True Christianity Part 45

I. Some Sentences And Testimonies Of Scripture.

2. Patience submits itself with meekness, quietness, and humility, to the cross; receiving all kinds of afflictions, calamities, and persecutions, whether bodily or spiritual, as the cross and yoke of Christ. By this we follow our blessed Saviour, not murmuring against G.o.d, but acknowledging in faith, that G.o.d is reconciled to us through Christ, and comforting ourselves under the severest trials, with the hopes of deliverance. This is also called _meekness_ towards them that injure and persecute us, leaving the avenging of our quarrel to G.o.d; not upon a principle of reason or worldly policy, but arising from the grace of G.o.d, as the fruit and effect of true faith.

3. The parts of this description are-1. Obedience. 2. Imitation. 3. Not to murmur. 4. To consider G.o.d as reconciled to us through Christ. 5. To lessen our afflictions by hope. 6. To behave ourselves with meekness towards our persecutors. 7. Not to exercise revenge. And so it contains in it faith, hope, charity, humility, meekness, and obedience.

4. These virtues are to be practised and exercised by all the disciples of Christ, who are purchased for heaven and eternal life: for against such the devil, that great dragon and old serpent (Rev. 12:7-9), yea, and the whole world, are fighting continually. Hence it is said, "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of G.o.d, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17. To this also may be referred the following: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it" (Matt. 16:24, 25): that is, Whosoever shall refuse to bear the cross for Christ's sake, and shall flee from it, shall lose his soul.

5. "Ye shall be hated of all men, for my name's sake." Mark 13:13. This is indeed a heavy cross, to be hated of all men; but as it is for Christ's sake, this affords great consolation.

6. Concerning religious persecutions, our blessed Saviour prophesies, "They shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.-In your patience possess ye your souls." Luke 21:12, 19.

7. "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." John 15:18, 19, 20.

8. "They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth G.o.d service." John 16:2.

9. When St. Paul had been stoned at Lystra, but encouraged by the discourses of the disciples, "he confirmed the souls of the disciples,-exhorting them to continue in the faith: and that we must, through much tribulation, enter into the kingdom of G.o.d." Acts 14:22.

10. "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." 2 Cor.

4:8.

11. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. If a man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him." 2 Tim. 2:3, 5, 12.

"All that will live G.o.dly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution." 2 Tim. 3:12.

12. "Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of G.o.d, ye might receive the promise." Heb. 10: 36.

13. "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of G.o.d. For, consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Heb. 12:1-3.

14. "Now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith might be found much more precious than of gold that perisheth." 1 Peter 1:6, 7.

15. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." Rev. 3:10. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Rev. 2:10.

II. Examples Of Patience.

16. Abraham suffered many things from the Chaldeans, Canaanites, and Egyptians. "Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran. And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. And G.o.d spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years." Acts 7:4-6. "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is G.o.d." Heb. 11:8, 9. "He delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the G.o.dly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." 2 Peter 2:7, 9. Isaac refused not to be offered up for a burnt sacrifice. Gen. 22:9. Jacob also had a great share of suffering. He fled from his brother Esau, pa.s.sing over Jordan with his staff. Gen. 32:10. "By his strength he had power with G.o.d; yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept and made supplication unto him." Hosea 12:3, 4. He saith unto Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years; few and evil." Gen. 47:9. "Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord."

Jam. 5:11. Moses was meek, and afflicted above all the men that were upon the face of the earth. Numb. 12:3. He "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of G.o.d, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."

Heb. 11:25. How many afflictions did David suffer, who was a type of Christ! "O Lord my G.o.d, in thee do I put my trust; save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me." Ps. 7:1. "Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble." Ps. 10:17. Solomon's motto was, "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before (the) honor (that is, of the next world) is humility." Prov. 15:33. What patience had not the three men in the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:21), and the holy Apostles and Martyrs! The patience of Christ exceeds all these examples. 1. Because he was most obedient upon the cross. 2. Because he murmured not against G.o.d. 3.

Because he held fast his confidence in G.o.d, and called him his G.o.d, though forsaken by him. Matt. 27:46. 4. Because he heartily prayed for his enemies; and revenged not himself when it was in his power.

III. Consolations.

17. "Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted." Matt. 5:4.

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matt. 11:28-30. In these words there is a fivefold consolation. 1. That the afflicted may come to Christ. 2. May be refreshed. 3. May take up his yoke. 4. May find rest unto their souls. 5.

That his yoke is easy. For when it is borne for Christ's sake, it is not burdensome, but refreshing. Hence St. Paul saith, "We glory in tribulations; knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience, and experience, hope, and hope maketh not ashamed: because the love of G.o.d is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost." Rom. 5:3, 4, 5. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James 1:12. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"-"All things work together for good to them that love G.o.d." Rom.

8:35, 28. "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:23. "I have fought a good fight." 2 Tim.

4:7.

Chapter XLVIII.

There Is No Affliction For Which G.o.d Has Not Provided Appropriate Consolation. The Consolation Which He Affords Is Always Greater Than Our Misery; This Consideration Should Sustain And Confirm Our Patience.

The holy Apostle St. Paul, when meditating upon the tender mercies and compa.s.sions of our Heavenly Father to all afflicted and contrite sinners, breaks out into these words, full of the praise of G.o.d: "_Blessed be G.o.d, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the G.o.d of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of G.o.d. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ-knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation._" 2 Cor. 1:3-7.

2. In these words, so full of grace, the holy Apostle gives thanks to G.o.d for heavenly consolation; which is indeed the only remedy against all the troubles and adversities that oppress us in this life; teaching, at the same time, that no adversity befalls us, how great soever, but G.o.d supports us under it by his divine comfort, which is more abundant than our sufferings. This he confirms by seven weighty arguments, which he repeats in regular order.

3. The first is, because G.o.d is the _Father of mercies_, which is the most cheering appellation that can be conceived: for he shows himself a Father, not only in name, but in sincerity and truth to all afflicted souls.

Consider what are the properties of a father; for they all belong to G.o.d our Heavenly Father. It is the part of a father, 1. To love his children.

2. To take care of them. 3. To feed them. 4. To defend them. 5. To correct and instruct them. 6. To pity their infirmities. 7. To be tender of them.

8. To give them an inheritance. If a man will but thoroughly consider these particulars, he must acknowledge that the very name of a _father_ carries in it such a treasure of comfort, as abundantly outweighs all the miseries of human life. And to ill.u.s.trate this yet more perfectly, St.

Paul, by a most significant epithet, calls him, _the Father of mercies_; that is, the eternal fountain of all that tenderness and affection that is diffused through the hearts of so many thousands of fathers. Hence it follows, that no cross can befall the children of G.o.d so great, as is the comfort that arises from the Father of mercies.

4. The second argument is contained in this expression, _the G.o.d of all comfort_; that is, he overflows with eternal and infinite comforts. For as G.o.d is the eternal, infinite, and chief Good; and on the other hand, our crosses are finite and temporal; what can proceed from that eternal and chief Good, but perpetual comfort, not only equal, but superior to our greatest affliction? For as our miseries are finite, and the consolations of G.o.d are infinite, it clearly follows that the latter must be superior to the former.

5. The third argument is, the example of St. Paul, and all the saints.

"G.o.d," saith he, "comforteth us in all our tribulation." If we but read the histories of holy men of former times, and compare their trials and afflictions with the divine consolations wherewith they were supported under them, we shall easily perceive that our afflictions are but light in comparison with their torments; and that no cross can befall us so great, as to exceed those divine comforts and supports which the holy martyrs enjoyed. Who will presume to compare his crosses with those of Job? Who can say he has been afflicted like Jeremiah (Jer. 20:7, etc.)? or tried like David? Ps. 88. And what is our cross compared with that of Christ? or are our sufferings, compared with the torments of the holy martyrs? Their examples, as they were the children of G.o.d, our Heavenly Father has set before our eyes, to teach us, 1. That the cross is the sanctuary of the true Christian. 2. His heavenly and spiritual glory. 3. His victory over the world and the devil. 4. His preparation for the kingdom of heaven. 5.

That without the cross no man can enter into the kingdom of G.o.d. 6. That the cross is the image of Christ. 7. That it is an exalted and sublime mystery, in which lies hid the highest wisdom of G.o.d. But flesh and blood cannot comprehend this, neither taste the heavenly manna hidden in the word of G.o.d, except by the cross. Hence, the divine comforts are greater than any human sufferings.

6. The fourth is expressed in these words, "That we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of G.o.d." Now, how did G.o.d comfort the apostles? And how do they comfort us again? Certainly, by the gracious promises in his holy Word.

Hence it is said, "Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope." Rom. 15:4. Now, whosoever reads the Word of G.o.d as he ought, must needs observe how kindly G.o.d vouchsafes to treat with us, what abundance of grace, what spiritual and eternal blessings he promises to bestow upon us; so that we must needs confess that such comfort outweighs all the sufferings of human life. For though it is said of this troublesome world, "that all the sons of Adam, from the day of their birth, find it full of trouble and unquietness, fear, anger, and strife;"

yet, if to this state of trouble and misery we oppose the glories of the eternal kingdom (2 Cor. 4:17), it will appear that the joys of the next life, promised in the Word of G.o.d, are vastly superior to the miseries of this. It is, indeed, true, that sin is a very great and dreadful evil, daily encompa.s.sing us about, and involving us in innumerable miseries.

Yet, if we but call to mind, that Christ is our righteousness, it will thence follow that the burden of sin which lies upon us is much less than our spiritual consolation which is in Christ Jesus. For greater is the righteousness which is in Christ than the sin which is in us. In short, the Word of G.o.d so abounds and overflows with heavenly consolations, that the heart of man is too narrow to receive them. It is like the poor widow's pot of oil (2 Kings 4:6), which, by the blessing of Elisha, produced more oil than there were vessels to receive. Yea, it often happens that a word of Holy Scripture can comfort a man more than the whole world, yea, than the devil himself can distress him. "The river of G.o.d is full of water," saith David (Ps. 65:9), so full that no man can empty it. Therefore, G.o.d calls himself "The fountain of living waters."

Jer. 2:13. And so in Ps. 36:9, "With thee is the fountain of life; in thy light shall we see light." Who, then, can think that the fountain of sin and death more abounds with affliction than the fountain of life with comforts?

7. The fifth ground of comfort is that the apostle calls the cross of the faithful, "the sufferings of Christ." And that 1. Because all the faithful are the spiritual members of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, as the head feels all the pains of every member of the body, by a certain sympathy arising from its union with them; so Christ, who is our Head, feels all the crosses and sufferings of every member. 2. Because Christ dwells in his faithful servants, and is vitally united to them; therefore, also, he suffers in his members, sharing in all their sufferings, banishments, and persecutions, as he witnessed by a voice from heaven, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Acts 9:4. 3. Because we are born anew of Christ, and he is our "everlasting Father." Isa. 9:6. Now we know, that the heart of a father has a very tender sense of the sufferings of his child. Therefore, the sufferings of all believers are the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ. And if it be so, canst thou think any affliction so great that it cannot be made easy and tolerable by this consideration, that Christ is thy Head, and thou art his member; that he is united to thee, dwells in thee, and suffers in thee, regarding all thy sufferings as his own; that he is thy Father, and feels in himself all the crosses, pains, and afflictions that are laid upon thee?

8. The sixth ground of consolation, the Apostle deduces from Jesus Christ, the spring and foundation of all comfort, in these words: "Our consolation aboundeth by Christ." As sin is the fountain of all misery; so is Jesus Christ, the Son of G.o.d, the spring and fountain of all joy and comfort.

Now as the power of Christ is greater than the power of sin; so is the comfort that proceedeth from him greater and more powerful than any misery that can arise from sin; according to the words of St. Paul, "Where sin abounded grace did much more abound." Rom. 5:20. "For it pleased the Father, that in Christ should all fulness dwell." Col. 1:19. Him, therefore, the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 61:1) describes as sent from G.o.d to comfort all that mourn. Whence it follows, that the comforts flowing from Christ, are greater than any crosses and sorrows which we endure.

9. The seventh comfort which the Apostle mentions, is the glory of Christ: hence he says, "As ye are partakers of his sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." This glory we know to be so great, that he is glorious, not only with respect to his own Person, in a manner incommunicable to his body, which is the Church; but also that he, as the Head of the Church, was exalted to glory for that very end, that all the members of his body might be partakers with him. Hence St. Paul calls him, "The head of the church which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Ephes. 1:22, 23. And now, what calamity, what cross, what affliction can be so bitter, as not to be sweetened by the consolation arising from such future glory? Wherefore St. Paul does not "reckon the sufferings of this present time to be worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." Rom. 8:18.

10. It now remains that we speak of the five means, by which we may be partakers of these comforts.

11. The first is, _true repentance and knowledge of sin_. Without this, the soul is not capable of comfort; according to that saying of Christ, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." Matt.

9:12. On the other hand, a soul that has a true sense of sin, understands that sin has cast it into so many miseries and calamities, and therefore murmurs not against G.o.d, but abhors itself and its own iniquities (Lam.

3:39); and confesses that G.o.d is just in all that he has brought upon it.

For as sin, like a general contagion, has infected the whole ma.s.s of mankind; so also the sentence of misery and affliction in this moral state, has pa.s.sed upon all, for that all have sinned. And whoever, like the prophet Daniel (Dan. 9:7, 16), confesses his sin, shall find consolation descending upon him from heaven like an angel, as in the case of Daniel, ch. 9:21.