A Divine Cordial

2. In things dangerous. When God calls us to suffer for him, we will obey. Love made Christ suffer for us; love was the Chain that fastened him to the Cross: So if we love God, we shall be willing to suffer for him. Love hath a strange quality, it is the least suffering grace, and yet it is the most suffering grace: It is the least suffering grace in one sense; it will not suffer known sin to lye in the soul unrepented of, it will not suffer abuses and dishonours done to God, thus it is the least suffering grace; yet it is the most suffering grace, it will suffer reproaches, bonds, imprisonments, ⟨p. 111⟩for Christs sake, Acts 21.13. I am ready not only to be bound, but to dye for the name of the Lord Jesus. 'Tis true, every Christian is not a Martyr, but he hath a spirit of Martyrdom in him, •he saith as Paul [Greek or Hebrew] I am ready to be bound, he hath a disposition of mind to suffer, if God call. Love will carry men out above their own strength. Tertullian observes how much the Heathen suffered for love to their Country. —Vicit amor Patriae—If the Spring-head of Nature riseth so high, surely Grace will rise higher. If love to their Country will make men suffer, much more should love to Christ. 1 Cor. 13.7. Love endureth all things. Basil speaks of a Virgin condemned to the fire, who having her life and estate offered her, if she would fall down to the Idol, answered, Let life and money go, welcome Christ^*. It was a noble and zealous speech of Ignatius, Let me (saith he) be ground with the teeth of wild beasts, if I may be Gods pure Wheat^†. How did divine affection carry the Primitive Saints above the love of life, and the fear of death? St Steven was stoned, St Luke hanged on an Olive Tree, St Peter crucified at Jerusalem with his head downward^*. These divine Hero's were willing to suffer, rather than by their cowardice to make ⟨p. 112⟩