The divine life in three treatises

6. Moreover he that walks with God, doth from God expect his full reward. He ceaseth not his holy course, though no man observe him, or none commend him or approve him; though all about him hate him and condemn him; though he be so far from gaining by it with men, that it cost him all that he hath or hoped for in the world: For he knoweth that Godliness is of it self great gain, and that it hath the promise of this life and that to come, and none can make Gods promise void: He knoweth that his Father which seeth in secret will reward him openly, Matth. 6. and that he shall have a treasure in heaven that parteth with all on earth for Christ, Luk. 18. 22. And he hath such respect to this promised recompense of reward, that for it he can suffer with the people of God, and account the very reproach of Christ a greater treasure then Court or Country can afford him in a way of sin, Heb. 11. 26. He accounteth them blessed that are persecuted for righteousness sake, because the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. He judgeth it a cause of exceeding joy, to be reviled and persecuted, and to have all manner of evil falsely spoken of us for the sake of Christ, because our reward in Heaven is great, Matth. 5. 10, 11, 12. For he verily believeth that as sure as these transitory pleasures will have an end, and everlastingly forsake those miserable souls that were deluded by them, so certainly is there a life of endless joys, to be possessed in Heaven with God and all the Holy ones; and this he will trust to as that which will fully repair his losses and repay his cost, and not deceive him: Let others trust to what they will, it is this that he is resolved to trust to, and venture all to make it sure (when he is sure that All is Nothing which he ventureth, and that by the adventure he can never be a loser, nor never save by choosing that which it self must perish.) Thus he that truly walks with God expecteth his Reward from God, and with God, and thence is encouraged in all his duty, and thence is emboldened in all his conflicts, and thence is upheld and comforted in his sufferings: When Man is the Rewarder (as well as the chief Ruler) of the Hypocrite, and earthly things are the poise and motives to his earthly mind.

6. Moreover he that walks with God, doth from God expect his full reward. He ceaseth not his holy course, though no man observe him, or none commend him or approve him; though all about him hate him and condemn him; though he be so far from gaining by it with men, that it cost him all that he hath or hoped for in the world: For he knoweth that Godliness is of it self great gain, and that it hath the promise of this life and that to come, and none can make Gods promise void: He knoweth that his Father which seeth in secret will reward him openly,