we shall have a favourable testimony from Godg, and a happy issue to our present conflicts.]
5. It is a richer mean of glory —
[The smallest portion of real faith has the promise of eternal life h : and in this view it may be thought superior in value to every thing else. But suffering for Christ's sake is the means of augmenting that glory : it brings a recompence pro- portioned to the sufferings that are endured1, and " works out for us, light and momentary as it is, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory k." Now as health is a richer blessing than life, because it implies well-being as well as mere exist- ence, so a patient suffering for Christ's sake must be accounted of more value than faith, because of the super-eminent degrees of happiness to which it eventually exalts the soul.]
Address —
1. To those who fear sufferings —
[It is painful to flesh and blood to bear the cross : but what must be the consequence of shunning it ? Will not our ease be dearly purchased ? Ah ! think of the fate that awaits " the fearful1," and tremble lest the preservation of your life for a season issue in the loss of it to all eternity™.]
2. To those vt\\ofeel them —
[Faint not, nor be discouraged. Would you deprecate what Christ has asked of you, and what is given you in his behalf! He who confers on you the honour of suffering for him, will endue you with strength to bear your trials, yea, to rejoice and glory in them". Only view your sufferings in their true light, and you will rejoice that you are counted worthy to bear them0. And, when you shall be joined to that blessed company " who came out of great tribulation p," you shall not regret one loss that you sustained, or one pain that you endured. The approbation of your judge, and the in- creased weight of glory which shall be awarded to you, shall soon wipe away your tears, and turn all your sorrows into joy.]
3. To those who occasion them —
[Little do you think against whom you fight. You ima- gine that you are only opposing weak enthusiasts; but so thought Saul, when, in fact, he was persecuting Christ him- selfq. Know, that " whosoever toucheth the Lord's people,
e Rev. ii. 2—7. h John iii. 36.
' Heb. xi. 26. Mark x. 29, 30. k 2 Cor. iv. 17.
1 Rev. xxi. 8. m Mark viii. 35. n 2 Cor. xii. 9, 10.
0 Acts v. 41. Jam. i. 2, 12. p Rev. vii. 14.
i Acts xxvi. 15.