Part 13
3. Mortify your inordinate affections of liberty, pleaſure, and delicate living. O let not a priſon ſeem ſo formidable to you. It is true, as Chriſt told Peter, in John xxi. 18. " When " thou waſtyoung,thougirdedſt thyself, and walkedſt whither " thou wouldſt ; butwhen thou shaltbe old,thou shalt ſtretch " forth thy hands, and another ſhall gird thee, and carry thee " whither thou wouldſt not." You have now your liberty to go whither you will, and it is a precious mercy ifwell improved; the birds of the air (asone faith)had rather be in the woods at liberty, though lean and hungry, than in agolden cagewith the richest fare. Butyet, if God will call you to denythis alſo for Chriſt, ſee that you be ready to bebound as Paul was, and receivethe chainandbondsof Christwiththankffgiving : To whichend, confider,
1. That the affliction, in ſuch cases of restraint, is more from within, than from without you. There is no place but may be delectable to you, if your heart be heavenly, andthe preſence of God be engagedwith you. What a ſweet night had Jacob at Bethel! Paul and Silas inthe ſtocks ! See that precious letter of PomponiusAlgerius. * Tranftulit in cælum Chriſti prafentia clauftrum ; Quidfaciet cælo ? quæ cælumjam creat antro. It isyour own unbelief and impatiency, that gives you more trouble than the condition. 2. No keeper cankeep the comforter from you, ifyou be the Lord's prisoners, Acts xvi. If they could bar out the Spirit fromyou, it would be adiſmal place indeed : But ordinarily, there the faints have their clearest viſions of God, and ſweetest prefence of the Spirit. You are the Lord's freemen, whilst men's prisoners : All the world cannotdiveſtyou of thestate ofliberty Chrift hath purchased for you, John viii. 36.
Ifthe presence of Chriſt once changed a priſon into a kind of heaven,what will itdo in heaven itſelf, which even here doth make adungeon like heaven ?
360 Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, 3. Though aprison looks fad anddiſmal,yetit isnot hell: Ohbleſs God for that, that is a fadpriſon indeed ! Beloved, menhave their prisons, and God hath his: God's priſon is a terrible prison indeed, thousands are now there in chains, 1 Pet. iii. 19.,and thereyou deſerved to have been fent long ago : IfGod exchange an hellfor aprison,haveyou any caufe to complain ?
4.How obdurate and cruel ſoevermen are to you, yet the LordJesus is kind and tender-heartedtohis prisoners ; he puts the kindneſſes that any ſhew them upon his own account, Matth. xxv. 36. " He looks down from heaven to hear the " fighings and groanings of his prifoners," Pfal. cii. 20. He willtenderly ſympathize withyou inallyourprisonftraitsand troubles.
5. Aprison hath beenhandſelledand perfumedby the beſt and holiest of men inall ages, I Kíngs xxii. 27. Jer. xxxii. 2. Matth. iv. 12. Acts v. 18. andxxvi. 10. Godhath made it a fettledfchool ofdifcipline to them.
6. Shouldyou, to avoida prison, commita fin, instead of beingman's prisoner, you ſhall be clapt upby God, forhehath a priſon for your fouls even in thisworld, Pfal. cxlii. 7. And this is tenthousandtimes more dreadful, than anydungeon in the world. Oh it is a dark prifon ! nothingto let intheleaft beam of God's countenance uponyour poorfouls. What a fad exchange have you made then ?
ground ofcomfort God hath laid in that word, Rev. ii. 10. to obviate the fears and terrors incidentto us in fuch a condition : God hath limited Satan and his in- ſtruments, both fortime, number, and all circumſtances of the trial.
8. Lastly, You do not know what a mercymay be init: It may be a time ofretirement from the world, andthe clamours and diſtractions that are abroad. Theſe days ofimpri fonment may be your holy-days ; as a prisoner of Chrift once called them .
4. Get an heart mortified to the exceſſive and inordinate love of life: This, I confeſs, is the highest and hardeft point ofself-denial, becauſe itwraps up allotherfelf-interests init. But yet conſider, First,Though lifebe verydear, yet Jeſus Chriſt istenthou fandtimes dearerthan thy life: Ifthoubea faint, he isthe life ofthy life, and the length ofthydays; and in comparison of him, andhisglory, faints ſhould,andhavedeſpiſedand flightedtheir lives, Luke xiv. 26. Rev. xii. 11 .
The best Work in the worst Times. 361 Secondly, Die you must : and ifby ſhrinking from Chrift, you should protract amiferable life for a few days longer, in themeantime loſing that which is better than life, Pfal. Ixiii. 3. Matth. x. 39. Oh! when you lie upon your death-bed, youwillwish that you had obeyed God's call, and fo have departed in peace.
Thirdly, Ifyouhave cordially covenanted with Chriſt, (as all fincere believers have done), then you have yielded up your lives tohim, to bediſpoſed offor his glory, Rom. xiv. 7. So that, lookas Chriſt both livedanddied foryou ; ſo oughtyou to liveas Christ : Andallthe excellency you fee in life, confifts inthatreference and ſubſerviency it hath to his glory. I fay then, ifyouhave underſtandingly and cordially tranſacted in a covenant-way with him, your care will not be ſo much how to ſhun death, as by what death you may moſt glorify God, Johnxxi. 19. And certainly, you can never lay them down upon a more honourable or comfortable account than in his cauſe, and for his fake. Itwas a great trouble to Luther, that he carried his blood to his grave.
Fourthly, To die for Chriſt, is one of the highest teftifications of your love to Chriſt, that you are capable of, John xiii. 37. Yea, it is ſuch ateftification of your lovetothe Lord Jeſus, as angels are not capable of making.
Fifthly, Why ſhould you decline even a violent death for Chriſt, when as the bitterness ofdeath is paſt, and there is no hell following the pale horse ? It cannot ſeparate you from Chriſt, Rom. viii. 38 .
Sixthly, Think what a death Chriſt ſuffered for you : In which the fulness of the wrath both of God and man met together, ſo that he was fore amazed; yet with defire, did he defire it foryour fakes.
7. Lastly, Think what a life you ſhall have with Chriſt, as foon as this is delivered up to, and for him, 2Tim. ii. 12. It is but wink, and you ſhall ſee God.
Oh that theſe things might provoke you to follow on, and ply the work of mortification .
VOL . VII. Zz
362 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, CHAP.
Wherein is opened the fingular advantage thatfufferingfaints have by their skill and infight into the methods and mysteries of Satan's temptations ; some ofthose wiles of Satan opened, andrulesfor the avoiding of thedanger briefly prefcribed. T
HE hazards and dangers of Chriſtiansin times ofperſecution, ariſe not ſo much from their ſufferings, as from the temptations that always attend, and are by Satan planted upon their ſufferings : for the moſt part, fufferings and temptationsgo together, Heb. xi. 37. And therefore it behoves ſuch as are, or expect to be, called to fufferings, to dive into the mysteries oftemptations, andbewell acquainted with the enemy's deſigns upon them. So was Paul, and fo he ſuppoſes allothers tobe, that engage in the ſame cauſe: " We are not ignorant of his devices," 2 Cor. ii. 11 . is a manifold advantage redounding to fuffering faints thereby.
There
1. He that is well acquainted with the methods oftemptation, willbe better able todeſcry the firſt approaches andbeginnings ofit, andatemptationdiſcovered, is more than half conquered. It is a ſpecial artifice of Satan, to ſhuffle inhis temptations as undifcernably as may be into the ſoul ; for he knows, that " in vain is the net ſpread in the fight of any " bird," Prov. i. 17. And therefore he ordinarily makes a fuffering ſeaſon to be a tempting ſeaſon; becauſe fufferings, like fire to iron, make itimpreſſive and operable, they do ordinarily putthe foul into anhurry and diſtraction, and fogives him an advantage to temptthe foul with leſs ſuſpicion, and greater fucceſs . Butnow, a ſkilful Chriſtian, that is acquaintedwith his wiles, willdifcern when he begins to enter into temptation ; as Chriſt's expreffion is, Luke xxii. 46. Andfo checkthe temptation inits firſtrife, when itis weakeſt ; and moſt eaſily broken. Doubtleſs one reasonwhy ſo many fall bytemptation, is, becauſe it is got within them, and hath prevailed far, before it be diſcovered tobe a temptation. 2 He that is well acquainted with Satan's methods of tempting,willnot onlydifcern itfooner than another; but alfo knows his work andduty, and how to manage the conflict with it, which is a great inatter. There are manypoorfouls that labour under ſtrong temptations, and know notwhatto
The best Work in the worst Times. 363 do: They go up and down complaining, from Chriſtianto Chriſtian, whilftthe judicious Chriſtian plies tothe throne of gracewith strong cries, ſee 2 Cor. xii. 8. keeps up his watch, Luke xxii. 46. countermines the temptation, by affaulting that corruption, by endeavours of mortification, which Satan affaultsby temptation, 1 Cor. ix. 27.
3. Laſtly, To name no more; hethat is beſt acquainted with the mystery of temptation, andcanmaintain his ground againſt it, he ſhall be the perſevering Chriſtian underperſecutions, andthe victorious Chriſtian over them. Here lies the maindeſign of Satan, in raiſing perſecution againstthe faints. Itisnot so much their blood that he thirſteth after, as their fall bytemptation : and allperfecutionsare defigned byhim to introduce his temptations. Theſe work upon our fear, and feardrives us intohis trains and ſnares, Prov. xxix. 25. The devil'swork in raiſing perſecution, isbut as the fowler's work in beating the bush in the night, whenthe net is ſpread to take the birds, which hecan affright out of their coverts. He that underſtands this, is noteasily moved by the ſtrongest oppoſition, from his place and duty; and ſo is like to prove the moſt conftant and invincible Chriſtianin times ofperſecution.
Oh! then, how neceſſary is it,that ſince all perſecutions are intended as means topromote temptation, and that ſkill and infight intotheſedeſigns of Satan ſo advantages as to fruftrate his deſigns inboth ? I ſay, how neceſſary is it that you
all inſtructed wherein the ſtrength oftemptation lies ; as alſo how to refift thoſe ſtrong and dangerous temptations, which your fufferings onlyare intended tousherin, and make wayfor ?
Itwill not be unſeaſonable or impertinent, then, in this chapter, to fhewyou, First, Whereinthe force and efficacy of temptation lieth ; Secondly, What you are to do, when in a ſuffering hourſuch temptation ſhallaffaultyou. And firſt, Quest. Wherein doth the efficacy and power of temptation lie?
Sol. I anſwer, It lies principally in three things. I. Inthe kind andnatureofthe temptation.
II. In the craft and policy of Satan inmanaging it. III. Inthat fecret correſpondencythat Satan hath with our corruptions.
I. It lies in the kind and nature of the temptation itſelf; for it is moſtcertain, that all temptations are not alike forci-
Zz2
364 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, ble anddangerous. Some are ordinarily more ſucceſsful than others ; andfuch are theſe that follow..
1. Strange and unusual temptations, Imean not fuch as none have been troubledwith beforeus; for there isnota dart in Satan's quiver, but hath been let fly at the breasts ofother faints, before it was levelled at ours, 1 Cor. x. 13. But by ſtrange and unusual, Imean ſuch as the people of God are but rarely troubled with,and poſſibly we were never exerciſedwith before. Theſe are the more dangerous, becauſe they daunt and amaze the foul, andordinarily beget deſpondency, even as fome ſtrange diſeaſe would do that we know not what to makeof, nor can learn that others have been fick of.
2. Mark them for most dangerous temptations, that are adapted and ſuitedtoyour proper fin, or evil conftitution : For certainly that is the most dangerous criſis of temptationwhen it tries amanthere. Now, ifhe be not trulygracious, he falls bythe root irrecoverably, Luke xxii. 5,6. Or iffincere, yet without ſpecial aſſiſtance, and extraordinaryvigilance, he falls
ſcandaloufly, 2 Sam. xi. 2. compared with 1 Sam. xvi. 12.
3. When it is aspiritual temptation, which riſes undifcernably out of the Chriſtian's duties. This is the leſs ſuſpected, becauſe temptations usually come from the ſtrength and livelineſs ofcorruptions; but this, from the flaughter and con queſts we make of them, Duties,and enlargements inthem, which are the poiſon of other lufts, proves the food and fuel of this, 1 Cor. iv. 7, 8. Andhow much the more covert and cloſeany temptation is, by ſo much the more dangerous itis.
II. The ſtrength and efficacy of temptation lies much in the ſkill and policy of Satan inthe management ofit : And hencethey are called wiles, methods, and devices, 2 Cor. ii.
11. Eph. vi. 11. and himself an old ferpent, Rev. xii. 9. Andamongthe rest of his deep anddefperate ſtratagemsthele following are remarkable.
1. In employing ſuch inſtruments to manage his temptations as are leaſt ſuſpected, andhavethe greatest influence. A teacher, Gal. ii. 14. A wife, Gen. iii. 6. Job ii. 9. Friends, Acts xxi. 13. The devil knows it is a bad buſineſs, and therefore must make the beſt ofit ; Paul's foreſt trial was by his dearest friends .
2. In the orderly diſpoſition and ranging of his temptati ons, beginning with little things firſt, and then by degrees working over to greater. His firſt motions arecommonlymoft modeft, Gen. iii. 1. Should he diſcover the depth of his de fign at first, itwould ſtartle the foul,and make it replyasHa-
The best Work in the worst Times. 365 zael, "Am I adog that I ſhoulddo thus ?" It is far eafier to gainhis endby parts, than putting for all at once.
3. Inendeavouring to engage the foul upon his ownground. Imeanto tempt him from his ſtation and duty where God
and expects to find him. He knows while you arewith God, God is with you, 2 Chron. xv. 2. Whilft a man abides there,he abides with God, 1 Cor. vii. 24. Whilst he is there, the promise is a good breast-work to keep off all his darts : Andtherefore, as fiſhers, whenthey have ſpread their net in the river, beat the fishes out of their coverts and caverns ; fo doth Satan.
4. Innotpreſenting thetemptation, tillthe foulbe prepar- ⚫ed to receive it. He loves to ſtrike when theiron is hot. He firſt lets their troubles come to anheight, brings them to the prifon, gibbet, or fire, and then offers them deliverance, Heb. xi . 35, 37-
5. Intiringour fouls with along continuanceoftemptations. Whathe cannot winby afudden storm, he hopes to gain by a tediousfiege. Forty days together he afſfaulted the Captain of our ſalvation, Marki. 13. And truly it is awonder the foul yields not at last, thathath been tried long, Pial. cxxv. 3. "When the rod of the wicked lies long uponthe back of the "righteous, it ismuch ifhe put not forth his hand to iniqui-
6. In falling most violently uponthem,whenthey are loweſtand mostproftrate in their ſpirits and comforts : So he affaulted Job with a temptation, to curse God and die, when he fat inthat deplorable ſtate uponthedunghill,Job ii. 8, 9. He loves to fall upon us, as Simeon and Levidid upon the Shechemites, when we are fore and wounded: Andtherefore ordinarilyyou find times ofdivine desertions to be times of diabolical temptations. So that,look, as the wild beasts of the defart comeout of their dens in the night, and then rore after their prey, Pfal. civ. 20. ſodoth Satan, whenthe foul ſeems tobe benighted and lost inthe darkness ofſpiritual troubles .
And this is the second thing wherein the efficacy and ſtrength of temptation lies.
III. Lastly, It lies in that ſecret correſpondency Satan holds with our boſom enemies. Were it not for this domestic ✓ traitor, he could not furprize us ſo eaſily : As you fee in Chrift ; he coulddonothing becauſe he found nothing to faftena temptation on. He was like a chrystal glass filled with pure fountain water: So that though he ſhould have been agitated and ſhakennever fo muchby temptation, yet no fil
366 Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, thy ſediment could appear; butnowwe have an enemy withinthatholds intelligencewith Satanwithout; and this would prove a devil to us, ifthere were no other devil to tempt us, Jam. i. 14, 15. It is a fountain of temptation in itſelf. Matth. xv. 19. and the chief inftrument bywhich Satan doth all his tempting work, 2 Pet. i. 4 .
Our ſeveral paffions and affections are the handles of his temptations . Every thing, faith Epictetus, hathδυο λάβας, two handles to take it by. Our affections are the handles of our fouls. The temptation of ſelf-confidence, and pride, takes hold ofadaring and forward difpofition, the temptation ofapoſtacy upon a timorous diſpoſition, &c. Theſe inbred lufts go overtothe enemy in theday ofbattle, and fight against the foul, 1 Pet. ii. 11. This is a more dangerous enemy thanthe devil. Itis true, theyboth work againſt us, but with a double difference. Satan works externally and objectively ; but luft internally and physically, i. e. quoadmateriale, as it is capable ofphyſical efficiency. " Sinwrought in me all manner of " concupifcence," Rom. vii. 8. Yea, it is a fubtle enemy that doth his buſineſs politicly, Rom. vii. 11. Sin deceived me; it betrays with a kiſs, ſtrangles with a filken halter, Heb. ii. 13. Eph. vii. 22. Theſe be his agents fitting at the council-table in our own breasts, andthere carrying on his deſigns effectually: Yea, it is the reſtleſs and perpetualenemy, no ridding your hands of him. Satan is ſometimes put to flight byreſiſtance, Jam. iv. 7. and ſometimes ceaſes his temptati ons, Luke iv. 13. But whenhe ceaſeth to tempt and inject, this ceaſeth not to irritate and ſollicit ; where we are, it will be; it is our fad lot to be tied to it, andperpetually affaulted byit, Rom. vii. 24. We mayſay ofitas Hannibalſaid of Marcellus, that it is never quiet,whether a conqueror, orconquered ; yea, it is apotent enemytoo, it hauls men away tothe commiffion offin,Jam. i. 14. itſeizeth the magazine of the foul, and de livers up the arms, I mean the members, to be οπλα άδικιας, weapons ofunrighteouſneſs.
Thusyoufee wherein the efficacy andpower oftemptation confifts. Anditmightily concernsyou that are, orexpect to be ſufferers for Chrift, tobe acquaintedwiththeſe things, and know where the ſtrength ofyourenemy lies.
Buthow shallthefuffering faintſo manage himſelfinafuffering hour, as not to be captivated by temptations ? This bringsmeuponthe ſecondthingI promised; viz. to prefcribe
rules for the eſcaping orconquering ofthoſe temptations that are incidentalto a fuffering ſtate. And firſt,
The best Work in the worst Times
1. Rule. Labour to cut off the advantages oftemptations beforethey come. It is our inordinate love to life, eftate, liberty,andeaſe, that gives the temptations ſo much ſtrength uponus. Do not over-value them, andyou will more eaſily part from them, Rev. xii . 11. Omortify felf-love, and creature-love; letyour heart be looſened and weaned from them, andthenthe temptation hath lost its strength .
2. Rule. Secure to yourſelves an intereſt in the heavenly glory. When once you clearly ſee your propriety in the kingdom above,youwill fet the lighter and lowerby all things onearth. That is a pregnant text to this purpoſe, Heb. x. 34. It is our darkneſs and uncertainties about thoſe, that make uscling ſo faſttotheſe.
3. Rule. Settlethis principle inyour heart, as thatwhich you will never depart from, that it is better for you to fall - into any fuffering, than into the leaſt ſin, Heb. xi. 24, 25.
This all will acknowledge, but how fewpractiſe it ! Oh that you wouldpractically underſtand andreceive it! Suffering is but arespective, external, andtemporal evil; but fin is an univerſal, internal, andeverlasting evil.
4. Rule. Believe that God hath curſed and blaſted all the ways of fin, that theyſhall never be a fhelter to any foul that flies for refuge to them, Mark viii. 35. Prov. xiii. 15. The way oftranſgreſſors is a hard and difficult way. There is no ſecurity inthe way of iniquity. Hethat runs from ſuffering to ſin, runs from the feeming to the real danger ; from the painted, to the living lion.
5. Rule. Live up to this principle, that there is no policy like ſincerity and godly ſimplicity. This will preſerve and ſecureyou, when carnal wisdom will expoſe and betray you. Pfal. xxv. 2. Job ii. 3. Sinful policy never thrives with faints.
6. Rule. Confider ſadly whatthe conſequence of yielding up yourſelves to temptations will be : The name of God will be dreadfully reproached, 2 Sam. xii. 14. A fatal ſtumblingblock is laid before the blind world, I Sam. ii. 36. The hearts ofmany upright ones made fad, Pfal. xxv. 3. The fall of a ✓profeſſor is as when a ſtandard-bearer fainteth ; anda dreadful wound it will be to thine own confcience, 2 Cor. ii. 7.
Matth . xxv. 76. One hour's fleep of ſecurity, may keep you many days and nightswaking upon the rack ofhorror.
7. Rule. Neverengage a temptation inyour own strength, but go forth against ittrembling in yourſelves, and relying on Divine aids and aſſiſtances, Eph. vi. 10. What ! are you to grapple with ſpirits, to enter the lifts withprincipalities and
368 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, powers? Or what is your ſtrength that you ſhould hope?
8. Rule. Let the days of your temptation be days of ſtrong cries and fupplications. Thusdid Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 8. Pfal. cix. 4. Your beſt poſture to wrestlewith temptation, is upon your knees.
9. Rule. Dwell upon the confideration ofthoſe choice encouragements God hath laid up in the word for ſuch a time. As, (1.) Though he give Satan leave to temptyou, yet you are ftill in his hand to preferveyou, Deut. xxxiii. 3. Johnx. 28. (2.) That whilft Satan is fifting and trying you on earth, Chriſt is interceeding for you inheaven, Luke xxii. 31, 32. (3.) That an eternal reward islaidupfor those that overcome, Luke xxii. 28, 29. Rev. xxi. 7, 8. And now is this reward to be won or loft.
Laftly, Be contenttill Godopen adoor out of your temptations, Cor. x. 13. The time ofthepromisewillcome, Acts vii. 17. Waitfor it, though ittarry, and feemto be deferred; inthe end it will ſpeak,and not lie, Hab. ii. 3. There was a fecretdoor in the ark,though itcouldnot be ſeen whilft the waters prevailed: And ſo there is in all your temptations, though at preſent itbe not difcernible byyou .
And thus I have brought you one ſtep nearer to Paul's bleſſed frame. O give diligence to makeyourſelves readyfor fufferings.
CHAP. XII.
Sheweth, that a choice part of our preparation and readiness forfufferings consists in the improvement of our praying abili ties, and keeping close with God in that beavenly andexcel lentduty, indays ofsuffering ; wherein alſo is openedthe nature andmeans of its improvement. is amongst graces. Doubtless itis of ſpecial uſe and ſervice atall times to a Chriſtian : Butyet in ſuffering days it is ofmore than ordinary uſe and neceffity, Heb. iv. 16. James v. 13. Andtherefore it is reckoned among thoſe choice pieces ofarmour,which fuffering ſaints are toput on, Eph. vi. 18. Iwill here brieflydiſcover the neceflity of it, andthen ſhewyou that aChriftian may improve himself toan excellentdegree in it; and, laſtly, preſcribe ſome means for animprovement.
The neceffity of it toa ſuffering faint will demonftratively appear, ifyou confider,
The best Work in the worst Times. 369 1. That this duty is the outlet of troubles, and the beſt way the poor Christian hath to eaſe his,heart when furcharged with forrow. Griefs are eaſedby groans. Such evaporations diſburden and cool the heart, as the opening ofa vein in ſome caſes doth. Oh the ſenſible eaſe that comes in this way! Whengriefin the mind, like vapours in the air, are condenfed into black clouds, that overſpread the foul, and darken that beautiful light that once ſhone there, then prayer, like the fun, diſpels and ſcatters them, 1 Sam. i. 18. Many a faint, by prayer, hathfuckedthe breaſt of a promiſe, and then fell afleep by Divine contentment inthe boſom of God. A time may come, when thyheart is ready to break with trouble, and not a friend towhom thou canst open and eaſe it, andthen bleſſed be God for prayer, Micah vii. 5, 6, 7. That which finks others is, that when troubles fill and overwhelm their hearts, they try what reaſon, merry company, or outward comforts can do : But, alas ! this is to palliate a cure, it returns again with the more violence: But prayer gives fenible relief, Pfal. cii. title, Pfal. Ixii. 8. For, (1.) This opens andgives a vent to troubles, Jer. xx. 12. (2.) It gives our troubles a diverſion, and ſo a cure, Plal. v. 1. and the lait verſe compared. Yea, (3.) By praying over them, they are not onlydiverted, but fanctified, and ſo ceaſe to be diſtracting, or destroying troubles .
2.As itgives a vent to our troubles, ſo an in-let to unfpeak- ✓able comforts and confolations. See a pregnant inſtance of this, Acts xvi . 25. For, (1.) Herebytheyobtain gracious anſwers from the Lord concerning their troubles, 2 Cor. xii. 9.
Inthis alſo theymeet the gracious ſmiles of God, which ſwat low up their troubles, Pfal.lxxxv. 8. And, lafly,hereby they prevail with God to open a ſeaſonable and effectual door out of all their troubles, Pfalm xxxiv. 4, 6.
3. Prayer begets and maintainsholy courage and magnanimityin evil times. When all things aboutyou tend to difcowragement, it is your beingwith Jeſus that makes you boid, Acts iv. 13. He that uses to be before a great God, will not beafraidto look ſuch little things as men are inthe face. The woman clothed with the fun, had the moon under her feer. Andwhat needyou have of courage in evil times,hath been already ſhewed.
4. This is a dutyyoumay perform at any time, or inany condition : No adverſary can cutyou offfrom it. It cannot befaid ſo ofmany other duties. None can hinderthe inter VOL . VII. Aaa
370. Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, courſe betwixt heaven andyour fouls: You may perform it in a prifon, Acts xvi. 25. in a baniſhed condition, Pfal. lxi. 2.And ſo is fitted for a fuffering condition. Lastly, You muſt ſtrive to excel in this, foraſmuch as no grace within, or ſervice without, can thrive without it. God hath ordained the whole work ofgrace togrow up to perfec tionthisway, Judg. xix. 20. He willhave all mercies fetchel out this way, Ezek. xxxvi. 37. Jer.xxix. 11, 12, 13. All that comes from God to you, or to you from God, must comein this channel. Beconvincedthen of the needyou have to im proveyourſelves herein, as everyouhope to ſtand in the evil day.
Buthow are theſepraying abilities capable ofimprovement inthepeople of God ?
Praying abilities are either externalandcommon,or elfein ternaland ſpecial. The external andcommon ability isnothing elſebut thatdexterity and ſkillmenget to expreſs themſelves to God inprayer. Thus manycanput their meaning into apt anddecentexpreſſions, towhichthe Spirit ſometimes adds his common touches upon the affections. And this hypocrites reſt on, andglory in. Or elſe they are ſpecial and internal, wherebymen are enabled to pour outtheir fouls to God ina gracious manner. Andthis maybe confidered either in the habit or the act. The habit is given bythe Spirit, when the principles ofgraceare firſt infuſed into the foul, Zech. xii. 10. Acts ix. 1 r. By being ſanctifiedwe are made near, and by acting thoſe principles in prayer we are ſaid to draw near, Pfal. x. 17. Now in our actual drawing near to God, the Spirithath the chiefandprincipal hand: Andhis aſſiſtancethere in is threefold.
1.He excites the heart to theduty; it is he thatwhiſpers tothe foultodraw nigh to God, Pfalm. xxvii. 8.
2. He ſuggeſts the matter of our prayers, and furnishes us with the materials, Rom. viii. 26. guiding us as tothemat ter, notonly to what is lawful,but alſotowhat is expedientfor us.
3.He ſtirreth up ſuitable affections inprayer, Rom. vi 26.Andhencethoſe groans and tears, thoſe gafpings and vehement anhelations. But notwithstanding all our abilities, both habitual andactual, be from the Spirit,andnot from our ſelves,yet aretheycapable of improvement byus : For though inreſpect ofacquirement, there be a great difference betwist naturaland ſupernatural habits, yet their improvement isin
The best Work in the worst Times. 374 the fame way and manner ; and this improvement may be made divers ways : For, First, Though you have the Spirit, and canpray, yet you maylearn to praymore humblythanbefore : Though you riſe no higher as to words, yet you may learn to lay yourſelves lowerbefore the Lord, as Abraham and Ezra did, Gen. xviii. 27. Ezra ix. 6. Secondly, You may learnto praywith more fincerity than formerly: Ah ! there is much hypocrify and formality in our prayers, much of custom, &c. Now,you may learn to pour out more cordialprayers. See Pfal. xvii. 1. Pfal. cxix. 10. Thirdly, You may learn topraywith more zeal and earneftneſs thanbefore: Somefaintshave excelled, and been remarkable for this, Dan. ix. 19. Hofea xii, 4. James v. 16.
Fourthly, With more affiduity and readineſs at alltimes for it, Ephef. vi. 18. Praying always, with all prayer. Hence Chriſt gives that commendation tothe church, Cant. iv. 11 . " Thy lips, O my ſpouſe, drop as thehoney-comb." Thehoney-comb oftendrops,but always hangs full ofdrops readytofall.
Fifthly, You may learn to pray with more faith : Oh the qualms ofunbelief,thatgo over our hearts in aduty; faith is the foul of prayer, and according to the faith God finds in them, he accepts and values them. Now in all theſe things youmay improve yourſelves abundantly.
1. By being more frequent inthe duty, Job xxii. 21. " Ас- " quaint thyselfwiththe Almighty ;" in the Hebrew it is, accustom thyself: Thoſe that havebeenexcellent, have alsobeen abundant in it, Pfal. xv. 17.
2. By taking heed thatyou grievenotthe Spirit, on whoſe influences and aſſiſtances you ſo intirelydepend : Even as much as a ſhip doth upon the gales ofwind for its motion.
3. By honouring the Spirit which enables youto pray, and that eſpeciallytwo ways ; (1. ) By dependance on him ; go not forth in your own strength to the duty, truſt not toyour own promptneſs, or preparations. (2.) By returning, and with thankfulneſs aſcribing the praiseofalltohim; behumble under all enlargements : fay,Not I, butgrace.
4. By fearchingyourown hearts, andexamining your neceffities andwants, when youdraw nigh to God ; this will be ✓a fountain ofmatter, and give you a deep reſentment of the worth ofmercies prayed for.
5. Laſtly, By looking more atthe exerciſe ofgraces, and leſs at thediſcovery ofparts ; by labouring for impreſſions more, Дааг
372 Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, and pumping for expreſſions leſs. And thus I have briefly ſhewed you, how toturniſh yourſelves withthis needful quali fication alſo.
CHAP. XIII.
Wherein is ſhewed theneceffity ofgoing out ofourselves, eum when our habitual and actualpreparations are at the greate height ; anddepending as constantly and entirely upon the Spirit, who is Lord ofallgracious influences, as if we had done nothing : Together with the means ofworking thebeart tofuch aframe. T
Hus you have ſeen your habitual and actual readiness for ſufferings ; and bleſſed is the foul that gives diligèner to this work : But now left allthat I have faid, andyou have wrought, ſhould be in vain ; I must let you know, thatall this will not fecure you, unless you can, by humility, faith, and felf-denial, go out ofyourſelves to Chriſt, and live upot him daily for tupply ofgrace, as much as ifyou had none of allthis furniture and provifion for fufferings. I confefs, grace is a very beautiful and lovely creature, and it is hard for a man to look upon his own graces, and not doat upon them. But yet know, that ifyou had all theſe excellent preparations that have been mentioned, yea, and all angelical perfections fuperadded, yet are you notcompletewithout this dependance upon Chrift, Col. ii. 10, Wheneveryou go forth to fuffer for Chrift, you ſhouldſay at theheadofallyourexcellent graces, duties, and preparations, as Jehofaphat did, when atthe head ofapuiflant and mighty army, 2Chron. xx. 12. " O Lord, "have no might nor ftrength, but my eyes areunto thee. This is one thing in which Paul excelled, and was a fpecial partofhis readineſs. See 1 Cor. xv. 10. What a poor cre ture istheeminenteſtſaint, leftto himselfin an hour oftrial? thehop, the ivy, and the woodbine, are taughtby nature to cling about ſtronger props and ſupporters : What theydoby nature, we should do by grace.
The neceffity andgreat advantage of this will appear upon divers confiderations.
Confid. 1. The Chriſtian's own imbecilityand inſufficiency, even inthe ſtrength and height of all his acquirements and preparations ; what areyou, tograpplewith fuch an adverfary! Certainly, you are no match for him that conquered Adam hand to hand in his ſtateofintegrity. It is notyour inherent
The best Work in the worst Times. 373
66 ſtrength that enables you to ſtand, butwhatyou receive, and dailyderive from Jeſus Chriſt, John xv. 5. Without me," or never fo little ſeparated from me, "yecando nothing ; all yourfufficiency is of God," 2 Cor. iii. 5. Upon this very confideration itwas, that the apostle exhorts the Ephesians, to " be strong in the Lord, andin thepower of his might," (i. e.) nottodepend upon their own ſtock and furniture ; but Divine affiſtances , and daily communications ; " For we wrestle not " with flesh and blood, but principalities and powers," Eph. vi. 10, 12. In his own strength ſhall no man prevail. Confid. 2. It is the great deſign of God in the goſpel, to exalthis Son,and to have allglory attributed and aſcribedtohim, " That in all things he might have the pre-eminence," Col. i. 18. That Chriſt " might be allin all," Col. iii. 11. Hence, no ſaint must have a felf-fufficiency, or be truſted with a ſtock as Adam was, but Chrift being filled with all the fulness of God, and made the πρωτον δεκτικον, or firſt receptacle of all grace; " For it pleaſed the Father, that in him all fulneſs " ſhould dwell;" all the faints are therefore to go to him for ſupplies, and of his fulneſs to receive, John i. 16. This fulneſs being a ministerial fulness, like that of the fun, or of a fountain, intended to fupply all our wants. And hence is it that faith, a felf-emptying anddenying grace, is appointed to be the inſtrument of fetching our ſupplies from Chriſt. All must be derivedfrom him, that all the praiſe and glorymaybe aſcribed to him, Phil. iv. 14. And this is a moſt wife and congruous ordination of God, forhereby not onlyare his people the better ſecured,butbythis alſo, the reproach that lay upon Chrift is rolled away. He was reproached on earth, as barren, empty, weak ; " Can any good come out of Naza- " reth ?" He was looked upon as a "Root ſpringing out of a 66 dry ground," butby this ſhallhis reproach be wiped away : So that unless you will go about to croſs the great deſign of God, in the exaltation of his Christ, you must go out of your-
and humbly and conſtantly rely upon ſupplies from Chriſt, and his grace, to help in the times of need.
Confid. 3. AChriſtianis conſtantly todependupon Chrift, notwithstanding all his own preparations, and inherent qualifications ; becauſe the activity even ofinherent grace depends uponhim. Inherent grace isbeholding toexciting and affifting grace for all it is enabled todo. You cannot act agrace without his Spirit, 1 Cor. xv. 10. 2 Cor. iii. 5. John xv. 5.
Itmaybe faid ofgrace in us, as it was of the land of Canaan, Deut. xi. 10, 11, 12. " It is not as the land of Egypt, whence
374 Preparationsfor Sufferings: Or, τι yecame out, where thou ſowedſt thy feed, andwateredft it " with thy foot, as agarden ofherbs : but a land ofhills and " vallies, drinking water of the rain ofheaven ; a landwhich " the LordthyGodcareth for: his eyes are always upon it, " from the beginning oftheyear, eventothe endoftheyear." As the life and fragancyofvegetables dependonthe influences of heaven, ſo do ourgraces upon Chriſt. And hence he is called, ( 1.) Aroot, Iſa. xi. 10. (2.) An head, Col. i. 18. (3.) Afun, Mal. iv. 2. (4.) A fountain,Zech. xiii. 1. All which compariſonsdo fully carry this truth inthem.
Confid. 4. Lastly, In this life ofdependance liesyour fecurity; and indeedthis is the great difference betwixt the two covenants. In the firſt, Adam's ſtock was in his own hands, and ſo his ſecurity or miſerydepended upon the unconstrained choiceofhis own mutable andſelf-determiningwill. But now in the new covenant, all are to go to Chriſt, todependupon him for ſupplies,and are ſo ſecured against alldeſtructivedangers, Jude 1. 1 Pet. i. 5. Should you go forth inyour own
against a temptation, either your gracewould fail, andyou fall in the conflict; or ifyou obtain any victory over itby your own ſtrength, yet it is a thouſand toone but your pridewouldconquer you, when you hadconquered it : Like him that flew an elephant, but was himself ſlainby the fall of that elephant which he flew. Butnow, by this way, as God hath ſecuredyou againstthe dangers without; ſoalſothe frame and conſtitution of this new covenant is ſuch as prevents the danger arising from ourown pride too. NotEgo et Deus me-
2us; Iand my Goddidthis; as was once faidby a prophane mouth; " but ſelfisabaſed, andthe Lord lifted up inhis own " ſtrength," 1 Cor. iv. 7. And thus I have brieflyevinced the neceffityofthis dailydependance.
But next itconcerns you toknow, whatthisdependancewe ſpeakof is: this alſo I ſhall briefly open to you, laying down fomewhat negatively, and ſomewhat poſitively about it.
1. Negatively. It is nottodeny the gracewrought inus by the Spirit; this wereboth injustice and ingratitude; we may know our owngraces ſo as tobethankful forthem, though not ſo as tobe proud of them, I Cor. xv. 10.
2. Neg. It is not a lazy excuſe from ourduty: you do not depend, but rather dishonour Chriſt by ſodoing ; you must not ſay,becauſe Chriſt muſt do all, therefore I must do nothing : but rather work out your ſalvation, becauſe it is he that workethboth towill and todo,Phil. ii. 12, 13. Theſearenot op posed, butfubordinated.
Butthenpoſitively, it lies in three things.
1. Positively. In ſeeing and acknowledging the infinite fuffi-' ciencyand fulneſs that is in Chriſt : to acknowledge him tobe all inall ; notonlybyway ofimpetration procuring all,Heb. ix. 12. but alſobyway of application, bringing home to the foul all the bleſſings purchaſedby his blood,and ſettling us in thepoffeſſion ofit, John xiv. 3. And fo from firſt to laſtto eyehimas theauthor and finiſher of our faith.
2. Pofit. Infeeing the neceffary dependance that allourgraceshave uponhim. So that as you ſee the ftream depending onthe fountain, thebeam upon the fun,the branch upon the root, the building upon the foundation,even ſo do our graces upon Chrift: onhim they live, and cut offfromhim theydie. "Our life is hidwith Chriſtin God," Col. iii. 3. Whenyou feethis, and alſo feethat allyour activity, and ſtriving, is but as the hoifting up of the fails, inorder tothe motion of the ſhip,which candonothingtill therecome a gale;when you look upon your grace as a creature that must be upheld, fed, acted, andprefervedby Chriſt, Col. ii. 19. then you are pre-- pared for this act ofdependance: As for instance,youcanneverdependupon Chriſt for the acting of that grace ofhope, untilyou ſee Chriſt tobe the prop and foundation of it, andthat itdepends uponhim, as upon its cauſe, 1 Pet. i. 3. as upon its object, Heb. vi. 19. and as upon itsfoundation andgroundwork, Col. i. 27.
Youcan neverdependupon Chriſt for your joy and comfort, untilyou feewhat a neceſſary dependance this alſo hath upon him, Phil. iii. 3. andthat, both as to itsbeing and acting, John xvi. 22.
معا
Youcan never dependupon him, for ſtrength inanyduty, untilyoufeehowyour dutiesdepend upon Chriſt,not only for thestrength bywhich they are performed, Johnxv.4,5. but alſo for acceptationwhentheyare performed, 1 Pet. ii. 5. It wereeaſy toinſtance in anyothergrace.
(3.)It lies in * looking offfromyourowngrace whenever youareputuponthe acting ofit, (I mean in regardofanydependanceuponit) and lookingbyan eye of faith for acceptation to Chrift, Heb. xii. 2. Totheputtingforth ofwhichact of dependanceupon Chriſt,holy ejaculations inouron-ſets upon مسا duty, or thoſe quick and vigorous lifting up of our fouls to God that way, are of ſpecial uſe, itbeing a duty fitted forthe
* Αφάρωντες τις τον της πίτεως αρχηγον. Looking offto the author of ourfaith,
348 Preparations for Sufferings: Or, purpoſe,when there is noroomforfetandfolemnprayer. And thus briefly of its nature. And tourgeyou to this duty, I ſhall offer theſe ſeven conſiderations : which,oh,thatthey inight prevailuponyourhearts, and make you for ever to clafp and cling about Chrift more than ever you have done.
Confideration 1. You have little reaſon to rely upon the ſtrength of yourown graces, foryou maybe easily deceived in thatmatter, andthink you have much more grace than you have. How often arethe common gifts of the Spirit miſtaken for his fpecial graces ! the fixth chapter to the Hebrews is able tomake amantremble in this thing.
Confid. 2. Suppoſe you have much grace, yet have you not ſtrong corruptions, andmayyou not meetwith strong temp. tations alſo ? He that hath leſs ofother graces than you, may have more humility and ſelf-denialthan you,and ſo may ftand whenyou fall. Great enlargements are often attended with great temptations of pride, &c.
Confid. 3. Whatever meaſures ofgrace you have arrivedat, yet ail is not able to fecure you from falling, if God with-hold or with-draw his aids and influences. Abraham had more faith than you, and yet he fell into a fin contrary to that very grace wherein he ſo excelled others,Gen. xx. 2. Jobhadmore patience than you ; which of you could behave yourſelves as hedid,hadyoubeeninthe likecircumſtances as he was ? chap. i. 2. he is renowned for it in the ſcripture, James v. 11. yet he fell into that fin which is contrary to this grace alſo, chap. iii. Mofes had more meekness than you : "Now theman Mo- " ſes was the meekeſtmanupon the earth." If you be but reproved, and thatjuſtlyforyour faults, howwaſpiſh are you ? Yet ſee how this grace failed even inhim, in an eminenttrial of it, Numb. xi. 13, 14, 15. Adam was much more advantag ed in this reſpect than you, being made upright, and no cor. ruption inherent in him, yet he fell: the angels more again, yet they fell. Ohwhen willyou learn the vanity offelf-dependance.
Confid. 4. Nothing more provoketh the Lord to withdraw his Spirit, and letyoufall,thanthis fin offelf-confidence doth, Luke xiv. 29, 30, 31. God will teachyou by fad experience yourown weakness,andwhat frail andvain things you be, it you will learn itbyno other means.
Confid. 5. IfGod permit you to fall, (as doubtless he will, if yoube felf-conceited), then the more eminent you havebeen, or are for grace, the more willthe name of Godbe reproached
The best Work in the worst Times. 377 byyour fall. This will furnish the triumphs oftheuncircum cifed, and the lamentations of your brethren, and make them fay, " How arethe mighty fallen !" Whatdiſmal conſequents will attend your fall ?
Confid. 6. Have you not fad experience of yourown weak. neſs from day to day in your leffer trials ? Have you not faid inſome ſmaller conflicts, as David once did, " My feet had -" wellnigh flipt." Omethinks this ſhould teach you to look more to God, and leſs to ſelf. " If you have run with foot- " men, and theyhave weariedyou in the land of peace, think "fadly how you should contendwith horses inthe ſwellings of " Jordan." Do not you fee that you are but feathers in the wind of temptation ? Conſult your former experiences, and theywill tellyouwhatweaklings you are.
Confid. 7. Lastly, Hath Chriſtgivenyou more grace than o thers, then how much more hath he obliged you to honour him thereby ? And is this your requital of his love ? What ! totake the crown fromhis head, and put it upon your own! Certainly agreater injurycannotbedone to Chriſtthanthis.
Wellthen,by all thisbe perfuadedto ceaſefromyourſelves, yea, from your religious ſelves ; and to all other your preparations, add this as a choice one; if you do theſe things, you
never fall. And thus you fee the complete Chriftian in his equipage for fufferings.
CHAP. XIV.
Containing the first use of the point by way of conviction, difcovering the unreadiness ofmultitudes ofprofeffors forsuffer ing-work. YOU have feen, byallthat hath been ſpoken, what the neceffary pre-requifites unto a fuffering condition are: andwhatmanner of perſons you must be, (both for habitual and actual readiness), if ever you honour Chriſt by bonds, or death for him. And I doubt notbut yourjudgments and confciencesyieldtotheevidentneceſſityoftheſethings, where. in I haveplacedthe Chriftian's readiness. But, alas ! where ſhall wefind among the throngs and crowds ofprofeſſors,any confiderable numbers thus qualified and prepared ? To ſuffer for Chriſt, is a giftthat few havereceived. We are fallen intothedregs oftime. Oh how little ofprimitive zealand fimplicity remains among the profeſſors of this age! latter times VOL . VII. Bbb
378 Preparations for Sufferings : Or, have produced a fort ofprofeffors of another ſtamp and fpirit.
have the light, but theyhad the love : theſefee more, but they did andfuffered more. Howmanythat are no ornament to religion, doadorn themselves with thenameof it!
Now, according to this account givenof a ready Chriftian, divers profeffing perſons will be convicted of their unreadiness and inability to manage fuffering-work : As firſt,
1. The politic and hypocritical profeffors,whoſe hearts were never fet right at first, and therefore cannot be stedfaft when trials come, Pfal. Ixxviii. 8. Their hearts were never found in God'sstatutes, and therefore no wonder ifthey be not only ashame to, but ashamed of their profeffion, Pfalm cxix. 80. Never wonder ifyou fee that profeſſion which began in hypocrify, to end in apostasy. Theſe want their habitual readineſs for fufferings, and fo cannot drink of that cup: Needs must they fall when tried; and when they fall, they fall dreadfully, and often irrecoverably; for they neither have thefeed of God in them, nor any promise of God made tothem. Andare there not manyſuch to be found in every place For, ( 1.) How. difficult is it to perfuade many of you to any dutythat hath lofs or hazard attending on it ? Doth notthe fincere heart ſtand inclinable and diſpoſed to all the known will of God ? Pfalm cxix. 6. Do Chriſtians uſe to enquire morewhat is cheap, eaſy, and ſafe for them, or what is their duty ? Gal. i. 16. Speak confcience, for tothee do I appeal ; artthounot confcious of fome referves, limitations,and excсер tions ? Doth notthe man, like Naaman, defire the Lordto excuſeand pardon him in this or that thing ? 2 Kings v. 17. And thinkest thou that this is confiftent with fincere obedience, which excepts no duty, nor quarrelswith any command, becauſethey all flow equallyfrom the fovereignty of God, James ii. 11. and ſo doth what itdoth intuitu voluntatis, upon the fight of God's will. Say confcience, are there notgreat ftrug. glings, difputes, and contests betwixtthee,and fleſhly intereſts inſuchcafes ? And art thou not frequently over-borne ? Oh fearch your hearts in this particular.
Yea,fecondly, I appealtoyou, whethertherebe not manyamongyou that chooſe ſin rather than affliction ? This is always the hypocrite's option and choice: He judges fufferings the greatest evils, and fo orders himſelf inhis election. Itwas merely to avoid perfecution that thoſe hypocrites, Gal. vi. 12. conſtrainedothers to be circumcifed, only to gratifythe Jews; that ſo, by a finful compliancewith them, the offence of the ereſs might ceafe. IfPaulwouldhave done fo, he mighthave
The best Work in the Worst Times. 379 avoided it too, buthe durſt not whatever he ſuffered, Gal. v.
11. Oh this is a ſhrewd ſign of a falſeheart, Job xxxvi. 21. And the contrary diſpoſition is always found in the upright heart, Heb. xi. 25.
Nay, are there not ſome thathave, and others that are ready tothrow up their profeffion, when they fee intowhat difficulties itinvolves them ? Whilst they could live upon theprofef-
of truth, they entertained it; but when truth comes to live upon them, they thrust it out, and cry, away with this profeffion, it will beggar and undo us : They then repent of their forwardneſs, and ſecretly wish they had never engaged init. O examine whether your hearts be not thus turnedback, and your ſteps declined. If ſo, it is manifeſt you are hypcritical profeſſors, andthat it was ſome outward ſelf-refpect at firſt engaged you in yourprofeffion, but can never enable you to hold out when difficult days come. Iſay it is manifeft by this departure from your profeffion, that fome outward felfreſpect at firſt allured you to it. As now, when I behold the artificial motions of the wheels in awatch, and ſeehow regularlythe needle marks thejournal-hours of the fun upon the flat of the quadrant, and fee nothing that moves or guides it ; it would cauſe admiration if I had neverſeen it before, or did not understand the cauſe and motion : butwhen I look upon the other fide, and there find wheels, refforts, and counterpoiſes, and a ſpring that cauſes all thoſe motions, I ceaſe to wonder. Certainly fome luft or other was the ſpring of all thy religious motions ; ſtop or take off that, and motion ceaſes: And if it be ſo, this fcab of hypocriſy will at laſt break out into that botch of apoftacy. Thou canst never hold out long under trials, Matth. xiii. 21. Oh how many fuch ſad fights maywe live to fee as trials come! Difficult times are coming on, 2Tim, iii. 1. And woe to ſuch then as want fincerity at thebottom of their profeffion.
2. And as theſe have no habitual readiness for fufferings, - and, conſequently, muſt be ruined by them, ſo there are others that maybe truly godly, and have the root of the matter in them, who are yet far from an actual readiness, and fo continuing,are like to be a reproach toreligionwhen their trial comes ; for it is not a little grace in the fleepy habit that will ſecure you from falling ſcandalouſly by the hand oftemptation: and although that feed of God which is in you, will re- - cover you again, and prevent total and final apoftacy, yet, Oh, -confiderwhat afad thing it is toenter into, andbe conquered Bbb2
380 Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, by temptation, to be ledaway intriumph bythetempter,and made a reproach to Chriſt. O it is afad confideration tothink howmany there be amongst the people of God,that diſcover little or no actual preparation for fufferings : As, firſt,
1. Upon how manyof the faints is the ſpirit of ſlumber poured out ? Eventhe wife, as wellas foolish, feem now tobe afleep. There is a twofold ſpiritual ſleep: the firſt is total, uponwickedmen : and it is one of God's foreſt and dreadful left ſtrokes upontheir fouls, Ifa.xxix. 10. * The Hebrew word there is the fame with thatwhich is used of Adam,when God caſthim into that deep fleep whilft he tookouthis rib. Andin
2Tim . ii . 26. it fignifies ſucha fleep as thatwhich is occafioned bydrunkenneſs ; out ofſuch afleep doth the Lord awaken all that are faved, and they never fall into it any more. The o ther is partial, Cant. v. 2, and is incident to the people of God, Matth. xxv. 5. This is nothing else but thattorpor or fluggishness of Spiritwhich ſeizethupon the faints, andnever did it prevail, I fear, amongthem more,thannow. For where is their activity for God? Where is he thatftirreth up himself to take hold of God ? Ifa. lxiv. 7. Where is there fuch age neration as that, Pfal. xxiv. 6.? We pray, confer, andhear, for the moſt part, but asmen ſpeak betwixt ſleeping andwaking. Where can you find, except here and there one, that hath a quick and lively ſenſe of God's indignationupon him, or that trembles at hisjudgments ? Isnotthattheverycaſeofthe moft which God deſcribes, Ifa. xlii. ult. ?
2.How many are ſeizedby a private and worldly Spirit, e very man turning tohis own houſe,andeagerly pursuing the world? Hab. i. 9. Jer. xlv, 4, 5. Oh ! how are we intang. led inthe wilderness ? How doth the world eatup ourtime, and eat out our zeal ; cowardize and ſoften our ſpitits, and renderus utterly unfit for theyoke andburden of Chrift ? You that ſee ſo much beauty, and taſte ſo much ſweetneſs in the creature, you will have an hard taſk when called to deny it: You are not yet preparedto drink of the cup, ortake up the croſs of Chrift.
3. How many poor Chriſtians are of a low andtimorous Spirit, readytotrembleatthe ſhakingofa leaf? Ah poor hearts ! howunfit are you for bonds or death ! This paſſion of fear that ſopredominates in you, is the very paſſionwhich Satan aſſaults, and lays fiege to in the hour oftemptation, aswas beforenoted: And commonly it isoccaſioned(where it flows
המריח תור
Ανανηψωσιν.
The best Work in the worst Times. 38г notfrom the natural constitution) from an exceſſive lovetothe world, or from ſome guilt upon the ſpirit. It is true, the Lord can ſo aſſiſt weak faith, and ſo ſubdue ſtrong fears, as that you may be enabled to ſtand the ſhock when it comes : (For, asI noted formerly, our ſtrength lies not in any thing inherent inus, but we are ſtrong or weak, according to the divine preſence and aſſiſtances that we enjoy) butyet if you labour not to mortify this evil, and ſtir not up yourſelves in theuse of all appointed means, to rouze your zeal and courage for God, I know no warrant you have to expect ſuch aſſiſtances.
Lastly, How many poor Chriſtians among us are to this day dark and cloudy intheir evidences for heaven ? Hadtheywalked cloſely with God, been laborious in the diſquifition and ſearchoftheir own hearts, they hadlong finceobtained a clearneſs and fatisfaction about the ftate of their own hearts : But asthecaſe ſtands with them, how unfit are they for bonds or death. Oh ! it is a fad cafe, when inward and outward troublesmeet together, as you mayfee, Gen. xlii. 21, 22. when there ſhall be fightings without, and fears within : When fuch a pang as that, Lam. iii, 17, 18, shall come over thy heart, what wiltthou do ?
By all thathathbeen ſaid, itappears, that the moſt ofprofeffors are in a very unready poſture for fufferings; ſo that as troubles come to anheight, we are like to ſee many fad ſpectacles : Many offences will come ; religion is liketo bewounded in thehouſe of its friends. Oh! what a day of merey have we enjoyed ? What helps and choice advantages, above any precedent age, and yet unready? Howfad and inexcufableisthis?
CHAP. XV.
Containinganother use ofthepoint, by way ofexhortation,perfuading all the people of God, whilst the Lord refpites, and graciously delays their trials, to answer the endof God therein, andprepare themselvesfor greater trials : wherefeveral motives are propounded, to excite to theduty . UP thenfrom yourbeds of floth, awake from your ſecurity, O ye faints, get upon your watch-towers, trembleinyourſelves, thatye mayreſt inthedayof evil, Hab. ii .
1, 3, 16. " Putonthe whole armour of God, that yemaybe
382 Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, " able to ſtand in the evilday, andwhen you havedoneall, " to ftand," Eph. vi. 11. O let it neverbe faid of your dwellings, as it is of the tabernacles of the wicked, Job xxi. 9. " Their houſes are fafe from fear."
of one that was deeply indebt, who yet ſlept heartily, fent for hispillow, ſuppoſing there was fome ſtrange virtuein thatpillow. I wonderwhatpillow you have gotten, O ye drowſyſaints, that you canfleep ſo quietly upon it, now that allthings about you are conſpiring trouble, andthreateningdanger. Canyou fleep like Jonah, when feas of wrath are tumbling and roaring round about you, and threatentoentombyouandallyourenjoyments?Behold," The " ſtork in the heavens knows her appointed time," Jer. vii. 8. andhath not Godmade you wiſer than thefowls oftheair, Jobxxxv. 11. Itmaybe the found offome preſent judgment may a little ſtartleyou, like a ſudden clap ofthunder in the air; buthow foondoth ſloth andſecurity prevail, and overcome you again. They ſay poiſon by being habituated, may bemade innocent : We are ſouſed to, or ratherhardenedunder calamities, that nothing moves or effectually awakens us.
Lord, what will the end oftheſe things be ? Wilt thou furprizethypeople at unawares ? Shall thyjudgments find them fecure, and leave them desperate ? O that God would perfuade you " togather yourſelves together, yea, to gather together," (not inan unlawful and feditious way,but inthewayofduty), " before the decree bring forth,and thedaypaſs as the chaff,"
Zeph. ii. 1, 2. O prepare to meet your God, Amos iv. 12. Prepareyour faith, love, courage, &c. before God call you to the exercise of them. Andto exciteyou to thisduty, beſides allthe fore-mentionel benefits ofa prepared ſpirit, conſider theſe following parti. cularsby way ofmotive.
1. Motive. The manycalls which God hath givenyou to this work. The Lord hath uttered his voice, and calledfrom heaven untoyou ; willyoube deaf to his calls ? He hath called uponyou, (1.) By the word : God wouldhave it cry to you first, becauſe he wouldgive the firſt honourtohis word He hath given all his prophets one mouth, Luke i. 70. and they havewarnedyou faithfully. (2.) Bythe rod : this alſo hath a loud voice, Micah vi. 9. Pfalm ii 5. Menof underſtanding will hear this voice; and thoſethat will not hear it, ſhall be Iaſhedby it eventill they are fickwith ſmiting, verſe 13. (3.) Byprodigious andprotentous figns in the heavens and earth, fuch asnoage canparallel, theſe have a loud voice toallthat
The best Work in the worst Times. 383 regardthe works of the Lord, or the operations of his hands. Eufebius calls them God'sfermons to the world *. Oh that we werewife to conſider what God's ends are in theſe things ! one obſerves, That as they are the plaineſt and most obvious ⚫to ſenſe, ſo they are commonly the last fermons which God
intends to preach to nations, before he inflicts his punishmenton them, ifthey repent not ' O let not God, ſpeaking in ordinary and extraordinary ways to you, ſtill ſpeak in vain.
Your preparation for ſufferings, is themoſt probable means ofpreventingyourfallandruinbythoſeſufferings.
2.Motive. Sufferings prove fatalanddestructivetoſome;but it is to ſecure and careleſs ones : Such as arediligent and faithful in the use of God's means, are ſecured from the danger. * Chriſt lays our conſtancy and perfeverance very n.uch upon our forecasting the worst that may fall out, Luke xiv. 28. " Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to " ſtand," Eph. vi. He that hath firſt ſevered Chrift in his thoughts from all worldly advantages, andputs the cafe thus to * his own soul, O my foul, canſt thou embrace or love a naked
? Canſtthou be content to be impoverished, imprisoned, andſuffer the loſs of allforhim? He is most likely to cleave - faithfully to him, whenthe cafe is reallypreſentedtohim in- ✓deed. And can it seem a lightthing in your eyes, tobeenabled to ſtand in ſuch an evil day? If you fall away from Chriſt, then all you have wrought is loſt, Ezek. xxxiii. 13. Gideon's one bastard destroyed allhis ſeventy fons. This act renders all former actions and profeſſions vain. If you fall, you shall thereby be brought into a more perfect bondage to thedevil thanever, Matth.xii. 23. Yea, ordinarily, apoftates are judicially given up to be perfecutors, Hofeav. 12. 1 Tim. i. 20. and are ſeldom or neverrecoveredagainby grace,Heb. vi. 4, 6. Theythat lick up their vomit, ſeldom caſt it upany more. Itis a fall within a little as low as the unpardonable fin, whence never any riſe again. In some cases thejudge will not allow the offender his book. And is itnot thena choice anddefireable mercy to eſcape and prevent ſuch a fall as this ? O goodfouls, plyyour preparation-work cloſe then ; prepare, or you periſh .
3. Motive. This will beſt anſwer the grace of God, in afford ingyou ſuch choice helps and advantages as youhave enjoyed. How longhaveyou enjoyed thefree liberty ofthegoſpel, ſhin
* Τα το Θεκκηρύγματα. Eufeb. hist. lib. ii. cap. 8,
384 Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, ing in its luftre among you ? This fun, which to ſome other nations hath not riſen, and to divers onwhom it hath ſhined, yet it isbut as a winter's fun, remote, and its beams but feeble; butyou have lived, as it were, under the line, it hath been over yourheads, andſhed its richest influences uponyou. Yea, God's minifters, who are notonlyappointed tobewatchmen, Ezek. iii. 16. but trumpeters to discover danger, Num. x. 8. Theſe have faithfully warnedyou ofadayoftrouble, and given you their beſt aſſiſtance to make you ready for it. And is not their joy, yea, life, bound up in your ſtability in ſuch a day of trial ? Doth notevery one callupon you in the words of the apostle, Phil. iv. 1. " Therefore, my brethren, dearly " beloved, and longed for, myjoy and crown, ſo ſtand faft " in the Lord, mydearlybeloved." Will itnot cutthemto thevery heart, ifafter all their ſpending labours among you, theystill leaveyouunready? enemiesſtill to the croſs of Chrift, impoſſibletobe reconciled andperfuaded to fuffering-work for Chrift.
I remember I have read of the Athenian Codrus, who being informed by the oracle, that the peoplewhoſe king ſhould be flain in battle ſhould be conquerors: he thereupon difrobed himſelf, and in adiſguiſe went into the enemies quarters,that hemight ſteal adeath to make his people victorious.
Oh! howgladwould your miniſters be, ifyou mightcon. querand overcome in the dayoftemptation, whateverbecome of their lives and liberties ! Yea, and if they be offered up up onthefacrifice andfervice ofyourfaith, they can rejoice, and joywithyou all. Such is their zeal andlonging afteryour fe curityand welfare. But if ſtill you remain anunready people, anddobecome a prey to temptation,Ohhow inexcufable will you be !
4. Motive. Remember how ready the Lord Jeſus wasto fufferthe hardest and vilest things for you. He had a bitter cup put into his hands todrink for you, into which thewrath both of God and man was ſqueezed out. Never hadman ſuch ſufferings to undergo as Chriſt *, whether you confider, (1.) The dignity of his perſon, who was inthe form of God, andmight have stood upon hispeerageand equalitywith him; he is thesparkling diamond of heaven, Acts vii. 56. the dar: -lingofthe Father's ſoul, Ifa. xlii. 1. glorious asthe onlybegotten of the Father, John i. 14. yea, glory itſelf, James ii.1. yea, the very brightness ofglory, Heb. i. 3. He is thedeliciae
Dolor Chrifti fuit major omnibus doloribus, Aquia.
The best Work in the worst Times. 387 Chriftiani orbis, fairer than thefons of men : And for him to be ſodebaſed, belowſo manythousands of his own creatures, become a worm, and no man ; this was a wonderful humiliation. Itwas Jeremiah's lamentation, that ſuch as were brought up in fcarlet, embraced dunghills ; that princes were hangedup by the hands, and the faces of elders were not reverenced : Butwhat was that to the humiliation of the Lord of glory ?
Or, (2.) Thathe ſuffered in the prime and flower of his years , when full of life and ſenſe, and more capable of exquifite
ofpainthan others : for he was optime complexionatus t ofa fingular conſtitution; and all the while he hanged on the tree, his ſenſe ofpainnot at all blunted ordecayed, Mark xv. 37, 39. Or, (3.) The manner of his death. Itwas thedeath of the croſs, which was a rack to Chrift : for in reference tothe diſtention of his members upon thecroſs isthat ſpoken,Pial. xxii. 17. " I maytell all my bones." Or, (4.) That all this while God hid his face from him. When Stephen fuffered, he faw the heavens opened. The martyrs were manyof them. raviſhed and tranſportedwith extafies ofjoy in their fufferings; but Chriſt in the dark. Hesuffered in his foul as well as in his body; and the ſufferings of his foul were the very foul of his fufferings. Itwas the Father's wrath that lay fo heavyon him, as to puthim into fuch an agony, that an in- ſtance was never given of the like nature ! for he ſweat θρομβοί, great drops, or clodders ofblood, which fellfromhis body to • the ground, Luke xxii. 44. " Itamazed him, andmadehim veryheavy ;" ſee Mark xiv. 33. yea," forrowful even to " death," Matth. xxvi. 38 .
And yet, as bitter as the cup was, he freely andwillingly drank it up, Johnxviii. 11. prepared himselftobe offeredup a facrifice, Pfal. xl. 6, 7. gave his back to the ſmiters," Ifa. 1.6. yea, longedexceedingly for thetimetillitcame, Luke xii. 50.
Now, if Chriſt ſo chearfully prepared andaddreſſedhimself to ſuch ſufferings as theſe for you, ſhouldyou not prepare yourſelves to encounter any difficulty or hardship for him ? O my brethren, doth not this ſeem a juſt and fair inferenceto you, from the fufferings of Chriſt for you ? 1 Pet. iv. 1 " Foraſmuch then as Chriſt hath fuffered for us in the flesh, " arm yourſelves likewife with theſame mind."
Oh, trifle no longer, feed not yourſelves with fancies and * Aquinas. Cce
VOL. VII.
388 Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, groundless preſumptions ofimmunityandpeace,but forefee difficulties, andfit yourſelves tobear them.
CHAP. XVI.
Containingthe last useofthepoint, byway offupportandcomfort topoor tremblingfouls, who do takepains to make themselves readyforfufferings ; butyetfindingfuchstrength in Satan's temptations, and their own corruptions, fear that all their labouris in vain, andthat theyshallfaint, andutterly apostatize, when their troubles and trials come toan height. INthe laſt place, if itbe ſuch ableſſedthing tobe ready for bonds, or death for Chrift, this mayminiſter much comforttofuchfouls,who thoughtheycannot ſay as Paulheredid, that they are ready ; yet are at work daily upon their own hearts to make them ready, and ſtrive, in the use of all means, toconquerthoſe corruptions that hinder it, and improve thoſe graces inwhich it mainly conſiſteth. O poor foul, whatever preſentunreadiness or indiſpoſitionthou findeſt,and complaineſt ofinthine heart, yet thy condition is ſafe.
Objection. Oh ! but Icannot be ſatisfied in that: I fear I ſhall be over-borne by temptations, when they come to an height. I have ſuch experience of the deceits andtreacheroufneſs ofmyown heart, that it feems impoſſible tome todo as theſe bleſſed ſouls did,when Icome to the like trials.
Solution. It is well thou ſuſpectest thine own heart, and trembleſt inthyself; this fear will keepthee waking, when others are ſecurely fleeping. It was a good ſaying ofa reverend miniſter, now with God, He that fears Mr.A. H. * toflinch, ſhall never flinch for fear.' It is true, ſeeminggracemay be totally loft, Luke vii 18 . Heb. vi. 4, 5. 2Pet. ii. 20. It is granted alſo, that the fins ofbelievers deſerve that God ſhouldforſake them, and that he mayfuffer grace in them to be ſadly abated, and they may fall before a temptation, as Peter, and all the diſciples did: but that thou shalt never be ſeparated from Chriſt, or fall totus a toto, in totum, utterly away from God, thou mayeſt be abundantly fatisfied, upon theſe five or fix grounds.
1. FromGod's eternal electing love, wherewithal gracious fouls are beloved and embraced,be their graces never ſo weak, ortheir corruptions never ſo ſtrong. This is immutable, Heb. vi. 18. andhenceit is ſaid, Markxiii.22. "They ſhalldeceive
The best Work in the worst Times. 389 (ifitwerepoſſible) the very elect." Now, this immutable purpoſe of God, is not founded upon anymutable ground or reaſon in thee, Rom. ix. 11. Yea, when he, Rom. viii. 29. elected thee, he faw what thou wouldst be, and yet that hindered him not.
2. From the covenant ofgrace,intheboſomofwhich thou art wrappedup: this is all thy falvation, and allthyhope ; it will afford thee abundant fatisfaction, ifthou do but weigh particularly theſe threethings about it. 1. That the Author of this covenant is not afickle creature, but afaithful God, with whom there is notyea and nay ; with whom there is no variableness, norshadow ofturning ; whoſe gifts and callings arewithout repentance : ſothatonce within this bleſſed covenant, and in it for ever. 2, ThatGod hath eſtabliſhed the covenantwithyou intheblood of Christ ; therefore thefacramental cup, is called " the cup of the New Testament in his blood," - Luke xxii. 20. The everlasting merit and efficacy whereof, gives the foul ofabelieverthe highest fatisfaction imaginable. Lastly,Addtothis, that in this covenant God hath undertaken for us, as well as for himself: ſo that what is acondition in one
is the matter ofapromise in another, Jer. xxxii. 40. い
3. From that ſtrict andintimate unionthat is betwixt Chrift andthee. And hence it is impoſſible thou ſhouldeſt be loft.
For, 1. Thy unionwith hisperſon, brings intereſt in his properties alongwith it. Whatever he is, or hath, it is for thee : his eye ofknowledge, arm ofpower, bowels ofpity, it is all forthee.
2. This unionwith his perſon, ſecures thy feeble graces from periſhing, John iv. 14, Thy graces have an everlasting ſpring. Whilst there is ſap in this root, it will afcend into the branches..
3. It implies thy perfeverance, becauſe by this union thou becomeſt an integral part of Chriſt's body, which would be mutilate and defective, ſhouldſt thou be cut offand lost.
4. From the prevalent interceffion of Jeſus Chriſt in the heavens, for all his faints, in all their trials here on earth. Fromhence the apoftle infers thecertainty of our perfeverance, Rom. viii. 34. andapregnant inſtance ofityouhave in Peter's cafe, Luke xxii. 32. So Heb. vii. 25. ſpeaks fully to the cafe. To ſtrengthen this, confider, r. Who it is that intercedes : It is Chrift, whoſe perſon is moſtdear and ingratiated with the Father, John xi . 42. 2. What he intercedes for : Surely for nothing but what is moſt ſuitable to his Father's will. The
390 Preparationsfor Sufferings: Or, willof Chriſt, andhis Father's do not claſh,John xvi. 26, 27 yea, whatheprays for,he prays not forgratis, or aſks upon any dishonourable terms tothe juſtice of his Father; but they are all mercies purchased and paid for; and therefore fear not the failing of your graces.
5. Fromthe Spirit of Chriſtwhichdwelleth and abideth in thee,andhathbegunhisſavingworkuponthee.. Iſay,savings for elſe itwouldafford no argument. His commonworks on hypocrites cometonothing,but intheethey cannot fail. For
1. His honour is pledged and engaged to perfect it. That reproach of the foolish builder ſhall never lieupon him,that he began tobuild,butcouldnot finiſh. Besides, this wouldmake voidall that the Father and the Sonhavedone for thee; both theirworks are complete and perfect intheir kinds, and the Spirit is the last efficient inorder ofworking. 2. Besides, the grace hehath alreadywrought inthee, maygivetheeyet further and fuller afſurance of its preſervation, inasmuch as it hath the nature ofafeal, pledge, and earnest ofthewhole,Rom. viii.
23. 2 Cor. i. 22. Sothat it cannot fail. 6. From thoſemultitudes of affertory, promiſſory, and com parative fcriptures, the rich veins whereof run through the book of God, as ſo many ſtreams to refresh thy foul. Ofaffertory ſcriptures, ſee John vi. 39. John 10. 28. 1John ii. 19. Of promiffory ſcriptures, ſee Ita. liv. 10. Jer. xxxiv. 40. 1 Cor. i. 8. &c. Of comparative ſcriptures, ſee Pfal. i 3. Pfal. cxxv. 1. John iv. 14. c. The principalſcope of all which is to thew the indefectible nature of true grace in the faints.
And now, howshouldthis refresh thy drooping foul, make theegird up the loins ofthy mind, fincethou doft "notrun " asone uncertain, neither fighteſtas one that beats the air,"
1 Cor. ix. 26. butart ſo ſecured from total apoſtacy, as thou ſeeſt thou artbyallthesethings. O bleſs ye the Lord.
Obj, 2. Butthe Lord ſeems tobe departedfrom my foul; Godis afarofffrom me, and troubles arenear. I ſeem tobe inſuchacaſeas Saulwaswhen the Philistines made war upon him, and Godwas departed from him; and thereforeI fhall fall.
Sol. Not fo; for there are two forts of Divine deſertions ; the one is abfolute, when the Lord utterly forſakes his creatures, ſo that they ſhall never beholdhis face more : The other is limited and respective, and ſohe forſook his own Son, and often does his own elect : and of this kind, ſome are onAy cautional, to prevent fin;ſomeare merely probational, to
The best Work in the worst Times. 391 try grace; and others caftigatory, to chaſtiſe our negligence - and careleſſneſs. Now, though I have not a word of comfort