The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Hence the same Apostle casts up the account of these things, and gives us his Judgment concerning them, Rom. 8.18. For I reckon that the Sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us; there is no comparison between them, as if one had as much Evil and Misery in them, as the other hath of Good and Blessedness; as though his State was any way to be complained of, who must undergo the one whilst he hath an interest in the other; or as though to escape the one, he hazard the enjoyment of the other.

Hence the same Apostle casts up the account of these things, and gives us his Judgment concerning them, Rom. 8.18. For I reckon that the Sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us; there is no comparison between them, as if one had as much Evil and Misery in them, as the other hath of Good and Blessedness; as though his State was any way to be complained of, who must undergo the one whilest he hath an interest in the other; or as though to escape the one, he hazard the enjoyment of the other.

It is inseparable from our Nature to have a fear of and aversation from great distressing Sufferings, that are above the power of Nature to bear. Even our Lord Jesus himself, having taken on him all the sinless Properties of our Natures, had a fear and aversation, though holy and gracious with respect unto his own. Those who through a stout-heartedness do contemn them before their Approach, boasting in themselves of their Abilities to undergo them, censuring such as will not unadvisedly engage in them, are such as seldom glorify God when they are really to conflict with them. Peter alone trusted unto himself that he would not forsake his Master, and seemed to take the Warning ill that they should all do so; and he alone denied him. All Church Stories are filled with Instances of such as having born themselves ⟨p. 85⟩