to a fact every man is a debtor to the truth and is bound as a man to bear Testimony Christ telleth Pilate John 18.37 to this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth but when I speak of the testimony that every good Christian is bound to give I understand it not thus largely for though it be that every good man is under an obligation to testifie the truth in any cause yet the Ministers of the Gospel and every good Christian is under a more special obligation to give testimony to some truths and these are the truths of the Gospel the truths that relate to Jesus Christ this is that the text calleth the Testimony of our Lord which may be taken in a double sense 1. Either for that Testimony which our Lord bare of himself 2. Or the Testimony which every good Christian is bound to give to the truths of the Gospel Christ bare a Testimony of himself he testified that he was the son of God that he was the King of Zion that he was the true Messiah but I understand it yet larger every Minister of the Gospel and every good Christian is obliged to bear a Testimony to the great truths of the Gospel which relate to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour there is a Testimony which he ought to bear to those Propositions of truth and to those matters of fact which the Gospel containeth and relateth concerning Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world 3. The third thing which is considerable in a Testimony is the way of giving it the proper giving a Testimony is by the words of our mouth either with an oath or without an oath it is one thing for a man to believe a Proposition and another thing for him to give Testimony to a Proposition he believeth a Proposition that hearing it doth in heart consent and agree to it that the Predicate is well fitted to the Subject whether he speaketh a word yea or no but he testifieth that with his words owneth and declareth his faith Rom. 10.10 For with the heart man believeth unto Righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation It is not enough for a Christian secretly in his heart to agree to the truths of the Gospel but he is bound to give a Testimony If thou shalt therefore confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved You may observe there are two things made necessary to to Salvation 1. A heart believing the Proposition of the Gospel 2. An external confession or profession There is a double confession a Christians duty 1. A confession of sin 2. A confession of truth Either confession is an open acknowledgment with our lips thus you read in Scripture frequently of confessing of Christ only it may be there is this difference betwixt a Testimony and confession any open asserting vindicating and defending Christ and his Gospel is giving a Testimony but when it is done in the face of Enemies in despight of opposition this is confession Matth. 10.32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven Luke 12.8 whosoever shall confess me before men thus John 12.42 Many believed on him but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him So that the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ signifieth that open acknowledgment of Christ and profession of the truths of the Gospel relating to Christ which is the duty of every good Christian Qu. 2. What is here meant by the afflictions of the Gospel The Original doth something differ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suffer thou evils together with the Gospel where the Gospel is brought in as if it were a Person by a figure a Person that is subject to evils Timothy is exhorted to suffer evil with the Gospel this leads me to the consideration what those afflictions are what those evils are to which the Gospel is subjected there are several evils to which the Gospel is subjected or rather evils from three sorts of persons 1. From the true Professors of it such as own Christ in truth and sincerity 2. From the false and seeming Professors of it 3. From the professed enemies of it The afflictions of the Gospel are the afflictions which men are subjected to from their owning and professing of the Gospel and these I say are from 3 sorts of Persons 1. From such as are the true and sincere professors of it they may bite and devour one another and be thorns and goads in one anothers sides These commonly are so from one of these two heads 1. From an overheated zeal for the maintaining of different apprehensions in some matters of truth 2. From such corruptions as do attend Gods people considered as men made up of flesh and blood 1. From an immoderate zeal for the maintaining of different apprehensions in some matters of truth truth is an uniform thing and is but one two contradictory Propositions cannot be true but since the fall of man none have the same apprehensions there are different apprehensions concerning truth it is true we have the promise of the Spirit of truth to guide us and to lead us into all truth but the sense of the promise must not be extended so far that because all Christians have the spirit of God therefore they shall all be guided that they shall not have misapprehensions in a Proposition of truth they shall be guided into all necessary truth they shall not miscarry in any apprehension of truth upon which the salvation of their Souls depend but they may be mistaken as to a multitude of particular Propositions one may judge one thing and another another thing yet they all hold the foundation the fundamental truths of the Gospel but they may have very different apprehensions as to some particular truths now through an over-weaning opinion of our own apprehensions there are very great differences and also hard censurings and condemnings of one another and these are great afflictions but such as have attended the Gospel from the very beginning they were such different apprehensions that caused the first Christian Synod Acts 15.1 Some came and taught the necessity of circumcision such differences there were Rom. 14.2 For one believeth he may eat all things another who is weak eateth herbs hence they judged despised condemned and censured one another and the Apostle persuadeth to a friendly carriage one towards another a mutual forbearance one of another in these different apprehensions in matters of truth of a lighter nature mens immoderate zeal for their own opinions have in all times begot great heats and have caused great afflictions to the Ministers of the Gospel and to the Professors of it and have been a great root of bitterness amongst Gods own people we have seen enough of it in the age
but yet they are not all of equal import the nature of Propositions doth very much differ 1. According to what doth depend upon them 2. According to the evidence that they have in Scripture 1. According to what dependeth upon them Some Propositions of truth are the foundation look as it is with the foundation of a House take it away and the whole Building tumbleth to the ground So there are some Propositions of the Gospel that the whole Fabrick of Gospel truths lieth upon them the whole Body of truth is built upon them here now the Obligation of our Testimony lieth higher and riseth higher and further but there is no truth that we are not debtors unto 2. According to the evidence that they have in the Gospel there are different apprehensions concerning truth for although the Gospel hath revealed all truth yet not all with the same evidence so that Christians have differed concerning truth and every man as he believeth so he ought to speak so he ought to live but the apprehensions that some men have had that they are bound to give a Testimony to every Proposition of truth which they do in heart imbrace hath begot a great deal of stir the Apostle giveth another Rule when he saith Hast thou Faith Have it to thy self before God There are some Propositions of which a Christian may have a particular perswasion and of which he may be very confident of the truth of them but yet they will not bear the weight of a Testimony to the disturbance of the Church of Christ now a good Christian ought to regulate his Testimony accordingly Qu. 2. What kind of Testimony is that which a good Christian is bound to give unto the Lord I will open this to you in seven or eight particulars 1. He ought to give a knowing believing Testimony there is a Testimony of Faith and a Testimony of Faction that Man giveth a Testimony of Faith that doth in his Heart believe what he with his Mouth confesseth and as the Apostle saith as he believeth so he speaketh So in this case a Christian must speak as he believeth and when he speaketh and owneth and defendeth a truth because he believeth it to be the eternal truth of God this is a Testimony of Faith but then there is a Testimony of Faction when a man runs with a multitude to attest a truth and crieth for it but understandeth not and believeth not what he professeth I would have every Christian not to be ashamed of the Testimony of Christ but I would have him be sure that it be a Testimony of Faith that he giveth not a Testimony of Faction for a man to give a Testimony to truth if it be in Faction it is abomination to God whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin The word not mingled with Faith profiteth not and a Testimony not given in Faith signifieth nothing Oh! Christians beware of this that none of you in this day be factious Professors be not ashamed of the Testimony of your Lord. But first see that you understand it see that your selves believe it to be a good Testimony a Man or Woman will have very little peace or comfort in giving a Testimony to that which either he knoweth not or in Heart believeth not when a Man believeth and therefore speaketh he speaketh that with his Lips which his Soul hath first examined and he seeth bottomed in the Word of God and in Heart agreeth and assenteth to this is his Testimony take this note with you in every Testimony let it be vocal or real let it be a Testimony of Faith not a Testimony of Faction and a meer running along with a cry like the rout of Ephesus when Acts 19.32 Some cried one thing some another for the Assembly was confused and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together 2. It must be a Loving Testimony or it is not accepted Faith and Love mâ—st be the principles of all those actions that do or can speak any obedience unto the Will of God if a Man receiveth the truth and not in the love of it it is of no effect as whatsoever is not of faith is Sin so whatsoever is done and not out of love is not accepted of God Love is that which giveth the sweet savour to all our doings and to all our sufferings for God If saith the Apostle I give all my goods to the poor and my Body to be burnt if I have not love it is all nothing Let a man give never so great a Testimony to Christ if he doth not this out of love it is out of some evil principle of contradiction or faction or some stubbornness of Spirit and God accepteth it not it is not a Christians saying I am for the true Doctrine I am for pure Worship and I am for the Kingly Government of Christ but his doing this out of a true pleasure and delight in these things out of a true love to God and zeal for the glory of God And this is another thing that I fear in a crowd that give Testimony in an evil time as that some testifie they know not what so that others testifie rather out of a principle of contradiction or fullenness than out of a true principle of love to Ordinances and truths hence you shall observe that as in a serene and fair time there are a multitude of Professors that are like Swallows that will stay with the Gospel in its Summer time so you shall observe there are a multitude of others that in a time of opposition especially when the Persecution reacheth not high busie to give their Testimony to truth which when they may imbrace freely they never regard and make no conscience of you have an example of both these at home on the one side we had a company of Professors that have now forsaken us and fled and embraced this present World in a time of temptation they are gone away and you shall observe a multitude of others that cried out lately for Sacraments and against robbing Christians of the Sacrament of the Supper the great pledge of Christs Love Now that none hindreth their coming to them they regard not the Sacrament both these were sick of the same Disease they gave or thought they gave some testimony to their Lord but their Testimony was equally acceptable to God neither the one nor the other was out of a love in their heart to Christ and to his truth and ordinances but meerly out of faction and turbulency of Spirit or for some base worldly end I would have you own the Testimony of Christ I would have you fear being ashamed of it as you would fear that Christ should be ashamed of you at the day of Judgment I would have you â—onfess him as you would have him to confess you as you would expect he should confess you But be sure you give your Testimony out of love as what you know and in heart truly believe
and agree to so out of a burning love and zeal in your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ 3. Our Testimony ought to be a Judicious Testimony it is one thing that God requireth when we swear that it should be in truth righteousness and judgment Thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in truth righteousness and judgment Swearing is an Attestation a Solemn Attestation of a truth The Testimony which I am now speaking to is not necessary to be performed by Oath though we ought not to refuse if called to that but as it must be to the truth in righteousness so it must be in judgment The judgment that I would have attend the Testimony of which I am now speaking is not a judgment that the thing is true the truth of Christ but that it is a truth of that nature that will bear the weight of such a Testimony too as it must bear if it bear any for I must tell you though truth all truth be a very sacred pin yet every such pin hath not an equal degree of strength and will not bear a like weight I am afraid we have too loud a Testimony to some truths which though they may have spoken the faith of Christians and their love yet have not spoken the Wisdom and Prudence of Christians such Testimonies were those the Christians gave Rom. 14. For things that were in themselves of an indifferent nature and yet Christians on either side were too warm Any Christian is thus far bound to give his Testimony to every truth as not to deny it 2. In his own particular practice to own it but we ought not to make a party for every truth Now this dependeth upon this great truth That though there be no truth of God but we ought to own and being convinced of to Practise yet there are some truths of God as to which God willeth not that we should be contentious For God hath given his people a Latitude in them without hazard of their Salvation and therefore we must give our Testimony to truth with prudence a prudential judging of the weight and value of a truth before we give a zealous Testimony to it 4. Our Testimony must be with prudence Prov. 8.12 I Wisdom dwell with Prudence Wisdom doth often signify Grace and truly all true Grace in a Soul should dwell with Prudence we are commanded to be wise as Serpents and to walk circumspectly not as fools Matth. 10.16 but as wise there is a great deal of prudence to be used in giving our Testimony to our Lord our Lord himself if you observe him did it with prudence and we ought to let our Wisdom dwell with Prudence This Prudence must not be extended so far as to deny any necessary truth or to dissemble so as to declare our selves against it or not to own it for it must be such a prudencâ— as is opposed to impiety if there be a failure in piety there can be no prudence Prudence doth not so much respect the doing or the not doing of the thing as the manner of the doing of it In general we then give our Testimony with prudence when we give it without any just offence to Jew Gentile or the Church of Christ a Testimony of our Lord may be spoiled by the heighth of our Spirit through pride shewed in judging contemning and despising of others or through the boisterousness and the passion of our Spirits or by our noise and clamours so that to the prudence of a Testimony there are three things required 1. Humility in opposition to Pride Pride is a Colloquintida that maketh all our Messes of duty and Service to God bitter God abhorreth the proud he abhorreth a haughty and contentious Spirit he giveth grace to the humble and he accepteth his Testimony Paul saith Acts 20.19 He served the Lord with all humility of mind We are bid to put on humility of mind Col. 3.12 and 1 Pet. 5.5 To be clothed with humility Humility is our garment a Christian must do nothing but in humility in what he doth in the service of God there must be a vein of humility and in that part of our service to God where humility is wanting in that part a Christian always walketh naked and Men see his shame a fastidious scornful contemning sufferer is no Christian sufferer â— Another thing is meekness with respect to passion This is often called for we are bid to put it on Col. 3.12 And the Minister is to instruct in meekness those that are without The Apostle beseecheth you by the weakness of Christ meekness is opposed to frowardness and passion a passionate Testimony to a truth is at best but an imprudent and indiscreet Testimony The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God 3. A third thing that commendeth a Testimony is courtesy in opposition to morosity and soureness when Festus told Paul That much Learning had made him mad he answered I am not mad most noble Festus Observe with how much complement Paul speaketh to Festus and others while he was bearing testimony unto the truth of God the soureness and morosity of a Christians behaviour in bearing his testimony maketh his testimony more unlovely and not so prudent as it ought to be 4. A Fourth thing is peaceableness The Servants of God must not strive there is nothing more asperseth the Gospel and the Profession of it then the imprudence of a Professor of it in the managery of his business 5. Your Testimony unto God must be uniform and sincere it cannot be uniform if it be not sincere the testimony of the Life must agree with the testimony of the Lips you know a Witness that contradicteth his testimony doth by it make his testimony invalid he that liveth contrary to his Profession giveth himself the lye he testifieth with his Lips but he denieth in his Life The Apostle telleth us of some Titus 1.16 They profess that they know God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate You shall observe therefore that when the Devil at any time gave a testimony to a Truth concerning Christ and the Apostles they constantly refused and would not hear him speak the testimony of one of the Children of the Devil is rather a dishonour and weakning of the Truth than any strengthning and credit and confirmation a Man that is Holy in his Life bearing testimony with his Lips is a great Servant of God he by his Mouth declareth what he believeth and by his Life he declareth that he doth indeed not mock and dissemble with the World but he believeth what he professeth to believe You shall see in some cases some foolish Witnesses do more hurt than good so a Christian may do more mischief than good to the Gospel of Christ by his owning of it and professing to it 6. Let it be a bold and undaunted Testimony he is a good Witness in a cause who speakest modestly and with all
and become medicinal instead of being venemous Our natural passions are corrected either by Reason or by Grace the first working to its due height doth a great deal toward it It were no hard matter to give you a multitude of Instances of Heathens in this case from the operation of Moral Philosophy But alas what is the force of that operation compared with the operation of the Holy Spirit powerfully commanding and bowing of our Souls to a compliance with the Divine Will and commending to us the infinite Divine Wisdom in the dispensations of Providence O the felicity of a Child of God! if the Apostle hath in my Text given a true account of him he swimmeth like Cork upon the waters of all afflictions all troubles you cannot sink him he lies like Flint in the fire of affliction and is only purged and made more clean and bright by it Evils come to him as the Prince of this World came to his Lord but can do nothing against him because they meet with nothing in him to make them bitter and heavy 2. Nay here is not all Afflictions do not only not hurt him but they prove of exceeding great high advantage to him he is not only not distressed but he is refined purged and made more white they are to him as the refining pot for the silver and the furnace for the Gold He is not only not in despair but his Tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope such an hope as will not make his Soul ashamed He is not only not forsaken but he ordinarily never more experienceth the power wisdom and goodness of God even the most high God He is not only not destroyed but through much tribulation he entereth into the Kingdom of God his light and momentany afflictions work for him a far more eternal and exceeding weight of Glory And turn unto him for a Testimony Luke 21. v. 13. But of this argument I may possibly speak more hereafter VSE 4th Fourthly This discourse sheweth the vanity of wicked men in troubling the People of God On every side perplexing persecuting them and casting them down They onely satisfy their malice treasure up to themselves wrath that 's all It is a pitiful fruit of an Enemies malice if he cannot break ones Spirit distress him put him into despair destroy him What did Julian get by all his rage when he was at last but put to it in a rage to throw his dagger up to Heaven and cry Vicisti Galilaee O thou Galilean thou hast overcome When wicked men have done their worst if they cannot put Christians into distresses into despair c. They must at last cry their enemies are conquerors yea they are more then conquerours through Christ that loved them What did that bloody Bishop Bonner get by all his rage when he was forced at last to cry out A vengeance on them I think they love to burn Nay their Vanity appeareth yet further in this they cannot only not break their Spirits or Spoil their joys or hopes but they commonly add to them Christians ordinarily never finding more peace more joy in the Holy Ghost more satisfaction in their own Spirits more of the presence of God c. There are many that can say before we were hunted and persecuted we had more doubts more fears of our eternal state of the truth of our Spiritual habits since we were thus hunted God hath not so filled us with his terrors we have not so many doubts or fears we live in a clear view of our own sincerity and we have learned less to go astray VSE 5th Fifthly this discourse ought to quicken every one to inquire whether he or she be of those who if they should happen to meet with the troubles mentioned in in this Text yet might hope to meet with the relief and support of the Text. You will say to me how shall we know that I answer if we wistly look upon what goeth before and what followeth after in this Chapter we shall find it no difficult matter to conclude what we may hope for in a day of trouble of this nature 1. See v. 6. These that Saint Paul speaks of were such as that God who commandeth light to shine out of darkness had shined into their hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ God makes the light of the Knowledge of the glory of God to shine into mens hearts for a double end To shew them the truths of the Gospel and the way to everlasting life that their own Souls may be saved in the day of Christ hence enlightned regenerated Souls who were once darkness are said to become light in the Lord Eph. 5.8 2. That they may communicate this light unto others either by Doctrine which is the work of the Ministers of the Gospel or by an holy and exemplary life and conversation upon which account as well others as Ministers are compared Matth. 5. to a light lighted up in an house and commanded that their light should shine unto men that men might see their good works and glorify their Father which is in Heaven This is not the priviledge of the latter only but of the former also persons into whose Souls the light of the Gospel hath shined in the face of Jesus Christ who have received Christ as their Saviour believed in him given up themselves unto him Psal 91. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty Such as have chosen God for their God Christ for their Saviour as have said of the Lord he is my refuge and my fortress my God in him I will trust These are those whom the Lord will deliver from the snare of the fouler c. And of whom he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 2. Secondly they are such as suffer in the exercise of that calling to which God hath called them Paul here speaks of such as had received a Ministry v. 1. and discharged it faithfully not handling the Word of God deceitfully v. 2. Such as preached not themselves but the Lord Jesus v. 5. God is present with men in their callings not in their extravagances if good men will go out of their road they must not expect Gods company or Christs presence with them But if they be in the way in which God hath set them in the station wherein God hath fixed them and meet with trouble on every side they may expect that they shall not be distressed they shall not be in despair they shall not be forsaken 3. They must be such as have renounced the things of dishonesty And commend themselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God v. 2. Such as the the life of Christ is made manifest in their mortal flesh v. 11. A good man may find himself distressed in a day when trouble is on every
as to this Which the Lord the Rigâ—teous Judge will give to them who love his appearance if it be a guilt it is not paid for nor can it be thought that the love of Christs appearance should be judged a proportionable price to a Crown A Crown is a thing above a Purchase 2. But it may be called so with reference to Christs Righteousness By his Righteousness saith the Prophet or By his knowledge shall my Righteous Servant justify many Isa 53.11 Rom. 8.30 for he shall bear their iniquities and whom he justifyed them he also glorifyed saith the Apostle The Heavens were to be Sprinkled with his blood before we could have any entrance into them He dyed as well as ascended that he might prepare a place for us in those blessed Mansions The Saints Crowns are the Purchase of Christs Righteousness 3. Thirdly It may be so called with reference to Gods Righteousness and that whether we take Righteousness as signifying Justice or Truth and faithfulness If we take Righteousness as signifying Justice If saith the Apostle we confess our sins he is faithful and just 1 Joh. 1.9 to forgive us our sins God is just to give his Son the Travel of his Soul The fruit of his purchase If we take it as signifying Truth or faithfulness So also the glory of Heaven is a Crown of Righteousness as it is a promised reward what the truth of God in many promises stands ingaged for 4. Lastly It is also a Crown of our Righteousness That is the noble and ample reward of our Righteousness The reward not of debt but of grace Estius would have it called the Crown of Righteousness because purchased or merited by our works or our Righteousness but that place Psal 103.4 much troubleth him Psal 103.4 Who crowneth thee with loving kindness he pretendeth some answer to it but that is the least we have to say against the merit of works God useth not to Crown menstruous Cloaths or filthy Raggs He useth not to Crown our works but his own works in us yea he himself is the Crown of his people Isaiah 28.5 The Lord himself shall be a Crown of glory and a diadem of beauty for the residue of his people 3. Qu. How is this Crown said to be laid up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The same word is used to the same Sense Colos 1.5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven Criticks observe That it is used to express such a laying aside or laying up as when a thing is laid up for a future use or a future provision as when men lay up for their Children So we shall find it used in Mat. 25. in the parable of the Talents to express the action of him who having but one Talent laid it up in a napkin Once in Scripture I find it used in another sense Heb. 9.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is appointed for all men once to dye and that by the way giveth some further light into this Text the Crown of Righteousness is laid up for the Saints in the Eternal Counsels of God in this sense it is called The Kingdom prepared for them Matth. 25.34 before the foundation of the world The word importeth 1. The Preparation or designation of something for the use of some particular person 2. The Reservation of it or the safe keeping of it for those persons for whom it is so designed and prepared There is a Crown of Righteousness designed by God for some laid up in Gods decree and eternal thoughts for them from before the foundation of the World and laid up that is safely reserved and kept for them secured by the immutability of Gods will and counsel for he is not as man that he should lye nor as the Son of man that he should repent I have now done with the first Proposition I pass to the second Prop. 2. That those to whom the Righteous Judge will give this Crown must be such who have fought the good fight Finished their course kept the faith and who love the appearance of our Lord Jesus We must inquire into the meaning of all these Q. 1. What is this to fight the good fight Here are two things 1. What is this good fight 2. What fighting is here meant 1. The calling of it the good fight imports that there are some bad fights 1. There is a fighting against God This is a bad fight in all senses It is that Rebellion which Samuel said is as the sin of Witchcraft It is the Rebellion of the Creature against the Creator of the Clay against the Potter of the Child against the Father It is a bad fight in the nature of it and it is alwaies bad in the issue of it It is a setting of briars and thorns against God in battel a kicking against the pricks as our Lord told Paul Acts 9. yet the world was alwaies full of Hectors hardy enough to engage in this fight there are such as are fighters against God and indeed all sinners are such in heart though they some of them keep their hands in their pockets but such Persecutors and such as set themselves in opposition to the Gospel and the Interest of God in the world in opposition to the Truth and True Worship and Ordinances of God such as set themselves against a Gospel-Ministry and against Holiness these are all fighters against God This now is the bad fight materially bad and what will be found so Eventually 2. There is also a fighting against men on civil accounts which is a bad fight indeed most Wars are so at least on one side Wars are State Physick and when they are so used and made they are good otherwise they are bad In all Wars one Army is made up of Murderers Both sides cannot be right We are commanded to seek Peace and insue it as much as in us lieth to have peace with all men Wars are not to be used as sports The word which is here translated good signifieth fair wholesom noble excellent Thus you read of the Tree that bringeth forth good fruit Mat. 7.17 And Christ saith that the woman which had spent her box of Ointment upon him had done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a good work Mat. 26.10 that is an excellent noble praise-worthy work as our Saviour in the next words expounds himself saying That wheresoever the Gospel should be preached that which she had done should be told for a memorial of her But what is this good fight which Paul saith he had fought He expoundeth himself 1 Tim. 6.12 Fight the good fight of faith Faith is the combatant grace it is that by which we get the Victory But who are the Enemies with which this good fight is to be fought Who can they be but the three great Enemies of our Souls the World the Flesh and the Devil Paul fought them all and so must every one fight them all who will put in his claim to the Crown of
and in this part of the Church wherein the Lord hath cast our lot 2. Another root of this bitterness hath been Those passions that the best of men have been subject to Elijah was a great man of God yet Jam 5.17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are and the Apostle writing to the Corinthians telleth them 1 Cor. 3.3 Whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are you not carnal the Apostle telleth us Jam. 4.5 that the Spirit that is in us lusteth to envy Envy is a peevish passion it maketh us to repine at the good of another and though it ought to be rooted out of the heart of Gods people and is in a great measure yet something of it remaineth and it is very often seen that when some Ministers of the Gospel excel others in Parts or in Grace or private Christians so exceed through this lust of envy which is in the hearts of others they are exposed to censures and to be evil spoken of others grudging at them which are all fruits of the old man which are in us strife and contention Acts 15.39 And the contention was so sharp betwixt them that they departed asunder one from the other the difference betwixt Paul and Barnabas was so very small that it was onely whether they should carry John with them yea or no but it waxed so hot that Paul and Barnabas upon it left one another Paul went one way and Barnabas went another way these are some of the afflictions of the Gospel not caused by the Gospel but incident to them who promote the Gospel 2. But a second sort of men that raise up afflictions to the Ministers and Professors of the Gospel are false Brethren men who have received the truth but not in the love of it who from some lusts would pervert the Gospel of Christ and become great enemies to the sincere Professors of it and that chiefly two ways 1. By broaching and publishing some Doctrines that are contrary to the truths of the Gospel the Apostle experienced some of these in the first beginning of the Gospel no sooner was the Gospel preached in Galatia but there arose some that troubled them and would pervert the Doctrine of Christ upon this account it is that the Apostle to the Philippians calleth the Jews those of the concision St. John telleth you of many Antichrists that arose in his time so as you read something of this in almost every Epistle of the Apostles these things have constantly given a great deal of trouble to the faithful Ministers of the Gospel and also them who have been the sincere Professors of it 2. By aspersing the faithful Ministers and Professors of the Gospel to lessen their reputation and make them odious unto people sometimes affixing crimes to them that they never designed in their hearts sometimes by aspersing them as weak unlearned men you shall see this was a great art they used against St. Paul as you will observe by reading over the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians and his Epistles to the Corinthians this maketh him speak so much in his own defence and in the commendation and magnifying of his Office nay they speak of him as if he were a reprobate they sought a proof of Christ in him 2 Cor. 13.3 which caused him to say Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me which to you-ward is not weak v. 4. for we also are weak in him but we shall live with him by the power of God he saith v. 6. But I trust you shall know we are not reprobates v. 7. I pray to God that you do no evil but that you should do that which is honest though we be as reprobates These are a sort and kind of afflictions which the Gospel of Christ hath always met with in the true Professors of it now the root of this is nothing but wrath and malice and envy lust liveth and reigneth in the hearts of such who though they have made a profession of the truth yet they never received it in the love of it 3. The afflictions of the Gospel are those afflictions which are brought upon the faithful Ministers and Professors of the Gospel for their Profession from the open and professed enemies of it now these are to be considered in their kinds and in their causes In their kinds In short they are all sorts of external afflictions man can kill the body and hurt the outward man but he can do no more but so far as they can they will go reproaches and calumnies respecting men in their honour and reputation rifling their estates casting them into Prisons taking away their lives in short whatsoever can be afflictive to the outward man for there are no sort of external afflictions but we shall find that the true and sincere Professors of the Gospel have met with James was killed with the Sword Stephen was stoned to death the Apostles were often imprisoned others as the Apostle saith had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings yea of bonds and imprisonments they were stoned they were sawn asunder they were tempted they were slain with the Sword they wandered about in Sheep-skins and in Goat-skins being tormented of whom the world was not worthy the story of Scripture and the story of the several Martyrs doth sufficiently tell us what the afflictions of the Gospel are but why the Gospel should suffer such things or men should suffer such things for the publishing owning and professing the Gospel may seem a little wonderful and deserveth a further enquiry for if we consider the nature of the Gospel the very import of the word is no other then a good message or good tidings the Angel gave the Gospel its true name when he proclaimed Luke 2.10 behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people So as there is nothing in the whole systeme of the Gospel that can deserve any hatred of it the Gospel is nothing else but that good saying that Jesus Christ is come into the world to save Sinners That God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should have everlasting life what hath Christ done or what is there in the Gospel that should provoke the lusts and passions of men to give any opposition that there should be any affliction entailed to the Gospel 1. I answer the true root of this lieth in that enmity which God hath set betwixt the Woman and her seed and the Serpent and his seed you have it Gen. 3.15 And I will put enmity betwixt thee and the Woman and betwixt thy seed and her seed the Womans seed was Christ the Serpents seed are vile wicked and ungodly men there is an enmity an implacable enmity betwixt these two and so long as the world endureth this enmity will abide and the Devil will be managing a design to drive Christ and the Gospel of Christ
as much discredit so as it fareth with the strict Professors of it as it did with the Gospel at first Acts 28.22 For as concerning this Sect we know that every where it is spoken against Now is the time for a Man to try himself whether he will be ashamed of the Testimony of Christ we have seen it in the very times that we have lived in the Gospel and the Profession of it hath been a credit unto Men it hath been Mens greatest honour to profess the Gospel with the greatest strictness God hath turned the Tables upon us and we now live in a time when as the Prophet saith Isa 59.14 15. Judgment is turned away backward and Justice standeth afar off for truth is fallen in the street and equity will not enter And he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey when it is a reproach to be a godly man now if at such a time as this a Man thinketh it beneath him to stand up for the truths or Christ to own the Ministers of Christ and give a Testimony for Christ this Maâ— is ashamed of the Testimony of Christ 〈◊〉 hinted to you before there is a differenâ—â— betwixt being afraid and being ashamed 〈◊〉 good Christian may be sometimes afraid 〈◊〉 a day of great temptation but he is never ashamed but when a Man is ashamed that he thinketh it beneath him to profess the truth or to own the Professors of it this Man is ashamed of the Gospel but if a Christian at such a time findeâ—â— his Heart cleaveth to the interest of God and to the true Servants of God though he may be under some temptation of fear and 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 so much as another it is a great infirmity but it is not a being ashamed of Christs Testimony 2. When no temptation can prevail upon as to live a Conversation contrary to the Gospel Every Man is obliged to give a double Testimony to the Lord a vocal Testimony and a real Testimony we give a real Testimony unto Christ when we dare practically live up to the avowed truths of the Gospel in the vilest and worst of times it is true we are obliged to a vocal as well as a real Testimony and a good Christian doth not discharge his duty in giving testimony to the Gospel by a meer living up to the Rules of it there is something more required of a Christian than this But it is as true that neither doth a Christian give a Testimony to the Gospel that openly professeth and owneth it in the face of its enemies unless he liveth up to the rules of it nay indeed that Man who talketh for the Gospel and liveth not up to the rule of it giveth a Testimony against the Lord instead of giving a Testimony for him what hath any Man to do to take the Word of God into his mouth when he hateth to be reformed and casteth the Law of the Gospel behind his back But that Man or Woman who truly liveth up to the rule of the Gospel in Apostatizing and declining times is not ashamed of his Testimony though perhaps some fear of temptation may not make him so bold for God as another yea as some hypocritical and false Professors 3. When a Man is truly afflicted for the sufferings of others who suffer for the Profession of the Gospel 2 Cor. 11.29 Who is weak and I am not weak who is offended and I burn not When a good Christian can say of himself and say it in truth what Minister what good Christian what companion of Christ is afflicted and persecuted and I am not afflicted for them I burn not in their Fires Now this Sympathy with our Fellow-members when it is in truth will discover it self many ways 1. It is first discernable a Man 's own Heart When no circumstance of a Man's felicity or prosperity can ballance his sense of the afflictions of others you have a notable instance of this in Nehemiah Chap. 2. v. 1. He was Cup-bearer to the King and had not used before to be sad in his presence v. 2. The King said unto me why is thy countenance sad seeing thou art not sick This is nothing else but sorrow of heart He answered v. 3. Why should not my countenance be sad when the City the place of my Fathers Sepulchres lieth waste and the Gates thereof are consumed with Fire It is said Esther 3.15 The King and Haman sat down to drink but the City Shiâ—â—â—â— was perplexed That Man is not a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel that can so down to drink that can be merry as at other times when the interest of Religion is under-foot but that Man is a true partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel whose Heart burneth for the afflictions of others who suffer for the truths and Gospel of Christ 2. Our being a partaker of the afflictions of others is evident When we do what in 〈◊〉 lieth to relieve them Communicating with their afflictions and to their afflictions helping to bear one anothers Burdens and so fulfilling the Law of Christ Gal. 6.2 So then it is the Law of Christ for Christians to bear one anothers Burdens They should bear them upon their own Spirits having great sorrow of heart and affliction They should bear them before the Lord when ever we go to God as the High-Priest carried upon his Breast the Names of all the Children of Israel so we should carry the Names of all the true Professors and in the first place the Names of all those who suffer for the Name of Christ and we should help and bear them with our hands too Remembring those who are bound as if we were bound with them forasmuch as we are in the Body Use 3. In the last place Let me perswade with you a little for this duty of not being ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord nor of any of his Prisoners and being partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel 1 Not to be ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord Now in speaking to this branch of Application I will enquire 1. To what of Christ this Testimony is due whether to all Propositions concerning Christ or to some only 2. What kind of Testimony it must be that it may be accepted of the Lord 3. What Arguments ought to prevail with us to partake of the afflictions of the Gospel 4. What directions may be useful in the case Qu. 1. To what of Christ is this Testimony due The proper Object of a Testimony is a Proposition or a Fact the truth of one or the other Now the Propositions that relate unto Christ are of several natures of different natures and of different moment Some concern the Doctrine of Faith some concern the Worship of God some concern the Kingly Office of the Lord Jesus Christ some concern the Rule of a Christians Life I know no Proposition of the Gospel but a Christian is a debter to and ought to bear a Testimony unto