their Corn Wine and Oyl Ther 's a spring in divine joy if Gods people want the Stars they shall have the light of the Sun and the enjoyment of God can make up for the want of the creature Fourthly another ground of joy is in respect of the assurance of deliverance from the greatest affliction they are under Who hath delivered us from so great a death 2 Cor. 1.10 and doth deliver in whom wee trust that he will yet deliver us Christ's deliverance is an assurance to Gods people of deliverance out of their tribulations for he that raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead 1 Cor. 6.14 by his own power will also raise up us And God hath rais'd up the Lord ' Christ and will also raise up us by his own power And therefore ye may finde that God encouraged his people under all their persecutions that when their brethren cast them out for his name sake he would take them up and make their enemies ashamed when his hand should be known to his servants Thirdly the exceeding great reward of glory propounded may administer ground of joy and rejoycing under all sufferings and afflictions Christ for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross and despised the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 12.2 Heb. 11.27 Moses haveing a veiw of God and of glory by the spectacles of faith is said to endure as seeing him that is invisible for this cause wee faint not but suffer reproach because wee judge that these light afflictions which are but for a moment worke for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory O Soul who ever thou art that sufferest for Christ's name though hell be behinde thee Heaven is still before Hell this was that Heb. 10.34 those primitive Christians comforted themselves with Knowing with in themselves they had experience in their own hearts assurance in their bosoms that in Heaven they had a better and more enduring substance 40 Mart. This comforted those fourty Martyrs when before they were to suffer they were cast in to water in cold weather now say they we shake for cold but by and by we shall be in Abrahams bosom men may kill the Saints but it is impossible that they should ever hurt them so that an opportunity to suffer for Christ is to be esteemed as a meecy By way of inference from hence Use 1 First take notice of the strength and power of divine grace that is able to make a man suffer contentedly and joyfully 't will make a Christian go through good report and evill report Use 2 Secondly from hence I may observe likewise the great abatement degeneracy and timerousness of spirit that is in Professors of Religion in these latter dayes the Saints in former tymes accounted it an honour to suffer Christ wee account it a burden wee are backward wee are ready to cry out undone if it comes to a little of our Estate liberty or name if ever God call us out to suffering surely he will grant us more grace else were shall shamefully dishonour him O thou spirit of Christianity where art thou become O thou holy joy in sufferings where art thou It is for a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation to think On these things Use 3 Thirdly hence observe the vast difference there is between Saints and sinners the Saints can rejoyced in sufferings so can't the wicked The heart knweth its own bitterness and a stranger doth not intermedle with his joy This is a joy no sgranger intermedles with Prov. 14.10 the world wonders how the Saints go so courageously through sufferings But the Martyrs answer may serve to answer this yee see the fewel that burns me but did yee feel the joy that I feel ye would not wonder The wayes of sin is death but the gift of God is eternall life through Jesus Christ our Lord eternall life is sweet the assured expectation whereof makes men thus to suffer There is a great deal of difference between Saints and sinners upon this account Secondly from hence I might speak matter of just reproofe to the Saints and people of God that are so far from this frame and temper to rejoyce in suffering for Christs name You ought to be joyfull in tribulation but I fear many of you are not patient under the afflictions of the Gospel Were they joyfull under the burning coals of Juniper and shall not wee be patient at least under lesser sufferings Dispondency is a sin as well as murmuring and repineing What an dishonour is it to God to murmur under affliction First what an dishonour is this to Jesus Christ to be dedolent under sufferings when services and sufferings come of heavyly itmust needs be a dishonour to Christ It is a dishonour to a Chaptaine if his Souldiers march on heavyly 2 Sam. 19 2 4. I may allude to that 2 Sam. 19 2 4. where the King wept for his son and the victory that day was turned into mourning and the King covered his face and cryed with a loud voice O my son Absalom O Absolom my son NUm 14.2 my son wat an ugly sight was that of the Isralites digging their graves And all the Children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron and against the whole congregation and said unto them would God that wee had died in the Land of Egypt or would God wee had died in this wilderness It is a great shame for Christians and it is a great dishonour to Christ for Christians to be so dastardly spirited Secondly consider what an unworthy returne is this to the Lord Jesus Christ that suffered so much and so willingly for us I am straitned with in me till this baptisme be accomplished saith Chrit It was no trouble to Christ that he was to die but raither that he died no sooner And shall wee thus returne evill to him for his good to us Shall wee think much to bear the prick of a pin for him that was peirced with a spear for us Thirdly what a discouragement does this offer to profession and Religion in the world it lay's a stumbling-block before many that would fall in with Religion but that they think there is but little in it else the Professors of it would suffer more for it If a standard-bearer in an Army his heart fail it offers a great discouragement to the common Souldier goe on therefore courageously in the profession of holyness The contrary God threatens to his Enemies to Assiria the rod of his anger when he breaks them in peice Isa 10.18 And they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth Isa 10.18 19. And then the rest of the trees of his forrest shall be few that a Child may write them When the hearts of the principall of God flock faile they offer discouragement to all the rest Fourthly it spoiles the acceptance of all your other
great question whether wee are most to bless God for making Heaven fitt for us or us fitt for Heaven by affliction The fifth Proposition is this That an opportunity to suffer for Christs name is to be esteemed a great privilege and mercy 't is to be judged the highest Felicity Doct. 5 They rejoyced the Text saith that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name This will be evidenced First fromthe express command of God to his people to suffer with joyfullness 't is the general Character given of the people of God Phil. 3.3 they are such as rejoyce in Christ Jesus Wee are of the Circumsion that worship God in the spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus Rom. 5.1 2 3. And wee rejoyce in Christ Jesus having receiv'd the attonment And so it is the duty and hath been the practise of the Saints to rejoyce in him Sufferings for Christ have been alwayes matter of great joy James 1.2 My brethren count it all joy saith the Apostle when ye fall into divers temptations Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven Math. 5.12 Rejoyce ye in that day when men hath you and separate you from their company rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy Luke 6.22 23. for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets It is the will of God his people should rejoyce alwayes rejoyce ever more 1 Thess 5.16 Especially upon the matters of affliction that 's the will of God towards his people The Cross should not onely be taken up with patience Coll. 1.11 but born with joyfullness Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfullness joyfullness is a help to patience and long suffering under the Cross For example see how the Apostle rejoyceth under all his afflictions I rejoyce that I help to fill up that which is behinde of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh Col. 1.24 for his bodies sake which is the Church But rejoyce in as much as you are partakers of Christs sufferings 1 Pet. 4.13 that when his glory shall be reveal'd ye may be glad wih exceeding joy In whom beleiving though under manifold temptations wee rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 In a tyme of great affliction it was the great commendation of the Thessalonians 1 Thess 1 6. that they received the Gospel with great joy The Church rejoyced when the hand of Gods providence was out against her Hab. 3.17 18. Although the fig-tree should not blossom neither should fruit be in the Vines Hab. 3.17 18. the labour of the Olive should fail and the fields shall yeild no meat yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation And so doe the people of God rejoyce likewise under the stroak of mans violence this hath been their practise nay not onely to joy but to glory in afflictions Wee glory in tribulation also Rom. 5.3 2 Cor. 2.14 Now thanks be unto God which alwayes causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place A Saint is bound to rejoyce in the Lord in good dayes and in evil dayes but especially in tymes of great opposition Neh. 8.10 2 Cor. 6.10 The joy of the Lord is your strength As sorrowfull yet alway rejoycing They tooke joyfully the spoyling of their goods Hebr. 10.34 not only patiently but joyfully Acts 16.25 Phil. 1.20 Paul and Silas did not repine but sung in the prison Paul rejoyced that Christ should be magnified in him whether by life or death The Martyrs endured exquisite torments with admirable patience Divine joy abated outward anguish their souls were wrapped up in joy as if they were in a separated state Paul counted it his honour to suffer reproach and afflictions 1 Tim. 4.10 For this cause wee both labour and suffer reproach because wee trust in the living God The Apostles were not found in the Text blaspheming nor repining nor onely submitting but blessing God yea joying in God They were not men altogether unsensible of injuries yet they that through infirmities foresooke their Master in the strength of his grace and spirit rejoyced to suffer for him remembring Christ told them they were blessed that suffer Now there are sufficient grounds of the Saints thus rejoycing in all their sufferings First in respect of the manifold consolation whereby they are enabled to suffer for as our afflictions abound so our consolations abound much more by Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 1.5 Not onely weight for weight but a preponderating weight of consolation they enjoy while the people of God drink deep draughts of the water of affliction they also draw water out of the wels of Consolation Gods consolations ought not to be smal to his people 2 Cor. 7.4 6. 2 Cor. 7.4 compared with the v. 6. Great is my boldness of speech towards you great is my glorying of you I am fill'd with comfort I am exceeding joyfull in all our tribulation nevertheless God that comforteth those that are cast down comforted us by the coming of Titus though troubled on every side whence arose this joy why God that comforteth those that are cast down comforted us also Though a storme of Haile fell upon their heads yet the sun shine of his favour shone upon their hearts Psal 94.19 In the mid'st of my sad thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul Altho wee meet with stormes without no matter so wee have but peace within In the world ye shall have tribulation alwayes tribulation but in me ye shall have peace John 16.33 therefore be of good comfort Secondly sufferings for Christ's name administers cause of rejoycing because of the sufficiency of grace administred under them My grace is sufficient for thee was Christ's answer to Paul I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not say's he to Peter Under the shaddow of thy wings will I rejoyce saith the Psalmist Under the shaddow of Divine protection and refreshment Thirdly there 's ground of rejoycing in sufferings for Christ's name in respect of the presence of God and Christ under afflictions communicated and enjoy'd Fear not saith God I am with thee when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee Isa 43.2 and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou passest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee God was with the three Children when in the fiery-Furnace with Daniel in the Lyons Den with Joseph in the prison Jeremiah in the Dungeon The Lords presence is with his to the end of the wold The presence of God supports under all burdens and sweetens the bitterest cups of affliction you hast made me more glad with the light of thy countenance then they with the encrease of
services it spoiles Gods acceptance of all your duties and services God will not accept a doer if he be not at least willing to be a sufferer and that rejoyceingly God can't endure a man suffering so to speak with a blur'd face hanging down his head like a bull-rush Christs active obedience could not doe alone in point of satisfaction nor can ours in point of duty Secondly 2 2ly for reproof this justly reproves those that insteed of rejoyceing to suffer for Christ entertaines them with regrate that come to affliction as a bear to the stake or a theef to the Gallous Such as shrinke especially that dog it in Religion when they should appear courageously such sufferings are very unacceptable unto God when wee are compell'd to that in which wee should be most free and voluntary Isa 58.5 Is it such a Fast that I have chosen a day for a man to afflict his soul is it to bow down his head like a bull-rush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him wilt thou call this a Fast and an acceptable day unto the Lord It is a sad signe of a perverse and hypocriticall heart not to suffer joyfully upon Christs account The Romans if the beast that was to be made a sacrifice would not goe willingly they would never offer that beast up in sacrifice so if wee doe not offer our selves willingly soul and body which is but our reasonable sacrifice we shall not be accounted holy nor acceptable to God through Jesus Christ It was the excellencie of former tymes 4 Cautions anent sufferings that they were carefull to suffer for Christ that so Christ might not suffer by them Alwayes remember First that it is far better to suffer for Christ then to suffer by Christ Caut. 2 Secondly remember how much Christ suffered for you The just for the unjust that he might bring us to God I remember the Souldier told Augustus 1 Pet. 3.10 if I had served you as you serve me at the battel of Actium where had you been so may Christ say to us where had you been if I had served you upon the Cross as ye serve me if I had deserted your cause what had become of you ye had been lost to eternity Caut. 3 Thirdly consider wee partake of Christs sufferings proportionably as he partakes of ours If we suffer for him his sufferings are made manifest in us Caut. 4 Fourthly he that by directly unlawfull means will endeavour to avoid sufferings commonly runs upon a double suffering is exposed to sufferings both in body and soul in time and it may be to eternity Thirdly by way of exhortation 3 3 For Exhortation let me perswade all of you to learn this Leslen though hard and will goe much against the hair of holy joyfullness in sufferings it is good for you to be provided and not to goe naked into a storme and battel hard tymes put me upon calling you to it Since Christ hath suffered for us arme your selves likewise with the same minde resolve to suffer with chearfullness 't is your priviledge as well as duty why will yee neglect one thing that is matter of privilege unto you Motives 8. Motives to press you hereunto Mot. 1 First It is an Evidence of Saint-ship of truth of grace and of strength of grace and the want of it is an evidence of Hypocrisie For where in will yee difference your selves from sinners and ungodly They are confounded under their temptations and sorrowfull under their afflictions and if you can't rejoyce under afflictions what singular thing doe you Mot. 2 Secondly consider your afflictions and sufferings have no real evil in them and all the happiness of the world is no more then what your Fancies put upon them They are but imaginary excellencies it is onely an imaginary happiness that is in the world and all these things Mot. 3 Thirdly all your afflictions though inflicted by men are ordered by God and his wise providence they are appointed by your heavenly Father and shall I not drink the Cup that my Father hath given me to drink saith Christ Mot. 4 Fourthly they are all consistant with Gods fatherly love yea while he suffers wicked men to chastise and correct you his fatherly love is towards you Gods people have had powerfull experience and familiar acquaintance of and with God upon this account God as a Father chastiseth every Son whom he receiveth nay as the fyre burns hottest when the wether is coldest so Gods affections to his people is highest when their afflictions are greatest Mat. 5 Fiftly consider all your tryalls tend to the advance of grace and the purging out of your corruptions for the refineing of your grace 2 Cor. 4.16 For this cause wee faint not saith the Apostle for though our outward man perish our inward man is renewed day by day as the Sea what it looseth in one shiere it gets in another grace grows by an Antiperistasis affliction is sanctified and grace is exercised and proved thereby Wee had fathers of our flesh that corrected us and wee gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the father of spirits and live Heb. 12.9 and 10. They corrected us for their pleasure but he for our profit that wee might be partakers of his holyness The tryal of your faith is for honour praise and glory fiery tryals make golden Christians your suffering like the sun scorcheth the Hypocrite but ripens the sincere Christian The North-winde of affliction blowing upon the garden of the saints graces cause the spices thereof to flow forth Mot. 6 Sixthly Math. 5.11 12 Blessedness is the entail Math. 5.11 12. blessed are yee when men shall revile yow and persecute you rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven Luke 6.22 23. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach yow and cast out your name as evil for the son of mans sake Rejoyce yee in that day Luke 6.23 and leap for joy for behold your reward is great in heaven for in the like manner did their fathers unto the Prophets Happy are they that endure Seventhly James 5.11 Mot. 7. all your sufferings serve to work you up to a further likeness to Christ and the saints Soe they dealt with them before you Take my brethren the Prophets James 5.10 who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and of patience Eightly Heb. 11.35 they greaten and agravate your glory and happiness in the next world They would not accept of deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection They had a good resurrection though they had not suffered but hereby they had a better one O that all might prevail with you to this rejoyceing if yee may be counted worthy to suffer shame for Christs name Now your joy under sufferings