Hence we learn;1 1. To imitate and follow our pattern Christ, in voluntary obedience, delighting to do Gods will, and to suffer Gods will. Its said of Christ, Hebr. 5.8. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience through suffering. He was the excellentest Scholar among all his School-fellows, and yet the rod of God was heaviest, and most frequent on him; he learned his Lesson beyond them all. He was quick in understanding, in the fear of the Lord, Isaiah. 11.3. He had in him an excellent Spirit; The Spirit of Wisdom, of Counsel, 2of Knowledge, and of the Fear of the Lord; And was holy and obedient to the death, the death of the Cross. Its much to learn to be active for God, but more to learn to be passive. That is a profound science. Phil. 4.12. I know how to be abased, — I am instructed to be hungry, —and to suffer need. It's the singular art of Grace to know how to love, fear, and obey God, under death, pain, and hell. It is a high lesson to learn the Mystery of that deep Science, of hunger, want, suffering, stripes, and torment, and death for Christ. This is high, Hebr. 10.34. Ye, took patiently the spoiling of your goods, knowing that in heaven ye have a better, and more enduring substance. They are but accidents we have here, and these very separable. Heaven is all substance. Our obedience passive is not willing, its constrained. We might by Grace turn clay into gold, hell into heaven: if we could look in faith and patience,3 on the persecution, and reproaches of men, as on the brutish and irrational motion of a staff, or an axe that beats and cuts us; suppose we knew no hand under God that wronged us; he curseth, because the Lord hath bidden him. For the freedom of Christs kingdom, and the right government of his house, and for opposing blasphemies, and reproaching of Christ, his Word, Scripture, Ordinances, We are killed all the day long, and counted the off-s•ourings of men; could we over-look ⟨p. 164⟩unthankfulness, malice, wickedness, persecution from men, whom we with our lives and blood have redeemed from persecution, and behold the highest Mover, and first Wheel that moveth all under wheels, as if God only were our party, who humbles us, that we may be humbled; then should we be silent, and our hearts should not rise at the exorbitances of men.
Hence we learne;1 1. To imitate and follow our patterne Christ, in voluntary obedience, delighting to doe Gods will, and to suffer Gods will. Its said of Christ, Hebr. 5.8. Though hee were a Sonne, yet learned he obedience through suffering. Hee was the excellentest Scholler among all his Schoole-fellowes, and yet the rod of God was heaviest, and most frequent on him; he learned his Lesson beyond them all. He was quick in understanding, in the feare of the Lord, Esai. 11.3. He had in him an excellent Spirit; The Spirit of Wisdome, of Counsell, 2of Knowledge, and of the Feare of the Lord; And was holy and obedient to the death, the death of the Crosse. Its much to learn to be active for God, but more to learne to be passive. That is a profound science. Phil. 4.12. I know how to be abased, — I am instructed to be hungry, —and to suffer need. It's the singular art of Grace to know how to love, feare, and obey God, under death, paine, and hell. It is a high lesson to learne the Mystery of that deepe Science, of hunger, want, suffering, stripes, and torment, and death for Christ. This is high, Hebr. 10.34. Yee, tooke patiently the spoiling of your goods, knowing that in heaven ye have a better, and more enduring substance. They are but accidents wee have heere, and these very separable. Heaven is all substance. Our obedience passive is not willing, its constrained. We might by Grace turne clay into gold, hell into heaven: if we could looke in faith and patience,3 on the persecution, and reproaches of men, as on the brutish and irrationall motion of a staffe, or an axe that beates and cuts us; suppose we knew no hand under God that wronged us; hee curseth, because the Lord hath bidden him. For the freedome of Christs kingdome, and the right government of his house, and for opposing blasphemies, and reproaching of Christ, his Word, Scripture, Ordinances, We are killed all the day long, and counted the off-s•ourings of men; could wee over-looke ⟨p. 164⟩unthankfulnesse, malice, wickednesse, persecution from men, whom wee with our lives and bloud have redeemed from persecution, and behold the highest Mover, and first Wheele that moveth all under wheeles, as if God onely were our party, who humbles us, that wee may be humbled; then should wee be silent, and our hearts should not rise at the exorbitances of men.
- 1Use 2.Vse 2.
- 2Its much to be active for God but more to be passive.
- 3To look to highest providence a safe ground of sudmission.To looke to highest providence a safe ground of sudmission.
