Fatling together a little Child shall lead them And the sucking Child shall play on the hole of the Asp and the weaned Child shall put his hand on the Cockatrice Den They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain But most certainly this peace and concord shall be among the Saints above no biting no devouring one another no diversity of judgments but all will agree in the same truth no alienation of affection for love to the Lord and to one another will be perfect the spirit that lusteth to envy will be cast out selfish ends will carry none aside disputes will be at an end the wounds which divisions have made will be closed How good and pleasant will be that unity when all the Saints will be of one of the right mind 6. The life above will be lead among the most suitable society The Saints will then have bid farewel to Mesâ—ech and the Tents of Kedar they shall no longer dwell among revilers at holiness the openly prophane the scandalous or lifeless professors of Religion no filthy communication or conversation in heaven to vex their righteous souls no contempt of God no provoking the eyes of his glory no cursing swearing pride wantonness to be heard or seen in the heavenly City When they come thither they will say How blessedly unlike is this to that place and company which we came from Glorified spirits innumerable companies of Angels will be their companions these will be glad to see them safely arrived unto rest For if there be joy in heaven at the conversion of a sinner we may very well infer there will be joy likewise at the Saints Coronation 7. That life above will fully answer its end The Saints were formed by the Lord for himself and they will be eternally shewing forth his praise and glory They will never entertain so much as an unbecoming thought of God but to magnifie and extol him will be their everlasting business their hearts and their Harpes will be ever in tune to sound forth his Name Now they do but lisp and stammer out his praises but then how seraphical will their Songs be and they will never be weary of singing Hallelujahs Oh what extasies of joy and love with what ravishment of spirit with what unconceivable raptures of delight will the whole Assembly and Church of the First-born joyn together saying Amen blessing and glory and wisdome and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 7. 12. The triumphant Saints will perfectly answer the design of God in their Creation in their new Creation they will glorifie him for ever who upon them hath bestowed eternal Glory 8. The life above will be an everlasting life Death it self will be destroyed and swallowed up in victory The eternity of the Saints joyes and enjoyments makes them infinitely of the greater value Heaven would be no longer Heaven were they ever to be turned out of it all the sweetness would be imbittered with the thoughts of its period But adored be the riches of mercy the inheritance is said to be incorruptible the Kingdome cannot be moved the Crown of glory fadeth not away the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. ult Howâ— ye damned spirits your miseries are everlasting you are banished from God and shall never be called back but be unconsumed fewel for unquench able flames Triumph and râ—jâ—yce ye glorified Souls As long as God is he will be your God your portion your reward as long as God is you shall live in his presence and enjoy him Thus you see what what manner of life the Text speaks of In the second place I am to shew upon what score this Life is called a Crown 1. This Crown intimates that the Saints are Conquerours They have run the Race and won the prize they have fought the good fight of Faith and laid hold on eternal life They may truly say super-superamus we are more than conquerours They have being strengthned by him that loveth them conquered the whole World conquered the Principallities and Powers of Hell conquered themselves too their own lusts and passions and affections All other Battels are but petty skirmishes to the spiritual combate mortal men are but inconsiderable enemies compared with fleshly lusts and evil Angels All the Conquerours recorded in History are hardly worth the mentioning with a Christian that endures and overcomes And what is Lawrel to that Crown at last put upon the Christians Head 2. This Crown speaks the honour and dignity whereunto the Saints are advanced Though exceedingly filled with contempt and the scorning of those that are at ease yet even here the Saints are Kings Priests Rev. 1. 5 6. Vnto him that loved us â—nd washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever And when they come to Glory they are actually crown'd then 't is evident the World was not worthy of them and that far better than what the world could bestow is freely given them Heaven is called a Kingdome the Reward a Crown to shew 't is no mean prize the Christian aimes at What is all the height and grandeur on earth to the Kingly dignity put upon believers What are all the Kingdomes of the world and the glory of them to reigning with the Lord for ever The four great Monarchies by the Holy Ghost are compared unto four great Beasts Dan. 7. 3. Surely earthly Crowns are but base and sordid to the heavenly 3. This expression a Crown of life is used to shew that the Crown fades not will never be less bright for wearing 't will never be thrown off 't is a living Crown a Crown of immortality In the next place follow the Arguments to prove the Doctrine that the Saints shall be thus Crowned and they are these 1. One shall be drawn from the Fathers good pleasure This good pleasure Christ declares to the little flocks encouragement Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little Flock 't is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome And this his counsel is immutable he will do this his pleasure This pleasure he hath plainly signified in his Covenant and Promises wherein Glory as well as Grace is assured and hereby he hath heightned beliâ—vers hopes and expectations and certainly to frustrate them is not consistent with his truth and goodness 2. A second Argument shall be drawn from Christs purchase He hath purchased that possession for his Saints in the next world he hath bought that Crown by his Cross In the New Testament the Lord Jesus hath bequeathed life to them and by the Death of Himself the Testatour this Testament is confirmed Heb. 9. 16. So that this Life is as sure as 't is sure our Lord dyed 3. A third Argument shall be drawn from Christs entring into life and taking
they are willing to be reproved for sin to be instructed concerning duty they hear they keep the word as well as hear it Prov. 10. 17. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction So Prov. 6. 23. For the commandment is a Lamp and the Law is light and the reproofs of instruction is the way of life The word of God hath not only a convincing and a converting and an edifying power put 't will put the crown at last upon the head of the faithful therefore the Apostle affirms it able to give the inheritance Act. 20. 32. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified 4. They who are Heirs to the Crown of Life do mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirits help they do it Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live The Heirs of life are weary of the body of sin and death therefore they crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts of 〈◊〉 They mortifie their members on earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence covetousness which is idolatry Col. 3. 5. Every sin that they see they look upon with an eye of grief and hatred and strike at it 5. They who are heirs to the Crown of Life have their fruit unto holiness Rom. 6. 22. But now being made free from sin and become the servants of God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life The pure in heart shall see the Lord Mat. 5. 8. his back parts now his face in glory And truly the holy are only fit to behold the Holy One. Art thou an enemy to holiness Thou art an enemy to thy own life The heirs of life understand that Jerusalem above is an holy City therefore they apply plead the promise of sanctification they cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. 6. They who are heirs to the Crown of Life persevere to the end they are faithful to the death as the Texâ— speaks they hold fast what they have that none may take their Crown away they not only begin but finish their course and keep the faith and so they receive a Crown of righteousness at the hand of the Lord the righteous Judge USE III. Suffer I beseech you a few words of Exhortation and I shall conclude with them 1. Let the serious and believing consideration of this Crown of life enliven and quicken you to every duty Art thou hearing for a Crown and praying for a Crown and wilt thou hear carelesly and pray coldly Doth not such a Kingdom as heaven is deserve thou shouldst use an holy violence to take it what slothful and dead when such glory is in view Oh strive to enter in at the strait gate that when thou seekest to enter in at Heavens door and cryest Lord Lord open to me entrance may not be denyed 2. Let this Crown of life be made use of to silence Satan to fence thee against temptation When the Devil tells thee of â—ase and gain and pleasure which sin will afford reply Come O thou lying and deceitful spirit put thy â—ase and gain and pleasure into one Ballance of the Sanctuary and I will put the Crown of life and glory into the other and what is sinful â—ase to the Saints rest or the gain of gold to the Saints glory or pleasures for a moment to eternal rejoycing Satan will not know what to say to this but perceiving unlikelyhood of prevailing will flee from you 3. Let this crown of Life loosen your hearts from the world Do not defile and load your selves with thick clay do not stick fast therein when such glory is so certain and near at hand Be not desirous of or content with a portion in this life since you are just entring upon a better Live as strangers and pilgrims on earth declare plainly that you seek a better country then the world hath any 4. Let this crown of Life steel your hearts against sufferings Fear not what enemies can do since the keyes of heaven hang not at their girdle nor glory is given of their pleasure Our Lord set the joy before him so he endured the cross and despised the shame Heb. 12. 2. and if you imitate him you shall at length sit down where he is at the right hand of the throne of God 5. Let this crown of life set you above the fear of dissolution it cannot be enjoyed till you are gone from hence you must dye before you can live the life above Let your death be natural or violent you must not be startled or amazed The Angels are ready to do their office to convey you to paradise Christs arms are open to receive you which are a part of his purchase and his redeemed ones Christ understands what 't is to dye 't is an unusual tryal which you can have experience of but once unusual strength shall be afforded If death were but lookt upon only as a dark passage into the glorious and lightsome inheritance it would be no longer terrible but desireable 6. let this crown of Life make you long for your Lords appearing Oh cry unto him to remove time and dayes out of the way and that the wheels of his chariot may make greater hast Long for the time when the heavens shall break asunder and the fairest of ten thousand shall shew his face through the clouds and sit upon his great white throne to judge the world in righteousness When he comes his reward will be with him Rev. 2 2. 12. Never a Saint shall be seen without a crown at that day And Oh what a spectacle will it be to behold the Head and all the members together every one having on a rich and sparkling diadem The Saints are described to be such as love their Lords appearing And there is reason they should wish for it For when Christ who is their life shall appear then shall they also appear with him in glory FINIS
will certainly bestow a Crown of life and immortality The First Doctrine He that will be a Saint shall be a sufferer The Spirit speaks hardly any thing more expressely then he doth this truth The Apostle tells what afflictions and persecutions he met with and peremptorilvaffirms that none shall escape Perse-secution they shall meet with if not in one kind in another Drops shall fall upon every Saint though some may be wet with greater showers 2 Tim. 3. 10 11 12. But thou hast fully known my Doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering charity patience persecutions afflictions which came unto me at Antioch at Janium at Lystra what persecutions I endured there But out of them all the Lord delivered me yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Consult also Act. 14. 22. Confirming the souls of the Disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God The journies end is glorious but the way is â—ough that leads to it it lies through many tribulations Self-denial and the Cross are doctrines which Christ preached to all his followers Luk. 9. 23. And he said unto them all if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Two things are here to be inquired in to One is whence the sufferings of the Saints arise The other What is the reason of this dispensation Or Why the Lord suffers those he loves to be thus exercised First Whence the sufferings of the Saints arise They are both from the god of thâ—â— world and from the world it self Earth and Hell do both combine to trouble the heirs of Heaven as they are going to their inheritance 1. The Saints sufferings arise from the god of this world So Satan in Scripture is called He commands the generality of the world who are at his service and are lead by him at his pleasure and those whom he cannot rule he is resolved what he can to molest and disquiet The Devil began betimes righteous Abel did feel the effects of his enmity and hatred and he continues this persecuting Trade unto this very hour And till the whole Body of Christ be taken up where the Head is Satan will be as a thorn to pierce and trouble them It will not be amiss to examine the matter further and to search into the cause why Satan thus endeavours to load the Saints with sufferings 1. The Devil bears an implacable hatred to the Saints Head the Lord Jesus He would fain have killed Christ from the birth and incited Hered to make such weeping and lamentation in Rama because of the children that were so inhumanly butchered Mat. 2. Our Lord was tempted by the Devil Mat. 4. who would gladly have foiled the Second as he had done the First Adam but he could not prevail The Devil is said to have put it into the heart of Judas to betray Christ All which plainly shews his hatred of the Son of God The works of Christ and of Satan are quite contrary Satans work is to murther and destroy therefore he hath his name Apollyon Rev. 9. 11. But Christs work is to save The Son of God was manifested to this very end that he might destroy the works of this Destroyer and the Son of God hath got the Victory He hath spoyled Principalities and Powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in his Cross Col. 2. 15. He is now ascended on high and is at his Fathers right hand And the old Dragon being full of wrath to see him so exalted spiâ—s his venom at the Members which are in his reach for the Heads sake And surely our Lord will look upon himself as the more obliged to stand by his suffering servants since 't is for his sake partly that this adversary is so liberal of his arrowes and shoots so many at them 2. The Devil is full of envy at Believers themselves Aâ—â—oon as ever he had sinned presently the chains of darkness were clapt upon him he was immediately cast down to hell no patience being shewn no pity extended no means of recovery offer'd 2 Pet. 2. God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into chains and darkness to be reserved unto judgment But believers though by nature the children of wrath and disobedience are pitied pardoned adopted saved A Remedy is provided and that Remedy made effectual through the application of it to their recovery and the recovery of their lost blessedness Now this fills Satan with envy which is both his sin and torture and envy stirs him up to do what mischief he is able 3. The Devil dislikes holiness where-ever he finds it He hates indeed all the children of men but those that are sanctified and renewed in a special manner As he is utterly destitute of so he utterly derests and abhors the image of God which shews the fearful depravation of his nature 'T is no wonder he runs to the utmost length of his chain to harm the Saints who have put off the old and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4. 24. Sin is arrived at its full growth 't is come to its perfection in the Devil Holiness he strikes at and endeavours to discourage and hinder where-ever he finds it Those who resemble Satan in this the measure of their iniquity is fuller than they are aware of 4. The Devil designs by the persecuting of the Saints to promote his interest and Kingdom This Prince of darkness is a very proud spirit he would by his good will have the whole world his slaves and vassals How does he rage when any of them whom he lead captive are rescued from him He is sedulous to establish his Throne and Principality Oh that Saints were as zealous and diligent to advance the honour and interest of the King of Saints The Devil hopes to promote his Kingdom not only by flattering sinners into his subjection but also by affrighting them from the service of another Lord. There are these five wayes whereby Satan is like to be advantaged in times of suffering 1. He is likely to get advantage by discouraging the weak in faith He hopes that they who have but weak hands and feeble knees will not easily get over those slumbling blocks which in times of trouble are cast in their way And if their hearts do faint and fail not only they themselves but Religion looses ground and what ground is lost the Devil gaine He set upon Peter when he was weak and how far did he prevail Peter falls most shamefully and his fall cost him dear and how was the prejudice against Christ in the High-Priests Hall encreased when one of his followers thus with cursing and swearing did so utterly deny him Satan desires to have weak Saints especially that he may sift them as
and unmoved Little do the ungodly think who is the Saints helper The Apostle considering the sufficiency of that Grace which is promised in the evil day professeth he was not sorry for that dayes approach nay so far from that he glories and takes pleasure in it 2 Cor. 12. 9 10. And he said unto me my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness most gladly therefore will I rather glory in mine infirmities that the power of Christ mayâ— rest upon me Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christ for when I am weak then am I strong 7. Great is the peace vouchsafed to sufferers Christ speaks of this peace and having left this Legacy he adds with reason that they should not â—ear or be troubled Joh. 14. 27. Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid How many doubts and fears have been cured by tribulation When this for the Gospels sake hath been submitted to the heart which before trembled and was disconsolate is filled with joy and peace in believing And indeed as trouble is an evident token of perdition to the troublers so to them that for well-doing are troubled 't is a token of salvation and that of God Phil. 1. 28. Oh the Songs that have been sung in the night of distress Oh the sweet refreshing visits that the Lord of Glory hath given to his prisoners so that those places of confinement have been somtimes turned into the very suburbs of the New Jerusalem And let not the greatness of suffering dismay any these will but occasion your fuller joy and more abundant consolation 2 Cor. 1. 5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ 8. If you suffer with Christ you shall also reign with him 2 Tim. 2. 12. And truly the Cross is light as a feather if compared with the Crown Send forth your Faith but as a Spy to the heavenly Canaan let it take a view of the Glory there let it bring but a leaf of the Palms that are to be put into your hands but a gem of the Crowns that shortly will be put upon your heads and you will presently be of the Apostles judgment when he said I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 8. 18. Sufferers will find a more abundant entrance into the Kingdome They are with a great deal of honour pointed at Rev. 7. 14. These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their Robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. How many encouragements are here to suffer sufficient if duly weighed to make you suffer not only with patience but with gladness USE V. I shall conclude this Doctrine with a Caution to the unholy Do not think your condition happy because freed from sufferings now Your sin at last will find you out it is pursuing after you to overthrow you and it will if you repent not speedily overtake you And though you are not in trouble like other men that cleanse their hearts and wash their hands in innocency Eternity will be long enough for you to be plagued and wo wo to you then your sufferings will be extreme being not at all sweetned with the least mixture of consolation The Second Doctrine No sufferings should cause the Saints to be afraid Sayes the Text Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer See also Isa 37. 3 4. Strengthen the weak hands confirm the feeble knees say to them that are of a fearful heart be strong fear not Two things in the opening of this Doctrine are to be done One is to shew that there is an aptness in the Saints to be afraid of sufferings The other to demonstrate the unreasonableness of giving way to this fear In the first place I am to shew that there is an aptness in the Saints to give way to fear when sufferings are coming this is implyed in the Text Fear not which intimates that by fears they would be assaulted though those fears ought to be repelled There is a two fold fear a fear that is a duty a fear that is an infirmity 1. A fear that is a Duty and that is the fear of the Lord This fear is the beginning of wisdom and a great preservation from evil this fear is a grace to be prayed for and as a grace is promised in the New Covenant I will put my fear into their hearts and they shall not depart from me Jer. 32. 40. This fear hath nothing of torment in it but as it argues the man blessed in whom it hath place so it is very consistent with delight and great delight Ps 112. 1. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandments Tâ—is fear of God will swallow up other fear If we sanctifie the Lord of Hosts in our hearts by making him our fear and dread nothing besides will be sufficient to dismaâ— us 2. There is a fear which is an infirmity and that is the fear of man or any evilâ— that upon the account of Religion may be brought upon us This fear in the Text is forbid Yet this fear is apt to seize upon believers and truly they find it much more difficult to overcome those fears than the evils themselves whereby their fears are raised Several things there are whereby fears are apt to be raised in Believers 1. The greatnesse of the evils which they may be exposed to Not only their credit but their livelyhood not only their livelyhood but their lives may be struck at And running the hazard of losing all makes timorous nature to advise and endeavour to disswade them from it Our Lord does not limit his followers to venture so far and no further but commands expressly to stick at nothing the nearest Relations the dearest enjoyments must be hated when they stand in competition with him that is less loved than he is Luke 14. 26. If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his own life also he cannot be my Disciple In times of trouble Men and Devils are let more loose and so are likely to lay on load on Christs Disciples and the apprehension of such heavy burthens may cause some dismayedness of spirit 2. Fear is apt to be raised by the proximity and nearnesse of evils When the Saints behold their persecutors full of fury their tongues whet like a sword and their hands lifted up to give the blow when they see calamity hastening towards them and distress like an armed man which they cannot resist nor avoyd then also their temptation will be strong to fear 3. These evils are
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
Third Argument shall be drawâ— from the shortness of the Saints continuance iâ— this vale of tears Their tribulation cannâ—â— possibly be of any long duration The are but travellers through the world anâ— will quickly be at their journeyes enâ— A few years nay perhaps a few months will bring them to eternity and when time is no longer there will be no longer trouble The thoughts of death though terrible to the ungodly as putting a full stop to all their consolation may be refreshing to the Saints Death is their last Enemy after death no enemy can molest them Their dayes are swifter than a Weavers Shuttle they hast to an end as the Ships of desire to the Haven or the Eagle to the prey and as their dayes post away so their troubles and distresses make speed to a conclusion 4. A fourth Argument shall be drawn from the Saints immediate entrance into rest upon their dissolution The Apostle joyns being dissolved and being with Christ together and speaking of believers in the general he sayes 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have not we shall have but we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens The spirits of just men immediately upon their separation are made perfect perfectly free from sin and misery which while united to the body they were loaded with The Papists distinguish the Church into Triumphantem in caelis militantem in terra laborantem in purgatorio Triumphant in Heaven Militant on Earth Labouring in Purgatory The last member of the Division labouring in Purgatory the Scripture no where mentions but express affirms the contrary Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours Several miserably deluded souls argue for perfection here else say they how can the Saints be fitted for glory if they are defiled all their dayes It is easily answered that the work of grace is carryed on all their life time and at their dissolution their souls are perfected Death may be called a great change not only in regard of the body but in regard of the Soul too because the soul is perfectly purified and sin quite and clean abolished Neither let it seem absurd that such a change should be for if in the first moment of conversion there is an alteration or change from no grace to grace surely 't is not unreasonable to think that at the moment of dissolution there should be a change from imperfect grace to grace that is compleat Thus the penitent Thiefs soul was perfected at his expiring else he could not have been that day he dyed with Christ in Paradise It 's plain that the Saints upon their departure hence do enter into rest therefore it must be granted that their tribulation is but as they are short liv'd nay perhaps they may outlive their tribulation and behold a lightsome ever-tyde after a day of darkness and of gloominess They may live to see the Gospel in esteem after disgrace and peace upon Israel after trouble USE I. Is the tribulation of the Saints short then let not their faith fail let it hold out a little longer and its work will be at an end Let faith but keep up the Ship but a little while longer in the storm and it will be safely landed Leane a few dayes more upon the promises of support and shelter you will be past the pikes and beyond all peril When you are entred into the City of God the door will be shut and as you shall come out no more so no evil shall enter after you to molest or grieve you USE II. Is the tribulation of the Saints short then let not Patience grow weary Nâ—w Patience indeed is a needful grace but hereafter there will be no necessiâ—y or use of it because you shall never feel any more burthens The benefit of affliction and the nearness of your rest should induce you to bear all with cheerfulness When you see the end of the Lord you will confess they are happy that endure Jam. 5. 11. USE III. Is the tribulation of the Saints short Then let their expectation be raised Yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 37. Your Lord will be as an Hart or young Roe upon the mountains of separation and when he comes he will wipe away tears from all faces and for all your affliction and tribulation you shall have joy and triumph double treble nay ten thousand times ten thousand fold USE IV. Is the tribulations of the Saints short See the difference between the Saints and Sinners The Saints sufferings are like the sinners ease and prosperity both for a moment Let not the world imagine believers miserable their misery is no longer then the worlds happiness And as the men of the world cannot be counted happy because their happiness doâ—s so soon vanish so neither can believers justly be esteemed miserable because their misery is so transient What is it to have tribulation for ten dayes and then to triumph in the presence of God and of the Lamb for ever The Seventh Doctrine Whatsoever sufferings he is exposed to a Christian must be faithful All the children of Abraham should resemble their father of whom it is said that the Lord found his heart faithful before him Neh. 9. 8. This charge in the text is strict Be thou faithful And truly 't is but needful if these three things are considered 1. A Christians heart is treacherous and apt to start aside like a deceitful bow A besieged City when the besiegers have friends wâ—thin the walls that are ready to lay hold of any opportunity to betray it the Inhabitants had need to be the more circumspect and vigilant Such a City is the embleme of a believer though his heart be renewed yet 't is only in part it remains still in part corrupted and that corruption sides with the tempter and is ready to yield and open to him Faithfulness therefore to the Lord and to himself is often to be pressed upon the Christian 2. Shaking temptations are likely to be met with Mat. 7. 27. The rain will descend and the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon the house to try whether it is founded on a Rock or upon the sand onely 1. This charge to be faithful is very requisite if we consider that in time of shaking many will take offence and depart from Christ Christians in shew will then discover their want of faith and love in truth And when these fall off the Saints had need to be cautioned Do not you also leave me That so they may reply with Peter Joh. 6. 67 68. Lord to whom shall we go Thou hast the words of eternal life and eternal life it self to bestow on us In the further handling of this Doctrine First I shall shew
Lords work we tell the World that our Master is exceeding gracious and who knows but that by this means the number of his servants may be increased 2. The man that 's faithful proclaims his Lords power The power of Christ doth rest upon him else he would be unstable as water who through Christ strengthening of him is like the very Rock unshaken and the more weak the Believer is the more glorious is his power in whom he believes USE I. Of Reproof and I shall direct it to two sorts of persons 1. The fickle and unconstant are to be reproved Their spirit is unstedfast with the Lord if the World make proffer of its good things or threaten them with evil Vain hopes draw them away vain fears drive them away from Christ Somtimes they seem to be his humble Servants but this is only an hypocritical kind of complement Self they are resolved to serve to please and to secure whatever become of Christ his Honour and his Gospel 2. They are to be reproved that are in an ill sense faithful Faithful to their sins which are the worst masters unmoveable in their resolution to make provision for the flâ—sh to fulfil the lusts thereof There is a strange stouâ—ness of spirit and fixedness in evil that is to be found in thousands Their neck is like an iron sinew their brow like brass they make their faces harder then a rock they refuse to return Say what we will sin is their master and sin they will serve though they be told an hundred and an hundred times that death is its wages They aâ—e as unchangeable in evil as the spots of the Leopard â—or the blackness of the Ethiopian Oh that we would learn of sins vassals to be as faithful to the best as they are to the worst Lord. USE II. Of Exhortation Let me press you to be faithful 1. How many obligations lye upon you to be stedfast infinite millions of encouragements â—he gives you the more constant the more comfort and peace is found Great peace have they sayes David that love thy law and nothing shall offend them Every mercy of those many thousands you receive should be a cord to â—ye you faster unto God and what strange kind of hearts have you if so many cords are sâ—apt asunder and so many obligations are forgotten 2. Whom do you leave when you are unfaithful you forsake that Lord whose loving kindness is so excellent who is able to perform all things for you whose all-sufficiency can furnish you though never so indigent This God you leave and for what do you leave him 'T is for that which is not bread 'T is for that which can never satisfie Isa 55. 2. 3. By unfaithfulness you not only deprive your selves of the Lords goodness but engage him against you Ezra 8. 22. His hand is upon all them for good that seek him but his power and his wrath is against those that forsake him And wrath armed with such power is dreadful God greatly abhors the backslider when his ancient people turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers 't is said When the Lord heard this he was wroth and greatly abhorred Israel Psal 78. 57 59. 4. If you are faithful with God you shall find by experience his wayes to be truth and mercy Psal 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies His promises you shall experience to be true his mercies will all in mercy be 〈…〉 oved Nay there will be mercy in every affliction in every distress mercy supporting mercy reviving mercy turning all things to the best As the Philosophers stone is said to turn all meâ—tals into gold USE III. Of direction how to be made faithful 1. Be sensible of the treachery of your own spirits and let this make you the more jealous of your selves all your dayes Watch ye stand fast sayes the Apostle If you would stand fast you must be exceeding vigilant Watch that nothing come in at the door of your senses which may prove a snare and that nothing go out of your heart which may defile you When first the heart begins to grow weary of well-doing or to hearken to the tempter observe it and being apprehensive of your danger cry to be quickned and established 2. Pray to be upheld by the spirit of the Lord. Thus did David Psal 51. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty life holiness strength Grieve not the spirit but be obsequious to him and he will strengthen you with might in your inward man When Christ was about to go away and part with his Disciples he promises to send the spirit who should abide with them for ever and 't was by this spirit that they were born up and carried thorow all their work and the difficulties that attended it 3. Plead the Covenant one clause whereof is this I will not turn away â—from them to do them good and I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32. 40. Again he saith Jer. 3. 19. Thou shalt call me my Father and shalt not depart from me Prize these promises plead them believe them and as sure as God is faithful he will make you faithful whatever your sufferings or temptations be The Eighth Doctrine A Christians faithfulness must run parallel with his life to the death he must be stedfast This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the death may have a double interpretation 1. Be thou faithful to the death that is be thou unmovable though it cost thee thy life to be so Prefer not thy life before that Lord who laid down his life to redeem thee from death and who will recompence the loss of life temporal with that life that 's everlasting A Christian is to resist even unto blood striving against sin as the Apostle speaks he must choose rather to part with his blood than to lose his God 2. Be faithful to the death that is all thy dayes be faithful that when death comes and the Lord by death he may find thee doing his work doubling his talents standing up for his interest notwâ—thstanding all derision and opposition The Reasons why we should be faithful to the death are these 1. Much of the former part of our life hath been lost therefore all the remainder should be the more faithfully devoted to God The time past of our life may more than suffice to have dishonoured him therefore all the rest of our time in the flesh should be lived not to the lusts of men either our own lusts or the lusts of others but to the will of God 1 Pet. 4. 2 3. The whole was his due let him not be denyed that part which is behind 2. The longer we know our Lord and the closer we keep to him the better we shall like him therefore
and gazing at him whose glory should it but shine forth would overwhelm the most sanctified mortal here on earth And when the 〈◊〉 of God is seen the soul is all light all love All the excellencies and beauties in the creatures whereby affection is attracted in comparison of what is to be seen in God are not so much as the thousandth part of the least spark of fire compared with the Sun when it shines in its greatest strength and noon-tide glory The face of God will then be smooth not one frown to be seen not one look that will manifest the least displeasure Nothing but smiles and glorious aspects which will evidently shew the incomprehensible greatness of his love unto and joy that he takes in the perfectly purified vessels of glory 2. Another consequent of this union to God will be likeness to him But as for me sayes David I will behold thy face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Psal 17. 15. The sight of God will be transforming and that likeness will cause abundant satisfaction The beholding of the Lord in his ordinances does in a degree change us into the same image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. ult and much more the beholding of him in his kingdom 1 Joh. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Then the Image of God begun here will be compleated Here 't is but like a rude draught like a picture in dead colours but then the piece will have had Gods last hand upon it the work will be finished and Oh how exactly like will all the children be to their holy and heavenly Father Now they hunger and thirst after righteousness but then the promise of filling them will be fulfilled and performed to the uttermost 3. Another consequent of this union to God will be the full enjoyment of him The Saints paâ—t after the Lord now as the chased Hart after the water-brooks but in glory they shall have as much of God as they can desire or contain The holy Ghost tells us that God will be all in all 1 Cor. 15. 28. All that they can wish all sufficient to fill them to the brim The goodness and power and faithfulness and love of God have sometimes deep and sweet impressions on the Saints now But whot will the impressions then be how durable how transporting they shall lye as it were with their heads at the fountain of living waters perpetually no thirst no scantiness will be complained of These are the consequents of that near union and communion to God wherein this life above will consist 2. That life above will be most holy and unspotted Sin will be pardoned and quite and clean abolished Filia devâ—rabit Matrem Death the daughter will put an end to sin the mother Believers though alive by grace do carry a body of death about with them which makes the condition somewhat like theirs who fâ—ll into the hands of the Tyrant of old called Mezentins who Mortua jungebat corpora vivis Componenâ— manibusque manus atq oribus ora Virg. joyned the members of a living man to a dead carkass the hands and breast and face of the one to those of the other But when the Saints are come to glory the body of death will be â—illed though the natural body will be raised yet the body of sin will never have a resurrection Instead of Oh wretched who shall deliver us will be glory and everlasting praise to him who hath made us free from sin the worst of evils and from all the lesser miseries that attend it The Spouse of Christ will then be presented a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but 't will be holy and without blemish Eph. 5. 27. Then the blood of Christ will have had its perfect operation The Saints will be washed white as Snow they will look as white or whiter then Adam did in innocency All spots will be done off Every wrinkle wil be smoothed and the members every one of them like their head altogether lovely The Church is now fair as the Moon spots it hath with its fairness sometimes it waxes sometimes it wanes but when 't is translated to heaven 't will be clear as the Sun it self Canâ— 6. 10. 3. That life above will be most sweet and pleasant The Saints shall no longer cry out vanity and vexation of spirit as they did when under the Sun But God will wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things be past away Rev. 21. 4. When they come to live in the presence of God their Joy will be so full as to be un 〈…〉 able of any addition when they are at Gods right hand their pleasures will be for ever Even in this vail of tears there is a peace attended which passes all understanding a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory So that the Saints mouthes are songs in the house of their pilgrimage Oh then how short and unsuitable are out apprehensions of the pleasures dealt forth in the heavenly paradise 4. That life above will be most secure and safe Dangers will then be all gone thorow When we are entring into the gate of the New Jerusalem we shall shake hands with all the enemies that before molested us and not so much as one of them will be able to follow us The great gulph between us and them will keep them off at an everlasting distance There will be no danger either from within or from without No serpent in that paradise to tempt man again to fall from his restored innocency The heart will confired in goodness 't wil never have the least inclination to decline from God There will be no need of that vigilancy and standing upon our guard that now is necessary for our hearts will be perfectly cured of their deceitfulness and there will be no adversaries to lay snares for us 5. That life above will be most quiet and peaceable 'T is not improbable that in the latter dayes there will be a more peaceable Church state than as yet there hath been when that promise and others of the like nature will be more visibly accomplished Isa 11. 4 5 6 7 8 9. The Branch of Jesse with righteousness shall judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth he shall smite the earth with the Rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he sâ—â—y the wicked and righteousness shall be the girdle of his loyns and faithfulness the girdle of his reins The Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lye down with the Kid and the Calf and the young Lion and the
possession of the Kingdome He liveth and was dead and behold he is alive for â—vermore He is set down with his Father in his Throne and is gone thither partly to this end that he might fit Crowns and prepare Mansions for his persevering followers Joh. 14. 2. 4. A fourth Argument shall be drawn from the forâ—â—asts of this glorious life that at present are vouchsafed Life spiritual is Life eternal in the Bud and the Bud will at length be fully blown In Ordinances an heaven upon earth is somtimes enjoyed Oh then how are the things unseen made evident When faith and spiritual sense and experience go together then there is that which the Apostle calls a full assurance of understanding Col. 2. 2. 5. A fifth Argument shall be drawn from the earnest of the Spirit Eph. 1. 13 14. In whom after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the carnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his Glory And in other places we read of the â—arnest of the Spirit The Spirit of wisdome and revelation makes the Saints know what is the hope of their Calling and what the riches of their glorious inheritance And the Lord gives his Spirit not only to reveal this to them but as an earnest and pledge to assure them of it and that after they are made meet to be partakers of the life and glory which he hath promised they shall undoubtedly enjoy it I come at last to the Uses USE I. Of Instruction We may learn the woâ—ul condition of the ungodly a Crown there is but not for them a glorious life above but they shall dye the everlasting death By the ungodly I mean they that allow themselves in sin which the Word and Conscience tels them they ought to cast away Not only the open unbeliever but the secret hypocrite is concerned who is an unbeliever as well as the other When these do read of Heavens joyes it should fill them with sorrow to consider that their triumph will be but short and their joy will last but for a moment Job 20. 5. There are these Five things that will exceedingly aggravate the loss of life to the ungodly 1. This life was proffer'd often to the ungodly in the Gospel The Fountain of living waters was not a Fountain sealed but 't was set open and yet this Fountain was forsaken for the sake of broken Cisterns The Spirit and the Bride say come the Ministers of the Gospel say come and the sinners pressing necessity and want sayes Go and drink of the waters of life since thou mayest do it freely Rev. 22. 17. and yet he refuseth to accept the invitation Pardon goes as it were a begging and Glory a begging in the Gospel and yet neither are accepted though offered upon terms most just and reasonable Oh how will it torture the damned to reflect upon this that they would not come to Christ though life was assured upon their coming Joh. 5. 40. 2. 'T will heighten the misery of undone sinners to consider what they preferr'd before this Crown of life Oh where were their wits when sin was cherished in their hearts while Christ stood at the door When the world that is so empty so unstable â—o ensnaring was lookt upon as a better inheritance then that which is incorruptible 3. Some that perish have been not far from the kingdom The spirit of God hath striven their own spirits have been startled and almost perswaded to turn indeed and if they had done so they would have lived this crown had been their own But some sin or other was a cord to hold them fast some command wherein suffering self-denial strictness is enjoyned made them first demur then consulting with flesh and blood to take offence at Christ and so away And 't is an hightning of misery to have been near to happiness through our own fault and folly to have miss't of iâ— 4. The ungodly hereafter will have other apprehensions of this crown which they have slighted When they see the Prophets and Apostles and Saints in the Kingdom and do perceive what a lustre their crowns have what bliss and glory is their portion Oh how will they grow mad mad at themselves for grief and vexation that they were so soâ—tishly ignorant to contemn such a treasure 5. Despair of ever gaining that Crown of Life will seize upon them Now there is hope but hereafter the door of heaven and the door of hope too will be shut and never open'd more No prayers will be heard no tears will move compassion Christ the giver of life will say depart ye cursed and the invitation to come to him will be heard no more for ever How will desperation torture them when they consider what they have lost and how their loss is irreparable Fools they lived and fools they dyed and then after-wisdom cannot at all avail them Bring these things to mind consider and shew your selves men O ye transgressours When life and death were set before you why should death as the best of the two be chosen USE II. Of Examination It highly concerns all to examine whether they have a right to this Crown of life or no Most expect it but most will be ashamed of their ungrounded hope and expectation To help you against deceiving your own souls in this self-examination I shall describe those that have a title to this Crown that are indeed the heirs of life by these ensuing characters 1. They who have a right to the Crown of life are believers on the Son of God Joh. 3. ult He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life What is it to believe on Christ 'T is to recieve him as he is offered in the Gospel How is Christ offered in the Gospel As a Prince and as a Saviâ—ur Christ cannot be received as a Prince but the dominion of sin must be pulled down He cannot be received as a Saviour but our own righteousness and strength must be look't upon as insufficient and unavaluable to salvation He that thus hath accepted the Son hath life by him 1 Joh. 5. 11. This is thâ— record that God hath given us eternal life anâ— this life is in â—his Son seek it elsewhere 〈◊〉 you will never find it 2. They who are heirs to the Crown of life are quickned by the Spirit 'T is the Spirit that quickens Joh. 6. 63. Sometime they were dead in trespasses and sins but God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved them did quicken them by the holy Ghost Eph. 2. 4 They are alive to God his spirit dwels in them they breathe after him they walk in his wayes they do his work they aim at his glory And this life spiritual is the forerunner of and preparative to that which is eternal 3. They who are heirs to the Crown of life diligently hearken to the word of God
you to have taken it upon you I have Preached much to your incouragement Now I am taken off a sad silence is imposed on me Only my mouth is still open to the Lord for you that you may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God I could not have satisfied either you or my self unless in this my restraint and retirement I had written somthing that might be a furtherance to your faith joy in this hour of temptation The blessing of the Father of Spirits go along with this Book Oh that believers may be strengthened and refreshed by it And if enemies read it with an ill mind the Author wisheth that by reading it their minds may be changed and for their own sakes as well as his made better Nathanael Vincent ERRATA Before you read I pray correct these faults else the sense will be quite spoyled in some places PAge 37. Line 12. for confess read profess Page 43. line 14. for preservation read preservative Page 47. line 18. for doth uphold read do uphold Page 53. line 15. for offences read offenders Line 16. of the same page for heartily read presently Line 17. for very read many Line 18. for even read seven Page 77. line 10. for Goal house read Gatehouse Page 88. line 9. for ever read even Page 100. line 21. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Page 104. line 23. for religious enemies read enemies of Religion Page 107. line 3. for expressive read express Page 108. 116. for shal read should Page 109. line 1. for their read this Page 113. line 3. for loved read bestomed Page 119. line 12. blot out upon you Page 120. line 5. for but read best Page 121. line 27. for fear of God is seen read face of God is seen Page 123. line 27. for communion read coniunction Page 124 line 6. for fall read fâ—l Line 16. of the same Page for filled read killed Page 125. line 8. for unspeakable read uncapable Line 22. of the same Page for attended read attained Line 24. for mouths are songs read mouths are full of songs A COVERT FROM THE STORM Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life A Light is hung up at the porch of this Book which is so very mysterious the three first Chapters are more easy to be understood than those that follow Here the waters of the Sanctuary are but up to the head but presently they grow so deep as that the tallest must be fain to swim I am perswaded that one reason why the Holy Ghost speakes so sublimely is that man when he reads may sometimes lay aside the book and cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth and being the more humbly sensible of his own ignorance and weaknesses may pray with the greater earnestness that the Spirit who was the Inspirer would also be the Interpreter of the Revelation Seven Epistles or Letters dated from Heaven indited by the Son of God are sent to the seven Churches of Asia He who knew their works owns what is right taxes what was a miss and calls to repentance and amendmenâ— and charges them to hold fast those good things which they had received as being a treasure highly worth the keeping The Captain of their salvation encourages to quit themselves like men that overcoming they might in the end be crown'd The Text I have chosen lyes in the Epistle sent to the Church in Smyrna Poor they were in the World and yet rich towards God and it is not unlikely that for the securing of their spiritual riches as to worldly things they had been impoverished Christ knew their works and as their works so likewise their tribulation he knew also how to support them under the heaviest and most pressing burthens nay to render all their troubles advantagious by conducing to their more perfect purity and peace and therefore bids them in no wise to be afraid Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer c. Our Lord came to deliver not only from the sting of Death and from the curse of the Cross and affliction but from the fear of both The words may be analysed or resolved into three parts First Here 's a general encouragment against all kinds of suffering Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Secondly Among other sufferings imprisonment is specified and foretold where take notice 1. who is the procuring cause of imprisonment and he is the Devil 2. The persons imprisoned Some of you All the Saints shall not be in bonds together 3. The end of their imprisonment which their God aims at in permitting it 't is that they may be tryed 4. Although they have tribulation it shall not be long-liv'd it shall last but ten dayes that is a very short season Thirdly We have a strict charge given Be thou faithful and that even to the death Perseverance must run parallel with our lives Fourthly A sure and glorious promise perswading to this faithfulness and enduring to the end I will give thee a Crown of life Here 's a Crown a word that carries great dignity and advancement This Crown is a Crown of life or a living Crown The Garland that 's put upon the heads of triumphant Saints will never wither their Crown will never fade there will be no death to throw it off again when once they have received it This Crown shall be given to shew that what they do or can do bears no proportion to such a reward Neither their active nor passive obedience is meritorious Grace Grace must be written round the Crown of glory because freely bestowed I will give this Crown sayes Christ I who have purchased it by my death who have it in my keeping who am the Lord of glory and alive for evermore The text is very fruitful and affords several very excellent and useful points of Doctrine I shall raise these nine which flow naturally from the words and insist upon them all The first Doctrine is this He that will be a Saint shall be a sufferer The second this No sufferings should cause the Saints to be afraid The third this Among other troubles sâ—me Believers endure bonds and imprisonment The Fourth this The Devil is the imprisoner of Believers The Fifth this That Saints are imprisoned that they may be tryed The Sixth this The Tribulation of Believers will not last alwayes after ten dayes that is a short time a period will be put to it The Seventh Doctrine is this Whatsoever sufferings a Christian is exposed to he must be faithful The Eighth this A Christians faithfulness must run parallel with his life to the very death he must be stedfast The Ninth and last is this Vpon those who continue faithful to the death Christ