ful progress in the communion of those sufferings that are so closely linked with it, and will so surely lead unto it and end in it; for in the apostle's expression, this glory and joy are set before us as the great matter of our desires and hopes, and the certain end of our present sufferings.

Now upon these grounds, the admonition will appear reasonable and not too great a demand, to rejoice even in sufferings.

It is true, that passage in the Epistle to the Hebrews, xii, 11, opposes present affliction to joy; but, if you mark, it is but in the appearance or outward visage, It seemeth not to be joyous but grievous. It hath not a smiling countenance, yet joy may be under it. And though to the flesh it is what it seems, grief, and not joy, yet there may be under it spiritual joy; yea, the affliction itself may help and advance that joy. The children of God are not called to so sad a life as the world imagines: besides what is laid up for them in heaven, they have even here their rejoicings and songs in their distresses, as those prisoners had their psalms even at midnight, after their stripes, and in their chains, before they knew of a sudden deliverance, Acts xvi, 25. True, there may be a darkness within, clouding all their joy, but even that darkness is the seed-time of after-joy: light is sown in that darkness, and shall spring up; and not only shall they have a rich crop at full harvest, but even some first fruits of it here, in pledge of the harvest. And for this end, they ought to endeavour after a more clear discerning of their interest in Christ, that they may know they partake of him, and so, that in suffering, they are partakers of his sufferings, and shall be partakers of his glory.

He shall be revealed in his glory, and ye shall even overflow with joy in the partaking of that glory. Therefore rejoice now in the midst of all your sufferings. Stand upon the advanced ground of the promises and the covenant of grace, and by faith look beyond this moment and all that is in it, to that day wherein everlasting joy shall be upon your heads, a crown of it, and sørrow and mourning shall flee away. Believe in this day, and the victory is won. O that blessed hope, well fixed

and exercised, would give other manner of spirits. What zeal for God would it not inspire! What invincible courage against all encounters! How soon will this

pageant of the world vanish, that men are gazing on, these pictures and fancies of pleasures and honors, falsely so called, and give place to the real glory of the sons of God, when this blessed Son, who is God, shall be seen appearing in full majesty, and all his brethren in glory with him, all clothed in their robes! And if you ask, Who are they? Why these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Ver. 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

16. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

THE word is the Christian's magazine, both of instruction and of encouragement, whether for doing or for suffering; and this epistle is rich in both. Here what the apostle had said concerning suffering in general, he specifies in the particular case of suffering reproaches. But this seems not to come up to the height of that expression which he hath used before: he spoke of fiery trial, but this of reproach seems rather fit to be called an airy trial, the blast of vanishing words. Yet, upon trial, it will be found to be, as here it is accounted, a very sharp, a fiery trial.

And inasmuch as reproaches are thus grievous, the scripture accounts them so, and very usually reckons them amongst sufferings: it is apt to name them more than any other kind of suffering, and with good reason,

not only for their piercing nature, but withal for their fre quency and multitude; and some things we suffer do, as flies, trouble us more by their number than by their weight.

Now there is no one kind of suffering of such constancy, and commonness, and abundance, as reproaches are. When other persecutions cease, these continue; when all other fires of martyrdom are put out, these burn still. In all times and places, the malignant world is ready to revile religion; not only avowed enemies of it, but the greatest part even of those that make a profession of it; they that outwardly receive the form of religion, are yet, many of them, inwardly haters of the power of it, and Christians who are such merely in name, will scorn and reproach those that are Christians indeed. And this is done with such ease by every one, that these arrows fly thick: every one that hath a tongue can shoot them.

Seeing it is thus, I shall first press upon the followers of Christ the apostle's rule, to keep their suffering spotless, that it may not be comfortless. Resolve to endure it, but resolve likewise that it shall be on your part innocent suffering; Suffer not as evil-doers. Besides that the ways of wickedness are most unsuitable to your holy calling, look to the enmity about you, and gain even out of that evil this great good of more circumspect and holy walking. Recollect who you are and where you are, your own weakness and the world's wickedness. This our

Saviour represents, and upon it gives that suitable rule; Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Know you not what exact eyes of others are upon you? Will you not thence learn exactly to eye yourselves and all your ways, and seek of God, with David, to be led in righteousness, because of your enemies, your obser

vers.

Suffer as a Christian, holily and blamelessly, that the enemy may not know where to fasten his hold. As the wrestlers anointed their bodies, that the hands of their antagonists might not fasten upon them, thus truly they that walk and suffer as Christians, anointed with the

Spirit of Christ, their enemies cannot well fasten their hold upon them.

To you therefore who love the Lord Jesus, I recommend this especially, to be careful that all your reproaches may be indeed for Christ, and not for any thing in you unlike to Christ. Keep the quarrel as clean and unmixed as you can, and this will advantage you much, both within and without, in the peace and firmness of your minds and in the refutation of your enemies. This will make you as a brazen wall, as the Lord speaks to the prophet: they shall fight against you, but shall not prevail.

Keep far off from all impure, unholy ways. Suffer not as evil-doers, no, nor as busy-bodies. Be much at home, setting things at rights within your own breast, where there is so much work and such daily need of diligence, and then you will find no leisure for unnecessary idle pryings into the ways and affairs of others; and further than your calling and the rules of Christian charity engage you, you will not interpose in any matters without you, nor be found proud and censorious, as the world is ready to call you.

Shun the appearances of evil: walk warily and prudently in all things. Be not heady nor self-willed, no, not in the best things. Walk not upon the utter brink and hedge of your liberty, for then you will be in danger of overpassing it. Things that are lawful, may be inexpedient, and, in case there is fear of scandal, ought either to be wholly forborne, or used with much prudence and circumspection. O study in all things to adorn the gospel, and under a sense of your own unskilfulness and folly, beg wisdom from above, that anointing that will teach you all things, much of that Holy Spirit, that will lead you in the way of all truth; and then, in that way, whatsoever may befal you, suffer it, and however you may be vilified and reproached, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.

Happy are ye. Ye are happy even at present, in the very midst of your reproaches; they do not trouble your happy estate, yea, they advance it. Thus solid indeed is the happiness of the saints, that in the lowest condition

it remains the same in disgraces, in caves, in prisons and chains, cast them where you will, still they are happy. A diamond in the mire, sullied and trampled on, yet still retains its own worth.

But how holds this, that a Christian is happy in reproaches and by them? It is not through their nature and virtue, for they are evil; but by reason of the cause, and by reason of the accompanying and consequent com

fort.

And

The cause of these reproaches, we have negatively, verse 15; Not as an evil-doer: that stains thy holy profession, damps thy comfort, and clouds thy happiness, disprofits thee, and dishonors thy Lord. But the cause is stated positively, ver. 14; For the name of Christ. what is there so rough, which that will not make pleasant, to suffer with Christ and for Christ, who suffered so much and so willingly for thee? Hath he not gone through all before thee, and made all easy and lovely? Hath he not sweetened poverty, and persecution, and hatred, and disgraces, and death itself, perfumed the grave, and turned it from a pit of horror into a sweet resting bed? And thus love of Christ judgeth; it thinks all lovely which is endured for him, is glad to meet with difficulties, and is ambitious of suffering for him. Scorn or contempt is a thing of hard digestion, but much inward heat of love digests it easily. Reproaches are bitter, but the reproaches of Christ are sweet. Take their true value, Heb. xi, 26: The reproach of Christ is greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; his very worst things, better than the best of the world. A touch of Christ turns all into gold. His reproaches are riches, as it is expressed there, and honor, as here. Happy! Not only afterwards shall ye be happy, but happy are ye at present; and that, not only in apprehension of that after-happiness, as sure and as already present to faith realizing it, but even in that they now possess the presence and comforts of the Spirit.

The Spirit of glory. This accompanies disgraces for him; his Spirit, the Spirit of glory and of God. And surely his Spirit is most fit to support you under them, yea, to raise you above them. They are ignominious and