Use 1. Information.
1. With what thoughts we should take up the stricter profession of Christianity, namely, with expectations of the cross. Many think they may be good christians, yet all their days live a life of ease and peace, without any trouble or molestation. This is all one as if one should list himself a soldier and never expect battle, or as if a mariner should go to sea and always expect a calm ; so unreasonable it is for a christian to expect no occasions of self-denial. No ; all that will go to heaven had need be prepared and resolved. We must be shod with the pre- paration of the gospel of peace, or else we shall be soon foundered and halt, Eph. vi. 15. You must allow for sufferings, and resolve upon the voyage whatever storms we meet with.
2. What fools they are that take up religion upon a carnal design of honour, ease, and plenty in the world. You may do so for a time, but the trials will come. There are inconveniences attend a true uniform zeal in the most peaceable times ; but now and then Christ cometh with his fan throughly to purge his floor ; therefore unless we can follow a naked Christ upon unseen encouragements, either we call that religion which is not religion, or else make way for a shameful retreat and change. The summer friends of the gospel, or those painted butterflies that flutter about it in the sunshine of prosperity, must expect a winter will come. Christ doth not invite his followers with promises of honour and riches, but rather telleth us of the cross, and persecution, and tribulation, of the worst at first, to discourage hypocrites, who cheapen and taste, but will not buy ; to forearm his people that they may not be offended, that they may be willing to suffer these things when the Lord sees fit. Now whether they come or no, we must be prepared. God never intended Isaac should be sacrificed, yet he will have Abraham lay the knife to his throat, and make all ready.
202 SEKMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. [SER. I.
3. How much they mistake that cannot endure to have their ears scratched with the remembrance of the cross, as if it were a lesson out of season, now when the profession of Christianity is generally received in the christian world.
[1.] The warnings are frequent in scripture. And do we think the whole burden was laid upon the primitive christians, that we might profess Christianity at ease ? John xvi. 1, ' These things have I told you, that you might not be offended.' As Augustine, Ep. ad Victori- ctnum — We pretend to believe the scriptures when we read them, and yet complain when they are fulfilled.
[2.] Though it be a pure calm for the present, and you see little need or use of this doctrine ; they that have no sore care not for the salve : but there are strange revolutions in the world. The Shunaraite, that stood in no need of the prophet, 2 Kings iv. 13, was fain to be beholden to the prophet's man, 2 Kings viii. 5. Such vicissitudes there are in human affairs.
[3.] It was never so well with the world but somewhat of Christ is made matter of dispute ; and disputes beget interests, and those interests create animosities and hatreds, and hatreds troubles. Many, where they could not bring the world to the gospel, would bring the gospel to the world ; and when they had contrived this discreet and middle course (as they thought), that should serve the turn for heaven and earth too, this begot the greatest contests in the christian world, and hath been the occasion of massacres, blood, and mischiefs in popery, which is Christianity disguised into a worldly thing.
[4.] Forearming and preparing for troubles helpeth the other parts of Christianity ; for it is the means to cause us sit loose from the creature, and to introduce that weanedness and mortification which is so serviceable to the practice and power of godliness. We can hardly discharge duties unless we prepare for troubles. Unless we get a habit of patience, we are not 6\oK\r)poi, James i. 4 ; and that which is lame is soon turned out of the way, Heb. xi. Christ can hardly be master of our persons unless he be master of our interests. We have them from his bounty, and therefore for his service do forego them when he calleth us thereunto. Martyrs are required in the time of the church's peace, as well as persecutions, to mortify our pride and worldliness, to tame our flesh ; that if the occasion be wanting, the will to suffer any- thing for Christ may not be wanting. Our salvation and heaven can- not be purchased at too dear a rate, Acts x. 39. You can be no losers by Christ, Heb. xi. 35.
4. It informeth us that if this be not our lot and portion, we ought the more to bless God, and to be the more careful in the duties which belong to the season, and in years of plenty lay up (as Joseph did) for a time of famine and scarcity.
[1.] Be the more strict and holy : Acts ix. 31, ' When the churches had rest, they were edified, walking in the fear of God.' When we are not called to passive obedience, our active obedience should be more cheerfully performed. But is it indeed so ? Our fathers suffered more cheerfully for Christ than we speak of him, and went more readily to the stake than we go to a sermon or the throne of grace. But yet it must be so, for our peace and comfort will cost us more in getting ;