm you 1 Pet. 3.13 If ye be followers of moral goodness But if it should so happen for the case is rare that any man should make you sufferers because you love God and do good to your neighbour happy are ye Though I do not think that the Apostles conclusion terminates there But more of these things anon For let a man be a good neighbour in morals let him feed the hungry cloath the naked give freely out of his purse to the poor and do that which he would another should do to him and stop there and not meddle with the name of Christ and he shall have but few enemies in the World For 't is not the Law but Christ that is the stumbling block and the rock of offence to men Isaiah 8.14 15. Rom. 9.31 32 33. Wherefore there is in Gods word a revelation of another righteousness a righteousness which is not so visible to yea and that suteth not so with the reason of man as that moral righteousness doth Wherefore this righteousness makes men righteous in principle and practise so as is foreign to natural men Hence 't is said to be foolishness to them And again Its praise is not of men Rom. 2.29 1 Cor. 2.14 This righteousness is also revealed in the Scriptures but the blind cannot see it It is the work of the holy Ghost in the heart and is therefore called the fruits of the spirit and the grace which in the head and fulness of it is only to be found in
there appears to be no more with the man but only the notion of things For though the notion of things are those that of God are made the means of conveying of grace into the heart yet grace is not always with the notion of things the word oft-times standeth in mans understanding alone and remaineth there as not being accompanied with such grace as can make it the power of God to salvation Now when it is thus with the Soul the danger is as great as ever because there is a presumption now begotten in the heart that the man is in a saved condition A presumption I say instead of faith which puffeth up instead of enabling the Soul after a godly manner to depend upon God for mercy through Christ. This is called the word of them that are puffed up the word only because not accompanied with saving grace 1 Cor. 4.19 Chap. 8.1 1 Thessal 1.5 This the Christian also sees and says it is too weak to conduct the Soul to Glory And this indeed he says because he would not that his neighbour should come short home But neither can this be born but here again the natural man with his notion of things is offended and takes pett against his Friend because he tells him the truth and would that he so should digest the truth that it may prove unto him eternal life Wherefore he now begins to fall out again for as yet the enmity is not removed He therefore counts him an unmercifull man one that condemneth all to Hell but himself and as to his singularity in things those he counteth for dreams for Enthusiasms for Allegorical whimsies vain Revelations and the effects of an erroneous Judgment For the Lord has put such darkness betwixt Egypt and Israel as will not suffer them to come together But this is not all For 't is possible for these carnal men to be so much delighted in the notion of things as to addict themselves to some kind of worship of Christ whose notions of truth have by them been received And because their love is yet but carnal and because the flesh is swelling and is pleased with pomp and sumptuousness therefore to shew how great an esteem such have for Christ whom they are now about to worship They will first count his Testament though good a thing defective and not of fulness sufficient to give in all particular things direction how they should to their own content perform their glorious Doctrine For here and there and in another place cry they there is something wanting Here say they is nothing said of those places vestures gestures shews and outward greatness that we think seemly to be found in and with those that worship Jesus Here wants sumptuous ceremonies glorious ornaments new fashion'd carriages all which are necessary to adorn worship withall But now here again the truly godly as he comes to see the evil of things maketh his objections and findeth fault and counts them unprofitable and vain Isa. 29. Mat. 15. Mark 7. But they again seeing the things they have made are the very excellencies of humane invention and things added as a supplement to make up what and wherein as they think the man that was faithful over his own house as a Son was defective are resolved to stand upon their points and not to budge an inch from the things that are so laudable so necessary so convenient and so comely the things that have been judged good by so many wise learned pious holy reverend and good men Nay if this were all the godly would make a good shift But their zeal is so great for what they have invented and their spirits so hot to make others couch and bend thereto that none must be suffered to their power to live and breath that refuseth to conform thereto This has been proved too true both in France Spain Germany Italy and other places and upon this account it is that persecution has been kept alive so many hundred years in some places against the Church of God From what has been said as to these things this I collect as the summ First That man by nature is in a state of wrath and condemnation Ephes. 2.1 2 3 4. John 3.18 Secondly that the natural man by all his natural abilities is not able to recover himself from this his condemned condition John 6.44 Ephes. 1.19 20. Thirdly that a man may have right notions of Gospel things that hath no grace in his heart 1 Cor. 13.2 3. Fourthly That to add human inventions to Christs institutions and to make them of the same force and necessity of the same authority and efficacy is nought and not to be subjected to Isa. 29.13 Mat. 15.8 9. Mark 7.6 7. So then he that saith these things saith true for the Scriptures say the same This then is a good cause to suffer for if men will that I shall suffer for saying so because it is that which is founded upon the word of God and the word is the ground and foundation of all true Doctrine Let him then that believeth what is here discoursed and that liveth soberly and peaceably in this belief among his neighbours stand by what he hath received and rejoyce that he hath found the truth And if any shall afflict or trouble him for holding of these things they afflict or trouble him for holding to good things and he suffereth at their hands because his cause is good And such an one may with boldness as to this make his appeal to the Bible which is the foundation of his principles and to God the author of that foundation if what he holds is not good He may say Lord I have said that man by nature is in a state of condemnation and they make me suffer for that Lord I have asserted that man by all his natural abilities is not able to recover himself from this his condemned state and they make me suffer for that Lord I have said that a natural man may have right notions of the Gospel and yet be without the saving grace thereof and they make me suffer for that Lord I cannot consent that human inventions and Doctrines of men should be joyned with thy institutions as matters of worship and imposed upon my conscience as such and they make me suffer for that Lord I own the Government pray for my Superiors live quietly among my Neighbours give to all their dues feed the hungry cloath the naked relieve the afflicted and shew my self by my faith and life to be a true Christian man and yet my neighbours will not let me alone True I cannot comply withal that some men would have me comply with no more did Daniel no more did Paul and yet Daniel said that he had to the King done no hurt and Paul said neither against the Law of the Jews neither against the Temple nor yet against Caesar have I offendeed any thing at all Dan. 6.22 Acts 25.8 For he that keeps within the
for evil-doing and therefore let Christians beware 't is possible for Christians to be brought to publick Justice for their faults and therefore let Christians beware 'T is possible for Christians to suffer justly by the hand of the Magistrate and therefore let Christians beware This also is insinuated in the Text it self and therefore let Christians beware The causes of this are many some of which I shall now briefly touch upon 1. Sin is in the best of men and as long as it is so without great watchfulness and humble walking with God we may be exposed to shame and suffering for it What sin is it that a child of God is not liable to commit excepting that which is the sin unpardonable Nor have we a promise of being kept from any other sin but on condition that we do watch and pray Mat. 26.41 2. 'T is possible for a Christian to have anerroneous conscience in some things yea in such things as if God by his grace prevents not may bring us to publick justice and shame Abishai tho' a good man would have kill'd the King and that of conscience to God and love to his Master 1 Sam. 26.7.8 And had David delivered him up to Saul for his attempt he had in all likelihood died as a Traitor Peter drew his Sword and would have fought therewith a thing for which he was blamed of his Master and bid with a threatning to put it up again Mat. 26.52 Besides Oppression makes a wise man mad and when a man is mad what evils will he not do Further The Devil who is the great enemy of the Christians can send forth such Spirits into the World as shall not only disturb Men but Nations Kings and Kingdoms in raising divisions distractions and rebellions And can so manage matters that the looser sort of Christians may be also dipt and concerned therein In Absaloms conspiracy against his Father there were two hundred men called out of Jerusalem to follow him and they went in their simplicity not knowing any thing 2 Sam. 15.10.11 I thank God I know of no such men nor thing but my judgment tells me that if Christians may be drawn into Fornication Adultery Murder Theft Blasphemy or the like as they may why should it be thought impossible for them to be drawn in here Wherefore I say again watch and pray fear God reverence his word approve of his appointments that you may be delivered from every evil work and way I said afore that the will of God may be that a Christian should suffer as an evil doer but then it is because he keepeth not within the bounds of that which is also called the will of God The will of God is that sin should be punished tho' committed by the Christians punished according to the quality of transgressions and therefore it is that he hath ordained Magistrates Magistrates to punish sin tho' it be the sin of Christians They are the Ministers of God revengers to execute wrath the wrath of God upon them that do evil Rom. 13. Wherefore tho' the Christian as a Christian is the only man at liberty as called thereunto of God yet his liberty is limited to things that are good he is not licensed thereby to indulge the flesh Holiness and liberty are joyned together yea our call to liberty is a call to holiness See and you shall find that a quiet and peaceable life in our respective places under the Government is that which we should pray for to wit that we may without molestation if it were the will of God spend our days in all godliness and honesty among our neighbours See 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. 1 Pet. 2.13 14 15 16 17. I would improve this a little and First to Christians as Christians Beware the cautions that are here presented to you be not neglected by you The evils are burning hot as hot as a red hot Iron It is the greatest blemish that can be to a Christian to suffer as an evil doer To say nothing of the reproach that such do bring to the name of Christ their Lord to his Law their rule and to the Christian profession which should be their glory the guilt and shame that evil actions will load the conscience with at such a time can hardly be stood under The man that suffereth as an evil doer and yet weareth the name of a Christian what stumbling blocks doth he lay in the way of the ignorant in a Kingdom The Devil told them before that a Christian was a mischievous man and to suffer for evil-doing confirms them in that belief Consider also the difficulties that surely such must meet with in the last minutes of their life For can it be imagined but that such an one must have combats and conflicts at the last who carry in their consciences the guilt and condemnation that is due to their deeds to the place which Magistrates have appointed for them to receive the reward of their works at Such an one bereaves not only his own Soul of peace and his name of credit but himself of life his friends of all cause of rejoycing and casteth reproach upon Religion as he is stepping out of the world What shall I say Christians as Christians have other things to do than to concern themselves in evil things or to meddle in other mens matters Let us mind our own business and leave the Magistrate to his work Office and Calling among men also I speak now to them that are not by the King called to that imploy A Christian as such has enough to do at home in his Heart in his House in his Shop and the like But if thou must needs be medling consider what place Office calling or relation God has put thee in and busie thy self by the rule of the word to a consciencious performance of that Nor shalt thou want Dignity tho' thou art but a private Christian. Every Christian man is made a King by Christ. Revel 5.9 10. But then his dominion as such doth reach no further than to himself He has not dominion over anothers faith 2 Cor. 1.24 His Office is to govern and bridle and keep under himself to watch over himself and to bring his body into subjection to the will of God The weapons that he has for this purpose are not carnal but spiritual and mighty thorough God Let him govern then if he will be a Governour his whole man by the word Let him bring down if he must be bringing down his own high imaginations and every high thing that exalts it self against the knowledge of God If he must be a Warrior let him levy War against his own unruly passions and let him fight against those lusts that war against his Soul 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5. Gal. 5.17 James 3.4 5 6 7 8. 1 Pet. 2.11 I say therefore if thou wilt needs be a Ruler thou hast a tongue ruâ—e that Lusts rule them Affections govern them yea
thou hast excellent Graces manage them cherish strengthen and replenish them according to the mind of that great one who has bestowed such power to rule upon thee Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence and covetousness which is Idolatry Colos. 3.5 Nor do I think that murmuring shrinking whinching complaining and the like when men Governours lay a yoke upon our necks flows from any thing else but love to our flesh and distrust of the faithfulness of God to manage men things and actions for his Church The powers that be are ordered as well as ordained of God They are also always in Gods hand as his rod or staff for the good and benefit of his people Wherefore we ought with all meekness and humbleness of mind to accept of what our God by them shall please to lay upon us 1 Pet. 5.6 By what I now say I do not forbid groaning and crying to God under affliction I speak against striving to deliver our selves from the affliction And since men are as I said the rod staff or sword in Gods hand we should apply our selves unto him in faith in a way of Prayer Intercession Supplication and giving of thanks for Governours For since they are sent of God they must needs come with some good in their hand for us also our prayers may make them more profitable to us And this we ought to do without wrath and doubting for this is that which is good and acceptable unto God 1 Tim. 2. Besides 't is a sign that we forget our selves when we complain for the punishment of our sins If we look into our selves and wayes we shall see cause of more heavy stripes than yet God by men has laid upon us What sin has yet been suppressed by all that has happened to us Are Pride Covetousness Loosness Treacherous dealing Schisms and other things redressed by all the affliction that we have had Yea do we not grow worse and worse Wherefore then should we complain Where is Repentance Reformation and amendment of life amongst us Why then do we shrink and whinch For my part I have oft-times stood amazed both at the mercy of God and the favour of the Prince towards us and can give thanks to God for both and do make it my Prayer to God for the King and that God will help me with meekness and patience to bear what ever shall befall me for my professed subjection to Christ by men We are bid as I said afore to give thanks to God for all men for Kings and for all that are in authority Because as I said there is no man with whom we have to do we doing as we should but he bringeth some good thing to us or doth some good thing for us We will now descend from them that are supreme in authority and will come to inferior men And suppose some of them to act beyond measure cruelly What Can no good thing come to us out of this Do not even such things as are most bitter to the flesh tend to awaken Christians to Faith and Prayer to a sight of the emptiness of this World and the fadingness of the best it yields Doth not God by these things oft-times call our sins to remembrance and provoke us to amendment of life how then can we be offended at things by which we reap so much good and at things that God makes so profitable for us Doth not God oft-times even take occasions by the hardest of things that come upon us to visit our Souls with the comforts of his Spirit to lead us into the glory of his word and to cause us to favour that love that he has had for us even from before the world began till now A nest of Bees and honey did Sampson find even in the belly of that Lion that roared upon him And is all this no good or can we be without such holy appointments of God Let these things be considered by us and let us learn like Christians to kiss the Rod and love it I have thought again my brethren since it is required of us that we give thanks to God for all these men it follows that we do with quietness submit our selves under what God shall do to us by them For it seems a Paradox to me to give thanks to God for them that yet I am not willing should abide in that place that God has set them in for me I will then love them bless them pray for them and do them good I speak now of the men that hurt me as was hinted afore And I will do thus because it is good so to do because they do me good by hurting of me because I am cal-called to inherit a blessing and because I would be like my heavenly Father Therefore if mine enemy hunger let me feed him if he thirst let me give him drink Mat. 5.43 44 45 46 47 48. 1 Pet. 3.9 Rom. 12.17 20 1. We must see good in that in which other men can see none 2. We must pass by those injuries that other men would revenge 3. We must shew we have grace and that we are made to bear what other men are not acquainted with 4. Many of our graces are kept alive by those very things that are the death of other mens Souls Where can the excellency of our Patience of our meekness of our long-suffering of our love and of our Faith appear if it be not under Tryals and in those things that run cross to our flesh The Devil they say is good when he is pleased But Christ and his Saints when displeased Let us therefore covet to imitate Christ and the Scripture Saints Let us shew out of a good conversation our works with meekness of wisdom Let us take heed of admitting the least thought in our minds of evil against God the King or them that are under him in imploy because the cup the King all men and things are in the hand of God Psal. 75.8 Pro. 8.15 Chap. 21.1 Lam. 3.37 and he can make them better to us than if they were as our flesh desireth they should I have often thought that the best Christians are found in the worst of times and I have thought again that one reason why we are no better is because God purges us no more Joh. 15 I know these things are against the grain of the flesh but they are not against the graces of the spirit Noah and Lot who so holy as they in the day of their affliction Noah and Lot who so idle as they in the day of their prosperity I might have put in David too who while he was afflicted had ways of serving God that were special but when he was more enlarged he had ways that were not so good Wherefore the first wayes of David are the ways that God has commended but the rest of his wayes such as had not preheminence 2 Chro. 17.3 We have
honour and respect unto those that were but deputy Kings and heathen Magistrates will greatly appear if you do but read his Trials before them in the Book called the Acts of the Apostles And what a charge both he and Peter have lest behind them to the Churches to do so too may be found to conviction if we read their Epistles 5. Wouldest thou not suffer for evil-doing then take heed of being offended with Magistrates because by their Sate-Acts they may cross thy inclinations 'T is given to them to bear the Sword and a command is to thee if thy heart cannot acquiesce with all things with meekness and patience to suffer Discontent in the mind sometimes puts discontent into the mouth and discontent in the mouth doth sometimes also put a halter about the neck For as a man by speaking a word in jest may for that be hanged in earnest so he that speaks in discontent may die for it in sober sadness Adonijah's discontent put him upon doing that which cost him his life 1 King 2 13-23 Great peace have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them for they are subjected to the will and foot of God 6. But above all get thy conscience possessed yet more with this that the Magistrate is God's ordinance and is ordered of God as such that he is the Minister of God to thee for good and that it is thy duty to fear him and pray for him to give thanks to God for him and to be subject to him as both Paul and Peter admonish us and that not only for wrath but for conscience sake Rom. 13. For all other arguments come short of binding the Soul where this argument is wanting until we believe that of God we are bound thereto I speak not these things as knowing any that are dissaffected to the Government for I love to be alone if not with godly men in things that are convenient But because I appear thus in publick and know not into whose hands these lines may come therefore thus I write I speak it also to shew my Loyalty to the King and my love to my fellow Subjects and my desire that all Christians should walk in ways of peace and truth I come now to the second thing propounded to be spoken to as to suffering which is this That there have been and yet may be a people in the world that have and may suffer in the sence of the Apostle here according to the will of God or for righteousness sake That there have been such a people in the world I think no body will deny because many of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles thus suffered Besides since the Scriptures were written all Nations can witness to this whose Histories tell at large of the patience and goodness of the sufferers and of the cruelty of those that did destroy them And that the thing will yet happen or come to pass again both Scripture and reason affirm First for Scripture The Text tells us that God hath put enmity betwixt the woman and her seed and the Serpent and his Gen. 3.15 This enmity put is so fixed that none can remove it so but that it still will remain in the world These two seeds have always had and will have that which is essentially opposite to one another and they are the spirit of truth and the Spirit of error sin and righteousness light and darkness 1 John 4.6 chap. 3.7 8. 1 Thes. 5.5 Hence an unjust man is an abomination to the just and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked Prov. 29.27 So that unless you could sanctifie and regenerate all men or cause that no more wicked men should any where be in Power for ever you cannot prevent but that sometimes still there must be sufferers for righteousness sake Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3.12 To prove this by reason is easie The Devil is not yet shut up in the bottomless pit Antichrist is yet alive The Government in all Kingdoms is not yet managed with such light and goodness of mind as to let the Saints serve God as he has said what ever it is in some And until then there will be in some places tho' for my part I cannot predict where a people that will yet suffer for well-doing or for righteousness sake In order to a right handling of this matter I shall divide this head into these two parts 1. Shew you what it is to suffer for well-doing or for righteousness 2. Shew you what it is to suffer for righteousness sake I put this distinction because I find that it is one thing to suffer for righteousness and another to suffer for righteousness sake To begin with the first namely to shew you what it is to suffer for righteousness Now that maybe done either passively or actively 1. Passively as when any suffer for righteousness without their own will or consent thereto Thus the little children at Bethlehem suffered by the hands of bloody Herod when they died for or in the room and stead of Jesus Christ Mat. 2.16 Every one of those children died for righteousness if Christ is righteousness for they died upon his account as being supposed to be he himself Thus also the children of Israels little ones that were murdered with their Parents or otherwise because of the Religion of them that begat and bare them died for righteousness The same may be said concerning those of them that suffered in the Land of the Chaldeans upon the same account I might here also bring in those poor Infants that in Ireland Piedmont Paris and other places have had their throats cut and their brains dasht against the walls for none other cause but for the Religion of their Fathers Many many have suffered for rightetousness after this manner Their will nor consent has been in the suffering yet they have suffered for Religion for righteousness And as this hath been so it may be again for if men may yet suffer for righteousness even so for ought I know even in this sence may their children also Now although this is not the chief matter of my Text yet a few words here may do no harm The children that thus suffer tho' their own will and consent be not in what they undergo may yet for all that be accepted as an offering unto the Lord. Their cause is good 't is for Religion and righteousness Their hearts do not recoile against the cause for which they suffer and although they are children God can deal with them as with John the Baptist cause them in a moment to leap for Joy of Christ or else can save them by his Grace as he saveth other his elect infants and thus comprehend them though they cannot apprehend him yea why may they not only be saved but in some sence be called Martyrs of Jesus Christ and those that have suffered for Gods cause
compass of Gods word hurts no man gives just offence to no man Though he complyeth not with all that are modes and ways of worship in the World Nor can this appeal be judged injurious if it be not attended with intercessions against them that hate us But we will pass this and come to a second thing Secondly As he that suffereth for righteousness must have a good cause So he that suffereth for righteousness must have a good call A man though his cause be good ought not by undue ways to run himself into suffering for it nature teaches the contrary and so doth the Law of God Suffering for a truth ought to be cautiously took in hand and as warily performed I know that there are some men that are more concerned here than some the Preacher of the word is by Gods command made the more obnoxious man for he must come off with a wo if he preaches not the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.16 He therefore I say doth and ought more to expose himself than other Christians are called to do Yet it behoveth him also to beware because that Christ has said to him Behold I send you forth as Sheep or Lambs in the midst of Wolves be ye therefore wise as Serpents and harmless as Doves Mat. 10.16 Luk. 10.3 A man is not bound by the Law of his Lord to put himself into the mouth of his enemy Christ withdrew himself Paul escaped the Governours hands by being let down in a basket over the wall of the city 2 Cor. 11.32.33 And Christ hath said If they persecute you in one City flie ye to an other If they will not let me preach here I will take up my Bible and be gone Perhaps this is because I must preach in some other place A Minister can quickly pack up and carry his Religion with him and offer what he knows of his God to another people Acts 13.44 45 46 47. Nor should a Minister strive I think with the Magistrate for place or time But let him hearken to hear what God shall say by such opposition Perhaps the Magistrate must drive thee out of this place because the Soul is in another place that is to be converted or helped by thy Sermon to day We must also in all things shew our selves to be such as by our profession we would that men should believe we are to wit meek gentle not strivers but take our Lord and our Brethren the Prophets for our examples But I will not here presume to give instructions to Ministers but will speak a few words in the general about what I think may be a sufficient call to a man to suffer for righteousness First Every Christian man is bound by Gods word to hold to or stand by his profession his profession of Faith and to joyn to that profession an holy godly life because the Apostle and high Priest of his profession is no lâ—ss a one than Christ Jesus Heb. 3.1 chap. 10.23 This by Christ himself is expressed thus Let your light so shine No man lighteth a Candle to put it under a bushel Let your loyns be girded about and your lights burning And Paul bids the Philippians hold forth the word of life Mat. 5.16 Luk. 12.35 Philip. 2.16 And more particularly by all this this is intended that we should hide our faith in Christ from no man but should rather make a discovery of it by a life that will do so For our profession thus managed is the badge and the Lords livery by which we are distinguished from other men So then if while I profess the truth of Christ and so walk as to make my profession of it more apparent I be made a sufferer for it my call is good and I may be bold in God and in my profession This Peter intends when he saith But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake happy are ye and be not afraid of their terror neither be troubled But sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear 1 Pet. 3.14 15. Here then is a call not to meddle with the other but to mind our own business to walk in our Christian profession and to adorn it with all good works and if any man will meddle with me and ask me a reason of the hope that I have to give it him with meekness and fear whatever follows thereupon This Peter should have done himself there where he denied his Master thrice The reason is for that Christianity is so harmless a thing that be it never so openly professed it hurts no man I believe that Christ will save me what hurt is this to my Neighbour I love Christ because he will save me what hurt is this to any I will for this worship Christ as he has bid me what hurt is this to any body I will also tell my neighbours what a loving one my Christ is and that he is willing to be good to them as he has been good to me and what hurt is this to the Governour of a Kingdom But and if any man will afflict me for this my cause is good and also my call to stand full godly to my profession Secondly There is sometimes a call to suffer for righteousness even from the voice of necessity That is either when by my silence the truth must fall to the ground or when by my shrinking the Souls of other men are in danger This I say is a call to suffer even by the voice of necessity The case may be when Gods ways may be trodden under foot Yea his Word and Ways and Name and People and all Thus Goliah did do for several days togetoger 1 Sam. 17. and vaunted in his doing and there was not a man no not in Israel that durst answer him a word And now was the spirit of David stirred in him and he would put his life in his hand and give this man an answer and he saw there was reason for it necessity gave him a call Is there not a cause saith he lies bleeding upon the ground and no man of heart or spirit to put a check to the bold Blasphemer I will go fight with him I will put my life in my hand if I die I die Consider also what Daniel did when the Law was gone out to forbid for thirty days petitioning any God or man save the King only At that time also not a man of Israel â—eeped Dan. 6.7 Now neâ—â—â—sity walks about the streets crying who is on the Lords side who c. And Daniel answers I am by opening of his window and praying as at other times three times a day with his face towards Jerusalem verse 10. He heard this voice of necessity and put his life in his hand and complyed with it to the hazzard of being torn in pieces by the Lyons Much like this was that of the three
is set upon an Hill upon a Stage as in a Theater to play a part for God in the World And you know when men are to play their parts upon a Stage they count themselves if possible more bound to circumspection and that for the credit of their Master the credit of their Art and the credit of themselves For then the eyes of every body are fixed they gape and stare upon them Ps. 22.17 and a trip here is as bad as a fall in another place Also now God himself looks on Yea he laugheth as being pleased to see a good behaviour attending the tryal of the innocent 1. He that suffereth for righteousness sake suffereth for his goodness and he is now to labour by works and ways to convince the world that he suffereth as such an one 2. He that suffereth for righteousness sake has many that are weak to strengthen by his sweet carriages under the Cross wherefore he had need to exceed in vertue 3. He also is by well-doing to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men he had need be curious and circumspect in all his actions 4. He is to come in and to be a Judge and to condemn by his faith and patience in his sufferings the World with his Lord and fellows at the appearing of Jesus Christ he had need be holy himself 1 Cor. 6.1 2 3 4 5. Heb. 11.7 2 Thessal 1.5 6. 1 Pet. 4.3 4 5. This therefore is the fit sign of suffering for righteousness sake Sixthly He that suffereth not only for righteousness but also for righteousness sake will not exchange his cause though for it in a Gaol for all the ease and pleasure in the world They that suffered for righteousness sake of old were tempted before they were sawn asunder Heb. 11. Tempted that is allured to come out of their present sufferings and leave their faith and profession in irons behind them Tempted with promises of promotion of ease of friendship of favour with men As the Devil said to Christ so persecutors of old did use to make great promises to sufferers if they would fall down and worship But this is alone as if they should say Butcher make away with your righteousness and a good conscience and you shall find the friendship of the World For there is no way to kill a mans righteousness but by his own consent This Jobs wife knew full well hence she tempted him to lay violent hands upon his own integrity Job 2.9 The Devil nor men of the World can kill thy righteousness or love to it but by thy own hand or separate that and thee asunder without thine own act Nor will he that doth indeed suffer for the sake of it or of love he bears thereto be tempted to exchange it for the good of all the World 'T is a sad sight to see a man that has been suffering for righteousness restored to his former estate while the righteousness for which he suffered remains under locks and irons and is exposed to the scorn contempt reproach of the World and troden under the foot of men 'T is better said Paul for me to dye than that any man should make my glorying void And it had been a hundred times better for that man if he had never known the way of righteousness than after he has known it to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto him The striving is in persecution for righteousness to wit whether it shall be set up or pull'd down The sufferer he is for setting up and the persecutors are for pulling down Thus they strive for the mastery Now of a man stands by his righteousness and holds fast his good profession then is righteousness set up nor can it so long be pulled down Hence so long a man is said to overcome And overcome he doth though he be killed for his profession But if he starts back gives place submits recants or denyeth any longer to own that good thing that he professed and exposed himself to suffering for then he betrays his cause his profession his conscience his righteousness his Soul and all for he has delivered up his profession to be murdered before his face And is fallen down before the wicked like a corrupt fountain and a troubled spring Prov. 25.26 But this I hope will not he do that loveth righteousness and that suffereth for righteousness sake I do not say but that a man may slip here with Peter Origen Hierom Cranmer Baynham Ormis and other good folk but be he one of the right kind a lover of righteousness indeed he will return and take revenge upon himself in a godly way for so ungodly a fact Seventhly He that suffereth not only for righteousness but also for righteousness sake is not so wedded to his own notions as to slight or overlook the good that is in his neighbour But righteousness he loves where-ever he finds it though it be in him that smiteth him Psal. 141.5 Yea he will own and acknowledge it for the only thing that is of beauty and glory in the World With the excellent in the earth is all such a mans delight Wherefore I put a difference betwixt suffering for an opinion and suffering for righteousness as I put a difference betwixt suffering for righteousness and suffering for righteousness sake If righteousness if the stamp of God if Divine authority is not found upon that thing which I hold let men never suffer for it under the notion of righteousness If sin if Superstition if Idolatry if derogation from the wisdom of Christ and the authority and perfection of his word be not found in nor joined to that thing that I disown in worship let me never open my mouth against it I had rather fall in with and be an associate of a righteous man that has no true grace than with a professor that has no righteousness 'T is said of the young man though he went away from Christ that he looked upon him and loved him Mar. 10.17 18 19 20 21. But 't is not said that ever he loved Judas I know that the righteousness for which a good man suffereth is not then imbraced of the world for that at such a time it is under a cloud But yet there is righteousness also in the World and where-ever I see it 't is of an high esteem with me David acknowledged some of his enemies to be more righteous than he acknowledged some of his servants to be 2 Sam. 4.9 10 11. chap. 3 3â— 32 33 34 35. 'T is a brave thing to have righteousness as righteousness to be the top piece in mine affections The reason why Christ was anointed with the oyl of gladness above his fellows was because he loved righteousness and hated iniquity more than they Heb. 1.9 Love to righteousness flows from golden graces and is that and that only that can make a man capable of suffering in our sence for righteousness sake Eighthly He that suffereth not only for righteousness but
hearts and shews it self in their lives a thing which the Devil and the World can by no means abide He that is born after the flesh persecuteth him that is born after the spirit Gal. 4. For they cannot agree in Religion the godly are so devout and the other are so profane that they cannot do Not but that Gods People as they are commanded are willing to let them alone but the other they cannot bear that they should serve God as they have said Mat. 15.14 And hence ariseth persecution The World also would have the Religion of the godly to be counted false a thing that the others can by no means endure but will stand by and maintain yet in all peaceable manner their own ways before them whatever it costs The Christian and the carnal professor are like those two Harlots that you read of in the Book of Kings who strove for the living child whose it should be whose contest could not be decided until it came to the sword of the King 1 Kings 3. O but when the sword was drawn under a shew as if the living Child must now be cut in two then the true mother was known from the false For her bowels yearned upon her Son ver 26.27 The World what shew soever they have for Religion and however they urge it that the truth is with them have no yearning of bowels for it Let it be neither mine nor thine said she but divide it but the woman whose the living child was had not an heart to say so Religion may lie and die in a ditch for all those that are given to their sins nor doth their zeal appear except when they are griping of the godly for his faith towards God Bowels yearning of Bowels over Gods condemned Religion is only found in the Souls of those who own God has made it Secondly Is it so are Gods people a suffering people Then this should inform them that will be Religious to prepare themselves for what is like to attend them for their Religion To prepare I say not with carnal weapons but with the graces of the spirit of God that will help them with meekness and patience to endure Sit down then I say and count up the cost before for Religion thou engagest too far lest thou take upon thee to meddle with that which thou wilt not know what to do with in the end Prov. 25.8 Luke 14.25 26 27 28 29 30. Many there be that are faulty here they have taken upon them to profess not considering what what they have taken in hand may cost them Wherefore when troubles come indeed then they start and cry This they like not because they looked not for it and if this be the way to heaven let who will go on in it for them Thus they take offence and leave Christs cause and people to shift for themselves in the World Mat. 13.20 21. Thirdly But let Gods people think never the worse of Religion because of the course entertainment it meeteth with in the World 'T is better to chuse God and affliction than the World and sin and carnal peace 'T is necessary that we should suffer because that we have sinned And if God will have us suffer a little white here for his word instead of suffering for our sins in Hell let 's be content and count it a mercy with thankfulness The wicked are reserved to the day of destruction they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath Job 21.30 How kindly therefore doth God deal with us when he chuses to afflict us but for a little that with everlasting kindness he may have mercy upon us Isa. 54.7 8. And 't is better if the will of God be so that we suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing 1 Pet. 3. â—7 Fourthly Look not therefore upon the sufferings of Gods people for their Religion to be tokens of Gods great anger 'T is to be sure as our heavenly Father orders it rather a token of his love for suffering for the Gospel and for the sincere profession of it is indeed a dignity put upon us a dignity that all men are not counted worthy of Count it therefore a favour that God has bestowed upon thee his truth and graces to enable thee to profess it though thou be made to suffer for it Acts 5.41 Thou mightest have been a sufferer for thy sins in Hell but thou art not but contrariwise art perhaps suffering for conscience to God this is a dignity for that thou dost thus by vertue of an heavenly gift on the behalf of Christ for the Gospel sake and according to the will of God This is a dignity that a persecutor shall not be counted worthy of until he first convert to Christ Philip. 1.29 Fifthly take thy affliction with meekness and patience though thou endurest grief wrongfully For this is thank worthy if a man for conscience towards God endure grief suffering wrongfully 1 Pet. 2. Lay thy hand then upon thy mouth and speak not a word of ill against him that doth thee wrong leave thy cause and thy enemy to God yea rather pray that his sin may not be laid to his charge wherefore as I said before now shew thy self a good man by loving pitying praying for and by doing good as thou art commanded to them that dispitefully use thee Mat. 5.44 I know thy flesh will be apt to huff and to be angry and to wish would thou mightest revenge thy self But this is base carnal sensual devilish cast therefore such thoughts from thee as thoughts that are not fit for a Christians breast and betake thee to those weapons that are not carnal For the Artillery of a Christian is the word faith and prayer and in our patience we must possess our Souls 2 Cor. 10.5 Luke 21.16 17 18 19. Sixthly Be much in the consideration of the All-sufficience of thy Father whose cause thou hast espoused whose word thou hast chosen for thy heritage and whose paths thou delightest to walk in I say be much in considering how all the World is sustained by him and that all life and breath is in his hand to continue or diminish as he pleases Think with thy self also how able he is to rescue thee from all affliction or to uphold thee in it with a quiet mind Go to him continually as to a fountain of life that is open for the supply of the needy Remember also if he comes not at thy call and comforteth thee not so soon as thou desirest it is not of want of love or compassion to thy Soul but to try thy graces and to shew to the fallen Angels that thou wilt serve God for nought rather than give out Also if it seemeth to thee as if God took no care of thee to help thee but that he hath rather turned thee over to the ungodly count this also as a sign that he delights to see thee hold fast his name though thou art laid under the greatest of
Gods commandments 1. How can he be a victor over himself that is led up and down by the nose by his own passions there is no man a Christian victor but he that conquers himself but he that beats down and keeps under his body his lusts his passions in the first place Is he that is led away with divers lusts a victor is he that is a servant to corruption a victor And if he that is captivated by his anger wrath passion discontent prejudice c. be not led away by them I am under a mistake So then to quarrel with Superiours or with any that are troublesome to thee for thy faith and thy profession bespeaks thee over-mastered and a Captive rather than a Master and a Conquerer 2. The same may be said upon the second head He keepeth not the Commandments of God For those teach him other things as I have also shewed The great Gospel-Commands terminate in self-denial but if self revenge is self denyal I am besides the Book Christ in the Book of the Revelations sets him that keeps the commandments of God a great way off from him that taketh and smiteth with the Sword He that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword Here is the patience and faith of the Saints that is in that they forbear to do thus and quietly suffer under those that thus take it and afflâ—ct the godly with it Again Here is the patience of the Saints here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Revel 13.10 chap. 14.12 A patient continuing in well-doing and if suffering for righteousness be well-doing then a patient continuing in that as in other things is the way to keep Gods commandments Rom. 2.7 So that I say he keepeth not Gods commandments that is angry with his enemies and that seeks to be revenged of him that doth him ill You know the subject I am upon The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God James 1.20 Wherefore professors beware and take heed to your spirits and see that you let not out your selves under your sufferings in such extravagancies of spirit against your enemies as is no way seemly nor convenient Sixthly Men that are unquiet and discontented and that seek revenge upon them that persecute them for their profession do by so doing also put themselves upon the brink of those ruins that others are further from These men are like the flie that cannot let the candle alone until she hath burned her self in the flame Magistrates and men in Power have fortified themselves from being attacqued with turbulent and unruly Spirits by many and wholsome Laws And indeed should they not do so one or other perhaps would be quickly tempted to seek to disturb them in the due exercise of their authority Now the angry man he is the flie that must be tripping and running himself upon the point of these Laws His angry spirit puts him upon quarrelling with his Superiors and his quarrelling brings him by words spoke in heat within the reach of the net and that with the help of a few more brings his neck to the halter Nor is this what ever men think but by the just judgment of God Whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resest shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13.2 Esth. 2.21 22 23. Wherefore let the angry man take heed let the discontented man take heed He that has a profession and has not grace to know in this matter to manage it is like to bring his profession to shame Wherefore I say let such take heed And the graces aforementioned and the due exercise of them are they and that which can keep us out of all such dangers Seventhly And what comfort can such a man have who has by his discontent and unruly carriages brought himself in this manner to his end He has brought himself to shame his profession to shame his friends to shame and his name to contempt and scorn Bad men rejoyce at his fall good men cannot own him weak men stumble at him Besides his cause will not bear him out his heart will be clogged with guilt innocency and boldness will take wings and fly from him Though he talketh of Religion upon the stage or ladder that will blush to hear its name mentioned by them that suffer for evil-doing Wherefore my brethren my Friends my enemies and all men what Religion Profession or Opinion so ever you hold Fear God honour the King and do that duty to both which is required of you by the Word and Law of Christ and then to say no more you shall not suffer by the Power for evil doing FINIS