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…

Thirdly, These truths about suffering for Christ are useful even to such who enjoy all freedom and abundance; because there is a two-fold Martyrdom, Martyrium ¹cordis, and Martyrium corporis; a Martyrdom of the heart, and a Martyrdom of the body. If therefore thou art not called to suffer bodily, it is certain thou must suffer spiritually, Habes quod in te occidas; if others do not martyr thee, thou art to martyr thy self. Hence is that duty, Of offering up our selves as a Sacrifice to God. Hence it is we are commanded, To deny our selves, to take up our cross, to pull out the right eye, to cut off the right hand; and the constant practice of Christianity is, To mortify the flesh, to crucify the flesh. Insomuch that the ancient Writers do frequently compare this soul-mortification to the bodily Martyrdom. He that doth abstain from the seeming pleasures and profits of slane, this man is a spiritual Martyr. He that doth crucify his will, that doth subdue and conquer his corruptions, it is as much from the grace of God, as he that is enabled to lay down his life for Christs sake; all these come from the same principle. There is required an insuperable divine and efficacious power of grace to bring the heart to any holy duty, to avoid any sin, from pure and holy motives. It is therefore of consequence to hear of the consolations which God giveth in sufferings: for if thou hast not corporal sufferings, thou hast spiritual ones, and therefore God he will proportion thy comforts to thy exercises.

Thirdly, These truths about suffering for Christ are usefull even to such who enjoy all freedom and abundance; because there is a two-fold Martyrdom, Martyrium ¹cordis, and Martyrium corporis; a Martyrdome of the heart, and a Martyrdom of the body. If therefore thou art not called to suffer bodily, it is certain thou must suffer spiritually, Habes quod in te occidas; if others do not martyr thee, thou art to martyr thy self. Hence is that duty, Of offering up our selves as a Sacrifice to God. Hence it is we are commanded, To deny our selves, to take up our crosse, to pull out the right eye, to cut off the right hand; and the constant practice of Christianity is, To mortifie the flesh, to crucifie the flesh. Insomuch that the ancient Writers do frequently compare this soul-mortification to the bodily Martyrdom. He that doth abstain from the seeming pleasures and profies of slane, this man is a spiritual Martyr. He that doth crucifie his will, that doth subdue and conquer his corruptions, it is as much from the grace of God, as he that is enabled to lay down his life for Christs sake; all these come from the same principle. There is required an insuperable divine and efficacious power of grace to bring the heart to any holy duty, to avoid any sinne, from pure and holy motives. It is therefore of consequence to hear of the consolations which God giveth in sufferings: for if thou hast not corporal sufferings, thou hast spiritual ones, and therefore God he will proportion thy comforts to thy exercises.