JaS. V. 10.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. 427
Of sufferincj afflictions and of pc Hence ; that is, when God maketh us like ithem in sufferings, we should be like them in patience. It is comfortable to come into their lot, and to be bound up in the same bundle of honour with them. Their example is produced partly to take off prejudice. The matter is not strange ; it is not our case alone. We are apt to say, Never man in such a case as I, ' Is any sorrow like to my sorrow ?' Lam. i. 12. Yes ; this was the lot of all the prophets. Partly to allay the shame. We do not suffer with the rude multitude, but with the prophets. Partly to encourage our imitation. Examples have a singular efficacy ; man is apt to be led by companj^ The points are these : —
Obs. 1. The examples of the saints do much encourage us to patience. Man is a ductile creature, more apt to be led by the eye than the ear. We look upon precepts as calculated for notion and fancy ; practices are a great confirmation. The strictest and severest ways are not im- possible, nor untrodden ; that which hath been may be done. Besides they are a check to delicacy ; we may say as Elijah, ' I am not better than my fathers ; ' can we look for more privilege than the prophets ? Minors are ashamed when they cannot endure that which men of a higher order have endured : Micah was in prison, Jeremy in the dungeon, Isaiah sawed asunder, and shall we stick at a little suffering ? Our betters have endured far worse. Besides, good company is a great en- couragement. ' Having such a cloud of witnesses,' &c., saith the apostle, Heb. xii. 1 — it is an allusion to the pillar of the cloud that guided the Israelites — having such a pillar going before us, we may travel to heaven the more cheerfully.
Obs. 2. Afflictions light on all ranks of saints, but especially upon the prophets. The cross is kindly to our order ; to preach is nothing, but to bait the world. ^ We are God's ambassadors, but we are often ambassadors in chains, Eph. vi. 20. What recompense did the prophets receive for all their pains and expense of spirits, but saws, and swords, and dungeons ? It is almost as necessary a character of a minister to be much in afflictions, as to be much in spirit and much in labours. God hath reserved us, in these latter days, for all the contempt and scorn that villany and outrage can heap upon our per- sons. But it is no matter ; it is the badge of our order, and we know where to have better entertainment ; no matter though the world count us scurf and refuse, when Jesus Christ counteth us his own glory : the messengers of the churches are the filth of the world, 1 Cor. iv. 13 ; but the glory of Christ, 2 Cor. viii. 23 ; it were suspicion enough that we were not true to our master, when we are dandled on the world's knees.
Obs. 3. From that ivhich spoJce to us in the name of the Lord. It noteth the cause of their sufferings, the faithful discharge of their ofiice, only for speaking in God's name. Sufferings are comfortable when they overtake us in the way of duty. It is sad to be spewed out of God's mouth, and to be made contemptible for being partial in the law, Mai. ii. 9, when the Lord maketh us base before the people. It is indeed his usual course with corrupt dispensers of holy mysteries ; it is others' malice, but God's judgments. But now, if it be for the
^ ' Prseclicare nihil aliud est quam derivare in se fiirorem miindi.' — Luther.
428 AN' EXPOSITION', WITH NOTES, [JaS. V. 11.
faitliful pcrformnnoe of your place, for speaking boklly in the name of the Lord, you may bind it as a crown to your liead. Why should we care for the scorns of an unthankful world, when we have such a good master ? It is an honour for us to lose our name for God's, and it is no matter though we be nothing, so Christ be all in all ; a minister should be like one in a crowd, that lifteth up another to ])ublic view, though himself be jostled and lost in the throng; so Christ be exalted, it is no matter though we suffer loss.
Ver. 11. Behold, ice count titou haj)py which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord ; that the Lord is very pit if id, and of tender mercy.
The drift of the context is to persuade to patience : in this verse many things are offered to that i)urpose.
Behold, we count them ha^ipy that endure. — We, it may im])ly — First, The judgment of all men ; mere men are wont to have high thoughts of them that can })ear the brunt of afflictions. Note : —
Ohs. 1. That meek patience in afflictions is a taking thing even in the eyes of men. There is a double reason implied in the words toi"? vTTOfiivovTa';, those that endure misery, and fortitude in misery. Now misery worketh upon pity, and fortitude calleth for praises ; miseries \vork upon weak spirits, and constancy in miseries upon generous spirits. Fortitude in miseries is more taken than elsewhere ; there is more of choice in it than of furious and brutish valour. Seneca observeth,^ that the burning of Mutius' hand was a greater token of his courage than fighting an enemy. Those that are engaged in a good cause need not despair; we shall gain somewhat with mere men ; a resolute constancy and a meek patience may recover those friends which the miscarriages of a prosperous condition have lost : provi- dence ordereth such things for good. But remember you cannot take this comfort but in a good cause. Sometimes wicked ones are the depressed party. All would entitle their sufferings to persecution, as the Donatists did in Austin's time ; and therefore though sufferings are creditable, yet we nuist know that the persecuted cause is not always the best. Sarah was a tyi)C of the true church, and Hagar of the false ; now Sarah she corrected Hagar. There is an unquiet generation ; when they suffer anything, they call it persecution, when it is but just punishment. As the Moabites, when they saw the waters look ruddy through the reflection of the morning sun, thought them mingled with blood ; so many voice up })ersecution and mar- tyrs' blood when their insolences are but a little corrected and re- strained.