Part 11
reluctance, and great unwillingness the Lord goes about such a work as this. The work of judgment is his Arangework, it pleases him better to execute the milder attribute of mercytowardshis children. Hence we find, when he is preparing to executehisjudgments,that he delays the execution as long as thehonourofhisname, andsafetyofhispeople will permit,Jer.xliv.23. of He bears tillhecan bear no longer: he often turns away his
Wat wrath from them, Psal. Ixxviii. 38, 39. He tries them by lesser judgments, and gentler corrections, to prevent greater, Amos iv. 6. When his people are humbled under the threatenings of his wrath, his heart is melted into compassion to them, Jer. xxxi . 17, 20. and whenever his mercy prevails against judgment, it is with joy and triumph, Jam. ii. 13. Mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
For he feels his own tender compassions yerning over them ; he foreseeth, and is nowaywilling to gratify the insulting pride of his, and their enemies. Deut. xxxii. 26, 27. I said I " would scatter them into corners, I would make the remem-
" brance of them to cease from among men, were it not that I " feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should " behave themselves strangely," &c.
Yet all this, notwithstanding, it often falls out, by the provocations of his sons and daughters, that the Lord gives them up into the hands of their enemies for the correction of their evils, and the manifestation of his own glory. Seneca, though a heathen, could say, that God loves his people with a mafcu .
line love, not with awomanish indulgence, and tenderness: If need require, they shall be in heaviness through manifold temptations, 1 Pet. i. 6. He had rather their hearts should be heavy under adversity, thanvainand careless under prosperity ; the choicest spirits have been exercised with the sharpest sufferings, and those that now shine as stars in heaven, have been trode under foot as dung on the earth, 1 Cor. iv. 11, 12, 13. " Unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are " naked, and buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place,
302 Preparations for Sufferings: Or, " and labour, working with our own hands ; being reviled we " blets , being persecuted we suffer it,beingdefamed we intreat ;
" we are made as the filth of the world, and the off-scouring of " all things unto this day." The eleventh chapter to the Hebrews is a compendium of the various and grievous sufferings of the primitive faints: They were tortured, they were fawn " asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword, they "wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being afflicted, " destitute, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy ; they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, indens, and " caves of the earth." And since the earth hath dried up those rivers of precious blood, whereof the sacred records make men tion, what seas of Christians blood have fincethose days been
Thed by bloody perfecutors ? Histories inform us, that in the ten primitive perfecutions, fo many of the saints and martyrs of Jesus Christ have been slain, as that you may allow five thousand a day to every day in the whole year. Those bloody emperors sported themselves with the deaths of God's dearest faints; many precious Christians were burnt by night at Rome, to serve as torches to light their enemies in their passage through the
eight hundred thousand martyrs are mentioned within the fpaceof thirty years, since the Jesuits arose out of the bottomless pit. To what grievous sufferings did the Lord give up those precious servants of Christ, the Waldenses, and Albigentes, who received the light of reformation about the year 1260, when thefogs of Antichristian darkness had overspread the earth ! a people found in judgment, as appears by their letters, catechisms, andconfeffions, which are extant; a people of a simple, plain, and in offensive behaviour: Yet, with what furyand rage did that impious pope Pius persecute them to destruction! driving them into the woods and mountains,except the aged, and children that could not flee, who were murdered in the way : Some famished in the caves, and clefts of the rocks ; others endured the rack for eight hours together; some beaten with iron rods, others thrown from the tops of high towers, and dashed to pieces.
What bloody shambles, and slaughter-houses, have France, Ireland, and England, been made by popish cruelty ! More might be related out of each story, than a tender-hearted reader is able to bear the rehearsal of. But what God hath done, he may do again : We are not better than our fathers, dismal clouds of indignation are gathering over our heads, charged with double destruction; should the Lord please to make them
The best Work in the worst Times. 303 break upon us ; we cannot imagine the rage of Satan to be abated, now that his kingdomhaftens to its period, Rev. xii. 12.
nor are his instruments grown less cruel, and skilful to destroy. The land, indeed, hath enjoyed a long rest, and this generation tis acquainted with little more of martyrdom, than what thehi-
of former times inform us of: But yet let no man befool himself with a groundless expectation of continuing tranquillity. Augustine thinks that the bloody sweat which over-ranthebody of Christ in the garden, signified the snarp and grievous suffer- -ings which in his mysticalbody he should afterwards endure ; and indeed it is a truth, that these are also called the remains of
Col. i. 24. His personal sufferings were indeed compleated at his resurrection, that cup was full to the brim, to which no drop of sufferings can be added; but his sufferings in his mysticalbodyare not yet full; by his personal sufferings he fully fatisfiedthe wrath of God, but the sufferings of - his people have not yet satisfied the wrath of men : Though millions of precious saints have shed their blood for Christ, whose souls are now crying under the altar, How long, Lord!
10 how long! yet there are many more coming on behind, in the fame path of persecution, and much Christian blood must yet be shed, before the mystery of God be finished ; and notwithstanding this lucid interval, the clouds seem to be returning again after the rain. Thus you see to what grievous sufferings the merciful God hath sometimes called his dearest people.
Now God maybe said to call forth his people to suffer, when he fo hedgeth them in by providence, that there is noway to escape suffering, but by sinning; whatsoever providence labours with fucha dilemma as this, is a plain fignification of God's will to us in thatcafe. We may not now expect extraordinary calls to suffering work,as some of the faints had of old,Gen. xxii . 2. Acts ix. 16. but when our way is so shut up by providence, that we cannot avoid suffering, but by stepping over the hedge of the command, God will have us look upon that exigence as his call to suffer : And if the reasons be demanded, why the Lord, who is so inclined to mercy, doth often hedge in his own people, by his providence, in a suffering path; let us know, that in to doing, he doth both,
1. Illustrate his own glory. And, 2. Promote his people's happiness . First, Hereby the most wife God doth illustrate the glory of his own nam clearing up the righteousness of his ways by the sufferings of his own people : By this the world shall fee, that how well soever he loves them, he will not indulge or pa
304 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, tronize their fins ; if they will be so disingenuous to abuse his favours, he will be so just to make them suffer for their fins, and by those very sufferings will provide for his own glory, which was by them clouded in the eyes of the world. He hates not finajot the less, because it is found in his own people, Amos iii. 2. And though, for the magnifying of his mercy, he will pardon their fins, yet, for the clearing of hisrighteouf ness, he will take vengeance upon their inventions, Psal. xcix. 8.
Moreover, by exposing his people to such grievous suffer ings, he gives a fit opportunity to manifest the glory of his pow er in theirfupport, and of his wisdom, in the marvellous ways of their escape and deliverance. It is one of the greatest wor ders in the world, how the church subsists under such fierce and frequent assaults as are made upon it by its enemies. " I will "turn aside(saidMoses) and feet his great fight, why the bush " is notconfumed," Exod. iii. 3. That flaming bush was2 lively emblem of the oppressed church in Egypt; the crackling flames noted the heat of their persecution, the remaining of the bush unconfumed in the flames, signified the wonderful power of God in their preservation : No people are so privileg ed, so protected, so delivered, as the people of God. Much less opposition than hath been made against the church, hath overturned, and utterly destroyed, the mighty monarchies of the world.
- Sic Medus ademit Allyrio, Medoque tulit moderamina Perses, Subjecit Perfen Macedo, ceffurus et ipfe Romanis-
Affyria's empire thus the Mede did shake, • The Persian next, the pride of Media brake; • Then Perfia funkby Macedonia prest, •That, in its turn, fell by Rome at last.'- And no less admirable is the wisdom of God, in frustrating and defeating the most deep, and desperate designs of hell a gainst his poor people. Now, you may fee the most wife God going beyond a malicious and subtle devil, overturning in : moment the deep laid designs, and contrivances of many years, and that at the very birth and point of execution, Efth. vi. 1.
soaring the wicked in the works of their own hands ; making their own tongues to fall upon them ; working out such mat
* Claudian, lib. 3. in laudes Stillicones.
The best Work in the worst Times 305 vellous salvations with his own hand, as fills them with astonishment and wonder. Psal. cxxvi. 7. " When the Lord turn-
" ed back the captivity of Zion, we were like them that " dreamed."
Secondly, As God provides for his own glory, by the sufferings and troubles of his people; so he advanceth their happiness, and greatly promotes their interest thereby.
For, First, These troubles are ordered as so many occasions and means to mortify the corruptions that are in their hearts ; there are rank weeds springing up in the best soil, which need
winter weather to rot them : And, certainly, if we reckon humility, heavenly-mindedness, contempt of the world, and longing desires after heaven,tobethereal interest and advantage of the church ; then it is evident, nothing so much promotes their interest, as a suffering condition doth: Adversity kills thosecorruptions which prosperity bred.
Secondly, By these trials their sincerity is cleared, to the joy and satisfaction of their own hearts; manyadoubt and fear, which had long entangled and perplexed them, is removed and answered. When adversity hath given them proof, and trial of their own hearts, one sharp trial wherein God helps us to be faithful, will do more to satisfy our fears, and resolve our doubts, than all the sermons that ever we heard in our lives could do.
Thirdly, These sufferings and trials of the church, are ordained to free it of abundance of hypocrites, which were its reproach, as well as burden, Amosix. 9, 10. Affliction is a fur. nace to separate thedross from the more pure and noble gold. Multitudes of hypocrites, like flies inahotfummer, are gene ratedby the church's prosperity; but this winter weather kills them : Manygaudy professors grow within the in closure of the church, like beautiful flowers in the field, where they stand, during its peace and prosperity, in the pride and bravery of their gifts and professions ; but the wind passeth over them, and they are gone, and their places shall know them no more ; to allude to that in Plalm ciii. 16. Thunder and lightning is veryterribleweather, but exceeding useful to purify and cleanse ✓the air.
Fourthly, The church's sufferings are ordered and sanctified, to endear them to each other. Times of common suffering, are times of reconciliation, and greater endearments among the people of God ; never more endeared, than when most perfe- ✓cuted; never more united, than when most scattered, Mal. iii. VOL . VII. ९१
306 • Preparations for Sufferings : Or, 17. " Then they that feared the Lord, ipake often one to ano " ther." Certainly there is something in our fellowship in the fame sufferings, that is endearing and engaging ; but there is much more in the discoveries thatperfecution makes of the fio cerity of our hearts, which, it may be, was before entertained with jealousy ; and there is yet more than all this in the re proofs of the rod, whereby they are humbled for their pride, wantonness, and bitterness of their spirits to each other, and made to cry, in the sense of these transgressions, as Psal. lxx. 8. " Remember not against us former iniquities."
Lastly, By these troubles and distresses, they are awakened to their duties, and taught to pray more frequently, spiritually and fervently. Ah ! what drowsiness and formality is aptto creep in upon the best hearts, in the time of prosperity; but when the storm rises, and the sea grows turbulent and raging, now they cry, as the disciples to Christ, Lord, fave us, w perish. They say music is sweetest uponthewaters ; I am sure the sweetest melody of prayer is upon the deep waters of affic tion: For these, among many other righteous, wife, and hat ends, the Lord permits and orders the perfecutions and diftre
ses of his people.
CHAP. III.
Shews, that it is usual with God to premonish his people ofot pro aching trials andfufferings ; withfomeaccount of the mat nerhow, and the reason why he so forewarns them. Adaylar and forces SPaul had many clear premonitions and fore-notices of the not be furprizedby them when they came ; so it is usual with God (though not in such an immediate and extraordinary a mat ner) to admonish the world, and especially his own people, great trials and sufferings before hand. Amos iii. 7. " Surely " the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his secrets unt " his servants the prophets." Thus, when he was about to bring the flood upon the world, he gave one hundred and twenty years warning of it before it came, Gen. vi. 3. and when he was to destroy Sodom, he faith , Gen. xviii. 17. " Shall I hide from Abraham the thing " that I do ?" And the like discovery he made about the fame judgment to Lot, Gen.xix. 12, 13, 14. So when the captivi ty of the Jews was nigh at hand, the people had many fore
The best Work in the worst Times. 307 warnings of it; God forewarned them both minifterially and providentially ; he warned them by the prophets, Ezek. iii. 17. " Hear the word of my mouth, and give them warning from me" And when the time drew nigh to execute the judgment determined upon Jerusalem, and the temple, how plainly did Christ foretel them of it ? Luke xix. 43 , 44. " Thine " enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee " round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee." And when the storm was just ready to fall, * their own historian tells us, a voice was heard in the temple, saying, Migremus hinc, Let usgohence. Which voice † Tacitus also men- * tions in his annals, affirming it to be more than a human ' voice, telling them God was departing, and that it was accompanied with a rushing noise, as of persons going out.. • These were extraordinary warnings.' The like signs have been given to divers other nations, by dreadful eclipses of the heavenly bodies, portentous comets , earthquakes , and other signs *of judgment. Now, though we have no ground to expect such extraordinary warnings, yet we have the most apparent and certain signs of approaching calamities ; after which, if they fur prize us, ✓the fault must lie in ourowninexcusablenegligence ; for we have a standing rule to govern ourselves in this matter, and that is this;
When the same sins are found in one nation, which have ' brought down the wrath of God upon another nation, it is ' an evident sign of judgment at the door; for God is unchange- ' able, just, and holy, and will not favour that in one people, ' which he hath punished in another, nor bless that in one age, 'which he hath cursed in another. Upon this very ground it was, that the apostle warned the Corinthians,by the example of the Ifraelites, whose sins had ruined them in the wilderness,
1 Cor. x. 6. " Now these things were our examples, to the in66 tent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted." As if he should say, Look upon those dead bodies which are, as it were, cast up upon the same scripture-shore for a warning to you : Follow not the fame course, left you meet in the same curse; if you tread the fame paths, expect the fame punishment. God is as righteous now, as he was then ; he hates, and will punish sin in you, as much as he did in them.
Jofephus de bello Jud. lib. 7. cap. 2. † Audita major human a vox excedere Deos, fimul ingensmotus excedentium. Tacitus, lib. 21 .Qq2
308 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, Let us thereforeconfiderwhat those provocations were, that hastened the wrath of God upon his own Israel, a people that were nigh and dear unto him ; a people uponwhomhe spent as much of the riches of his patience, asuponanypeople in the world; that so we may reckon whereabout we are at this day, and what is like to be the lot of this sinful and provoking generation; and we shall find, by the consent of all the prophets, that these sinswerethe immediate førerunners, and proper catfes of their overthrow.
First, The great corruption of God's worship among them kindled his wrath, andhaftenedtheir ruin, Plal.cvi. 39,40, 41, 42. They were defiled with their own works, and went a " whoring with their own inventions; therefore was the wrath
" of God kindled against his own people, info much that heab- "horred his own inheritance, andhegavethem into the hand " of the heathen, and they that hated them ruled over them;
" their enemies alsooppressedthem, and they were brought into "subjectionunder their hand." They that will not bear the golden yoke of Christ, shall be galledwiththe ironyoke of men: nothing more provokes the anger of God, than the adulterating of his worship ; a man will bear a thousand infirmities in the wife of his bosom, but unfaithfulness in the marriage-covenant breaks his heart. After the mannerofmen, so abused and grieved, the Lord expresseth himself, Ezek. vi. 9. " I am broken with " their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with " their eyes thatgo a whoring after their idols." Men cannot invent a surer, and speedier way to their own ruin, than to bring their own inventions into God's worship. Secondly, Incorrigible obstinacy andimpenitency,under gentler strokes, and lesser judgments, makes way for utter ruin and desolation, Amos iv. from the 6th to the 12thverse. Scarcity, mildews, pestilence, and sword, had been tried upon them, but without effect ; for the remnant that escaped those judgments, (although plucked as so many brands out of the fire, in which their fellow sinners perished)were not reformed by those gentler andmoderated judgments.
Thirdly, Stupidity, and senselessness of God's hand, and the tokens of his anger, was a provoking cause, and forerunningof their national desolation; they neither law the hand of God when it was lifted up, nor humbled themselves under it when it was laid on ; the hand of Godisthensaid to be lifted up, when the providences of God prepare and posture themselves for our affliction. When the clouds of judgment gather overourheads, and grow blacker and blacker, as theirsdiduponthem, and do
The best Work in the worst Times
up or i us at this day, but they took no notice of it, Isa. xxvi. 11. " Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see;" and
(which is the height of stupidity) they all remained senseless, and regardless,when the hand of God was laid upon them. Ha. xlii. 24, 25. " WhogaveJacob for a spoil, andIsrael to the rob " bers ? Did not the Lord, he against whom we have finned ? " for they would not walk in his ways, neither were theyobe- " dient to his law. Therefore he hath poured upon them the " furyof his anger, and the strength of battle; and it hath set " him, on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned " him, yet he laid it not to heart." O prodigious sottisiness ! It was not some small drops of her God's anger, but the fury of his anger; not some lighter skir-
тор smith of his judgments with them, but the strength of battle :
It was not some particular stroke upon single persons, or fami- - lies, but it set him on fire roundabout,a general conflagration ; yet all this would not awaken them.
bee Fourthly, The persecution of God's faithful ministers, and ed people, was another fin that procured, and a sign that foretold ak the destructionoftheirnation. 2Chron. xxxvi. 15, 16. "And
" the Lord God of their fathers sent tothembyhis messengers, " rising up betimes, and sending; because he hadcompaffion " on his people, and on his dwelling-place : but they mocked " the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused " his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy." There were also a number of upright fouls among them, who desired to worship God according to his own prescription; but asnare was laid for them in Mizpeh, and a net spread for them upon Tabor, Hos. v. 1. and this hastened judgment towards them : Mizpeh and Tabor were places lying in the way betwixt Samaria and Jerusalem, where the true worship of God was : and inthoseplaces spies were fetby the priests to observe, and inform against them; fo that it became very hazardous to attend the pure and incorrupt worship of God, which quicklyhattened on their ruin.
Fifthly, The removal of godly and useful men by death, in more than ordinary haste, was to them a sign of desolation at hand. Ifa. lvii. 1. " The righteous perisheth, and no man lay- " eth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none con- " side ring that the righteous is taken away from the evil to
" come." In this case God acts towards his people, as the husbandman in a catching harvestdothbyhis corn; he hurries it with a shuffling haste into the barn, when he sees a storm coming : or as a careful father with his sons that are abroad at
310 Preparations for Sufferings: Or, school, who fends his horse to fetch them home speedily,when he hears the plague is begun in the place. Upon this ground the prophet Micah bewails himself, Micah vii. 1. " Wo is me, " for I am as when they have gathered the summer-fruits, as the " grape gleanings of the vintage, there is no cluster to eat ; my " foul desired the first ripe-fruit." 2d. Alas ! alas ! what miserable days are at hand! what miseries must I expect to fee ! The pleasant clusters, (i.e.)the societies of the saints, are gathered away by the hand of death; there are but few that remain, hereandthere a single saint, like grapes after the vintage is done, two or three upon the utmost branches.
Sixthly, The general decay of the life and power of godliness among them that were left, forebodeddestruction at the door: this is both a provoking fin, and a fore-running sign of national calamity. Hotea iv. 18. Their drink is fowre. Ame taphor lively expressing the deadness and formality of the people in the worship of God. It was like fowre, or dead drink, which hath loft its spirit and relith, and is become flat. Such were their duties ; no spiritual life, affection, or favour in them: they heard, as if they heard not, and prayed, as if they prayed not; the ordinances of God were to them as the ordinances of men, of which the apostle faith, that they perish in the using.
Seventhly, To conclude ; Mutual animosities, jars, and divisions, were to them manifest symptoms of national calamities and defolations : for then Ephraim envied Judah, and Judah vexed Ephraim, Isa. xi. 13. Hofea ix . 7. " The days of vifita- " tion are come, the days of recompence are come, Israel shall " know it : The prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for " the multitude of thine iniquities, and the great hatred."
When such symptoms of God's indignation do appear upon any people, the Lord, by them, as by so many glaring meteors, and blazing comets, forewarns the world that his judgments are near, even at the door. These signs all men ought to observe, and behold with trembling. If you ask, WhydothGod usually give such warnings of his indignation before it comes ? The realons are,
1. To prevent the execution. 2. To make them more tolerable. 3. To leave the incorrigible inexcusable.
First, Warning is given, with design to prevent the execu tion of judgments, Amos iv. 12. " Therefore thus will I do
" unto thee, O Israel ; and because I will do this unto thee, "prepare to meet thy God, O Israel;" (i. e.) Prepare thyself
to meet me in the way of my judgments, by humiliation and intercession, to prevent the execution. And what else was the design of God in sending Jonah to that great city Nineveh, but to excite them to repentance for the prevention of their ruin. ThisJonah knew to be the Lord's meaning,how positive soever thewordsofhis commiffionwere ; and therefore he declined the message to secure his credit ; knowing, that if upon warning given they repented, the gracious nature of God would soon melt into compassion over them, and free-grace would make him appear as a liar ; for so we must expound his words, Jonah iv. 2. " Was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country ? " Therefore I fled before unto Tarshich for I knew that thou " art a gracious God, and merciful, flow to anger, and of great " kindness, and repentest thee of the evil." 2. d. Yea, Lord, I knew before-hand it would come to this; thou sendestme positively todenouncethy judgments to Nineveh, mean time desiring nothing more than that the execution of them might be prevented by their repentance. And thus thy mercy hath exposed my reputation, in saving them from destruction.
Secondly, God forewarns his people of judgments, to make them moretolerablewhentheycome : expected evils are nothing
heavy, as those that come by furprizal ; for look, as the long expectation of a mercy makes it less sweet, our thoughts having anticipated and fucked out much of the sweetness beforehand; so the expectation of judgments before they befal us, make them less bitter and burdensome than else they would be, the soul having inured and accustomed itself to them, by frequent thoughts, and prepared and made ready itself to entertain them, as Paul did in my text. To prevent the disciples furprizal, and offence, at those days of persecution that were coming upon them, Christ foretold them, and gave them fair - warning before-hand, John xvi . 4 .
Thirdly, He forewarns his people of approaching dangers, to leave the incorrigible wholly inexcusable, that those who havenosenseoffin, norcaretoprevent ruin, mighthavenocloke for their folly when judgments overtake them. " What wilt " thou say when he shall punish thee ?" Jer. xiii. 21, 22. As if he should say, What plea, or apology is left thee, after so many fair warnings, and timely premonitions ? Thou canst not say, I have surprized thee, or that thou waft ruined before thou wast warned. Thy destruction therefore is of thyself.
312 Preparations for Sufferings : Or,
CHAP. IV.
Demonstrating the excellency of a prepared heart for the worst of sufferings ; and what a blessed thing it is to be ready to be bound, or to die for Christ, as Paulherewas. IAm ready.] Oblessedframeof spirit! how hard, but how happy is it to get a heart so tempered! Every Christian can say, I would be ready, and the Lord make me ready for sufferings; but few can say, I am ready, my heart is prepared and fitted for such a work : yet this example shews us it is attainable: and what a blessed thing it is to attain it, the following particulars will abundantly convince us.
First, Readiness for sufferings will bring the heart of a Christiantoanholy rest and tranquillity, in a suffering hour, and prevent that anxiety, perturbation, and distraction of mind, which puts the finkingweight into afflictions. The more cares, fears, and troubles, we have before our sufferings come, the more calm, quiet, and composed we are like to be when our -sufferings are come indeed. It is admirable to consider with what peace and patience Job entertained his troubles, which, confideringthekinds, degrees, and manner in which theybefel him, one would think they should at least have startled and a mazed him, and puthisfoul(asgraciousandmortified as it was) into great disorder and confusion; but you find the contrary: neverdidthepatience ofa man triumph at that rate over ad versity; he worships God, owns his hand, andresigns himself up to his pleasure, Job i. 20, 21. And whence was this? Surely had his troubles come by way of surprize, he could ne verhave carried it at that rate; but in the days of his peace andprofperityhe had prepared for suchadayas this, Job ill. 25, 26. " I was not in safety, neither had I rest; yet trouble came; the thing that I feared(faith he)iscomeuponme." He laid it to heart before it came, and therefore it neither di
nor brake the heart when it came. In like manner the prophet Habakkuk stood upon his watch-tower, (i. e.)he made his observationsbythewordupontheprobableeventsof providence, whereby he gotaclear foresight of those trouble fomedays that were at hand; which thoughitmade himtrem ble in himself, yetitgavehim rest in the day of evil, Hab. iii.
16, 17, 18. There isa twofoldrest inthedayof evil, viz. 1. A rest of deliverance. 2. A rest of contentation.
The best Work in the worst Times. 1 313 It is a fingularmercy to find rest in a man's own spirit; to enjoy inward peace, and tranquillity of mind, when there is ho rest without ; and thewaytoobtain this, is to foresee, count upon, and make due preparation for troublous times beforehand : evils that come by way of furprizal, are not only amazing, but very frequently destructive evils ; it is a fad ag gravation to feel a misery, before we fear it; those calamities thatfindmenfecure,do usually leave them desperate : the ene my that comes upon our backs hath a great advantage to ruin us, yet this is the common case of the world. " For man
" knoweth no this time, but as the fishes are taken in an evil " net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare ; so are " the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth on " them suddenly," Eccl. ix. 12. Thus perishedtheoldworld; there was but one Noah provided for the flood, and he only, with his family, was preserved in it : all the rest were eating and drinking , marrying, and giving in marriage, until the flood came and swept them all away, Matth. xxiv. 38. Men will not use their foreseeing faculties ; but because it is all quiet to-day, they conclude it shall be fo to-morrow. Those - that are at rest in theirhabitations, and have got a safe pillow under their heads, are apt to fall asleep in security, and dream pleasantly of continued rest and peace ; and loththey are to interrupt their sensual pleasure with melancholy thoughts of changes and sufferings. Philosophers tell us,that immediately before an earthquake the air is very quiet and serene; and before the great rain falls,the wind is usually still:were the aspect offecondcauses much more favourable and encouraging than it is; yet there is cause enough, for all that are wife in heart, to fear and tremble, under the consideration of that national guilt which is treasured up, and will certainly produce distress and trouble. OChriftians! look out for days of visitation ; prepare for a storm, and provide you an ark, an hiding-place in Christ, and the promises, as ever you expect rest, and peace in your own
whentheearth shall be full of tumults, uproars, and defolations.
Secondly, Our preparation for sufferings is an excellent argument of the honesty and sincerity of our hearts, in the mattersofreligion : he that makes account of sufferings, and is dailyatwork with his own heart, mortifying its corruptions, weaning its worldly affections, exciting and making ready its suffering-graces, resolving in the strength of God, to take his VOL.VII. 7
1 Rr
314 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, lot with Christ, where-ever, andhowsoever it shall fall; this is the man that hath deliberately closed with Christ upon his own terms, and is like to be the durable and victorious Christian.
As for hypocrites, (Christ's summer friends) they have either their exceptions against the severities of religion, and study to secure to themselves a retreat from danger, or else they rush inconfiderately into the profession of Christ, neverdebateing the terms which he proposes to all that will follow him, Mark viii. 34. The necessity ofa rational and well-advised closure with Chriftupon suffering and self-denying terms, is byhimselffully fetforth in that excellent parable, Luke xiv.
25, 26, 27, 28. There was a great multitude that followed him at that time ; Christ begantogrow in request among them ; they flocked from all parts to fee and hear him; but he foresaw, that if once a sharp trial should befal them, it would quickly thin, and diminish that great multitude, and reduce them like Gideon's host, into a little handful: and therefore he resolves to deal candidly and plainly with them; he propounds his terms, and sets down his conditions, which every oneofthem must subscribe, that will follow him ; the sum of which is this, " Let him deny himself, take up his cross, and
" follow me." And to evince the rationalityofthese terms, he argues, from the most common and obvious practices of men in their civil affairs : no man, that exerciseth reason, will begin to build an house, and lay a large foundation, when he is not provided with a stock to carry up the walls, and complete the work: no man, inhiswits would engage with a handful of men, against a great armed multitude; possibly theymayintend to face, butnoman would think they intend to fight the enemy, on such adifadvantage. Just so stands the case in our profession of Christ ; if we really intend togo through with the business of religion, we must fit down, and compute the cost and charges of Christianity, think upon the worst, as well 23 the best, reckon upon reproaches, prisons, and death for his sake, as well as the easier andmorepleasantparts of active 0bedience; and having so done, if then we can be content to runallhazards, and forego all the rest upon his account, and accordingly manage ourselves in a dayoffuffering,thenwedeal sincerely with Christ, and clear ourselves from the danger of hypocrisy. It is for want of this, that so many profeflors faint, and fall away, in times of temptation, furnishing the devil withfo many triumphs over religion, and the more upright professors of it. It was forwantofdepth of earth, (i. e.) a deep
1 315 consideration, and well rooted resolution at first, that the sto-
The best Work in the worst Times.
ay-ground hypocrite so quickly withered away, when the fun ofperfecutionbegan to shine fervently upon him, Matth. xiii. 5,6. And doubtless it is to prevent this fatal issue of our profefion, that God makes such deep wounds by convictionuponhis beopleshearts at first ; it is for our establishment in future trials, and sufferings, that he so distresses, and humbles them; that he nakes sin so bitter and burdensome to them ; as well knowing hat all this is no more than needs, to prevent their returning again to fin, in the times of their temptation. O professor ! if thou be one that art come to Christ in this way, and hast thus deliberately closedwithhim ; if thou haft as well bethought thyself of bearing his cross, as of wearing ais crown ; thou hast then a fair evidence of the uprightness ofthyheart, than which, the world affords not a sweeter comfort.
Thirdly, The advantage of preparation for sufferings lies in thisthatitprevents, and cuts off the scandal and offence of the cross, with respect both to ourselves, and others.
First, It prevents our own offence at sufferings ; and by Christ's own testimony, that foul is blessed, that is not offendedinhim, Matth. xi. 6. Among the multitudes of professors, few are found that are no way offended at suffering for Christ ; theyexpectedmuchpeace, honour, and prosperity in the ways of religion,but finding their expectations frustrated, and their carnal interest rather exposed, thansecuredby their profession of Christ, they go back like those John vi. 66. and walk no morewithhim. And it is very remarkable, that Christ dates the offence that men shall take at him, from the first appearance of suffering, Matth. xxiv. 8, 9. " All these are the begin- " nings offorrows, and then shall many be offended." Sorrows and apoftacies commence together.
But, reader, if thou be one that makest it thy businesstoforefee, and prepare for an evil day,thou wilthave as good thoughts of Christ, and his ways at the lowest ebb, as ever thou hadst in the greatest flourish, and time of prosperity. "Great peace " (faith the Pfalmist) have they that lovethylaw, and nothing " shall offend them." O happy foul! whom no troubles, reproaches, or sufferings, are able to offend! thou mayeft meet with prisons, death, banishments, yea, but noneofthese things
offend, or stumble thee, but thou shalt peaceably, and fafelypafs over them, because they are nomorethan thou expectest, and providest for. Rr2
316 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, Secondly, And by this means thou wilt also prevent the of fence, and scandals of others at thewaysofreligion. It is a sad, and dangerous thing to be anoccafion of stumbling, either to the weak, or to the wicked. " Woe to the world because of " offences, for it must needs be that offences come; butwoe " to that man by whom the offence cometh," Matth. xviii. 7. The apostacies and sinful compliances ofungrounded professors, and weak Christians, in times of temptation, are thewo ful occasions ofprejudicing others against religion, and sheddingtheblood offouls. Ah! itweremuchbetter never to be in the ways of profession, than to be there only as a stone of
and a rock of offence to others : but all this mis chief will be prevented,by thy serious expectation of, and pro vision for the evil day.
Fourthly, A fourth excellency of preparation for sufferings lies in this, that it hath a tendency to convince, and awaken thedrowsyworld. O ! if the Lord's people would but engage in this work in earnest, and live as people that are providing for a storm, and resolve, in the strength of God, to run all hazards and hardships for Christ,I am persuaded it would be of more use, to startle, and convince the world, than all the fer mons that ever they heard for here is that which dashes and cuts the throat of all our labours. We preach up self-denial, and contempt of life, and liberty for Christ: now though they hcar us preach the necessity, and excellency of these things, andhearyou profess them as your principles ; yet when they look upon the lives of professors in times of danger, and find no proportion betwixt profession and practice ; whentheyfee us cling to the world, and are as loth to give it up as others i when they observe prisons and sufferings affright and terrify us as much as those that make no profession; when they see us
like hares, at every found, and that we live not loose from the world, as men prepared to let it go and give it up for Christ: why then they conclude that we dare not trust our own principles, when it comes to the push. And how can they be persuaded to believe that which they think we ourselves donotreallybelieve, although weperfuade them to believe it? My friends, the world hath eyes to see what you can do, as well as ears to hear what you canfay ; and as long as they fee youdonomore than others, you maytalkyourhearts out ere they will believe your way is better than others.
Butnowwhenperfecution arifeth, did they feeyouprovid ing yourselves for it, and putting on your harness to enter the lifts, carryyourdearestenjoymentsinyourhands,and put on
The best Work in the worst Times, 317 the shoe of preparation, to follow the Lord through the roughest ways of sufferings; this would convince to purpose, and preach the excellency of Christ, the vanity of the creature, the rationality and certainty of Christian principles, in a more intelligible, and rouzing dialect to them, than all our cheap, and - easy commendations ofthemdid. And hence it is, that Noah - was said to condemn the world, Heb. xi. 7. "By faith " Noah being wained of God, of things not seen as yet," (i. e.) of the deluge that was coming,though no appearance of it yet, the heavens being as clear as ever ; yet believing the -threatning, " He was moved with fear." The fear of God, an effect of his faith in the word of God, moved (i. e.)impelled him to his duty ; set him about his preparation work to provide an ark, and this was it by which he condemned the world, left them excuselefs. For they not only heard of an approaching flood by his ministry,but now saw he himself believed what he preached,by his daily preparations against it came. O confider this,how much it would tend to the world's conviction ; now they will fee that you are in good earnest, and that there is a reality in godliness: this will induce them to search into the matter more than ever, and remove those prejudices they have taken up against the good ways of God, as iftheywere but phantasms andconceits
5 In the next place, this forefightandpreparation,must needs be an excellent thing, because the Spirit of God everywhere sets an honourable character upon it, and always mentions such persons with some singular commendation and respect. These only were wife men in the judgment of God, and all the rest (what great politicians soever they are famed to be amongmen) are accounted fools, Prov. xxii.3. Ecclef. ii. 14. " The wise man's eyes are in his head;" that is, he is a foreseeing man ; " but the fool goes on,and is punished:" Rushes on without consideration, suspecting no danger that he atpre sent fees not, and so smarts for his folly. Beloved there are signs of the times, as well as of the weather, Mat. xvi. 3. You may fee the clouds of judgment gathering, before the storm falls upon you. And this is the meaning of Zeph. ii. 1, 2 . " Gather yourselves together, before the decree bring forth, " and the day pass as the chaff." Where there is a conception of judgment there will be a birth, unless the reformations and prayers of the saints cause it to miscarry. But it requires wisdom todifcern this ; they must be men of much observation, thatcandefcry it ata great distance; yet this maybe done, by considering what God hath done in like cases informer ages,
318 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, when nations havebeenguilty of the fame fins as now they are: For God is as just now as then, and hates fin as much as ever he did; and partly by attending to things present, to what fulness, and maturity, the fins of a nation are grown, Joel iii. 16. orwhatbeginnings of judgment arealreadyupon a people, as harbingers, and forerunners of more at hand.
Luke iii. 30, 31. 1 Sam. ii. 12. Or what is the universal vote, and cry of God's ministers, who are his watchmen to forefeedanger, Ezek. iii. 17. and histrumpeters to discover it, Numb. x. 8. Andwhenthesehave one mouth given them, certainly there is much in it, Luke i. 70. Or, lastly, by pondering those scripture-prophecies that yet remain to be fulfilled. They must all go outtheirtimes, and accomplish their full number of years and months; but certainly they shall be fulfilled in their seasons.
By attending to these things,a Christian may give a near guess at the judgments that are approaching a nation, and so order himself accordingly. Ecclef. viii. 5."A wife man's " heart difcerns both time and judgment." And this is (even in the judgment of God) a choice point of wisdom; whereas, on the contrary, heedless, and careless ones, that regard not these things, are branded for fools,and upbraided with more brutishness than the beasts of the field, or fowls of the air. Matth. xvi. 3. Jer. viii. 7. " The stork in the heavens, the swal- " low, turtle, and crane," observe their seasons of departing, and returning upon the approach of the winter and spring, and that by a natural instinct, whereby they prolong their lives, which else must perish. But though God hath made man wiferthan the fowls of the air, and beasts of the earth, which by instinct will quit colder climates, or run to the hedges when winter, or storms approach ; yet the heavens maybe aitonished at this, to fee nature cast by sin so far below itself; and that in reasonable creatures.
But now, if this be foreseen, then there is a singular adwantage in a man's hand, either to use the means of preventing those approaching calamities, Zeph. ii. 3. or if it cannot be prevented, yet to take sanctuary in Christ, Mic. v. 5. to run to the promises and attributes, Ifa. xxiv. 21. and fohave a good roof over his head while the storm falls and the weather is tempestuous abroad. And therefore certainly this preparation is an excellentthing. Whatever the Spirit of God speaks in the commendation offoreseeing evils, is with respect to this duty of preparing for them; for foresight ofevils without prepara-. tion, rather increases,than diminishes the misery.
The best Work in the worst Times. 319 6. A sixth excellency of preparation lies in the influence that it hath into a Christian's stability in the evil day. You cannotbutknow that your stability in that criticalhouroftemptation, is a choice and singular mercy, inasmuch as all you are worth in the other world depends upon your standing then. - Rev. xxi. 7, 8. Rom. ii. 6, 7. Luke xxii. 27. neither can you be ignorant how much you are like to be tried, and put to it then, whether you respect the enemy that engages you , Eph . vi. 12. or your own weakness, who have been so often foiled in lesser trials, Jer. xii. 5. All the grace you have will be little enough to keep the field and bear you up from finking ; and therefore it cannot but be a blessed thing, to be able to stand, and cope with the greatest difficulties, in such a time of trial as that will be. Now he that expects to do this, must " put on the whole armour of God." See Ephef. vi. 12, 13,
14. There is no expectation of standing in the evil day, except your foot beshod, that is your wills prepared,with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
It is true, that our ability to stand,is not from our own inherent grace; " For by his strength shall noman prevail," I Sam. ii.9. And yet it is as true, that without grace,both inherent in - us, and excited and prepared for a storm, we cannot expect to
For these two, grace inherent in us, and grace exciting * and assisting without are not opposed but, co-ordinated. Grace * in us, is the weapon by which our enemy falls; but then that weapon must be managed by the hand of the Spirit. Well, then, look upon this as a choice mercy, which tends so much to your stability.
excellency of a prepared heart, is that it is a very high teftification of our love to Jesus Christ, when we thus shew our willingness to take our lot with, him and follow him where-ever he goes. What an high expression of love was that of Ruth to her mother Naomi ? " I will notgo back, but " where thou lodgest I will lodge, and where thou goeft I will " go." It is excellent when a soul can say to Christ, as Ittai to David, 2 Sam. xv. 21. " Surely in what place my Lord the " king shall be, whether in death, or in life, even there also " will thy servant be." This is love indeed, to cleave to him in a time of such distresses and dangers. This is " love " which the waters cannot quench, nor the floods drown," Cant. viii. 7. Probatio am or is, est exhibitio operis : If you love Christ indeed, shewyour love by some fruits of it ; and surely this is a very choice fruit, and proof of it. There are many that profess a great deal of love to Christ,but when it comes to
320 Preparations for Sufferings ; Ot, this touch-stone, it appears false and counterfeit ; but a mers flourish, when no danger is near. But that foul which buckles on the shoe of preparation, to follow him through thorns and briars, and over the rocks and mountains of difficulties and troubles, loves him indeed, Jer. ii. 2, 3. Beloved, it is one of the choicest discoveries of your love to your master Christ, yea, it is such ateftification of love to him, as angels are not ca pableof. They shewtheir love by their readiness to do his will, in the execution of which they fly as with wings, Ezek. i. 24. but you only have the happiness of testifying your love by your readiness to suffer for him, and is not this ex cellent?
8. When the heart is prepared for the worst sufferings, it is an argument that your will is subdued to the will of God; for •till this be done,in a good measure, you cannot stand ready to suffer for him. But now,to have the will fubduedbygrace to the will of God, is a very choice,and excellent frame indeed; for in this the main power of grace lieth : Look in what faculty the chiefrefidence and strength of sin was, in the fame chief residence the power of grace, after conversion, is also: Now it is in the will, that the strength and power of fin (before conversion) lay. See John v. 40. Psalm lxxxi. 11. Jer. xliv. 16, 17. And indeed it was the devil's strong hold, which, in the day of Christ's power, he storms and reduces to his o bedience, Psal. cx. 3. O what a blessed thing is this ! The will rules the man, it hath the empire of the whole man; it commands the faculties of the soul, imperio politico ; and it commands the members ofthebody, imperio despotico. Now to have Christ and grace rule that which rules and commands your inner andouterman too, is no small mercy ; and a better evidence that it is so, cannot be given than this,that you stand ready, or do seriously prepare yourselves to suffer the hardest things for Christ: Ifyourwillcan like that work, it is an ar gument grace hath conquered and subdued your wills in deed.
9. This preparation of heart to sufferings, is an excellent thing, because God is so abundantly pleased with it, that he often excuses them from sufferings in whom he finds it, and accepts it, as if the service had been actually done. SoA. bra ham, Gen. xxii. 12. he was ready to offer up his Isaac's life to God; but God seeing his servant's heart really prepared, and ready for that difficult service, and high pointoffelf-denial, provided himself another sacrifice, instead of Isaac. Abraham shallhavehisfon Ifaacbackagain, and that with advantage; for
The best Work in the worst Times. 321 he hath with him not only a choice experiment of his love to God, but God's high approbation of him,and acceptation of his offering. It was all one; in respect of divine acceptance, as ifhehadbeenslain; and so the scripture represents it, Jam. ii. 21. And in this sense that promise is often made good to God'speople who stand ready to give up their Ifaacs, their lives, liberties, and dearest enjoyments,to the Lord; " He that " will lose his life for my name's fake, shall save it," Luke ix. 24. Now what a blessed thing is this ! you may this way have the crown of martyrdom, and yet not shed one drop of blood for Christ actually. Ah ! how kindly doth God accept it at his poor creatures hands,when he sees how willing they are to
him with their best enjoyments ! " It is well (faith he to
" David) that it was in thy heart," i Kings viii. 18.
10. And then, lastly, to add no more, it is beyond controversy an excellent and blessed thing; because should such a
after all his pains and preparations,be over-borne, andfallbytemptation : yetthispreparation of his heart excuses his fall, from those aggravations that are upon the falls of others, and will give him bothfupport under such a condition, and encouragement to hope for a speedy recovery out of it. Ah! it is no small comfort,when a poor soul,that hath been over-bornebytemptation, can come to God, and say, Lord, ⚫thou knowest that this was not a wilful departure from my
but contrary to the bent and resolutions of my heart's thou sawest mydiligencebefore-hand to prepare for it ; thou *sawestmy fears and tremblings of heart about it : O Lord, forgive, O Lord, recover thy servant wash away this spot, it * is one of the spots of thy children, an infirmity, not a rebel- 'lion:' 'This may much stay the soul.
Surely, in this case, thou haft many grounds of comfort thatanotherwants ; for thy fin being but aninfirmity, (1.) It is that which is common to all faints,Psal. ciii. 11, 12,13, 144 (2.) God hath mercyandpardons for such fins as these, else woe to the holiest soul, Psal. cxxx. 3, 4. Solomon, upon this ground, pleads for mercy for them that prepared their hearts,
2 Chron. xxx. 18, 19. And God hathlaidin sweet grounds of encouragement for such souls, Numb. xv. 27, 28. Heb. v. 24 Howtenderlydoth Christ deal with his disciples under this kind off in, Matth. xxvi. 41. and though they forsook him for a time, yet he received them again ; though they fledfromhim, yet they all returned again and appeared boldly for Christ af VOL. VII. ST
322 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, terwards, and fealedtheir confession of him with their blood. And that which recovered them again was this, that their fall and departure was contrary to the resolution, and standing frame, and bent of their hearts ; for they resolved all to cleave to him to the death, Matth. xxvi. 35. whereas those that engaged in a profession of him inconfiderately,and never resolved, nor prepared for the worst, fell off from him, and never returned anymore, Johnvi.66. So then,upon the whole, you cannot but grant, that it is a very blessed and excellent thing, to prepare thus for the greatest suffering that can befal us for Christ. We come next to shew wherein it lies.
CHAP. V.
Evincing the necessity of a sound, and real work of grace upon the heart, to fit a manforfufferingfor Christ. H
Aving shewed you that Goddothsometimesputhis dearest people upon very hard services for him, and what an excellent thing it is to prepare ourselves to obey the call of Godtothem: In thenextplace I come to shew you, wherein this preparation, or readiness for suffering consists, and how many things concur and contribute their assistance to this work. 1 Now there is a twofoldpreparation or readiness for suffer ing; the one is habitual, the other actual : That habitud! readiness is nothing else but the inclination ofa foul to suffer any thing for Christ ; which inclination arifeth from the prin ciples ofgraceinfused into the soul: But then as fire, though it have a natural inclination to ascend, yet may be violently depressed and hindered, that it cannot ascend actually, so may it be in this case; and therefore, before am an can be fitted for sufferings, as Paul was, there must, to this habitual, be fuperadded an actual readiness, which is nothing else but the rouzing of grace out of the sleepy and dull habits, and awakening it to its work in a time of need: as the lion is said to lash himself with his tail, to rouze up his courage before he fight. 'The former is a remote power, the latter aproxim and imme diate power. I must handle the former in this chapter, and you are to know that it confifteth in a found and real work of grace or conversion wrought upon the soul; without which,
The best Work in the Worst Times. 323 I shall make it evidently appear to you, that no man can be fit or ready to suffer as a Christ.
Whatever stock of natural courage, moral principles, or common gifts of the Spirit be lodged in any man's breast, yet all this (without special grace) can never fit him to suffer for
And had not this work been really and soundly wrought upon the heart of this blessed man, as indeed it was, Acts ix. 3,4, 5. he had quickly fainted under his sufferings :" andsowilleveryfoul fooneror later do, that suffers not upon the fame principles he did.
1. For first, No man can suffer for Christ until he be able: to deny himself. See Matth. xvi. 24. Self-denial goes in order of nature before sufferings. Beloved, ina suffering hour, the interest of Christ and self meet, like two men upon a narrow bridge, one must of necessity go back, or the other cannot pass - on : If you cannotnowdenyfelfyou must deny Christ. The yokeanddominion offelfmustbe cast off, or else Christ's yoke and burden cannot be taken on.
It is confessed that self may not only consist with, but be a motive to some kind of sufferings: Ambition and applause may carry am an far this way; pride is afalamander that it seems can live in the flames of martyrdom, 1 Cor. xiii. 3. But to be afervantto felfand a truefufferer for Christ is incompatible. Self may make you the devil's martyrs, butgraceonly can make you Christ's martyrs. So that let a man be seemingly carried for awhile with never so high atideofzeal for Christ, yet iffelf be the spring that feeds it, those self-ends, like so many little ditches joined to the bank of a river, willfo fuck and draw away the water into themselves,that the lofty stream will fink and come to nothing ere it have ran far : So then, of necessity, felfmust be dethroned in the hearts of Christ's suffering servants..
But now it is real grace only that deposes self, and subjects its interest to Christ's ; for sanctification is nothing else but thedethroning ofexaltedfelf, andthefetting up of Christ's interest above it in the soul. This is it that alters the property of all am an hath, and superscribes them with anew title, Holiness to the Lord, Ifa. xxiii. 18. Zech. xiv. 20, 21. Thencefortha man looks at himself as none of his own, but past into another's right, 1 Cor. vi. 19.; and that he must neither live, nor aft ultimately for himself,but for Christ,Rom. xiv. 7. Heb. xiii. 7, 8. Phil. i. 20. He is no more as a proprietor, but a steward of all he hath ; and so holds upon these terms, to lay Sf2
324 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, it out, or lay it down, as may best serve his Master's ends and glory.
All that he is or hath, is by grace subordinated to Christ ; andifoncefubordinated, then no more opposed to him,fubordinata ronpugnant. This is it that makes him say, I çare not what becomes of me or mine, so Christmaybeglorified, " Let
" Christ be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or " death," Phil. i. 20.
By conversion Christ enters the soul, as an army doth an enemy's garrifonby storm, and when he is pof: 2Cor. x. 5. seffed ofitbygrace, he presently, divides the whole spoil of self betwixt himself and his church. This is the first thing thatevinces the necessity ofa work of grace to prepare the heart for sufferings.
2. And then in the next place, it is as evident that am an canneverbe fit to suffer hard things for Christ, until his fpi rit be enlarged, raised, and ennobled so that he be able to de spise dangers, and look all difficulties in the face. That low and private spirit must be removed, and a public spirit, must possess him. If am an be of a feebleandeffeminate spirit,every petty danger will daunt and fink him ; delicacy and tender ness is as unsuitable toa Christian as to a soldier, 2Tim. ii.3. They that mean to enter into the kingdom of God, mustre solve to make their way through that brake of troubles betwixt them and it, 2Tim. iii. 12. They that will be crownedwithvic tory, muststandto it, and play the men, as that word imports,
1 Cor. xvi . 13. Look overallthesacredandhuman histories,and fee if you canfinda man that ever honoured Chriftby luffer ing, that was notofaraised and noble spirit, and, infomemea sure, able to contemn, both the allurements and threats of men. So those three noble Jews, Dan. iii. 16, 17. So Moses, Heb.xi. 27. Andsoourapostle, Acts xx. 24. And the fame heroic and brave spirit was found in the succeeding ages amongst the witnesses of Christ. When Valence the emperor endeavoured to draw Basil from the faith by offers ofpreferment, offer these things (faith he) to children; when he chreatenedhimwith torments, threatenthesethings (faith he) ✔to your purple gallants that live delicately. And the fame Bafilrelatingthestoryofthefortymartyrs, faith,That when'great honours and preferments were offered them to draw them from Christ, their answer was, Why offer you these small 4 things of the world to us, (O emperor) when you know the whole world is contemnedbyus! So Luther,money could not tempt him, nor the fear of man daunt him. Let me
(said he in his letter to Staupicius) be accounted proud, covetous, a murderer, guilty of all vices, rather than of wicked silence and cowardise in the cause of Christ.' Thus you see to what an height, and holy greatness, the spirits of luffering faints in all ages have been raised.
But now it is grace that thus raises the spirits of men above all the smiles and honours, frowns and fears of men ; and no other principle but grace can do it. There is indeed a natural Stoutness and generosity in some, which may carry them far, as it is said of Alexander, that when any great danger approached him, his courage would rife, and he would say, Jam periculum paranimo Alexandri; Here is a danger fit for Alexander to encounter : So Pompey, when diffuaded from a dangerous voyage answered, Neceffe est ut eam, nonutvivam. It is necessary that I go,not that I live, But this being fed only by a natural spring, can carry a man no higher than nature, and will flag at last. If applause, and the observation of the world supply it not, it quickly ebbs and fails.
But as grace raises men much higher ; so it maintains it evenwhenthere is nothing to encourage without; when for. faken of all creatures,and visible supports, 2 Tim. iv. 10. And this itdoththreeways : (1.) Bygivinghim that hath it a view offargreater things, which shrinks up all temporary things, and makes them appear but trifles and small matters, Rom. viii. 18. 2Cor. iv. 18. By grace am an rises with Christ, Col.
iii. 1. It fetshim upon his high places, and thence he looks down upon things below, as very poor and in considerable.
The great cities of Campaniaseembuthttle spots to them that stand on the top of the Alps. (2.) By teaching him to value and measure all things by another rule than he was wont to do. He did once measure life, liberty, riches, honours, by senseandtime ; andthenthey seemed great things, and it was hard to deny them, or thus to flight them ; but now he values and measures all by faith and eternity; and esteems nothing great and excellent, but what hath a reference to the glory of God, and an influence into eternity. (3.) Grace raises and enobles the spirit thus, because it is the divine nature; it is the Spirit of Christ infused into a poor worm, which makes a strange alterationonhim,transforms him into another manner of person; as much difference betwixt his spirit now and what it was, as betwixt the spirit ofa child that is filled with small matters, and taken up with toys ; and of a grave statesman, that isdailyemployedaboutthe grand affairs of a kingdom.
326 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, 3. Amancannever suffer as a Christian, till his willbefubjectedto the will of God. He that suffers involuntarily, and outofnecessity, not out of choice, shall neither have acceptance nor reward from God. Of necessity the will must be subjected; am an can never say, Thy will be done, till he can first fay, Not my will.
But it is grace only that thus conquers and subjects the will of man to God's, Psal. cx. 3. This is that which exalts God's authority in the soul, and makes the heart to ftoopand tremble a this commands. It is this which makes our will to write itsfiat at the foot ofeverycommand, and its placet under every order it receives from God. No sooner was grace enteredintothe foul of Paul, but presently he cries out, " Lord, " what wilt thou have me to do ?" Acts ix. 6. The will is to the soul what the wheels are to the chariot; and grace is to the will what oil is to those wheels. When we receive the Spirit of grace, we are said to receive an unctionfrom the Holy One,
1 John ii. 20. And then the foul is made as the chariots of Aminadab, Cant. vi. 12. Non tardat uncia rota, it runs freely after the Lord, andchearfullyaddresseth itself to every service.
4. Am an can never suffer as a Christian, until his heart be composed, fixed, and determinatedto follow the Lord thro all hazards and difficulties. As long as a man is hesitating and unresolved what to do, whether to go forward, or turn back again to the prosperous world, when a man is at fucha pause, and stand in his way, he is very unfit for sufferings.
All suchdivfions do both weaken the soul, and strengthen the temptation : The devil's work is more than half done to his hand in such a soul, and he is now as unfit to endure hard-
for Christ, as a ship is to ride out a storm, that hath neither cable, anchor, nor ballast, to hold and settle it, but lies at the mercy of every wave, Jam. i. 8. " The double-minded " man is unstable in all his ways." But it is grace, and nothing besides it, that brings the heart to a fixed resolution and settlement to follow the Lord, it is grace that establishes the be art, Heb. xiii. 9. and unites it to fear the name of God, Psal. Ixxxvi. 11. This gathers all the streams into one channel, and then it runs with much strength, and sweeps away all obstacles before it. So that look as it is with a wicked man that hath fold himself to do wickedly, if he be set upon any one design off in, hepours out his whole heart and strength in the prosecution of that design, which is the ground of that saying, Liberet me Deus ab homine unius tantum negotii, let
The best Work in the worst Times. 327 God deliver me from a man of one only design. He will do - it to purpose: So is it also in grace ; if the heart be composed, fixed, and fully resolved for God, nothing shall then stand before him. And herein lies much ofa Christian's habitual fitness and ability to suffer.
5. The necessity of saving grace in all sufferers for Christ, will farther appear from this consideration, that he who will run all hazards for Christ, had need of a continual supply of strength and refreshment from timetotime. He must not depend on anything that is fail able ; for what shall he do then, when that stock is spent, and he hath no provision left to live - upon ? Now all natural qualifications, yea, all the common gifts of the Spirit, are fail able and short-lived things ; they are - like a sweet flower in the bosom, that is an ornament fora little while, but withers presently : Or like a pond or brook occafionedby a great fall of rain, which quickly finks and dries up, because it is not fed by springs in the bottom, as other -fountain-waters are ; and hence it is they cannot continue and hold out when sufferings come, Matth. xiii. 21. Because there is no root to nourish and support. The hypocrite will not always call upon God, Job xxvii. 10. Though they may keep company with Christ a few miles in this dirty way, yet they must turn back at last, and shake hands eternally with him, John vi. 66. These comets may seem to shine for a time among the stars, but when that earthly matter is spent, they must fall and lose their glory.
But now grace is an everlasting principle, it hath springs in ✓the bottom that never fail . " It shall be in him (faith Christ)
" a well of water springing up into eternal life," John iv. 14.
The Spirit of God supplies it from time to time, as need requires. It hath daily incomes from heaven, 2Cor. i. 5. Phil. iv. 13. Col. i. 11. So that it is our union with Christ the fountain of grace, that is the true ground of our constancy and ✓long suffering *.
6. And then lastly, it will appear by this also, that there is an absolute necessity ofa real change by grace on all that will suffer for Christ ; because although we may engage ourselves in sufferings without out it, yet we can never manage our sufferings like Christians without it. They will neither be honourable or acceptable to God, nor yet beneficial and comfortable to ourselves or others, except they be performed from this princi- - ple of grace: Foruponwhatprinciple soeverbeside thisanyman
We are only fo farsafeasweare united to Christ,
328 Preparation for Sufferings : Or, is acted in religion, it will either cause him to decline suffer ings for Christ ; or, if he be engaged in them, yet he will little credit religion by his sufferings. They will either be spoiled by an ill management, or his own pride will devour the praise and glory of them. Idonotdeny, but am an that is graceless, may suffer many hard things upon the account of his profession, and suffer them all in vain, as these scriptures manifest. See 1 Cor. xiii. 3. Gal. iii. 4. And although you may find many sweet promises made to those that suffer for Christ, yet you must confiderthat thosepureand spiritual ends and motives, by which men ought to be acted in their sufferings, are always supposed and implied inallthesepromises that are made to the external action. And sometimes it is expressed,
1 Pet. iv. 16. To suffer [as a Christian] is to suffer from pure Christian principles, and in a Christian manner, with meekness, patience,self-denial, &c.; and this, grace only can enable you to do : Sothatbyallthis,I hope what I have undertaken in this character, viz. To evince the necessity ofa work of grace to passuponyou, before sufferings for religion come, is performed to satisfaction.
CHAP. VI.
Wherein the nature of this work of grace, in which our habitu al fitness for suffering lies, is briefly opened, and an account given of the great advantage the gracious person hath for a ny, even the hardest work thereby. HAving in the former chapter plainly evincedthe necef
of saving grace to fit am an for sufferings; it will be expected now that some account be givenyouof the nature of the work, and how it advantages am an for the discharge of the hardest services in religion : Both which I shall open in this chapter, by a distinct explication of the parts of this description of it.
This work of grace, of which I am here to speak, consists in therealchange of the whole man, by the Spirit
What saving grace is.
of God, whereby he is prepared for every good work : Inwhichbriefdescription, I thallopen these four things to you.
1. That it is a change; this is palpablyevident, both from scripture and experience, 2Cor. v. 17. "Old things are past
The best Work in the worst Times. 329 *away, behold, all things are become new;" and it is fo sensible a change, that it is called a turning from darkness to light, Acts xxvi. 18. and a new creature formed and brought forth. But to be a little more distinct and particular, there are several other changes that pass upon men, which must not be mistaken for this; and therefore, (1.) It is not a mere change of the judgment from errortotruth, from Paganism to Chri-
Such a change Simon Magus had, yet still remained in the gallofbitterness, and fast bound in the bonds of iniquity, Acts viii. 23. (2.) Nor only of a man's practice, from profaneness to civility : This is common among such as live under the light of the gospel, which breaking into mens con-
thwarts their lusts and over-awes them with the fears - of hell: Which is no more than what the Gentiles had, Rom .
ii. 15. (3.) Nor is it a change from mere morality, to mere formalityinreligion. Thus hypocrites are changed,by the common gifts of the Spirit, illuminating their minds, and slightly touching their affections, Heb. vi. 4, 5. (4.) Nor is it such a change as justification makes, which is relative, and only alters the state and condition, Rom. v. 1, 2. (5.) Lastly, It is not a change of the essence of a man ; he remains essentially the fame person still. But this change consists in the in fusion of new habitsofgrace into the old faculties ; which immediately depose sin from its dominion over the soul, and deliver up the foul into the hands and government of Christ, so that it lives no more to itself, but to Christ. This is that change whereof we speak: And this change (2.) I assert to be real, no fancy, nordelufion; not a groundless conceit, but it is really exiftent, extra mentem, whether you conceit it or not. Indeed the blind world would persuade us it isfuppofitious, andphantastic ; and that there is no such real difference betwixtonemanand another, as we affirm grace makes. And hence it is, that whoever profefseth it, is presently branded for aphanatic ; and that scripture, Ifa. lvi. 5. " Stand by thyself, " I am holier than thou," &c. clapt in their teeth, in their absurd and perverse sense of it. But I shall briefly offer these seven things to your consideration, which will abundantly evince the reality of it, and at once both stop the slanderous mouths of ignorant men, and filencethose atheiftical furmises, which at any time Satan may inject into the hearts of God's own people touching this matter. And first, let it be considered, that the Spirit of God hath represented to us this work of grace, under such names VOL. VII. Tt
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, and notions in scripture, as if they had been chosen purposely to obviate this calumny. It is called a creature, Gal. vi. 15am an, I Pet. iii. 4. a new birth, John iii. 3. Christ formed in us, Gal. iv. 19. All which express its reality, and that it is not a conceited thing. (2.) It appears to be real by the marvellous effects it hath upon a man, turning him both in judgment, will, affections, and practice, quite counter to what he was before. This is evident in that famous instance of
Paul, Gal. i. 23. which is abundantly attested and sealed by the constant experience of all gracious fouls that are witnesses of the truth hereof. (3.) A divine and almighty power goes forth to produce and work it ; and hence faith is said to be of the operation of God, Col. ii. 12. Yea, that the fame power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead, goes to the product i