_Thirdly_, The text speaks to you that are patiently suffering for the truth’s sake: “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; great shall be your reward in heaven.” For to you it is given, not only to believe, but also to suffer, and perhaps remarkably too, for the sake of JESUS! This is a mark of your discipleship, an evidence that you do live godly in CHRIST JESUS. Fear not, therefore, neither be dismayed. O be not weary and faint in your minds! JESUS, your LORD, your life, cometh, and his reward is with him. Though all men forsake you, yet will not he: no; the Spirit of CHRIST and of glory shall rest upon you. In patience therefore possess your souls. Sanctify the LORD GOD in your hearts. Be in nothing terrified by your adversaries: on their part CHRIST is evil spoken of; on your part he is glorified. Be not ashamed of your glory, since others can glory in their shame. Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, wherewith you are or may be tried. The Devil rages, knowing that he hath but a short time to reign. He or his emissaries have no more power than what is given them from above: GOD sets them their bounds, which they cannot pass; and the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; no one shall set upon you to hurt you, without your heavenly Father’s knowledge. Do your earthly friends and parents forsake you? Are you cast out of the synagogues? The LORD shall reveal himself to you, as to the man that was born blind? JESUS CHRIST shall take you up. If they carry you to prison, and load you with chains, so that the iron enter into your souls, even there shall CHRIST send an angel from heaven to strengthen you, and enable you, with _Paul_ and _Silas_, to “sing praises at midnight.” Are you threatened to be thrown into a den of lions, or cast into a burning fiery furnace, because you will not bow down and worship the beast? Fear not; the GOD, whom you serve, is able to deliver you: or, if he should suffer the flames to devour your bodies, they would only serve, as so many fiery chariots, to carry your souls to GOD. Thus it was with the martyrs of old; so that one, when he was burning, cried out, “Come, you Papists, if you want a miracle, here, behold one! This bed of flames is to me a bed of down.” Thus it was with almost all that suffered in former times: for JESUS, notwithstanding he withdrew his own divinity from himself, yet has always lifted up the light of his countenance upon the souls of suffering saints. “Fear not therefore those that can kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do; but fear Him only, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.” Dare, dare to live godly in CHRIST JESUS, though you suffer all manner of persecution. But,
_Fourthly_, Are there any true ministers of JESUS CHRIST here? You will not be offended if I tell you, that the words of the text are, in an especial manner, applicable to you. _Paul_ wrote them to _Timothy_; and we, of all men, that live godly in CHRIST JESUS, must expect to suffer the severest persecution. _Satan_ will endeavour to bruise our heels, let who will escape: and it has been the general way of GOD’s providence, in times of persecution, to permit the shepherds first to be smitten, before the sheep are scattered. Let us not therefore shew that we are only hirelings, who care not for the sheep; but, like the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, let us readily lay down our lives for the sheep. Whilst others are boasting of their great preferments, let us rather glory in our great afflictions and persecutions for the sake of CHRIST. _Paul_ rejoiced that he suffered afflictions and persecutions at _Iconium_ and _Lystra_: out of all, the LORD delivered him; out of all, the LORD will deliver us, and cause us hereafter to sit down with him on thrones, when he comes to judge the twelve tribes of _Israel_.
I could proceed; but I am conscious, in this part of my discourse, I ought more particularly to speak to myself, knowing that _Satan_ has desired to have me, that he may sift me as wheat. Without a spirit of prophecy, we may easily discern the signs of the times. Persecution is even at the doors: the tabernacle of the LORD is already driven into the wilderness: the ark of the LORD is fallen into the unhallowed hands of uncircumcised _Philistines_. They have long since put us out of their synagogues, and high-priests have been calling on civil magistrates to exert their authority against the disciples of the LORD. Men in power have been breathing out threatenings: we may easily guess what will follow, imprisonment and slaughter. The storm has been gathering some time; it must break shortly. Perhaps it may fall on me first.