CHAPTER VIII.

Exhibiting the trials occasioned by sufferings on account of religion.

SECTION I.

We are come to the last class of trials, which was proposed for consideration; let us attend to it with seriousness and self-application. Thousands embark on the profession of religion in a calm, who, when the winds rise and the sea rages, and they see a storm gathering which threatens destruction, unless their carnal goods are thrown overboard, and their worldly expectations abandoned, forget the destined port, and desire to be landed, as soon as may be, upon the shore whence they departed. Thousands rank themselves with the company of the saints, who, when tribulation or persecution arise, turn back and herd again with their own kind.

But since every degree of suffering for religion's sake, is not sufficient to cause a separation of the vile from among the precious, I shall show what trials of this nature may be deemed sufficient; why such must necessarily discover who has false religion; and what advantages true holiness has to endure them.

SECTION II.

The following instances are selected, as being sufficiently severe to separate the dross from the gold.

1. When the dearest interests of men, which have relation to this world, their lives, liberties, or fortunes, are put to imminent hazard on account of religion, few, ex

cept the genuine children of God, will maintain their steadfastness, and glory in the loss of all things else, rather than dishonor the name by which they are called, and incur the guilt of allowing any thing to have competition, in their regards, with the glory of God and their own eternal interests. In cases like this, false hearts will show themselves.

2. When there remain no hopes of deliverance from such trials, nor any visible encouragement that the scene will vary, then the hands of the false-hearted hang down, and their hearts faint.

3. When an unsanctified man is subjected to sufferings, alone, it is a thousand to one but he quits religion to save himself. Good company may encourage the irresolute and false-hearted, but they will faint and fail, if called to sustain the fight single-handed; they lack those inward and invisible supports, which uphold the saints in such circumstances.

4. When powerful temptations are combined with sufferings, with the desertion of friends and the opposition of relatives, then hypocrites and self-deceivers will leave religion and heaven, to be maintained and enjoyed by the

saints.

SECTION III.

That these trials will distinguish true Christians from mere pretenders to religion, may be easily made evident. 1. During such trials, the predominant interest and attachment of men, will be made manifest. No man can serve two masters, whose injunctions clash with each other; he will, in ordinary times, secretly hold to the one, and despise the other; and when his obedience and fidelity are put to the proof, he will openly show whom

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he serves. In these trials, the two great interests of men, this world and heaven, the flesh and Christ, stand opposed; one must be adhered to, the other abandoned. Christ saith, Be thou faithful unto death; he that loveth father or mother, wife or children, lands or inheritance, bodily ease, temporal safety, or life itself, more than me, is not worthy of me :" The flesh saith, "Spare thyself; he that will grieve and break the hearts of these dear relatives, forsake these earthly accommodations, exchange ease for sufferings, and hazard life, is not worthy of them." Those, therefore, who love Christ supremely, will follow him wherever he leads, while the unholy will cleave to the world and the flesh.

2. When brought to suffer for the kingdom of heaven's sake, the saints derive their supports, not from any visible or sensible objects, which would be utterly insufficient, but from an invisible source, from their covenant God, their Saviour, their Sanctifier; which method of preservation the saints only have, and therefore they only can live through such trials.

3. In such times, men's notions and speculations about religion, their visionary hopes and self-comforting imaginations, vanish away, and those only who are rooted and grounded in the truth, will be likely to remain steadfast.

4. These trials reach the foundations of men's faith and hope, and will demolish such as are laid in the sand, while such only as are built upon the Rock of abide their vehemence and pressure.

SECTION IV.

ages, will

I proceed to shew the advantagess of true holiness, when sufferings on account of religion are to be endured.

1. Holiness takes the throne, in the hearts of God's

people, and destroys the dominion of selfishness; supreme love to God predominates, and renders those interests which have the supreme regard of sinners, subordinate ; and thus they love that for which they suffer, while their sufferings tend to subdue propensities and attachments to which they are opposed.

2. By true holiness, the affections of the saints are placed on heavenly and divine objects, they become heirs to an eternal and glorious inheritance, and are disposed to look, not at things which are seen and temporal, but at those which are unseen and eternal; hence they esteem the sufferings and tribulations with which they meet in the way to heaven, as light and unworthy to be compared with the end they have in view.

3. By holiness, man's will is brought into cordial subjection to the will of God, and, in the exercise of Christian submission, the saints can patiently endure whatever sufferings, trials, or privations are allotted to them.

4. Holiness has all good beings and all goodness on its side; it has the support of the Redeemer's intercession, the prayers of the saints, the assistances of the Holy Spirit, the promises of God's word: therefore, "neither tribulation, nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, nor peril, nor sword," shall be able to separate the saints from the love of Christ, or terminate their obedience to him.

CHAPTER IX.

Exhibiting the ends for which God appoints such trials of. the holiness of his people in this world.

SECTION I.

SOME of the ways in which God brings the holiness of his people to the touchstone, in this world, have been mentioned and illustrated :-the design of these trials is now to be considered. Without doubt we may conclude, in general, that God designs to promote his own glory and the good of his people; both of which will certainly be accomplished; but for our improvement, a more particular exhibition of the ends answered by these events, is necessary.

SECTION II.

If we take a near view of this subject, we shall perceive many important benefits arising from these trials of the sincerity and holiness of God's people.

1. Hypocrisy is unmasked, the vizard is plucked from the false professor, and his real character is displayed to the world. Should any object, that this produces evil instead of good, that many are stumbled and hardened by it, and that the world observe its mischievous effects-I answer, that some are, indeed, thus prejudiced and rendered obdurate, so as never afterwards to think well of the government and people of God; but who does not see, that his word and his purposes are thus accomplished? and, if these stumble, and fall, and perish, yet others will be warned, awakened, and put to searching their hearts and hence good will arise; "they who think they stand,