Serin. XLV. under their Suferings for Religion. 315 Secondly, Or in cafe of fuch violent and extraordinary Temptations, the Provi- dence of God will not be wanting to give us the extraordinary Support and Comfort of his Holy Spirit, to bear us up under them. The Providence of God did take care of GoodMen in all Ages, and did afford Comfort to them, under great Tryals and Sufferings; but God never made fo exprefs and general a Pro- mife of this, to all good Men, as he hashdone by the Chriftian Religion. Never was foconftant a Prefence and Influence of the Divine Spirit vouchfafed and af- lured to Men under any difpenfation, as that of the Gofpel ; wherein the Spirit ofGod is promifed to all that fincerely embrace the Chriftian Religion, to reticle and dwell in them ; not only to all the Purpofes of San&ification and Holinefs, but ofSupport and Comfort under the heavieft Prefieres and Sufferings. For which reafontheGofpel is called the Minifiration of the Spirit ; and is upon this account faid to be more Glorious than any other Revelation whichGod had ever made to Mankind. We are naturally apt tobe very much difheartned and cart down at the Appre- henfion of great Sufferings, from the confideration of our own Weaknefs and Frailty ; but the Spirit of Chrift dwells in all true Chriftians, and the fame glo- rious Power, which railed up Jefus from the dead, works mightily in them that believe. St. Paul ufeth very high Expreflions about this Matter, Eph. T. 19. That ye may know, (faith he, fpeaking to all Chriftians) what is the exceeding greatnefs ofhis Power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty Power, which he wrought in Chrifi when he raifed him from the dead, and fet him at his ow.: right hand. So that every Chriltian is endowed with a kind of Omnipotence, being able (as St. Paul fpeaks of himfelf) to do and to endure all things, through Chrifi flrengthning him. Of our felves we are very weak, and the Temptations ami Terrors of theWorld are very powerful ; but there is a Principle refiding in every true Chriftian that is able to bear us up againft the World, and the Power of all its Temptations. Whatfoever is born ofGod (faith St. john) overcometh the World ; for greater is he that is inyou, than he that is in the World. The Holy Spirit of God which dwells in all true Chriftians, isa more powerful Principleof Refolu- tion, and Courage, and Patience, under the tharpelt Trials and Sufferings, than that Evil Spirit which rulesin the World is, to ftir up, and fet on, the Malice and Rage of the Worldagainft us. Te are of God, little Children (he fpeaks this to the youngeft and weakeft Chriftians) Te are of God, little Children, andhave overcame, becaufegreater is he that is in you, than he that it in the World. The Ma- lice and Power of the Devil is very great ; but the Goodnefs and Power of God is greater. And therefore incafe of extraordinary Temptation, Good Men, by virtue ofthis Promife of God's Holy Spirit, may expel} to be born up and com- forted in a very extraordinary and fupernatural manner, under the greateft Tri- bulations and Sufferings for Righteoufnefs fake. And this was in a very fignal and remarkable manner afforded to the Primitive Chriftians, under thofe fierce and cruel Perfecutions to which they were expofed. And this may (till be expe&ed, in like Cafes of extraordinary Sufferings for the Teftimony of God's Truth. Ifye be reproached (faith St. Peter in this 4th Chap. ver. 14) for the Name ofChrifl, happy are ye ; for the Spirit of Glary and of God refieth upon you. The Spirit of God is here promifed to ftrengthen and fupport all that fuller forthe Name of Chrilt, in a very confpicuous and glorious manner, according to that Prayer of St. Paul, Col. a. 1 a. That Chriftians mightbe fIrengthen- ed with all might, according to God's Glorionr Power, unto all Patience and Long- fuffering, with jayfulnefs. For when God is pleafed to exerciCe good Men with Trials more than Humane, and fuch Sufferings as are beyond the common rate of Humane Strength and Patience to bear, he hath engaged himfelf to endue and affift themwith more than Humane Courage, and Refolution. So St. Paul tells the Corinthians, who hadnot then felt the utmoft Rage of Perfecution, r Cor. 10. 13. No Temptation or Trial bath yet befallen you, but what is common to Man; that is, nothing but what is frequently incident to Humane Nature, and what by Humane Strength, with an ordinary affiftance of God's Grace, may be grapled S f 2 withal.
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