3. The last is for consolation, a man that hath this calling unto glory, Oh how marvellously may such an one be joyful in all tribulations, sorrows, and crosses. Oh but, says one, I am in poverty, what shall I do ? Stay a while, and glory will come, and thou shalt be rich as the best. Oh, may some other say, but I am tormented with sorrow and sickness, yea, am so loathsome, as doth make me stink in my own sight, and be a burden to myself and others, — a thing which may befall even God's dear children. Oh but think then even this loathsome vile body is appointed unto glory, and glory will come ere it be long. And so in my children and friends, in whose death, as a heathen said, we die often (b) ; yet I will rest in this, in that God hath taken them into perpetual rest, in that they are laid up in
* Qu. ' warmed ' ? — Ed.
504 A GLIMPSE OF GLOKY.
the bosom of my Saviour, and are heirs of glory. I will think them all most safe. Oh but grisly death comes ; what of all this ? This shall cheer me most of all. There may well be a little struggling, but I shall over- come : this shall be to me the door of life and rest. Then will I think and expect the bright morning shall come, and look for a glorious wakening. So of all Satan's temptations, how many, mighty, or great soever they be, though they vex me sore for a time, yet I shall get double strength by them, having once overcome, for he who most wrestles thus hath most strength at last. All they shall make me but so much the stronger to con- tend for this glory ; yea, all the sufferings of this life shall not be able to rob me of the same ; for strong is my Redeemer to confirm me unto the end. What shall I say more ? If we were not novices, and unacquainted in this our calling to glory, we could not be so distempered at our own crosses and losses, and those of others. What will not the hope of glory go through? Lord, so work upon our hearts, that we may know what the excellence of this our calling is lo glory, that so we contend for the same.
NOTES.
(a) P. 4y4. — ' One Francis Spira.' See note, Vol. III. page 533, note qq.
(b) P. 503. — ' So in my children and friends, in whose death, as a heatlien said, we die often.' Seneca, in his Epistolce ; but it is a commonplace of the Classics.
G.
THE PATTERN OF PURITY;
And every one that hath this hope in him purijieth himself, even as he is pure.
—1 John III. 3.
I SHALL not need to stand on any curious division of these words : if you please shortly for your memory's sake to observe these three things :
1. The workman. 2. The work. 8. The pattern to be imitated.
1. The ivorkman is ' every one that hath hope in him,' every one that looks to be like the Lord Jesus in the kingdom of glory, he is the man must set about this task. 2. Secondly, The ivoik is a work to be wrought by himself; he is a part of the Lord's husbandry, and he must take pains as it were to plough his own ground, to weed his own corn, he must purify himself; this is the work. 3. Thirdly, The pattern by ichich he must be directed is the pattern of the Lord Jesus his purity. Put him for a pattern and instance ; look unto him that is the author and finisher of our faith ; as you have seen him do, so do you ; as he is pure, so labour you to express in your hves the virtue of him who hath redeemed you. These be the three particulars.
Not to stand on curiosity, but to fall to the work in hand, the work is purity, ' to purify ourselves ;' that howsoever this is a task which is now laughed out of countenance, — purity is become a nickname, those that will be thus are counted the scorn of the world, a reproach to men, — yet it is a point so absolutely needful unto salvation, that if thou despise it thou despisest thyself. If thou hast a hope to be saved, thou must do this ; so that if a man do not purify himself, and take pains this way and overgo the scorns of the world, and cannot get the mastery, but will be kept out of heaven for a laugh of the world, he is worthy to go to his place, he is worthy of damnation.
But for the workman that God puts this task on, it is ' every one that hath this hope.' What hope is that, you see in the verse before. Now we are the sons of God ; it doth not yet appear what we shall be : but we
* 'The Pattern of Purity' forms No. 13 of the original edition of the Saint's Cordials. 1629. It was withdrawn in the other two editions. Its separate title- page is as follows :— ' The Patterne of Pvritie : Wherein is shewed, What Purity of heart is. The necessitie and excellency thereof. The meanes how to purifie our selves. "With divers other particulars concerning the same. Prselucendo Pereo. Vprightnes Hath Boldnes. London, Printed in the yeare 1629.'