6. And then again consider, that all the afflictioiis, troubles, and dis- couragements that befall you shall never rob you of your treasure, of your jewels. They may rob you of some slight, light things ; as the sword that is by your side, the stick that is in your hand, and the flower that is in your hats ; but they cannot rob you, they cannot strip you of your choice jewels and treasures. The jcvA'els and trea- sures of an upright heart is the spiritual ]:»resence of God, union with Christ, communion with Christ, joy that is unspeakable and glorious, peace that passeth understanding, spiritual comfort, the least drop of which is more worth than a world. Now all the afflictions and troubles that befalls you can never rob you of your jewels ; your trea- sure is safe. They may rob you of your sword, of your stick, of your flower ; but your jewel is safe. Some slight, poor, outward comforts they may rob you of. Oh, but your jewels is safe, your treasure is still safe. What an encouragement it is to a poor traveller to hold on his way, notwithstanding there be thieves and enemies, when he remembereth that all the thieves and enemies that he meets with cannot rob him of his treasures, of his jewels, that is about him ! they may take away his sword, or his stick, or his hat ; but his jewel is safe. 0 upright hearts ! your jewel is safe, your treasure is safe, and all the powers of darkness can never rob you of your God, of your Christ, of your comfort, of your inward peace ; therefore hold on against all discouragements and afflictions that you shall meet with.
7. Then again, in the next place, consider that your holding on in the ways of well-doing, notwithstanding all discouragements and afflic- tions that may befall you, is very acceptable to God; and [it] tends much to the glory and honour of God, for his people to hold on in the loays of iveU-doing against all discouragements that may befall them. The church of Pergamos did, and the Lord was taken with it : Rev. ii. 13, ' I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou hast held fiist my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among them where Satan dwelleth.'
The Lord here was much affected and taken with the constancy of the church, that it held on in his worship and ways, notwithstanding the discouragements and troubles that she met with. It is very honourable to God. Oh ! it is an honour to the power of God, to the wisdom of God, to the goodness of God, by holding on in his ways against all oppositions ; you declare to the world that there is no God like your God, and no ways like his ways ; nor no encouragements like those that he gives ; therefore hold on in the ways of well-doing against all discouragements.
8. But in the eighth and last place, do but consider the dangerous nature of apostasy ; and if there were no other argument to move men to hold on in the ways of God, in the ways of well-doing, against all discouragements and troubles that may befall them, yet this alone may carry their hearts bravely on against all troubles and afilictions. Consider the dangerous nature of apostasy. If you would judge of the dangerous nature of apostasy aright, you may do it by these few things : —
[l.J First, Consider what you fall from by apostatising from God,
Ps. XLIV. 18.] PROGRESS OF THE UPRIGHT. 353
from Ms truth, and from his ways. Oh ! consider that of all falls, the falls of such apostates are the most dangerous falls. Thou that playest the apostate, and turnest from the ways of God, and from the ways of well-doing, thou fallest from God, who is the greatest good ; thou fallest from his ways, that are the crown and the glory of the soul ; and from his truth, the least tittle of which is more worth than heaven and earth. Alas ! what are the falls of others to your falls ! Alexander the Third, he fell from a pope to be a gardener in Venice ; and Valerian fell from a golden chair to an iron cage ; and Dionysius fell from a king to be a schoolmaster ; and Nebuchadnezzar fell from a mighty prince to be a beast ; but what are these falls to thy falls, 0 apostate ! who fallest from heaven to hell — from the greatest good to the greatest evil I
We live in an apostatising age ; men wheel and turn about as second causes work, and are not steadfast with their God. These are days wherein grapes are turned into thorns, and figs into thistles ; wherein men that were persecuted by others, turn persecutors of others ; and men that were smitten by others, now by their pens and tongues bitterly smite others, even their fellow-brethren. These are days wherein lambs are turned into lions, and doves are turned into ser- pents ; and men that have acted like angels for God and his people, are turned to act like devils in respect of their rage and malice against God and his children, and against those ways wherein his people do walk. They are like the taxus of India, which the first year bears fruit, the second year leaves, and the third year poison. Thus it is with apostates of our time. For a time they bear fruit, a little after leaves, and now at last poison, the worst of all. Oh, consider the danger of apostasy ! By apostasy you fall from the greatest good, and from the present hope of mercy, and from the future hope of glory; for there is no sin that doth so strip a man of the present hope of mercy, and the future hope of glory, as the sin of apostasy : witness Spira, Judas, &c.
[2.] Then again, in the second place, judge of tlie dangerous nature of apostasy by the judgments of God that have fallen upon apostates, as upon Julian, Judas, Spira, &c. I remember Mr Foxe makes men- tion of a smith in King Edward the Sixth's days, who was instru- mental to convert a young man ; the young man being clapped in prison for the gospel's sake, sent for the smith, and asked him whether he would encourage him to stand for the truth, and to burn for reli- gion ; he answered, his cause was good, and he should do well to suffer for his religion ; but for his part he could not bring his heart over to burn for religion. But a little time after his shop was set on fire, and he was burned in the midst of it. Oh ! it would take up more time than is now allotted to me to set out the judgments of God that have befallen apostates that have been treacherous and base to God, to his ways, to his saints, and to the trust reposed in them.
[3.] Again, you may judge of the danger of apostasy by its near bordering upon the sin against the Holy Ghost, and hy the exceeding difft,culty of a mans recovering his ground, ivhen he hath once played the apostate, and turned his hack upon God and his ivays. Of all sins, the sin of apostasy comes nearest the unpardonable sin against
354 god's delight in the [Ps. XLIV. 18.