an house, and lay a large foundation, when he is not provided with a stock to carry up the walls, and complete the work : no man, in his wits would engage with a handful of men, against a great and armed multitude ; possihly they may intend tojace, but no man would think they intend to ,/ight the enemy, on such a disadvantage. Just so stands the case in our profession of Christ ; if we really intend to go through with the business of religion, we must sit down, and compute the cost and charges of Christianity, think upon the worst, as well as the best, reckon upon reproaches, prisons, and death for his sake, as ■well as the easier and more pleasant parts of active obedience'; and having so done, if then we can be content to run all hazards, and forego all the rest upon his account, and accordingly manage ourselves in a day of suffering, then we deal with Christ, and clear ourselves from the danger of hypocrisy. It is for want of this, that so many professors faint, and fall away, in times of temptation, furnishing the devil with so many triumphs over religion, and the more upright pro- fessors of it. It was for want of depth of earth, (i. e.) a deep consider- ation, and well-rooted resolution at first, that the stony-ground hy- pocrite so quickly withered away, when the sun of persecution began to shine fervently upon him, Mat. xiii. 5, 6. And doubtless it is to prevent this fatal issue of our profession, that God makes such deep wounds by conviction upon his people's hearts at first ; it is for our establishment in future trials, and sufferings, that he so distresses, and humbles them ; that he makes sin so bitter and burdensome to tlicm ; as well knowing that all this is no more than needs, to prevent their returning again to sin, in the times of their temptation.
O professor ! if thou be one that art come to Christ in this wav, and hast thus deliberately closed with him ; if thou hast as well be- thought thyself of bearing his cross, as of wearing his crown ; thou hast then a fair evidence of the uprightness of thy heart, than which, the world affords not a sweeter comfort.
Thirdly, The advantage of preparation for suffering lies in this, that it prevents, and cuts off the scandal and offence of the cross, M'ith respect both to ourselves and others.
Fh'st, It prevents our ov/n offence at sufferings ; and by Christ's own testimony, that soul is blessed, that is not offended in him, Mat. xi. 6. Among tlie multitudes of professors, few are found that are no way offended at suffering for Christ; they expected much peace, honour, and prosperity in the ways of religion, but finding their expectations frustrated, and their carnal interest rather exposed, than secured by their profession of Christ, they go back like those John vi. QQ. and walk no more with him. And it is very remarkable, that Christ dates the offence that men shall take at him, from the first appearance of suffering. Mat. xxiv, 8, 9. " All these are thebe- " ginnings of sorrows, and then shall many be offended." Sorrows and apostasies commence together.
But, reader, if thou be one that makest it thy business to foresee,
go raEi'ARATlOXS TOR SUFFEl:l^•GS ; OR,
and prepare for an evil day, thou wilt have as good thoughts of Christy and his ways at the lowest ebb, as ever thou hadst in the greatest flourish, and time of prosperity. " Great peace (saith the Psalmist) " have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them." O happy soul ! whom no troubles, reproaches or sufferings, are able to offend ! tliou niaycst meet with prisons, death, banishments, yea, but none of these things shall offend, or stumble thee, but thou shalt peaceably and safely pass over them, because they are no more than thou expectedst, and providest for.
Secondly^ And by this means thou wilt also prevent the offence and scandals of others at the ways of religion. It is a sad, and dangerous thing to be an occasion of stumbling, either to the weak or to the wicked. " Woe to the world because of offences, for it must needs " be that offences come ; but woe to that man by whom the offence *' Cometh,"'"' Mat. xviii. 7. The apostasies and sinful compliances of ungrounded professors and weak Christians in times of temptation, are the woeful occasions of prejudicing others against religion, and shedding the blood of souls. Ah ! it Avere much better never to be in the ways of profession, than to be there only as a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence to others : but all this mischief will be pre- vented b}' thy serious expectation of, and provision for the evil day. Fourtldif^ A fourth excellency of preparation for sufferings lies in this, that it hath a tendency to convince and awaken the drowsy world. O ! if the Lord's people would but engage in this work in earnest, and live as people that are providing for a storm, and resolve, in the strength of God, to run all hazards and hardships for Christ, I am persuaded it would be of more use to startle, and convince the world, than all the sermons that ever they heard: for here is that which dashes and cuts the throat of all our labours. We preach up self-denial, and contempt of life, and liberty for Christ : now though they hear us preach the necessity, and excellency of these things, and hear you profess them as your principles ; yet when they look upon the lives of professors in times of danger, and find no proportion betwixt pro- fession and practice; when they see us cling to the world, and are as loth to give it up as others; Avhen they observe prisons and sufferings affright and terrify us as much as those that make no profession ; when they see us start like hares, at every sound, and that we live not loose from the world, as men prepared to let it go and give it up for Christ: why then they conclude that we dare not trust our own principles, when it comes to the push. And how can they be persuaded to be- lieve that which they think we ourselves do not really believe, al- though we persuade them to believe it '^
My friends, the world hath eyes to see what you can c?o, as well as ears to hear what you can say ; and as lang as they see you do no more than others, you may talk your hearts out ere they will believe
'Our way is better than others. But now when persecution ariseth, did they see you providing your-
THE BEST WORK IN THE WOIIST TIMES. 21