III. It is the Duty and the Property of the true Disciple of Christ, to Out-do others in respect of Passive Obedience. In respect of a Profound Submission and Resignation to the Will of God, in whatever afflictive Dispensations of His Holy Providence may attend them. This Christ has taught His Disciples, not by Precept only, but by His Holy Example, Heb. 5. 18. He learned Obedience by the things that he suffered. When the greatest Agony that ever man endured was coming upon Him, He said, Not my Will, but thy Will be done. This is the highest Obedience: For a man to Submit to the Will of God in Affliction, is a greater Obedience than to do what God Requires in a way of Active Obedience. We have notable Examples of this, not only in the New, but in the Old Testament Believers. Thus Abraham when God had given him a Son in a Miraculous way, for him now to part with that Son at the Command of God, was certainly a great trial as of his Faith so of his Obedience. Nevertheless he readily complied, rising Early to perform what was Commanded him, Gen. 22. 3 Eli when Tidings was brought to him of dismal doleful Desolations coming on his Family, said, It is the Lord, let Him do ⟨p. 16⟩what seemeth Him Good. And David under great Afflictions said, 2 Sam. 15. 26. If the Lord say He hath no delight in me, behold here I am, Let Him do to me […] seemeth good to Him. And the holy Prophets are recommended to us for our imitation herein; Jam. 5. 10. Take the Prophets who have spoken in the Name of the Lord, for an Example of suffering Afflictions, and of Patience. They were Patient under all the Afflictions that God did see meet to Exercise them with. It is the Property of a true Disciple of Christ, to make a comparative Choice of Affliction, that is of affliction rather than Sin; any thing rather than sin; Mat. 16. 24. If a man will be my Disciple, let him take up his Cross. If the case is so circumstanced, that he must either Sin or take up the Cross; then if he is a true Disciple of Christ, he will with his own hands take up the Cross. Thus did Moses, Heb. 11. 25. He chose rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of Sin for a season: That now was Singular Obedience, to choose to be on the suffering side. Moses was Heir apparent to the Crown of Egypt, being the Adopted Son of Pharaohs only Daughter;
III. It is the Duty and the Property of the true Disciple of Christ, to Out-do others in respect of Passive Obedience. In respect of a Profound Submission and Resignation to the Will of God, in whatever afflictive Dispensations of His Holy Providence may attend them. This Christ has taught His Disciples, not by Precept only, but by His Holy Example, Heb. 5. 18. He learned Obedience by the things that he suffered. When the greatest Agony that ever man endured was coming upon Him, He said, Not my Will, but thy Will be done. This is the highest Obedience: For a man to Submit to the Will of God in Affliction, is a greater Obedience than to do what God Requires in a way of Active Obedience. We have notable Examples of this, not only in the New, but in the Old Testament Believers. Thus Abraham when God had given him a Son in a Miraculous way, for him now to part with that Son at the Command of God, was certainly a great tryal as of his Faith so of his Obedience. Nevertheless he readily complyed, rising Early to perform what was Commanded him, Gen. 22. 3 Eli when Tydings was brought to him of dismal doleful Desolations coming on his Family, said, It is the Lord, let Him do ⟨p. 16⟩what seemeth Him Good. And David under great Afflictions said, 2 Sam. 15. 26. If the Lord say He hath no delight in me, behold here I am, Let Him do to me 〈…〉 seemeth good to Him. And the holy Prophets are recommended to us for our imitation herein; Jam. 5. 10. Take the Prophets who have spoken in the Name of the Lord, for an Example of suffering Afflictions, and of Patience. They were Patient under all the Afflictions that God did see meet to Exercise them with. It is the Property of a true Disciple of Christ, to make a comparative Choice of Affliction, that is of affliction rather than Sin; any thing rather than sin; Mat. 16. 24. If a man will be my Disciple, let him take up his Cross. If the case is so circumstanced, that he must either Sin or take up the Cross; then if he is a true Disciple of Christ, he will with his own hands take up the Cross. Thus did Moses, Heb. 11. 25. He chose rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of Sin for a season: That now was Singular Obedience, to choose to be on the suffering side. Moses was Heir apparent to the Crown of Egypt, being the Adopted Son of Pharaohs only Daughter;
