6. And to complete the reafons of religious joy, the variety of fufferings; contempt, reproach, and whatever elfe is inflicted by Satan and his fervants, is productive of the higheft degree attainable on this fide eternity. Bleffed are ye (faith the Saviour) "when men fhall revile you, and perfecute you, and "fay all manner of evil against you falfly for "my fake: Rejoice and be exceeding glad: For great ❝is your reward in heaven, for so perfecuted they the "prophets which were before you." Thus from the fpirit iffues the chriftian's joy, which is increased by alliance to the Lord, by expectations of future felicity, and every production of its divine origin, and by confequent fufferings from contrary things.

(IV.) 1. The attendant of this joy, and next in or der of thefe fruits, is Peace. Peace is fignificant of that rest and ease, which arife as well from the purity of the foul as from a fenfe of reconciliation. By prefent perfonal juftification, peace with, and the peace of GOD, are vouchfafed and manifefted to the mind; and, by fanctification, or the deftruction of all turbulent tempers, peaceableness becomes commenfurate with the whole foul: Which state is analogus to, and is illuftrated by the Almighty, whofe holiness is to himfelf the fource and center of reft. Similar to which, a god-like nature in man, produces an eafy peaceable difpofition of heart. Such from themfelves, from their fpi itual part, know war no more. As there is no contrary principle, there is no contradiction, no conteft; all is harmony and happiness, the peace of GoD keepeth, yea, "ruleth their hearts and minds through CHRIST JESUS."

2. And purity conftituting man an image of his. Maker in a holy harmony of heart, it is a principle productive of a practice correfpondent to the practice, of CHRIST, in making and promoting peace amongst other people; which, as it is profitable to those by and to whom it is done, denominates the doers of it happy: "Bleffed are the peace-makers, for they fhall be called

the children of GoDt." A foul at peace with GOD. and itself, has no pleasure in promoting war or contention amongst others. It delights not in needless, useless oppofitions to any. It is contrary to its effence and acting to raife, uphold, or increafe that which is not conducive to the happiness of all with whom it has to do. It follows peace with all men, as a good confcience, the glory of GoD, and the profit of others will permit. And if it gives pain, it is that others may profit. Like a faithful phyfician it probes the wound, that it may heal. Hence when the men of peace reprove, it is that finners may repent, and not perish. If to apprize of danger, they interrogate them with, "How can you efcape the damnation of hell?". And if, in cafe of obftinacy, they predict, that, continuing in fin, damnation must be their doom; 'tis a fervice they owe to themfelves, and a provocative to others, to abandon thofe practices in which there is no peace, and to ftimulate them to feck and find that peace which paffeth all understanding. For, tho' lovers of peace inexpreffibly prize the privilege of living peaceably with all men, yet the forfeiture of their own peace is a price too great to be paid for a connivance at fin, especially when the finner, going unreproved, may perish for ever. So to preferve inviolate the peace and purity of their own minds, as well

Mat. v. 9. Mat. xxiii. 33.

as

as to contribute toward the converfion of others, they militate against evil; for with that foe they can neither make peace nor truce. And if in this sense they give uneafinefs to any, they are fupported by the Saviour's example, who came not to give peace, but at the expence of departing from fin. Therefore, being under obligation to endeavour the reduction of fin and finners, and to promote the falvation of all within their sphere of action; a discharge of that duty minifters to their quiet, in the teftimony of a good confcience.

3. But however well difpofed they be, and however conducive the practice of fuch is to propagate peace in the world, they meet with wrong and unreasonable returns; for many, notwithstanding, prepare for war. Hence perfecutions, and outrages of various kinds are committed, by perfons of turbulent tempers; which render the fruit of long-suffering indispensably necefceffary for every member of the church-militant to poffefs.

(V.) 1. Long-fuffering in man, is fimilar to that patience which the Almighty manifefts in bearing with the rebellious part of mankind. It is the patience of every heaven-born foul, of all who are partakers of the divine nature: Which is exhibited first, in the refignation with which they fuftain the lofs of whatfoever belongs to this life. If for the fake of religion, friends withdraw their affection and favours; and if for a fimilar reafon, focial ties become as a thread in the flame: Such, knowing in whom they have be lieved, with, or without reluctance can refign all for be pearl of great price, the falvation of their fouls:

For

For the fpirit of holiness, which is the root of divine refignation, affords a fupport and fatisfaction which more than compenfates for every loss of a temporal kind. Yea, whatever concerns the body, when fet in competition with the well-being of the foul, is fuffered the loss of, and counted as dung and drofs in comparison of CHRIST JESUS.

2. And this grace is not lefs confpicuous in bearing reproaches, and afflictions of every kind, in the chriftian caufe; which, added to the lofs of fublunary things, is the depth, the abyfs of that calamity confequent on commencing a true follower of CHRIST. And as it is true, ".That all who will live godly in "CHRIST JESUS muft fuffer perfecution+;" fo it is eertain, that however contrary this is to the ease and well-being of the body, it is fupportable by grace; yea, it is congruous to grace "to glory in tribu"lation," and to "count it all joy when we fall "into divers temptations" or trials: For while afflictiones benedictiones, afflictions are bleffings, they are not only fuftainable, but cause of joy and rejoicing, and gratitude to him who maketh all things work together for the good of all who love him in CHRIST JESUS.

3. Wherefore, the fpirit infpiring the foul with refignation and resolution in calamitous cafes, a continuance in afflictive circumstances is compatible with that divine principle. It affimilates the foul into its own nature, and gives it a permanency, which, if well used, is proof againft all the oppofitions of earth and hell. It enables its poffeffor to indure loffes, croffes,

† Tim. iii. 12. † Rom. 5. 3. § Jam, i. 2.

croffes, and calamities to a degree not terminating in lefs than death.

(VI.) 1. Yea, fo clearly diftinguished from, and fo contrary to corrupt nature is the grace of God, that the law of retaliation, rendering evil for evil. which is the delight of mankind, and the infeperable effect of finful fouls, is directly oppofed in the proceedings of grace: For it is not only perfeveringly patient of contradiction, but is gentle in its returns. But meeknefs being to the temper, what gentleness is to the the converfation; and both centering in. and infeparably connected in their fubjects, there is a propriety in placing them together, and confidering gentlenefs as the immediate iffue of that meekness, which, is a property of the mind of CHRIST JESUS.

2. Meekness is the reverse of anger, efpecially that anger which is contrary to reafon and religion. Anger is a fury which burneth like fire. It is as fire fhut up in the bowels of the earth, which burneth the place thereof; for it is not lefs prejudicial to the perfons poffeffing it, than to thofe it oppofes. It is incompatible with peace of mind, and impatient of contradiction, and often cannot be fatisfied with less than death. But meeknefs, the fruit of a divine temperature, is eafy in every circumftance. It is paffive in fuffering, and gentle in acting. The rugged revengeful tempers of fome, which fhoot arrows, even bitter words and deftructive deeds, however hurtful to themfelves, and the name, property, and perfons of those they oppofe, are but little felt by a temper which is foft and yielding as the furrounding air. And, manifefting itfelf in gentleness, and receiving oppofitions with an eafi

nefs,