ments, and which made David fo caretui! about it, in Pu, 18. 23. that which is ſo compaſſing and clifping him about, that !;- is $5 {ir rom running, he cannot move for it, 1 C9. 9. 27, Col. 3, 5. this tney are to mortife in them. e That how Gdittant ſocver the Goa! 1s, which finiſheth the Race of a Chriſtian's Life, yet the way paſſing to it, though it be troubleſome and long, and being ſet to us by Gud himſclt, muſt be patiently, ſtrenuouſlv, and conffantly run, tt. tiey may obtain it, P/al. 119. 32, 33 Luke 13. 24. 1 C14. $. 24, to 27. Gal. 5. 7. Phil. 3. 13,14. 2 Tim. 4. 7. Thy Cloud of Witnef- les have 19 run it before them tor their direQtion and an encoura;- ment, - d
2 Looking f unto Jeſus the || author and nnither | 07, 52" of -017 Faith, who g tor the joy that was fer botore ©
him, þ endured the croſs, deſpifing 7 the ſhame, and
«
Dr
* 15fer down #at the right hand of the throne ot Cul. © ©hy.
j As if all the former Witnefles were not enough, he adds a 5:
more excel[cut onc than them all, even our Lord clus Chritt, who 1s not only a Pattern to them in their Race and running of it, but 4 help, and for which end they were lking to him, the word 2P%9Y7*7 1s Only licre uſed in all the New-Teftament, and fi2niticth 4 lishing off from whatever would diftratt us jrom earneſily lorking on the propoſed Obje#t alone ; and though a word ot Senſe, yet here no- ting an at of the mind. It 1s borrowed from acers, «the finn- litude of whom the Apoſtle further improves; they tixedly eye their Guides or Leaders, to help them on in their courte ; fo muſt « Chriſtian in his Race look off from all things elſe, and ſingly and in- tently look on Jelus to help hinrthrough it ; #54239, fee chip. 2. to, here it denotes Jeſus io be the great Inftituter of, and chict Leader in the Chriftian Race, and PerfeRter of them in running it. The diſpolition, grace, ability, and ſucceſs which they have tor running, it 1s all from him ; trom the beginning -of the work of Faith unto the end ot it, to tlic taiſhing of the courſe, he doth in- fuſe, affiſt, ſtrengthen and accompliſh the work of it to the laſt, Fobn 6. 29, 30. Phil. 4. 13. 2 Tim. 4.7. 1 Johns. 4, 5. g Who for that joyful and glorinus flate which was clearly repreſented, and faithfully promiſed to him by his Father to ſucceed his Sufferings, that he ſhould immediately attain himſelf, and ſuccetfively commu- nicate to all who believe in him, Luke 24. 26. John 17. 1. 5, 24. 1 Pet. 1.11. This did ſo chear and ſtrengthen him, b that with unexpreſſible Patience he chearfully endured his Criſs with all the concomitants of it, the Sorrows in his Soul, the torturing pains in his Body, of Buffetings, Smitings, Piercings of Thorns, tearing his Fleſh with Scourges, boring of his Hands and Feet with Nails, with all the Evils that either the malice or rage of Devils or Men could inflit on him ; He was neither weary of his Burden, nor ſhrinking trom, nor fainting under it. With what invincible Meekneſs, and Paſſive Fortitude, did he undergo all was toretold ot him ! J/z. ch. 53- 7 At the ſame time ſlighting and caſting out of his thoughts all the diſgrace poured on him by his Enemies, both 1n his Mind and Aion, contemning all the Blaſphemies, Taunts, Reproaches, and ſhameful carriages of Sinners to him, ſuffering without any emotion all their Indignities, even in the moſt ſhametul Death it telt, Phi!, 2.6, 7, 8. though he were the moſt innocent, an excelient Perton inall the World. kh The iflue of all which, was his Exhatraition by God for bis abaſement by Man ; He riſeth from the Dead, atcendet! to Heaven, ſets him/z!f down as a triumphing Conquerour over Sin, the Prince of the Powers in the Air, Death and Hell, at the 47 hand of the Throne of Gd, and thence diſcovers himſelf in hs State and Glory, as the great Ruler of the World, king of kings, and Lord of Lords, hi. 2. 5, 10. fee chap. 8. 1. And the giortous Re- warder of thole who ſerve h1im, and ſuffer tor htm.
3 For / confider him that endureth » ivch conra- diction of Sinners againſt himfelt, leit ye be -2 weart- ed and faint in your minds.
1 The conneQion is rational, that they ought to regard this ec: ample, for that there were greater Sufferings behind, thin any \ they had endured, which would inforce 1t; as ver. 4- 212agrs 2, ſignifietl the ule of a Proportiomnable conſideration, think:wg 07. 3 ;ea- ſonmg about this Exarsple within a Man's tclf, fuch as may 114. e tie Contiderer bear a proportion to the Subjoet contidercd , ors J2-
4 L
ſus ſpoken of before, who moſt patiently fubniitted fo, ind per: veringly ire up under ſuch oppoſition and contra lim the Wore: and Works of the moſt wicked and viltt Mon 4 int ft nfelt, whe! ' was the moſt innocent and bett of Mew, atways r. r doin good to them, fo as their Sin and Ns Patience way without Paral Eo 37-1 |
12.
AlL
T7
Row Y ”
Chap. XxI1.
tel; none was ever ſo Scorned, Tatnted, Reviled, Blaſphemed, ſpit on, and ignomimoutly treated like Him ; and never any fo inviact- bly endured it, Rom. 15. 3. » The reaſon of this conſideration 15, {ett taintneſs, languiſhing, or deficiency of Soul, that is, ot vigour, ſtrength and aQivity of heart in Grace ſhould befal them, and ſo they ſhou!d lie down and ceaſe to run the Chriitian Race, which UE Devil deſigned to oblige them to, as he would Chriſt, by the mul*1- tude and ſoreneſs of the contradictions, they ſhould ſuffer from 510- ners 1a it, ſo great as would not end - 3 by broaching their Life Ciocd, as they did Chrifts, and as theſe muſt expe trom them.
4 Ye o have not yet refilted unto blood, firiving 4- &Init 711.
0 Ye have ſuffered much for Chriſt already, but there 1s more that He requires from you, and is yet behind, chap. 10.32,33,34 The condition he fixt with you as his Diſciples, in Luke 14. 25, to lay down your Life as well as your Relations and Goods tor Him. You may yet be called to teſtite to Him, by ſuffering a violent and blocdy Death from his and your Enemies, as other Martyrs had done for Him ; contider Him who hath ſuffercd a worſe Death tor 7701, to ſweeten yours to you, that you do not faint, tail, or turn Apoſtates from Him and his Truth ; refiſting with Agonies whatſo- ever Men or Devils uſe to entice, or force us to Apoſtatize from Chriſt, ſince there will be neither Arts nor Powers wanting to tt ; Watch you, Pray, and ſtrive to the utmoſt againſt them, Luke 22. $1,232. 1 Pet, 5. 9: :