A treatise of the Beatitudes. Or Christs happy men. By James Buck Bachelor of Divinitie, and vicar of Stradbrooke in Suffolke

CHAP. II. Of Suffering for CHRISTS sake.

WEE have toucht upon the posi∣tive degree of Blisse, in the suffering for Righteousnesse sake, now let us handle the superlative in suffering for CHRISTS sake, in pursuance whereof wee shall goe through these particulars. 1 The Happi∣nesse it selfe, blessed are ye, when men revile and persecute you. 2 The joy required in that Hap∣pinesse, rejoyce and bee exceeding glad. 3 The cause urging that joy, for great is your reward in Heaven. 4 The Argument concluding that cause, for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you.

First, for the happinesse in suffering for CHRIST, Reproches, Persecutions, all injuries in word or deed, are blessed to the Sufferers. CHRIST heere shewes himselfe (as is noted by St. CHRYSOSTOME)a 1.1 readie to reward, not onely for death, imprisonment, stripes, but for sim∣ple disgrace and injurious speeches. As in acti∣on we shall not lose the reward of a cuppe of cold water: so in passion we shall not lose the recompence of a light word, or gesture of dis∣daine. Hee which touches you, touches the apple of mine eye, Zach 2.8. Where sayes SALVIAN,b 1.2 to expresse the tendernesse of his gracious affecti∣on to us, he named the most tender part of mans bodie, that wee might most plainly understand, that with how little a touch of a small stroke, the sight of mans eye would bee offended, with so little a contempt of his Servants is GOD injured.

And say all manner of evill of you, asperse you with all the evill names and words that are in use, and coyne new termes to diffame you, all evill is not found in any man, but may be forged against him by a spitefull tongue, as DAVID sayth of DOEG, thy tongue deviseth mischiefe, Psal. 52.2. Neately St. HILARIE,c 1.3 that which Nature ordained to utter the reaso∣nable devices of an advised heart, that tongue fore-runnes the heart, and it selfe deviseth unreasonable imputations. Broches con∣tumelies that the heart knowes not, and ma∣ny times cannot beleeve, so the tongue

is the deviser, and all the Author.

It is worth the observing that our Master ha∣ving spoken of revilings, after one word of per∣secutions, which are the paines and penalties inflicted on Christians in their bodies and states, returnes againe to more reproches, and saying all manner evils, that hee might insinuate a me∣thode of the divell, in his instruments first to traduce good men and causes, and then to pro∣ceed against them as evill, and then to publish more and more obloquie and scandalous fames of them.

And the same order of our Lords speech, im∣ports that shame persecutes more then paine, the tongue abstracts more from CHRIST, then the hand, nothing goes more to the quicke in the ingenuous then infamie. Hereupon Infidels, Hereticks, Schismaticks, carnall Gospellers, have alwayes with this weapon most oppugned and prejudiced the Church. Neyther were there ever any more outragious in this kinde, then our Sectaries, and false Brethren, as their libellous Pamphlets witnesse to the all world. Hence the Prince of Apostles in a passage of fierie tryall, interposes the speciall of reproch. 1. Pet. 4.12.14. And St. Paul (Heb. 10.34.11.36) records the triall of cruell mockings, amongst the most vexatious of sufferings, and our Saviour ex∣tends the blessednesse fo•• Persecution to all words of disgrace, to up••old generous and noble spirits in bearing vile and ignominious speeches.

Yet it is heere declared, that ill words bring no blisse with them, unlesse they bee spoken falsely, for justice the grace of other things, is the discredit ofd 1.4 passions. 1. Pet. 2.20. Let pati∣ence therefore have its perfect worke (Iam. 1.4) which is to suffer undeservedly with a quiet minde.

And to the perfection of this Beatitude it is required that we bee mispoken, not alone falsely, but also for CHRISTS sake. As. S. ISIDORE PELU∣SIOTE teaches,e 1.5 if wee bee falsely ill spoken of, though not for CHRIST, mee shall receive the reward of patience, but we shall not partake of that high bles∣fulnesse, which we should partake of, if both did con∣curre.

The Scripture uses in one meaning, for CHSISTS sake, for his name, for his words, in∣larging the glory to all sufferings that befall men, because they belong to CHRIST, beleeve and observe his sayings. 1. Pet. 4.14. If you bee re∣proched in Christs name; signifies that its not pro∣perly the Christians that bee reproached, but Christ in them, in whose person and name, and for whose cause and truth, they are rejected. Luk. 10.16. And therefore he so speakes, PAUL why dost that persecute me? Psal. 69 10.* 1.6 The re∣proches of them, that reproch thee are falne upon me, the reproch is cast directly on CHRIST, re∣flect••d on us, as his name is called upon us, were it not for our reference and obedience to him, the wicked world would neither say, nor doe ill by us.

* 1.7Elegantly St. Paulinus,f 1.8 it is a blessed despite to displease with CHRIST, we fare no worse then CHRIST, and his name, and the Gospell of grace, nay the Gospell of glory, which suffer with us, and in us, and therefore sanctifie and con∣secrate our sufferings to us.g 1.9 It is a blessing to be cursed for CHRIST, when CHRIST is in the cause, reproch is desirable, for the reproch of Christ is more honourable, then the renowne of men, and convertible with the glory of Angels: as St. Ba∣sil writes,h 1.10 art thou dishonoured for the name of Christ? Happy art thou, for this thy shame shall be turned into an Angels glory. Wherefore to bee reproched and persecuted not in the name of a morall honest man, and a Philosopher, but in the name of a Christian and true Beleever, is the highest advancement, and doth consummate the blisse of Passion.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Lib. 1. Against the disp••nisers of Mona∣sticall life.

  Opus imperfect.
• b 1.2

  De gubern Dei, l. 8. Ad exprimendam teneritudinem pieta∣tis suae, tenerrimam partem corporis hu∣mani nominavit, ut apertissimè intellige∣remus Deumtam par∣va suorum contumelia laedi, quam parvi ver∣beris tactu, humani visus acies laderetur.
• c 1.3

  Quam natura ad eloquendas rationabi∣les cogitationes con∣sulti cordis prapara∣bat, ipsa potius irrati∣onabiles cogitat ini∣quitates.
• d 1.4

  The Christians y^t are mispoken, say it would never greeve them if they had de∣served it, may be put to Schoole unto So∣crates, who was un∣justly condemned to drinke poyson, and as he was setting the cuppe to his lips, his wife Zantippe cri∣ed out, innocentem cum perimi quid ergo inquit, innocenti mihi mori, sarius esse duxi∣sti. Ʋal. Max. l. 7. c. 2.
• e 1.5

  Lib. 4. Epist. 9. & lib 5 Epist. 138. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.7

  CHAP. 3.
• f 1.8

  Epist. 1. ad Aprum. O beata injuria cum Christo displicere.
• g 1.9

  S. Hierom.
• h 1.10

  In Ps. 55. in sin. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.