6. Rule. Get an high estimation of Jesus Christ, and all his concern- ments. They that value him highest, will adventure for \\\m farthest Magnanimous Luther, how inestimable a value did he set upon the truths of Christ ! Ruat cwlum, <SfC. Let heaven rush rather than a crumb of truth should perish. Thou wilt never be a man of zeal and courage for Christ's interest, until that interest of Christ have swal- lowed up all thine own interests. No sooner is the soul acquainted, with, and interested in Christ, but he heartily wishes well to all his affairs and concernments, Psal. xlv. 3, 4. This is that which puts metal and resolution for Christ into the soul.
7. Rule. Beware you be not cheated with maxims of carnal policy, mistaken for Christian prudence. Many are so : and they prove de- structive to all true zeal and courage for Christ. Never was religion professed with greater plainness and simplicity, than by the primitive Christians ; and never was there an higher spring-tide of courage and zeal for God, than in those days. We are apt to call it prodigality, and are ffrown wiser to husband our lives and comforts, better than
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than they did. But indeed our prudentials have even swallowed up our religion. It is true, there is such a thing as Christian prudence ; but this doth not teach men to shun all costly and difficult duties, and prostitute conscience to save the skin, " A man of understand- ** ing walketh uprightly,'** Prov. xv. 21.
8. Rule. Look upon the inside of troubles for Christ, as well as upon the outside of thera. If you view them by an eye of sense, there appeareth nothing but matter of discouragement. To look on the outside of a prison, banishment or death, is affrighting and horrible: but then if you look into the inside of these things by faith, and see what God hath made them to his people, and how joyful and com- fortable they have been in these conditions ; what honey they have found in the carcase of a lion, what songs in the stocks and dungeons, what glorying in tribulation, and hundred-fold reward even in their sufferings : O then ! that which looked like a serpent at a distance, will appear but as a rod in hand. How many have found themselves quite mistaken in their apprehensions of sufferings ; and been more loth to come out of a prison, than they were to go in ! If you did but see your supports and the comforts that souls ordinarily meet with in their troubles for Christ, you would not look on them as such formidable things.
9. Rule. View the issue and reward of sufferings by an eye of faith : this also will strongly abate the horror and dread of them, Heb. x. 34. Upon this account it is the saints have so slighted and contemn- ed them, Rom. viii. 18. 2 Cor. iv. 16, 17. But then see that you act your faith, (1.) Upon the certainty of it: look at it as a most real and substantial thing, Heb. xi. 1. (2.) View it as a great and
glorious reward ; And, (3.) As near at hand : And then say to th y soul, come on my soul, come on ; seest thou the joy set before thee! the crown of glory ready to be set on thy head by the hand of a righteous God. Oh, what comparison is there betwixt those suffer- ings, and that glory !
10. Rule. Propound to yourselves the best patterns and examples. Keep your eye upon the cloud of witnesses ; these are of special use to beget holy courage, Heb. xii. 1. James v. 10. Who would be afraid to enter the lists, and grapple with that enemy that he hath seen so often foiled, and that by a poor weak Christian ? See how the enemy with whom you are to grapple, hath been beaten hand to hand, and triumphed over by poor women and children ; they had as great infirmities, and you have as gracious assistances as those that are gone befoi-e you.
rREPARAT10>:3 FOR SUFFERINGS; OR,
Discovering the necessity of an heart mortified to all earthly and temporal enjoyments^ in order to the right managing of a suffer- ing condition ; with several directions Jbr the attainting thereof.
A. HE next thing wherein your actual readiness for bonds, or death consisteth, is in the mortijication of your ciffections to all earthly in- terest and enjoyments ; even the best and sweetest of them. Till this be done, in some measure, you are not fit to be used in any such ser- vice for the Lord, 2 Tim. i. 21. The living world is the very life of temptations : the travailing pains of death are stronger and sharper upon none, than those that are full of sense and self As you see in nature, what conflicts and agonies strong and lively persons suffer when they die; when others, in whom nature is decayed and spent before-hand, die away without half that pain, even as a bird in a shell. Corruption in the saints, is like sap in the green wood, which resisteth the fire, and will not burn well, till it be dried up. Pre- pared Paul had an heart mortified in a very high degree, to all the honour and riches of the v.orld, accountins^ them all but trifles, Gal. vi. 14. 1 Cor. iv. 3, 4.
The need of this will be evinced by these five considerations.
1. Unless the heart be mortified to all earthly enjoyments, they will appear great and glorious things in 3'oiu' eye and estimation; and if so, judge what a task you will have, to deny and leave them all in a suftering hour. It is corruption ivithin, that puts the lustre and glory upon things without: it is the carnal eye only that gazes admiringly af- ter them, 2 Cor. v. 16. and hence the lust isputtoexprefisthe affection, 1 John ii. 1 6. because all that inordinate aflection we have to them, arises from our high estimation of them, and that estimation from our lusts, that represent them as great and glorious. Therefore, certainly, it will be difficult (if not impossible) to deny them, till they have lost their glory in your eye; and that they wilf never do, till those lusts within you. that put tliat beauty and necessity upon them, be first crucified. As for instance, what a glory and necessity doth the pride of men put upon the honour and credit of the world, so that they will rather choose to die, than survive it ? But to a mortified soul it is a small matter, 1 Cor. iv. 3. So for riches, liow much are they adored, till our lusts be mortified ? and then they are esteemed but dung and dross, Phil. iii. 8. It is our corruptions that paint and gild over these things ; when these are crucified, those will be lightly esteemed.
2. Mortification of corruptions is that which recovers an healthful state of soul : sin is to the soul, wliat a disease is to the body ; and mortification is to sin, what physic is to a disease. Hence those that are but a little mortified, are in a comparative sense called carnal, 1 Cor. iii. d. and babes, ver. S, in resj^ect of weakness. Now, suSering
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