here meant.

For the Disciple was not to be above his Mafter, 'twas enough for him to be as his Mafter. Hereunto are ye called, fays St. Peter, 1 Pet. ii. 21. because Chrift alfo fuffered for us, leaving us an Example, that we Seould follow his Steps.

Thefe, you will fay, are very ftrange Circumstances to be happy in; and we would fain be refolved in our Third Question, and know how, what fort of Happiness thefe Perfons can extract from Circumftances always thought and experienced to be most afflicting and grievous to Human Na

ture.

We count them happy which endure, my Brethren, says the fame St. James; Count it all Foy, when ye fall into diverfe Temptations: And again, Blessed is the Man that endureth Temptation. St. Peter Lays, If ye be reproached for the Name of Chrift, happy are ye. our Lord pronounces those bleffed,

And

who

who were perfecuted for Righteoufnefs fake. He bids them rejoice, and be exceeding glad. From thefe Expreffions we find, that this was a common and establish'd Opinion, That they were happy which endured; that these were not hafty and inconfiderate Words, nor the Affertion of a fingle Perfon, but the Judgment of one and all. And we may further infer, That it was no mean or ordinary Degree of Happiness which they pretended to, for that would ill comport with such strong Expreffions as these, of rejoicing and being exceeding glad in their Sufferings, and counting it all Foy when they fell into them.

Let us then come a little nearer, and inquire into the Nature of this ftrange Happiness.

Whilft thefe Men, then, count them happy which endure, they frankly acknowledge, that no Affliction is for the prefent joyous, but grievous; but after

wards,

wards, fay they, it yields us the peaceable Fruits of Righteousness. Their Tribulations wrought Patience, their Patience Experience, and their Experience Hope. They always bore about in the Body, the Dying of the Lord Jefus, that the Life alfo of Jefus might be made manifeft in their mortal Flesh. Sufferings, like thofe of Jefus, producing a Virtue that has fome Refemblance of his, from which his Peace must be infeparable. Men who found this Effect from their Sufferings, could not but rejoice, and be exceeding glad, in fuch an Experience. But when we add to This, the Hope that follow'd; when their Convictions of a future State, and a righteous Judgment, grew ftill more lively and vigorous; being affured that the more unworthy things they fuffer'd here, the greater would their Measures of Glory and Happiness be hereafter; no wonder they could fubmit to thofe Evils with Alacrity,

which other Men avoid with all their Industry. No wonder that they, to whom it was given, in the Behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but allo to fuffer for his Sake, were in nothing terrify'd by their Adverfaries; which to Them was an evident Token of Perdition, but to Thefe of Salvation, and that of God. No wonder that they gloried in Tribulations, in Diftreffes and Perfecutions, when in all these things they were more than Conquerors; when they yielded them an hundred fold in this World, and infur'd to them in the World to come, a Life everlasting. 'Twas the Foy that was Set before our Lord, which enabled him to endure the Cross, and defpife the Shame. Rejoice, fays St. Peter, inaf much as ye are Partakers of the Sufferings of Chrift, that when his Glory hall be revealed, ye may be glad alfo with exceeding foy. A future Profpect in this Life, will animate our Hopes, VOL. II.

and

and quicken our Industry, and prolong our Patience, and carry us thro many Labours and great Difficulties'; no wonder then, that a lively Sense of Eternal Rewards, with fome Earnest also of that Inheritance paid down in Hand, fhould fweeten the Toils of Virtue, and arm us with Patience and Fortitude; and even find a Blessedness in those Afflictions, by which our Faith is ftrengthened, and every Grace improved; that it should find Meat in the Eater, and Sweetness in the Deftroyer; a Riddle to the Philiftins.

We fee then, who the Perfons are who count them happy which endure; what Enduring they mean; and what fort of Happiness they extract from it. In all which, how ftrange foever the Affertion might appear to the first Thought, there is nothing but what is not only clear, intelligible, and confiftent, but you see a Truth, a Piece of Divine Philofophy of the ut

moft