that he is indeed a faithful servant of his Lord. St. Paul, speaking of sufferings for Christ's sake, represents them as a special gift of God, an honour bestowed upon us for Christ's sake" : and in this light all the Apostles regarded them : for when they had been imprisoned and scourged for their fidelity to their Divine Master, they went out of the presence of the Council, "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's sake"." Thus, Christian, shouldst thou do: thou shouldst " glory in the cross of Christ p ;" thou shouldst " take pleasure in persecutions for Christ's sake^; and instead of being ashamed of the indignities which thou sufferest, thou shouldst glorify God on account of them ^]
2. As a means of good —
[Even at present the believer feels that his trials are sub- servient to his best interests* ; that his tribulations tend to in- crease his " patience, experience, and hope*;" and bring him a hundredfold of blessings into his soul". And when he looks forward to the eternal world, and considers how rich " a recom- pence " he shall there receive for every sacrifice which he has here made for God'', he " accounts himself happy" in being called to bear the cross y. He knows that " the trial of his faith will be found to praise and honour and glory at the ap- pearing of Jesus Christ *= ;" and that " his afilictions, which are but light and momentary, will work for him a far more exceed- ing and eternal weight of glory ^." He expects assuredly " the kingdom of heaven," because God has promised it to him'': yea, he expects more : he expects that " his reward shall be great in heaven," and increased in proportion to his sufferings : he expects it also as a just retribution'^: but still he does not expect it as merited by those suflerings : he makes the atoning blood of Christ the only foundation of his hope : and it is for Christ's merits, and not his own, that he is thus exalted. This distinction is accurately marked by the Apostle John ; who, seeing in a vision all the martyred saints who " had come out of much tribulation," tells us, that " they had washed their robes," not in their own tears or blood, but " in the blood of the Lamb ; and that therefore they were before the throne of God"^." Bear this in mind, my brethren, and do not hesitate to expect all that God has promised.]
3. As a ground of joy —
n Phil. i. 29. 0 Acts v. 41. p Gal. vi. H.
1 2 Cor. xii. 10. r i Pet. iy. 16. « Heb. xii. 11.
t Rom. v. 3—5. u Mark x. 29, .30. ^ Heb. xii. 26.
y Jam. v. 11. z 1 Pet. i. 7.
^ 2 Cor. iv. 8—11, 16, 17. b 2 Tim. ii. 12. c 2 Thess. i. 6, 7. ^ Rev. vii. 14, 15.