' In persecuting times the saints have been but as one man ; which made their very persecutors to say, Ecce ut invicem fie diligunt ! Sec how these Christians love one an- other, see how they knit and, close together ! — Eusebius in Hist.
288 THE NECESSITY, EXCELLENCY, RARITY, [HeB. XII. 14.
Though the sheep in sunshiae days feed at a distance, and wander one from another ; yet when a storm comes, or the wolf comes, then they run all together ; and so it is with Christians. Some religious bishops, that could by no means agree when they had their freedom and liberty, yet could well enough agree when they were in prison to- gether. Though children in a family may fall out among themselves, yet they quickly unite when a common enemy assaults them. Perse- cuting times unite Christians closer together in their affections, resolu- tions, and prayers. They who formerly could hardly be brought to eat together, or trade together, or live together, or walk together, in persecuting times will be brought to hear together, and pray together, and fast together, and communicate experiences together, and stand together, and fall together, and rise together, &c., Ps. Ixxxiii. 3-9. When Gebal and Ammon and Amalek did combine, the people of God kept close together ; for they very well knew that broken forces were soon dissipated, 2 Chron. xx. 1, 4, 12. I have read of Ptolomeus Philadelphus king of Egypt, that he caused the Bible to be trans- lated by seventy interpreters, which seventy were severally disposed of in seventy several cells, and though they knew not the names of one another, nor never saw the faces of one another, yet they did so well agree in their several translations, that there was no considerable difference betwixt them in rendering the text : so when the people of God shall be put into cells and prisons and jails, then they will so agree together, that there will be little or no difference betwixt them. As all the stones that came about Stephen s ears did but knock him closer to Christ the corner-stone, Acts vii. ; so all the stones that come about the saints' ears will but knock them the nearer to Christ, and the closer one to another. But,
[6.] Sixthly, As persecuting times are uniting times, so persecuting times are truth-advancing times. Veritas vincit, Truth thrives most when it is most opposed and persecuted : Phil, i. 12-14, ' But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel ; so that my bonds. in Christ are manifested in all the palace, and in all other places ; and many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident dy my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.' Both court, city, and country did ring of Paul's bonds, and the cause thereof. Paul's iron chain made more noise, and was more glorious, and wrought more blessed effects, than all the golden chains in Nero's court ; for by his bonds and chains many of the brethren were mightily emboldened and encouraged to preach the word without fear. The brethren, when they saw that Paul preached, and kept up the exercise of his ministry, though a prisoner, and though he was in bonds and chains, could not but reason thus with themselves : if Paul a prisoner holds up and holds on in preaching the word, though he be in bonds and chains ; ah, how much more ought we who are at liberty to hold up and hold on in preaching the truth, and advancing the truth, and in spreading of the truth.i There were many that took an occasion from ^Paul's imprisonment, bonds, and sufferings, to disgrace his
^ Si Veritas est causa discordiw, inori possum, tacere non possum : If truth be the cause of our discord, I may die, but I may not be silent, said Jerome to Helvidius.
HeB. XII. 14.] AND BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. 289
apostleship. The apostle meets with these, and tells them, that though they designed and intended the disgrace and hindrance of the gospel by his imprisonment and bonds, ydt God had by his won- derful providence and goodness so ordered the matter, that his bonds and imprisonment turned to his great honour and fame, and an occa- sion of further spreading and advancing the gospel. Though Satan and his instruments may disturb the truth, yet they cannot suppress it ; for. Magna est Veritas et prcevalebit, Great is truth, and shall pre- vail. So upon the persecution of Stephen many of the brethren preached the word far and near, and the hand of the Lord was with them to the conversion of many: Acts xi. 19-23, 'Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them : and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem ; and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith : and much people were added unto the Lord.' The brethren that were dispersed and scattered by reason of persecution, fall upon preaching of the Lord Jesus ; and though they were laymen, yet the hand of the Lord was mightily with them, so that a great number believed and turned to the Lord. God is a free agent, and can work the hearts of men over to himself by what hand he pleases, and many times he doth the greatest works by the most despised hands, as it is evident in this instance. The apostles did not fret, and fume, and storm, and take on because these brethren preached the Lord Jesus without ordination to the work of the ministry. Oh no ; but they were glad, and rejoiced in their bring- ing in of souls to Christ, and they made it their work to exhort, encourage, and build up those that were brought in ; neither did they prohibit these brethren from preaching, because they had not apos- tolical hands laid on them, 1 Cor. i. 21, 25, 27. By these laymen's preaching Christ is revealed, and multitudes are converted, and truth is advanced, and the apostles are gladded. Now, by what hath been said, it is most evident that persecuting times are truth-advancing times. But,