Wherein the necessity and usefulness of Christian fortitude
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, furious assaultsoftemptation, and instead ofacloudofwitnesfes,been so many pillars offalt, and monuments of reproach and shame to religion, if their faith had failed in its trial.
CHAP.
IX.
Wherein the necessity and usefulness of Christian fortitude in or der tofufferings is evinced, with a brief account of its na ture and the means of attaining it.
Th HE next grace which concurs tothecompleteing of our actual readiness for sufferings, is Christian fortitude, of holy courage , which must say in thy heart, in a time of dan ger, as Elijah once did, "As the Lord lives, I will shew my
" self." This also is a choice part of your preparation-work In this grace our apostle was eminent: when he was told,
" Bonds and afflictions waited for him;" he could fay, That " none of these things moved him," Acts xx. 24.
Yea,when he was to appear before the lion Nero, and not a man would own or stand by him, yet he stands his ground, resolving rather to die on the place, than dishonourablyto recede from hisprin ciples and profession, 2Tim. iv. 16, 17. He set the world, with all its threats and terrors, lower than it set him. Ohow conspicuous was this grace in all those berges that havepaft on before us ! And if ever you hope to stand in the evil day, and be fetched off the field with honour,you must rouze up and awaken your courage for God: And the necessity thereof will appear upon these four considerations.
1.Because the success and prevalence of Satan's temptations in the hour ofpersecutiondependsuponthe fainting and over. throw of this grace.
Wherefore dothheraife perfecutions in the world, but because such terrible things are fitted to work upon the passion of carnal fear, which rises with those dangers, and makes the soul as a tumultuous sea.
This is it heaims at, Neh. vị. 13.
This is a multiplying passion, that represents dangers more and greater than they are, and so drives the soul into the very netandsnare laid by the devil to take it.
Prov. xxix. 25. " The fear ofmanbrings a snare;" which was sadly exemplified in Abraham, Gen. xii. 12. and divers others of the saints.
If he can but subdue this grace, he will quickly bring you to capitulate for life and liberty,upon the basfeft and most dishonourable terms; therefore the preparation of this grace is so exceedingly necessary.
The best Work in the Worst Times.
2. Because this is the grace thathonours Jesus Christ abun-
-dantly, when you are brought upon the stage for him.
There is a great solemnity at the suffering and trial of a faint : heaven, earth, and hell, are spectators, observing the - issue, and how the saints will acquit themselves in that hour,
We are made a spectacle, faith the apostle.
The word is Θιατρον εγενήθημεν, we are set as upon a theatre in public view, 1 Cor. iv. 9. God, angels, and faints, wait to seetheglorious triumphs of their faith and courage, reflecting honour upon the name and cause of Christ.
Devils and wickedmen gape for an advantage by their cowardise.
Certainly very much lies now upon the Christian's hands. Should he faint and give ground, how will it furnish the triumphs of hell, and make
- Christ's enemies vaunt over him, as if his love ran so low in the hearts of his people, that they durst not adventure any thing for him ? Or, as if, notwithstanding their brave words and glorious profession, they durst not trust their own princi. pleswhenitcomes to the trial? But ifnowtheyplay the men,
E and discover an holy gallantryofspiritand resolution for Christ, how will itdauntthe enemies, and make them say as Marcus bishop ofAretheusa made one of Julian's nobles, present at his torments, tosayconcerning him, We are ashamed,Oemperor, the Christians laugh at your cruelty ! And how will
God himself rejoice and glory over them, as he once did over Job when he fetched him with honour off that first field! Job ii. 3. " Still he holdeth fast his integrity."
3. Your own peace is wrapt up in it, as well as God's glory.
Is it nothing, think you, to be freed from those vultures and harpies, that feed upon the hearts of men at such times ? Surely God reckons, that he promiseth a very great mercy to his people, when he promiseth it, Prov. i. ult. Psal. cxii. 7. WhenBorromaeus was told of some that lay in wait to take away his life, it troubled him not, but he said, An Deus eft inmundo pro nihilo ? What, is God in the world for nought ? And like to this was the answer ofSilentiarius in the like case; Si Deus mei curam non habet, quid vivo ? If God take not care for me, how do I live ? Oh this is it that brings youtoanholyquietude of spirit intimesofconfufion anddif traction, which is achoicemercy.
4. Yourmagnanimity is of special use to other saints, who are following you in the fame path offufferings.
If you faint, it is likethefainting of a standard-bearer in an army: you bring thereby an evil report upon the cross of Christ, asthefirstspies did upon the land ofCanaan. And alike influence with that
Preparation for Sufferings : Or, it is like to have on your brethren; so that there is aneceffity of improving this grace also before you can fay with Paul you are ready.
2. But what is this Christian fortitude, andwhereindoth it consist.
I answer briefly, It is an holy boldness in the performance of difficult duties,flowingfromfaith in the callofGod, and his promise to us in the discharge of them.
Andfo you have the nature of it in these four particulars.
1. It is an holy boldness, not a natural or sinful boldness, arising either from the natural constitution, or evil disposition of the mind.
2. It is expressed about duties for truth, not error, Jer. ix.
3. for the interest of Christ, not of the flesh.
3. The season in which it appears is, when duties are surrounded and be set with difficulties and dangers, Dan. iii. 16.
Dan. vi. 10.
4. The fountain whence it flows is faith, and that as it respects the command and call of God to duty, Acts xvi. 10.
And his promise to us in the discharge thereof, Joth. i. 5,6.
And this grace stands opposed, both to the fear of man in the cause of God, Heb. xi. 27. andtoapostacyfromthe truth for fear of suffering.
Thus briefly of the nature of it.
3. In the last place, I shall lay down some rules forthepromotingand improvement of it, and fo finish this chapter.
Now there are ten rules heedfully to be observed for the breeding of holy courage in the breast ofa faint in evil times.
1. Rule. And the first rule is this, Get a weaned heart from all earthly enjoyments. If the heart be inordinately fixed upon anyone thing that you possess in the world, that inordinate estimation of, and affection for it, will strangely effeminate, soften, and cowardize your spirit when your trial comes, 2Tim. ii.4. You meet not withamanofcourage for God,but had his heart dead toearthlythings ; so it was with Paul, Phil. iii. 8.
Since the apostles, we scarce meet with a greater example of holymagnanimitythan Luther; and if you read his story, you will find few men ever set a lower rate on the world than he.
All the Turkith empire in his eye was but a crumb cast to the dogs.
German a est haec best i a pecuniam non curat.
Money could not tempt him.
2. Rule. Suffer not guilt to lie upon yourconfciences : it is afountainoffears, and you can never attain boldness for God, till it be removed,Rom. v.1, 2, 3. The spirit of afoundmind
The best Work in the worst Times.
35x - is opposed to the spirit of fear, 2 Tim. i. 7. Now that found mind is a mind or spirit that is not wounded, and made sick and infirm by guilt. Owhat black fogs and mists arise out of guilt, which becloud our evidences, and fill us with fears anddiscouragements ! Gen. xlii. 21, 22.
3. Rule. Clear your call to difficult services,be well satisfied that you are in that way and posture God expects to find you in.
Owhatcouragethis will give ! Joth. i.9. Then am an may promise himself God's presence and protection, 2 Chron. xv. 2.
But whilst a man is dubious here, andcannottell whether it be his duty or not, that he is engaging in, how can he have
* eourage to hazard any thing for it? For,thinks he, I may suffer much from men, and yet have no thanks of God for it, I Pet. ii. 9. And further, till a man be clear in this, he cannot commit his causetoGod. And it is asadthingto be cut off from
5 so choice a relief as that is, 1 Pet. iv. 19.
4. Rule. Getrightnotions and apprehenfions of your enemies .
We are apt to magnify the creature, as if he could do more than he can, and thereby disable ourselves from doing what we should.
Possess your souls with the beliefofthesefive things concerning them.
(1.) That they are poor weak enemies, Ifa. xl . 15, 17, 22. But as a swarm ofgnats in the air.
See how God describes them, Ifa. li. 13, 14.
(2.) That little power they have is limited by your God, who hath the bounding and ordering of it, Johnxix. 11. Psal. lxxvi . 10. (3.) They carry guilt upon them, which makes them more timorous than you, Ifa. viii. 12. Their fear is a strange fear.
(4.) They only use carnal weapons against you, which cannot touch yourfouls.
If they were praying enemies that could engage God against you, theywouldbe formidable
* enemies indeed; but this they cannot do. The largest commission that anyofthemever had from God, extended but to the
-bodies and bodily concernments of the saints, Luke xii. 4, 5.
They cannot thunder with an arm like God, nor blot your name out of the book of life, nor take away your part out of the New Jerusalem ; therefore fear not man. (5.) Your enemies are God's enemies ; and God hath espoused your cause and quarrel.
The more cruel they are, the kinder he will be to you, John ix. 34, 35 .
5. Rule Labour to engage the presence of God with you in all places and conditions.
Whilftyou enjoy this, your spirits will be invincible and undaunted, Josh. i. 9. Psal. cxviii.
6.A weak creature assisted and encouraged by the presence of a great God will be able to do and suffer great things.
Poor
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, flesh in the hand of an almighty Spirit acts above itself. Alit tledog, if his master be by,and animates him, willfeize upon a greater beast than himself, though he would run from him were his master absent.
Our courage ebbs and flows as the manifestations of the divine presence do. Oh get thyself once within the line of that promise, Ifa. xliii. 1, 2. and thou art invincible.
6. Rule. Get an high estimation of Jesus Christ, and all his concernments.
They that value him highest, will adventure for him farthest. Magnanimous Luther, how inestimable a value did he set upon the truths of Christ! Ruat coelum, &c.
Let heaven rush rather than a crumb of truth should perish.
Thou wilt never be am an ofzeal and courage for Christ's in tereft, until that interest of Christ have swallowed up all thine own interests.
No sooner is the soul acquainted with, and in terested in Christ, but he heartily wishes well to all his affairs andconcernments, Psal. xlv. 3, 4. This is that which puts metal and resolution for Christ into the soul.
7. Rule. Beware you be notcheatedwithmaxims of carnal policy, mistaken for Christian prudence. Many are so: and they prove destructive to all true zeal and courage for Christ.
Never was religion professed with greater plainness and fimph city, than by the primitive Christians: and never was there an higher spring-tide of courage and zeal for God, than in those days.
We are apt to call it prodigality, and are grown wiser to husband our lives and comforts, better than they did.
But indeed our prudentials have even swallowed up our religi on.
It is true, there is such a thing as Christian prudence; but this doth not teach men to shunall costly anddifficultdu ties, and prosttitute confcienceto save the skin. "Am an of " understandingwalketh uprightly," Prov. xv. 21 .
: 8. Rule. Look upon the inside of troubles for Christ, as well as upon the outside of them.
If you view them by an eye of sense, there appeareth nothing but matter ofdifcouragement.
To look on the outside ofa prison, banishment, or death, is affrighting and horrible: but then, ifye look into the inside of these things by faith, and see what God hath made them to his people, andhowjoyfulandcomfortable they have been in these conditions ; what honey they have found in the carcass ofa lion, what songs in the stocksanddungeons, what glory. ing intribulation, an hundred-fold reward even in their fuf ferings : Othen ! that which looked like a serpent at a distance, will appear but as a rod in hand. Howmanyhave found themselves quite mistaken in their apprehenfions offufferings;
The best Work in the worst Times.
- and been more loth to come out of a prison, than they were to go in! Ifyoudid but see your supports, and the comforts that - fouls ordinarily meet with in their troubles for Christ, you would not look on them as such formidable things.
9. Rule. View the issue and reward of sufferings by an eye of faith: this also will strongly abate the horror and dread of them, Heb. x. 34. Upon this account it is the saints have so flighted and contemnedthem, Rom. viii. 18. 2 Cor.iv. 16,
17. But then see that you act your faith, (1.) Upon the cer- ✓taintyof it: look at it as a most real and substantial thing,
Heb.xi. 1. (2.) View it as a great and glorious reward : And, (3.) As near at hand: Andthensayto thy foul,come on my foul, come on, seest thouthejoy set before thee ! the crown ofgloryreadytobesetonthyheadby the hand of a righteous
God. Oh, what compare is there betwixt those sufferings, and that glory !
10. Rule. Propoundtoyourselves the best patterns and examples.
Keep your eye upon the cloud of witnesses ; these are of special use tobegetholy courage, Heb. xii. 1. James v.
10. Who would be afraid to enter the lifts, and grapple with that enemythathehathseenso often foiled,and that by a poor weak Christian ? See how the enemy, with whom you are to grapple, hath been beaten hand to hand, and triumphed over by poor women and children; they had as great infirmities, and you have as gracious assistances as those that are gone before you.
CHAP.
Discovering the necessity of an heart mortified to all earthly and temporal enjoyments, in order to the right managing of a fufferingcondition : withfeveral directions for the attaining
thereof.
THE HE nextthing wherein your actual readiness for bonds, or death confifteth, is in the mortification of your affections to all earthly interests and enjoyments ; even the best and sweetest of them : Till this be done, in some measure, you are not fit to be used in any such service for the Lord, 2
Tim. i. 21. The living world is the very life of temptations: the travailing pains of death are stronger and sharper upon none, than those that are full of sense and self. As you fee
VOL . VII.
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, in nature, what conflicts and agonies strong and lively persons fufferwhenthey die; when others, in whom nature is decayed and spent before-hand, die away without half that pain, even as a bird in a snell.
Corruption in the saints, is like the sap in green wood, which resisteth the fire, and will not burn well, till it be dried up.
Prepared Paul had an heart mortified in a very high degree, to all the honour and riches of the world, accounting them all but trifles, Gal. vi. 14
1 Cor. iv. 3, 4.
The needofthiswill beevincedby these five considerations.
1. Unless the heart be mortified to all earthly enjoyments, they will appear great and glorious things in your eye and efti mation; and if fo, judge what a task you will have, to deny and leave them all in a suffering hour.
It is corruption with in, that puts the lustre and glory upon things without: it is the carnal eye only that gazes admiringly after them, 2 Cor. v. 16. and hence the lust is putto express the affection, 1 John ii. 16. because all that inordinate affection we have to them, arises from our high estimation of them, and that estimation from our lusts, that represent them as great and glorious.
Therefore, certainly, it will be difficult (if not impossible) to deny them, tilltheyhave loft their glory in your eye; and that they will never do, till those lusts within you, that put that beauty and necessityuponthem, be first crucified. As for in france, what a glory and necessity doth the pride of men put upon the honour and credit of the world, so that they willra ther choose to die, than survive it ? But to a mortified soul it is afmall matter, 1 Cor. iv. 3. So for riches,how much are they adored, till our lusts be mortified ?andthenthey areefteemed butdung anddrofs, Phil. iii. 8. It is our corruptions that paint andgildoverthesethings : when these are crucified,those will be lightly esteemed.
2. Mortification of corruptions is that which recovers an healthful state of foul: fin is to the soul, what a disease is to the body; and mortification is to fin, what physic is to adifcafe. Hence those that are but a little mortified, are in a comparative sense called carnal, 1 Cor. iii. 3. and babes, ver. 2. in refpectof weakness. Now, suffering work being some of the Christian's hardest labour and exercise,he cannot be fitted for it,until his foul be in an healthful state : a fickly man cannot carry heavy burdens, or endure hard laboursand exercises; the sick soldier is left behind in his quarters, or put into the hospital, whilst his fellows are dividing the spoils,and obtain ing glorious victories in the field. To this sense someexpound
The best Work in the worst Times.
46Rom. viii. 13.3. " Ifye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye, through the Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body, ye
" shall live." Whereas death is put to note a languishing state of foul, whilst mertification is neglected ; so life is put to express anhealthful and comfortable state ; viverepro valere ; fo that upon this account also the neceffityof it appears.
3. Your corruptions must be mortified, else they will be raging and violent in the time of temptation, and, like a torrent, sweep away all your convictions and resolutions.
It is finunmortifiedwithin, that makes thehearthke gun-powder ; so that whenthesparksoftemptationflyabout it, (and they fall thick in a suffering hour) they do but touch and take. Hence the corruptions of the world are said to be through lust, 2 Pet. i. 4.
With these internal unmortified lusts,the tempter holds corre spondence ; and these be the traitors that deliver up our fouls
- into his hands.
4. Unless youbediligentandsuccessfulin this work, though you should suffer, yet not like Christians ; you will but disgrace religion, and the cause for which you suffer ; for it is not simple suffering, but suffering as a Christian, that reflects credit on religion, and finds acceptationwithGod.
If you be envious, fretful, discontented, and revengeful, under your sufferings,what honourwill this bring to Christ ? Is not this altogether unlike the example of your Lord ? Ifa. liii. 7. and the behaviour of suffering faints ? 1Cor. iv. 13.
Yet thus it will be, if your pride, passion, and revenge, be not first subdued: for what are the breakings forth of such diftempers of spirit, but as the flushes of heat in the face from an ill-affected liver ? Most certain it is,that all theseevils are in your natures, and as certain it is, they will rise like mude and filth from the bottom of a lake,when some eminent trials shall rake you to the bottom ; Natura vexata proditfeipfam.
5. Lastly, Mortification must be studied and pliedwith diligence ; else you will find many longings andhankerings after earthly enjoyments and comforts, which will prove a snare to you: what is fin,but the corrupt and vitiatedappetiteofthecreature, to things that are earthly and sensual, relishingmore sweetness and delight in them, than in the blessed God ? And what is fanctification, but the rectifying of these inordinate affections, and placing the mon their proper object ? A regenerate and mortified Christian tastes not half that sweetness in forbidden fruits that another doth: set but money before Judas, and fee kow eagerly he catches at it - " What will ye give me,
Yy2
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, " and Iwillbetrayhim ?" Set but life, liberty, or any such bait before an unmortified heart, and how impotent is he to withstand them, as offered in a temptation ? Oh those unmortified lusts ! how do they make men hanker, long, and their lips water (as we use to say) after these things ? This makes them break prison,decline sufferings, though upon the basest terms : whereas a mortified Christian can see all these things set before him, yea, offered to him, and refuse them, Heb. x.
35. It is withthemmuch as it was with old Brazillai, 2Sam. xix. 35.
When nature is decayed,they find but little pleasure in natural actions, Ecclef. xii. 1. And look as the body of fin decays and languishes, so do these longings also : Itweansthe foul from them all, and enables it to live very comfortably without them, Psal. cxxxi. 1. Phil. iv. 12.
There needs no more to be faidto evincethe necessity ofniortification, and dis cover what influence it hath into a Christian's readiness for sufferings.
It remains therefore, that I open to you some of the prin cipal corruptions, about which it mostly concerns you to be stowpains ere sufferings come. Now look as there are four principal enjoyments, in which you are like to be tried, viz.
Estate, name, liberty, life; so the Christian work in suffering times lies in mortifying these four special corruptions, viz.
First,The love of the world. Secandly, Ambition. Thirdly, Inordinateaffectation of freedom and pleasure.
Fourthly, Excel five love of life.
1. For the love of this world, away with it, crucify it, crucify it : down with this idol, and let it be dethroned in all that intend to abide with Christ in the hour of temptation : how else will you take the spoiling of your goods ? How will you be able to part with all for Christ, as these blessed souls did ?
It grieves my heart to see how many professors of religion are carried captive at the chariot-wheels ofa bewitching world.
Oh! good had it been for many professors, if they had never tasted so much of the sweetness of it.
Sirs, I beg you, for the Lord's sake, down with it in your estimations, down with it in your affections, else temptations will down with you ere long.
I shall offer five or fix helps for the crucifying of it.
First, Confider yourespousals to Christ, and how you have chosenandprofessedhim for your Lord and husband: there fore your doating upon the world is no less than adultery against Christ, James iv. 4. If Christ be your husband,he must be a covering to your eyes; anunchasteglanceupontheworld wounds him.
The best Work in the worst Times .
Secondly, The more you prize it, the more you will be tormented by it; did you prize and love it less, it would disquiet and vex you less : it is ourdoating on it, that makes it draw bloodatparting.
Thirdly, Get true scripture-notions of the world, and rectifyyourjudgments and affections by them. If you will have the true picture and representation of it drawn by the hand of God himself, see 1 John ii. 16. it is nothing else but lust that puts that lustre upon it: It hath but a phantastic glory, and : that also passeth away. What is become of them that ruffled it out in the world but one hundred years ago ? What could the world do for them ? Are they not all gone down to the fides of the pit ? "But he that doth the will of God abideth
" for ever,"
Fourthly, Study and contemplate Christ, and the things above more : this would veilt all its glory, and kill it at the root, Phil. iii. 18, 19.
Just as a man that hath been gazing upon the fun, when he takes off his eye from that bright and glorious creature, and looks to the earth, there is a veil of darkness overspreadingthe face of it, that he can fee nothing.
I wonder how such as pretend to live above, and enjoy communion with God, can ever relish such sweetness in the world, or have their hearts enticed and captivated by it.
Fifthly, Remember always, that by your love and delight in worldly things, you furnish the devil with the chiefeft bait he hath to catch and destroy yourfouls. Alas ! were your hearts but dead to these things, he would want an handle to catch hold on. What hath he more to offer you, and tempt you off from Christ with, but a little money, or some such poor temporal rewards ? and how littlewouldthat foulbemovedbysuch a temptation,that looks on it all but as dirt ?
Sixthly, Lastly, Take notice of the approaches of eternity : remember you are almost at the end of time: and when you come to launch out into that endless ocean, how will these things look then ? It seems glorious, whilst you are in the chaceand pursuit of it; but upon a death-bed, you will overtake and come up with it, and then you will fee what a deceitful and vainthing it is: stand by the beds of dying men, and hearhowthey speak of it. Oh ! the difference betwixt our apprehenfions then, and now! Thus labour to wean off your affections, and crucify them to the world.
2. Mortify your ambition and vain affectation of the repute and credit of the world: Oh stand not on so vain a
Preparations for Sufferings: Or, thing as this: judge it but a smallthingtobejudged of man, to have your names cast out as evil: letnotscoffs and reproaches be such terrible things to you.
It is, without doubt, a great trial ; else the holy Ghost had not added a peculiar epithet to it,which is not given to any other of the sufferings of the saints: not cruel tortures, nor cruel stonings,burnings, flaying with the sword; but cruel mockings,Heb. xi. 36. Yet learn to be dead to, and unaffected with these things; set the reproaching world as light, and as low as it sets you: Despise thesbame, as your master Christ did, Heb. xii. 2. And to promote mortification in this, take these helps.
1. Confider this is no new or strange thing that hath happened to you : the holiest of men have past through the like, if not worse trials, Heb. x. 33. Psal. xliv. 14. Reproaches have been the lot of the best men.
They called Athanafius, Sathanafius ; Cyprianus,Coprianus, a gathererofdung; blessed Paul, apeftilentfellow ; Dr. Story threw a faggot at sweet
Mr. Den lie's face, as he was singing apsalm in the midst of the flames, saying, I have spoiled a good oldfong.
2. It maybe religion hath been reproached and scoffed at for your fakes; and if so, think it not much to be reproached for religion's fake.
3. It is much better to be reproachedby men for discharging duty, than by your own consciences for the neglect of it ; if all bequietwithin, never be moved at the noise and clamourwith out : If you have a good roof over your head, be not troubled though the winds and storms bluster abroad, 1 Pet. iv. 14.
Take heedwhatyou do, and be heedless what the world says.
4. Always remember, that you neither stand nor fall at the world's judgment, and therefore have the less reason to be troubled at it, 1Cor. iv. 3. If your condition were to be cast to eternity by it, it were somewhat.
5. There is a worthandexcellencyinthereproaches of Christ, as bad as they seem ; and such an excellency, as is not to be matched by anyearthlyenjoyment, Hebxi. 26. The reproaches of Christ are of more worth than the treasures of Egypt, thơ'
Egypt then was the magazine of the world for treasures. The apostles counted them their honours, Acts v. 41. When LudovicusMarsacus, a knight of France, fawthose that were to suffer with him in the chains, andthattheyput none upon him, because of the nobility of his birth, he said to the executioner,
Gur me non quoque torquidonas, et illuftris ill i us ordinis militem non creas ?
Why doye not honourme with a chain too, and ' create me a knight of that noble order ?"
The best Work in the worst Times.
6. Lastly, Should scoffs and reproaches scare you from - Christ and duty; then, though you should escape the reproaches of men, yet shall you fall under the everlasting con tempt of God, angels, and goodmen.
Therefore, " Fear ye " not the reproaches of men that shall die, nor be afraid of their
" revilings, for the moth shall eat them up like a garment, " and the worm shall eat them like wool, but my righte- " ousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation
" to generation," Ifa. li. 7, 8 .
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 ; but when thou shalt be 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 if well improved; the birds of the air (as one faith)had rather be in the woods at liberty, though lean and hungry, than in a golden cage with the richest fare. But yet, if God will call you to deny this also for Christ, see that you be ready to be bound as Paul was, and receive the chainandbondsofChristwiththankffgiving : To which end, 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, and the presence of God be engaged with you. What a sweet night hadJacob at Bethel! Paul and Silas in the stocks ! See that precious letter ofPomponiusAlgerius.
* Tranftulit in cælum Christi prafentia clauftrum ; Quidfaciet cælo ? quæ cælumjam creat antro.
It is your own unbelief and impatiency, that gives you more
trouble than the condition.
2. No keeper can keep the comforter from you, if you be the Lord's prisoners, Acts xvi. If they could bar out the Spirit from you, it would be a dismal place indeed : But ordinarily,
there the saints have their clearest visions of God, and sweetest presence of the Spirit. You are the Lord's freemen, whilst men's prisoners : All the world cannotdivestyou of the state of liberty Christ hath purchased for you, John viii. 36.
* If the presence of Christ once changed a prison into a kind of heaven,what will it do in heaven itself, which even here doth make a dungeon like heaven ?
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, 3. Though a prison looks fad and dismal,yet it is not hell:
Ohbless God for that, that is a fadprison indeed ! Beloved, men have 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 there you deserved to have been sent long ago : If God exchange an hell for a prison,have you any cause to complain ?
4.How obdurate and cruel soevermen are to you, yet the Lord Jesus is kind and tender-hearted to his 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 prisoners," Psal. cii. 20. He will tenderly sympathize with you inallyourprisonftraitsand troubles.
5. A prison hath beenhandselledand perfumed by the best and holiest of men in all ages, I Kíngs xxii. 27. Jer. xxxii. 2.
Matth. iv. 12. Acts v. 18. andxxvi. 10. God hath made it a fettledfchool of discipline to them.
6. Should you, to avoid a prison, commit a fin, instead of beingman's prisoner, you shall be clapt up by God, for he hath a prison for your souls even in this world, Psal. cxlii. 7. And this is tenthousandtimes more dreadful, than any dungeon in the world. Oh it is a dark prison ! nothing to let intheleaft beam of God's countenance upon your poorfouls. What a fad exchange have you made then ?
7.Considerwhata ground of comfort God hath laid in that word, Rev. ii. 10. to obviate the fears and terrors incident to us in such a condition : God hath limited Satan and his instruments, both for time, number, and all circumstances of the trial.
8. Lastly, You do not know what a mercy may be in it:
It may be a time of retirement from the world, and the clamours and distractions that are abroad.
These days ofimpri fonment may be your holy-days ; as a prisoner of Christ once called them .
4. Get an heart mortified to the excessive and inordinate love of life: This, I confess, is the highest and hardest point of self-denial, because it wraps up allotherfelf-interests in it.
But yet consider, First,Though life be very dear, yet Jesus Christ istenthou fandtimes dearer than thy life: Ifthoubea faint, he is the life of thy life, and the length ofthydays; and in comparison of him, and his glory, faints should,andhavedespisedand flightedtheir lives, Luke xiv. 26. Rev. xii. 11 .
The best Work in the worst Times.
Secondly, Die you must : and if by shrinking from Christ, you should protract amiferable life for a few days longer, in the meantime losing that which is better than life, Psal. 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, If you have cordially covenanted with Christ, (as all sincere believers have done), then you have yielded up your lives to him, to be disposed of for his glory, Rom. xiv. 7. So that, look as Christ both livedanddied for you ; so ought you to live as Christ : And all the excellency you fee in life, consists in that reference and subserviency it hath to his glory.
I fay then, if you have 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 sake.
It was 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 love to the Lord Jesus, as angels are not capable of making.
Fifthly, Why should you decline even a violent death for Christ, when as the bitterness of death 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 desire, did he desire it for your fakes.
7. Lastly, Think what a life you shall have with Christ, as soon 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.