The Christians blessed choice, or, The godly mans resolution to cleave fast to God and his truth, notwithstanding trials, troubles, and persecutions very seasonable for these times / by J.H. Hart, John, D.D. 1668 Approx. 48 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 24 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A45703 Wing H932 ESTC R40135 18763672 ocm 18763672 108229 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A45703) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 108229) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1656:8) The Christians blessed choice, or, The godly mans resolution to cleave fast to God and his truth, notwithstanding trials, troubles, and persecutions very seasonable for these times / by J.H. Hart, John, D.D. [47] p. Printed by J.W. for Eliz. Andrews ..., London : 1668. Engraved frontispiece of author opposite t.p. Advertisement: p. [46]. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Bible. -- N.T. -- Hebrews XI, 25-26 -- Sermons. Faith -- Sermons. Christian life -- Sermons. Sermons, English -- 17th century. 2008-07 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2008-08 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-10 John Pas Sampled and proofread 2008-10 John Pas Text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion The Christians BLESSED CHOICE OR , The godly Mans resolution to cleave fast to God and his Truth , notwithstanding Trials , Troubles , and Persecutions . Very seasonable for these Times . Josh . 24.15 . As for me and my House , we will serve the Lord. Rom. 8.18 I reckon that the sufferings of this present time , are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us . By J. H. a Servant of Jesus Christ . London , Printed by J. W. for Eliz. Andrews in Little St. Bartholomews Court in West-Smithfield , 1668. portrait of author THE CHRISTIANS Blessed Choice . Hebrews 11.25 , 26. Chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God , than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season : esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the honours in Egypt ; for he had respect to the recompence of the reward . IN this Chapter , beloved we finde the blessed Apostle opening and applying the Doctrine of Faith , having first assured them , that he and the rest of Christs Disciples were in the number of those who did believe to the saving of their souls . Having told them in the 38. verse of the foregoing Chapter that the just shall live by saith ; he comes here in this Chapter largely to declare and shew unto them what saving Faith is : and this is laid down in the fire first verses of this Chapter . As , first , It is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen ; a means to obtain a good report . Through Faith the imbrace the truth of God contained in the word , as the creation of the world by the word of God. By faith ; and by faith alone , our sacrifices , our services , our duties , our persons , and performances are accepted in Iesus Christ . By faith we receive whatsoever we ask of God in prayer , Matthew 21.22 . And without saith ( in the sixth verse you see ) it is impossible to please God. And from the seventh verse to the end of the Chapter he sets down the several fruits and effects of faith in all ages , by the most eminent examples of Gods faithful servants . I shall not now trouble you with the several particular examples of faith recorded in the Chapter , but shall leave them to your own particular meditation as you finde them recorded in the Chapter , and consider what is there said , and the Lord give you understanding in all things , 2 Tim. 2.3 . Now that which I intend briefly to insist upon , is that eminent example of the faith of Moses , in the words before mentioned , in that he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God , than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season : esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches , than all the honors of Egypt . Before I come to the Observations which slow from hence , give me leave a little to look back into the two foregoing verses , wherein we have first the example of the eminent faith of Moses parents , who contrary to the Kings command refused to destroy him ; the King he commanded all the males to be slain , but they being strong in faith , by hiding of him did preserve him ; and when they could hide him no longer , they chose rather to trust him to the mercy of God , by casting him upon the water , rather than to endanger his life by the hands of merciless and bloody men . And this they did as the Apostle here saith , not fearing the Kings commandment . There are several useful and profitable instructions which may be deduced from hence , I shall onely name them , and so procéed . And the first is this , that God takes special notice of his peoples faith , he records it to all posterity . Secondly , I observe from hence , that its a very great mercy to be born of faithful and bolieving parents : had not Moses parents been faithful and believing , Moses might have been destroyed as well as others were . Thirdly , I note from hence , that God can and will preserve his people , maugre all the rage and malice of the Devil and all his instruments . The enemies of Gods people may design evil against them , but the Lord preserves them : when men are as it were at their wits end , and know not which may to fly for succour , then doth God know how to deliver them . Though the afflictions of Gods people are many , yet out of them all will God deliver them , Psam . 34. and the 19 verse . Fourthly , I note from hence , that it is lawful to disobey the wicked and unlawful commands of lawful authority . If Kings command that which God ( who is King of Kings ) forbids , we ought rather to obey God than men : instances of this truth we have many in Scripture . Memorable is that unparallel'd example of the three Children , Shadrach , Meshach , and Abednego , in the third Chapter of Daniel , when Nebuchadnezzar the King commanded all to fall down and worship his golden Image , or else to be cast into the fiery furnace , they stoutly resisted , knowing that God was able to deliver them . Be it known to thee , O King , we will not serve thy gods . If they obeyed not the King , then they must expect nothing but to be cast into the burning fiery furnace : but this they feared not , they took no care to answer the King in this matter , they knew God was able to deliver them ; however , they resolved whether deliverance came or not , they would rather suffer than sin . If it be so that we must be cast into the furnace , we know our God is able to deliver us : but if not , though we be not delivered , yet be it known unto thee , O King , that we will not serve thy Gods , nor worship the golden Image that thou hast set up . The King he threatens a burning fiery turnace , alas , that 's very dreadful , very terrible to flesh and blood , but what 's the fire of men to the everlasting fire of God : mens fire that can onely consume a poor rotten carkass , but the fire of God that is unquenchable , and will destroy both body and soul . Men can onely kill the body , and after that they can do no more ; but God can destroy both body and soul , and that for evermore . Excellent was that holy saying of that holy man of God , the blessed Martyr Polycarp , St. Johns disciple , when the Emperour threatned him with fire if he would not forsake Christ : Alas , saith he , you threaten me with your fire , alas , what a poor inconsiderable thing is your fire ! You do not , saith he , consider that ever lasting fire which God threatens . Do likewise the holy Apostles of our blessed Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ , in the 4. of the Acts , and the 18. and 19. Verses , when the Rulers commanded them not to preach in the name of Iesus , they answered and said , Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God , judge ye . God commands Ministers to preach the Gospel , and Ministers ought to preach the Gospel , notwithstanding the commands of men to the contrary . And so in the 25. of the Acts Vers . 29 , when the Apostles were brought before the High Priests and Councel , and by them questioned for doing their duty , namely for preaching the Gospel ; you will finde in the 29. ver that St. Peter and the other Apostles answered and said , We ought to obey God rather than men . And after that when they were beaten , and commanded not to preach any more in the name of Iesus , what did the Apostles do , did they obey ? no. They rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ . And as you may see in the last verse of that Chapter , That daily in the Temple , and in every house , they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus Christ . Several other instances I might give you , but I proceed . In the next place , the next thing considerable is the eminency of Moses faith , in the 24 , 25 , 26. verses . By faith Moses when he was come to years refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter ; where by the way observe , that it is more honour to be a Christian , than to be a Courtier . It is more honourable to be the son of God by grace and adoption , than to be the son of the greatest Monarch or Emperour in the World. There is none so nobly descended in all the world as the people of God , they are of the Blood Royal of Heaven : others they may take their pedegree from Kings , and Monarchs , and the great ones of the world ; but the people of God are all descended from him who is King of Kings , and Lord of Lords , the blessed and onely potentate , 1 Timothy 6.15 . Yea the people of God are all of them Kings and Priests unto God , Revelations 1.6 . Here likewise we might observe what low thoughts Christians ought to have of every thing , be it never so honourable , in comparison of Iesus Christ . It had been an honour , yes an exceeding great honour , if we may account worldly greatness and honour , for Moses to have been reputed the son of Pharaohs daughter , but how inconsiderable a thing was this in the eyes of Moses , who was more nobly descended , being born of God , a chosen servant of Iesus Christ , to go in and out before his people Israel : but I proceed . Now the eminency of Moses faith you may see in these following particulars : first , Moses here sees the various difficulties and dangers which were then like to fall upon him for his faith . Will Moses forsake Pharaoh and embrace Iesus Christ , then Moses must suffer affliction : this Moses foresees , and this makes his faith more glorious . As the people of God are by faith assured of Christ , so likewise being once in Christ , they are sure to bear the Crosse of Christ : Christ and his Cross are inseparable : All taht will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution , 2 Timothy 3.11 . See what our blessed Saviour saith in the Gospel of Saint Luke , If any man will come after me , that is , if any man will be a good Christian , let him deny himself , and take up his Cross daily , and follow me , Luke 9.23 . He that will follow Christ must bear the Cross as the blessed Apostles did , they rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ . And truly the people of God may well rejoyce in their sufferings ; for why , Christ hath born the brunt of all , he hath made our burthen light : although Christ by his sufferings hath not fréed the people of God from sufferings , yet he hath made their sufferings to become easie . Iust as it is with a man carrying a great trée on his back , and you may sée little children to bear up the small twigs of the trée ; alas , there is no weight in them , the weight of all the whole but then lies on the mans shoulders : so , beloved , it is with Christians , Christ carries the load , the weight of all their afflictions , they do but bear up the little end , the small twigs of it ; therefore the Apostle excellently calls his afflictions light : Our light affliction , saith he , which is but for a moment , worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory , 2 Cor. 4.17 . Secondly , the eminency of Moses faith appcars also in this , namely , the great willingness and forwardness of Moses , in that it is said , He chose rather to suffer affliction with the people ; which intimates unto us , the readiness of Moses to become the servant of Iesus Christ . Certainly this was a very great at of faith in Moses , a carnal eye would rather have chosen to have béen the son of Pharaohs Daughter , an eye of sense which sées no better , would rather have chosen greatness and eminency in the world ; then the meanness and poverty of Gods people : rather to have béen Pharaohs Grandchilde , and honourable at Court , then to have béen the poor afflicted sons of Gad. Carnal men , men whose God is their wealth , and whose hearts are set upon their riches , would rather chuse to be rich with Dives , than to be poor with Lazarus ; but a gracious Soul had rather want bread with Lazarus , than to want grace with Dives . It is not all the riches in the world that can content and satisfie the soul of a Saint ; a few will sée it better for him , if God sées it good for him to beg his bread with poor Lazarus on earth , than to beg his water with rich Dives in hell . A godly man by faith sées that glory which is to come , they know that when this earthly tabernacle of theirs shall be dissolved , that they have a building with God in heaven , an inheritance which is uncorruptible and undefiled , which passeth not away , reserved in heaven for them who do believe : but a wicked man he sees onely by an eye of sense , he sees no farther than his riches ; he thinks if he may be great and honourable here in the world , he esteems this the onely happiness , and he thinks nothing better than to be rich ; and indeed he may well think so , for he knows of no better condition . The world with the honours and pleasures of it are even a heaven to the men of this world ; I , and indeed it is all the heaven they shall have . Son , remember ( saith Abraham to Dives in the 16. of . St. Luke ) that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things . Dives would very fain have enjoyed heaven after his death , and yet he would live upon earth in such a sumptuous delicious manner , as if this would had been his onely heaven : And true it is ; the postion of a wicked man is in this life . God gives wicked men their portion in this life , but he reserves a portion for his Saints in the life to come . Wicked men are very like to some prodigal spendthrifts , who spend all their portion before they come to years ; but the portion of Gods people is reserved for them till they come to age . God sees it good , yea best for his Children to have their portions reserved for them till they come to years , and that is till they come to heaven . He gives his people as much of the world as may serve to bear their charges to heaven ; but their full portion he reserves for them till they come to heaven : and truly the portion of a Child of God is very great . God is the portion of his people , and believe it God will never see his people want so long as he hath it ; and Gods treasure is inexhaustible , it can never be drawn dry : All things are yours ( saith Saint Paul , 1 Cor. 3.21 . ) peaking to the believing Corinthisns ) whether Paul , or Apollo , or Ceahas , or the world , or life , or death , or phings present , or things to come , all tre yours , and ye are Christs , and Christ as Gods. Having thus briefly run over the words , I come now to give the practical Observations which flow from hence for our edification : And first of all , I observe from henc the transcendent excellency of savin faith , by faith Moses did thus and thus . Secondly , I note from hence , tha the condition of Gods Children in this life , is an afflicted condition . Thirdly , I observe likewise from hence , that the people of God should rather suffer any affliction , than commit the least sin ; it is better to suffer than sin . And then fourthly , I observe hence , the great vanity of sinful pleasures , they are but for a season . Fifthly , I observe , that the reproaches of Christ are better , yea , as the Text sweetly expresses if ; are greater riches than all the honours of the world . And then lastly , I observe from hence , that God hath a recompence of reward for his people , he will make them amends for all their losses at the last : he that loseth any thing for Christ , shall be no loser by the bargain : Every one that hath forsaken houses , or brethren , or sisters , or father , or mother , or wife , or children , or lands . for my Name sake , shall receive an hundred fold , and shall inherit everlasting life , Mat. 19.29 . Before I proceed to Application , I shall a little open and confirm these several truths by way of Doctrinal Explication : And to begin with the first , viz. What faith is a most transcendent , excellent , and saving grace ; and this you may see all along this whole Chapter . First , it brings the people of God into a good report . By faith our services become acceptable in the sight of God. And without faith it is impossible to please God ; For whatsoever is not of faith is sin . By faith , Noah being warned of God prepared the Ark , to the saving of his house , and thereby became an heir of righteousness . By faith Abraham forsook his Countrey , for by faith he saw the heavenly City which God had prepared for him . And all along the whole Chapter you may see the excellency of faith in the several effects of it in the faithful Saints and servants of God , who of all others , best deserve the name of Worthies : Who through faith subdued Kingdomes , wrought righteousnesse , obtained promises , stopped the mouths of lions , quenched the violence of fire , escaped the edge of the Sword. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings ; yea , moreover , bonds and imprisonments . They were stoned , sawn asunder , were tempted , slain with the sword : They wandred about in sheepskins and goat-skins being destitute , afflicted , and tormented . These all obtained a good report through faith , By faith the sick are healed , Luke 7.50 . Dy faith the people of God are purified , justified ; and by faith they are saved , Rom. 5.1 . Ephes . 2.8 . By faith we have access to God by prayer , Rom. 5.2 . By faith we believe the word of God , and they that by faith do believe in God , shall at the last receive the end of their faith , even the salvation of their precious souls , 1 Pet. 1.9 . In the next place to come to second point , which is this , That the condition of Gods children in this life is an afflicted condition : God had but one Son without sin , but God hath never a son without affliction . Our blessed Saviour himself was not free from afflictions ; nay , he was despised and rejected of men , a man of sorrows , and acquainted with grief ; he was oppressed , and he was afflicted , Isa . 53.3 , 7. The Prophets they were afflicted and imprisoned , and slain , Likewise the Apostles and Primitive Christians , as you may see at large in this Chapter where my Text is , Heb. 11. They were stoned , sawn asunder , cruelly scourged and imprisoned : yea , as the Psalmist saith , Many are the afflictions of the righteous , but the Lord delivers them out of them all , Psal , 34.19 . Our Saviour tells his Disciples what they must look for in the world at his departure from them : If the world hate you ( saith our Saviour , John 17.18 , 19 ) ye know that it hated me before it hated you . If ye were of the world , the world would love his own : but because ye are not of the world , that I have chosen you out of the world ; therefore the world hateth you . Remember the word that I said unto you , the servants is not greater than their Lord : if they have persecuted me , they will also persecute you ; and all these things will they do unto you for my names sake . Yea , saith the holy Apostle St. Paul ; reckoning up his manifold persecutions in 2 Tim. 3.12 . All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecutions . Many more Scriptures I might give you for the confirmation of this excellent truth , but these I hope may suffice , this being a truth which the people of God in all ages have born testimony unto with their blood . Nay , this truth is so clear , that it even may be read by the light of these fires in which the Saints of God suffered death , those glorious fires which ever burneth fresh in the memory of Gods people , even those fiery chariots which carried out heavenly Elijahs , our blessed Martyrs to heaven . In the third place , the third Observation to be considered is this ; That the people of God should rather suffer any affliction than sin . This you may see in Joseph , who rather than he would commit folly with his Mistriss , rather then sin against God , he would run the hazard of all afflictions . How shall I do this great wickedness , aad sin against God , Gen. 39.9 . And this truth is most eminently confirmed by holy Job , who rather than he would curse God and dye , would willingly with patience undergo all his afflictions . Job underwent all afflictions , and it is said of him , In all this Job sinned not . Let God afflict saith Job , I will suffer with patience ; it is the Lord , let him do what he pleases , my afflictions shall never move me to forsake my God. Though God afflict me all the dayes of my life , yet will I wait with patience till my change come . And in the thirteenth Chayter he resolves though God should kill him , yet he would trust in him . So likewise we finde an eminent example for this in holy Daniel , as you may read , Dan. 6.14 , 15 , 16. Daniel rather than he would sin against God in ceasing to call upon God by prayer , would suffer himself to be cast into the Lions den . So likewise the three children in the third Chapter of Daniel , rather than they would sin against God , by worshipping of Nebuchadnezzars golden Image , would undergo the furious flames of his burning fiery furnace , So the blessed Apostles , as you heard before , rathen than they would obey the wicked commands of men , in not preaching the Gospel , willingly rejoyced in suffering affliction for so doing . Many more examples I might give you , but these I hope may suffice : and if there had been no other example than what is set down in the words of the Text , this heavenly truth had been sufficiently confirmed . In the fourth place , I come to prove the vanity of all sinful pleasures , and that may appear , first from the shortness of them ; and secondly from the bitternesse of their end . They are but for a season , they come to an end ; nay , they shall end in endless woe and misery . Though sin be sweet for the present , yet its bitter , yea , bitternesse it self in the latter end . Though sin may be pleasant for a season , yet remember . I beseech you , it will be painful to eternity . The pleasures of sin they have an end , but the pains and torments which sin procures , they have no end . When sinners have undergone the wrath of God ten thousand times ten thousand millions of years , yet then are their torments as far off from having an end , as they were at first . The torments for sin are eternal , and I beseech you remember enternity hath no end : what pleasure then can there be in that which brings eternal pains with it ? Sinners even when they delight themselves in their sins , even then are they pulling destruction upon themselves , even eternal destruction . Every step in sin how sweet , how delightful soever it be in the eyes of the sinner , is a stop to misery , enternal misery . They that hasten to sin , hasten to sorrow ; yea , they run to hell . As Solomon saith , They love death ; he doth not mean that sinners love death , as death ; there is no beauty , or amiableness at all in death simply considered in it self ; but yet they may be truly said to love death who love sin , and delight in sin , and live in sin . The wages of sin ye know is death , Rom. 6.23 . Delight in sin is a hasting into the armes of death . Sinners by their delight in sin do as it were woe death , and invite death and the grave , even hell and destruction : so that even sinners themselves , though now for a while Satan blindes their eyes , yet at last when it is too too late they shall be forced to confess and say , that there is neither pleasure nor profit in sin . The Devil makes the sinner believe that there is a great deal of pleasure and profit in sin ; you shall get by it , saith the Devil : but let sinners once truly cast up their accounts , how that eternal damnation will be their wages , and then let them see what they have gotten by sin . It is possible I confess , that some may say they have gotten hundreds and thousands by it ; they have gotten Houses , and Lands , Honour Esteem among men , pleasure and profit in the world : but what a miserable gain is that which is gotten with the loss of the soul . Read that dreadful Scripture in St. Matthews Gospel , Mat. 16.26 . and then see if there be any thing gotten by sin : What is a man profited , if he shall gain the whole world , and lose his own soul ? Will thy Riches which thou hast gotten by sin , by oppressing the poor , and defrauding thy neighbour ; redeem thy soul from death , surely no. Thou mayest delight thy self in enlarging thy barns , as that rich Fool did : But thou Fool , this night shall thy Soul be required of thee , then whose shall they be . There is no loss like the loss of the soul . There is nothing to be gotten by sin ; thou mayest lose thy soul by sin , and lose heaven by thy sin , and lose the love and favour of God by sin . Sin may pretend pleasure and profit , but surely it brings ruine and destruction . Those rich men which Saint James speaks of , James 5.1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Versses , they thought that gain which they got by defrauding their labourers of their wages to be very sweet : they lived in pleasures , they inriched themselves by the sweat of other mens labours : but what have they any cause to rejoyce in this ? No , saith the Apostle , Go too now ye rich men , weep and howl , for your misery which shall come upon you . They thought to heap up riches by their injustice and cruelty , but they heaped up onely a little fuel for the eternal fire . Dives he thought himself altogether happy when he enjoyed the world at will , when he fared deliciously every day ; but what did this profit Dives ? death robs him of all , and he himself is taken away from his sinful pleasures , and thrown headlong into eternal torments : he would enjoy the pleasure of sin while he lived , and now he must undergo the torments of sin for ever . O consider this you that delight in sin ; canst thou endure to dwell for ever in the everlasting burning : if thou canst endure the wrath of God for ever , if thou art able to stand before the Lord in the day of his fierce anger , then take pleasure in sin : if thou canst prevent God from bringing thee to judgement , then let thy heat rejoyce in sin : but if after all thou must come to judgement , then take heed of sin . Do not conceit that sin to be pleasant whose pains will be eternal : in vain do men flatter themselves that they may sin and not suffer ; did ever any man rebel and enjoy peace ; can any offend God and have his blessing , surely no : sin shall not go unpunished ; if men will sin they shall suffer . The soul that sinneth shall dye . Sin destroyed the Angels , those holy Spirits , sin made them unholy devils . Sin cast Adam out of Paradice . Sin destroyed the old World. Sin consumed Sodome and Gomorrah . Sin brings Wars , Plagues , Famine , & Destruction upon Nations . Sin ruins our names , sears our Consciences : and in a word , it destroys body and soul for ever . And then fifthly , I observed , That the reproaches of Christ are greater riches than all the honours of the world . The best of Gods Saints have been reproached , as holy Job , and David was not onely reproached , but was a reproach both to his enemies and to his neighbours : He was made the song of the Drunkards . The Apostles they were also reproached , but here is that which sweetens all , Christ hath born the brunt of all : Christ accounts all our reproaches to be his . The greatest part of Christs suffering for us was to bear our reproach : so the greatest part of our sufferings is to bear the reproach of Christ . Hence the Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrews , exhorts us to go forth unto him , bearing his reproach , Heb. 13.13 . And Indeed reproach in it self is so great a burthen , that were it not for his that Christ accounts it his , we should never be able to bear it . Hence Moses looked on his reproach as the reproach of Christ ; and believe me , though there may be a great deal of weight in the reproaches of Christ , to press us down , yet there is abundance of worth in them to inrich us : though they may be as thorns here , yet they shall be as a crown of glory to us hereafter . See what our Saviour saith in Matth. 5.11 , 12. Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake , foe theirs is the kingdome of heaven . Blessed are ye when men shall revile you , and persecute you , and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake , rejoyce and be exceeding glad , for great is your reward in heaven . Christ doth not say , if ye be rich and honourable in the world you shall be blessed : but Christ saith , if thou art reproached thou shalt be blessed . Thou mayest be rich and honourable in the world , and yet be everlastingly miserable : but if thou art reproached for Christ , thou shalt be rewarded with Christ , If we suffer with him , we shall also reign with him , 2 Tim. 2.12 . Sixthly , and lastly , I observe from hence , That God hath a recompence of reward for his people . If we suffer for Christ , we shall also reign with Christ : If we be reproached with Christ here , we shall be rewarded with Christ hereafter . See what our blessed Saviour saith , Matth. 19.29 . Every one that hath forsaken houses , or brethren , or sisters , or father , or mother , or wife , or children , or friends , for my sake , shall receive an hundred fold , and shall inherit eternal life . I might be longer on this point but I procéed to the Vses which shall flow from hence for our edification . And the first Vse is this , Is it so then , that Faith is such an excellent grace , then let me exhort you all , in the name of Christ , to believe , to get Faith. Beloved , Faith is not onely excellent in it self , but it will also make you excellent : The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour , Prov. 15.26 . Believers were the onely excellent persons in whom David delighted , Psalm . 16.3 . Without faith it is impossible to please God , Heb. 11.6 . For whatsoever is not of faith is sin , and God cannot be pleased with sin . In a word , if ever you would be saved , get faith , for without faith there is no salvation : it is unbelief which is the soul-damning sin . He that believeth shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned . The Sentence of damnation is already past against all unbelievers . He that believeth not is condemned already , John 3.18 . He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life , and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life , but the wrath of God abideth on him , John 3.36 . For the Lords sake sinners believe , if you have any regard to your own good believe ; if you have any love or pitty to your precious souls believe ; if you would not be eternally miserable , believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be eternally blessed . Secondly , Is it so that the condition of Gods Children in this life is an afflicted condition , what then shall the condition of wicked men be in the life to come ? If judgment thus begin at the house of God , what then shall be the end of sinners ? If the righteous be thus scarcely saved , where then shall the sinner and ungodly appear ? If God be thus severe to his Children , how terrible will he then be to his enemies : If through so many tribulations the people of God enter into heaven , then into what woeful miseries doe sinners plunge themselves into for a few sinful pleasures ; for a few séeming sinful pleasures they heap to themselves eternal torments . O consider this you that forget God. In this life the people of God are afflicted , but in the life to coure they shall be rewarded . Lazarus he was afflicted with hunger and sores , yea scorned and contemned by Dives ; but in the life to come Lazarus is rewarded , but Dives is tormented . The time will come when Gods people shall have pleasures , everlasting pleasures , when the wicked shall be turned into hell , and all the Nations that forget God , Psalm 9.17 . The Lord tryeth the righteous , ( saith David ) but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth . Upon the wicked he shall rain snares , fire and brimstone , and an horrible tempest , this shall be the portion of their cup , Psalm 11.6 . Thirdly , Is it better to suffer than to sin , then this may inform us of the great evil of apostacy ; they that will turn from the truth rather than suffer for the truth , such I say never did imbrace the truth in the love of it ; they went out from us , but they were not of us . Many will own Christ and the word of Christ when they may do it without fear , but when trouble and persecutions come , then they fall away . But whosoever they are that in this case go about to save their lives shall lose them : they that deny Christ for fear of persecution , Christ will deny him before his Father . Apostacy was the sin of the Devil , and they that apostatize from Christ for fear of persecution , shall have the Devils reward . Thou wilt not suffer for Christ , but Christ will make thée suffer eternally . Thou thinkest life is swéet , and indéed so it is , but remember eternal life is much more sweeter , and the soul is more precious than life . Christ laid down his life to save souls , therefore Christians should lay down ten thousand lives , if it were possible to have so many , rather than lose their souls . By apostacy from the truth thou mayest save thy life , but in so doing thou losest thy soul , which is of more value than ten thousand lives . Did Christ lay down his life for us , and shall not we much more lay down our lives for him . Did Christ who , is the prince of life become obedient unto death , even the death of the Crosse for us , then let nothing separate us from the love of Christ . Christians should shew themselves to be the servants of Christ by afflictions , persecutions ; be the way what it will , fair or foul , thick or thin , Christians should persevere . The Apostles loved not their lives unto the death in the cause of Christ : and he that is afraid of his life in the cause of Christ , is surely afraid of heaven . If he that endures to the end shall be saved , then certainly he that falls away shall be damned . If we fear them who can onely kill the body , more than God who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell , what will become of us . In a word , let me encourage you all in the words of the holy Ghost , as you may finde it , Revel . 3.10 . what saith God there , Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer , behold , the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tryed , and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes : But be thou faithful unto death , and I will give thee a crown of life . Fourthly , Is it so , that all sinful pleasures are short and vain , are they but for a season , then I note from hence by way of Vse , the great folly of sinners in neglecting eternal life for a few momentary pleasures . Sinners spend their time in gathering pebbles , and yet they trample upon pearls : How many grievous sinners are there , who with that wretched Cardinal are ready to say , they will not lose their part in Paris , for their parts in Paradice . Sinners had rather lose heaven than part with their sins ; as if they could enjoy the pleasure of sin for ever , never considering how soon death may come upon them , and turn all their pleasures into pains . Sinners are apt to flatter themselves in their own folly , and to fancy that they shall live for ever , or at leastwise that they may enjoy their pleasures till death come , and yet go to heaven : it is true , God suffers many to go on in their sins , and never awakes their souls at all ; but this he doth in judgement . Sinners despise Christ now , but Christ will hereafter despise sinners : They who say unto God depart now , we will have none of the fear of the Lord , God will say unto them depart ye cursed hereafter . When death comes , sinners must bid farewel to all their pleasures ; they rejoyce in their worldly pleasures here , but when death comes , farewell pleasures : not one laughter more , then never another jovial meeting , then no more ranting and singing , then all pleasures will be turned into pains . Consider , I beseech you sinners , will your pleasures profit you in the day of wrath , surely no ; they may torment you as they did Dives . How many are there now in hell , who had as much pleasure as thou canst have . who had as many merry méetings , as much drinking , and sporting , and other sinful partimes as thou hast had : Oh , but what pleasure is it now to them to think of those things for which they are now tormented ? The Lord awaken every secure sinner : for the Lords sake be not such fools as to damn your souls for such trifles as these are , which are not only vanity , but vexation of spirit also , even horrour and dread to all eternity . Fifthly , Is it so , that the reproaches of Christ are greater riches than all the honours in the world , then I observe from hence , that a Crown of life is more worth than all the Crowns and Kingdomes in the world . Moses he looked upon Pharaohs crown , and he sées that to be fading and tottering ; but Moses he looks upon the crown of life , and sees that to be everlasting . Kings by the permission of God , for the sins of a Nation , may be deprived of their earthly Crowns , as by sad experience we have found in this Kingdome ; but the Crown of life which God shall give his people is beyond the reach either of men or devils to deprive them of : God shall give it them , and none shall be able to take it from them . There shall be no Vsurpers in heaven to rob Gods people of their Crowns : there shall be no petitioning nor remonstrating against the Saints in heaven : the Devil who is now their accuser shall then be thrown down into the bottomlesse pit . The Saints Crowns shall not be voted uselesse and dangerous in heaven . God may for our sins suffer high Courts of Injustice here to take away the lives of Kings , but it is beyond the power and policy , either of them or devils , to take away eternal life from the people of God. Hereafter they are kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto salvation . Men may take away the life of a Saint , but this now takes not away their Crown . Your joy no man taketh from you , saith our Saviour , John 16.22 . Men cannot deprive the people of God of their joy here , and certainly therefore neither men nor devils can take away their eternal joy , which shall be without sorrow , and without ceasing , even for ever to all eternity . Sixthly , Is it so , that the reproaches of Christ are such great riches yea , greater riches than all the honors of the world ; how great then are the rewards of Christ ? If Christ crucified be so lovely , how unspeakable lovely then is Christ in Glory ? If the Saints be so glorious here under reproaches , how glorious than shall they be in heaven , when Christ himself shall put his glory unto them . If the people of God are so glorious here , what shall they be when they come to their kingdom , where they shall be clothed with the glorious white robes of Christ ? For when Christ who is our life shall appear , ( saith the Apostle ) we shall also appear with him in glory . At the day of judgement , O how glorious shall the people of God then appear ; they shall have Crowns upon their heads , yea , they shall be clothed with glory , and honour , immortality , and life eternal for ever , Rom. 2.7 . Seventhly , Is it so then that God hath a recompence of reward for his people hereafter , then let me exhort you all to make choice of the Lord for your God : they that make choice of the Lord for their God here , shall be sure to have him for their reward hereafter . It was a good resolution that of Joshua , as you may read , Joshua 24.15 . As for me and my house , we will serve the Lord. Let the men of the world run after Idols , and inventions of their own fancies , a child of God , a Joshua , he will worship God in spirit and in truth . And if ever we would be rewarded with Christ , the let us chuse Christ , and the wayes of Christ . Labour to grow in grace , and to abound in holiness , for godliness is the way to glory . Godliness ( saith the Apostle ) is great gain . Godlinesse hath the promise , not onely of this life , but of the life to come . Were the wades of God never so hard and difficult , yet they have a glorious reward : Godlinesse brings the best gain , eternal life and glory . Wouldst thou in the day of Iudgement chuse heaven rather than hell , then chuse God and walk in his ways ; imbrace holiness although it be never so much despised by profane sinners , if ever thou wouldst be imbraced by Christ in heaven . Eightly , is it so , that there is such a glorious reward for the people of God , then let us live and dye as becomes the heirs of Glory : Let us then walk worthy of God ( as the Apostle saith , 1 Thes . 2.12 . ) that hath called us to his Kingdom and glory . Is it so that the Saints of God shall shine as the stars in heaven , then let the people of God labour to shine as lights in the world : If thy inheritance be in heaven , then let thy conversation be in heaven : if your reward , your treasure be there , then let your hearts be there also . Is thy name written in heaven , let the world sée it then in the legible Character of Holinesse . Think of that Crown of Glory which thou shalt everlastingly enjoy in heaven , and then so live that thou mayest be in a readinesse to receive it . Get oyl in your lamps , grace in your souls , that when Christ who is your life shall appear , ye also may appear with him in glory : receiving the end of your faith , even the salvation of your souls . Lastly , is there such a reward for the people of God hereafter , than be content with what God gives thée in this life : be thy portion what it will , if heaven be thine , thou hast that which is better than all the world ; they that have Christ for their portion have no want . The Lord is my portion ( saith David , Psalm 23.1 . ) therefore I shall not want . Saint Paul accounted all things but dross and dung in comparison of Christ . Remember , it is better to be poor and godly , than rich and miserable : Riches never made one soul happy , they have made many a soul miserable . Let the people of God then take off their affections from the world : it becomes not the heirs of glory to look after such trifles , it is enough for Swine to be routing in the earth ; Children who are fed at their fathers table will never regard the bones that are thrown to the dogs ; they that are daily fed with the fat things of grace and glory , should never regard the vain and transitory things of the world . The glory of this world is but the portion of a reprobate ; take them at the best they are but uncertain , here to day and gone to morrow ; they may be destroyed by fire , they may be stoln away by thieves : thou mayest lay up treasures here , and when thou hast done all , they may be cousumed by rust and moths . Therefore take Saint Pauls counsel , and set your affections on things that are above , and not on things below : Let your conversation then be without covetousness , and be content with such things as you have , for God hath said , I will never leave you nor forsake you . Heb. 13.5 . So to conclude , I beséech you fear the Lord all ye his Saints , for there is no want to them that fear him . FINIS . Courteous Reader . THere is lately published an excellent and profitable Sermon , called , Christs last Sermon , or , The everlasting estate and condition of all men in the world to come . Likewise , the Christians best Garment , Christs first Sermon . The Christians Blessed Choice . Heavens Glory , and Hells Horror . And a warning-piece to the Sloathful , Idle , Careless Drunken , and Secure Ones of these last and worst of times . Very godly Books , and are but three pence price . Likewise , 1. The Fathers last Blessing to his Children 2. This Devils disease , or , the Sin of Pride arraigned and condemned . 3. Englands faithful Physician . 4. Death Triumphant . 5. Peters Sermon of Repentance . 6. The dreadful charecter of a drunkard . 7. Dooms-day at hand . 8. The Charitable Christian . 9. The Plain Mans Plain Path-way to Heaven . 10. The Black Book of Conscience . All very necessary for these Licentious times . They are to be sold by Elizabeth Andrews in Little St. Bartholmews Court West-Smithfield