I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Yea, to raise it a little higher: It is possible that a man may meet with most unworthy dealings therefore, because he is precious in the eyes of God; not only in regard of men; but in regard of God: For God doth sometimes so order things in his Providence, that he doth put men to suffer hard things, because they are precious in his Eyes. Unto you it is given, not only to believe, but to suffer. Suffering sometimes is a Gift, it is a great Gift: A suffering Gift, saith Chrysostom, is a greater Gift, than the Gift of Miracles; for saith he, if God do give me a Gift to work Miracles by, I am in Gods debt; but if God do give me a suffering Gift, he is pleased thereby to become my Debtor; suffering ⟨p. 23⟩sometimes becomes as a reward for Doing. Ye read of the Heifers that brought home the Ark out of the Philistines Country, that when they brought the Ark home, the Israelites they take the Heifers, and they offer up the Heifers unto God for a Sacrifice; why so, saith one? it is an il requital to the Heifers: No, the Heifers could not have a higher Honour put upon them; this their Suffering, is a Reward for their Doing. And so, what greater Honour can a man have after all his Doing for God, than to be called forth to Suffer, and to bear witness to the Truth? Indeed we do not think thus, but you will say, O! surely God doth not love me, because he puts such hard suffering work upon me. But I pray tell me, Suppose that a General should have some great Work or Service to do, and he should single, and pick some half a dozen Soldiers for to go upon this work; would these Soldiers say, surely the General doth not prize us, he doth not honour us, nor love us, because he puts us upon this hard Service: No, but they will say the contrary; surely the General prizeth us, loves us, and honours us, because he puts us upon such a hard Service as this is. So here, it doth rather argue that the Lord doth honour, love, and prize you, in that he puts you upon a hard work, and Service. But now, if these things be true, then surely this first Branch is sufficiently made out, That a man may be very precious in the Eyes of God, and yet meet with most unworthy usage from the hands of men. That is the first thing.

Yea, to raise it a little higher: It is possible that a man may meet with most unworthy dealings therefore, because he is precious in the eyes of God; not only in regard of men; but in regard of God: For God doth somtimes so order things in his Providence, that he doth put men to suffer hard things, because they are precious in his Eyes. Ʋnto you it is given, not only to beleeve, but to suffer. Suffering somtimes is a Gift, it is a great Gift: A suffering Gift, saith Chrysostom, is a greater Gift, than the Gift of Miracles; for saith he, if God do give me a Gift to work Miracles by, I am in Gods debt; but if God do give me a suffering Gift, he is pleased thereby to become my Debtor; suffering