[7.] Seventhly and lastly, As persecuting times are truth-advancing times : so persecuting times are a Christians rejoicing times. A Christian's heart is never so full of joy, as it is when he is under sufferings : Acts v. 41, ' And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.' They counted it an honour to be dishonoured for Christ ; they took it as a grace to be disgraced for Jesus. Stephen found the joys of heaven in his heart as the stones came clattering about his ears. Acts vii. 55, 5Q. So Paul and Silas, when they were in prison, their hearts were so full of joy that they could not hold, but at mid-
290 THE NECESSITY, EXCELLENCY, RARITY, [HeB. XII. 14,
night when others were a-sleeping, they must fall a-singing out the praises of the Most High, Acts xvi. 25.1 They found more pleasure than pain, more joy than sorrow, more comfort than torment in their bonds. The rods with which they were whipped were as rods made up all of rosemary branches. Divine consolations rise so high in their souls, that their prison was turned into a palace, yea, into a paradise. Paul was a man that took a great deal of pleasure in his sufferings for Christ : 2 Cor. xiL 10, ' Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake.' He did not only bear his sufferings patiently, but cheerfully also. He often sings it out, * I Paul a prisoner/ as you may see by comparing the scriptures in the margin together,2 ' of Jesus Christ;' not, I Paul an apostle, nor I Paul rapt up in the third heaven, nor I Paul that have more gifts, parts, and learning than others ; but ' I Paul a prisoner^ to shew how much he rejoiced in his bonds and suffer- ings for Christ. Chrysostom did not hold Paul so happy for his rap- ture into paradise, as he did for his imprisonment for Christ. So Rom. V. 3, 4, ' And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation works patience, and patience experience, and experience hope.' Old soldiers could not glory and joy more in their marks and scars of honour, than these saints did in their tribu- lations and persecutions for Christ's sake. Eabbi Simeon Ben Jochai lived twelve years in a dark dungeon for fear of the Eoman persecu- tion in the reign of Trajan the emperor ; and he called his dark dun- geon Zohar, that is, splendour, because God had turned his darkness into light, and made up the want of the light of the sun by the light of his countenance, and by the shinings of the Sun of righteousness upon his soul. Eusebius tells us of Algerius the Italian martyr, how that, writing to his friend from a stinking dungeon, he dates his letter 'from my delicate orchard;' such were his divine consolations, that they turned his dungeon into a pleasant orchard. ' I with my fellows,' saith Mr Philpot, ' were carried to the coal-house, where we do rouze^ together in the straw, as cheerfully, we thank God, as others do in their beds of down.'^ Mr Bradford put off his cap, and thanked the Lord, when his keeper's wife brought him word that he was to be burned the next day : and Mr Taylor fetched a frisk when he was come near to the place where he was to suffer. Henry and John, two Augustine monks, being the first that were burned in Germany, and Mr Rogers, the first that was burned in Queen Mary's days, did all sing in the flames. If men did but know by experience the sweet that is in suffering for Christ, they would desire with Chrysostom, if it were put to their choice, rather to be Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ, than Paul rapt up in the third heaven. One of the holy women that
* Oh, how my heart leapeth for joy, said Mr Philpot, that I am so near the apprehen- sion of eternal life !
2 Eph. iii. 1, and iv. 1; 2 Tim. i. 8; Phil. i. 9, 23; Col. iv. 10; Eom. xvi. 7. Paul rattles his chain which he bears for the gospel's sake, and was as proud of it as a woman of her ornaments, saith Chrysostom.
» 'Lie in filth .'—G.
* Acts and Mon., fol. 857. And Master Glover, the martyr, wept for joy of his im- prisonment. William Hunter's mother, that suffered under Bonner, told him that she was glad that ever she was so happy as to bear such a child as could find in his heart to die for Christ's sake.
HeB. XII. 14.] AND BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. 291