An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

To understand this, consider,¹

1. 1Propositions declaring the truth of the Doctrine. 1. A Saints sufferings may be as extensive as his comforts.

First, That the sufferings for Christs sake, are as various and as extensive as any comforts we have, that we may be deprived off. So that it's a fundamental qualification in every Disciple of Christ, to love him before Father or Mother, yea life it self: For if Christ be not preferred before the dearest comforts we have, one time or other, we shall be endangered to betray Christ, and rather deny him then suffer for him, which is a most dreadful condition. I mean, it is very terrible to be in the number of those, whose hearts are so glued to these earthly things, that they cannot suffer for Christ; they cannot part with all, when he calls for it: But the Disciple of Christ, must be prepared to suffer in any thing, and at any time. Sometimes the sufferings are more extreme and grievous, sometimes less, and more easy. The former is called [Greek or Hebrew], Heb. 10. 32. and 1 Pet. 4. 13. [Greek or Hebrew]. The greater are, imprisonment, or banishments, or death it self: And commonly, death for Christ, hath not been a mere ordinary death, but accompanied with those torments and exquisite pains, that could be invented. Insomuch, that if you look over all Histories, you cannot find any such terrible and barbarous sufferings, as the people of God have been put upon. And truly, there is no godly man, but he is to have a fundamental qualification for this. There are also lesser sufferings, which though called so comparatively to greater, yet in themselves are very bitter and grievous: Such are reproaches, scoffs, and derisions. Heb. 11. they are called cruel mockings.