The right way to shake off a viper. An essay, upon a case too…

If you follow the steps of your suffering Saviour, I will set before you the Consolations of God, which Oh! how can they be small unto you? There will infallibly belong to you those Great Consolations of God: 2 Tim. 2.12. If we suffer we shall also Reign with him. The Scars which your Defamations and other Calamities leave upon you, will be the Marks of the Lord Jesus born upon you: The Marks, which as often as you look upon, you may with a Triumphant Faith conclude; My Glorious LORD intends a part in the Glories of his heavenly Kingdom for me! My Friend, You will find the Joy of such Considerations to be inexpressible.

'Tis a Blessed thing to suffer like your Glorious LORD; but then if you suffer for him, or if the Cause of the malignity, which disposes ill Men readily to utter or to receive Defamations against you, be your known serviceableness to his Interests, and Churches, this is a vast addition to your Blessedness. Your Christ-like behaviour under the Sufferings, will consummate the Tokens of a great Reward in Heaven reserved for you, and of your being one Day with him to behold his Glory.

Here, Sir, is the consummating Point of your Conformity to your Saviour. First, You must be full of CHRIST: always thinking of him, acting for him; watching all occasions ⟨p. 46⟩decently to make mention of his Glories; daily pleading of his Sacrifice, flying to his Righteousness; resigning to the Possession of his holy Spirit; admiring, studying, following, of his holy Pattern; perpetually rendering some Acknowledgements to him by your self, and bespeaking Acknowledgements of him from others; this must be the very business of Your Life! Then, you must be as CHRIST was, full of Benevolence and Beneficence to Mankind; ever filled with Compassions towards the Miserable; ever doing to them all the Kindnesses imaginable: Particularly contributing to the Reconciliation of such as are at Variance; and seeking out poor and mean People, and with delight stooping to any kind Offices for them; and all this upon his account; continually contriving, how to be serviceable unto all that are about you; relishing of no Pleasure comparable to that of doing any Service whereof you may be capable; thankful to any one that will but show you an Opportunity how to do Good, and not needing any Arguments and Persuasives to lay hold upon it: Having imprinted on your Mind a deep apprehension of your being but a Steward of all your Possessions in this World; and in a discreet and faithful Stewardship, dispensing all to just such uses as your Great Redeemer has prescribed for all.