954. Chap. 4z. 2,44 Expofition upon the Book of Jos. Verf. to lofs, of fuffering and rewarding , fome have found in the letter; they have had great worldly exaltations, Coon after their depref- fionsin this world. And Jells Chrifl, who made this promife, hark made it good in fpirituals, to the experiences of many thou - fends, who have loll all for him ; they have had that at Indent given into their fouls, which hath been to them, or in their efli- mation,an hundred-fold better than what they loR.They that have indeed fuffered lofs for Chrill, never complained of their fuffer- ings or loffes; they haveoften triumphed in them, and rejoyced (as the Apoflle Peter fpeaks, i Epi(l. t o. 8.) pith joyunfpcalablc, and fullof glory. If any think they do foolifhly, who fuffer world- ly loffes for Chrifis fake, let them remember this return of a hundred-fold, andbe afhamed of their own folly in thinking fo. It is not foolifhnefs, but true wifdom, to lofe much, for the gain of more. Are not they wife, who lofe one, upon good affurance to get an hundred ? have we not Chrifls word for it ? and is not that good affurance that it flail be fo ? Sure, noMerchant can put off his goodsat abetter market, than he that putteth them all off for God. How rich would men be, if they could get an hundred for one ? Such a rich trade hathChrifi opened, and they are the wifefl Merchants now, whoventure in it, and will be fo accounted in the end, even by thole who now call them fools and mad-men. That which is loft for Chrifi, is fown and though the feed that is call into the ground, may feem cefl away, yet it will fpringup again. Light is fownfor the righteous, and gladnefr for the upright in heart (Pfal.97.II.) And what Chrifi faith of the good ground, ismoll true in thiscafe; that feedof light is fown in fuch ground as will bring forth, to fome thirty, to fome fixty, to fome an hun- dred-fold. Tbesefore,to conclude this Inference, Be not afraid to lofe for God he will not only fee you indempnified, but (at leafl)doubly rewarded. yob, whoonce loft by God, or by the hand of God upon him, was repayed by the fame hand with him, double in kind ; and if we have double in a better kind, double faith in God, and double love toGod, anddouble zeal fer God, and double peace in our own confciences, this is an hundred-fold Setter than all we cam lofe for him, inor of thisworld. 'O 'Bp
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=