A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…

Tenthly, the Lord will be signally present with his ¹People in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, that they may be joyful and cheerful under all their troubles, and that they may glory in all their tribulations. It is good to have a patient Spirit, but it is better to have a joyful Spirit in all our sufferings, troubles, distresses, &c. that we meet with in a way of well-doing, Acts. 5. 40. And to him they agreed, ²and when they had called the Apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the Name of Jesus, and let them go. Verse 41. And they departed from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name. In the Original, [Greek or Hebrew], That they were honoured to be dishonoured for Christ. They looked upon it as a high honour, to be dishonoured for Christ, & as a grace to be disgraced for Christ. It was the Divine presence that made ³Paul & Silas to sing, when they were accounted trouble-towns, and when they were beaten with many stripes, and cast into prison, into the inner prison, and laid neck ⁴and heels together, as the word [Greek or Hebrew] notes. The Divine presence made Paul and Silas to glory in all ⁵their stripes, sores, and wounds, as old Soldiers glory in their scars and wounds, which they receive in battle for their Prince and Country. The Divine presence might well make Paul and Silas to say of their stripes & sores, as Muncer once said of his ulcers, Hae sunt gemmae & pretiosa ornamenta Dei; These are the Jewels and the precious ornaments, with which God adorns his dearest Servants. It was the Divine presence that made Ignatius say, in the midst of all his sufferings, [Greek or Hebrew], I bear my bonds as so many spiritual pearls. So 2 Cor. 7. 4. I am filled with ⟨p. 130⟩