The triumph of a true Christian described: or An explication of the eight chapter of the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans wherein the sanctified sinners heauen vpon earth is layed open, with explication of the comfort of it to as many as are so qualified. Deliuered in sundrie sermons by Edward Elton, Bachelour in Diuinitie, and preacher of Gods word at Saint Mary Magdalens Barmondsey neare London. And now by him published, intending the good and sauing comfort of euery true beleeuing soule that shall please to read it.

VERSE 18.

For I count that the afflictions of this present time, are not worthie of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs.

COme we now to verse 18. For I count that the afflictions of this present time, are not worthy of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs. In this verse our Apostle addes further matter of comfort against the bitternesse of the crosse, and of encouragement to a patient and con∣stant bearing of the crosse, and that by an argument from the weight of that glorie that he spake of verse before, and that such as suffer with Christ shall be partakers of; as namely, that the glorie they shall partake of, shall be exceeding weightie and maruellous great. And this the Apostle doth not simplie affirme, but he propounds his argument vnder a comparison of things vnequall, comparing the afflictions of this life with the glorie of the life to come, as the lesse with the grea∣ter, as that the glorie of the life to come doth farre surmount and exceed all the afflictions and sufferings of this life, and that the afflictions of this life cannot hold weight with the glorie of the life to come; and if they should be weighed to∣gether, as in a ballance, the one would be found but light in respect of the other: The afflictions of this present time, saith the Apostle, are not worthie of the glorie which shall be

shewed vnto vs, they are not comparable vnto it. And herein also the Apostle preuents a secret obiection; for some might say to him, You tell vs that we suffering with Christ we shall be glorified with him, but in the meane time we lye vnder grieuous troubles, and verie sore afflictions, our trials and suf∣ferings here in this world are intollerable, and who is able to endure the troubles that do befall vs? This the Apostle meets withall, in saying, That the afflictions of this present time, are not worthie of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs, that shall be reuealed vnto vs. As if he had said, though your afflictions and sufferings in this present life be great, and grieuous, and sore, and hard to be borne and endured, yet beare them with as much patience as possibly you can, and know to your com∣fort, that the glorie which is to follow on your afflictions is farre greater and more lasting then be your afflictions, there is no comparison betweene them. And this the Apostle af∣firmes as a truth whereof he was resolued, as a certaine truth, in his iudgement, in his account and estimation. For I count (saith he) that the afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs. And so we see the ge∣nerall drift and purpose of the Apostle in this verse, and the generall matter of it: I will now lay foorth the sence and meaning of the words.

For I count. The word here vsed signifies thus much, I col∣lect and gather, and that firmely, as on iust reckoning, or after debating and reasoning the matter, I do certainly conclude. We find the same word vsed Rom. 3.28. and it is there rende∣red, and that rightly, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, therefore we conclude: therefore we set downe this as a certaine truth and certaine conclusion, that a man is iustified by faith without the works of the Law: and so indeed the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is here to be taken, I collect and gather, and that firmely, and I conclude this, and I resolue on it as a certaine truth, That the afflicti∣ons of this present time, or the passions and sufferings of this present time for so the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies: Of this present time, or of the time which is now, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Apostle hereby meanes not onely the afflictions and sufferings of this pre∣sent

time wherein he liued, and the afflictions that Gods children did then vndergo, but all the afflictions of this pre∣sent life, euen all such tribulations and crosses as they do beare during the time of this life, and whilest they are here on the face of the earth, are not worthie, or of equall weight. For the word here vsed, signifies the equalitie or like weight of things weighed in a ballance together: and so the mea∣ning is, are not of equall weight, or are not proportionable to the glorie that shall be shewed vnto vs. Of the glorie: that is, of the glorie that Gods children shall be inuested withall in heauen, which shall be shewed or reuealed, or which we shall haue at the appearing of the Lord Iesus, as Coloss. 3.4. When Christ which is our life shall appeare, then shall we also appeare with him in glorie. Vnto vs, or in vs: that is, to our bodies and soules, or wherewith our bodies and soules shall be clothed. Thus then conceiue we the meaning of the words of this verse, as if the Apostle had said.

For I collect and gather, and that firmely, I conclude and resolue on this as a certaine truth, that the passions and sufferings of this life, euen all troubles, trials, and crosses that we or any of Gods chil∣dren do beare during the time of this life, and whilest we liue here on the face of the earth, are not of equall weight, are not in any re∣spect proportionable to the heauenly glorie wherewith our bodies and soules shall be inuested, and that shall be put on them at the ap∣pearance of the Lord Iesus Christ; there is no comparison betweene them.

Now we see the Apostle here deliuers not this truth, that the afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the glo∣rie which shall be shewed vnto vs, as an vncertaine opinion, but as a certaine truth, and a truth whereof he was fully resol∣ued. And thus are the Ministers of the word to deliuer to the people of God truths that are of speciall vse, and needfull to be knowne, not as their opinions, but as certaine truths. In∣deed the Ministers of the word are seriously to weigh and consider what they deliuer before they do deliuer it: but that which they haue seriously thought on, studied for, and earnestly sought at the hands of God by prayer, and the Lord

hath vouchsafed to reueale to them by his Spirit, being a truth needfull to be knowne, and agreeable to the written word of God, and to the analogie and proportion of faith, they are to deliuer confidently, and to aùouch as a certaine truth of God; yea to auerre it to be such a truth as they are readie to seale with their bloud if they be called to it. I will not stand on that, let it suffice to haue pointed at it.

Againe, in that the Apostle doth here thus enlarge him∣selfe, in setting downe this, that the afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs, setting it downe as a certaine truth, as a truth where∣of he was fully resolued, thereby to comfort the beleeuing Romans and other true beleeuers against the bitternesse of the crosse, I might stand to shew, that the way to comfort and to cheare vp such as are vnder affliction and in distresse, is not by coniectures, or by wittie conceits, but by that which a man is able to auerre to be a certaine truth of God, and to re∣solue the conscience of it, that it is the holy truth of God: but I passe from that also, and come to the matter and thing here auerred by the Apostle, and resolued on as a certaine truth, and that is this: That the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs: and hence this conclusion is offered.

[Doct 1] That all the afflictions that Gods children do or can suffer in this world, are not comparable to the glorie of heauen. Whatsoeuer Gods children either do or can suffer in this world in any kinde, whether from the hands of men, or layed on them by the immediate hand of God, on their bodies, or soules, or howsoeuer, it is not proportionable or of equall weight to the glorie that shall be put on them in heauen. And to this purpose that is a cleare text, 2. Corinth. 4.17. where the Apostle saith, Our light affliction which is but for a moment, cau∣seth to vs a farre more excellent and an eternall weight of glorie. I he Apostle there comparing the afflictions of this life with the glorie of heauen, he cals the one light and momentanie, and the other eternall and weightie; yea he giues to the glo∣rie of heauen a most excellent and eternall weight. And from

those words of the Apostle we may gather reasons & grounds of this truth, that the suffering of Gods children in this world are not comparable or proportionable to the glorie that shall be put on them in heauen. As

First, the afflictions of this life are but momentanie and [Reason 1] short, they last no longer then the time of this life, which is but a moment or lesse then a moment in comparison of eter∣nitie; but the glorie of heauen is eternall & infinite in durance and continuance, and shall last for euer. And thus the Apostle Peter compares them together, 1. Pet. 5.10. The God of grace which hath called vs vnto his eternall glorie by Christ Iesus, after that we haue suffered a little.

Againe, the afflictions of this life are for their measure [Reason 2] light and trifling, being compared to the glorie of heauen that is ponderous and weightie, and for the measure and greatnesse of it incomprehensible, as the Apostle saith, 1. Cor. 2.9. Things that eye hath not seene, neither eare heard, neither came into mans heart, are, which God hath prepared for them which loue him. 2. Corinth. 12.4. the Apostle saith, he being rapt vp into Paradise, he heard words vnutterable, and not possible for man to vtter. And we reade that Peter being present at the transfiguration of Christ, and hauing but a glimse of heauenly glorie, he was so ouerwhelmed with it, as that he spake he knew not what, saith the text, Matth. 9.6. And therefore doubt∣lesse on these grounds this stands as a firme and certaine truth, that all the afflictions Gods children do or can suffer in this world, are not comparable to the glorie of heauen; that glorie doth euerie way surmount them, and there is no com∣parison betweene them.

And for the vse, first this truth ouerturnes that conceit of the Papists, that the sufferings of Gods children in this world [Ʋse 1] are meritorious, and do deserue heauenly glorie: that cannot possibly be, because there is no proportion betweene them and heauenly glorie: and betweene merit and reward giuen to merit, there must be a proportion. The recompence of me∣rit is an act of iustice, and iustice is a kinde of equalitie; and therefore there being no equalitie betweene the sufferings

of this life and the glorie of the life to come, they cannot tru∣ly and properly merit or deserue it. [Obiect.] Ah but say the Papists, though the sufferings of Gods children be not equall to the glorie of heauen, yet because they proceed from grace and from the Spirit of God, they haue in them a worth of hea∣uenly glorie, [Answ.] and they merit and deserue it. A meere cauill, and directly contrarie to the plaine euidence of the word of God, for grace and merit of works, either of doings or suffe∣rings, cannot stand together. And againe, the sufferings of Gods children proceed not from grace and from the Spirit of God alone, but partly also from the minds and wils of the sufferers, and in that respect many infirmities accompanie the suffering of the best of Gods children; and therefore they cannot possibly merit heauenly glorie. I leaue this, and for a second vse.

[Ʋse 2] Is it so that all the afflictions that Gods children do or can suffer here in this world, are not comparable to the glorie of heauen? Is there no proportion betweene their suffering in this world, and the glorie that shall be put on them in heauen? Then let Gods children meditate and thinke on this to their comfort in the time of their greatest afflictions and suffe∣rings: doubtlesse the Lord would not haue put it downe as an argument of comfort in the time of trouble, if it were not his will that we should exercise our minds in meditating and thinking on it. And therefore thou that art a child of God, meditate and thinke on this; if thou lyest vnder some grieuous affliction, remember that thy sufferings here in this world be they neuer so great, are not comparable to the glorie of hea∣uen; and it will be a notable meanes to cheare thee vp, and to comfort thee. Haply thou complainest of thy long lingring sicknesse and paine, thy bodie being vnder sicknesse and paine: and take a man in a burning feuer, and you shall heare him vtter such words, and so protest of his paine as if it were vnsufferable: but what is that paine to eternitie of ioy and glorie in heauen? it is not worthie to be named with it: com∣pare them together, and thou shalt find it will mitigate thy paine, and it will yeeld thee comfort in thy greatest pangs.

A diseased man or woman we know will endure cutting, and searing, and the like, in consideration of ease afterwards: and comparing that paine with the ease he hopes will follow, he endures cutting and seating with patience: so do thou com∣pare the paine of thy suffering with the ioy and glorie in hea∣uen, and it will certainly swallow vp thy paine, and yeeld thee much comfort. If we were as apprehensiue of the greatnesse of the glorie of heauen abiding for vs, as we are apprehensiue of the paine of our present sufferings, without question it would make vs beare them exceeding patiently. [Quest.] Thou wilt say, but how shall I be as apprehensiue of the great glorie in heauen, as I am of the extremitie of my present suffering?

I answer thee. Keepe thy faith in exercise, [Answ.] keepe thy faith exercised in apprehending the glorie laid vp for thee in hea∣uen, as thy sense is exercised in feeling the paine of thy present suffering, and thy faith being thus exercised, it will giue a present being of the ioy and glorie of heauen to thy heart and soule, and to thy inward feeling; as the holy Ghost saith, Hebr. 11.1. Faith is the euidence of things which are not seene: and that feeling of the glorie of heauen though yet to come, will ouerwhelme a world of miserie and paine though it be present. The holy Martyrs endured extreame tortures with patience and comfort: and why? they were exules à corpore, in their soules they mounted vp to heauen. Labour therefore thus to keepe thy faith in exercise in the time of thy great af∣flictions.

Now in the next place, obserue how the Apostle limits the afflictions of Gods children, he cals thē the afflictions of this present time, or of the time that is now: I count that the afflicti∣ons of this present time are not worthie of the glorie which shall be shewed vnto vs. And hence we are giuen to vnderstand thus [Doct 2] much.

That the afflictions of Gods children are but of short con∣tinuance, and they last but a while. Though the afflictions of Gods children be bitter and sharpe, yet they are but momen∣tanie and short, and they endure but for the time of this pre∣sent life, they determine and end in death, and death puts an

end to them all, and so they are but short and momentanie. And thus the Apostle speakes of them expresly in the place before cited, 2. Corinth. 4.17. he there saith, the afflictions that he and other true beleeuers endured, were but light and momentany, but for a mement, Our light affliction which is but for a moment, causeth vnto vs a far more excellent and an eternall weight of glorie. And so also speakes the Apostle Peter of the afflictions of Gods children, 1. Pet. 5.10. After that ye haue suffered a little, saith he, after your suffering which is but short, and for a little time. And on this ground doth the Author to the Hebrewes cheare vp the beleeuing Hebrewes, and en∣courage them to a patient bearing of their great afflictions. Hebr. 10.37. he tels them, their afflictions should last but for a verie little while, and the Lord Iesus would shortly come and put an end to them, Yet a verie little while (saith he) and he that shall come will come, and will not tarrie. Hence is the time of the afflictions of Gods children called in Scripture some∣times the houre of tentation, and sometimes the day of affliction, as Eccles. 7.16. In the day of wealth be of good comfort, and in the day of affliction consider: to note the shortnesse of that time, that it is but as an houre, or as a day. And it is worth our mar∣king to this purpose that we finde, Isai. 54.8. the Lord there speaking by his Prophet of the 70. yeares captiuitie of his people, he cals it but a moment, and a little season, For a mo∣ment (saith he) in mine anger, I hid my face from thee for a little season, but with euerlasting mercie haue I had compassion on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer. And indeed if a child of God should lye vnder the afflicting hand of God from his birth to his death, admit he liue the full age of a man, yet it is but for a while, and for a short time; for the dayes of our life here are but few, our time in this world is but short: our life is com∣pared to a vapour, to a shadow, to a bubble, to a blast of wind, to a watch in the night, and to many other things of short continuance: it is said to be but as an hand breadth, or as a span long, Psal. 39.5. And therefore the afflictions of Gods children lasting no longer then the time of this present life, and death putting an end to them, as indeed it doth, the holy Ghost

saith, Reuel. 14.13. When death comes, they rest from their la∣bours, and from all their paines, miseries, and sufferings: it must needs be that they are but short and momentanie, and they last but a while.

Now for the vse, first this truth discouers a difference be∣tweene [Ʋse 1] the sufferings of Gods children and the sufferings of the wicked and reprobates. The sufferings of Gods children are but short and momentanie, they last no longer then the time of this life, death puts an end to them: but the sufferings of the wicked and reprobate are of longer continuance, they are not onely sufferings of this present life, and such as are cut off and determined by death, no, no, the wicked and re∣probate do by death enter into endlesse woe and euerlasting sufferings, their sufferings are but here begun, and they shall last for euer. And therefore thou that art a wicked and pro∣phane wretch, when the hand of God is heauie on thee, and thou art vnder some grieuous paine and torment, thinke not that death shall put an end to thy torment, as many times wicked and prophane miscreants do: they lying vnder grie∣uous torments, they wish they might dye, and say, oh that I were dead and out of this world, then I should be out of my paine. Poore soules, they are deceiued, death to them is but an entrance into endlesse torments. And know it whosoeuer thou art, that art a gracelesse and prophane wretch, thou be∣ing vnder some grieuous torment and paine, and hauing a feeling of thy torment and paine, and yet hauing no feeling of thy vilenesse and sinne to be humbled for it, the Lord hath but begun to sit in iudgement against thee, and thy present torment and paine (thou still continuing in thy vilenesse and sinne) is but a pledge of more fearefull torments, paines, and sufferings yet to come, and it is but a beginning of sorrow, Mat. 24.8. It is but a beginning of thine eternall woe and euerla∣sting suffering.

Againe, for a second vse, is it so that the afflictions of Gods [Ʋse 2] children are but momentanie and short, and they last no lon∣ger then this present life, and death puts an end to them? Here is then ground and matter of comfort for thee that art a child

of God in the time of thy greatest afflictions and sufferings: though thy afflictions be bitter and sharpe, yet consider this to thy comfort, they are but short, and they shall last but for a while. And the heathen man could say: that short euils though they be great and bitter, yet they are more tollerable because they are short. And therefore thou that art a child of God, thinke on this to thy comfort when thou lyest vnder some grieuous affliction; yea consider with thy selfe, thy af∣fliction is neuer so grieuous but the Lord vouchsafeth thee some intermission, he giues thee some breathing, and some refreshing in it, as he saith, Isai. 57.16. I will not contend for euer, neither will I be alwayes wrath, for the spirit should faile be∣fore me, and I haue made the breath. Yea consider that thy af∣fliction is measured out to thee by the good hand of thy hea∣uenly Father, who will be sure to keepe a measure, as the A∣postle saith, 1. Cor. 10.13. And though it be so that thou art vnder some great affliction all thy life long, yet cheare vp thy selfe with this, thy life is not long, and so thy affliction can∣not long endure: when death shall come and cut off the thread of thy life, it shall also put an end to all thy afflictions. And be it so that thou art vnder the hand of bloudie persecu∣tors and cruell tormentors, yet consider that either thy perse∣cutors and tormentors may die, their breath may faile them, or the instruments and meanes of thy trouble and torment may be interrupted, and broken, and faile, the rod that is on thy backe may be wasted: and the Lord hath said, Psal. 125.3. The rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous: or thy selfe may die, and be taken out of their hands by death, and they can then put thee to no further paine nor torment. And therefore as Christ saith, Math. 10.28. Feare not them that can kill the bodie, that can onely torment thy bodie, and that onely during the time of this life, and when this life is ended, can go no further. Consider that as thou dost suffer daily, so thou art dying daily, and that which thy persecutors do afflict, is but thy bodie, and thy bodie is drawing to corruption and death, and death shall exempt thee and set thee free from all their tyrannie. Thus make thy aduantage of thy mortalitie,

thou that art a child of God, and remember when thou lyest vnder any great and sore affliction, thy affliction shall last no longer then the time of this life, death shall put an end to it, and it is but as one saith of Iulians persecution, Nubecula citò transitura, as a storme that shall soone be ouerblowne, and then will follow an euerlasting calme, euen an euerlasting freedome and rest from all sorrowes, and griefes, and paines, and sufferings: and thinke on that to thy comfort.

There is yet one thing to be further noted in this reason, I will but touch it in a word. The Apostle here speaking of the glorie that shall be put on Gods children in heauen, he saith, the glorie that shall be shewed, or that shall be re∣uealed to vs.

The point hence is this. That the time shall come when [Doct. 3] the glorie that belongs to Gods children shall be openly re∣uealed, and be made manifest in the view of men and Angels. And to this purpose speakes the Apostle, Colos. 3.4. When Christ which is our life shall appeare, when he shall appeare to iudge the world, and come in his glorie, as it is Math. 25.31. Then shall we also appeare with him in glorie, euen clothed with vnspeakable glorie, in our soules, and in our bodies. 1. Ioh. 3.2. saith Saint Iohn, Dearely beloued, we are now the sonnes of God, yet it doth not appeare what we shall be, and we know that when we shall appeare we shall be like him. We shall then be like the Lord Iesus in glorie, and then the glorie that is reserued for vs in heauen, shall be put on vs, and shall then openly appeare: and not to adde further testimonie.

The reason [Reason.] and ground of this is, because there must be a time when the most wicked shall iustifie Gods goodnesse and mercie, and his gracious dealing towards his children. Now in this world they see the troubles and afflictions of Gods children, and they see not the beautie and glorie of their soules, for that is inward and spirituall, as it is said of the Church, Psal. 45.13. She is all glorious within, and that is not discerned with carnall eyes: and so the world looking on Gods children here, they see not their beautie and glorie, but onely see their afflictions and troubles, and thereupon they

iudge them to be wretched & miserable; and therefore there must be a time when the glorie that belongeth to them shall be openly reuealed, and set before the eyes of all the world, that euen the most wicked may looke on it, and be forced to iustifie Gods goodnesse and mercie towards his children, and his gracious dealing with them.

Now this for vse [Ʋse.] may serue as a ground of great comfort to Gods children: for what though it be so that their beautie and glorie be here in this world ouershadowed and hid from the eye of the world, and of such as looke on them with car∣nall eyes, yet let them waite in patience for a time, and the time shall come when their glorie shall manifestly appeare, and be open to the view of the whole world; yea the time shall come when men and Angels shall see it, and acknow∣ledge it with admiration; yea the time shall come when those who haue here turned their glorie into shame, as Dauid speakes, Psal. 4.2. that is, haue here reproched them for their holy and religious course (which indeed is their glorie,) and layd that on them as a reproch, and loaded them with odious and soule names in respect of that, shall see that which now they ac∣count their shame crowned with glorie, and shall be forced to change their note, and to crie out and say: Ah, we fooles thought the life of these men or women base, and full of dishonour, and now behold their vnspeakable brightnesse and glorie, now it appeares to the view of all the world. Let this be thought on as a ground of sweet comfort to all Gods children. Come we now to verse 19. and so reade to the 24. verse.

Notes

• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Interpreta∣tion.
• How Gods Ministers are to deliuer needfull holy truths.
• The suffe∣••••ng•• •• this life, be they neuer so great and grieuous, are not com∣parable to the glorie of hea∣uen.
• The Popish opinion that the sufferings of Gods chil∣dren merit heauenly glo∣rie, confuted.
• What ought to be the me∣ditation of Gods children in time of their great af∣flictions, that they may be comsorted.
• Though the afflictions of Gods children be bitter and sharpe, yet they are but of short con∣tinuance.
• Isai. 54.8.
• A difference betweene the sufferings of Gods children and the suffe∣rings of the wicked, disco∣uered.
• What Gods children are to consider to their comfort in time of their bitter and sharpe afflictions.
• Gods children shall one day be glorious in the sight, both of men and Angels.
• A ground of great com∣fort to Gods children.