B36604:81
Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity,…
Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity, excellency, and means of our readiness for sufferings are evinced and prescribed; our call to suffering cleared, and the great unreadiness of many professors bewailed. By John Flavel minister of Christ in Devon.Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity, excellency, and means of our readiness for sufferings are evinced and prescribed; our call to suffering cleared, and the great unreadiness of many profesours bewailed. By John Flavel minister of Christ in Devon.
London: printed for Robert Boulter, 1681
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I Am ready] O blessed frame of Spirit! how hard, but how happy is it to get a heart so tempered! Every Christian can say I would be ready, and the Lord make me ready for sufferings; ⟨p. 23⟩but few can say I am ready, my heart is prepared and fitted for such a work: yet this Example shows us it is attainable; and what a blessed thing it is to attain it, the following particulars will abundantly convince us.
I Am ready] O blessed frame of Spirit! how hard, but how happy is it to get a heart so tempered! Every Christian can say I would be ready, and the Lord make me ready for sufferings; ⟨p. 23⟩but few can say I am ready, my heart is prepared and fitted for such a work: yet this Example shews us it is attainable; and what a blessed thing it is to attain it, the following particulars will abundantly convince us.
First, Readiness for sufferings will bring the heart of a Christian to an holy rest and tranquillity in a suffering hour, and prevent that anxiety, perturbation, and distraction of mind, which puts the sinking weight into afflictions; the more cares, fears and troubles we have before our sufferings come, the more calm, quiet and composed we are like to be when our sufferings are come indeed. It is admirable to consider with what peace and patience Job entertained his troubles; which considering the kinds, degrees and manner in which they befell him, one would think they should at least have startled and amazed him, and put his Soul (as gracious and mortified as it was) into great disorder and confusion; but you find the contrary, never did the patience of a man triumph at that rate over adversity, he worships God, owns his hand, and resigns himself up to his pleasure, Job 1.20, 21. and whence was this? Surely had his troubles come by way of surprise, he could never have carried it at that rate; but in the days of his peace and prosperity he had prepared for such a day as this,