§. 249. Of Believers suffering advisedly.
THE general expression of the end of Saints sufferings, noted in this causal particle, that, giveth us to understand, that true Believers advisedly endure what they endure, for the Faiths sake. So fight I (saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 9. 26.) not as one that beateth the aire, that is, not as a mad man that fighteth with a shadow, not weighing what he doth: but as a man of understanding, that have good cause to do what I do. This advisednes with reference to the cause he doth here set out, For the which cause I suffer these things: for I know whom I have believed, 2 Tim. 1. 12. All those Texts which set down the causes and motives why Saints were induced to suffer, give proof hereof.
Particulars were these,
- 1. Submission to the will of God, Matth. 26. 42.
- 2. Confirmation of the Gospel, Phil. 1. 17.
- 3. Establishing the Professors thereof. Phil. 1. 14.
- 4. That Eternall weight of glory which followeth thereupon, 2 Cor. 4. 17.
Believers are endued not onely with reason, (which in general moves men to prefer the most excellent) but also with spiritual understanding, and divine Wise∣dom; which makes them well weigh what they do and endure. Thereby also they are enabled to distinguish betwixt things that differ: and thereupon to chose and prefer the more evcellent, needfull, and usefull.
Take notice hereby of the perverse censure, which the men of this world do in this case pass upon Believers. They judge them to be no better than sots, idiots, frantique, mad; if they suffer imprisonment, loss of goods, reproach, or any kind of censure, what mad men are these, say they: not knowing the ends which Saints aime at, and that blessed fruit that will follow thereupon.