Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

11.25, 26. For he knoweth if he be reproached for the name or sake of Christ he is happy: For thereby he glorifieth that God whom the enemy doth blaspheme, and so the spirit of God, and of glory resteth on him, 1 Pet. 4.14. He liveth and suffereth as one that from his heart believeth, that they are blessed that are persecuted for righteousness sake, for great is their reward in heaven. And they are blessed when men shall revile them and persecute them, and say all manner of evil against them falsely for Christs sake: In this they Rejoice and are exceeding glad, as knowing that herein they are followers of ⟨p. 76⟩them who through faith and patience inherit the promise, Mat. 5.10, 11, 12. Heb. 6.12. If he be offered upon the sacrifice and service of the saith of Gods elect, he can rejoice in it as having greater good than evil, Phil. 2.17. He can suffer the loss of all things, and account them dung, that he may win Christ, and be found in him, and know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death. Phil. 3.8, 9, 10. Not out of surliness and pride doth he rejoice in sufferings; (as some do, that they may carry the reputation of holy and undaunted men; and seem to be far better and constanter than others.) When pride maketh men suffer, they are partly the Devils martyrs, though the cause be never so good: Though it is much more ordinary for pride to make men suffer rejoicingly in an ill cause than in a good; the Devil having more power on his own ground than on Christs. But it is the Love of Christ, and the belief of the reward, and the humble neglect of the mortified flesh, and the contempt of the conquered world, that maketh the Christian suffer with so much joy. For he seeth that the Judge is at the door: And what torments the wicked are preparing for themselves: And that as certainly as there is a God that governeth the world, and that in Righteousness, so certainly are his eyes upon the Righteous, and his face is set against them that do evil: