perishing for ever When the Jews went to stone Stephen they laid their clothes down at a distance from the place at a young mans feet whose name was Saul that they might not be a cumber or a trouble to them as to their intended work So we when we go about to drive sin out of the world in a way of suffering for Gods truth against it we should lay down our souls at the feet of God to care for that we may not be cumbered with the care of them our selves also that our care of Gods truth may not be weakned by such sudden and strong doubts as will cause us faintingly to say but what will become of my soul When Paul had told his Son Timothy that he had been before that Lyon Nero and that he was at present delivered out of his mouth he adds And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom He shall and will here is a man at liberty here are no cumbersome fears But how came the Apostle by this confidence of his well-being and of his share in another world Why he had committed the keeping of his soul to God compare 2 Tim. 1.12 with chap. 4.18 For to commit the keeping of the soul to God if it be done in faith and prayer it leaves or rather brings this holy boldness and confidence into the soul. Suppose a man in the Country were necessitated to go to London and had a great charge of money to pay in there Suppose also that the way thither was become exceeding dangerous because of the high-way-men that continually abide therein what now must this man do to go on his Journey chearfully Why let him pay in his money to such a one in the Country as will be sure to return it for him at London safely Why this is the case thou art bound for Heaven but the way thither is dangerous It is beset every where with evil Angels who would rob thee of thy Soul What now Why if thou wouldest go chearfully on in thy dangerous Journey commit thy treasure thy Soul to God to keep And then thou mayest say with comfort well that care is over For whatever I meet with in my way thither my Soul is safe enough the Thieves if they meet me can't come at that I know to whom I have committed my Soul and I am perswaded that he will keep that to my joy and everlasting comfort against the great day This therefore is one reason why we should that suffer for Christ commit the keeping of our Souls to God because a doubt about the well-being of that will be a clog a burden and an affliction to our spirit Yea the greatest of afflictions whilest we are taking up our Cross and bearing it after Christ. The joy of the Lord is our strength and the fear of perishing is that which will be weakning to us in the way Secondly we should commit the keeping of our Souls to God because the final conclusion that merciless men do sometimes make with the servants of God is all on a sudden They give no warning before they strike We shall not need here to call you to mind about the Massacres that were in Ireland Paris Piedmont and other places where the godly in the night before they were well awake had some of them their heart blood running on the ground The savage Monsters crying out kill kill from one end of a street or a place to the other This was sudden and he that had not committed his Soul to God to keep it was surely very hard put to it now but he that had done so was ready for such sudden work Sometimes indeed the Ax and Halter or the Faggot is shewed first but sometimes again it is without that warning Vp said Saul to Doeg the Edomite and slay the priests of the Lord 1 Sam. 22 11-19 Here was sudden work fall on said Saul and Doeg fell upon them and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linnen Ephod Nob also the ciâ—y of the Priests he smote with the edge of the sword both men and women children and sucklings c. Here was but a word and a blow Thinkest thou not who readest these lines that all of these who had before committed their Soul to God to keep were the fittest folk to die And immedately the King sent an Executioner and commanded his head to be brought Mark 6.27 The story is concerning Herod and John the Baptist Herod's dancing girl had begged John Baptist's head and nothing but his head must serve her turn well girl thou shalt have it Have it I but it will be long first No thou shalt have it now just now immediately And immediately he sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought Here is sudden work for sufferers here is no intimation before hand The executioner comes to John now whether he was at dinner or asleep or whatever he was about the bloody man bolts in upon him and the first word he salutes him with is Sir strip lay down your neck For I come to take away your head But hold stay wherefore pray let me commit my Soul to God No I must not stay I am in hast slap says his sword and off falls the good mans head This is sudden work work that stays for no man work that must be done by and by immediately or 't is not worth a rush I will said she that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. Yea she came in hast and as hastily the commandment went forth and immediately his head was brought Thirdly Unless a man commits the keeping of his Soul to God it is a question whether he can hold out and stand his ground and wrestle with all temptations This is the victory even your Faith and who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth c. And what incouragement has a man to suffer for Christ whose heart cannot believe and whose Soul he cannot commit to God to keep it And our Lord Jesus intimates as much when he saith Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life Wherefore saith he thus but to encourage those that suffer for his truth in the world to commit the keeping of their Souls to him and to believe that he hath taken the charge and care of them Paul's wisdom was that he was ready to die before his enemies were ready to kill him I am now ready saith he to be offered up and the time of my departure is at hand 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8. This is therefore a thing of high concern to wit the committing of the Soul to God to keep it 'T is I say of concern to do it now just now quickly whether thou art yet engaged or no for it is a good preparatory too as well as profitable in a time of persecution consider it
thy self by his word and providence and as for this or that mans judgment refer thy case to the judgment of God 3. Obj. But if I be taken and suffer my cause is like to be clothed with scandals slanders reproaches and all manner of false and evil speakings what must I do Answ. Saul charged David with Rebellion 1 Sam. 22.8.13 Amos was charged with conspiring against the King Amos 7.10 Daniel was charged with despising the King and so also were the three children Dan. 6.13 chap. 3.12 Jesus Christ himself was accused of perverting the nation of forbidding to give tribute to Caesar and of saying that himself was Christ a King Luk. 23.2 These things therefore have been But 1. Canst thou after a due examination of thy self say that as to these things thou art innocent and clear I say will thy conscience justifie thee here Hast thou made it thy business to give unto God the things that are Gods and unto Caesar the things that are his according as God has commanded If so matter not what men shall say nor with what lies and reproaches they slander thee but for these things count thy self happy Blessed are you when men shall revile you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely lying for my name sake saith Christ. Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you Mat. 5.11 12. Comfort thy self therefore in the innocency of thy Soul and say I am counted a Rebel and yet am Loyal I am counted a deceiver and yet am true 1 Sam. 24.8 9 10 11 12. 2 Cor. 6.8 Also refer thy cause to the day of judgment for if thou canst rejoyce at the thoughts that thou shalt be cleared of all slanders and evil speakings then that will bear up thy heart as to what thou maiest suffer now The answer of a good conscience will carry a man thorough Hell to Heaven Count these slanders part of thy sufferings and those for which God will give thee a reward because thou art innocent and for that they are laid upon thee for thy professions sake But if thou be guilty look to thy self I am no comforter of such I come now to speak to the third and last part of the Text Namely of the good effect that will certainly follow to those that after a due manner shall take the advice afore given Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator Two things from the last clause of the Text lie yet before us And they are they by which will be shown what good effect will follow to those that suffer according to the will of God and that commit their Souls to his keeping 1. Such will find him to themselves a Creator 2. They will find him a faithful Creator Let them commit the keeping of their Souls to him as unto a faithful Creator In this phrase a faithful Creator behold the wisdom of the holy Ghost how fitly and to the purpose he speaketh King is a great Title and God is sometimes called a King but he is not set forth by this Title here but by the Title of a Creator for it is not always in the power of a King to succour and relieve his Subjects that are suffering for his Crown and Dignity Father is a sweet Title a Title that carrieth in it an intimation of a great deal of bowels and compassion and God is often set forth also by this Title in the holy Scriptures But so he is not here but rather as a Creator For a Father a compassionate Father cannot always help succour or relieve his Children though he knows they are under affliction Oh but a Creator can Wherefore I say he is set forth here under the Title of a Creator First a Creator nothing can die under a Creators hands A Creator can sustain all A Creator can as a Creator do what he pleases The Lord the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not nor is weary Isa. 40.28 The cause of God for which his people suffer had been dead and buried a thousand years a go had it not been in the hand of a Creator The people that have stood by his cause had been out of both as to persons name and remembrance had they not been in the hand of a Creator Who could have hoped when Israel was going in even into the mouth of the red Sea that ever his cause or that people should have revived again A huge host of the Egyptians were behind them and nothing but death before and on every hand of them but they lived they flourished they out-lived their enemies for they were in the hand of a Creator Who could have hoped that Israel should have returned again from the land from the hand and from under the Tyranny of the King of Babylon They could not deliver themselves from going thither they could not preserve themselves from being diminished when they came there their power was gone they were in captivity their distance from home was far their enemies possest their Land their City of defence was ruined and their houses burned down to the ground and yet they come home again there is nothing impossible to a Creator Who could have thought that the three Children could have lived in a fiery furnace that Daniel could have been safe among the Lyons that Jonah could have come home to his Countrey when he was in the Whales belly or that our Lord should have risen again from the dead but what is impossible to a Creator This therefore is a rare consideration for those to let their hearts be acquainted with that suffer according to the will of God and that have committed the keeping of their Souls to him in well doing They have a Creator to maintain and uphold their cause a Creator to oppose its opposers And hence it is said all that burden themselves with Jerusalem shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it Zech. 12.3 Secondly A Creator A Creator can not only support a dying cause but also fainting spirits For as he fainteth not nor is is weary So he gives power to the faint and to those that have no might he increaseth strength Isa. 4.29 He is the God of the spirits of all flesh and has the life of the spirit of his people in his own hand Spirits have their being from him he is the Father of Spirits Spirits are made strong by him nor can any crush that spirit that God the Creator will uhpold Is it not a thing amazing to see one poor inconsiderable man in a Spirit of faith and patience overcome all the threatnings cruelties afflictions and sorrows that a whole World can lay upon him None can quail him none can crush him none can bend down his spirit None can make
thou hast excellent Graces manage them cherish strengthen and replenish them according to the mind of that great one who has bestowed such power to rule upon thee Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence and covetousness which is Idolatry Colos. 3.5 Nor do I think that murmuring shrinking whinching complaining and the like when men Governours lay a yoke upon our necks flows from any thing else but love to our flesh and distrust of the faithfulness of God to manage men things and actions for his Church The powers that be are ordered as well as ordained of God They are also always in Gods hand as his rod or staff for the good and benefit of his people Wherefore we ought with all meekness and humbleness of mind to accept of what our God by them shall please to lay upon us 1 Pet. 5.6 By what I now say I do not forbid groaning and crying to God under affliction I speak against striving to deliver our selves from the affliction And since men are as I said the rod staff or sword in Gods hand we should apply our selves unto him in faith in a way of Prayer Intercession Supplication and giving of thanks for Governours For since they are sent of God they must needs come with some good in their hand for us also our prayers may make them more profitable to us And this we ought to do without wrath and doubting for this is that which is good and acceptable unto God 1 Tim. 2. Besides 't is a sign that we forget our selves when we complain for the punishment of our sins If we look into our selves and wayes we shall see cause of more heavy stripes than yet God by men has laid upon us What sin has yet been suppressed by all that has happened to us Are Pride Covetousness Loosness Treacherous dealing Schisms and other things redressed by all the affliction that we have had Yea do we not grow worse and worse Wherefore then should we complain Where is Repentance Reformation and amendment of life amongst us Why then do we shrink and whinch For my part I have oft-times stood amazed both at the mercy of God and the favour of the Prince towards us and can give thanks to God for both and do make it my Prayer to God for the King and that God will help me with meekness and patience to bear what ever shall befall me for my professed subjection to Christ by men We are bid as I said afore to give thanks to God for all men for Kings and for all that are in authority Because as I said there is no man with whom we have to do we doing as we should but he bringeth some good thing to us or doth some good thing for us We will now descend from them that are supreme in authority and will come to inferior men And suppose some of them to act beyond measure cruelly What Can no good thing come to us out of this Do not even such things as are most bitter to the flesh tend to awaken Christians to Faith and Prayer to a sight of the emptiness of this World and the fadingness of the best it yields Doth not God by these things oft-times call our sins to remembrance and provoke us to amendment of life how then can we be offended at things by which we reap so much good and at things that God makes so profitable for us Doth not God oft-times even take occasions by the hardest of things that come upon us to visit our Souls with the comforts of his Spirit to lead us into the glory of his word and to cause us to favour that love that he has had for us even from before the world began till now A nest of Bees and honey did Sampson find even in the belly of that Lion that roared upon him And is all this no good or can we be without such holy appointments of God Let these things be considered by us and let us learn like Christians to kiss the Rod and love it I have thought again my brethren since it is required of us that we give thanks to God for all these men it follows that we do with quietness submit our selves under what God shall do to us by them For it seems a Paradox to me to give thanks to God for them that yet I am not willing should abide in that place that God has set them in for me I will then love them bless them pray for them and do them good I speak now of the men that hurt me as was hinted afore And I will do thus because it is good so to do because they do me good by hurting of me because I am cal-called to inherit a blessing and because I would be like my heavenly Father Therefore if mine enemy hunger let me feed him if he thirst let me give him drink Mat. 5.43 44 45 46 47 48. 1 Pet. 3.9 Rom. 12.17 20 1. We must see good in that in which other men can see none 2. We must pass by those injuries that other men would revenge 3. We must shew we have grace and that we are made to bear what other men are not acquainted with 4. Many of our graces are kept alive by those very things that are the death of other mens Souls Where can the excellency of our Patience of our meekness of our long-suffering of our love and of our Faith appear if it be not under Tryals and in those things that run cross to our flesh The Devil they say is good when he is pleased But Christ and his Saints when displeased Let us therefore covet to imitate Christ and the Scripture Saints Let us shew out of a good conversation our works with meekness of wisdom Let us take heed of admitting the least thought in our minds of evil against God the King or them that are under him in imploy because the cup the King all men and things are in the hand of God Psal. 75.8 Pro. 8.15 Chap. 21.1 Lam. 3.37 and he can make them better to us than if they were as our flesh desireth they should I have often thought that the best Christians are found in the worst of times and I have thought again that one reason why we are no better is because God purges us no more Joh. 15 I know these things are against the grain of the flesh but they are not against the graces of the spirit Noah and Lot who so holy as they in the day of their affliction Noah and Lot who so idle as they in the day of their prosperity I might have put in David too who while he was afflicted had ways of serving God that were special but when he was more enlarged he had ways that were not so good Wherefore the first wayes of David are the ways that God has commended but the rest of his wayes such as had not preheminence 2 Chro. 17.3 We have
to suffer for righteousness sake Take heed therefore that some thing else be not an inducement to thee to suffer A man may suffer to save what he has There is credit also and an applause there is shame to conform there is carnal stoutness of spirit there is hatred of persecutors and scorn to submit there is fear of contempt and of the reproach of the people c. These may be motives and arguments to a suffering state and may really be the ground of a mans being in the Gaol though he cries out in the mean while of Popery of Superstition and Idolatry and of the Errors that attend the common modes of the Religions of the World I charge no man as though I knew any such thing by any But I suggest these things as things that are possible and mention them because I would have sufferers have a care of themselves and watch and pray because no man can be upright here that is not holy that cannot pray and watch and deny himself for the love that he has to righteousness I said it before and will say it again 't is a rare thing to be set in down-rightness of heart against sin Secondly Is it for the sake of righousness that thou sufferest Then it is because thou wouldest have righteousness promoted set up and established in the world also thou art afflicted at those advantages that iniquity gets upon men upon things and against thy self I beheld said David the transgressors and was grieved because men kept not thy Law Psal. 119. And again these are they that mourn for the abominations that are done among men Ezek. 9. There is a great deal of talk about Religion a great deal of pleading for Religion namely as to the formalities of this and the other way But to chuse to be Religions that I might be possessed with holiness and to chuse that Religion that is most apt to possess me with it if I suffer for this I suffer for righteousness sake Wherefore say thus to thy Soul thou that art like to suffer for righteousness How is it with the most inward parts of my Soul what is there what designs desires and teachings out are there Why do I pray Why do I read Why do I hear Why do I haunt and frequent places and ordinances appointed for worship is it because I love holiness would promote righteousness because I love to see godliness shew it self in others and because I would feel more of the power of it in my self if so and if thou sufferest for thy profession thou sufferest not only for righteousness but also for righteousness sake Dost thou thus practise because thou wouldest be taught to do outward acts of righteousness and because thou wouldest provoke others to do so too Dost thou shew to others how thou lovest righteousness by taking opportunities to do righteousness How is it dost thou shew most mercy to thy Dog or to thine enemy to thy Swine or to the poor whose naked body hast thou clothed whose hungry belly hast thou fed Hast thou taken delight in being defrauded and beguiled hast thou willingly sat down by the loss with quietness and been as if thou hadst not known when thou hast been wronged defamed abused and all because thou wast not willing that black mouthed men should vilifie and reproach Religion upon thy account 1 Cor. 6.7 He that loveth righteousness will do thus yea and do it as unto God and of tenderness to the word of God which he professeth And he that thinks to make seeing men believe that when he suffereth he suffereth for righteousness sake and yet is void in his life of moral goodness and that has no heart to suffer and bear and put up and pass by injuries in his conversation among his enemies at home is deceived There are some Scriptures that are as if they were out of date amoâ—â— some professors specially such as can for actual holiness and acts of self denyal for God but it will be found at the day of judgment that they only are the peculiar people that are zealous of good works Tit. 2.14 God help us 't is hard now to perswade professors to come up to negative holiness that is to leave undone that which is bad and yet this of it self comes far short of ones being found in practical goodness But this is the man that suffereth when he suffereth for righteousness sake that makes it his business by all lawful means according to the capacity that God has put him in to promote set up and establish righteousness in the World I say this is the man that suffereth for righteousness sake that suffereth for so doing and I am sure that a life that is moral when joyned to the profession of the faith of the things that are of the spirit of God is absolutely necessary to the promoting of righteousness in the World Hence Peter tells them that suffer for righteousness sake that they must have a good conscience a good conscience towards God towards men towards friends towards enemies 1 Pet. 3.14 15 16. Acts 24.16 chap. 23.1 They must have a good conscience in all things being willing ready desirous to live honestly godly and righteously in this world or else they cannot though they may suffer for the best doctrine under heaven sâ—ffer for righteousness sake Heb. 13.18 Wherefore Thirdly Is it for righteousness sake that thou sufferest then thy design is the ruin of sin this depends upon what was said before for he that strives against sin that seeks to promote righteousness he designs the ruin of sin Be not said Paul to the suffering Romans overcome of evil but overcome evil with good Rom. 12.21 To overcome evil with good is an hard task To rail it down to cry it down to pray Kings and Parliaments and men in authority to put it down this is easier than to use my endeavour to overcome it with good with doing of good as I said before And sin must be overcome with good at home before thy good can get forth of doors to overcome evil abroad Abraham overcame evil with good when he quieted the discontent of Lot and his Herdsmen with allowing of them to feed their Cattel in the best of what God had given him Gen. 13.7 8. David overcame evil with good when he saved the life of his bloudy enemy that was fallen into his hand also when he grieved that any hurt should come to them that sought nothing so much as his destruction They rewarded me saith he evil for good to the spoiling of my Soul But as for me when they were sick my clothing was sackcloth I humbled my Soul with fasting I behaved my self as if he had been my Friend or Brother I bowed down heavily as one that mourneth for his Mother This is to overcome evil with good Psal. 35.11 12 13 14. Job saith concerning his enemy that he did not rejoyce when evil found him neither have I said he suffered
is set upon an Hill upon a Stage as in a Theater to play a part for God in the World And you know when men are to play their parts upon a Stage they count themselves if possible more bound to circumspection and that for the credit of their Master the credit of their Art and the credit of themselves For then the eyes of every body are fixed they gape and stare upon them Ps. 22.17 and a trip here is as bad as a fall in another place Also now God himself looks on Yea he laugheth as being pleased to see a good behaviour attending the tryal of the innocent 1. He that suffereth for righteousness sake suffereth for his goodness and he is now to labour by works and ways to convince the world that he suffereth as such an one 2. He that suffereth for righteousness sake has many that are weak to strengthen by his sweet carriages under the Cross wherefore he had need to exceed in vertue 3. He also is by well-doing to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men he had need be curious and circumspect in all his actions 4. He is to come in and to be a Judge and to condemn by his faith and patience in his sufferings the World with his Lord and fellows at the appearing of Jesus Christ he had need be holy himself 1 Cor. 6.1 2 3 4 5. Heb. 11.7 2 Thessal 1.5 6. 1 Pet. 4.3 4 5. This therefore is the fit sign of suffering for righteousness sake Sixthly He that suffereth not only for righteousness but also for righteousness sake will not exchange his cause though for it in a Gaol for all the ease and pleasure in the world They that suffered for righteousness sake of old were tempted before they were sawn asunder Heb. 11. Tempted that is allured to come out of their present sufferings and leave their faith and profession in irons behind them Tempted with promises of promotion of ease of friendship of favour with men As the Devil said to Christ so persecutors of old did use to make great promises to sufferers if they would fall down and worship But this is alone as if they should say Butcher make away with your righteousness and a good conscience and you shall find the friendship of the World For there is no way to kill a mans righteousness but by his own consent This Jobs wife knew full well hence she tempted him to lay violent hands upon his own integrity Job 2.9 The Devil nor men of the World can kill thy righteousness or love to it but by thy own hand or separate that and thee asunder without thine own act Nor will he that doth indeed suffer for the sake of it or of love he bears thereto be tempted to exchange it for the good of all the World 'T is a sad sight to see a man that has been suffering for righteousness restored to his former estate while the righteousness for which he suffered remains under locks and irons and is exposed to the scorn contempt reproach of the World and troden under the foot of men 'T is better said Paul for me to dye than that any man should make my glorying void And it had been a hundred times better for that man if he had never known the way of righteousness than after he has known it to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto him The striving is in persecution for righteousness to wit whether it shall be set up or pull'd down The sufferer he is for setting up and the persecutors are for pulling down Thus they strive for the mastery Now of a man stands by his righteousness and holds fast his good profession then is righteousness set up nor can it so long be pulled down Hence so long a man is said to overcome And overcome he doth though he be killed for his profession But if he starts back gives place submits recants or denyeth any longer to own that good thing that he professed and exposed himself to suffering for then he betrays his cause his profession his conscience his righteousness his Soul and all for he has delivered up his profession to be murdered before his face And is fallen down before the wicked like a corrupt fountain and a troubled spring Prov. 25.26 But this I hope will not he do that loveth righteousness and that suffereth for righteousness sake I do not say but that a man may slip here with Peter Origen Hierom Cranmer Baynham Ormis and other good folk but be he one of the right kind a lover of righteousness indeed he will return and take revenge upon himself in a godly way for so ungodly a fact Seventhly He that suffereth not only for righteousness but also for righteousness sake is not so wedded to his own notions as to slight or overlook the good that is in his neighbour But righteousness he loves where-ever he finds it though it be in him that smiteth him Psal. 141.5 Yea he will own and acknowledge it for the only thing that is of beauty and glory in the World With the excellent in the earth is all such a mans delight Wherefore I put a difference betwixt suffering for an opinion and suffering for righteousness as I put a difference betwixt suffering for righteousness and suffering for righteousness sake If righteousness if the stamp of God if Divine authority is not found upon that thing which I hold let men never suffer for it under the notion of righteousness If sin if Superstition if Idolatry if derogation from the wisdom of Christ and the authority and perfection of his word be not found in nor joined to that thing that I disown in worship let me never open my mouth against it I had rather fall in with and be an associate of a righteous man that has no true grace than with a professor that has no righteousness 'T is said of the young man though he went away from Christ that he looked upon him and loved him Mar. 10.17 18 19 20 21. But 't is not said that ever he loved Judas I know that the righteousness for which a good man suffereth is not then imbraced of the world for that at such a time it is under a cloud But yet there is righteousness also in the World and where-ever I see it 't is of an high esteem with me David acknowledged some of his enemies to be more righteous than he acknowledged some of his servants to be 2 Sam. 4.9 10 11. chap. 3 3â— 32 33 34 35. 'T is a brave thing to have righteousness as righteousness to be the top piece in mine affections The reason why Christ was anointed with the oyl of gladness above his fellows was because he loved righteousness and hated iniquity more than they Heb. 1.9 Love to righteousness flows from golden graces and is that and that only that can make a man capable of suffering in our sence for righteousness sake Eighthly He that suffereth not only for righteousness but
Creator he is fastned to Christ yea is in him by an act of Creation Eph. 2.10 So that unless Christ and the creation of the holy Ghost can be destroyed he is safe that is suffering according to the will of God and that hath committed the keeping of his Soul to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator And this I would have you consider moreover the man that suffereth according to the will of God committeth not such a Soul to this Creator as dwells in carnal men a naked Soul a graceless Soul a Soul that has nothing in it but sin but he commits a converted Soul a regenerate Soul a Soul adorned beautified and sanctified with the Jewels and bracelets ear-rings and perfumes of the blessed spirit of grace And I say again this is the work of a Creator and a Creator can maintain it in its gallantry and he will do so but he will put forth acts of creating power for it every day Sixthly a Creator he that can create can turn and alter any thing to what himself would have it He that made the seven Stars and Orion turneth the shadow of death into the morning He can make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of water Amos 5.8 Isa. 41.18 Our most afflicted and desolate conditions he can make as a little haven unto us he can make us sing in the wilderness and give us our vineyards from thence Hos. 2.14 15. He can make Paul sing in the stocks and good Rowland Taylor dance as he goeth to the burning stake Gaols and mocks and scourgings and flouts and imprisonments and hunger and nakedness and Peril and Sword and Dens and Caves and Rocks and Mountains God can so sweeten with the Honey of his word and make so famous for situation by the glory of his presence and so rich and fruitful by the communications of the holy Ghost and so easie by the spreading of his feathers over us that we shall not be able to say that in all the world a more commodious place or comfortable condition can be found some have known this and have been rather ready to covet to be here than to shun and fly from it as a most unsavoury condition All these things I say God doth as a Creator He hath created Antipathies and he can make Antipathies close and have favour one for another The Lion and the Calf the Wolf and the Lamb the little Boy and the Cockatrice's den he can reconcile and make to be at agreement So sufferings and the Saint the Prison and the Saint losses crosses and afflictions and the Saint he can make to lie down sweetly together Seventhly A Creator A Creator can make up all that thou hast or shalt lose for the sake of thy profession by the hands of the Children of men be they Friends Relations a World life or what you can conceive of 1. Hast thou lost thy Friend for the sake of thy profession is the whole World set against thee for thy love to God to Christ his cause and righteousness Why a Creator can make up all Here therefore is the advantage that he hath that suffereth for righteousness sake Jonathan the very Son of bloody Saul when David had lost the help of all his own Relations he must fall in with him stick to him and love him as he loved his own Soul 1 Sam. 18.1 2 3. Obadiah Ahab's Steward when the Saints were driven even under ground by the rage of Jezabel the Queen he is appointed of God to feed them in Caves and holes of the Earth Yea the very Raven complied with the will of a Creator to bring the Prophet bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh at night 1 King 18.13 chap. 17.6 When Jeremiah the Prophet was rejected of all yea the Church that then was could not help him he was cast into the Dungeon and sunk to a great depth there in the mire God the Creator who ruleth the spirits of all men stirred up the heart of Ebed-melech the Ethiopian both to petition for his liberty and to put him out of the Dungeon by the help of thirty men Jer. 38.7 8 9 10 11 12 13. These now as Christ says were both Fathers Mothers Brothers Sisters and as a Loving Wife or Child Mat. 19.29 2. Hast thou for the sake of thy faith and profession thereof lost thy part in the World why a Creator can make thee houses as he did for the Midwives of Egypt and can build thee a sure house as he did for David his Servant who ventured all for the love that they had to the fear of God and his way Exo. 1.20 21. 2 Sam. 7. David was thrust out of Sauls house and driven from his own and God opened the heart of Achish the King of Gath to receive him and to give him Ziklag David when under the tyranny of Saul knew not what to do with his Father and his Mother who were persecuted for his sake but a Creator inclined the heart of the King of Moab to receive them to house and harbor 1 Sam. 27.5 6. Chap. 22.3 4. 3. Is thy life at stake is that like to go for thy profession for thy harmless profession of the Gospel Why God the Creator is Lord of life and to God the Lord belong the issues from death So then he can if he will hold thy breath in thy nostrils in spite of all the World or if he shall suffer them to take away this for his glory he can give thee another ten times as good for thy comfort He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal Joh. 12.25 4. Is thy body to be disfigured dismembred starved hanged or burned for the faith and profession of the Gospel Why a Creator can either prevent it or suffering it can restore it the very same to thee again with great and manifold advantage He that made thee to be what thou now art can make thee to be what thou never yet wast It doth not yet appear what we shall be further than only by general words 1 John 3.2 Philip. 3.21 Eightly A Creator Peter sets him before us here as a Creator because he would have us live upon him as such as well as upon his grace love and mercy In Jobs day this was bewailed that none or but a few said where is God my maker that giveth songs in the night Job 35.10 Creator as was hinted before is one of Gods peculiar Titles It is not given to him above five or six times in all the Book of God and usually when given him it is either to shew his greatness or else to convince us that of duty we ought to depend upon him and not to faint if he be on our side for or under any adversity according as we are bidden in the Text Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit
keeping of our Soul a Creator so he saith that he is a Creator that is faithful Let them commit the keeping of their Soul unto him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator A Creator that will concern himself with the Soul committed to his trust and that will be faithful to it according to all that he has promised This therefore of Gods faithfulness being added to his might and power is in it self a ground of great support to those that have in a way of well-doing committed themselves their Souls to him to keep A Creator what is it that a Creator cannot do A faithful Creator what is it that one that is faithful will not do that is when he is ingaged And now he is ingaged because thou hast committed thy Soul to him to keep and because he has bid thee do so Let them commit the keeping of their Soul to him as unto a faithful Creator I have sometimes seen an unfaithful man engaged when a thing has been committed to him to keep A man that is a Thief a cheater a defrauder will yet be faithful to him that will commit a charge to him to keep And the reason is because though he can steal cheat defraud without being taken notice of yet he must be seen and known if he be false in that which is committed to him to keep I know the comparison is odious yet such have been made by a holier mouth than mine and as the case may be they may be aptest of all to illusterate that which a man is about to explain Hark what the unjust Judge saith says the Lord Jesus Christ. Luk. 18. To commit thy Soul to God is to trust him with it to commit thy Soul to God is to engage him to look to it And if he should not be faithful now he will not be so in any case For himself has bidden thee do it he has also promised to keep it as has been already shewed in the former part of this discourse Besides he is here said to be faithful to be a faithful Creator He challenges this of faithfulness to himself alone Yea let God be true and every man a liar Rom. 3.4 This therefore doth still help to encourage them that would be faithful to him to commit the keeping of our Soul to him A faithful man will encourage one much how much more should the faithfulness of God encourage us Here therefore we have a closing word indeed A word to wrap up the Text with that is as full of good as the Sun is of light what can be fiâ—ter spoken What can be added what now is wanting to the help of him that has committed his Soul to God to keep it while he is suffering according to his will in the world He is engaged as I said by the act thou hast committed thy Soul to him to keep He is engaged by his own word he has bidden thee commit thy Soul to him to keep He is engaged by his declaring of himself to be faithful for that has encouraged thee to commit thy Soul to him to keep Besides he has promised to do it he has sworn to do it For when God made promise to Abraham because he could swear by no greatter he sware by himself Saying Surely blessing I will bless thee and multiplying I will multiply thee And so after he had patiently endured as thou must do he obtained the promise For men verily swear by the greater and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his Counsel confirmed it by an oath That by two immutable things in which it was not possible that God should lie we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Which hope we have as an anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast and which entereth into that within the vail whither the forerunner is for us entred even Jesus made an high Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck Heb. 6.13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Thus you see what ground we have who suffer according to the will of God and that have committed the keeping of our Souls to him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator Here therefore I might make a stop and conclude as to this advice but now we are in we will proceed a little further and will fall down upon three or four particulars First then He will be faithful to us in this He will keep us from those allurements of the world that a suffering Saint is subject to They that suffer have other kind of temptations upon this account than other Christians have The liberty of others while they are in bonds is a temptation to them The peace of others while they are in trouble is a temptation to them The enjoyments of others while their houses are emptying and their goods taking away while their own water is sold unto them and while they are buying their own wood is a great temptation to them Lamen 5.4 And this temptation were it not that we have to do with a God that is faithful would assuredly be a great snare unto them But God is faithful and will not suffer you to be tempted as to this above what you are able 1 Cor. 10.13 Nay a suffering man has not only these things lying before him as a temptation but perhaps the wife of the bosome lies at him saying O do not cast thy self away if thou takest this course what shall I do thou hast said thou lovest me now make it manifest by granting this my small request Do not still remain in thine integrity Next to this come the Children all which are like to come to poverty to beggery to be undone for want of wherewithal to fâ—ed and cloath and provide for them for time to come Now also come Kindred and Relations and acquaintance some chide some cry some argue some threaten some promise some flatter and some do all to befool him for so unadvised an act as to cast away himself and to bring his Wife and Children to beggery for such a thing as Religion These are sore temptations Next to these come the Terrors of men the gripes of the Laws the shadow of death and no man can tell what All which are sufficient to pull a man from the gates of life were he there if the faithful Creator stands not to him But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able but will with the temptation make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it But God is faithful It saith not that thou art But God is faithful to his Son to whom he has given thee to his promise the which he has given thee to his cause to which he has called thee and to thy Soul the which thou hast committed to his trust
and the which he also has taken the charge of as he is a faithful Creator And will not suffer thee to be tempted How not tempted no not above what thou art able He that tempts thee doth not at all consider thy strength so as to stop when he sees thou art weak he would have thee overthrown for therefore it is that he tempteth thee But God will not suffer that because he is faithful and because thou hast committed the keeping of thy Soul unto him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator Not tempted above that ye are able He saith not above that ye are well able Indeed thy strength shall be proportioned to the temptation but thou maiest have none over and above to spare thou shalt not have bigger load than God will give thee shoulders to bear Christ did bear his burden but it made him cry out and sweat as it were greats drop of blood to carry it Bear thy burden thou shalt and not be destroyed by it but perhaps thou mayest sometimes roar under it by reason of the disquietness of thy heart But will with the temptation make a way of escape With the temptation not without it thou must be tempted and must escape too With the temptation As sure as Satan is licensed so sure he is limited and when Satan has ended all the temptation he shall depart from thee Luke 4.13 He will with the temptation by such a managing of it as shall break its own neck God can admit Satan to tempt and make the Christian wise to manage the temptation for his own escape Make a way It may be thou seest no way of escape It may be there is no way no way in all the world to escape well but God can make a way When Israel was hem'd in at the Red Sea there was as then no way no way in all the world to escape O but God made a way and a path-way too and that thorough the mighty waters Exo. 15.8.16 Psal. 106.9 Psal. 78.35 He will make away with the temptation or will with the temptation make away to escape that you may be able to bear it These are the words of the holy Ghost who is God and they are spoken yea committed to record for this very purpose that those that are under affliction might commit the keeping of their Soul to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator That 's the first Secondly He will also be faithful to us as to this He will give us a competent measure of wisdom that in our suffering condition we may in all things be made able to manage our state with discretion We are perhaps weak of natural abilities parts of utterance or the like and our adversaries are Learned Eloquent and ripe of Parts Thou hast the disadvantage on thy side and they have what the world can afford to encourage them thou art weak of Spirit they are bold and strong The great and the mighty are with thy enemies but on thy side there is no comforter Eccles. 4.1 Why now here is as to this and to what else can be objected the faithfulness of God engaged First in a general promise I will not fail thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5.6 Secondly we have an invitation to come to this faithful God for wisdom to assist and help For after he had said my brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations and let patience have its perfect work he adds If any man lacks wisdom let him ask it of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him James 1.2 3 4 5. Here is more then an invitation here is a promise it shall be given him and all to shew us what a faithful Creator we have commited our Souls unto Doth any lack wisdom to know how to carry it in a time of Tryal let them ask it of God of the God that is wisdom it self let him ask it of God the liberal giver who giveth to all men all that they have and upbraideth not for their unworthiness Nor doth the holy Ghost stop here but enlarges himself in a more particular way to those that suffer according to the Text saying But when they deliver you up take no thought how or what you shall speak for it shall be given you in the same hour what you shall speak Mat. 10.19 I have often been amazed in my mind at this Text for how could Jesus Christ have said such a word if he had not been able to perform it This Text therefore declares him to be God It is also a proof of faithfulness to those that suffer for him For it is as if he should say try me and trust me if I stand not by you in a day of distress never believe me more You suffering according to the will of God and committing your Souls to him in well-doing I will give you a mouth and wisdom for so he has it in Luke 21.15 which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist Here is no consideration of what capacity the people might be of that were to be persecuted but what 's matter what they are if fools it is no matter if wise it helpeth nothing A mouth and wisdom is to be given that of it self shall do And this is according to that other Scripture mentioned afore where it saith No weapon formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn Isa. 54.17 Although it may happen in this as in the former temptation The Devil and his agents may give the Saints in their pleading for the truth their bellies full both of cross answers equivocations sophistications wrong glosses and erroneous interpretations But truth shall prevail shall turn the scale and bear away the victory Thirdly He will also be faithful to us in this we shall not want spiritual support to help us to bear up under our particular parts of suffering I do not say that thou shalt be comforted all the while but I say he will be to thee so faithful as to comfort thee under those thodes guests blasts or battering storms that beat against thy wall Isa. 32.2 Look then what present degrees or aggravating appearances are in thy afflictions to such a degree shalt thou at times be supported For as surely as ever the spirit of God moved Samson at times in the Camp of Dan when he lay against the Philistines so will the spirit of God move in and upon thee to comfort and to strengthen thee whilst thou sufferest for his name in the World As our afflictions abound for Christ so shall our consolations abound by him 2 Cor. 1.5.6 I have observed that God laies this that he useth to comfort his people in a time of sufferings as an aggravation of sin upon them that did use to shuck and shrink under sufferings I saith he even I am he that comforteth you who art thou
that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die Isa. 51.12 God says the wise man hath set the one against the other the day of adversity and the day of prosperity to the end that man should find nothing after him to complain of For as certainly as there is a time to mourn so certainly there is a time to rejoyce set I say for them that suffer for Gods cause according to Gods will Eccles. 7.14 chap. 3.4 There are several degrees of suffering for righteousness there is the scourge of the tongue The ruin of an estate the loss of liberty a Gaol a Gibbet a Stake a Dagger Now answerable to these are the comforts of the holy Ghost prepared like to like part proportioned to part only the consolations are said to abound 2 Cor. 1. But the lighter the sufferings are the more difficult it is to judge of the comforts of the spirit of God for 't is common for a man to be comfortable under sufferings when he suffereth but little and knows also that his enemy can touch his flesh his estate or the like but little I say 't is common for such a man to be comfortable in his sufferings from the consideration that his enemies can touch him no further And this may be the joy of the flesh the result of reason and may be very much if not altogether without a mixture of the joy of the holy Ghost therewith The more deep therefore and the more dreadful the sufferings are the more clearly are seen the comforts of the spirit when a man has comfort where the flesh is dead stirreth not and can do nothing When a man can be comfortable at the loss of all when he is under the sentence of death or at the place of execution When a mans cause a mans conscience the promise and the holy Ghost have all one comfortable voice and do all together with their Trumpets make one sound in the Soul then the comforts are good of the right kind of God and his spirit I told you before that there are several degrees of sufferings wherefore it is not to be expected that he that suffers but little should partake of the comforts that are prepared for them that suffer much He that has only the scourge of the tongue knows not what are the comforts that are prepared for him that meets with the scourge of the whip And how should a man know what manner of comforts the holy Ghost doth use to give at the Gaol and the Gibbet when himself for righteousness never was there But whether this or the other Christian knows it God has his consolations for his suffering people and those too such as are proportioned to the nature or degree of their sufferings The which shall assuredly be made appear to them that shall after a godly manner stick to his truth and trust him with their Souls Joseph was cast into Prison but God was with him John was banished into the Isle called Patmos for the word of God But what revelations of God had he there even such as he was a stranger to all his life before this therefore is to be well heeded For it is a demonstration of the faithfulness of God to those that suffering according to his will do commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator Fourthly He will also be faithful to us in this He will not let the sharpness nor keenness nor venom of the arrows of the enemies of his people reach so far as to destroy both body and Soul at once but he will preserve them when what can be done is done to his eternal Kingdom and Glory Thus being preserved to his eternal Kingdom and glory is a mâ—rvellous thing But it must be so because God has called them to it Wherefore after Peter had told them that the Devil their adversary sought to devour them and had bidden them resist him stedfast in the faith he saith But the God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal Kingdom and glory by Christ Jesus after ye have suffered a while make you perfect strengthen stablish settle you 1 Pet. 5.8 9 10. The truth is persecution of the godly was of God never intended for their destruction but for their Glory and to make them shine the more when they are beyond this valley of the shadow of death Indeed we oft-times when we are perscuted do feel the terrors of our adversaries in our minds But 't is not because they can shoot them thither nor because they of themselves have power to reach so far but we like fools by our ignorance and unbelief do admit them thither No suffering nor inflicter of suffering can reach the peace of the sufferer without his own consent This is provision of Gods making Yea and if thorow our folly their terror is admitted to touch us yet since we are not our own but are bought with a price we are not so at our own dispose but that God will have the butting and bounding of their rage as also a power to uphold and support our spirits When I said my foot slipped thy mercy O Lord held me up And the reason why by Gods ordinance the spirit is not to be touched in suffering is because that is it that is to sustain the infirmity of the sufferer therefore God will have the spirit of his servants kept sound and in good health Prov. 18.14 Isaiah 57.16 The room therefore and the ground that the enemy has to play upon is the body and outward substance of the people of God but the spirit is reserved for the reason hinted before and also that it might be capable of maintaining of communion with God And how else could they obey that command that bids them rejoyce in tribulation and glorifie God in the fires as it is Rom. 12 and Isaiah 24.15 But I say if they have not power to touch much less to destroy body and Soul for ever The body is Gods and he gives that to them to destroy the spirit is Gods and he keeps that to himself to shew that he has both power to do with us what he pleases and that he will recover our body also out of their hand for if the spirit lives so must the body when men have done what they can therewith This is the argument of our Lord Jesus Christ himself Luke 20.37.38 Therefore the faithfulness of God not only is but also will be seen by them that dare trust him till the next World to his glory and their eternal comfort We will now conclude with a short word by way of use you see how I have opened the Text and what hath naturally followed thereupon from the whole of which may be gathered First that the people of God are a suffering people a people subject to trouble for their faith and profession The reason is besides what hath been said already because the power of truth is in their
hearts and shews it self in their lives a thing which the Devil and the World can by no means abide He that is born after the flesh persecuteth him that is born after the spirit Gal. 4. For they cannot agree in Religion the godly are so devout and the other are so profane that they cannot do Not but that Gods People as they are commanded are willing to let them alone but the other they cannot bear that they should serve God as they have said Mat. 15.14 And hence ariseth persecution The World also would have the Religion of the godly to be counted false a thing that the others can by no means endure but will stand by and maintain yet in all peaceable manner their own ways before them whatever it costs The Christian and the carnal professor are like those two Harlots that you read of in the Book of Kings who strove for the living child whose it should be whose contest could not be decided until it came to the sword of the King 1 Kings 3. O but when the sword was drawn under a shew as if the living Child must now be cut in two then the true mother was known from the false For her bowels yearned upon her Son ver 26.27 The World what shew soever they have for Religion and however they urge it that the truth is with them have no yearning of bowels for it Let it be neither mine nor thine said she but divide it but the woman whose the living child was had not an heart to say so Religion may lie and die in a ditch for all those that are given to their sins nor doth their zeal appear except when they are griping of the godly for his faith towards God Bowels yearning of Bowels over Gods condemned Religion is only found in the Souls of those who own God has made it Secondly Is it so are Gods people a suffering people Then this should inform them that will be Religious to prepare themselves for what is like to attend them for their Religion To prepare I say not with carnal weapons but with the graces of the spirit of God that will help them with meekness and patience to endure Sit down then I say and count up the cost before for Religion thou engagest too far lest thou take upon thee to meddle with that which thou wilt not know what to do with in the end Prov. 25.8 Luke 14.25 26 27 28 29 30. Many there be that are faulty here they have taken upon them to profess not considering what what they have taken in hand may cost them Wherefore when troubles come indeed then they start and cry This they like not because they looked not for it and if this be the way to heaven let who will go on in it for them Thus they take offence and leave Christs cause and people to shift for themselves in the World Mat. 13.20 21. Thirdly But let Gods people think never the worse of Religion because of the course entertainment it meeteth with in the World 'T is better to chuse God and affliction than the World and sin and carnal peace 'T is necessary that we should suffer because that we have sinned And if God will have us suffer a little white here for his word instead of suffering for our sins in Hell let 's be content and count it a mercy with thankfulness The wicked are reserved to the day of destruction they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath Job 21.30 How kindly therefore doth God deal with us when he chuses to afflict us but for a little that with everlasting kindness he may have mercy upon us Isa. 54.7 8. And 't is better if the will of God be so that we suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing 1 Pet. 3. â—7 Fourthly Look not therefore upon the sufferings of Gods people for their Religion to be tokens of Gods great anger 'T is to be sure as our heavenly Father orders it rather a token of his love for suffering for the Gospel and for the sincere profession of it is indeed a dignity put upon us a dignity that all men are not counted worthy of Count it therefore a favour that God has bestowed upon thee his truth and graces to enable thee to profess it though thou be made to suffer for it Acts 5.41 Thou mightest have been a sufferer for thy sins in Hell but thou art not but contrariwise art perhaps suffering for conscience to God this is a dignity for that thou dost thus by vertue of an heavenly gift on the behalf of Christ for the Gospel sake and according to the will of God This is a dignity that a persecutor shall not be counted worthy of until he first convert to Christ Philip. 1.29 Fifthly take thy affliction with meekness and patience though thou endurest grief wrongfully For this is thank worthy if a man for conscience towards God endure grief suffering wrongfully 1 Pet. 2. Lay thy hand then upon thy mouth and speak not a word of ill against him that doth thee wrong leave thy cause and thy enemy to God yea rather pray that his sin may not be laid to his charge wherefore as I said before now shew thy self a good man by loving pitying praying for and by doing good as thou art commanded to them that dispitefully use thee Mat. 5.44 I know thy flesh will be apt to huff and to be angry and to wish would thou mightest revenge thy self But this is base carnal sensual devilish cast therefore such thoughts from thee as thoughts that are not fit for a Christians breast and betake thee to those weapons that are not carnal For the Artillery of a Christian is the word faith and prayer and in our patience we must possess our Souls 2 Cor. 10.5 Luke 21.16 17 18 19. Sixthly Be much in the consideration of the All-sufficience of thy Father whose cause thou hast espoused whose word thou hast chosen for thy heritage and whose paths thou delightest to walk in I say be much in considering how all the World is sustained by him and that all life and breath is in his hand to continue or diminish as he pleases Think with thy self also how able he is to rescue thee from all affliction or to uphold thee in it with a quiet mind Go to him continually as to a fountain of life that is open for the supply of the needy Remember also if he comes not at thy call and comforteth thee not so soon as thou desirest it is not of want of love or compassion to thy Soul but to try thy graces and to shew to the fallen Angels that thou wilt serve God for nought rather than give out Also if it seemeth to thee as if God took no care of thee to help thee but that he hath rather turned thee over to the ungodly count this also as a sign that he delights to see thee hold fast his name though thou art laid under the greatest of