heightned by Satan who endeavours what he can to impresse fear upon them He represents their approaching sufferings in the most amazing forms to their imaginations He tells them it will be sad to be the scorn of all that look on them to be counted the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things Sâ—tan tells them it will be sad to have their goods spoyled their houses taken from them or leveld with the ground to see their Families undone and pined with extremity of wanâ— to feel in their own persons the hand of violence especially when sinful compliance may prevent it The Devil buzzes in their ears nothing but Dungeons shackles swords axes faggots stakes furious flames and thus endeavours to fright them out of the way of righteousness And 't is not unusual when such dreadful things are represented to their imaginations to assault their faith and to pester them with unbelieving and blasphemous injections against Christ and his word endeavouring to make them question the certainty and truth of that glorious life and immortality which is brought to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. And if these thoughts of infidelity are not watched and prayed against they will dead and overwhelm the heart and prove of a very sinking nature The Lord therefore is to be intreated to rebuke Satan who by such blasphemies strikes at his honour as well as at our safety and peace 4. Add also That Grace in believers is imperfect and therefore fear is the more incident There is much of corrupted as well as renewed Nature and corrupted nature sides with Satan to affrighten them that so they may cast faith and a good conscience over board to keep the Vessel from drowning and secure themselves In the second place I am to shew The unreasonablenesse of this fear in the Saint Now the unreasonableness of it will be abundantly evinced by these arguments 1. Let us compare the mightiest enemies of the Saints with him who is their helper Their adversaries may be mighty but their Helper is Almighty If the everlasting strength of the Lord Jehovab were but considered fear would be ashamed of it self in those that belong to him and are protected by him Believers enemies take the very proudest and strongest of them in comparison of God are but Nothing less than nothing and vanity Isa 40. And is it not unreasonable to be afraid of nothing and more unreasonable to be afraid of less than nothing O ye Saints remember what a power is for you whose hands uphold you even the very same that doth uphold all things Your enemies themselves are in Gods hands they cannot live or move or act without him they are but weapons in his hand which cannot strike one blow more than he sees needful to be given you all the wounds which they make shall be healing and by all their instruments of death they shall but push you forward and hasten you along in Heavens way And if your mighty God rebuke these persecutors presently they must stoop and bow and fall down before him He can tye their hands nay take away their breath when he listeth and when their breath goeth forth and they return to their dust all their thoughts and designs against you will perish their envy and revenge will be come to an end when once the vengeance of God which is the vengeance of hell fire hath taken hold of them The Grave and Hell will keep them far from ever molesting of you more 2. Let a comparison be made between the craâ—tinesse of believers enemies and their Gods wisdome The Lord knows the thoughts of man that they are vanity He sees their projects and knows how to frustrate their designs That 's a notable place Job 5. 12 13. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise he taketh the wise in their own craftiness and the counsel of the froward is carryed headlong The Lord is wise enough not only to deliver us but also to take the Politicians in their own craftiness He looks and laughs at the plots of Rome and Hell to undermine his Kingdom and that which they intend as a support to the principality of darkness shall prove its downfall and Sion shall be built on Babylons ruines Solomon sayes there is no wisdome nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord Prov. 21. 30. And by very good consequence there is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against his people why then should his people fear If one wise man were able to defend a little City having few men in it against a great King that came against it and besieged it Eccl. 9. 14 15. Surely in the wisdome of the Lord who is only wise whose understanding is infinite there may be strong confidence 3. Again Compare the hatred of the Saints enemies with the love which the Lord bears them Great is the hatred of the world greater is the hatred of the Devil but oh by infinite degrees greater than either than both is the Love of God The Love of God to believers is very tender draws out his care towards them 't is a love that is unchangeable and so vast as passes all dimensions and understanding Therefore they may be emboldened and conclude that this love will be ten thousand times more beneficial than the hatred of any creature can possibly be injurious In the loving kindness of God there is very great security Psal 5. 12. For thou Lord wilt bless the righteous with favour wilt thou compasse him as with a Shield Our enemies indeed may be many and may hate us with cruel hatred but their hatred can no more equal the love of God than their strength can vie with his most glorious power 4. To shew the unreasonableness of the Saints fear let this be considered That this God whose power and wisdom and love are thus beyond compare is ever with them Fear thou not sayes God by the Prophet for I am with thee Isa 4. 10. He is not out of the way when his people want him he is a present help in the time of need The Saints need not go far to seek their God he fills the earth as well as heaven and is alwayes ready to shew himself strong in the â—ehalf of those that trust in him The Lord is alwayes within hearing his eye is upon the righteous and his ear is open to their cry Psal 34. 15. He besets his people behind and before and layes his hand upon them surely their faith may conclude since God is so near them and does beset and fence them that they are in safeguard 5. The Lord hath engaged by an everlasting Covenant to be their God What or why therefore should believers fear Be not dismayed for I am thy God in that forecited place Isa 41. 10. The Lord stands nearly related to the Saints now 't is certain that Relation though 't is minimae entitatis yet 't is efficaciae
sorrow prevail unto your discomposure but manifest to all the world that you have somthing of God in you by undergoing what bare nature would sink under Suffer not as wilful but as conscientious be able to give Scripture reasons for what you practice and for what you refuse Beg of the Lord to make your way plain and the way of duty being discovered though there be a Lion or a thorn hedge in that way go forward notwithstanding And among others let these encouraging arguments be pondered by you 1. God is glorified by your sufferings indeed on your adversaries part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified 'T is a sign you really believe the Lords greatness and power when you had rather have the whole world your enemies than him to be your enemy 'T is a sign you indeed believe his goodness and his promises when you had rather part with all visible comforts than be cast away from his presence and favour And by thus believing you glorifie him exceedingly It argues also that the Lord hath your hearts in good earnest when no troubles no afflictions which for his sake you are assaulted with can alienate your affections from him Further you proclaim to all what a good Master you serve when your adversaries by all that they can do are not able to divert you from following him cannot compel you to forsake his service And who knows what convictions in the consciences of them that observe you may be the effect of your constancy Who knows but that by this means some may be brought to make tryal of your Lord and so to the liking and loving of him 2. By your suffering the Gospel is advanced The mighty power and efficacy of the Gospel is shewn forth when it makes and keeps the Disciples hearts undaunted though sufferings in the most fearful shapes and forms are objected to their view How is the Gospel magnified when believers are content to be the mark for an adulterous generation to shoot at rather than be ashamed of it 'T is evident that the Gospel is from God else it could not thus support and comfort The Apostle tells the Philippians Chap. 1. 12. that his bonds and confinement were to the Gospels furtherance and enlargment his Brethren grew bold to speak the word without fear and the word spoken was the more readily entertained being credited by sustaining Paul and other Saints in all their tribulation 3. By your sufferings your selves are dignified You are highly graced when called forth to be the Lords Witnesses The Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you The Lord singles you out to combate with the Powers of earth and darkness and he will encourage and help and give you victory The Apostles when they were beaten did not murmur but rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus Acts 5. 41. Shame is dignity reproach is glory loss is gain sorrow is joy pain is pleasure when endured for the sake of Christ Several of the Martyrs in the Marian Persecution when they went to the Stake gave thanks upon this very account that they died a death so noble as to dye Martyrs for the truth against Babels abominations and to ascend as it were â—n fiery Charots to the New Jerusalem 4. When you are suffering what a stock of prayers is going for you 'T is an happiness to be hardly dealt with so we are prayed harder for Our tribulation makes the bowels of mercy which are in our Brethren to yearâ— towards us they are bound with us in the same Bonds and sâ—mpathize in our sufferings this makes them the more instant and earnest with the Father of mercies on our behalf When James the brother of John had lost his life being killed by the Sword and Peâ—er had lost his liberty being apprehended and put in prison 't is said that Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church to God for him Acts 12. 5. And Prayer having entered into Heaven brought an Angel to his rescue it shook the chains off Peters hands and caused an iron gate of iâ—s own accord to open to him Behold the strength of believers prayers For my own particular I seriously confess that my imprisonment hath most happily in this regard befallen me I have no reason to be vexed with but rather to thank my adversaries for their kindnesse in thus confining of me The strictnesse and closenesse of my prison hath made my case sâ—mwhat peculiar and that also is turned unto good for hereby the spirits of hundreds both in City and Country were stirred up to pray for me with greater fervency and enlargment And to have so many prayers poured out for One particular person is an inestimable priviledge My Friends I thank you Gâ—d hath answered your requests I have had that in prison which is ten thousand times better than liberty than the world than life than ten thousand worlds and lives My Enemies I cannot but thank you too because you were the occasion of the mercies I have received though I really grieve to think that you did me good with so much harm to your selves 5. When you suffer the Lord himself suffers with you Not only your fellow Members but your Head doth sympathize and feel your burthens In all your afflictions he is afflicted Isa 63. 9. You have not an High Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of your infirmities and the effect of this sympathie must needs be a most tender regard to you and readiness to relieve you in due season Luther very well observes that when any member of the natural body is harmed the sense of pain appears in the head and face the brows are knit the forehead wrinkled and the tongue cryes Oh! the whole countenance is alter'd And in like manner 't is in the mystical Body when any member is wronged if the injurious wretches could but see the face of Christ the Head they might plainly perceive he feels the stroak and is wounded in the wounds of his faithful followers Therefore when Paul while a zealous son of the Jewish Church did persecute the Disciples of the Lord and being exceedingly mad against them did hale men and women and commit them to prison Christ out of heaven cries out to him Saul Saul why persecutest thou Me And since the great Physitian is himself wounded in your wounds you may confidently expect an healing balm from him 6. To encourage you consider Great is the power that rests upon you in your sufferings Such a power as shall not only make you strong as David but as the Angels of the Lord. A Saint strengthned by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob though shot at by the Archers his Bow shall abide in strength therefore in Scripture he is compared to an iron pillar to a brazen wall to a defenced City Jer. 1. 18. To shew that though he is assaulted and that with violence yet he stands firm
Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ he knew how to be abased how to be hungry now to suffer need and learned in whatever state he was therewith to be contented Phil. 4. 11 12. compared with v. 20. of ch 3. 6. A sixth Antidote against fear is a due consideration who your enemies and troublers are Bring them into the Sanctuary and there take a view of them weigh them in the ballance and themselves with all their power will be found so light that you will conclude that to be a very vain fear which such vain and weak creatures as they are do raise in you 1. Your enemies are but men let them do their worst their most they can but kill the body Cease ye from man saith the Prophet whose breath is in his nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of The hand of man as 't is not able to suppoâ—t us so neither to throw us down and consequently he doth no more deserve to be feared than to be trusted in by us 2. Your enemies are men whom the Lord hates and sets his face against He ordains his arrows against the persecutors Psal 7. 13. God shall shoot at them suddenly shall they be wounded He is more angry at them than they can be enraged against you and it will not be long ere he ease himself and you â—oo of thâ—se burthensome oppressours Isa 1. 24. Therefore saith the Lord the Lord of Hosts the mighty one of Israel Ah I will case me of my adversaries and avenge me of my enemies Fear becomes them that have such a mighty God their enemy not you that have him to be your Father and Defender The Third Doctrine Among other troubles some believers endure bonds and imprisonment In the Catalogue of sufferings imprisonment is reckoned by the Holy Ghost Heb. 11. 36. And others had tryal of cruel mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment And the Apostle speaks after this manner Acts 20. 22 23. And now behold I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there save that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me The members of Christ though made free by their Head yet may have fetters put upon them by unreasonable men In the imprisonment of the Saints two things are to be considered 1. Their confinement and the restraint that is laid upon them Liberty is agreeable to Nature 't is therefore a great tryal to lose it and the closer the imprisonment is Nature accounts it the more irksome To have lovers and friends and acquaintance put far away may well be lookt upon as a great affliction To be within double doors and those doubly barr'd to look through Iron grates is a condition which needs soâ—thing from above to sweeten it 2. Their being numbred among evil doers is another part of the imprisoned believers tryal As the Lord himself was numbred among the transgressours Isa 53. 12. so are his Prisoners The same Gaol contains Thieves and Harlots and the Witnesses of Jesus their innocency is â—ullâ—ed and things that they know not are laid to their charge But the Lord hath promised that within a while their righteousnesse shall be brought forth as the light and their judgment as the Noon day Psal 37. 6. Now the Reason why the Saints are imprisoned by their enemies is twofold 1. That they may be punished If their enemies can go no further they will go thus far and hereby they think to take some revenge upon them though they little imagine what a sweet place they send the Saints to God turns their revenge into a kindnesse 2. That they may be hindred from doing good is another Reason why the Saints are confined They went about doing good while Liberty was enjoyed therefore they are restrained and their feet made fast that they may no longer be thus employed though it be as their Lord and Master himself was in the dayes of his flesh But it is the application of this Doctrine I principally intend USE I. Of Direction how the Saints should behave themselves when they are imprisoned Their carriage I shall direct in these particulars 1. They must carry themselves humbly before God Sin and the desert of it should be called to remembrance and how a worse place than a prison hath been justly merited You should lament your not improving of Liberty while you had it your unprofitableness your unusefulness that so little good was done when you had opportunities in your hands The Crosse indeed that 's laid upon you is a badge of honour and yet withall there is somewhat medicinal in it which argues remainders of spiritual distempers that should be matter of humiliation The more humble and contrite you are the more visits you are likely to have from the High and Lofty One who inhabiteth Eternity He dwells with the lowly that he may revive the spirit of the humble and that he may revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15. 2. You must carry your selves meekly and modestly towards your enemies you must bless them that curse you and pâ—â—y for your despightful persecutors Mat. 5. 44. Call not the Wild-fire of your own passions by the name of zeal and ever remember that excellent and divine Maxime The wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God Jam. 1. 20. Imitate the perfect Pattern who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffer'd he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously Meekness and humility will be lovely and convincing too in the eyes of your adversaries and they may be brought to acknowledge if Christ hath any followers that you do most resemble him and are likely to be the persons 3 Be not daunted at imprisonment Look with another kind of countenance than those do that suffer for evil doing Let not your joyes be so low as to be in the power of creatures to rob you of them Shew by your chearfulness you have chosen that good part which men cannot take away from you Check your spirits when they begin to despond and say with David Psal 43. ult Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God And that you may be thus fortified beg that the Lord would strengthen you according to his glorious power with all might unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness Col. 1. 11. 4. Since you are taken off from other business abound the more in duty Now the Throne of Grace should be often visited and the Word which strengthens in weakness which revives in heaviness should be more than ever searched into It is meet that Prisons should be Houses of Prayer Being sequestred from the World you should be the mâ—re with God Pull up all the Flood-gates and let the stream of your affections run with an
what it is to be faithful Secondly I shall give good and sufficient reason why a Christian should be faithful In the first place I am to shew what it is to be faithful This Apostle does briefly and yet excellently set forth 1 Tim. 1. 18 19. This charge I commit unto thee son Timothy according to the prophesies which went before on thee that by them thou mightest war a good warfare holding Faith and a good Conscience And in holding these we hold all that is worth our care to secure The Epithite Precious is given to Faith 2 Pet. 1. 1. To them who have obtained the precious faith with us And if you would know how precious you have it 1 Pet. 1. 7. Faith is not only said to be as precious as gold but much more precious then gold nay much more precious then gold that perisheth therefore 't is to be held fast Now in holding of Faith these five things are implied We hold fast first the Doctrine Secondly the Object Thirdly the Confidence Fourthly the Life Fifthly the Profession of our faith without wavering 1. He that is faithful holds fast the doctrine of faith The truthes of Christ he looks upon as worth the buying at any rate but nothing shall make him sell them Buy the truth and sell it not said wise Solomon Truth is of God a bright and glorious beam that shines from the Sun of righteousness Truth is a Christians Pilot his Compass he will quickly split on some rock or sink in some sand if this be not heeded the Christian is in a dark place where stumbling blocks and snares are innumerable many and the truth of Christ the doctrine of faith is a light unto his feet and a lamp unto his paths The Church of Pergamus though they welt where Satans seat was yet sayes Christ Rev. 2. 13. Thou holdest fast my name and hast not decayed my Faith that is my doctrine which I delivered to be believed and obeyed Rather then the Gospel should be let go and buried in silence we must venture all for its propagation Even Peace it self we are to endeavour after no further then consistent with truth The Apostle matter'd not what troubles and stir the Gospel occasioned and though Satan and the ungodly did storm at the light they boldly did publish that message which they had a command to deliver 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As long as the Gospel lives and thrives no matter what disturbances are created by its enemies 2. He that is faithful holds fast the Object of Faith Now the Object of faith is said down Joh. 14. 1. Ye believe in God believe also in me sayes Christ to his Disciples 'T is our duty and our safety to cleave unto the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent A believer keeps his hold of God who is his shield and exceeding great reward who can defend him from evil or turn those evils which he feels to his advantage who can crown him with loving kindness and such mercies as are tender sutable satisfactory and sure Neither will he let go his hold of Jesus Christ who brought him near and keeps him near unto this God who guides him by his spirit who by vertue of his blood and intercession is continually making up the breaches that the believers sinful infirmities do make and who out of his fulness is ready to impart whatever grace in any time of need is necessary 3. He that is faithful holds fast his assurance and confidence of faith Aâ—ter he hath given all diligence to attain assurance he is loth to lose what cost him such pains to get The Apostle prâ—sses this again and again Heb. 3. 6. But Christ as a son over his own house whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope firm unto the end And Heb. 10. 5. Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Assurance of faith is a mighty support in the evil day The eye of faith when faith is heightned into a full perswasion and confidence will look through the clouds and behold God smiling when men do frown faith will hear God speaking peace in a still voyce when the mouths of men are full of threatnings and furious rebukes Faith will perceive the better substance enduring when earthly goods are taken away But when troubles on earth surround us on every side and we are at uncertainties what will be our lot in the next world When there are fightings without and in reference to our spiritual estate doubts and fears within this will render our condition doleful Oh therefore labour and pray for assurance cherish not any distemper of heart give no place to the Devil for thus doing will feed your fears and strengthen your unbelief 4. He that is faithful holds fast the life of faith As this is the safest so 't is the sweetest life on earth They that walk by sight and not by faith will presently grow faint and weary in the hour of temptation If flesh and blood are consulted with if our murmuring and repining senses are heeded we shall refuse to rowe against the stream and be carryed away with the corruption of the times we live in If Moses had been led by sense his choice and practice would have been contrary to what it was Sense would have prized Honour and so he would have still been called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter Sense would have coveted wealth and delight and so he would have had his heart glewed to the pleasures of sin and the treasures of Egypt But Moses walked by faith and therefore chose to suffer afflictions with the people of God he esteemed it part of his riches to be reproached for Christ for faith continually shewed Him that is invisible and the Recompence of reward to him Heb. 11. 24 25 26 27. So the Apostle walked by faith and professeth Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me They that live by faith stay themselves upon the promises of sustentation and no weight can sink them they câ—st their burthens and themselves too upon the Lord who being faithful will not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able 5. He that is faithful holds fast the Profession of his faith He heeds that admonition of the Apostle Heb. 10. 25. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithful that hath promised He is not asham'd of his Lord Master nay esteems it an honour for his Masters sake to be despised Though the Kings and Rulers of the earth take counsel and set themselves against the Lords Christ yet the faithfuâ— servant will stick to him He is not ashamed to be of that way that is every wherâ— spoken against