[4.] If the less be countervailed by a greater gain, you have no reason to stick at it. In the general, it is gain to a believer to die : Phil. i. 21, ' For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain ; ' and 2 Cor. v. 1, ' For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dis- solved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.' Much more to a martyr God is able to make it up : Mark x. 29, 30, ' Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the gospel, but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, and in the world to come life eternal.' When he calls for you to come home to him by a persecu- tor's hand, you have death abundantly recomjiensed. Therefore you may die with the greater confidence and joy ; it is not an ordinary place is reserved for you in heaven. The promise is certain, and your dying upon this occasion maketh your claim sure.
Secondly, The absoluteness of their conquest and victory — ' We are more than conquerors.'
But there seemeth to be a contradiction between the two branches, the greatness of the trial, and the absoluteness of their conquest: they ;ue killed all the day long, how then are they conquerors, and more than conquerors ?
Answer 1. Some refer it to the kind of the conquest ; they have a nobler victory than if they conquered them by the sword. The con- quest of faith is more than a conquest gotten by a temporal force, and the power of the long sword : 1 John v. 4, .5, ' For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world ; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God ? '
2. Others to the degree of victory.
[1.] It is a conquest when we keep what we have : as Job i. 22, ' In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.' They are con- querors under trouble who are kept free from sin and provocation ; in the hour of trial they stand their ground ; however assaulted, their bow abideth in its strength, Gen. xlviii. 24.
[2.] It is more than a conquest when we gain by it. That is, first, when graces are strengthened, that is, a greater spirit of faith cometh upon them: 2 Cor. iv. 13, 'We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken ; we also believe, and therefore speak.' Their love is more fervent ; as fountain water is hottest in coldest weather usually : Mat. xxiv. 12, ' The love of many shall wax cold ;' but when their love groweth hotter, and their zeal for God is so great that the minds of persecu- tors are daunted, then they are more than conquerors. Secondly, When experiences are enlarged, and they have a fresher and more lively sense of God's love to them : Eom. v. 5, ' Because the love of
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God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Grhost given nnto us ; ' 1 Peter iv. 14, ' If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you ; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.' So one in prison said, Se divhias marfyrum consolationes sensisse ; when they are more secured in the love of God. Thirdly, Their reward is increased. Certainly it is above their trouble : 2 Cor. iv. 17, ' For our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' It is likely they have more, Mark x. 29, 30. In the day of judgment more honour and praise : 1 Peter iv. 6, 7, ' That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, may be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Christ Jesus.'
Thirdly, The author or cause of the victory, or the power by which they conquer, hia tov dya7rriaavTo<i, through him that loved us. Here observe—
1. That Christ is not estranged from his people by their afflictions, but rather is more tender of them the more they are wronged by others.
2. That loving them, he doth overrule these things, and cause them to become a means to do them good.
3. He doth not only overrule these occurrences of providence, but doth give them the Spirit of grace.
4. That giving them the Spirit of grace, they overcome in his strength, not their own.
5. That Christ's love is more powerful to save us than the world's hatred to destroy us.
Doct. 2. That a true believer doth not miscarry under his troubles, but overcome them — yea, more than overcome them. Here I shall show — (1.) The nature of the victory. (2.) How more than conquerors. (3.) Who is this true believer that will be more than a conqueror. (4.) Keasons why more than conquerors. (5.) Application.