Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London

Ninthly, if you would order your sufferings so as they may turn to a good account, then labour to be serviceable in and by your sufferings. If ever God call you to a prison, labour to be as serviceable in and by your suffering, as ever you can. Peter was in prison; what came on't? was there any converted? No. Why so? Peter slept. I but Paul and Silas they sang in the stocks, and they preach in the prison, and there's the Jailer converted. ⟨p. 57⟩They were serviceable in and by their sufferings, and it turned to a good account. And therefore if you would desire that your sufferings may turn to a good account, labour to be serviceable in & by your sufferings as God calls you into.

Ninthly, if you would order your sufferings so as they may turn to a good account, then labour to be serviceable in and by your sufferings. If ever God call you to a prison, labour to be as serviceable in and by your suffering, as ever you can. Peter was in prison; what came on't? was there any converted? No. Why so? Peter slept. I but Paul and Silas they sang in the stocks, and they preach in the prison, and there's the Jaylor converted. ⟨p. 57⟩They were serviceable in and by their sufferings, and it turned to a good account. And therefore if you would desire that your sufferings may turn to a good account, labour to be serviceable in & by your sufferings as God calls you into.

Tenthly, when you have done all, and suffered all, then say, and think in truth, that you are unprofitable servants; and let your eye be wholly to the sufferings of Christ: offer your own sufferings upon the sufferings of Christ, in reference to your acceptance. For though you may have an eye to the recompense of reward, to encourage you to suffer; yet you are wholly to look to the sufferings of Christ in reference to your acceptance. And therefore when you have done all, think and say, you are unprofitable. Two men went up to pray, and the one he was a Pharisee, and the other a Publican. The Pharisee he comes and praises God he was not as the Publican: I thank God I am not as this Publican. I fast, and pray, and I am not as this Publican. Well, there comes the Publican, and he smites himself upon the breast, and says, I am a poor sinner: Oh! the Lord be merciful unto me a poor sinner. So say I, Two men go up to suffer, and there's one stands and vaunts, and saith, I thank the Lord I am not so cowardly and dastardly as these poor-spirited men that dare do nothing; my flesh shall fry in the fire. But the other stands at a distance, and saith, Oh, I am a poor creature, I am afraid to suffer, and I am afraid I shall betray the Cause of Christ. Now I tell you, this poor trembling soul that is last, shall be first, and he goes away rather justified.