Doctrine. 2 The followers of Jesus Christ must cheerfully undergo what ever afflictions are allotted unto them: they must not have them whether they will or no. Afflictions are a burden, and we must not only lift at them, but take them up cheerfully, as if Christ had said, if you will walk uprightly, you shall have many blocks that you cannot leap over, but you must go away with them cheerfully. It is not only here required, but it is elsewhere commanded, Jam. 1.2.1 Co•nt it all •oy when ye fall into divers temp•ation• ; not some joy when ye fall into some temptations, but all joy when ye fall into all temptations▪ It is the excellency of a Christian to under go affliction cheerfully. God loves not only a cheerful give•, but a cheerful sufferer, Matth ▪ •.2 Wh• […] speak all manner of evil ⟨p. 69⟩against you (it is observable, wicked mens tongues are tipped from hell, they speak all manner of evil, and as the Apostle Saint James saith, are set on fire from hell) and what then? must you go into a corner and howl? no, rejoice and be exceeding glad, or, as the word carries, a man should leap for joy; nay, it hath been the behaviour of some worthies in former times that have been in the forefront of the battle, Acts 20.22.3 when it was foretold Paul that he should be bound at Jerusalem, mark what he replies, behold, I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem: that is, he was willing to undergo it before he had it; though troubles befell him, yet he went on cheerfully, Acts 5.41.4 they went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ, Phil. 2.30.5 not regarding life: the Saints should have it in a readiness, Acts 21.13.6 we must not deal with our Cross as Simon did, Matth. 27.32. they compelled him to carry it; but a Saint must carry his Cross cheerfully: the Mariners take foul tempests as well as fai•e gales, so we that are sailors and soldiers must fare as we find.
Doctrine. 2 The followers of Iesus Christ must cheerefully undergoe what ever afflictions are allotted unto them: they must not have them whether they will or no. Afflictions are a burthen, and we must not onely lift at them, but take them up cheerefully, as if Christ had said, if you will walke uprightly, you shall have many blockes that you cannot leap over, but you must goe away with them cheerefully. It is not onely here required, but it is elsewhere commanded, Iam. 1.2.1 Co•nt it all •oy when ye fall into divers temp•ation• ; not some joy when ye fall into some temptations, but all joy when ye fall into all temptations▪ It is the excellency of a Christian to under goe affliction cheerefully. God loves not onely a cheerefull give•, but a cheerefull sufferer, Matth ▪ •.2 Wh• 〈…〉 speake all manner of evill ⟨p. 69⟩against you (it is observeable, wicked mens tongues are tipped from hell, they speake all manner of evill, and as the Apostle Saint Iames saith, are set on fire from hell) and what then? must you goe into a corner and howle? no, rejoyce and be exceeding glad, or, as the word carries, a man should leap for joy; nay, it hath beene the behaviour of some worthies in former times that have beene in the forefront of the battell, Acts 20.22.3 when it was foretold Paul that he should be bound at Ierusalem, marke what he replies, behold, I goe bound in the spirit to Ierusalem: that is, hee was willing to undergoe it before he had it; though troubles befell him, yet he went on cheerefully, Acts 5.41.4
- 1Jam. 1.2.Iam. 1.2.
- 2Math. 1.
- 3Acts 20.22.
- 4Acts 5.41.
- 5Phil. 2.30.
- 6Acts 21.13. Matth. 27.32.
