countenance fuch a conclufion. The Apostle tells us, || He who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully shall reap bountifully. Our Saviour also intimates as much, where he affures us, that * he who receiveth a Prophet as such, shall receive a PROPHET's reward; and he who receiveth a righteous man, as such, shall receive a RIGHTEOUS MAN's reward. Why this, if there be not a more special reward in heaven for a Prophet, differing in degree from what a righteous or an ordinary good man shall have? So to his Apostles alfo, when St. Peter pleaded, + Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? He returns this answer, When the Son of Man shall fit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall fit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Ifrael. Other passages might be infifted on to the fame purpose; but these may suffice to shew that there will be a difference made in our portion of happiness hereafter, according to our services, and the degrees of our piety and goodness in this world: And that those generous fouls who have ftruggled with the most oppofition and difficulties in their chriftian warfare, who have bravely fignalized their loyalty and love to God, their strict obedience to him, and their active zeal for his honour and interest in the world, amidst a thousand contempts and indignities, sufferings and persecutions, shall be received above with double triumph, and lodged in fome of the most honourable manfions of glory. It's true, the sufferings of this preSent 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 saint should have the brightest crown, and the greateft fufferer for God the greatest share in his rewards. For though a prince is not bound to reward the services or the labours of his foldiers, however hazardous and toilsome, otherwise than by their stated pay, because their military honour and allegiance has already laid an obligation upon them to do their utmost: Yet his goodness, and his love of valour, puts him upon rewarding them for brave and gallant actions, and the more bravery they have thewn, 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 reason, therefore, have we (upon such assurances 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 observed in the verses now before us; the duty of such as are perfecuted for righteousness fake, Rejoice and be exceeding glad. When we labour under the common afflictions of life, painful diseases, fickness, losses, disappointments, or fuch disgrace, affronts, hatred, poverty, or other fufferings which are not brought upon us by or for the fake of righteousness, we ought to bear them with patience and submission, as sensible that we have deserved them, or that it is the will of God, for wife and gracious reasons, to inflict or to permit them; but this is not enough for him who fuffers purely as a Christian, in the cause of God and a good confcience. A great deal more is expected from him than to be patient under what he suffers; he must rejoice in suffering, as well as bear it calmly; nor must he be only fatisfied or pleased 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 such circumstances, for fuch a cause, upon the prospect given us by our Saviour, of fuch a great and glorious recompence. Let us therefore * rejoice, inasmuch as we are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, we may be glad with exceeding joy. For + if we suffer, we shall also be glorified, and reign together with him.

*

1 Pet. iv. 13.

† Rom. viii. 17. 2 Tim. ii. 12.

CHAP. IX.

Of EXEMPLARINESS.

MATTH. V. 13, 14, 15, 16.

Te are the falt of the earth; but if the falt have lost his favour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel: but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

N

Let

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

T

HIS first paragraph is an exhortation to be exemplary in our religion, enforced by several comparisons; which thew that God by calling us to the profeffion

of Christianity, designs and marks us out for good examples of virtue and holiness to the world, that such examples may do much service; and that men who know the excellence of that religion we profess, will certainly expect them from

US.

Let me therefore open to you the true meaning of what our Saviour has delivered, in the four verses now under confideration, by supposing him to have express'd it in the following manner.

" I have told you, my Disciples, that if ye will " indeed be followers of me, ye shall be blessed " and happy. The very practice of what I require "will_make you fo; and the future rewards of

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"piness, ye should 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 despise my teaching, both which will be "dishonourable to me. But if ye live as I have " taught you, they will say 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 those manners "which are so much the ornament and the happinefs

"ness of those who do embrace them. I know "however the force of truth is such, 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 sure " to expect that ye who acknowledge me to be "your Master, should do the things that I say; " and should be as much better than other men,

as my instructions are beyond the virtue of the "Gentile or the Jewish schools. When they talk " of any part of righteousness, they will naturally " look to you for an example, as the religion ye " profess obliges you; the intention whereof is

more than a mere inward faith, and secret piety; "it is to make you eminently, as well as really "good, and to set you up as publick patterns to " mankind. Confider your selves therefore, as the "falt of the earth, by whose spiritual conversation " all who know you, may be seasoned with a due "relish and tincture of christian 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 selves as the light of the "world, a candle set on a candlestick, for the di" rection and use of all that are about you, and as " design'd by your heavenly Father and me, to "light men out of the ways of ignorance and "vice, and shew them by your bright examples "the way to truth and holiness, and eternal glory. "Confider that the eyes of all men will be upon

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you as profeffing such an holy institution. Whatever "ye do will be observed, and can no more be hid "than a city that stands on a hill: and therefore

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as ye declare your selves to be my Disciples, let the " light of your strict and virtuous lives so shine 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

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"your