(2.) By a resolution against all known dangers. It will cost us loss of credit: 1 Cor. iv. 13, ' We are made as the filth of the world, and the ofF-scouring of all things unto this day.' Used as the unworthiest creatures in tlie world, as the sweeping and filth of the city ; many were cast forth as unworthy to live in any civil corporation or society of men. It will cost us loss of estate : Heb. x. 34, 'And took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, apTrayiiv.' There was pretence of law against the christians, yet much rapine used in the execution of it — the word signifieth, it was violently rent and torn from them. Nay, not only so, but they suffered loss of life and limb, and were forced to seal iheir profession with their blood ; and till we come to that resolution, wo are not completely faithful with Christ : Heb. xii. 4, 'Ye have not
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yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.' As soon as we are regene- rate, we renounce the devil and the world, and bid defiance to these things ; our life is a continual warfai'e. Now, if we have a reserve, that as soon as it cometh to danger of death, we will give over, we are not as yet thoroughly resolved to be christian.s. The promise runneth, Eev. ii. 10, 'Be thou faithful to death, and I will give thee a crown of life.' The same duty is required of us that was required of Christ. Now Clirist was ' obedient to death,' Phil. ii. 7. Many may sustain some reproaches for Christ's sake, make some small losses, sacrifice their weaker lusts, hoping to satisfy God thereby ; as Saul destroyed the weaker cattle of Amalek at God's command, but reserved the fattest. No, life and all must be laid at Christ's feet.
4. Thus to be prepared for death should be the great care of a christian, and many considerations are necessary to press this.
[1.] That God is lord of life, and will dispose of it at his pleasure. He that gave life is the lord of it; for he hath the free disposal of his own gift, to continue it, or take it back, as he shall think fit. It is a mercy that God only and properly hath potestatem vilce et neci's, the power of life and death ; it is not in the power of enemies to take it away at their pleasure ; for the sovereign disposal of his creature is in God's hand : Mat. x. 29, ' A sparrow cannot fall upon the ground without our heavenly Father.' It is not in the power of your own hands ; for you cannot make one hair black or white ; you are not lords of your lives, but guardians. Well then, it is in the power of God alone ; and shall not he dispose of his own, and do with it what he pleaseth ?
[2.] Many of the lives of birds and beasts go for us daily, and we would be troubled if we should be retrenched of this liberty when our necessities require it ; and hath not God a greater right and power over us than we have over the birds and beasts ? His right is original, ours by grant and free gift ; his power is ab.solute, ours limited ; for the good man is not cruel to his beast ; and we sin when we destroy them in wantonness, and sacrifice them to our lusts. AVe are to give an account of ourselves, and all the creatures which we possess ; but God giveth no account of his matters. Now if we count it no cruelty to take the life of the creatures, why should we think of God as cruel, and despising the life of his creatures, because he requireth them to lay down their lives upon just and convenient reasons ? There is a greater distance between us and God than between us and the meanest worm.
[3.] If you deny him your life, he can snatch it from you in fury, and take it whether you will or no ; if you sin to escape sufferings, you leap into hell to escape a little pain upon earth: Luke xii. 4, 5, ' And I say unto you, my friends, be not afraid of them that can kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear ; fear him, which, after he hath killed, hath power to cast' into hell ; yea, I say unto you, fear him.' Men may by God's permission kill the body, but God can cast body and soul into hell fire. You think it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of men ; it is indeed (j)o^epov, Heb. x. 31, 'a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.' The carriage of your very enemies
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should awaken your feith ; why should you fear them more than they are afraid of God ? In persecuting they run the hazard of the wrath of God; in suffering persecution you run the hazard of the wrath of men : your fear j ustifieth their boldness ; if you be afraid of men, they may as well contemn God. They run upon the greater difficulties, and you, by complying with them, incur greater misery than you avoid.