408 The true Remedy 404 Vol. IL in pleafure in this world , and tormented in flames in the other ? I fay the firm beliefof another life, does not only anfwer this objeftion againft the Divine Providence: but does likewife minifter abundant comfort and matter of joy togood Men, under all their fears and troubles in this World. Nay, this confideration aloneofa bleffed immortality in another World, ofwhich only the Chriftian Re- ligion hath given us full and undoubted affurance, is of that weight and moment, as to contribute more to the fupport of our Spiritsunder the Evils andCalamities of this life, than all the Confiderations ofPhilofophy put together. They are many of them pleafant and pretty, and fit enough to entertain and divert a Man's mind under a flight trouble ; but they are too fpeculative and refin'd for common capa- cities, too thin and weak to bear any great ftrefs, and to fupport and relieve a Man's mind under a fore and heavy afiftion: but this is a confideration which hath ftrength and fubftance it, that all things will end-in our unfpeakable happi- nefs, and that this happinefs (hall have no end. This the Apoftle St,Paul fpeaks of as a proper confideration ofcomfort, of which we are affured by the ChriftianRe- ligion, that all the evilsof this life, (hall in the Taft iffue and refult of things co- operate to our Happinefs, Rom. 8. a8. We know, fays he, that all things work to- gether for good to them that love God. And 2 Cor. 4. r6, 17, 18. For which caufe wefaint not, &c. The Apoftle gives us an account, howthey were afllifted and perfecuted, and what it was that fupported them under all their fufferings, ver. 8, 9, to, 1I. We are troubled on every fide ; yet not dflreffed : we are perplexed ; but not in defpair : perfecuted; but notforfaken : ça/f down ; but not deflroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying ofthe Lord Jefue, that the life alfooffe. fus might be made manifefi in our body. For we which live are alway deliveredun- to deathfor jefus fake. And then he tells us what it was that kept up the Spirits of Chriftians under thefe fharp Sufferings, viz. the affurance which the Chriftian Religion gives us ofa Refurreftion to a better and happier life, ver. 14. Knowing that he which raifed up the Lord Jefus, (ball raife us up alfo by Jefus. And then it follows, ver. r 6. For which caufe wefaint not : but though our outward man pe- rifh, yet the inward man is renewed day by day ; that is, though our bodies be wa- fted and'weakned, yet every day we grow ftronger in the refolutionofour minds, becaufe Our light afiflian, which is but for a moment, worketh for us afar more exceeding andeternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are feen, but at the things which are not feen: for the things which are feen are tem- poral ; but the things whichare not feen are eternal. And then, at the beginning ofthe next Chap. he Rill urgeth the fame confideration ofcomfort, that fo foon as we pafs out of the troubles of this life, we (hall enter upon the happinefs of the other. For we know, that is, we Chriftians are affured, that ifour earthly haute of this tabernacle were diffòlved, we have a building of God, an houfe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Here you fee is the great ground of their confidence and comfort in the worft condition, and under the molt grievous Perfecutions which they were continuallyexpofed to. And therefore our Saviour and his Apoftles make no fcruple to pronounce thofe perfons bleffed, who in refpeft of their fufferiñgs feemed to be of all Men in the World the molt miferable; and they pronounce them happy, upon this very account of their fufferings. Mattb. 5. ro, r r, r2. Bleffed are they, faysour Saviour, which areperfecuted for righteoufnefs fake : for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Bleffed areyewhen Men (hall revile you, andperfecuteyou, and (hall fay all manner of e- vil againfl you fafy for my fake. Reioiyce, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven. Great fufferings for God in thisWorld, do entitle us, by virtue of this gracious promife of our Lord, to a glorious reward in the other. So likewife St. James exhorts Chriftians to rejoyce in their Sufferings, 7ames i. 2. My brethren, account it all joy whenye fall into divert trials. And Chap. 5. I s. Behold, fays he, we count them happy which endure. And St. Peter, to the fain purpofe, I Pet. 4. 14. Ifye be perfecutedfar righteoufnefs fake, happy are ye. So folid a comfort to Men under all theTroubles and Afflidtons of this World, is that firm affurance which the Chriftian Religion gives us of a future happinefs, as a to
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