3. We renounced all at our first coming to Christ. Estate, credit, liberty, life, it was all laid at Christ's feet, if our hearts were really upright with him. A man must lay down self, whatever it be, else he cannot be Christ's disciple. Mat. xvi. 24 ; Luke xiv. 26. This was done in vow, in a time of peace ; therefore it must be actually done and made good in a time of trouble. Your interests are God's, and are only given back to God again ; your estate, life, liberty, and credit, all
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given up. AVhy ? That you may have something of value to esteem as nothing for Christ.
4. Our sutferings shall be abundantly recompensed and made up in tlie world to come: Eom. viii. 18, ' I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed.' For a man to stand comparing his interest or sufferings here in this world with the glory revealed, is as foolish a thing as if a man should set a thousand pound weight with a feather. So 2 Cor. iv. 17, ' Our light affliction,' &c. We are often saying, If we lose this and that, what will become of us ? what shall we have ? Mat. xix. 27-29, ' We have left all.' A great all they had left for Christ ; it 2nay be a net, a fisher-boat, a cottage ; yet he speaks magnificently of it, and ' what shall we have ? ' Have ! You shall have enough ; ' in the regeneration you shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.^
5. You should not warp, thougli you carry your lives in your hands, because constancy is necessary. How necessary ? For our credit and good name as we are men : ' Do I use lightness ? ' saitli the apostle, 2 Cor. i. 17. Men lose their authority and esteem, they are not accounted grave, serious, and weighty, when they shift and change, and appear with a various face to the world ; and certainly it is for our comfort, for our right to everlasting blessedness is most sensibly clear by constancy in God's cause : Phil. i. 28, ' And in nothing terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.' Oh! what would a man give for to clear this, that he is an heir of God ? This is an evident token ; and it is necessary for the credit of the truth which we profess. When we shift, turn, and wind, we bring a dishonour upon it; but, saitli the apostle, Phil. i. 14, 'They waxed confident by my bonds;' this puts heart and courage. And it is for the honour of God : 1 Peter ii. 14, ' On your part he is glorified ;' and John xxi. 19, ' Signifying by what death he should glorify God.' Since constancy is so necessary, either we should not take up principles, or suffer for them if called thereunto.
Use 1. Caution to the people of God. Take heed you do not forget the word, when you carry your lives in your hand. Many of God's people may do so sometimes, as when we deny the truth : Mat. xxvi. 72, ' Peter denied before them all, saying, I know not the man.' Or when we take any sinful course for temporal safety, as when David feigned himself mad before Achish, 1 Sam. xxi. 13. Or when our spirits are filled with passion against the instruments of our trouble, and with uncomely heats, as Peter drew a sword in a rash zeal, and had no thanks for it, but a rebuke from Christ. Or when we suffer in a heartless and comfortless manner, as God's children sometimes are in dejections of spirit. David took notice of his drooping and discon- solateness, Ps. xlii. 5 ; when he flitted up and down in the wilderness, pursued with Saul's army, he had his droopings and discomforts. In these cases we forget the word of God.
Use 2. To press you to courage and constancy in a time of danger; to endure all extremities, rather than do anything against the word of God. Here I shall inquire : —
1. What is this Christian courage ? There is military valotu' and
126 SERMONS uroN PSALM cxix. [Ser. CXIX.
Christian valour. The one consists in doino;, the other in suffering, great things. Peter, at Christ's death, had more of the military valour and fierceness than of the passive valour, for he that could venture on a band of men v/as foiled by a damsel's question. The one dependcth on hastiness of temper, greatness of blood and spirits ; the other upon faith and submission to God's will : Acts vii. 55, ' He being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.' It is spoken when the people gnashed on him with their teeth, then full of the Holy Ghost. There is the habit of fortitude, and the act of it when led on. There is a great deal of difference between the courage of wicked men, and the faith and fortitude of good Christians. We see rude men are undaunted in the face of danger, but the fortitude of Christians con- sisteth in lifting up their eyes and hearts to heaven ; others not, for as soon as they think of God, their courage faileth ; the more brave, the more they shut out the thouglit of divine things, all sense of God and immortality : 1 Cor. xv. 32, ' Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die.^ It is a brutish fury, inflamed by wine, stirred up by trum- pets and drums, not stirred up by the consolations of God, or remem- brance of his covenant ; then they are dejected, Eev. vi. 15-17.