Inf. 2. From the early flight of Christ into Egypt, we infer, That the greatest innocency and piety cannot exempt from persecu- tion and injury. Who more innocent than Christ Q And who more persecuted ? The world is the world still. " I have given them thy " word, and the world hath hated them," John xvii. 14. The world lies in wait as a thief for them that carry this treasure ; they who are empty of it may sing before him, he never stops them : but persecution follows piety, as the shadow doth the bod}-. 2 Tim. iii. 12. " All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must " suffer persecution.'1 Whosoever resolves to live holy, must never expect to live quietly. It is godliness, and godliness in Christ Jesus, i. e. such as is derived from Christ, true godliness ; and it is true godliness as it is manifested in practice. All that will live godly, that will exert holiness in their lives, which convinces and galls the consciences of the ungodly. It is this enrages, for there is an enmity and antipathy betwixt them : and this enmity runs in the blood ; and it is transmitted with it from generation to generation, Gal. iv. 29. " As then, he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him that was born after the Spirit ; even so it is now." Mark, so it was, and so still it is. " * Cain's club is still " carried up and down crimsoned with the blood of Abe}," said Bucholtzer ; but thus it must be, to conform us unto Christ : and O that your spirits^ as well as your conditions, may better harmo- nize with Christ. He suffered meekly, quietly, and self-denyingly ; be ye like him. Let it not be said of you* as it is of the hypocrite, whose lusts are only hid, but not mortified by his duties, that he is like & flint, which seems cold; but if you strike him, he is all fiery. To do well, and suffer ill, is Christ-like.
Inf. 3. From the third particular of Christ's humiliation, I infer, that such as are full of grace and holiness, may be destitute and, empty of creature-comforts. What an overflowing fulness of grace was there in Christ ? and yet to what a low ebb did his outward comforts sometimes fall ? and as it fared with him, so with many others now in glory with him, whilst they were in the way to that glory ; 1 Cor. iv. 11. " Even to this present hour, we both hunger, M and thirst, and are naked, and buffeted, and have no certain dwell- " ing-place." Their souls were richly clothed with robes of righte- ousness, their bodies naked or meanly clad. Their souls fed high, even on hidden manna, their bodies hungry. Let us be con- tent (saith Luther) with our hard fare ; for do we not feast with angels upon that bread of life? Remember, when wants pinch
* Multi adhuc sunt, %ui clavem san^xdm Abelti rubentem tircumfcrunt. Bucholtz,
5ERM. XIX. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 243
hard, that these fix no marks of God's hatred upon you. He hath dealt no worse witli you than he did with his own Son. Nay, which of you is not better accommodated than Christ was ? If you be hungry or thirsty, you have some refreshments J you have beds to lie on ; the Son ot man had not where to lay his head ; the Heir of all things had sometimes nothing to eat. And remember you are going to a plentiful country, where all your wants will be supplied ; " poor in the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the " kingdom which God hath promised," James ii. 5. The mean- ness of your present, will add to the lustre of your future con- dition.
Inf. 4. From the fourth particular of Christ's humiliation in his life, by Satan's temptations, we infer, That those in wlwm Satan hath no interest, may have most trouble from him in this •zcorld, John xiv. 30. " The Prince of this world cometh, and hath * nothing in me.1' Where he knows he cannot be a conqueror, he will not cease to be a troubler. This bold and daring spirit ad- ventures upon Christ himself; for doubtless he was filled with envy at the sight of him, and would do what he could, though to no purpose, to obstruct the blessed design in his hand. And it was the wisdom and love of Christ to admit him to come as near him as might be, and try all his darts upon him ; that by this experi- ence he might be filled with pity to succour them that are tempt- ed. And as he set on Christ, so much more will he adventure upon us ; and but too oft comes off a conqueror. Sometimes he shoots the fiery darts of blasphemous injections. These fall as flashes of lightning on the dry thatch, which instantly sets all in a combustion. And just so it is attended with an after thunder- clap of inward horror, that shivers the very heart, and strikes all into confusion within.
Divers rules are prescribed in this case to relieve poor distressed ones. One adviseth to think seriously on that which is darted suddenly, and to do by your hearts as men used to do with young horses, that are apt to start and boggle at every thing in the way ; we bring them close to the things they fright at, make them look on them, and smell to them, that time and better acquaintance with such things, may teach them not to start. Others advise to diversions of the thoughts, as much as may be, to think quite ano- ther way. These rules are contrary to one another, and I think signify but little to the relief of a poor soul so distressed.
The best rule, doubtless, is that of the apostle, Eph. vi. 16; " Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be " able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.'1 Act your faith, my friends, upon your tempted Saviour, who passed through
£44 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE* SERM. XIX.
temptations before you : and particularly exercise faith on three tilings in Christ's temptations.
1. Believingly consider, how great variety of temptations were tried upon Christ ; and of what a horrid blasphemous nature that was, Jail doom and worship me.
g. Believingly consider, that Christ came off a perfect conqueror in the day of his trial, beat Satan out of the field. For he saw what he attempted on Christ was as impossible as to batter the body of the sun with snow-balls.
8. Lastly, Believe that the benfits of those his victories and conquests are for you ; and that for your sakes he permitted the tempter to come so near him : as you find, Heb. ii. 18.
Object. Heb. iv. 15. If you say, true, Christ was tempted as well as I ; but there is a vast difference betwixt his temptations and mine: for the prince of this world came, and found nothing in him, John xiv. 13. He was not internally defiled, though externally assaulted ; but I am defiled by them as well as troubled.