countenance fuch a conclufion. The Apoftle tells us, He who fows fparingly fhall reap fparingly, and he who fows bountifully fhall reap bountifully. Our Saviour alfo intimates as much, where he affures us, that he who receiveth a Prophet as fuch, shall receive a PROPHET's reward; and he who receiveth a righteous man, as fuch, fhall receive a RIGHTEOUS MAN's reward. Why this, if there be not a more fpecial reward in heaven for a Prophet, differing in degree from what a righte ous or an ordinary good man fhall have? So to his Apoftles alfo, when St. Peter pleaded, † Behold, we have forfaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? He returns this anfwer, When the Son of Man fhall fit in the throne of his glory, ye alfo fhall fit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Ifrael. Other paffages might be infifted on to the fame purpofe; but these may fuffice to fhew that there will be a difference made in our portion of happiness hereafter, according to our fervices, and the degrees of our piety and goodness in this world: And that thofe generous fouls who have ftruggled with the moft oppofition and difficulties in their chriftian warfare, who have bravely fignalized their loyalty and love to God, their ftrict obedience to him, and their active zeal for his honour and intereft in the world, amidst a thousand contempts and indignities, fufferings and perfecutions, fhall be received above with double triumph, and lodged in fome of the most honourable manfions of glory. It's true, the sufferings of this prefent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. There is no proportion of merit in them at all: But there is a fort of proportion in the equity of divine goodness, that the brightest faint fhould have the brightest crown, and the greatest sufferer for God the greatest share in his rewards. For though a prince is not bound to reward the fervices or the labours of his foldiers, however hazardous and toilfome, otherwife than by their stated pay, because their military honour and allegiance has already laid an obligation upon them to do their utmoft: Yet his goodness, and his love of valour, puts him upon rewarding them for brave and gallant actions, and the more bravery they have fhewn, the greater their hazards and fatigues have been, and the more wounds they have received, the higher still his bounty rises, the greater honours and rewards he confers upon them. Great reafon, therefore, have we (upon fuch affurances as Christ, our Prince and General, has beforehand given us in the text,) to rejoice in all the hardships we are exposed to for his fake: Which was III. THE third particular obferved in the verses now before us; the duty of fuch as are perfecuted for righteousness fake, Rejoice and be exceeding glad. When we labour under the common afflictions of life, painful difeafes, fickness, loffes, difappointments, or fuch difgrace, affronts, hatred, poverty, or other fufferings which are not brought upon us by or for the fake of righteoufnefs, we ought to bear them with patience and fubmiffion, as fenfible that we have deserved them, or that it is the will of God, for wife and gracious reafons, to inflict or to permit them; but this is not enough for him who fuffers purely as a Chriftian, in the caufe of God and a good confcience. A great deal more is expected from him than to be patient under what he suffers; he muft rejoice in fuffering, as well as bear it calmly; nor muft he be only fatisfied or pleafed with his perfecution, but exceeding glad of it, upon account of that peculiar blessedness in it, which we have confidered under the foregoing head. I need not enlarge upon this; for what has been faid there is argument enough to excite in us even an holy ambition to be in fuch circumftances, for fuch a cause, upon the profpect given us by our Saviour, of fuch a great and glorious recompence. Let us therefore rejoice, inasmuch as we are partakers of Christ's fufferings, that when his glory fhall be revealed, we may be glad with exceeding joy. For + if we fuffer, we shall also be glorified, and reign together with him. * 1 Pet. iv.. 13. † Rom. viii. 17. 2 Tim. ii. 12. ૨૧. ૬ મ CHA P. IX. Of EXEMPLARINESS. MATTH. V. 13, 14, 15, 16. Te are the falt of the earth; but if the falt have loft his favour, wherewith shall it be falted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be caft out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Te are the light of the world. A city that is fet on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bufhel: but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. N Let Let your light fo shine before men, that they may fee your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. HIS first paragraph is an exhortation to be exemplary in our religion, enforced by feveral comparifons; which fhew that God by calling us to the profeffion of Chriftianity, defigns and marks us out for good examples of virtue and holiness to the world, that fuch examples may do much fervice; and that men who know the excellence of that religion we profefs, will certainly expect them from us. Let me therefore open to you the true meaning of what our Saviour has delivered, in the four verfcs now under confideration, by fuppofing him to have express'd it in the following manner. "I have told you, my Difciples, that if ye will "indeed be followers of me, ye fhall be bleffed " and happy. The very practice of what I require "will make you fo; and the future rewards of 66 your obedience will more than answer all your "pains and all your expectations. But this is an argument from your intereft only; there are o"ther and more generous motives yet behind. "Tis "fit that as you fee I have provided for your hap"pinefs, ye fhould fo live as may be for my glory. "If ye live not more strictly and virtuously in eve"ry point than the generality of men, the world "will think, I either taught you no better, or "that ye defpife my teaching, both which will be "difhonourable to me. But if ye live as I have "taught you, they will fay that God is in you of a "truth; they will commend that excellent inftitu"tion I deliver you, and will be drawn to love "and to embrace that doctrine, and thofe manners which are fo much the ornament and the happi nefs "nefs of those who do embrace them. I know however the force of truth is fuch, that when "they hear my Gospel preach'd, and read the laws "which I have given you, they will own the ex"cellence of my moral precepts, and will be fure "to expect that ye who acknowledge me to be “ your Master, fhould do the things that I fay; "and fhould be as much better than other men, "as my inftructions are beyond the virtue of the "Gentile or the Jewish fchools. When they talk "of any part of righteoufnels, they will naturally "look to you for an example, as the religion ye "profefs obliges you; the intention whereof is "more than a mere inward faith, and fecret piety; "it is to make you eminently, as well as really "good, and to fet you up as publick patterns to "mankind. Confider your felves therefore, as the << falt of the earth, by whofe fpiritual conversation "all who know you, may be feafoned with a due "relish and tincture of chriftian piety and good"ness. But if ye become infipid and useless, ye "will be the worst and the most contemptible of "all men. Confider your felves as the light of the "world, a candle fet on a candlestick, for the di "rection and ufe of all that are about you, and as "defign'd by your heavenly Father and me, to "light men out of the ways of ignorance and "vice, and thew them by your bright examples "the way to truth and holiness, and eternal glory. "Confider that the eyes of all men will be upon you as profeffing fuch an holy inftitution. Whatever 66 ye do will be obferved, and can no more be hid "than a city that stands on a hill: and therefore "as ye declare your felves to be my Difciples, let the light of your ftrict and virtuous lives fo fhine be"fore men, that they feeing your good works, "and admiring the excellent and useful spirit of "Chriftianity, as it appears in you, may glorify N 2 your |