The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

O then, how unworthy is it of the Christian name, and hopes, that we should have an impatient resentment of this Method God follows with us (as he did with our great Redeemer, and Lord) that we should suffer first, and then enter into glory! Heaven were a poor Heaven, if it would not make us savers. It were high time for us to give over the Christian profession, if we do not really account that it• reward, and hope do surmount its reproach, and trouble; or do think its Cross more weighty, then its Crown. Is the price, and worth of eternal glory fallen? It hath been counted worth suffering for. There have been ⟨p. 389⟩those in the world, that would not accept deliverance from these sufferings, that they might obtain the better resurrection. Are we grown wiser? or would we indeed wish God should turn the Tables, and assign us our good things here, and hereafter evil things? ungrateful souls! How severe should we be to our selves? that we should be so apt to complain, for what we should admire and give thanks. What because purer, and more refined Christianity in our time, and in this part of the world, hath had public favour and countenance, can we therefore not tell how to frame our minds to the thoughts of suffering? Are Tribulation & Patience antiquated names? quite out of date, and use with us? and more ungrateful to our ears and hearts, then heaven and eternal glory are acceptable? And had we rather (if we were in danger of suffering on the Christian account) run a hazard, as to the latter, then adventure on the former? Or do we think it impossible, we should ever come to the trial, or be concerned to busy our selves with such thoughts? Is the world become so stable, and so unacquainted with vicissitudes, that a state of things less favourable to our profession can never revolve upon us? It were however not unuseful to put such a case by way of supposition to our selves. For every sincere Christian is in affection, and preparation of his mind a Martyr. He that loves not Christ better then his own life, cannot be his Disciple. We should, at least inure our thoughts more to a suffering state; that we may thence take some occasion to ⟨p. 390⟩reflect, and judge of the temper of our hearts towards the Name and Cause of Christ.

O then, how unworthy is it of the Christian name, and hopes, that we should have an impatient resentment of this Method God follows with us (as he did with our great Redeemer, and Lord) that we should suffer first, and then enter into glory! Heaven were a poor Heaven, if it would not make us savers. It were high time for us to give over the Christian profession, if we do not really account that it reward, and hope do surmount its reproach, and trouble; or do think its Cross more weighty, then its Crown. Is the price, and worth of eternal glory fal'n? It hath been counted worth suffering for. There have been