acceptable to God by Jesus Christ’ (1 Peter 2:5). Of which sacrifices,
it seems by Paul, the death of a Christian for Jesus’ sake must needs
be counted one. Besides, Paul further insinuates this by some other
sentences in his epistles; as by that in the epistle to the Colossians,
where he saith, ‘I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up
that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his
body’s sake, which is the church’ (Col 1:24). Not by way of merit, for
so Christ alone, and that by once being offered himself, hath perfected
for ever them that are sanctified (Heb 10:10-14). But his meaning is,
that as Christ was offered in sacrifice for his church as a Saviour, so
Paul would offer himself as a sacrifice for Christ’s church, as a
saint, as a minister, and one that was counted faithful. ‘Yea,’ saith
he, ‘and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith,
I joy and rejoice with you all’ (Phil 2:17). This, then, teacheth us
several things worthy our consideration.
First. That the blood of the saints, that they lose for his name, is a
sweet savour to God. And so saith the Holy Ghost, ‘Precious in the
sight of the Lord is the death of his saints’ (Psa 116:15). And again,
‘He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence, and precious
shall their blood be in his sight’ (Psa 72:14).
Second. Those that suffer for Christ are of great benefit to his
church, as the sacrifices of old were confirming and strengthening to
Israel; wherefore Paul saith, his bonds encouraged his brethren, and
made them much more bold in the way of God to speak his word without
fear (Phil 1:14).
Third. The sufferings, or offering of the saints in sacrifice, it is of
great use and advantage to the gospel; of use, I say, many ways. (1.)
The blood of the saints defends it; (2.) confirmeth it; and (3.)
redeemeth that thereof that hath been lost in antichristian darkness.
1. They do thereby defend and preserve it from those that would take it
from us, or from those that would impose another upon us. ‘I am set,’
saith Paul, ‘for the defence of the gospel,’ and my sufferings have
fallen out for the furtherance of it (Phil 1:17). That is, it hath not
only continued to hold its ground, but hath also got more by my
contentions, sufferings, and hazards for it.
2. It confirms it; and this is part of the meaning of Paul in those
large relations of his sufferings for Christ, saying, ‘Are they
ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool, I am more—in prisons more
frequent,’ &c.; as he saith again, and these things ‘I do for the
gospel’s sake.’ And again, That the truth of the ‘gospel might be
continued with you.’ So again, ‘I suffer,’ saith he, in the gospel ‘as
an evil-doer even unto bonds, but the word of God is not bound; yea,’
saith he, ‘therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake’ (2 Tim
2:9,10). That is, that the gospel may be preserved entire, that the
souls that are yet unborn may have the benefit of it, with eternal
glory.
3. The sufferings of the saints are of a redeeming virtue; for, by
their patient enduring and losing their blood for the word, they
recover the truths of God that have been buried in Antichristian
rubbish, from that soil and slur that thereby hath for a long time
cleaved unto them; wherefore it is said, They overcame him, the beast,
‘by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they
loved not their lives unto the death’ (Rev 12:11). They overcame him;
that is, they recovered the truth from under his aspersions, and
delivered it from all its enemies. David saith, ‘The words of the Lord
are—as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times’ (Psa
12:6). What is this furnace of earth but the body of the saints of God,
in which the Word is tried, as by fire in persecution, yea, ‘purified
seven times’; that is, brought forth at last by the death of the
Christians in its purity before the world. How hath the headship and
lordship of Christ, with many other doctrines of God, been taken away
from the Pope by the sufferings of our brethren before us? While their
flesh did fry in the flames, the Word of God was cleansed, and by such
means purified in these their earthen furnaces, and so delivered to us.
The lamps of Gideon were then discovered when his soldiers’ pitchers
were broken; if our pitchers were broke for the Lord and his gospel’s
sake, those lamps will then be discovered that before lay hid and
unseen (Judg 7:15-22). Much use might be made of this good doctrine.
Learn thus much:—
1. [Learn] The judgment that is made of our sufferings by carnal men is
nothing at all to be heeded; they see not the glory that is wrapped up
in our cause, nor the innocence and goodness of our conscience in our
enduring of these afflictions; they judge according to the flesh,
according to outward appearance. For so, indeed, we seem to lie under
contempt, and to be in a disgraceful condition; but all things here are
converted to another use and end. That which is contemptible when
persons are guilty, is honourable when persons are clear; and that
which brings shame when persons are buffeted for their faults, is
thankworthy in those that endure grief, suffering wrongfully (1 Peter
2:19-22). Though to suffer for sin be the token of God’s displeasure,
yet to those that suffer for righteousness, it is a token of greatest
favour; wherefore matter not how the world doth esteem of thee and thy
present distress, that thou bearest with patience for God and his Word;
but believe that those things that are both shame and dishonour to
others, are glory and honour to thee (2 Thess 1:4-10). O for a man to
be able to say, ‘For the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain’
(Acts 28:20). It makes his face to shine like the face of an angel, and
his lips to drop like the honey-comb (Cant 4:11).
2. We learn also from hence, the reason why some in days before us have
made light of the rage of the world; but they have laughed at
destruction when it cometh (Job 5:21,22). And have gone forth to meet
the armed men; and with Job’s war-horse, ‘mocketh at fear, and is not
affrighted, neither turneth he back from the sword; the quiver rattleth
against him, the glittering spear and the shield, he said among the
trumpets, Ha, ha’ (Job 39:22,25). It hath been their [God’s fearers]
glory to suffer for Christ; as it is said of the saints of old, ‘they
departed from the presence of the counsel, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for his name’ (Acts 5:41). As Paul also
saith, ‘most gladly I will,’ mark, ‘most gladly, rather glory in mine
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me’ (2 Cor
12:9,10). Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake, &c. Let
those that suffer for theft and murder hang down their heads like a
bulrush, and carry it like those that are going to hanging; but let
those whose trials are for the Word of God know, by these very things
they are dignified.
3. Learn also in this to be confident, that thy sufferings have their
sound and a voice before God and men. First, Before God, to provoke him
to vengeance, ‘when he maketh inquisition for blood’ (Psa 9:12; Gen
4:9-11). The blood of Abel cried until it brought down wrath upon Cain;
and so did the blood of Christ and his apostles, till it had laid
Jerusalem upon heaps. Secondly, Thy blood will also have a voice before
men, and that possibly for their good. The faithful Christian, in his
patient suffering, knows not what work he may do for God; who knows but
thy blood may be so remembered by thy children, neighbours, and
enemies, as to convince them thou wert for the truth? Yea, who knows
but their thoughts of thy resolution for Christ, in thy resisting unto
blood, may have so good an effect upon some, as to persuade them to
close with his ways? The three children in the fiery furnace made
Nebuchadnezzar cry out there was no God like theirs! Indeed, this is
hard labour, but be content, the dearer thou payest for it to win the
souls of others, the greater will be thy crown, when the Lord, the
righteous Judge, shall appear; and in the meanwhile, thy death shall be
as a sacrifice pleasing to God and his saints.
[WHAT IT IS TO BE NOW READY TO BE OFFERED.]
SECOND. The second thing that I would inquire into is this: What it is
to be ‘ready to be offered up’? Or how we should understand this word
‘ready’: ‘I am now ready to be offered up.’ Which I think may be
understood three manner of ways.
First. With respect to that readiness that was continually in the heart
of those that hated him, to destroy him with his doctrines; Second. Or
it may be understood with respect to the readiness of this blessed
apostle’s mind, his being ready and willing always to embrace the cross
for the word’s sake; or, Third. We may very well understand it that he
had done his work for God in this world, and therefore was ready to be
gone.
[Readiness of enemies to destroy the apostle and his doctrine.]
First. For the first of these: The enemies of God and his truth, they
never want will and malice to oppose the Word of God; they are also
always so far forth in readiness to murder and slaughter the saints, as
the prophet cries to Jerusalem, ‘Behold the princes of Israel, every
one were in thee to their power to shed blood’ (Eze 22:6), that is,
they had will and malice always at hand to oppose the upright in heart.
And therefore our Lord Jesus saith, ‘they are they that kill the body’;
he doth not say they can do it as relating to their will, and their
custom, if let loose; and we may understand thereby that it is no more
to them to kill the people of God, than it is to butchers to kill sheep
and oxen. For though it be indeed a truth that God’s hand is always
safe upon the hilt of their sword, yet by them we are killed all the
day long, and accounted as sheep for the slaughter (Psa 44:22; Rom
8:36). That is, in their desires always, as well as by their deeds,
when they are let loose, as Paul’s kinsman said to the captain, ‘There
lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound
themselves with a curse,[2] that they will neither eat nor drink till
they have killed him; and now are they ready, looking for a promise
from thee’ (Acts 23:12,13,21). And hence it is, that by the Word they
are called dragons, lions, bears, wolves, leopards, dogs, and the like;
all which are beasts of prey, and delight to live by the death of
others.[3] Paul therefore seeing and knowing that this readiness was in
his enemies to pour out his bowels to the earth, he cried out to
Timothy, saying, ‘make thou full proof of thy ministry, for’ I am now
ready to be slain; ‘I am now ready to be offered’ (2 Tim 4:5,6). These
words thus understood may be useful many ways.
1. To show us we live, not because of any good nature or inclination
that is in our enemies towards us; for they, as to their wills, are
ready to destroy us; but they are in the hand of God, in whose hand is
also our times (Psa 31:15). Wherefore, though by the will of our
enemies, we are always delivered to death, yet ‘behold we live’ (2 Cor
6:9). Therefore in this sense it may be said, ‘Where is the fury of the
oppressor?’ It is not in his power to dispose of, therefore here it may
be said again, he is not ‘ready to destroy’ (Isa 51:13). The cup that
God’s people in all ages have drank of, even the cup of affliction and
persecution, it is not in the hand of the enemy, but in the hand of
God; and he, not they, poureth out of the same (Psa 75:8). So that
they, with all their raging waves, have banks and bounds set to them,
by which they are limited within their range, as the bear is by his
chain. ‘Surely the wrath of men shall praise thee, the remainder of
wrath thou shalt restrain’ (Psa 76:10; Job 38:10,11).
2. This should encourage us not to forsake the way of our Lord Jesus,
when threatened by our adversaries, because they are in his chain:
indeed they are ready in their wills to destroy us; but as to power and
liberty to do it, that is not at all with them; who would fear to go,
even by the very nose of a lion, if his chain would not suffer him to
hurt us.[4] It is too much below the spirit of a Christian to fear a
man that shall die (Isa 51:12,13). And they that have so done, have
forgotten the Lord their Maker, who preserveth the hairs of our head
(Luke 12:7). Yea, let me tell you he that so doth, he feareth to trust
the Lord with his life, estate, and concernments, and chooseth rather
to trust to himself, and that too out of God’s way; and though such
persons may lick themselves whole now, while they are fallen and
senseless, they must count for these things again, and then they shall
see that fear of men, and to be ashamed of Christ, will load them with
no light burden. Also, it is an uncomely thing for any man in his
profession to be in and out with the times; and to do this when winked
at by men, that they would not do if they frowned. Do such fear God?
nay, they fear the fear of men, when they should sanctify the Lord
himself, and let him be their dread, and let him be their fear (Isa
8:12,13).
3. Let the readiness that is in the enemies of God to destroy, provoke
thee to make ready also, as I said a little before; go out to meet the
armed men; ‘David ran to meet Goliath’; rub up man,[5] put on thy
harness, ‘put on the whole armour of God, that thou mayest be ready,’
as well as thy adversaries, as blessed Paul was here, ‘I am now ready
to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand’ (1 Sam
17:46-48). But because this will fall in fittest under the second head,
I shall, therefore, discourse of it there.
[The readiness IN MIND of the blessed apostle to suffer.]
Second. The second thing considered in the words is this, that to be
ready might be understood with respect to the blessed apostle’s mind,
that was graciously brought over into a willingness to embrace the
cross for the Word’s sake; and thus in other places he himself expounds
it. ‘I am ready,’ saith he, ‘not to be bound only, but also to die at
Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus’ (Acts 21:13). That also
implies as much where he saith, ‘Neither count I my life dear unto
myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the
grace of God’ (Acts 20:24). As the enemies, then, were ready and
willing in their hearts, so he was ready and willing in his. This man
was like to those mighty men of Solomon, that were ready prepared for
the war, and waited on the king, fit to be sent at any time upon the
most sharp and pinching service (2 Chron 17:12-19). A thing fitly
becoming all the saints, but chiefly those that minister in the word
and doctrine. Understand the words thus, and they also teach us many
things, both for conviction and for edification.
1. Here we see that a Christian’s heart should be unclenched from this
world; for he that is ready to be made a sacrifice for Christ and his
blessed Word, he must be one that is not entangled with the affairs of
this life: how else can he please him who hath chosen him to be a
soldier? Thus was it with this blessed man; he was brought to God’s
foot with Abraham, and crucified to this world with Christ; he had
passed a sentence of death upon all earthly pleasures and profits
beforehand, that they might not deaden his spirit when he came to
suffer for his profession (2 Tim 2:4; 2 Cor 1:8,9; Gal 2:20, 6:14).
2. This shows us the true effects of unfeigned faith and love, for they
were the rise of this most blessed frame of heart; read 2 Corinthians
4:8-13, and compare it with 2 Corinthians 12:9,10; and men may talk
what they will of their faith and love to the Lord Jesus, and to his
holy gospel. But if they throw up their open profession of his name for
fear of those that hate him, it is evident their mouths go before their
hearts, and that their words are bigger than their graces. ‘If thou
faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small,’ and so thy faith
and love (Prov 24:10). Herein is love, ‘that a man lay down his life
for his friends’ (John 15:13).
3. This shows us the true effects of a right sight and sense of the
sufferings that attend the gospel; that they shall become truly
profitable to those that shall bear them aright. What made he ready
for? it was for sufferings; and why made he ready for them but because
he saw they wrought out for him a ‘far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory?’ (2 Cor 4:17). This made Moses also spurn at a crown
and a kingdom; to look with a disdainful eye upon all the glory of
Egypt. He saw the reward that was laid up in heaven for those that
suffered for Christ. Therefore, ‘he refused to be called the son of
Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in
Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of reward. By faith he
forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured, as
seeing him who is invisible’ (Heb 11:21-27). Every one cannot thus look
upon the afflictions and temptations that attend the gospel; no, not
every one that professeth it, as appears by their shrinking and
shirking at the noise of the trumpet, and alarum to war. They can be
content, as cowards in a garrison, to lie still under some smaller
pieces of service, as hearing the Word, entering in, to follow with
loving in word and in tongue, and the like; but to ‘go forth unto him
without the camp, bearing his reproach,’ and to be in jeopardy every
hour for the truth of the glorious gospel, that they dare not do (Heb
13:13; 1 Cor 15:30). Nay, instead of making ready with Paul to engage
the dragon and his angels, they study how to evade and shun the cross
of Christ; secretly rejoicing if they can but delude their conscience,
and make it still and quiet, while they do yet unworthily (Rev 12:7-9).
4. By this readiness we may discern who are unfeignedly willing to find
out that they may do the whole will of God; even those that are already
made willing to suffer for his sake; they are still inquiring, ‘Lord,
what wouldst thou have me to do?’ not mattering nor regarding the cross
and distress that attends it. ‘The Holy Ghost witnesseth’ to me, saith
Paul, that ‘in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me;
but none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto
myself, so that I may finish my course with joy,’ &c. (Acts 20:23,24).
Counting that to see and be doing of heavenly things, will countervail
all the trouble and sorrow that attends them; this therefore sharply
rebuketh those that can be glad to be ignorant of the knowledge of some
truths, especially of them that are persecuted; still answering those
that charge them with walking irregularly, that they do but according
to their light. Whereas the hearts that be full of love to the name and
glory of Christ, will in quiet return and come; yea, and be glad, if
they find the words of God, and will eat them with savour and sweet
delight, how bitter soever they are to the belly: because of that
testimony they bind us up to maintain before peoples, and nations, and
kings (Rev 10:10,11). ‘I am now ready to be offered.’
[Paul ready to depart, having done his work for God in this world.]
Third. The third thing to be considered in the words is this, That the
apostle, by saying, ‘I am now ready,’ doth signify that now he had done
that work that God had appointed him to do in the world. ‘I am now
ready,’ because I have done my work; this is further manifest by the
following words of the text; ‘I am now ready to be offered, and the
time of my departure is at hand’; namely, my time to depart this world.
The words also that follow are much to the purpose, ‘I have fought a
good fight, I have finished my course,’ &c., much like that of our Lord
Jesus. ‘I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do’ (John
17:4). Now then, put all these things together, namely, that I am to be
offered a sacrifice, and for this my enemies are ready, my heart is
also ready; and because I have done my work, I am therefore every way
ready. This is a frame and condition that deserveth not only to stand
in the Word of God for Paul’s everlasting praise, but to be a provoking
argument to all that read or hear thereof, to follow the same steps. I
shall therefore, to help it forward, according to grace received, draw
one conclusion from the words, and speak a few words to it. The
conclusion is this: That it is the duty and wisdom of those that fear
God so to manage their time and work that he hath allotted unto them,
that they may not have part of their work to do when they should be
departing the world.
[THE CHRISTIAN’S DUTY AND WISDOM TO BE THUS READY.]
This truth I might further urge from the very words of the text, they
being written on purpose by Paul to stir up Timothy and all the godly
to press hard after this very thing. But to pass that, and to mind you
of some other scriptures that press it hard as a duty, and then to
proceed to some few examples of the wise and most eminent saints. Which
when I have done I shall, 1. Show you reason for it. 2. Give you
encouragement to it. 3. Press it with several motives. 4. Make some use
and application of the whole, and so conclude.
That this is the duty and wisdom of those that fear God, you may see by
Christ’s exhortation to watchfulness, and to prepare for his second
coming; ‘Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour as ye think not,
the Son of man cometh’ (Matt 24:44). These words, as they are spoken to
stir up the godly to be ready to meet their Lord at his coming, so
because the godly must meet him as well in his judgments and
providences here, as at his personal appearing at the last day;
therefore they should be diligent to be fitting themselves to meet him
in all such dispensations. ‘And because,’ saith God, ‘I will do this
unto thee; prepare to meet thy God, O Israel’ (Amos 4:12). Now death is
one of the most certain of those dispensations; yea, and such, that it
leaveth to those no help at all, or means to perform for ever, that
which, shouldst thou want it, that is lacking to thy work. Wherefore
Solomon also doth press us to this very work, and that from this
consideration, ‘whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy
might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in
the grave, whither thou goest’ (Eccl 9:10). Baulk nothing of thy duty,
neither defer to do it; for thou art in thy way to thy grave, and there
thou canst not finish ought that by neglect thou leavest undone;
therefore be diligent while life lasts.[6]
Another scripture is that in Peter’s epistle to those that were
scattered abroad. ‘Seeing,’ saith he, ‘that ye look for such things, be
diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace,’ &c. (2 Peter 3:14). He
is there discoursing of the coming of Christ to judgment, as Christ
also was in the other; and from the certainty and dread of that day he
doth press them on to a continual diligence, and is to be understood as
that of Paul to Timothy, a diligent watching in all things, that as he
saith again, they may stand complete in all the will of God, not
lacking this or that of that work which was given them to do of God and
this world (2 Tim 4:5). Much might be said for the further proof of
this duty; but to give you some examples of the godly men of old,
whereby it will appear, that as it is our duty to do it so it is also
our wisdom. And hence,