A strong believer can suffer as well as do for the sake of Christ.1 Greater strength of grace is required to suffer for the truth, then to profess the truth; and therefore our Saviour propounds this to the ambitious suitors, the sons of Zebedee; Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of? 2and to be baptized with the Baptism wherewith I am baptized withal? implying thus much, that they did not well understand their own strength, that there was more grace required to suffer for the name of Christ, then to believe on the name of Christ, and accordingly as is our strength of grace, so is our courage for the cause of Christ, less or more. Nicodemus when he had but little grace, he came to Jesus, but yet in the night, 3by stealth; he durst not openly appear for Christ, but afterwards as he grew in grace and knowledge of Christ, so he grew in courage for Christ, And when the cause of Christ was debated in the assembly of the chief Priests and Pharisees, there Nicodemus boldly pleads the cause of Christ.4—Doth our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he doth? Nay we read afterward of a higher resolution of this once fearful Nicodemus, when Christ was crucified and at the lowest.— ⟨p. 84⟩We find that Nicodemus, which (saith the text) came at first to Jesus by night, 5brought a hundred pound weight of mixture of Myrrh and Aloes for the Burial of Christ. 6The like instance we have in Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Christ, but secretly for fear of the Jews.—But afterwards, when he had got more strength of grace, the Scripture tells us, He went in to Pilate boldly, and craved the body of Jesus. 7To profess Christ boldly, in a time when dangers and difficulties attend that Profession, argues a strong faith; a weakly Constitution dare not go out, unless the weather be fair; But a strong body can endure the hardest weather. A weak and young Convert is fitter to live in the prosperity of the Gospel; but an old experienced Christian like an old tried soldier, will not shrink in the hardest trials.—If thou faint in the day of adversity; 8it is because thy strength is small.
A strong believer can suffer as well as do for the sake os Christ.1 Greater strength of grace is required to suffer for the truth, then to professe the truth; and therefore our Saviour propounds this to the ambitious suitors, the sons of Zebedee; Are yee able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of? 2and to be baptized with the Baptism wherewith I am baptized withall? implying thus much, that they did not well understand their own strength, that there was more grace required to suffer for the name of Christ, then to believe on the name of Christ, and accordingly as is our strength of grace, so is our courage for the cause of Christ, lesse or more. Nicodemus when he had but little grace, he came to Jesus, but yet in the night, 3by stealth; he durst not openly appear for Christ, but afterwards as he grew in grace and knowledge of Christ, so he grew in courage for Christ, And when the cause of Christ was debated in the assembly of the chief Priests and Pharisees, there Nicodemus boldly pleads the cause of Christ.4—Doth our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he doth? Nay we reade afterward of a higher resolution of this once fearful Nicodemus, when Christ was crucified and at the lowest.— ⟨p. 84⟩We finde that Necodemus, which (saith the text) came at first to Jesus by night, 5brought a hundred pound weight of mixture of Myrrhe and Aloes for the Burial of Christ. 6The like instance we have in Ioseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Christ, but secretly for fear of the Jews.—But afterwards, when he had got more strength of grace, the Scripture tells us, He went in to Pilate boldly, and craved the body of Iesus. 7To professe Christ boldly, in a time when dangers and difficulties attend that Profession, argues a strong faith; a weakly Constitution dare not go out, unlesse the weather be faire; But a strong body can indure the hardest weather. A weak and young Convert is fitter to live in the prosperity of the Gospel; but an old experienced Christian like an old tried souldier, will not shrink in the hardest trials.—If thou faint in the day of adversity;
- 16. Answ.
- 2Mar. 20. 22 23.
- 3John 3. 2.
- 4John 7. 50.
- 5Joh. 19. 39.
- 6Ver. 38.
- 7Mar. 15. 43
- 8Prov. 24. 10.
