ministers and suffering saints are as leaders ; they courageously and victoriously make the onset, and other Christians, by their pious examples, are pricked on to follow them so far as they are followers of the Lamb. But,
]2. Twelfthly, Consider, TJiat all the sufferings aiid persecutions that you meet with on earth shall advance your glory in heaven. The more saints are persecuted on earth, the greater shall be their reward in heaven.i Look, as persecutions do increase a Christian's grace, so they do advance a Christian's glory. In heaven the martyrs shall have the highest degree of glory ; for though God doth not reward men simply for their works, namely, for the merit of them, yet he re- wards according to their works, and proportions the degree or measure thereof according to the kind of work which on earth is done, and ac- cording to the measure of grace whereby he enables men to do it. Now martyrdom is the most difficult, the most honourable, and the most acceptable work that on earth can be done, and therefore in heaven martyrdom shall be crowned with the highest degree of glory. On this ground, they who set down the different degrees of celestial glory by the different fruits which the good ground brought forth, some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundredfold. Mat, xiii. 8 ; apply the hundred- fold, which is the highest and greatest degree of glory, to martjTdom. Doubtless God's suffering servants, and amongst them especially his martyrs, shall sit down in the chiefest mansions and in the highest rooms in the kingdom of glory, 2 According to the degrees of our sufferings for Christ will be the degrees of our glory. ' What shall we have,' says Peter, that have suffered so many great and grievous things for thy name, ' that have forsaken all, and followed thee ? ' ' Verily,' says our Saviour, ' every one that hath forsaken houses, &c,, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life ; but ye shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel,' Mat. xix, 27-29, A Christian will never repent of all the hard things that he has suffered for Christ or his truth, whenas every one of his suffer- ings shall be a sparkling jewel to give a lustre to his crown of glory. Suffering for Christ and religion is the most gainful kind of merchan- dise, Christ is so well pleased with the sufferings of his saints, that he has engaged himself to make up whatever they lose upon his account, yea, to repay all with interest upon interest to a hundred times over. Oh, who would not then turn spiritual purchaser ! Christ is a noble, a liberal paymaster, and no small things can fall from so great a hand as his is : Mat, v. 10-12, ' Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake : for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Kejoice, and be ex-
^ QuU quisvolens detrahit famce meae, nolens addit mercedi mem, saith Augustine — The more we suffer with and for Christ, the more glory we shall have with and from Christ, Rom. ii. 6.
^ Keep j-our eye upon the recompense of reward, as Moses did, Heb. xi. 26, and as Christ did, chap. xii. 2; as Paul did, Rom.viii. 18. This will work you— (].) To walk more holily, humbly, thankfully ; (2.) To live more cheerfully and comfortably; (3.) To suffer more patiently, freely, resolutely ; (4. ) To fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil more stoutly and valiantly ; (5.) To withstand temptations more steadfastly and strongly ; (6.) To be contented with a little; (7.) To leave the world, relations, and friends more willingly ; (8.) And to embrace death more joyfully.
TO ALL SUFFERING SAINTS. 445