OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 107 xii. 2. His mediatory glory in the salvation of the church, was the matter of the joy set before him. This he took the view and prospect of, in all his suf- ferings, to his refreshment and support. And his ex- ample, as the author and finisher of our faith, is more efficaciously instructive than any other rule or precept. Eternal glory is set before us also ; it is the design of God's wisdom andgrace, that by the contemplation of it we should relieve ourselves in all our sufferings, yea, and rejoice with joyunspeakable and full of glory. How many of those blessed souls now in the enjoy- ment of God and glory, whopassed through fiery trials and great tribulations, were enabled to sing and rejoice in the flames by a prepossession of this glory in their minds through believing i Yea, some have been so filled with them, as to take off all sense of pain under the most exquisite tortures. When Stephen was to be stoned, to encourage him in his sufferings and com- fort him in it, the heavens were opened, and he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Who can conceive what contempt of all the rage and madness of the Jews, what a neglect of all the pains of death, this view raised his holy soulunto l To obtain there- fore, such views frequently by faith; as they do who are truly spiritually minded, is the most effectual way to encourage us unto all our sufferings. The apostle gives us the force of this encouragement, in a compar- ison with earthly things. 1 Cor. ix. 25. 'Everyman who striveth for the mastery, is temperate in all things; now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.' If men, when a corruptible crown of vain honor and applause is proposed to them, will do and endure all that is needful for the attainment of it, and relieve themselves in their hardships with
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