Part 55 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Back to Part 54 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Part 56 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Back to HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
8. That to suffer affliction and persecution for holiness' sake, is the greatest and highest honor that you are capable of in this world. The crown of a martyrdom is a crown that the angels, those princes of glory, are not capable of winning or wearing; and oh, who are you! What are you, O man! That God should set this crown upon your head! 1 Peter 4:13-14, "But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." The very suffering condition of the people of God is at the present a glorious condition, for "the Spirit of glory and of God rests on them," and they must needs be glorious, yes, very glorious, upon whom the Spirit of glory dwells.
The sufferings of "the three children," (Dan 3), tended very much to their honor and advancement, even in this world; and had those vessels of honor slipped their opportunity of suffering, they had lost their glory. The apostles all along counted their sufferings for Christ their highest honor. And that is a remarkable scripture that you have in that Hebrews 11:36-38, "Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground." Oh! but these were surely the most sad, miserable, wretched, and forlorn creatures in all the world. Oh no! and that is most evident if the testimony and judgment of the Holy Spirit may be received; for, verse 38, "They were such of whom the world was not worthy." The persecuting world was not worthy of their love, nor worthy of their prayers, nor worthy of their presence, nor worthy of their fellowship; and therefore God called them home, and set them down upon thrones by himself.
And to me it is very observable, that when that great apostle Paul would glory in that which he accounted his honor, glory, and excellency;he does not glory in his high office, nor in his being enrapt up in the third heaven, nor in the interest that he had in the hearts of the saints, nor in his arts or parts, etc.; but he glories in his sufferings, in that 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, "I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked." Thus you see that this blessed apostle looks upon his sufferings as his greatest glory.
"To suffer for Christ is the greatest honor and promotion that God gives in this world," said old Latimer. John Noyes took up a faggot from the fire and kissed it, saying, "Blessed be the time that ever I was born: to come to this promotion." After they had fastened Alice Driver with a chain to the stake to be burned, "Never," said she, "did a necklace so well please me--as this chain." Balilus the martyr, when he was to die, requested this favor from his persecutors, namely, that he might have his chains buried with him, as the ensigns of his honor. When Ignatius was to suffer, "It is better for me," says he, "to be a martyr, than to be a monarch." Sufferings for Christ are the ensigns of heavenly nobility.
It was a notable saying of a French martyr, when the noose was around his comrade's neck, "Give me," said he, "that golden chain, and dub me knight of that noble order." "I am the most unfit man for this high office of suffering for Christ, who ever was appointed to it," said blessed Sanders. I shall with that excellent saying of Prudentius: "Their names which are written in red letters of blood in the church's calendar, are written in golden letters in Christ's register, the book of life." And thus you see on all hands, that suffering for Christ is the highest honor that you are capable of in this world: and, therefore, there is little reason why a Christian should shrink or shrug at sufferings. But,
Back to Part 54 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Part 56 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
Back to HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness