August 26

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.—James 5:10.

THE consideration of the suffering saints in all ages, is a powerful persuasive to patience. We have great encouragement from hence, if we consider,

1. That those who are of most precious account with God, and highly favored of him, are usually exercised with sharp afflictions. The singularity and greatness of a calamity exasperates the sorrow, when it is apprehended as a sign of extraordinary guilt in the afflicted, and of severe displeasure in God that sends it; but to prevent the trouble that arises from that apprehension, the Scripture records the heavy afflictions that happened to God's chosen servants and favorites. Moses, whom God honored with the most condescending and familiar discoveries of himself, was tried by long afflictions. David, a man after God's own heart, was a long time hurled to and fro by tempestuous persecutions from his unjust and implacable enemies. Isaiah, who was dignified with such heavenly revelations, that his describing the sufferings of Christ seems rather the history of an evangelist than the vision of a prophet, was sawn asunder.

2. Their nature was as frail as ours, their afflictions as cutting and sensible; yet how patiently and courageously did they endure the most cruel sufferings.

3. We have the same blessed comforter to assist us as they had, the Holy Spirit. He that is styled the spirit of power infuses a holy magnanimity to bear the heaviest sufferings. Now it is the apostle's inference from the history of the saints under the Old Testament, some of whom died martyrs, and others lived martyrs by their constant and generous suffering various evils for divine truth: Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us; and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. The metaphorical expression, a cloud of witnesses, imports a numerous company, and is by some of the ancients interpreted as an allusion to the benefit we receive from the natural clouds, that refresh the air, and screen us from the scorching heat of the sun. The allusion is too subtle and strained, but the benefit is real; for the admirable examples of their patience and courage are powerful to refresh sorrowful spirits: We are encompassed with them as a theatre. There is no kind of affliction, and no part of our duty, whereof there is not presented to us some example for our encouragement and imitation. It is also worthy of observation, that Christians have a special obligation, encouragement, and assistance to bear afflictions with cheerful spirits, above the believers of the Old Testament. For under the Mosaic dispensation, outward prosperity, riches, honor, victory, long life, were the open expressions of God's favor, promised by the terms of that covenant as rewards to obedience. Yet even then some of the most excellent saints were illustrious examples of patient suffering afflictions. But in the gospel God hath declared, that his design is to train up his children by sufferings, for future happiness; that through many tribulations they must enter into the kingdom of God. And we find the truth of this by manifold experience, from the first ages of the Christian church. St. John, by revelation, beheld a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, that stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands: and they all came out of great tribulation, and had washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Now since the cross is an appendix to the gospel, we should with more prepared minds submit to it. Besides, if believers then, who enjoyed only star-light, less clear discoveries of the glorious world to come, were so patient and constant in suffering for the truth; how much more should we be animated in our troubles, to whom the Sun of righteousness appears, revealing life and immortality by the gospel? If they, who were partakers of the Holy Spirit in lesser degrees, were supported; should not Christians, that receive the graces of the spirit in richer abundance, be more comforted?

"Thus, though oft depress'd and lonely, All my fears are laid aside; If I but remember only Such as these have lived and died."