Reply 2. Art thou under sufferings : thou hast an opportunity to shew the valour and constancy of thy mind Some of (ioil's saints would have accounted it a great fa- vour to have been honoured with martyr- dom. One said, " I am in prison till I be in prison." Thou countest that a trouble, which others would have worn as an ensign of their glory.
Reply 3. Even those who have gone only upon moral principles, have shewn nnieli constancy and contentment in their suffer- ings. Curtius, being bravely mounted and in armour, threw himself into a great gulf, that the city of Kome might, aeeor<ring to the oracle, be delivered from the pestilence; ami we, having a divine oracle, " that they who kill the body cannot hurt the soul," shall we not with much constancy and patience devote ourselves to injuries for religion, and ratiier suffer for the truth tlian tlie truth sutTer for us? The Decii among the Romans, vowed themselves to death, that their legions and soldiers might be crown- ed with the honour of the viet«»ry. O what should we be content to suff* r, to make tlie truth victorious ! Regulus lun iiig sworn that he would return to Carthage — though he knew there was a furnace heating for him there — yet not «laring to infringe his oath, he did adventure to go; we then who are Christians, having made a vow to ( lirist in baptism, and so often renewt d in the blessed sacrament, should with much cou-
teutation rather choose to sutler, l! an vio-
4 T
698
ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT.
late our sacred oath. Thus the blessed martyrs, with what courage and cheerful- ness did they yield up their souls to God ? And when the fire was set to their bodies, yet their spirits were not at all fired with passion or discontent. Though others hurt the body, let them not the mind through discontent ; shew by your heroic courage, that you are above those troubles which you cannot be without.
The next apology is, the prosperity of the wricked. I confess it is so often, that the evil enjoy all the good, and the good endure all the e\i\ ; David, though a good man, stumbled at this, and had like to have fallen, Ps. Ixxiii. 2. Well, be contented, for remember,
Bcply 1. These are not the only things, nor the best things ; they are mercies with- out the pale ; these are but acorns with which God feeds swine ; ye who are believ- ers have more choice fruit, — the olive, the Domegranate, — the fruit which grows on the true vine Jesus Christ ; others have the fat of the earth, you have the dew of heaven; they have a south-land, you have those springs of living water which are clarified with Christ's blood, and indulcerated with his love. Reply 2. To see the wicked flourish is matter rather of pity than envy : it is all the heaven they must have. " Wo to you that are rich, for ye have received your consola- tion," Luke vi. 24. Hence it was that David made it his solemn prayer, " Deliver me from the wicked, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure," Ps. xvii. 15. The words (me- thinks) are David's litany ; from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, " good Lord, deliver me." When the wicked have eaten of their dainty dishes, there comes in a sad reckoning which will spoil all. The world is first musical and then tragical ; if you would have a man fry and blaze in hell, let him have enough of the fat of the earth. O remember, for e- very sand of mercy that runs out of the wicked, God puts a drop of wrath into liis vial ! Therefore as that soldier said to his fellow, " Do you envy my grapes ? they cost me dear, 1 must die for them," so I say, Do you envy the wicked? Alas their pros-
perity is like Haman's banquet before exe- cution. If a man were to be hanged, woidd one envy to see him walk to the gallows through pleasant fields and fine galleries, or to see him go up the ladder in clothes of gold? The wicked may flourish in their bravery a while ; but, when they flourish as the grass, *' it is, that they shall be de- stroyed for ever," Ps. xcii. 7. The proud grass shall be mown down. W^hatever a sinner enjoys, he hath a curse with it, Mai. ii. 2., and shall we envy? What if poison- ed bread be given the dogs ? The long furrows in the backs of the godly have a seed of blessing in them, when the table of the wicked becomes a snare, and their hon- our their halter.
The next apolog}'^ that discontent makes for itself, is, the evils of the times. The times are full of heresy and impiety, and this is that which troubles me. This apo- logy consists of two branches, to which I shall answer in specie ; and,