That sufferings for Christ are of public edification to the Church, appeareth by two or three notable texts, concerning what Paul speaketh of himself, Phil. 1. 12. I would ye should understand, that the things which happened to me, have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the Gospel. I would ye should understand; It is a truth that Believers should possess themselves with: For indeed, it is a riddle, that out of this strong one should come honey, that out of darkness should arise light, from death come life. The not understanding of this, hath made so many Apostates, thinking that the Kingdom of Christ and his ways, would never hold, because all the power of the world conspire to oppress it; but the Apostle would have them know, that persecutions do not hinder, but further the Gospel. The treading and trampling on this Camomile, makes it thrive the better. Another remarkable text, is 2 Tim. 2. 10. where the Apostle having showed, that though they did cast him into bonds, yet the Word of God could not be bound; no more then a man (as Chrysostom observeth) that cutteth off a branch from the tree, can cut off the Sun-beams also from the Sun, that may shine upon that branch: he addeth, that he doth endure all things for the elects sake, that they may obtain salvation. Oh wonderful expression! you might think Paul goeth too high, these words become Christ rather; Who can say this, but Christ? He suffereth for the elects sake, that they may have salvation. But Paul speaks this only as a Minister, not a Mediator, as is more particularly to be urged: His scope is to show, that it is not for any sins of his own, any wickedness that he hath committed, but it is for the good of the Church, that ⟨p. 220⟩he thus suffereth. So that Paul doth not only propagate the Gospel by preaching, but by suffering; when he cannot preach, he doth most preach; when his person is bound in chains, then the Gospel is more enlarged: As Herod by cutting off John Baptists head, did in effect make John's tongue more speak, and witness against him. The last instance is, Col. 1. 24. which place is the more famous, because abused by the Papists, to uphold a treasure or overplus in the sufferings of the Saints, that they suffer more than they deserve; and therefore the overplus is to be dispensed by Papal authority, for the relief of such who want merits.
That sufferings for Christ are of publique edification to the Church, appeareth by two or three notable texts, concerning what Paul speaketh of himself, Phil. 1. 12. I would ye should understand, that the things which hapned to me, have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the Gospel. I would ye should understand; It is a truth that Believers should possesse themselves with: For indeed, it is a ridle, that out of this strong one should come honey, that out of darknesse should arise light, from death come life. The not understanding of this, hath made so many Apostates, thinking that the Kingdom of Christ and his waies, would never hold, because all the power of the world conspire to oppresse it; but the Apostle would have them know, that persecutions do not hinder, but further the Gospel. The treading and trampling on this Camomile, makes it thrive the better. Another remarkable text, is 2 Tim. 2. 10. where the Apostle having shewed, that though they did cast him into bonds, yet the Word of God could not be bound; no more then a man (as Chrysostome observeth) that cutteth off a branch from the tree, can cut off the Sun-beams also from the Sun, that may shine upon that branch: he addeth, that he doth indure all things for the elects sake, that they may obtain salvation. Oh wonderfull expression! you might think Paul goeth too high, these words become Christ rather; Who can say this, but Christ? He suffereth for the elects sake, that they may have salvation. But Paul speaks this only as a Minister, not a Mediatour, as is more particularly to be urged: His scope is to shew, that it is not for any sinnes of his own, any wickednesse that he hath committed, but it is for the good of the Church, that ⟨p. 220⟩he thus suffereth. So that Paul doth not only propagate the Gospel by preaching, but by suffering; when he cannot preach, he doth most preach; when his person is bound in chains, then the Gospel is more enlarged: As Herod by cutting off John Baptists head, did in effect make John's tongue more speak, and witness against him. The last instance is, Col. 1. 24. which place is the more famous, because abused by the Papists, to uphold a treasure or overplus in the sufferings of the Saints, that they suffer more than they deserve; and therefore the overplus is to be dispensed by Papal authority, for the relief of such who want merits.
