Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

2. We must conform to Christ in his sufferings, if he call us to them,¹ this was the Apostle's Prayer, that I may know him, and the power of his Resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings; it was his desire that he might experimentally know what exceeding joy and comfort it was to suffer for Christ, and with Christ. Concerning this, the other Apostle speaks also, Christ suffered for us, ²leaving us an example that we should follow his steps. But the Text that seems so pertinent, and yet so difficult, is that of Paul, I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, ³and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his bodies sake, which is the Church: One would wonder how Paul should fill up that which is behind of the sufferings of Christ; were Christ's sufferings imperfect? and much Paul add to them? no surely? for by one offering Christ hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. I shall not insist on many Commentaries;⁴ I suppose this is the genuine sense and meaning of the Spirit. Now rejoice I in my sufferings for you, whereby I fulfil the measure of those tribulations which remain yet to be endured of Christ in his mystical body, which I do for the bodies sake, not to satisfy for it, but to confirm it, or strengthen it by my example in the Gospel of Christ. The sufferings of Christ are either personal or general; his personal sufferings were those he endured in his own body, as Mediator; which once for ever he finished: his general sufferings are those which he endures in his mystical body, which is, the Church; as he is a Member with the rest; and these are the sufferings Paul speaks of, and which Paul fills up.

2. We must conform to Christ in his sufferings, if he call us to them,¹ this was the Apostle's Prayer, that I may know him, and the power of his Resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings; it was his desire that he might experimentally know what exceeding joy and comfort it was to suffer for Christ, and with Christ. Concerning this, the other Apostle speaks also, Christ suffered for us,