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ings, furely we who are poor infirm Creatures, muft want that Inftruction which is to be learnt from them.

FOR to fuppofe, that we can be obedient to God without Sufferings, is to fuppofe, that we can do our Duty without fuch Helps as the Son of God had. Sufferings are therefore to be confidered amongst the Graces of God, which purify our Souls, enlighten our Minds with Divine Knowledge, and prepare us to perfect Holinefs in the Fear of God.

BUT how contrary to the Spirit of Chrift do we act, if our Sufferings provoke us into Methods of Retaliation, and instead of teaching us Obedience to God, lead us into a State of Enmity towards our Brethren.

FARTHER; It became him, faith the Apoftle, for whom are all Things, and by whom are all Things, in bringing many Sons unto Glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through Sufferings (a).

WE are here plainly taught not only that Chrift was made perfect through Sufferings, but that it was fit he fhould be made perfect that Way, as the only Way that could bring many Sons unto Glory.

(a) Heb. ii. 10.

So

So that we see one End of Christ's Sufferings before his being crowned with Glory and Honour, was to teach us, that Sufferings is the Way to arrive at Glory, and that those who defire to be Sons of Glory, must first be made perfect through Sufferings.

WE therefore forget the Nature of our Religion, we mistake the one great Defign of Chrift's Sufferings, we go out of the Road to Glory, if we do not patiently fubmit to Sufferings, if we are not thankful that we fuffer with Chrift, that we may reign with him.

MEN in vain pretend that they only defend themselves against Injustice. For thefe are the very Hardships which Chrift fuffered, and which they are, if they would be guided by his Spirit, to fuffer with Pa

tience.

St. PETER fpeaking to Servants, faith, This is thank-worthy, if a Man for Confcience toward God endure Grief fuffering wrongfully. If when ye do well and fuffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called, becaufe Chrift alfo fuffered for us, leaving us an Example, that ye fhould follow his Steps.

HERE the Apostle founds the Duty of Servants being fubject to Masters, that treat them injuriously, upon the common Doctrine

of

of Chriftianity; because to fuffer wrongfully is thank-worthy before God, and becaufe Chrift's Example has called us to bear with Patience those injurious and wrongful Hardships.

LET it therefore be carefully obferved, that as fure as the Apoftle here speaks by the Spirit of God, fo fure is it that our Behaviour is not thank-worthy or acceptable with God, unless we endure wrongful Sufferings with Patience, and that if we lay afide this Meeknefs, we leave the Example of Chrift, who only faves fuch as follow his Steps.

I HAVE now gone through feveral Inftances of that Mortification, Self-denial, and Suffering, to which the Chriftian World are called.

IF the Doctrines of this Chapter feem hard and grievous, they can only feem fo to fuch, as have wrong Notions of human

Life.

Too many People imagine this Life to be fomething, that is fubftantial in it felf, and valuable for its own Goods, and look upon Religion as fomething that is added to it, to make a worldly Life more eafy, regular, and happy; and fo embrace Religion with no other Spirit, nor to any farther Degree, than as it complies with

the

the Ease, Order, and Happiness, of that Way of Life in which they live.

OUR bleffed Saviour has fully confuted this Opinion, by teaching us, that there is but one Thing needful. If therefore we are but fo far Chriftians, as to believe that what our Saviour has here taught, is strictly true, then all the pretended Grievances of Self-denial and Suffering are all struck off

at once.

FOR what though Meekness, Patience, and Humility, may often make us Sufferers, yet if fuch Sufferings make us only lofe fuch Things as are not needful for us, where is any Ground for Complaint?

BUT farther, fuch Sufferings are not only without any real Hurt, but they promote our Happiness, and become Matter of real and folid Joy.

BLESSED are ye, when Men fhall revile you, and perfecute you, and shall fay all manner of Evil of you falfely for my Sake, rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your Reward in Heaven (a).

CHRIST does not endeavour to comfort us in this State, as if it was a hard or melancholy State, which we must bear because it is made easier with Patience, or

(a) Mat. v. 11.

because

because God has pleased to impofe it upon us, but he looks at it in quite another View, not as needing Comfort, but as having Matter fit for Congratulation.

WHAT Chriftians are they therefore, what Strangers to the Spirit of Chrift, who reckon those Things amongst the Hardfhips of Religion, which Chrift recommends to us as Reafons of rejoicing, and being exceeding glad?

THE whole Matter therefore plainly comes to this, if our Sufferings, our Injuries, or Hardships, be fuch as we undergo, because we dare not depart from that Meeknefs, and Patience, and Charity, which Chrift has taught, because we had rather love our Enemies than be revenged of them, rather fuffer like Chrift, and be full of his Spirit, than avoid Sufferings by a contrary Temper, fuch Sufferings are our greatest Gains.

IF on the contrary, you know of any Meeknefs and Patience which is not after the Example of Chrift, any Injuries or Sufferings which you can refift, and yet fhew that you follow the Example of Chrift's Patience, and Meeknefs, and Charity, the Doctrine of this Chapter has no Recommendation of fuch Sufferings..

You are only here exhorted to bear fuch Injuries and Sufferings as make you

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