Book II. of Jesus Christ. 117

Pain, and Difcontent, and fad Oppreffions ofSpiric* for the Solicitude^ and conftant Labour to avoid Ca- lamities will be fure to produce perpetual Difquiec.
Suffering and Dying are not only neceffary Incum- brances upon us, but the beft and moft Authentick In- fiances of our Virtue and Obedience. It is the Bufi- nefs and Perfection of a Chriftian to do thus daily ; and they^ who in good earneft apply themfelves to it, will quickly find their Affedions raifed, their Strength increafed, their Comfort and inward Peace wonder- fully advanced. St. Paul was Vv^rapt up into the third Heaven, yet did not he ^ ^^^*- ^-* boafl fo much of this^as of his Afflidions. And where- in the uncommon Privileges of thisefpecial Favourite confifted^ we learn from the Mouth ofChrii^ himielf when he f^ys J wiiijljew him hovygre^t things hemufifujferformyNamesfake, Suppofe ^'^-^ ix. then, you could be admitted to his Exiafies and Reve- lations, yet even thefe, ^tis plain from his Example, would not exempt you from Trouble and Sufferings ; For the more you are loved, and the more vehement- ly you love, and are defirous to pleafe your Saviour, the greater Proofs of this kind you muft exped: to give.
Confider thcfe Jpofiles, who went away from their Perfecutors^rf/Wriw^ tiat they 7i.'ere ^,&cou7jt- ed worthy to juffer for the fake of Chrtl' ; •^'^■^ ^• And learn from thence to covet and vaLje the Honour and Dignity of enduring Pain and Poverty, Perfecu- tion and Reproach. For this would feem no mean Preferment, but a Favour referved lor thofc whom God is kindeilto, did wc but refied upon the Gain ic brings to our felves, che Glory to our Mailer, the Joy to Saints and Angels, and the Benefit to our Bre- thren, who fhall oblervc , and be encouraged by our Stedfaflnefs, and Patience, and holy Perfeve- ranee. Nay, even the Wicked and Carnal will be
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moved by fach Examples ; for there is fo manifeft a Congruity and Decency, in fubmitting to any Adver- ficies which it fhall pleafe God to lay upon us^ that even they who have not the Heart to imitate^ yet will not be able to forbear commending and admiring, the Pattern we fet them.
Would we indeed weigh things in a juft Balance, 'tis moft unreafonable we fliould decline fufFering for Cbriji, when it is fo very vifible, that we are well content to undergo much forer Hardfhips for the World, than any he thinks fit to call us to. And Ilia II Humour, or Paffion^ or Temporal Intereft be fuffered to prevail upon us more powerfully than Duty ? Efpecially, when that Duty promotes an in- finitely better Intereft ,- and the more we are mortifi- ed to our felves and the World, the nobler Advan- ces we make towards God and Life Eternal ? Thefe are refined Privileges, for which no Man is qualify 'd, till he be firft purified in the Furnace of Ad- veifity ,• nor can the Spiritual and Divine Graces dwell in a Soul^ till the Drofs of Earth and Senfual Appetites be firft wrought off. Aflure your felf, that SufFeiing for, and in Obedience to Chrifi, is not only the moil acceptableThing to God, but really advanta- geous for your felf, and that which contributes moft to the Soul's Health of any thing that can happen in the Prefent State. And, would the Prejudices Flefh and Blood* lie under, permit us to difcern and confi- de Matters impartiaiiy • this would be firft in our Win:)e.-, and preferred before all the Outward Pro- fperiiy, or Inward Satisfactions this World can give. For who would not be ambitious of refembling our Lord, and his moft eminent Saints .'* Who is fo blind, as not to fee, that the Thing in which they fignali- zed their Merit ^ was not the larger Degree of their Revelations, or the Pleafures they enjoy 'd, but the Number and Extremity of their Afflidion? ?
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