are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? as it is written, For Christ's sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter; nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Christ that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'

Here is and ought to be the noble resolution of the true and faithful christians in Christ Jesus; and as the apostle said to the Corinthians, 'We are made a spectacle unto the world, and angels, and men, &c. And we are counted fools for Christ's sake, and we are buffetted, and have no certain dwelling place; and being reviled, we bless; and being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we intreat. We are made as the filth of the world, and as the offscouring of all things; but the Lord comforts us in all our tribulations; for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds with Christ.' 2 Cor. i. 5, 6, 7.

And so it is no new thing for the christians now, to be troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair, for our light afflictions which are but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; and though our outward man perish, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.' Blessed be the Lord for ever.

And as the apostle saith, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake.' And here the apostle triumphed over all, which should be every true christian's practice.

And you may read how Paul said, 'How that beyond measure he persecuted the church of God, and wasted it; but when he was converted and became a member of Christ's church, then he preached that faith which he sought to destroy; so you may see, as it is written, 'he that's born after the flesh, persecutes him that is born after the spirit ;' even so it is now. Therefore, whatever Christendom doth profess and talk, the birth must be minded, of what birth you are; if it be the birth of the flesh, he will persecute him that is born after the spirit, the true believers in Christ; for unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.' So this gift is not only to believe, but also to suffer for his sake, and so count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, for whom I suffer the loss of all things, and count them but dung that I may win Christ, and be found in him, that I may know him, and the power of VOL. VI.

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his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. To this all should mind to be conformable, and know the fellowship in his sufferings.

And the apostle encourages the Thessalonians, who saith, We ourselves glory in you, &c. for your patience, and faith in all your persecutions, and tribulations, that ye endure, which is a manifest token of the righteous judgments of God, that ye may be worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer, seeing it is righteous with God to recompense to them that trouble you; and so you that are troubled, rest with us, (saith the apostle,) therefore brethren, we are comforted over you in all your afflictions and distresses for your faith. Stand fast in the Lord, that no man should be moved by these afflictions, for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto, (saith the apostle,) for we told you before that we should suffer tribulations, even as it is come to pass.' For Christ hath suffered; and being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted, in all their sufferings. And though Christ were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered, and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation, to all them which obey him; and so if we suffer with him, we shall reign with him. And remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body, in bonds. Here is a sensible feeling of one another that are born of the spirit, and a fellowship in sufferings, who are persecuted by that spirit born of the flesh.

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And the apostle saith to the Hebrews, Call to remembrance the former days, in which after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions, partly while you were gazing-stocks, both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly while you became companions of them that were so used; for ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and enduring substance. Cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward, for ye have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise; but if any draw back, (to wit, in the time of sufferings,) the Lord's soul hath no pleasure in them.'

Moses, by faith, chose rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of reward, and by faith forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.' And ye may see what cruel trials of mockings, scourges, bonds, and imprisonments, and afflictions, and torments, the saints went through, in the 11th of Hebrews.

And saith Peter, 1 Pet. ii. 20. If when you do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently; this is acceptable with God, for even hereunto were ye called. If a man for conscience sake towards God suffer grief; this is thank-worthy, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps, who when he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to God who judges righteously; for Christ hath once suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. But the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory, (saith the apostle,) by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered awhile, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you; cast all your care upon God, for he careth for you; and rejoice, inasmuch as you are made partakers of Christ's sufferings, &c. and think it not strange concerning the fiery trials, which are to try you, as though some strange thing had happened unto you; for if ye be reproached and suffer for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you: on their part, he is evil spoken of, but on your part, he is glorified.' If any man suffer as a christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf: wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator; and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye. And be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled, having a good conscience, that whereas they speak evil of you, as evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation; for it is better if the will of God so be, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing; for we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God, who is the saviour of all men, especially of them that believe.'

And the apostle said, 'He was appointed a teacher of the Gentiles, for the which cause he also suffered,' &c. but he was not ashamed, for he knew in whom he believed; and said, though he suffered as an evildoer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound; nay, the eternal word of God that lives, and abides, and endures for ever, by which all things were made and created, this word of God cannot be bound by that which was created by it, and doth not live and endure for ever; therefore, saith the apostle, I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying, if we be dead with Christ, we shall also live with him; and if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with him; and if we deny him, he also will deny us,' &c.

And you may see what persecutions and afflictions came upon the

apostle at Antioch, and at Iconium, and at Listra, what persecutions he endured; but out of them all the Lord delivered him; yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution. Mark, shall, if they live godly. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived; therefore he exhorts Timothy, to watch in all things, and endure afflictions,' &c. for he was ready to be offered up, for the time of his departure was at hand, and he had fought the good fight, and finished his course, and kept the faith, and there was a crown of righteousness laid up for him, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give him at the last day, and not to him only, but unto all them also that love his appearing; for God hath not given to us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind: therefore the apostle saith unto Timothy, Be not thou therefore ashamed of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be thou a partaker of the affliction for the gospel, according to the power of God, who hath saved us, and called us by a holy calling,' &c. And John saith, I know thy works, tribulations, and poverty; but thou art rich; fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days; but be thou faithful to death, and I will give thee a crown of life:' this was spoken to the church in Smyrna. And you may see in the 11th chap. how the witnesses of Christ suffered, and when they had taken away their lives, and the dead bodies lay in the streets of the great city, which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, (so not naturally called so,) where Christ our Lord and saviour was crucified; that was the great professors of the letter, the Jews, before the witness was slain; but after three days and a half, the spirit of life from God entered into the witnesses, and they stood upon their feet, which frightened their enemies; and the witnesses were called up to heaven, and the same hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and was shaken down; so here was the reward upon the city and the persecuting citizens.

And again, you may see how the dragon persecuted the woman, the true church, which brought forth the man child, after he was cast out of heaven by Michael and his angels; but the woman (or true church) was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, in the wilderness; and the earth helped the woman; and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood, which the dragon cast out of his mouth after her; and the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which kept the commands of God, and have the testimony of Jesus.

Now you may see how the devil, the dragon, and all his followers persecute, and what his wrath is against, the true church, the woman,

that brought forth the man child, and they that kept the commands of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. And then the dragon he gave his wicked persecuting power to the beast, and he also was to continue forty-two months; and he got up in such a rage in the devil's power, that he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven; not them that dwell upon the earth, for all that dwell in the earth worship him, but those whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, to wit, they do not worship him. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear.

But what became of the great city, and the whore, or the false church, and the beast, and the dragon, with all his false prophets? are not they at the end burned, and cast into the lake of fire, and the Lamb and the saints have the victory?

And David declareth, how he was persecuted, and said, 'Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul; let them be as chaff before the wind, &c. Let their way be darkness, and slippery, &c. False witnesses rise up, and lay to my charge things that I knew not; they rewarded him evil for good, to the spoiling of his soul; and his adversaries gathered themselves together against him, with hypocritical mockery in feasts; they gnash upon me with their teeth, yea, they open their mouths wide against me, and say, Aha, Aha, &c. but God will save his afflicted people, and bring down the high looks of them that afflict them.' Psalm xviii. verse 27.

And David mourned by reason of affliction, and said, 'I am afflicted, and ready to die from my youth upward,' &c. and said, 'Lord remember David in all his afflictions;' and he said, 'The wicked in his pride persecuted the poor: my times are in thy hand; O Lord! deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and them that persecute me.' And also David cried to the Lord, and said, 'How many are the days of thy servant? wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me; the proud have digged a pit for me, which are not after thy law;' (and they that do so now are not after thy gospel.) And David said, 'O Lord my God! in thee I put my trust; save me and deliver me from all them that persecute me; for the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not the prisoners; let the heaven and earth praise him, the sea, and every thing that moveth therein.' And David saith, they that sat in the gate spake against me, and I was the song of the drunkards;' and do not the drunkards make songs of God's people now?

And you may see the sufferings and afflictions of Job by the Caldeans, and Sabeans, and the trials and temptations of his wife, and his pretended friends; and also he saith in his afflictions, They that are