' In ' Lives' of Fabius Maximus and T. Qninctius Flaminins. — G. * Ego si bonam Jamam servasso, sat dives ergo, if I may but keep a good name, I havo wealth enough, said Plautus.
^ A good name yields a fragrant smell over town and country ; it puts a shining lustre
164 THE UNSEARCHABLE [EPH. III. 8.
Erostratus set the temple of Diana on fire, on that night that Alex- ander was born, only that he might be talked of when he was dead.^
Calvin observes, that Servetus in Geneva, in the year J 555, gave all his goods to the poor, and his body to be burned, and all for a name, for a little glory among men. But these poor creatures have all missed the mark. There is no way. Christians, to have your names immortal, like this, of growing rich in grace. Satan nor the world shall never be able to bury such men's names, who are rich in grace ; their names shall rise in glory here, as well as their bodies hereafter.
[4.] But then, fourthly and mainly, consider, that spiritual riches ivill enable you to live up to your principles.
That man that hath but so much grace as will keep hell and his soul asunder, will never live up to his principles. Souls weak in grace are too apt to deny, and in their practices to contradict, their own prin- ciples; and oh that this age could not furnish us with too many instances of this nature ! Oh ! what is that that is the reproach of religion, and the dishonour of God and the gospel, but this, that professors live below their principles, that they live not up to their principles ? And let me tell you, Christians, there is nothing but a rich measure of grace that will enable a soul to live up to his principles. A man that is not rich in grace will never be able to live up to his own principles, but will upon every occasion and temptation be ready to wound two at once ; the honour of God and his own soul. Yea, men that are not rich in grace, will be ready to deny their own principles, as many weak Chris- tians did in persecuting times.
But you will say to me, What are those gracious and holy principles, that a rich measure of grace will enable a man to live up to ?
I will instance only in those that have most worth and weight in them, and they are worthy of all your thoughts.
(1.) First, It is your principle, that you mMst rather suffer than sin.
It is your principle rather to undergo the greatest calamities, than willingly to commit the least iniquity. Now, pray tell me, what will enable a Christian to live up to this principle? Will a little grace, a little knowledge of God, a little faith in God, a little love to God, a little zeal for God, a little communion with God ? Will this do it ? Surely no. It must be much grace that must enable the soul to live up to this principle.^ When sin and suffering have stood in competi- tion, many weak Christians have chosen rather to sin, than to suffer, which hath opened many a mouth, and sadded many a heart, and wounded many a conscience. Yea, such by their not suffering, have suffered- more than ever they could have suffered from the wrath and rage of man. Oh ! but now spiritual riches will enable a man to live up to this principle, as you may see in Daniel, who had an excellent spirit in him, who was rich in grace, and filled with the Holy Ghost ; lie lives up to his principles ; he lives out his principles, when he was put hard to it ; when ho must either neglect the worship of his God and make a god of his king, or to the lions' den. Now, Daniel upon the countenance : it fittetli to any public employment, in ministry or magiatracy ; it stops rniiiiy a foul mouth, anrl it makes men live when they arc dead. ' Aa bf-foro : Index, sub nomine — G.
* It is better for me to be a martyr than a monarch, said Ignatius when he was to suffer, &c.
EpH. III. 8.] RICHES OF CHRIST. 165
chooses rather to be cast into the lions' den than not to do homage to his God ; he had rather suffer much, than that God should lose a dram of his glory. Of the same spirit and metal were those worthies, Heb. xi., who, when they were put to it, did rather choose to suffer the very worst of miseries, than they would in the least dishonour the Lord, wound their own consciences, and make work for repentance, &c. And so did Jovinian, Eusebius, Galeacius [Carraciolus], Basil, Vincentius-, Bolilas, &c. By all which you see, that Christians that are spiritually rich, live up to this principle, viz., to suffer rather than sin, when sin and suffering stand in competition; which babes in grace cannot do.'
(2.) Secondly, It is your principle, that grace and virtue are to he pursued after, for their own worth, beauty, and excellency.