2. With respect to Christ, whose example should be of force to us both for suffering and patience in suffering. For suffering, there is a cer- tain measure of affliction fitted and prepared for Christ and all his
12 SERMON UPON JOHN XYIII. 11.
followers ; the bitter cup goetli round from hand to hand ; the whole wave dashed upon Christ, some drops light upon us : Col. i. 24, 'Who now rejoice in my sufferings for j'ou, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his body's sake, which is the church.' And for patience in suffering : Heb. xii. 2, 3, ' Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds ; ' 1 Peter ii. 21, ' Christ also sufifered for us, leav- ing us an example, that ye should follow his steps ;' and ver. 23, ' Who Avhen he was reviled, reviled not again ; when he suffered, he threat- ened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.' He hath trod the way before us, and his steps drop fatness : Mat. xx. 23, * Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the bap- tism that I am baptized with ; but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.' There are two things ; if any would be nearer in dignity to Christ than others, it is not in reigning, but in suffering with Christ, in drinking Christ's cup ; but for preferment in another world, and to have a larger measure of honour, that is given to those for whom it is appointed. We are to prepare for the cross. The other is, the new covenant engageth us hereunto, for there is an allusion to the sacraments. Therefore Christ useth these notions.
Use 1. Showeth what provision the christian religion maketh for patience : Rom. xv, 4, ' For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope.' This patience and comfort of the scriptures is a higher thing than what is learnt by the institutions of philosophy. Tam m ipsis falsa erat patientia, quam et falsa sapieniia — Cypr. Both their patience and their wisdom is false. The grounds of patience from the christian religion are particular providence, adop- tion, the example of Christ, the assistance of the Spirit, the desert of sin, the fruit of afflictions, both as to the refining of grace and prepar- ing us for glory: Heb. xii. 11, ' Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous ; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby.'
Use 2. To exhort us to bear whatsoever God shall lay upon us.
1. Seek this grace of God, both the wisdom and the power to calm the spirit: Col. i. 11, ' Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness ; ' James i. 5, ' If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask it of God.' Man's strength is not the strength of bulls ; it doth not lie in brutish force, but strength of reason. Our own reason is too feeble to encounter our passions if not assisted by grace ; they are not healed by time, but spiritual wisdom : Ps. xciv. 19, ' In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.'
2. Expostulate with yourselves, and cite all your passions before the tribunal of reason : Ps. xlii. 5, ' Why art thou cast down, 0 my soul ?
SEKMON UPON JOHN XVIII. 11. 13
why art thou disquieted within me ? ' God puts Jonah to the ques- tion : chap. iv. 4, ' Dost thou well to be angry ? ' So should we argue with ourselves : With whom are you displeased? Is it with God ? He doth what he pleaseth ; he might cast thee into hell, and art thou angry because of his temporal chastisement ? He hath bestowed many mercies upon thee, and shall he not take his seasons to chastise thee ? Art thou angry with man ? But is not God's hand in it ? Hast not thou done so to others ? Eccles. vii. 22, ' For oftentimes also thy own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.'
SERMON UPON LUKE XXIII. 34.
FatTier, forgive them^for tliey know noiichaf tJieijdo. — Luke xxiii. 34.
The words of the dying are wont to be much observed. When men depart out of the body, they are usually more serious and divine, and speak with greater weight. As a man that is to take a journey trusseth up his bundle or fardle, so when men are to take a journey to God, and are upon the brink of the everlasting state, they are wont to gather up whatever is of a divine and immortal nature. Especially the speeches of the godly dying are to be regarded, who, having laid aside worldly affairs and earthly thoughts, are wholly exercised in the contemplation of heavenly things. Therefore in scripture we read of David's last words, 2 Sam. xxiii. 1, and of Joshua, chap, xxiii. 14, 'And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth ;' but before he goes he would leave this testimony for God : 'Ye know in all your hearts, and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you, all are come to pass unto yon, and not one thing hath failed thereof.' So Jacob, Moses, Simeon : Luke ii. 29, 30, ' Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word ; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,' Paul : 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8, ' I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith : henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Loid, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.' Now certainly, if any man's dying speeches are to be observed, Christ's are much moie. Job said, chap. xix. 23, 24, ' Oh, that my words were now written ! oh, that they were printed in a book ! that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever ! ' It were well if Christ's words wei'e written, not in cedar, but in our own hearts. They reckon seven short speeches of Christ upon the cross, and this is the first; when he begins to break off his silence, it is to pray for his persecutors : ' Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' In which words there is —