3. Weariness of troubles and persecutions is of the same ten- dency. It opens a door to apostasy. They are for the most part
VER. 12, 13.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 383
the portion of believers in this world. Nor have they cause to com- plain of their lot. They are told of it beforehand. Had they been allured on unto faith and profession with hopes and expectations of peace and prosperity in this world, and were they afterwards surprised with the cross, they might have some reason to complain. But the matter is quite otherwise. Our Saviour hath told us plainly, that if we will not “take up the cross” we must let him alone. ‘Tf,’ saith he, ‘you will follow me, you must take up the cross; yea, fathers, mo- thers, houses, lands, and possessions, if called for (and probably they will be called for), must all go, or be foregone, for my sake and the gospel’s. If you like not these terms, you may let them and me alone. §o our apostle assures us, that “they who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” 2 Tim. iii. 12. There isa kind of profession that may escape well enough in the world, such as men shall have no disadvantage by in this life—nor advantage in that which is to come. But that profession whieh causeth men to “live godly in Christ Jesus,” will for the most part be attended with per- secution. And this are we all forewarned of. But so foolish are we generally, as that when these things befall us, we are apt to be sur- prised, as if some strange thing, something foreign to our condition, had seized on us; as the apostle Peter intimates, 1 Pet. iv. 12, And if men by their natural courage, their spirit to sustain infirmities, can hold out the first brunt of them, yet when they begin to return and to be prolonged, to follow one upon another, and no way of deliver- ance or of ending them be in view, they are apt to be weary, and cast about, like men in a storm, how they may give over their intended voyage and retreat into some harbour, where they may be in peace and safety, Omission of provoking duties or compliance with pleas- ing ways, in such a condition, begins to be considered as a means of relief. And this with many is an entrance into apostasy, Matt. xiii. 21. And this is confirmed, as by testimonies of the Scripture, so by instances and examples in all ages of the church. This, therefore, our apostle in an especial manner treats with these Hebrews about, plainly declaring that if they grew weary of their troubles, they would quickly fail in their profession, chap. vi. 11, 12; and he multi- plies both reasons and examples to encourage them unto the con- trary, chap. xxii. For when men begin to wax weary of troubles and persecutions, and to make their own carnal reasonings, affections, and desires, to be the measure of their suffering, or what it is meet for them to undergo upon the account of the gospel, they will quickly decline from it. Now, because this is the common way and means whereby men are brought to decays in the'r profession, and insen- sibly unto apostasy, it may not be amiss to subjoin some few consi- erations which may help to relieve our spirits under their troubles, and to preserve them from fainting or being weary; as,—
384 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ' [CHAP. Iv.
1. What is it that these troubles do or can deprive us of, what- ever their continuance be? Is it of heaven, of everlasting rest, of peace with God, of communion with Christ, of the love and honour of saints and angels? These things are secured utterly out of their reach, and they cannot. for one moment interrupt our interest in them. ‘This is Paul’s consideration, Rom. viii. 38, 39. And had we a due valuation of these things, what may outwardly befall us in this world on their account would seem very light unto us, and easy to be borne, 2 Cor. iv. 15-18.
2. What is it that they fall upon and ean reach unto? It may be they may deprive us of our riches, our liberty, our outward ease and accommodations, our reputation in the world. But what perish- ing trifles are these, compared to the eternal concerns of our immortal souls! It may be they may reach this flesh, these carcasses that are every day crumbling into dust. But shall we faint or wax weary on their account? Suppose we-should, to spare them, turn aside to some crooked paths, wherein we suppose we may find security, God can send diseases after us that shall irrecoverably bring on us all those evils which by our sins we have sought to avoid. He can give a commission to a disease to make the softest bed a severe prison, and fill our loins and bones with such pains as men cannot inflict on us and keep us alive under them. And for death itself, the height, complement, and end of temporary trouble, how many ways hath he to cast us into the jaws of it, and that ina more terrible manner than we need fear from the ehildren of men! and shall we, to preserve a perishing life, which, it may be, within a few days a fever or a fea- ther may deprive us of, startle at the troubles which, on the account of Christ and the gospel, we may undergo, and thereby forfeit all the consolations of God, which are able to sweeten every condition unto us? This consideration is proposed unto us by Jesus Christ himself, Matt. x. 28.