2. Their nature was as frail as ours; their afflictions as cutting and severe; yet how patiently and courageously did they endure the most cruel sufferings.

3. We have the same blessed Comforter to assist us as they had, the Holy Spirit. He, that is styled the Spirit of Power, infuses a holy courage to bear the heaviest sufferings. Now it is the apostle's inference from the history of the saints under the Old Testament, some of whom died martyrs, and others lived martyrs, by their constant and generous suffering of various evils for divine truth; "Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us; and let us run with patience the race set before us," Heb. xii. 1. There is no kind of affliction, and no part of our duty, whereof there is not presented to us in scripture some example for our encouragement and imitation. It is also worthy of observation, that christians have a special obligation, encouragement, and assistance, to bear affliction with cheerfulness, above the believers of the Old Testament. For under the Mosaic dispensation, outward prosperity, riches, honor, long life, were the open expressions of God's favor, promised by the terms of that covenant, as rewards to obedience. Yet even then, some of the most excellent saints were illustrious examples of patient, suffering affliction. But in the gospel God hath declared that his design is to train up his children by sufferings, for their future happiness, Acts xiv. 22. And we find the truth of this by manifold experience, from the first ages of the christian church. St. John, by revelation, "beheld a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, that stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed

with white robes, and palms in their hands; and they all came out of great tribulation, and had washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb," Rev. vii. 9-14. Now, since the cross is an appendix to the gospel, we should with more prepared minds submit to it. Besides, if believers then, who only enjoyed starlight-less clear discoveries of the glorious world to come, were so patient and constant in suffering for the truth, how much more should we be animated in our troubles, to whom the "Sun of Righteousness appears, revealing life and immortality by the gospel! If they, who were partakers of the Holy Spirit in lesser degrees, were supported, should not christians, that receive the graces of the Spirit in richer abundance, be more comforted? Besides, patience has a special eminence above all other graces, and advances a christian to the highest honor and perfection that is attainable here. All graces are of the same divine extraction, and have the same general effect on the soul-they come from God, and produce a godlike temper and disposition; but they are distinguished by their objects and operations; some are exercised about great things, others are humble, and conversant in meaner things, and their operations are less eminent. It is the counsel of St. James, "let patience have her perfect work" in bearing afflictions, though heavy and continued, "that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing," James i. 4. It is the most difficult part of our work, and without it, we can neither obey the commands, nor obtain the promises of the gospel. Christian patience is the true fortitude, and draws other graces into exercise. What the temper is to material weapons, patience is to other graces, their strength is derived from it. This was

the most glorious perfection of Christ's obedience; "for it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings," Heb. ii. 10. When our Saviour was nailed to the cross, and was the mark wherein all the poisoned arrows of rage and malice were received, he seemed only to suffer, yet even then he performed the most divine exploits, and obtained the most glorious victory; he reconciled God, disarmed the law, subdued Satan, broke the gates of hell, destroyed death, and rescued us miserable, forlorn captives. Upon this account Chrysostom breaks forth in rapturous expressions, that our Saviour, suffering on the cross, was more glorious than in his creating the world. Thus the patience of a christian, which in appearance is only a quiet bearing affliction from God, yet produces many blessed effects; a believer while he feels the weight of God's hand, incessantly seeks his face with the most ardent affections. He doth not murmur at the displeasure of God, but mourns bitterly that he hath deserved it. He surrenders himself to the Divine displeasure, which is the purest act of obedience. He strives to subdue his unruly passions, which is a greater victory than the achievements of the most celebrated conquerors. It is true the power of grace is very conspicuous in resisting pleasant temptations, the pernicious attractions of the senses and carnal appetites, but more in the battles of patience; by how much it is more easy to nature to be content without unnecessary and superficial pleasures, than to endure oppressive and painful evils. St. Peter declares "that the Spirit of glory rests upon suffering christians," 1 Peter iv. 14. They are the temples of the Holy Spirit, the eternal

God, wherein he

displays his divine virtue and glorious power. In short, God usually conducts his people to the highest degrees of grace and glory in suffering; the more they are tried and refined, the brighter their crown will be.

It is, too, a blessed assurance of our election by the most free and unchangeable love of God. The apostle tells afflicted christians, "that whom he did foreknow, he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren," Rom. 8. 29. If we suffer with His divine patience, with his humble affections, it is a clear and certain evidence, that we are appointed to reign with him. If we bear the image of our suffering Saviour in our earthly state, we shall bear his glorious image in the heavenly. The well-grounded hope of this is very comfortable in the deepest afflictions, and will encourage us to persevere in humbling sufferings. For if His sovereign pleasure has ordained us to eternal life, how just is it that we should with an entire and resigned submission yield up ourselves to the conduct of his wisdom, as to the ways by which we shall obtain it. To this, if we add a filial submission to God's chastisements, we have a blessed testimony of our adoption. It is the apostle's comfortable inference, "if ye endure chastisement, God dealeth with you as sons;" that is, if without murmuring or fainting, if with that respect and subjection that are due to the high and holy providence of God, then we may be assured of his paternal relation to us, and his "rod comforts us," Psalm xxiii. 4, as the strokes of it are a proof of his care and love to us. From hence proceeds inexpressible and peculiar consolation to afflicted christians; the same affliction as to the matter and circumstances, may be upon humble, meek, sufferers, and refractory stubborn sinners, "that kick

against the pricks." But the two classes are distinguished by the intention of the Almighty. They are sent to the humble, as corrections from the wise love of a Father, who dearly regards their souls to the obdurate, as vengeance from the righteous severity of a judge. Upon the humble they fall as soft as a shower of snow; upon the other, as a storm of fiery hail upon the Egyptians; and the issue of them is as different as heaven and hell.

Lastly, This sharp discipline continues only during our minority here; when we arrive at the state of perfection, we shall not need it; and this life is but a short transition to the next world. What comparison is there between a few years, and the volume of eternal ages? This is the consolation of the apostle, "The time is short, let those that weep be as if they wept not." Within a little while afflicted saints ascend to the region of blessedness; and no cloud of sorrow, no shadow of fear, no darkness of anxiety can reach so high to darken and disturb their peace: "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" of the everlasting day. "For a moment have I hid my face from thee, but with everlasting kindness will I receive thee, saith the Lord," Isaiah liv. 7, 8. Death is the last step out of mortality and misery. "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh," James v. 8.

LXXXIV. In the floods of tribulation

While the billows o'er me roll,

Jesus whispers consolation,

And supports my fainting soul:

Sweet affliction,

That brings Jesus to my soul.