Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

CHAP. XXXIV. The reproaches of Gods people are the reproaches of Christ.

IF you take the reproaches either materially or formally¹; materially, that is when all the sufferings of Gods people for which they are meanly esteemed and looked upon as contemptible, all their sufferings are the sufferings of Christ: Formally, and that is the very scorn that is cast upon them, is the scorn of Christ. I intend to handle this point in both these, materially and formally: So that the thing we have to handle, is, That all the sufferings, and contempt, and disesteem of Gods people, are the sufferings, and contempt, and disesteem of Christ. So that Gods people may turn the speech of Christ concerning his Father, The reproaches of them that have reproached thee, have fallen upon me: But we may say, Lord and blessed Saviour, the reproaches of them that have reproached us, are fallen upon thee; and mark therefore in Heb. 13. 13. the reproaches of Christs people are called the reproach of Christ, Let us go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach: And the sufferings of Gods ⟨p. 405⟩servants are called the sufferings of Christ. Colloss. 1. 24. and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of CHRIST, they are the afflictions of Christ, and every one must make account to fill them up; not the satisfactory sufferings of Christ, but the sufferings of Christ in his mystical body, in his members: And so every member is to fill up a share in his sufferings. And so Isa. 63. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted: The sufferings and troubles of Gods people are the sufferings and troubles of Christ, he is sensible of them; and therefore in Acts 9. 4. Christ cries out, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Further, compare two places together in one,