A Body of Practical Divinity

Branch 2. Let us love a Bleeding Saviour, and let us show our Love to Christ by being ready to suffer for him: Many rejoice at Christ's Suffering for them, but dream not of their Suffering for him: Joseph dreamed of his Preferment, but not of his Imprisonment. Was Christ a Sacrifice? Did he bear God's Wrath for us? we should bear Man's Wrath for him. Christ's Death was voluntary, Psal. 40.7. Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Luke 12.50. I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished. Christ calls his Sufferings a Baptism: he was to be (as it were) baptized in his own Blood; And how did he thirst for that time▪ How am I straitened! Oh then let us be willing to suffer for Christ! Christ hath taken away the Venom and Sting of the Saint's Sufferings: there is no Wrath in their Cup. Our Sufferings Christ can make sweet. As there was Oil mixed in the Peace-Offering: So▪ God can mix the Oil of Gladness with our Sufferings. The ringing of my Chain is sweet Music in my Ears, Landgrave of Hesse. Life must be parted with shortly, what is it to part with it a little sooner, as a Sacrifice to Christ, as a Seal of our Sincerity, and a Pledge of Thankfulness.

Branch 2. Let us love a Bleeding Saviour, and let us show our Love to Christ by being ready to suffer for him: Many rejoyce at Christ's Suffering for them, but dream not of their Suffering for him: Ioseph dreamed of his Preferment, but not of his Imprisonment. Was Christ a Sacrifice? Did he bear God's Wrath for us? we should bear Man's Wrath for him. Christ's Death was voluntary, Psal. 40.7. Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Luke 12.50. I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitned till it be accomplished. Christ calls his Sufferings a Baptism: he was to be (as it were) baptized in his own Bloud; And how did he thirst for that time▪ How am I straitned! Oh then let us be willing to suffer for Christ! Christ hath taken away the Venom and Sting of the Saint's Sufferings: there is no Wrath in their Cup. Our Sufferings Christ can make sweet. As there was Oyl mix'd in the Peace-Offering: So God can mix the Oyl of Gladness with our Sufferings. The ringing of my Chain is sweet Musick in my Ears, Landgrave of Hesse. Life must be parted with shortly, what is it to part with it a little sooner, as a Sacrifice to Christ, as a Seal of our Sincerity, and a Pledge of Thankfulness.