Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace…

IT is no great business, but a very ordinary thing for a man to be cheerful when he is in prosperity, and hath all things in the World smiling on him (though often, even in the midst of that laughter the heart is sorrowful, and there is an emptiness, and utter insufficiency in all these things, to make the heart truly glad) but this is a great matter, a very rare thing, and to be found but with very few, viz. In the midst of afflictions, reproaches, tribulations and persecutions to be cheerful, and rejoicing, and (as it is, Isa. 24. 15. to be glorifying God in the midst of the fires; This is Pauls practice, and exercise here, who being (as the words before hold forth) brought so near death, that he even despaired of life; who having to do with Professors and Preachers of the Gospel, that made it their business to defame his Person, and to depreciate, and disparage his Ministry; Who being reviled, buffeted, persecuted, and counted as the filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things; who being always delivered unto death; and made a gazing ⟨p. 185⟩stock to the world, to angels, to men; and being moreover put to wrestle not only with flesh and blood, but also with principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places; yet hath this for his rejoicing, the testimony of his conscience, &c.

IT is no great bussiness, but a very ordinary thing for a man to be chearful when he is in prosperity, and hath all things in the World smiling on him (though often, even in the midst of that laughter the heart is sorrowful, and there is an emptinesse, and utter insufficiency in all these things, to make the heart truly glad) but this is a great matter, a very rare thing, and to be found but with very few, viz. In the midst of afflictions, reproaches, tribulations and persecutions to be cheerful, and rejoycing, and (as it is, Isa. 24. 15. to be glorisying God in the midst of the fires; This is Pauls practice, and exercise here, who being (as the words before hold forth) brought so near death, that he even dispared of life; who having to do with Professors and Preachers of the Gospel, that made it their bussines to defame his Person, and to depretiat, and disparage his Ministry; Who being riviled, buffeted, persecuted, and counted as the filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things; who being alwayes delivered unto death; and made a gazing