But, friends, how much greater and more valuable must be the consolation, reward, and the crown of eternal life, of which so much is said in other places, of God’s eternal life, kingdom and glory, which are promised to those that overcome and patiently endure, as will here in part follow.
In the first place, observe in the Book of Wisdom, concerning the day of judgment, and the glory of God’s elect: Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted him, and made no account of his labors. Wis. 5:1. Again: The righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand. Verses 15, 16. Mark well, an eternal reward. Again: The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seem to die, and their departure and going from us are taken for destruction; but they are in peace. For though they have much suffering (he says, much suffering) in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality, and having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded; for God proves them, and finds them worthy for himself. Wis. 3:1–5. Yea, here they shall suffer strait things, but hope for the wide: but they that have lived wickedly, and yet have suffered the strait things, shall not see the wide, alas, no. 2 Esdr. 7:18. Again, 2 Macc. 7:36: My brethren, who now have suffered themselves to be martyred for a short time, now wait for everlasting life, according to God’s promise (he says, everlasting life according to God’s promise). Again, also the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ himself: That all who have followed him in the regeneration (he says, in the regeneration) and have forsaken everything dear to them, house, home, wife, children, etc., and their own life, shall receive a hundred fold in this time, and hereafter everlasting life; and shall also sit with him upon thrones, and help judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Matt. 19:28.
Again: Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven (he says, in heaven). Luke 6:21. Mark, heavenly consolation. Again, Paul says: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” 2 Cor. 1:3–5. Again: He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life and peace. O friends, let us therefore not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap without ceasing (he says, without ceasing). Gal. 6:8,9. O friends, let this claim your joyful consideration and attention. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward (he says, afterward) it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them (he says, them) which are exercised thereby. Heb. 12:11. Again, in Paul we further find: It is a faithful saying (he says, a faithful saying): For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:11,12.