Fourthly^ Study and contemplate Christ and the things above more: this would veil all its glory, and kill it at the root, Phil. iii. 18, 19. Just as a man that hath been gazing upon the sun, when he takes off his eye from that bright and glorious creature^ and looks to the earth, there is a veil of darkness overspreading the face of it, that he can see nothing. I wonder how such as pretend to live above, and enjoy communion with God, can ever relish such sweetness in the world, or have their hearts enticed and captivated by it.
Fiflhhj^ Remember always, that by your love and delight in world- ly things, you furnish the devil with the chiefest bait he hath to catch and destroy your souls. Alas ! were your hearts but dead to these things, he would want an handle to catch hold on. What hath he more to offer you, and tempt you off from Christ with but a little money, oi- some such poor temporal rewards.? and how little would that soul be moved by such a temptation, that looks on it all but as dirt ?
Sixthly^ Lastly, Take notice of the approaches of eternity : re- member you are almost at the end of time : and when you come to launch out into that endless ocean, how will these things look then ? It seems glorious whilst you are in the chase and pursuit of it : but upon a death-bed you will overtake and come up with it, and then you will see what a deceitful and vain thing it is : stand by the beds of dying men, and hear how they speak of it. O ! the difference betwixt our apprehensions then and now ! Thus labour to wean off your affections, and crucify them to the world.
2. Mortify your ambition and vain affectation of the repute and credit of the world : Oh stand not on so vain a thinff as this ; iudoe
It but a small thmg to be judged of man, to have your names cast out as evil : let not scoffs and reproaches be such terrible things to you. It is, without doubt, a great trial ; else the Holy Ghost had not added a peculiar epithet to it, which is not given to any other of the sufferings of the saints : not cruel tortures, nor cruel stonings, burnings, slaying with the sword ; but cruel mochings^ Ilcb. xi. 36. Yet learn to be dead to, and unaffected with these things ; set the reproaching world as light and as low as it sets you : Despise the shame, as your master Christ did, Heb. xii. 2. And to promote mortification in this, take these helps.
1. Consider this is no new or strange thing that hath happened to you : the holiest of men have past through the like, if not \vorse trials, Heb. x. 33. Psal. xliv. 14. Reproaches have been the lot of the best men. They called Athanasius, Sathanasius; Cyprianus, Coprianus, a gatherer of dung ; blessed Paul, 3i pestilent JellOiC ; Dr. Story threw a faggot at sweet Mr. Denlie's face as he was singing a psalm in the midst of the flames, saying, //(f«fe spoiled a good old song.
2. It may be religion hath been reproached and scoffed at for your sakes ; and if so, think it not much to be reproached for religion's sake.
56 PllErARATlOXS FOR SUFFErvIXGS ; OR,
S. It is much better to be reproached by men for discharging dut}'^ than by your own consciences for the neglect of it ; if all be quiet withiD, never be moved at the noise and clamour without : If you have a good roof over your head, be not troubled though the winds and storms bluster abroad, 1 Pet. iv. 14. Take heed what you do, and be heedless what the world says.
4. Always remember, that you neither stand nor fall at the world^s judgment, and therefore have the less reason to be troubled at it, ] Cor. iv. 3. If your condition were to be cast to eternity by it, it were somewhat.
5. There is a worth and excellency in the reproaches of Christ, as bad as they seem ; and such an excellency, as it is not to be matched by any earthly enjoyment, Heb. xi. ^6. The reproaches of Christ are of more worth than the treasures of Egyjot, though Egypt then was the magazine of the world for treasures. The apostles counted them their honours, Acts v. 41. When Ludovicus Marsacus, a knight of France, saw those that were to suffer with him in the chains, and that they put none upon him, because of the nobility of his birth, he said to the executioner. Cur me non quoque torqui donast et illustris illius ordin'is fnilitem non creas ? ' "Why do ye not honour me with * a chain too, and create me a knight of that noble order .^'
6. Lastly^ Should scoffs and reproaches scare you from Christ and duty ; then, though you should escape the reproaches of men, yet shall you fall under the everlasting contempt of God, angels, and good men. Therefore, " Fear ye not the reproaches of men that ^' shall die, nor be afraid of their revilings, for the moth shall eat " them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool, " but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from " generation to generation," Isa. li. 7, 8.
3. Mortify your inordinate affections of liberty, pleasure, and de- licate living. O let not a prison seem so formidable to you. It is true, as Christ told Peter, in John xxi. 18. " When thou wast young, " thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldst ; but " when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thine hands, and " another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldst not." You have now your liberty to go whither you will, and it is a pre- cious mercy if well improved ; the birds of the air (as one saith) had rather be in the woods at liberty, though lean and hungry, than in a golden cage with the richest fare. But yet, if God will call you to deny this also for Christ, see that you be ready to be bound as Paul was, and receive tlie chain and bonds of Christ with thanksgiving r To which end consider,
1. That the affliction, in such cases of restraint, is more from with- in, than from without you. There is no place but may be delectable to you, if your heart be heavenly, and the presence of God be en- gaged w ith you. AVhat a sweet night had Jacob at Bethel ! Paul and Silas in the stocks ! See that precious letter of Pomponius Algerius.
THE BKST WORK IN THE WORST TI>rF:?:. 57
* Transtulit in cochim Chrlsti prcesentia claiistrum ; Qukljciciet coclo ? quce cocliimjam creat antra.
It is your own unbelief and Impatiency that gives you more trou" hie than the condition.
2. No keeper can keep the comforter from you, if you be the Lord's prisoners^ Acts xvi. If they could bar out the Spu'it from you, it would be a dismal place indeed : But ordinarily, there the saints have their clearest visions of God^ and ^weeic'sX presence of the Spirit. You are the JuOVi^^s freemen^ v/hilst men's prisoners : All the world cannot divest you of the state of liberty Christ hath purchased for you, John viii. 36.