[3.] He that soundly believeth the promises of God will not stick much at suffering by the hatred of the world ; he doth but lose a feather to win a crown : Mat. v. 11, ' Kejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.'
[4.] This kind of government is necessary to prevent that scurf and dross which is apt to overgrow the church and particular believers, the scurf of hypocrites creeping into the visible societies of the faithful. When profession is cheap, many will take it up though their hearts be not with God, Mat. xiii. 21 ; and the scurf and dross of vanity and cor- ruption growing into the lives of the saints, as filth on standing waters. Tribulation is God's fan and physic : Mat. iii. 11, 'Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor ; ' Isa. xxix. 9, ' By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged out.'
Doct. 2. We have no reason to wonder at it, if it prove our lot to meet with the world's hatred.
This is dissuaded in two places, and there is a different word used in both, as here in the text, and 1 Peter iv. 12, ' Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial.' We wonder at what is great and grievous, terrible and strange, at what is rare, new, and unusual, not thought of before.
First, I will inquire how we are apt to wonder, or to count it grie- vous and strange — (1.) Out of security ; (2.) Impatience of the cross.
1. Out of our security. The children of God are loath to forecast trials, and therefore, if we have any rest from troubles, we think it will be perpetual : Ps. xxx. 6, ' I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved,' As if this breathing-time and short truce were a sure peace,
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that will never be interrupted. If we can put a carnal pillow under our heads, we lie down and sleep, and dream of much worldly ease, as if all bitterness were past, and so are very apt and subject to security, usually when trials are nearest. Christ finds his disciples asleep just as the high priest's officers were coming to attack him, Mat. xxvi. 40, and Jonah was asleep in the ship when about to be thrown into the sea, Jonah i. 5.
2. Impatiency of the cross. We consult with present sense ; ease is pleasing to flesh and blood. We say rest is good, and are loath to have our ears grated with the remembrance of the cross, though Christ biddeth us take it up daily, Luke ix. 36, in the preparation of our minds, and reconciling and making it familiar to our thoughts before it Cometh ; therefore we remove those things out of our thoughts, and so marvel and are amazed when they come upon us.
Secondly, Why is marvelling forbidden.? what great harm is there in that ? (1.) That we may not be surprised ; (2.) Perplexed or offended when the trial befalleth us.
1. We must not marvel or be amazed, as men are when they meet with some new and strange thing, but be affected as with a matter we looked for before, and accordingly have prepared for it. Sorrows fore- seen leave not so sad and forcible an impression upon the spirit : Job iii. 15, ' The evil which I feared is come upon me.* Vv^'hen we expect evils, they hurt the less ; but when it cometh unlooked for, it is the more burdensome. That child saith his lesson best that hath often conned it over.
2. Perplexed or offended ; for this marvelling is forbidden in order to offence ; when we see nothing befalleth us but what we have heard of beforehand, and were warned of long beforehand, we are not so apt to stagger at the cross, and shrink under it : John xvi. 1, ' These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be offended.' We pretend to believe the scriptures when we read them, 3'et complain when they are fulfilled. Never any one afflicted as I am, scorned and hated as I am ; and all because we promised to ourselves a more quiet estate than the world's hatred or the tenor of God's dispensations will permit.
Thirdly, What reasons there are to take off our marvel.
1. Our troubles, by which the world's hatred is manifested, are decreed by God ; the fulfilling of God's eternal counsel and decrees should be no marvel to us : Kom. viii. 29, ' He hath predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Son ; ' first in affliction, then in glory : 1 Thes. iii. 3, ' That no man should be moved by these afflictions, for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.' There is nothing strange in it, but what God hath determined to come upon us.
2. We should not marvel at that which we are frequently forewarned of: these things are foretold in scripture: 'You shall be hated of all men for my name's sake,' Mark xiii. 13 ; John xv. 19, ' Because I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hatetli you ; ' John xvi. 33, ' In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world ; ' Acts xiv. 22, ' That we through much tribulation should enter into the kingdom of heaven ;' 2 Tim. iii. 12, ' All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution.'