Fifthly, a gracious heart hath an evidence to it self, that God will spare him when others shall suffer from 1his wrath. Certainly, the more any one is called to suffer in the cause of God, and when he finds his heart ready and willing to yield to God in suffering, the more evidence may he have to his soul, that when others shall be called to suffer from Gods wrath, he shall be spared: and this is the bottom of the prayer of the Psalmist, Psal. 89. 50. Remember Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of the mighty people. I read of one Escelus, being condemned to be stoned to death, and all the people were ready to cast stones at him; and his brother came, and run in, and showed that he had but one hand, and the other hand he had lost for the defence of his country, and then none would stone him: and so the marks of the Lord Jesus, are notable marks to safeguard thee in the time of trouble: when the Lord goes out in his wrath, he will set his mark upon those that he will save; and none more notable marks, then the reproaches and sufferings they bear for Christ. This was Jeremiahs plea before the Lord, chap. 15. ver. 5. O Lord thou knowest, remember me and visit me; know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
Fifthly, a gracious heart hath an evidence to it self, that God will spare him when others shall suffer from 1his wrath. Certainly, the more any one is called to suffer in the cause of God, and when he findes his heart ready and willing to yield to God in suffering, the more evidence may he have to his soul, that when others shall be called to suffer from Gods wrath, he shall be spared: and this is the bottom of the prayer of the Psalmist, Psal. 89. 50. Remember Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of the mighty people. I read of one Escelus, being condemned to be stoned to death, and all the people were ready to cast stones at him; and his brother came, and run in, and shewed that he had but one hand, and the other hand he had lost for the defence of his countrey, and then none would stone him: and so the marks of the Lord Jesus, are notable marks to safeguard thee in the time of trouble: when the Lord goes out in his wrath, he will set his mark upon those that he will save; and none more notable marks, then the reproaches and sufferings they bear for Christ. This was Jeremiahs plea before the Lord, chap. 15. ver. 5. O Lord thou knowest, remember me and visit me; know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
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