[9.] Ninthly and lastly. If you daily irresent a greater and a choicer good in the 'promises to your souls than any this world affords^ then certainly you have an interest in the irromises. If when honours, or riches, or pleasures, or the applause of men do present themselves unto you, you can readily present to your own souls higher honours in the promise, 1 Sam. ii. 30 ; Luke xii, 32 ; Rev. ii. 17, 26, 27 ; chap. iii. 5, 12, 21 ; chap. v. 10 ; and more durable riches in the promise, Prov. viii. 1 8 ; 1 Pet. iii. 4 ; and sweeter and choicer pleasures in the promise, Ps. xvi. 11 ; Isa. xii. 3, chap. xxxv. 2, 10 ; Jer. xxxiii, 9, 11 ; Ps. cxxxii. J 6 ; and greater applause in the promise. Mat. x. 32, ' Whosoever, there- fore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven ;' ay, and before the angels too, Luke xii. 8 ; Mat. XXV. 31-41 ; 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3; 2 Thes. i. G-10 ; Rev. iii. 9 ; Isa. Ix. 12-14 ; then certainly you have an interest in the promise. When a man can shew his own heart daily, in the glass of the promises, a greater worth, excellency, and glory, than all this world affords, without all controversy he has an interest in the promises. Thus those worthies, of whom this world was not worthy, Heb. xi., and the mart}TS in all age^ did commonly present better, higher, and greater things to their own souls in the promises, than any their adversaries were able to propose to draw them oif from Christ, their profession or principles, »S:c., and by this means they did very courageously and lionourably maintain their ground in the face of all the gay and golden temptations that they met withal. Crudelitas vestra, gloria nostra, your cruelty is our glory, said they in Tertullian ;' and the harder we are put to it, the greater shall be our reward in heaven. Basil will tell you, that the most cruel martyrdom is but a crafty trick to escape death, to pass from life to
Chap. I.] a cabinet of jewels. 259
life, as he speaks.^ It can be but a day's journey between the cross and paradise. Though the cross be bitter, yet it is but short. 'A little storm,' as one said of Julian's persecution, 'and an eternal calm follows.' Adrianus, seeing the martyrs sufi'er cheerfully such grievous and dreadful things, asked, Why they would endure such misery, when they might, by retract- ing, free themselves ; upon which one of them alleged that text, ' Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him,' 1 Cor. ii. 9. The naming of the text, and seeing them suffer such hard things cheer- fully, did, by a blessing from on high, so really and effectually convert him, that afterwards he became a martyr too.^ When we see poor, weak, feeble Christians defying their torments, conquering in the midst of sufferings, singing in prison, as Paul and Silas did. Acts xvi. 25 ; kissing the stake, as Henry Voes did ;^ clapping their hands when they were half consumed with fire, as Hawkes did ;* blessing God that ever they were born to see that day, as John Noyes did f calling their execution day their wedding day, as Bishop Ridley did, f we cannot but conclude that they had an eye to ' the recompence of reward,' and they saw such great, and sweet, and glorious things in the promises, that did so refresh, delight, and ravish their hearts, and transport their souls, that all their heavy afflictions seemed light, and their long afflictions short, and their most bitter afflictions sweet and easy to them. But,
The s'lodh onaxim of consideration.
VI. Sixthly, Consider, that it is granted on all hands, that the least degree of grace, if true, is sufficient to scdvation ; for the promises of life and glory, of remission and salvation, of everlasting happiness and blessedness, are not made over to degrees of grace, but to the truth of grace ; not to faith in triumph, but to faith in truth ; and therefore the sense and evidence of the least gi-ace, yea, of the least degree of the least grace, may afford some measure of assurance. Grace is the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. v. 22 ; and the tree is known by his fruit. Mat. xii. 33 ; Mark xvi. 16 ; John iii. 16, 86 ; Mat. v. 1, seq.; John vi. 40. I do not say, that weak grace will afford a strong assurance, or a full assurance, for that rather arises from strength of grace than from truth of grace, but I say, weak grace may afford some assurance.^ And oh, that all weak Christians would seriously lay this to heart, for it may serve to relieve them against many fears, douljts, discouragements, and jealousies, which do much disturb the peace and comfort of their precious souls. Though the least measures of grace cannot satisfy a sincere Christian, yet they ought to quiet his conscience, and cheer his heart, and confirm his judg- ment of his interest in Christ. The least measure of grace is like a diamond, very little in bulk, but of high price and mighty value, and accordingly we are to improve it for our comfort and encouragement. A goldsmith makes reckoning of the least filings of gold, and so should
' Mat. V. 10-12. Bum my foot if you will, said that noble martyr S. Basil, that it may dance everlastingly with the angels in heaven.
^ See Index for other references to Adrianus. — G.
3 Clark's ' Martyrologie,' as before, p. 134.— G. * Ibid., p. 443.— G. * Ibid., p. 493.— G.
^ Ibid., pp. 442, 465, and Foxe sub nomine. — G.
' An eminent minister, who was a famous instrument of converting many to God, waa wont to say, that for his own part, he had no other evidence in himself of being in the state of grace, than that he was sensible of his deadness.
2 GO A CABINET OF JEWELS. [ChAP. I.