Part 53 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Part 54 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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We read that Cecilia, a poor virgin, by her gracious behavior in her martyrdom, was the means of converting four hundred to Christ. Adrianus, by seeing the martyrs suffer so patiently and cheerfully, was converted to the faith, and afterwards sealed to the truth with his blood. Justin Martyr was also converted in the same way. In the third persecution, Faustus and Jobita suffered martyrdom with such invincible patience, courage, and cheerfulness, that Calocerius cried out, Truly, great is the God of the Christians. Upon which words he was presently apprehended, and so suffered martyrdom with them. And that was a remarkable saying of Luther, The church converts the whole world by blood and prayer.
Now if by your troubles, afflictions, and persecutions, and the exercise of grace under them, you shall be instrumental to convert and save a soul or souls from wrath to come, it will turn wonderfully to your advantage, and you shall "shine as the stars forever and ever" (Dan 12:3). That same power, presence, wisdom, and grace, that converted others by the sufferings of former saints, is able to accomplish the same glorious effects by the sufferings of the saints of this generation; and therefore bear up bravely, and neither fear nor faint under your present sufferings. But,
[4.] The troubles, afflictions, and persecutions which Christians meet with in their pursuit after holiness, will further the increase and growth of their grace. Grace never rises to so great a height as it does in times of persecution. Suffering times are a Christian's harvest times (Psalm 69:7-9, 12). Let me instance in that grace of zeal: I remember Moulin speaking of the French Protestants, says, "When Papists burn us for reading the Scriptures, we burn with zeal to be reading of them; but now persecution is over, our Bibles are like old almanacs," &c. All the reproaches, frowns, threatenings, oppositions, and persecutions that a Christian meets with in a way of holiness, does but raise his zeal and courage to a greater height.
In times of greatest affliction and persecution for holiness' sake, a Christian has, first, a good captain to lead and encourage him; secondly, a righteous cause to prompt and embolden him; thirdly, a gracious God to relieve and support him; fourthly, a glorious heaven to receive and reward him; and certainly these things cannot but mightily raise him and inflame him, under the greatest opposition and persecution. These things will keep him from fearing, fawning, fainting, sinking, or flying in a stormy day; yes, these things will make his face like the face of an adamant, as God promised to make Ezekiel's, (Eze 3:7-9 and Job 41:24).
Now an adamant is the hardest of stones, it is harder than a flint, yes, it is harder than the nether-millstone. The naturalists observe, that the hardness of this stone is unspeakable: the fire cannot burn it, nor so much as heat it through, nor the hammer cannot break it, nor the water cannot dissolve it; and therefore the Greeks call it an adamant from its unbreakableness; and in all storms the adamant shrinks not, it fears not, it changes not its hue; let the times be what they will, the adamant is still the same. In times of persecution, a good cause, a good God, and a good conscience will make a Christian like an adamant; it will make him invincible and unchangeable. But,
[5.] Persecuting times are uniting times. Oh! the discord, the division, the wrangling, biting and quarreling that is to be found among professors in times of peace and prosperity! But when affliction and persecution comes upon them, this unites them together. Though the sheep in sunshine days feed at a distance, and wander one from another; yet when a storm comes, or the wolf comes—then they run all together; and so it is with Christians. Some religious leaders who could by no means agree when they had their freedom and liberty—yet could well enough agree when they were in prison together. Though children in a family may fall out among themselves—yet they quickly unite when a common enemy assaults them. Persecuting times unite Christians closer together in their affections, resolutions, and prayers. They who formerly could hardly be brought to eat together, or trade together, or live together, or walk together—in persecuting times will be brought to hear together, and pray together, and fast together, and communicate experiences together, and stand together, and fall together, and rise together, &c., (Psalm 83:3-9). But,
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Part 54 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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