Here the apostle persuadeth to patience by the example of
the saints, who though they were dear to God, and employed in high and special
services, yet were exercised with sundry sharp afflictions.
Two ways are
they an example to us - in their sufferings and in their patience. They are
famous for kakopatheia and makrothumia, hard sufferings and great patience; an
example of sufferings, that we may not flinch from them, or sink under them
when we meet with them in the way of duty; an example of patience, that we may
write after their copy by a meek submission. Their sufferings are produced to
allay discomfort, and so Christ urgeth it, Mat v. 12, 'So they persecuted the
prophets which were before you;' their patience to stir up imitation: Heb. vi.
12, 'Let us be followers of them who through faith and patience inherited the
promises.' Never any yet went to heaven but those two graces were first
exercised, faith and patience; faith in expectation of the future reward;
patience in sustaining the present inconveniences. But to the words.
Take for an example. - The word is hupodeigma; it noteth such an
example as is propounded to imitation. The same word is used when Christ
commended his washing of the disciples' feet to their imitation, John xiii. 15.
The prophets. - He instanceth in them as the captains and leaders of
the church. Every purpose of life hath its chieftains and princes. The Roman
warriors can talk of their Camilli, Fabricii, Scipios, the philosophers of
their Aristotle, Plato and Pythagoras; but religion propoundeth the example of
the prophets.
Who have spoken to us in the name of the Lord; that is,
were employed by God, and authorised to speak to the people in his stead, and
specially gifted and supplied by his Spirit. Though they spake by divine
inspirations, and were as God's mouth, yet they could not escape, but were
molested and maligned in the world, even to cruel death and sufferings, for the
faithful discharge of their message. This Christ chargeth upon the Jews, Mat
xxiii. 37, 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest
them,' &c. So doth Stephen, Acts vii. 52, 'Which of the prophets have not
your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before the
coming of the Just One,' &c. Now if this were done to the prophets, who
seemed to be sheltered under the buckler of their special commission, and the
singular innocency and holiness of their lives, certainly private believers
have less reason to promise themselves freedom and exemption.
Of
suffering afflictions and of patience; that is, when God maketh us like them in
sufferings, we should be like them in patience. It is comfortable to come into
their lot, and to be bound up in the same bundle of honour with them. Their
example is produced partly to take off prejudice. The matter is not strange; it
is not our case alone. We are apt to say, Never man in such a case as I, 'Is
any sorrow like to my sorrow?' Lam. i. 12. Yes; this was the lot of all the
prophets. Partly to allay the shame. We do not suffer with the rude multitude,
but with the prophets. Partly to encourage our imitation. Examples have a
singular efficacy; man is apt to be led by company. The points are these: -
Obs. 1. The examples of the saints do much encourage us to patience.
Man is a ductile creature, more apt to be led by the eye than the ear. We look
upon precepts as calculated for notion and fancy; practices are a great
confirmation. The strictest and severest ways are not impossible, nor
untrodden; that which hath been may be done. Besides they are a check to
delicacy; we may say as Elijah, 'I am not better than my fathers;' can we look
for more privilege than the prophets? Minors are ashamed when they cannot
endure that which men of a higher order have endured: Micah was in prison,
Jeremy in the dungeon, Isaiah sawed asunder, and shall we stick at a little
suffering? Our betters have endured far worse. Besides, good company is a great
encouragement 'Having such a cloud of witnesses,' &c., saith the apostle,
Heb. xii. 1 - it is an allusion to the pillar of the cloud that guided the
Israelites - having such a pillar going before us, we may travel to heaven the
more cheerfully.
Obs. 2. Afflictions light on all ranks of saints, but
especially upon the prophets. The cross is kindly to our order; to preach is
nothing, but to bait the world. We are God's ambassadors, but we are often
ambassadors in chains, Eph. vi. 20. What recompense did the prophets receive
for all their pains and expense of spirits, but saws, and swords, and dungeons?
It is almost as necessary a character of a minister to be much in afflictions,
as to be much in spirit and much in labours. God hath reserved us, in these
latter days, for all the contempt and scorn that villany and outrage can heap
upon our persons. But it is no matter; it is the badge of our order, and we
know where to have better entertainment; no matter though the world count us
scurf and refuse, when Jesus Christ counteth us his own glory: the messengers
of the churches are the filth of the world, 1 Cor. iv. 13; but the glory of
Christ, 2 Cor. viii. 23; it were suspicion enough that we. were not true to our
master, when we are dandled on the world's knees,
Obs. 3. From that
which spoke to us in the name of the Lord. It noteth the cause of their
sufferings, the faithful discharge of their office, only for speaking in God's
name. Sufferings are comfortable when they overtake us in the way of duty. It
is sad to be spewed out of God's mouth, and to be made contemptible for being
partial in the law, Mal. ii. 9, when the Lord maketh us base before the people.
It is indeed his usual course with corrupt dispensers of holy mysteries; it is
others' malice, but God's judgments. But now, if it be for the faithful
performance of your place, for speaking boldly in the name of the Lord, you may
bind it as a crown to your head. Why should we care for the scorns of an
unthankful world, when we have such a good master? It is an honour for us to
lose our name for God's, and it is no matter though we be nothing, so Christ be
all in all; a minister should be like one in a crowd, that lifteth up another
to public view, though himself be jostled and lost in the throng; so Christ be
exalted, it is no matter though we suffer loss.
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