The beatitudes

2. He chose to suffer affliction; suffering was not so much his task, as his choice; the Cross was not so much imposed, as embraced; this is to suffer as Christians, when we are Volunteers, we take up the Cross cheerfully, nay, joyfully; Acts 5.41. They departed from the ⟨p. 362⟩presence of the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name: Or as it is more emphatical in the Original, [Greek or Hebrew], they rejoiced that they were so far graced, as to be disgraced for the Name of Christ. Tertullian saith of the Primitive Christians, they took more comfort in their sufferings, than in their deliverance^*: And indeed well may a Christian be joyful in suffering^*, because it is a great favour when God honours a man to be a witness to the truth. Christs marks in Saint Pauls body, were prints of glory^*; the Saints have worn their sufferings as ornaments. Ignatius his chains were his jewels; never have any Princes been so famous for their Victories, as the Martyrs for their sufferings.

2. He chose to suffer affliction; suffering was not so much his task, as his choice; the Cross was not so much imposed, as embraced; this is to suffer as Christians, when we are Volunteers, we take up the Cross chearfully, nay, joyfully; Acts 5.41. They departed from the ⟨p. 362⟩presence of the Council, rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name: Or as it is more emphatical in the Original, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, they rejoyced that they were so far graced, as to be disgraced for the Name of Christ. Tertullian saith of the Primitive Christians, they took more comfort in their sufferings, than in their deliverance