176 The Encouragement to fuffer for (brill; Val. St. Paul, Rom. 6. g. For if we have been planted together in the likenefs of his Death ; we (hall be alfo in the likenefs Ofhis Refürretlion; and Verfe 8. Now if we be dead with Chrifi ; we believe that we fhall alfo live with him. 2 Cor. 4: 10- Always bearing about in the Body, the dying ofeur Lord fef e ; that the Life alfo of Jefus might be made manifefl in our Body ; And Verfe 18. For we which live, are always delivered unto Death for jefus fake ; that the Life alfo of Jefia might be made manifefi in our mortal Flcfb ; And Rom. 8. 17. Iffo be that wefuffer with him, that we may he alfo glorified together. Phil. 3. to, ti. That I may know him, and the Power ofhis Refurret ion, and the Fellowfhip of his Sufferings, being made conformable unto his Death : Ifby any Means I might attainunto the Refurrefiion of the Dead: t Pet. 4. 12. 13. Beloved, think it not / frange concerning the fiery Trial, which is to tryyou, as though fomeorange thing happened untoyou; but rejette, inafmuch as ye are Partakers: of Chri's Suf. faring: ; that when his Glory fhall be revealed, ye may be glad 'fife with exceeding You fee that the Senfe of this Saying was in frequent Ufe among the Apoftles, as a powerful Argument to encourage Chriftians to Conftancy in their Religion, notwithstanding the Dangers and Sufferings which attended it. This is afaithful Saying : If' we be dead with him, we (hall alto live with him : Ifwefuffer, we Ball alfo reign with. hips. And the Force of this Argument will belt appear, by taking into Confide- ration thefe two things ; I. What Virtue there is in a firm Belief and Perfwafion of a Bleffed Immorta- lity in another World, to fupport and bear up Mens Spirits under the greateft Suf- ferings for Righteoufnefs fake ; and even to animate them, ifGod fhall call them to it, to lay down their Lives for their Religion. ÍI. How it may be made out to be reafonable, for Men to embrace and volun- tarily to fubmit to prefent and grievous Sufferings, in Hopes of a future Happi- nefs and Reward ; concerning which we have not, nor perhaps are capable of having, the fame degree of Certainty and Affurance which we have of the Evils and Sufferings of this prefent Life. I. What Virtue there is in a firm Beliefand Perfwafion of a bleffed Immortality in another World, to fupport and bear up Mens Spirits, under the greateft Suf- ferings for Righteoufnefs fake ; and even to animate them; ifGod Ihall call them to it, to lay down their Lives for their Religion. If Men do firmlybelieve that they Ihall change this Temporal- and Miferable Life for an.Endlefs State of Hàppinefs and Glory, and that they fhall meet with a Reward of their Sufferings infinitely beyond the Proportion of them, both ist the Weight and Duration ofit; this muff needs turn the Scales on that Side, on which there is the greateft Weight : And there is a fufficient Ground for a finn Beliefof this. . For if any thing can certainlybe concluded from the Providence of God, this may, That Good Men (hall be happy one time or other : And becaufe they are very often great Sufferers in this Life ; that there is another State re- mains for them after this Life, wherein they (hall meet with a full Reward ofall their Sufferings for Righteoufnefs fake. But bifides the Reafonahlenefs of this, from the Confideration of God's Provi- dence, we have now a clear and exprefs Revelation of it; Life and Immortality being brought to light by the Gofpel. This St. john tells us is thegreat Promife of the Gofpel, r John 2. 25. This is the Promife which he loath promifedus; even eternal Life. And this Promife, our Saviour molt exprefly makes to thofe who fuller for him, Matth. g. to, tt, sa. Bleffed are they which are perfecutedfor Righteoufnefsfake for theirs is the Kingdom ofHeaven.. Bleffed areye, when Men fhall revileyou andperfecuteyou, andfay allmanner ofEvil againflyou fafy_ for my fake. Rejoyce, andbe exceedingglad : for great isyour Reward in Heaven. Mark to. 29. Verily I fay untoyou, there is no Man that hash left Houle, or Brethren, or Sifters, or Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands, for my fake and the Gofpel's ; -but he (hall receive an hundredfold now in this time, with Perfecutions, (that is, fo far as a State of Perfecution would admit) and in the World to come eternal Life. And
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