Well may the believer rejoice in such a hope : for, what are earthly crowns and kingdoms in comparison of those to which he is heirh?]
Whilst the believer receives such great benefits from Christ, he experiences,
III. A delight even in tribulations for his sake —
[Tribulations must of necessity in themselves be painful : but as endured for Christ, they become a source and occasion of joy. The believer knows beforehand that he shall be called to suffer them1 ; and he is prepared to glory in them, as the Apostles did, who, when they had been imprisoned and scourged for their fidelity to Christ, went forth from their persecutors, " rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his sakek." They know that their sufferings will be produc- tive of present, no less than of eternal, benefit to their souls; that, though in the first instance tribulation may cause impa- tience, it will ultimately " work patience," by bringing him to a meek submission to the Divine will : from patience so increased, he will derive " experience," or a decisive evidence that God is with him, and that the grace of God has wrought effectually on his soul. By that experience his "hope" will be exceed- ingly confirmed ; for he will see the very justice, as well as the truth, of God pledged to recompense what is so endured for his name's sake1: and this " hope will never make him ashamed," as theirs will, who look for salvation in any other way than through faith in Christ. Thus he will see that " his light and momentary afflictions are in reality working for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory m :" and in this view of them he will greatly rejoice ; even as Paul did, who took plea- sure in his multiplied distresses", and counted even the most cruel death for the sake of Christ and his Church as a subject of the most heartfelt congratulation0. Instead of repining at his trials, he receives them as a most invaluable gift of God to him for Christ's sakep, and glorifies God for them as a most pre- cious testimony of his loveq. His enemies indeed " think not so, neither do they mean so :" nothing is further from then- hearts than to advance the work of godliness in the souls of those whom they persecute, and to augment their joy : but this is the real effect of persecution, which, like fire, purifies them from their dross, and causes its victims to leap for joy r.]
h Rev. iii. 21. * 1 Thess. iii. 4. k Acts v. 41.
1 2 Thess. i. 6, 7. m 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. n 2 Cor. xii. 10.
0 Phil. ii. 17, 18. p Phil. i. 29. n 1 Pet. iv. 12—16.
1 Luke vi. 23. o-MprZ/uare.
1 840. j BENEFITS OF A JUSTIFYING FAITH. 119
To this elevated state of mind the believer is ad- vanced by, IV. A sense of his love shed abroad in the heart5 —
[This is a blessing which, though not to be appreciated or understood by those who have never received it, is yet most assuredly enjoyed by many of God's chosen people. We scarcely know how to describe it, because it consists chiefly in an impression on the mind occasioned by manifestations of God's love to the soul. Nothing is more certain than that Christ will " manifest himself to his people, as he does not unto the world." This he will do by the agency of the Holy Ghost, who will " take of the things that are Christ's, and will shew them unto us." As" a spirit of adoption" too, he will give us views of the Father, as our Father in Christ Jesus : he will also " witness with our spirits that we are Christ's;" and will be in us as " an earnest of our everlasting inheritance ;" and will "seal us unto the day of redemption." By all these ope- rations on our souls, he will " fill us with joy and peace in believing," yea, with " a joy unspeakable and glorified." This is in reality a foretaste of heaven itself; and, where this is, a man, if he had a thousand lives, would be ready to lay them all down for his Lord and Saviour, accounting nothing dear to him, so that " Christ might but be magnified in him, whether by life or death." How persons have been transported with these manifestations, and been enabled by them to triumph over their most malignant enemies, ecclesiastical history, yea the history of our own martyrs, sufficiently informs us. This sense of the Divine presence and love is not indeed at all times equally powerful on the soul : but it is the privilege of all who