Mordecai's name was Registred in the Chronicles of Persia Ejih 6. 1 2 3. And Iamerlane had always by him a Catalogue of his best Servants and their good deserts which he daily perused Judge But Sixthly and lastly There is a Book of Life Rev. 20. 12. And another book was opened which is the book of life the Book of Life is the Book of all those that were elected and redeemed to life through Christ Jesus This Book of Life containeth a Register of such particular persons in whose Salvation God from all Eternity determined to have his mercy glorified and for whom Christ merited Faith Repentance and perseverance that they should repent believe and be finally saved The book of life shall be opened that is to say the Decrees of God will be then published and made known which now are sealed up in his breast and locked up in his Archives Then it will be seen who are appointed to life for the glorifying of God's free rich and Soveraign Grace and whom he purposed to leave in their sins and to perish for ever for the exaltation of his Justice 'T is called A Book of Life not that God hath need of a Book but to note the certainty of Predestination viz. that God knows all and every of the Elect even as men know a thing which for memory's sake they set down in writing This Book of Life shall be opened in the great day because then it shall appear who were Elect who Reprobates who truly believed in Christ who not who worshipped God in spirit and in truth and who not who walked with God as Noah and who not who set up God as the object of their fear who not who followed the Lamb whither ever he went and who not who were sincere and who not who preferred Christ above ten thousand worlds and who preferred Barrabas before Jesus and their Farms and their Oxen and their Mat. 25. 32. Swine yea their very Lusts before a Saviour a Redeemer Ezek. 9. 4 6. who are Sheep and who are Goats who are Sons and who are Slaves who have mourned for their own sins and the sins of the time and who they are that have made a sport of sin c. Of this Book of Life you read often in Scripture Phil. 4. 3. And I intreat thee also true yoke-fellow help those women which laboured with me in the Gospel with Clement also and with other my fellow-labourers whose names are in the book of life Vorstius thinks it a speech taken from the custome of souldiers or Cities in which the chosen Souldiers or Citizens are by name written in a certain Book or Roll. This Book or Roll is called here The Book of Life because therein are written all the Elect who are ordained to Eternal Life Rev. 3. 5. He that overcometh the same shall be cloathed in white raiment and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life In this Book of Life all the just that live by faith are written The Elect are certain of Joh. 10. 28 29 30 31. eternal life they shall never perish nor none can ever pluck them out of the Father's hand nor out of Christ's hand God is said to have Books Metaphorically The Holy God by an Ambrâ—pepatheria speaketh to our capacity for he doth all things without the help of Books he needs no Books to help his Memory he does all things by his infinite Wisdom Eternal Foreknowledge Counsel Government and Judgment but thus men cannot do for whatsoever is done in their Councils Cities Families Contracts c. for memory's sake is set down in writing that so as there is occasion they may look it over and call to mind such things as they desire Mark not to have our names blotted out of the Book of Life is to have them always remain therein that is to enjoy Eternal Glory and what can the soul desire more The names of the Elect are written in the Book of Life they do not obtain Salvation by chance but were elected of God to life and happiness before the Foundation of the World Now their names being once written in the Book of Life they shall never never be blotted out of that Book In the Book of Predestination there is not one blot to be found the Salvation of the Elect is most sure and certain Rev. 13. 8. And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world The names of the Elect are said to be written in the Book of Life by an usual Metaphor for we commonly write down the names of such as are dear unto us that we may continually remember them So God having in his Eternal Council elected some to Salvation hath written their names in the Book of Life as our Saviour tells us Rejoyce because your Luk. 10. 20. names are written in heaven Some understand the Metaphor of the Sonship of the Elect so that to be written in the Book of Life shews that they are heirs of Glory for we know that such are to inherit whose names are written in the last Will and Testament of men Of this Book of Life you may further read Rev. 17. 8. Rev. 20. 15. Rev. 21. 27. Rev. 22. 19. Now from this Book of Life that shall be opened in the great day when the other Books shall be opened as hath been shewed every sincere Christian may form up this Eleventh Plea as to the Ten Scriptures that are in the Margin that refer to the great Eccles 9. 11. cap. 12. 14. Mat. 12. 14. cap. 18 23. Luk. 16. 2. Rom. 14. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Hâ—b 9. 27. cap. 13. 17. 1 Pet. â— 5. Dan. 9. 24. Coles 2. 14. day of account or t 〈…〉 man's particular account Most Holy and Blessed Lord cast thine eye upon the Book of Election and there thou wilt find my name written Now my name being written in that Book I am exempt from all condemnation and interested in the great Salvation my name being written in the Book of Life I am secured from coming into the Judgment of Reprobation or Condemnation Joh. 5. 14. Revel 21. 27. Jesus Christ who hath written my name in the Book of Life hath made up my acounts for me he hath satisfied thy Justice and pacified thy Wrath and born the Curse and purchased my Pardon and put upon me an everlasting Righteousness and given me my Quietus est he has crost out the black lines of my sins with the red lines of his blood he has cancelled all the Bonds wherein I stood obliged to Divine Justice I further plead O Blessed Lord That there is an immutable Connexion betwixt being written in this Book of Life and the obtaining of Eternal Life and if the Connexion betwixt being written in this Book of Life and the obtaining of Eternal Life were not peremptory what reason could there be of opening this Book in the day of Judgment The Book of Life is a Book of Sovereign Grace upon which lies the weight of my Salvation my happiness my all and therefore by that Book I desire to stand or fall Well saith the Lord I cannot but accept of this Plea as holy honourable just and righteous and therefore enter thou into the ioy of thy Lord inherit the Kingdom prepared for thee Mat. 25. 21 34. Thus by Divine Aslistance and by a special and a gracious hand of Providence upon me I have finished those select and important Cases of Conscience which I designed to speak to Soli Deo Gloria in Aeternum
he must provide him a ladder and climb alone to heaven we must go to heaven some other way than the Saints have done of old except we resolve of going thither through much tribulation Act. 14. 22. Thirdly That no person or persons on earth may sinfully shift off sufferings or avoid sufferings there being infinitely more evil in the least sin than there can be in the greatest sufferings that can befall us in this world 't is best 't is safest to chuse suffering rather than sinning as Moses did so Daniel chose rather to be Dan. 6. cast among Lions than that his Conscience should be a Lyon within him and the three Children or Champions rather who were cap. 3. holily wilful chose rather to burn in the fiery furnace than to bow to the Image that the King had set up He that values peace Juâ—as and Spira will rather sin than suffer but whoever suffered more on this â—ide hell than they suffered with God and peace with Conscience and the honour of God and the credit of Religion the silencing of sinners and the rejoycing of the Saints must chuse to suffer rather than to sin when storms arise and troubles and dangers approach many begin to consult not how they may glorifie God by suffering but how they may provide for their own safety by sinning Plato knew much of God but as Josephus shews durst not set it down for fear of the people And Lactantius charges the same upon Tully Thou darest not saith he undertake the Patrenage of the truth for fear of the prison of Socrates And Augustine De Ci 〈…〉 lib. 6. cap. 10. doth as much for Seneca he spends a whole Chapter in shewing how he held the truth in unrighteousness telling us how he reverenced that which he reproved did that which he condemned and worshipped that which he found fault with Though these wise men saw the vanity of the Heathenish Deities and the worship that was given to them and looked upon them as utterly unworthy of respect from wise and sober men nay secretly scorned and derided them yet would they not openly declare against them and that for fear of the people who so much doted upon them But Daniel's three young Worthies were men of that heavenly gallantâ—y that they peremptorily resolved upon this that though they should not be delivered by their God yet they would not sin against their God nor so much as demur deliberate or take time to consider whether they should suffer or sin 't was past dispute with them brave and noble souls that they were It is observable that when Paul speaks of his afflictions 2 Cor. 4. 17. his sufferings he calls them light but when he speaks of his sin he speaks of it as a burden that prest him down and made him cry out O wretched man that I am and to cry out again we groan being burthened Moses his choice is famous and celebrated Rom. 7. 23. 2 Cor. 5. 2 4. all the world over for 't was not made when he was a child but when he came to forty years of age then he preferred Heb. 11. 25 26 27 suffering not only before sinning but before all the Honours Riches and Pleasures of Egypt accounting the worst of Christ viz. Reproaches better than the best of the world When Eleazar was promised to be saved from torments and death if he would but make shew of yielding he couragiously answered It 2 Mac. 6. 24. becometh not our age in any wise to dissemble whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar being four score and ten years old were now gone to a strange Religion Thus also one of the seven Brethren in the name of the rest We are ready to cap. 7. 2. die rather than transgress the laws of our fathers meaning such Laws as God of old had given to their Fathers to be observed by them and by their Posterity Age after Age. Polycarpus Eccl. l. 4. c. 15. when the Governour promised to let him go free if he would deny Christ answered I have served him four score and six years and he never hurt me in any thing how shall I curse him who hath saved me And the Governour adding one while promises another while threatnings Polycarpus thus cuts oâ—l all why dost thou make delays inflict what thou lists So Galea 〈…〉 Gentleman of great Estate who suffered Martyrdom at S 〈…〉 t-ang 〈…〉 a Italy being much pressed by his friends to recant and save his life he replied that death was much more tweet to him with the Testimony of Verity than life with the least denyâ— of truth Hooper desired rather to be discharged of his Bishoprick than yield to certain Ceremonies A man were better dispâ—â—ase all his Friends all his Relations yea all the world than to displease his God and displease his own Conscience So Cyprian when Augustine relates the story the Emperour as he was going to execu 〈…〉 told him that he would give him space to consider whether 〈…〉 re not Letter cast in a grain into the fire than be so miserably 〈…〉 in to which he replyed In re tam sancta deliberation 〈…〉 There needs no deliberation in this case The lik◠〈…〉 e History of France in the year 1572. presently after 〈…〉 and persidious slaughter and massacre of so man 〈…〉 of Protestants by treacherous bloody Papists Charles th 〈…〉 of France called the Prince of Conde and prop 〈…〉 his c 〈…〉 ce either to go to Mass or to die presently or to 〈…〉 r per 〈…〉 al imprisonment To which he returned this notâ—e answer that by God's help he would never chuse the first and for eitheâ— of the two latter he left it to the King's pleasure and God's Providence Thus you see that the people of God have when put to it chose rather to suffer than to sin But Fourthly That they shall be sure to suffer with a witness that refuse to suffer or are afraid to suffer when Christ calls them to a suffering state No men can suffer so much for Christ as they shall be sure to suffer from Christ if through weakness or wickedness they either disdain or refuse to suffer for Christ Mark 8. 35. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever There is no loss but gain in losing for Christ shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospels the same shall save it 'T is a very dangerous thing for men to prefer the safety of their natural lives before the Glory of Christ the cause of Christ the Gospel of Christ and the Profession of his name 'T is certain that the Glory of Christ ought to be more dear and precious to us than our very lives Christ for our Redemption and Salvation freely and readily lays down his life I lay down my life for Joh. 10. 15. my sheep and shall we stand with him for ours when our call is clear to
no Socinian Atheists among us who deny with open face the God-head of Christ and of the Holy Ghost as if Christ were a constituted God and not of the same substance with the Father from all Eternity not a God by Nature but by Donation in time And though God hath raised up several Champions in this his Israel to disarm them of all their Subtilties and to beat them out of all their Trenches though they were dug as low as hell yet how have they put on Prov. 27. 22. a brow of brass and do all they can to bring on a warm Persecution upon their opposers But Ninthly They that plead for the reduction of all Ordinances Worship Church Government and Discipline to the primitive pattern and institution in opposition to all Humane and Antichristian Inventions Traditions and Innovations in the Worship of God they have a good Cause and they that suffer upon that account suffer as Christians for well doing Surely this is a truth we must live and die by viz. That no Ordinance Worship Government or Discipline is to be held up or maintained in the Church but what has the stamp of a Divine Institution upon it The worshipping of God in Spirit and in Truth is that Worship Joh. 4. 23 24. Rom 1. 9. Phil. 3. 3. which God commands commends accepts and rewards And therefore let us make it our business our work our heaven to keep close to this kind of Worship Christ will shortly come in 2 Thes 1. 7 8 9 10. flames of fire and vindicate this kind of Worship against all opposers Hold out Faith and Patience a little and Christ will call all the troublers of his Church and People into the Valley of Decision Joel 3. 14. Isa 40. 10. Jer. 21. 5. Ezek. 32. 2. and there with a strong hand and with an out-stretched arm he will plead with them and with all such as have muddied the Waters of his Sanctuary and polluted those Silver Streams and then it will appear whether the outward ceremonious worshiping of God or the worshiping him in Spirit and in Truth be the true Worship Judicious Hooker determines that in God's Service to do that which we are not to do is a greater fault than not to do that which we are commanded Amongst other reasons he gives this to our purpose because in the one we seem to charge the Law of God with hardness only and in the other with foolishness and insufficiency which God gave us as a perfect Rule of his Worship and Service But Tenthly and lastly They that are Assertors of those precious 10. Privileges that are the purchase of the blood of Christ they have Eph. 1. 22 23. Colos 1. 18. Phil. 2. 6 7 8 9 10. a good cause and if they suffer upon that account they suffer as Christians for well doing As for instance First Christ as Mediator hath purchased for himself a Headship and Supremacy over his Church Now such as stand up for the Headship of the Lamb against all those that would rob him of his Headship either at Rome or elsewhere they have a righteous Cause and if they suffer upon that account they suffer as Christians for well doing Secondly He has purchased for his People aâ— Liberty to serve and worship him without fear in holiness and righteousness all Luk. 1. 69 70 74 75. Gal. 5. 1. the days of their life He has purchased for his People a Liberty from the Ceremonies of Moses's Law which were originally the Commands of God himself how much more then from all Paganish and Antichristian Ceremonies The imposition of traditional Observances and Ceremonies is to reduce us under the Jewish Yoke which neither we nor our Fathers were able to bear Act. 15. 10. or to impose them as equally obligatory to Conscience as Divine Commands or to impose them as the immediate Worship of God or as Duties essentially necessary in order to Salvation Christians justly abhor as the Tyranny of Rome as the infringment of Christian Liberty and as a Violation and making void â— the Commandment of God as our Saviour told the Pharisees of Mat. 15. 6. old That they made the Commandment of God of none effect The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to deprive of all Rule and Authority They had such a superstitious esteem of their Traditions Ceremonies c. that they sought to shoulder God out of his Throne to devest and spoil him of his Rule and Authority to ungod him as it were by making his Commandment void and invalid Christ reprehends three things in the Jewish Traditions Châ—mnâ—t 1. That they obtruded outward Cleanness on God instead of the Purity of the heart 2. That by their Humane Traditions they made void the Worship of God 3. That they preferred Humane Traditions before the Divine Precepts and were so taken with their Traditions that they neglected the Divine Precepts yea made them altogether vain as the Papists and others that are Popishly affected do this day They that are the most zealous Dr. Fuller Sâ—m for the introducing of useless Ceremonies in the Church are usually the most negligent to preach the Cautions in using them and simple people like Children in eating of Fish swallow bones and all to the danger of choaking Besides what is observed of horse-hairs that lying nine days in water they turn to Snakes So some Ceremonies though dead at first in continuance of time quicken get stings and may do much mischief especially in such an Age wherein the meddling of some have justly awakened the Jealousie of all Now whoever shall suffer for asserting of any of the precious Privileges that are the Purchase of Christ's Blood they suffer in a Righteous Cause they suffer as Christians for well doing And thus you see how a man may know when his Cause is good just and righteous and when he suffers as a Christian for well doing But Seventhly Consider That it is not enough for a man to have a good cause but he must have a clear call else he may be a sufferer but no Martyr Some may have a good Cause and yet want a clear Call Some may suffer for the cause of God and yet sin in suffering for want of a Call Christ calls not all to suffer Phil. 1. 29. A Priest might enter into a Leper's house without danger because he had a calling from God so to do And we may follow God dry-shod through the Red Sea when God gives a Call to some it is given to others it is not given When a man's Call is clear his Peace will be sweet his courage will be high and his comforts will be strong though his sufferings be never so great nor never so long Though it be a high honour to suffer for the Gospel yet no man ought to take this honour upon himself but he that is called of God Christians must take as much heed how they
lay them down for his sake and the Gospel's sake He that shall attempt to save his life by crossing his light by shifting off the truth or by forsaking of Christ shall lose it 'T is a gainful loss to suffer for the truth 't is a lossful gain by time-serving and base complying with the times the lusts the wills the humours of the men of this Age in whom the spirit of Cain and Fsau works so furiously to provide for our present safety security plenty peace and ease c. either by denying the truth or by betraying the truth or by exchanging the truth or by forsaking the truth Mat. 10. 39. He that findeth his life shall lose it This is a strange expression a riddle to the world a seeming contradiction such as natural reason can never reconcile He that 1 Tim. 1. 19 20 findeth his life that is redeemeth it with the forfeiture of his Faith with the shipwrack of his Conscience makes a loser's bargain he makeâ— more haste than good speed whilst in running from death as far as he can he runs to it as fast as he can See it in some great instances when Henry the fourth of France French History had conquered his enemies he turned Papist and gave this reason of it That he might settle himself in peace and safety Ravillak who slew him as he was riding abroad in his Coach to refresh himself confessed that the reason why he stabbed him was because he was of two Religions as thus by his sinful endeavours to save his life he lost it There was one Philbert Hamliâ— in Non pâ—test qui pati timet ejus esse qui pâ—ssusest Tertul. France having converted a Priest to the profession of the truth was together with the Priest apprehended and cast into prison at Burdeaux but after a while the Priest being terrified with the prison and fear of death renounced Christ and was set at liberty Whereupon Philbert said unto him O unhappy and more than miserable man is it possible that to save your life for a few days you should so deny the truth Know therefore though A Prediction you have avoided the Corporal fire yet your life shall not be prolonged for you shall die before me and you shall not have the honour to die for the cause of Christ but you shall be an example to Apostates And accordingly as he went out of the prison two Gentlemen that had a former quarrel with him met him and slew him And thus also he loâ—t his life by endeavouring sinfully to save it The Angrognian that yielded to the Papists Acts and Monuments Fol. 885. and complyed with them that they might sleep quietly in a whole skin were more sadly and cruelly lâ—ndled by the Papists than those that continued sâ—out couragious and resolute for the truth Under the fourth Persecution there were some Christians who for fear of torments and death denied their faith and sacrificed to Idols yet did not their bloody Persecutors spare them and iâ— was observed that being full of guilt they went to their deaths with dejected and ill-favoured countenances so that the very Gentiles took notice of it and reproached them as base Apostates and as such who were worthy to suffer as evil-doers 〈◊〉 that was Chaplain to Bishop Pâ—dlâ—y refusing to die in Christ's cause with his Master said Mass against his Conscience and soon after pined away with sorrow and grief A Smith in King â—dward's the Sixth's days called Richard Denton was a forward Acts and Monuments third Volume pag. 960. Professor of Religion and by his Christian instruction the happy instrument of the conversion of a young man to the Faith afterwards in the Reign of Queen Mary this young man was cast in prison for his Religion who remembring his old friend and spiritual father the Smith to whom he always carried a reverend respect for the good he had received by him sent to know whether he was imprisoned also and finding that he was not desired to speak with him and when he came he asked his advice whether he thought it best for him to remain in prison and whether he would encourage him to burn at a stake for his Religion To whom the Smith answered that his cause was good and that he might with comfort suffer for it but for my part said the Smith I cannot burn But shortly after he that could not burn for Religion by God's just Judgment was burned for his Apostacy for his shop and house being set on fire and he overbusie to save his Goods was burnt in the flames They that will not burn for Christ when he calls them to it shall burn whether they will or no. He that will not suffer for Christ shall be sure to suffer worse things from Christ than ever he could have suffered for Christ And therefore Doctor Taylor the Martyr hit the nail Ibid. 1382. when he said If I shrink from God's truth said he I am sure of another manner of death than Judge Hales had who being drawn for fear of death to do things against his light and Conscience did afterwards drown himself Cyprian in his Sermon De Lapsis makes mention of divers who forsaking the Profession of their Faith were given over by God to be possessed by evil spirits and so died fearfully and miserably making good that word that is more worth than a world Joh. 12. 25. He that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is here used of excessive and preposterous love He that so loveth his life that out of a desire to save it he denieth me and my Gospel so this Greek word is used Mat. 10. 37. loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal A man that is sparing of his life when Christ calls for it doth take the ready way to lose it and he that doth hazard it for him at his call is sure to live eternally Christ approves of no followers who are not resolved on the loss of what is dearest to them yea even of life for his sake therefore doth he mention our life to be hated which is not to be understood absolutely as if it were a sin to love life as it is the gift of God or that they should be weary of it but comparatively that they should not love it more than Christ his Word his Worship his Ways He that resolves to save his temporal life upon any terms he takes the shortest cut to lose both temporal and eternal life also He that loveth his life shall lose it He that prefers the honour and service of Christ above his own life he takes the surest way to preserve both body and soul unto eternal life for he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal Though life be sweet and every creature makes much of it from the highest Angel to the lowest Worm yet wo wo to him that
is set upon saving of it when Christ calls upon him to lay it down for his sake or the Gospels sake No fool to him that thinks to avoid a less danger by running himself into a greater danger who thinks to save his body by losing his soul and to save his temporal life by losing eternal life There is no loser to him who by sinful attempts to save his life shall lose a better life than ever he can save But Fifthly Consider That of old there hath been a very great willingness readiness forwardness and resoluteness in the people of God chearfully to suffer for Christ his Truth his Gospel his Worship his Ways his Ordinances his interest his honour Consult the Scriptures in the margin and many others of the like import which all knowing Christians can turn to at Dan. 2. 16 17. Rom. 8. 36. Psal 44. Phil. 2. 17. Act. 20. â—2 23 24 cap. 21. 13 c. Dan. 6. 1 Pet. â— 16. Act. 5 41. Act. 7. 55 56. 2 Cor 1. 3 4. 5. Acts and Mâ—n Fol. 857. Medestus Lieâ—tenant to Julian the Emperour told him that when the Christians suffered they did but deride them and the torments said he with which Christians are tormented are more terrible to the tormentors than they are to the tormented pleasure To these I shall add a few examples amongst a multitude of those blessed souls who willingly readily chearfully resolutely hazarded all for Christ while they were on earth and are now a receiving their reward with him in heaven Oh how my heart leapeth for joy said Mr. Philpâ—t the Martyr that I am so near the apprehension of eternal life I with my fellows were carried to the Cole-house where we do rouse together in the straw as chearfully we thank God as others do in their beds of Downe Mr. Glover the Martyr wept for joy of his imprisonment And Mr. Bradford put off his cap and thanked the Lord when his Keeper's Wife brought him word that he was to be burnt the next day and Mr. Taylor fetched a pleasant delightful frisk when he was come near to the place where he was to suffer Mr. Rogers the first that was burnt in Queen Mary's days did sing in the flames Vincentius laughing at â—his tormentors said that death and tortures were to Christians socularia ludiera matters of sport and pastime and he joyed and gloried when he went upon hot burning Coals as if he had trod upon Roses Fire Sword Death Prison Famine are all pleasures they are all delightful to me saith Bazil and in his Oration for Barlaam that famous Martyr saith that he delighted in the close prison as in a pleasant green Meadow and he took pleasure in the several inventions of tortures as in several sweet flowers William Tim. Martyr in a letter to a friend of his a little before his death writeth thus Now I take my leave of you till we meet in heaven and hic you after I have tarried a great while for you and seeing you are so long in making ready I will tarry no longer for you you shall find me merrily singing Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbath at my journey's end c. And when they kindled the fire at the feet of James Bainham me thinks said he you strew Roses before me when the Preâ—â—ct urged Basil to comply with the Emperour Socrat. Eccles Hist l. 4. c. 26. Gr. and threatned him with death if he denied he gave him thâ—s resolute and sâ—out answer Thou threatnest me with death saith he and I would that it would fall out so well on my side that I might lay down this carcase of mine in the Quarrel of Christ and in deâ—ence of the truth who is my Head and Captain And when the Preâ—â—ct presâ—ed him to remember himself and obey the Emperour he rejecting all told him what I am to day the same thou shalt find me to morrow When Chrysostom was greatly threatned by the cruel Empress and others he made this answer If they keep me poor I know Christ had not a house to put his head in If they silence me and put me out of the Synagogue so was that poor man that confessed Joh. 9. 22 24. Act. 5. 40. cap. 12. Eph. 6. 20. Rev. 1. Christ and the Apostles enjoyned not to speak in the name of Jesus If they cast me into prison so was Jeremy St. Peter and St Paul and many more If I am forced to flee my Countrey I have that beloved Jâ—hn and that Atlas-like Athanasius for Precedents of the like nature Or whatsoever else should be done unto me I have the holy Martyrs for my fellow-sufferers and I will never count my life dear unto me so I may finish my course with joy but I will by God's help be ever ready with all my heart to suffer any thing for the name of Jesus Christ and for the least jot of his truth Neither were they only a few choice persons who willingly readily cheerfully and resolutely endured Martyrdom in Christ's Cause but such multitudes year after year month after month Hier. id Helic â— week after week and day after day as that one of the Ancients testifieth That there was never a day in the year except the first of January whereunto the number of five hundred Martyrs at least might not be ascribed So many one after another in one Euseb Eccl. Hist l. 8. c. 9. day suffered as the Executioner blunted his sword and with the pains he took fainted That which many of them endured though to flesh and blood it seemed intolerable yet with much patience excellent chearfulness and divine courage they endured it They were not like bears halled to the stake but while Persecutors were sitting on their Judgment-seats and condemning some Christians others leaped in and professed themselves Christians and suffered the uttermost that could be inflicted with Euseb l. c. citat joyfulness and a kind of pleasantness singing Psalms as long as their breath lasted Bucer in an Epistle to Calvin tells him that there were some that would willingly redeem to the Commonwealth the ancient liberty of worshipping Christ with their very lives True Grace makes a Christian of a very heroick nature Holy Zeal will make a Christian very ready to endure any thing or to suffer any thing for Christ his Worship his Ways his Truth It is a high vanity for any man to think of getting to heaven without suffering in all the Ages of the world the Saints have found the way to happiness paved with troubles and we must not think of finding it strewed with Rose-buds When Paul and Silas were in prison their hearts were so full Act. 16. 25. Paul 〈◊〉 his chain whâ—â—h he did bear for the Gospel sake and was as proud of it as a woman of her Ornaments saith Chrysostom of joy that they could not hold but at midnight when others were sleeping they must fall a singing out the Praises of
espouse a suffering state as how they shun a suffering state I am not to go to prison upon choice but upon a Call but upon a Warrant under God's own hand though it be an argument of a gracious Spirit to be always of a ready and forward mind to suffer for Christ And when he demands who will go 〈◊〉 with me who will bear my Cross chearfully to answer I will go Lord let me bear it yet should we take heed that as we hang not back when he says go so that we run not before he sends us before he calls us Quest But how shall I know when I am called to suffer when I am called to lay down Life Liberty and All for the Profession of Christ and the Gospel To this I answer First When the Truth will sufer and the Name of God suffer and the Gospel will suffer should we decline suffering then we are called to suâ—â—er 't is our duty to suffer any thing to suffer the worst of things that the worst of men can inflict rather than that the Truth should suffer or the name of God suffer or the Gospel suffer Secondly When the case stands so with us that we cannot keep Life Estate Liberty c. without denying of Christ or the Gospel or without concealing this precious Truth or that or without turning our backs upon this Ordinance or that c. then we are called to suffer when we cannot preserve our Lives our Liberties our Estates without denying of Christ or the Concerns of Christ in one degree or another in one kind or another then we are called to lay down our Lives our Liberties our Estates c. at the feet of Christ as the Saints and Martyrs of old have done before us Thirdly when our way is so hedged up with thorns that we must either sin or suffer when sin and sufferings surround us so Hos 2. 6. that we cannot get out or come off but we must either sin or suffer Dan. 3. 17. then I must with the three Champions chuse rather to burn than to bow and with Daniel to the Lyon's Den than to omit my duty and with Moses chuse to suffer afflictions with Heb. 11. 24 25 26 the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin which are but for a season I may safely and groundedly conclude that Christ calls me to suffer when I must either sin or suffer When the case stands thus then I may be confident of the singular Presence of God with me the special blessing of God upon me and a gracious or a glorious deliverance out of all my sufferings But Fourthly and lastly When a Christian to the best of his understanding has seriously weighed all things and circumstances and is well satisfied in his mind and conscience that his sufferings will be the exaltation of Christ the furtherance of the Gospel the stopping of the mouths of the wicked the confirmation of those that are strong and the strengthening and encouraging of those that are weak then he may safely conclude that Christ calls him to suffer But Eightly Consider that the Sufferings of the Saints in these days are light and easie to the sufferings that were inflicted upon the Maccab. 6. 9 10. cap. 7. 1 2 3 4. Euse◠〈◊〉 Hist 〈◊〉 6. Jews in the days of Antiochus and on Christians in the times of the ten notorious Persecutions under the Roman Emperours and to those that have been inflicted upon the Martyrs since So cruel was the sight of those Tortures which Persecutors inflicted as exceeds all expression Constant Christians had their flesh â—orn from their backs with Rods Scourges Whips and Cords to as their bones lay bare and the raw parts of their bodies were washed with Vinegar and Salt They were stretched on Racks their legs were broken and so left miserably to perish They were goared with sharp pricks undeâ— the lowest parts of their Hym. 10. de Rom. Anno. Mart. Laddelacerda computeth forty four several kinds of Torments wherewith the Primitive Christians were tried Adv. Saâ—r cap. 128. nails their bodies were scraped with thels to death their backs were fleaed their skins were pulled over their heads from the brow to the chin Their noses lips ears hands and feet were cut off and they as Sacrifices cut in gobbeâ—s Their tongues were cut out by the roots and pulled out of their jaws Their eyes were boared and digged out Their bodies were rent and pulled in peices by strong boughs forced together by instruments and let loose when the limbs of the bodies of Martyrs were tied fast unto them Their limbs were also pulled to pieces with wild horses Their brains were knocked out with Fullers clubs Their legs were broken in pieces They were burnt with fire They were a long while together parched with hot burning coals Being hanged by the heels and their heads downward over a soft fire they were choaked with smoak They were rosted at the fire as flesh to be eaten used to be rosted They were leâ—â—urely broiled on Grid-irons set over the fire They were fryed in read hot iron chairs as in a frying-pan which annoyed the standers by with a stench Hot boiling lead was poured down their throats They clapped fiery plates of Brass upon the most tender parts of their bodies A persecuting Tyrant considering the nature of the Basil in 40. Mar. Coâ—c 〈…〉 Greg. Nyssen de iijd m Oraâ— â— Countrey that it was terrible cold and the time of the year that it was Winter and a night wherein the cold extreamly encreased and that the North Wind then blew there commanded forty Christians to be set slark naked under the open Air in the midst of the City to freeze to death Then when they heard that charge with joy casting away even their innermost Vestment they went on to their death by Cold. They endâ—â—ed the Eccl 〈…〉 Hiâ—i â— 5. cap. â— violence of Libbaâ—ds Bears Wild Boars and Bulls Attalus and Alexander were twice baited with Wild Beasts to be torn in pieces by them as Eusebius repâ—rts Attalus escaping the Beaâ—ts was reserved to other torments to be burnt to death in an Iron Chair heated red-fire hot Macedonius Theodulus and Socra Hist l. 3. cap. 13. Tatianus were laid upon a Grid iron and broiled to death There were many Christians together stopped up in Lakes or Caves Mag. Cent. 4. cap. 3. Ex Theodâ—reâ—â— artificially made close which Lakes or Ditches were filled with a company of Dormise kept hungry to gâ—aw and feed upon the poor Christians they being all the while bound hand and â—oot that they could not keep of those hunger-starved creatures which were kept without meat also purposely that they might fasten with the more eagerness upon the bodies of those precious Christians They were destroyed with hunger thirst and cold Such Euseb 〈◊〉 Hist l. 5. c. 1. l. 8. c. 6 7 〈◊〉 Niâ—eph l. 7. â— 11 12. as were stistled in
prisons they cast to dogs setting Watch-men night and day lest any of them should be buried And such remainders as were left both of Beasts and Fire in part torn and in part burnt together with the heads and bodies of others they cast out in like manner unburied and committed them some days to the custody of Soldiers Thus the Barbarous Cruelty of Sceâ—my Beauty of Holiness pag. 413 414 415. Persecutors extended it self as far as it could beyond the temporal lives of the Martyrs Ecclesiastical Histories tell us that all the Apostles died violent deaths Peter was crucified with his heels upwards Christ was crucified with his head upwards but Peter thought this was too great an honour for him to be crucified as his Lord and therefore he chose to be crucified with his heels upward And Andrew was crucified by Egeus King of Edessa And James the Son of Zebedec was slain by Herod with the Act 12. 2. Sword And Philip was crucified at Hierapolis in Asta And while Bartholomew was preaching the glad Tydings of Salvation multitudes sell upon him and beat him down with staves and then crucified him and after all this his skin was fleaed off and he beheaded Thomas was slain with a dart at Calununa in India And Matthew was slain with a Spear say some others say he was run through with a Sword And James the Son of Alpheus who was called the Just was thrown down from off a pinacle of the Temple and yet having some life left in him he was brained with a Fuller's club Lebbeus was slain by Agbarus King of â—dessa And Paul was beheaded at Rome by Nero. And Simon the Canaanite was crucified in Egypt say some others say that he and Jude were slain in a tumult of the people And Mattkias Rev. â— 9. was stoned to death And John was banished into Patmos and afterwards as some Histories tell us he was by that cruel Tyrant Domitian cast into a tub of scalding oyl and yet delivered by a Miracle Thus all these Worthies of whom this world was not Heb. 11. 38. worthy except John died violent deaths and so through sufferings entred into Glory To conclude Lactantius saith not Lact. l. 5. c. 13. only the men among the Christians and those of stronger years and hearts but even our Women and little Children saith he have endured all torments and been too hard for their tormentors No rack no fire could fetch so much as a groan from them which the stoutest Thieves and Malefactors among their Persecutors could not undergo but they would roar and cry out through impatience and disability to endure them I suppose that more cruel torments cannot be invented than of old have been inflicted on Christians Persecutors have acknowledged that they were Eâ—sâ—b Eccl. Hist l. 5. cap. 1. overcome and had no more to inflict Such Toâ—tures and Torments so couragiously and manfully have sundry Christians in all Ages suffered as to them who only heard thereof they seemed incredible and to many who were eye-witnesses thereof they seemed so strange and beyond admiration as they thought the Martyrs to be mad witless and senseless But the Martyrs had peace and rest and quiet within and the favourable Presence of God so shining upon their souls that they were encouraged and enabled with a holy and heavenly bravery of Spirit to bid defyance to their most cruel Persecutors Now Christians if you compare your most cruel Sufferings with the Sufferings of the Saints of old how easie and light will they be found to be What are mole-hills to mountains scratches upon the hand to slabs at the heart no more are your greatest Sufferings to those that the Saints have met with in former Ages And therefore though men frown upon you and threaten you with censures Imprisonment Banishment Confiscation and all the evil Humane might and cruelty can do unto you yet be not moved but account your selves happy that you have any 1 Pet. 4. 14 15. opportunity to do or suffer any thing whereby you may testifie that Christ and his Concerns doe lie near your hearts and whereby you may further his opposed Interest and bear witness to his despised truth But Ninthly Consider that the Saints and Martyrs of old have made little reckoning or account of their Lives Liberties Relations or Estates when they stood in competition with Christ or his Truth Worship Ways Ordinances Interest or with their Profession of the Christian Faith witness that glorious Testimony Heb. 11. 35. vide Ejtius that the Apostle gives of them They would not accept deliverance he means deliverance from death or preservation of life this though offered they would not accept namely on Persecutors terms or conditions wich was to deny the Truth of God or renounce their Faith in him They scorned deliverance upon base terms and would rather die than deny Christ or his Truth This phrase not accepting deliverance presupposeth that deliverance was offered to them otherwise they could not have rejected it for their not accepting was a rejecting Their Persecutors offered them deliverance upon their compliance with their Wills Lusts Ways Worship c. This is evident by that which Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel's three Champions when they were accused for not worshipping his Idol which was this If ye be ready to fall down and worship the Image he thereby implies Dan. 3. 15. that they should be spared for he addeth if you worship not you shall be cast into a fiery sin nace And this is further evident in those to whom the Apostle hath reference viz. the Maccabees 2 Mac. 6. 18 to 31 And this was the common practice of the persecuting Emperours in the Ten Persecutions and after them with the Antichristian Persecutors and more particularly with the high Persecutors in Qucen Mary's days But the Christians in those several Ages had such a mighty presence of God with them that they chose rather to suffer the worst of deaths than to preserve their lives by complying with the Wills Lusts Ways and Worship of their Persecutors For ever remember this that thâ— envy and malice of Persecutors is more against the glorious Truth the Saints profess than it is against their persons for let but Christians relinquish the Truth deny the Truth reproach the Truth or oppose the Truth and presently they shall be white Boys great Favourites good Sons of the Church and what not That the envy and malice of Persecutors is more against the Truth than the Professors of it is most evident in that they persecute strangers whom they never knew before It is said of Paul that if he found any such he brought them bound All was Acts 9. 2. fish that was caught in his net If Father or Mother Brother or Sister Child or Cousin profess the Truth plead for the Truth stand up for the Truth men of persecuting Spirits will prosecute and persecute them to the death The Brother shall deliver
up Mat. 10. 21. Luk. 21. 16. the brother to death and the father the child and the children sha rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death Alphonsus Diarius delivered up his own Brother John at Neoberg Sleiden lib. 1. 17. Act. and Men. Fâ—l 1112. Ibid. 1801. in Germany into his enemies hands So Doctor London made Filmer the Martyr's own Brother witness against him by supplying of him with meat and money and by telling of him he should never want So one Woodman was delivered by his own Brother into his enemies hands And in the Civil Wars of France not to mention Hist of Câ—une of Trent Fâ—l 647. that of England The Sons fought against their Fathers and Brothers against Brothers and even Women took up Arms on both sides for defence of their Religion And Philip King of Spain could frequently say that he had rather have no Subjects than Hereticks as he called the Protestants And out of a blind bloody zeal he suffered his eldest Son Charles to be murthered Hieron by the cruel Inquisition because he seemed to favour the Protestant side Truth is a Glorious shining Light that discovers the ignorance and darkness the wickedness and baseness the unsoundness and hypocrisie the superstition and vain conversation of Persecutors and therefore they cannot endure this light they hate this light and will do all they can to suppress this light and Joh. 3. 19. those that hold out this light to the world The 〈◊〉 and Martyrs of old were as willing to die as to dine Pliny writing to Trajan 〈◊〉 10. Ep. 97. p. 316. the Emperour declares to him that such was their Zeal and courage in behalf of their God that nothing could stir them from it neither the Imperious checks of the potent Emperors nor the soft language of the eloquent Orators could draw them from the Faith but they stedfastly owned it and constantly persevered in the defense of it and were ready and willing to lay down their lives for it When Ignatius was to suffer 't is better for me saith Ignatius he to be a Martyr than to be a Monarch 'T was a notable saying of a French Martyr when the rope was about his fellow Give me said he that Golden Chain and dub me Knight of that Noble Order Let saith Ignatius Fire and Cross Invasiâ—n Eusâ—b Hâ—st Eâ—cl l. 3 c. 36. of Beasts breaking of bones pulling asunder of members grinding of my whole body and what else the Devil can inflict come Ibid. l. b. 4. c. 15. so I may hold Jesus Christ Lueius thanked him that brought him forth to suâ—â—er and said that he should be free from those evil Masters and go to God a good Father and King Germanicus when he was brought forth to be torn in pieces and devoâ—â—ed by wild Beasts The Governour perswading him to be mindful of his Youth that he might be spared of his own accord incited the Beasts against himself Sanctus being under Tortures for professing Euseb Hist Eccl. l. 5. c. 2. himself to be a Christian unto every question propounded to him he answered I am a Christian whereby he occasioned his Torments to be continued to death Can we think that Saint Laurence would have accepted of deliverance who lying on a red hot Grid-iron over burning Coals with an invincible spirit thus said to the Tyrants Turn the side broiled enough and see what thy burning fire hath done And being turned and throughly broiled on the other side saith thus again Eat that which is broiled and try whether raw or broiled be the sweeter Hyppolytus when he was tied to wild Horses to be pulled asunder thus prayed Let them rend my limbs do thou O Christ wrap up my soul To omit other particulars of the Ancient Martyrs in the Primitive Times with whose couragious speeches manifesting a contempt of death of which Volumes might be filled it is indefinitely recorded of many who were famous for their Eusâ—b Hist Eccl. â— 8. cap. 9. Wealth Nobility Glory Eloquence and Learning that nevertheless they preferred true Piety and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ before all these And though they were entreated by many of their Kindred and Friends otherwise yea and by others in great place and by the Judge himself that they would take pity of themselves their Wives and Children Yet would they not be induced and entreated by so many and great ones so to be aâ—â—ected with the love of this life as to forbear the Confession of our Saviour and to set light by the denyal of him Thus you see what little reckoning or account the Christians of old have made of their Lives Liberties and Estates or whatever else was near or dear unto them when these things stood in competition with Christ his Truth his Worship his Ways his Interest or with their Profession of the Christian Faith Take a few Instances of a later date John Huss being at the John Huss stake a Pardon was offered him if he would recant to which he answered I am here ready to suffer death So Hiâ—rom of Prague Hierom of Prague if I had feared the fire said he I had not come hither Francis Camba a Martyr in the Diocess of Millain being much assailed Francis Camba by his Friends and terrified by his Foes by no means could be overcome but gave thanks to God that he was accounted worthy to suffer a cruel death for the Testimony of his Son And such were his expressions of joy in his sufferings that his Persecutors caused his tongue to be boared through that he might speak no more to the people Another being offered the King's Pardon Mrs. Anne Askew if she would recant gave this resolute answer I came not here to deny my Lord and Master By that which she with admirable courage and constancy endured she verified that which of old Julitta spake concerning their Sex viz. We women ought to be as constant as men in Christ's Cause Another who suffered Martyrdom Walier Mille. in Scotland being solicited to recant made this reply Ye shall know that I will not recant the Truth for I am Corn I am no Chaff I will not be blown away with the wind nor burst with the flail but I will abide both Another being the first Mr. John Rogers Martyr in Queen Mary's days being solicited to recant that so he might save his life boldly replyed that which I have preached I will seal with my blood Another when a Pardon was set Heâ—per Bishop of Glocester before him in Box cryed out If you love my soul away with it if you love my soul away with it Another on the like occasion Mr. Tho. Hawks a Gentleman in Essix gave this resolute answer If I had a hundred bodies I would suffer them all to be torn in pieces rather than abjure or recant So another spake to the like purpose So long
said he Bishop Ridley as the breath is in my body I will never deny my Lord Christ and his known Truth Another used such a speech to one that advised Father Latimer him to spare himself as Christ did to Peter on the like occasion Get thee behind me Satan There are a world of other Instances of the like nature but enough is as good as a Feast By all these Instances you may see that Blessed Word verified They loved not their lives unto the death They were willing to Rev. 12. 11. lay down their lives for the Glory of Christ and for the Truth of Christ So that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They loved not is put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they neglected or contemned their life as Brightman hath well observed They slighted yea despised their lives and rather exposed them to hazard and loss than to deny Christ or their holy Profession It is a Paraphrase of the constancy of their Faith even unto Martyrdom for the name of Christ But Tenthly Consider That God puts a great deal of honour Phil. 1. 29. upon suffering Saints To suffer for Christ is honourable God will not put this honour upon every one he puts this honour only upon those that are Vessels of Honour by Grace God makes men 2 Tim. 2. 20 21. Vessels of Silver and Vessels of Gold and then casts them into the fire to melt and suffer for his name and a higher Glory he cannot put upon them on this side Glory The Crown of Martyrdom is a Crown that the Blessed Angels those Princes of Glory are not capable of winning or wearing And O who art thou and what art thou O man that God should set this Crown upon thy head Mark at what a rate Peter speaks If ye â—e reproached 1 Pet. 4. 1 〈…〉 for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of â—lory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he iâ— glorified The very suffering condition of the people of God is at the present a glorious condition For the spirit of Glory rests upon them and therefore they must needs be glorious yea very glorious upon whom the spirit of Glory falls Rom. 8. 9 11. Dan. 3. and in whom the Spirit of Glory dwells What a Glorious Mold and Mettal were the three Children made up of that were cast into the fiery Furnace and what a deal of honour and glory did God put upon them in the eyes of all the world The Apostles all along accounted their own sufferings and the sufferings of the Saints for Christ to be the highest honour and glory that God could put upon them in this world as will be evident by our comparing Heb. 11. 36 37 38 2 Cor. 11. 23 to 28 Heb. 10. 32 to 26. the Scriptures in the Margin together To suffer for Christ is the greatest honour and promotion that God gives in this world said old Father Latimer and therefore when sentence was pronounced against him he cryed out I thank God most heartily for this great honour So Saunders I am the unmeetest man for Act. and Mâ—n 1361. Ibid. 1744. this high Office that ever was appointed to it So Careless the Martyr this is such an honour said he as the greatest Angel in Heaven is not permitted to have God forgive me mine unthankfulness c. John Nâ—yâ—s took up a Faggot at the fire and kissed John Nâ—yâ—s it Saying Blessed be the time that ever I was born to come to this preferment So when they had fastned Alice Driver with a Alice Driver chain to the stake to be burnt Never said she did Neck-kerchief become me so well as this Chain So Balilus the Martyr when Balilus he was to die requested this favour of his Persecutors 〈◊〉 That he might have his chains b 〈…〉 ed with him as the Ensigns of his honour What are we poor worms full of vanities and lies Calvin said Calvin that we should be called to be maintainers of the Truth for Suâ—â—erings for Christ are the Ensigns of Heavenly Nobility To die for Christ is the greatest promotion that God Philpot. can bring any in this Vale of Misery unto said Mr. Philpot the Martyr A French Soldier for his zealous Profession of the reformed Thuan. Hist l. 11. Anno 1553. Religion was condemned to the fire with others only he should have the favour of going to the Stâ—ke without a Wyth but he desired that he might wear such a Chain as his fellows did esteeming this rebuke of Christ more glorious than the Ensigns of St Michael's Order 'T was an excellent saying of Prudentius Prudentius Their names saith he that are written in red letters of Blood in the Churches Calendar are written in Golden Letters in Christ's Register the Book of Life The Passion-days of the Martyrs were anciently called the Natalitia salutis the Birth-days of Salvation the Day-break of Eternal Brightness We count it a great honour Isa 9 6 7. Dan. 3. 24 25. Isa 43. 2. cap. 63. 9. to have Princes to be our Companions Christ the Prince of Peace and the Angels those Princes of Glory are our Companions in all our Sufferings Such is the honour that God puts upon his Suffering Saints that nothing shall hinder him from being their Companion in all their Sufferings in all their afflictions in all their Temptations and this believe it is no small honour I have read how that in the Primitive times when some Euseb Eccles Hist l. 5. good people came to comfort some of the Martyrs that were in Prison and ready to suffer they called them blessed Martyrs O no said they we are not worthy of the name of Martyrs These holy humble hearts thought Martyrdom too high an honour for them And Luther writing to those which were condemned to death saith the Lord will not do me that honour after all that bustle I have made in the world In the Primitive times they were wont to call Martyrdom by the name of Corona Martyrii the Crown of Martyrdom We read of a Woman-martyr who having her Child in her hand gave it to another and offered her self to Martyrdom Crowns said she are to be dealt out this day and I mean to have one You see what high and honourable thoughts the Saints had of their Sufferings in those days and O that all suffering Saints would labour to write after that noble Copy that they have left upon Record But Eleventhly Consider that suffering Saints do put a great deal of Honour and Glory upon God Christ Religion and upon God's Truth Worship and Ways What a spreading Fame and Glory of God did the Sufferings of the three Worthies scatter all the world over God is acknowledged and adored by Nebuchadnezzar a Decree is made That Every People Nation and Language Dan. 3. 28 29. which speak amiss against the God of
houses c. shall receive a hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life But ye shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel A Christian will never repent of all the hard things that he has suffered for Christ or his Truth when as every one of his sufferings shall be a sparkling Jewel to give a lustre to his Crown of Glory Suffering for Christ and Religion is the most gainful kind of Merchandize Christ is so well pleased with the sufferings of his Saints that he has engaged himself to make up whatever they lose upon his account yea to repay all with Interest upon Interest to a hundred times over Oh who would not then turn Spiritual Purchaser Christ is a noble a liberal Pay-master and no small things can fall from so great a hand as his is Mat. 5. 10 11 12. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Luk. 6. 22 23. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the Son of man's sake Rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy for behold your Reward is in heaven for in the like manner did their fathers unto the Prophets They that are now Excommunicated and Anathematized as notorious shameful and abominable offenders they that are now opposed and persecuted by men shall at last be owned and crowned by God yea and the more Afflictions and Persecutions are multiplied upon them in this world the greater shall be their recompence in another world The Original words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Matthew and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Luke signifie exceeding great joy such as men usually express by skipping and dancing Let your hearts leap and let your bodies leap for joy for great is your reward in heaven Act. and Mon. Fol. 613. A Dutch Martyr feeling the flame to come to his beard said he what a small pain is this to be compared to the Glory to come Hellin Stirk a Scotch woman when her Husband was Ibid. 1154. at the place of Execution she said to him Husband rejoyce for we have lived together many joyful days but this day in which we must die ought to be most joyful to us both because we must bave joy for ever therefore I will not bid you good night for we shall suddenly meet within the Kingdom of Heaven The subscription of Mrs. Anne Askew to her Confession was this Ibid. 1130. written by me Anne Askew that neither wisheth for death nor feareth his Might and as merry as one that is bound toward â—â—â—ven Oh how my heart leapeth for joy said Mr. Philpot that I Ibid. 1670. am so near the apprehension of eternal life God forgive me mine unthankfulness and unworthiness of so great Glory I have so much joy of the reward prepared for me most wretched sinner that though I be in a place of darkness and mourning yet I cannot lament but both night and day am so joyful as though under no Cross at all yea in all the days of my life I was never so merry the name of the Lord be praised therefore for ever and ever The same Author in a Letter to the Congregation saith Ibid. 1663. Though I tell you that I am in Hell in the judgment of this world yet assuredly I feel in the same the Consolation of Heaven and this loathsome and horrible Prison is as pleasant to me as the Walks in the Garden in the King 's Bench. Thus you see that 1 Pet. 1. 8. suffering Saints have had a Heaven before hand they have had an exuberancy of joy such as no good could match nor no evil over-match Bernard speaking of Persecutors saith that they are Bernard but his Father's Gold-smiths who are working to add Pearls to the Saints Crown It is to my loss saith Gordius the Martyr if Gordius you abate me any thing of my present Sufferings Sufferings for Christ are the Saints greatest Glory crudelitas vestra gloria nostra your cruelty is our glory say they in Tertullian and the harder we are put to it the greater shall be our reward in heaven Chrysostom hit the nail when he said if one man should suffer all Chrysostom the sorrows of all the Saints in the world yet are they not worth one hours glory in heaven By the consent of the School-men The School-men all the Martyrs shall appear in the Church-triumphant bearing the signs of their Christian wounds about them as so many speaking testimonies of their holy courage that what here they endured in the behalf of their Saviour may be there an addition to their glory O Christians all your Sufferings will certainly encrease your future Glory every affliction every Persecution will be a grain put into the scale of your heavenly Glory to make it more weighty in that day wherein he will richly reward you for 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18 every tear for every sigh for every groan for every hazard and for every hardship that you have met in the way of your duty For light Afflictions you shall have a weight of Glory and for a few Afflictions you shall have as many joys pleasures de lights and contents as there be Stars in Heaven or Sands on the Sea shore and for Momentary Afflictions you shall have an eternal Crown of Glory If you have suffering for suffering with Christ on earth you shall have Glory for Glory with Christ in heaven Ah Christians your present sufferings are but the seeds of your future Glory and the more plentiful you sow in tears Psal 126. 5 6. the more abundant will be your Harvest of Glory Christ our General the Captain of our Salvation promises a Crown Rev 2. 10 and a Throne cap. 3. 21. to all his afflicted and persecuted ones which are the greatest rewards that a God can give or that man can crave It troubled one of the Martyrs when he was at the sâ—ake that he was going to a place where he should be for ever a receiving of Wages for a little work But Thirteenthly and Lastly Afflictions Sufferings Persecutions will discover what mettal men are made of All is not Gold that Mat. 13. 2 Tim. 1. 15 16. 1 Tim. 1. 19 20. 2 Tim. 4. 10 14 15 16. Mat. 13. 20 21. glisters Many there be that glister and look like Golden Christians but when they come to the fire they prove but dross he is a Christian more worth than the Gold of Ophyr who remains Gold when under fiery Tryals The stony ground did glister and shine very gloriously for