BAXTER'S FAREWELL SERMON. 517 robates, endless, hellish torments 1 0, had you seen what they endure, or had you felt those pains but a day or hour, I can hardly think,that you would ever after make so great a matter of the suf- ferings of a Christian here for Christ, or that you would fear such sufferings more thanhell. It is disingenuous to repine at so gen-. tle a rod, at the same time whilst millions are in the flames of hell, and when these sufferings tend to keep you thence. 5. Your sorrows shall not be so long as your following joys, if you be persevering, conquering believers. What is a sickness, or a scorn, or a prison, or banishment, or shame, or death, when it must end in the endless joys of heaven! Oh, do but believe these with -a lively, sound, effectual faith, and you will make light of all the sufferings in the way. "Nihil crus sentit in nervo," saith Ter- tullian, " cum animus est in ceelo ; " Heb. xi. 25, 26, lac. The mind that is in heaven, and seeth him that is invisible, will easily bear the body's pains. Mistake not in your accounts, and you will reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us; Rom. viii. 18. " For our light affliction, which is but for a mo- ment, doth work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal; " 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. Use 2. And if it be but for a now that you must have sorrows, how reasonable is it that those sorrows be moderated and mixed with joy ! And how just are those. commands, " Rejoice ever- more." "Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your re- ward in heaven; " 1 Thess. v. 16. Matt. v. 10=12. " Rejoi- cingin hope, patient in tribulation ; " Rom. xii. 12. Bow rational was their joy, who, being beaten and forbidden to preach, "depart- ed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ!" Acts v. 42. "Rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers inChrist's sufferings. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified ; " 1 Pet. iv. 13, 14. It is a shame to be dejected under a short and tolerable pain, which is so near to the eternal pleasure, and to suffer as if we be- lieved not the end, and so to sorrow as men that are without hope. Doct. IV. Christ will againvisit his sorrowful disciples. He re- moveth not from them with an intent to cast them off. When he hideth his face, hemeaneth not to forsake them ; when he taketh away any ordinances or mercies, he doth not give- them a bill of divorce. When he seemeth to yield to the powers of darkness,
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