4. For the term of duration, it shall not be for ever [But for ten dayes] for a time, for a set time, for a short time; perhaps thou shalt lose thy life; but be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a Crown of life.
Before I go out I shall endeavour to shine in the whole light of this Text in these six or seven Propositions.
Pro. 1. First, Jesus Christ takes notice of all the work, and trouble, and losses that we endure for him. There can∣not be a godly word spoken but the Lord hears it, takes no∣tice of it; not a day of humiliation, not a tear, not a pray∣er, not a sigh, not a cup of cold water, but the Lord sets it down: Item at such a time thou didst lose such a thing, ha∣zard such a concernment. Now this knowledge lies in two things. 1. It implyes an Approbation. 2. A Recom∣pence: I know what thou doest, what thou sufferest, so as to approve it, and so as to recompence it. Now then if God takes notice of what we do and suffer for his Name, then either we must say, he hath not good enough, or not time enough to bestow that good upon us, or not faithfulness enough to perform his promise, before we can be moved from his service.
Pro. 2. Secondly, I observe, Believers in their poorest condition, when they have lost all, they are rich: I know thy poverty, but thou art rich. The only wise man is the only rich man (so saith the Philosopher) but the believer is the rich man (so saith the Wisdom of God in the Text.) And the riches of a Believer lies in five things.
1. In his Interest, he hath a God for his portion: Faith doth unite and implant into the Lord Jesus Christ; so that we are become spiritually rich to the utmost degree of hap∣piness: Saith David, The lines are fallen to me in a plea∣sant place, I have a goodly beritage. All that rich love of God, which is stronger then death it self: A rich Cove∣nant of grace shines in the Promises as so many Pearls; he will not withhold any thing that is good, nor suffer any thing that is evil to fall upon us, that shall