Fifthly, we here learn, not to expect presently upon our 1conversion unto God, and adjoining to the Church, secure peace and flourishing prosperity: for after the Lord hath allured and persuaded us to turn unto him, he leadeth us into the wilderness of affliction, before he bringeth us to rest in our heavenly Canaan. The world that hated our head Christ, will also hate us which are his members, as our Saviour hath told us, Joh. 16. 18. 19. Satan continually assaileth 2us, labouring to regain us into his thraldom: and though we had no outward molestation, yet our inbred enemy the flesh will not let us want cumbersome trouble and vexation. And therefore let us not look for a paradise in this world, which was appointed for our pilgrimage, nor expect victory and triumph, before we have undertaken and finished our warfare, neither let us imagine that we shall be conformable unto Christ in glory, before we have been conformable unto him in his afflictions, or that we shall reign with 3him, before we have suffered with him; or finally, that we can pass into the kingdom of heaven, but by many afflictions and tribulations. Examples hereof we have in Adam, 4Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and in the Apostles, yea in our Saviour Christ himself, who first suffered, and so entered into glory. And this is that which our Saviour hath forewarned 5us of in many places, Mat. 10. 17. & 26. 38. 16. 24. 24. 9. John 15. 20. & 16. 20. 1. Thess. 3. 3. 4. 2. Tim. 3. 12. And therefore before we give our names unto Christ, and make profession of his Gospel, but let us, as he counselleth us, sit down, and with the wise builder count the cost, lest having begun this great work, and not being able or willing ⟨p. 252⟩to finish it, we expose our selves to derision. Let us with 6the Apostle resolve to go forward in our Christian course, by honour and dishonour, evil report and good report, and make full account, if we will be followers of Christ, to wait upon him with our cross on our backs: otherwise, if we embrace Christ and his Gospel for worldly respects, we will be ready to forsake him when we see our hopes frustrate, with Judas, Simon Magus, and Demas. And though for a time we hear the Word with gladness, and bring forth the blade of a glorious profession, yet when the sun of affliction ariseth, it will wither, and in the time of temptation we shall fall away, Luk. 8. 13.7
Fifthly, we here learne, not to expect presently vpon our 1conuersion vnto God, and adioyning to the Church, secure peace and flourishing prosperitie: for after the Lord hath allured and perswaded vs to turne vnto him, he leadeth vs into the wildernesse of affliction, before he bringeth vs to rest in our heauenly Canaan. The world that hated our head Christ, will also hate vs which are his members, as our Sauiour hath told vs, Ioh. 16. 18. 19. Satan continually assayleth 2vs, labouring to regaine vs into his thraldome: and though we had no outward molestation, yet our inbred enemie the flesh will not let vs want combersome trouble and vexation. And therefore let vs not look for a paradise in this world, which was appointed for our pilgrimage, nor expect victorie and triumph, before wee haue vndertaken and finished our warfare, neither let vs imagine that we shall be conformable vnto Christ in glorie, before we haue been conformable vnto him in his afflictions, or that we shall raigne with 3him, before we haue suffered with him; or finally, that wee can passe into the kingdome of heauen, but by many afflictions and tribulations. Examples hereof we haue in Adam, 4Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, Dauid, and in the Apostles, yea in our Sauiour Christ himselfe, who first suffered, and so entred into glory. And this is that which our Sauiour hath forewarned 5vs of in many places, Mat. 10. 17. & 26. 38. 16. 24. 24. 9. Iohn 15. 20. & 16. 20. 1. Thess. 3. 3. 4. 2. Tim. 3. 12. And therefore before we giue our names vnto Christ, and make profession of his Gospell, but let vs, as he counselleth vs, sit downe, and with the wise builder count the cost, lest hauing begun this great worke, and not being able or willing
- 1We must not expect secure peace after our conversion.We must not expect secure peace after our conuersiō.
- 2Joh. 16. 18. 19.Ioh. 16. 18. 19.
- 3Rom. 8. 17. 18.
- 4Act. 14. 22.
- 5Luk. 24. 26.
- 6Luk. 14. 28. 2. Cor. 6. 8.
- 7Luk. 8. 13.
