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⟨providence⟩ notwithstanding. When men feel the smart ⟨of their⟩ own, or think of their friends affliction, or their ⟨enemy's⟩ prosperity, they are easily deluded with ⟨impatience⟩, or envy, or compassion. But if you would judge ⟨truly⟩ how inconsiderable the things that happen now, ⟨are⟩ in comparison of an eternal state, look back to the ⟨patriarchs⟩ and prophets, to the apostles and martyrs; ⟨and⟩ above all, to 'Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy, that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the same, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,' Heb. xii. 2. What ⟨was⟩ that moment of life in which they were persecuted, ⟨afflicted⟩, tormented, in comparison of all the time since, ⟨and⟩ for ever to come, in all which they enjoy the most ⟨pure⟩ and ravishing delights, wherewith God is now ⟨rewarding⟩ their obedience, and humility, and faith, and ⟨patience⟩? Is the objection against Providence, for ⟨leaving⟩ them exposed to so many calamities, too hard for ⟨them⟩ to answer? Do they think heaven, upon the ⟨terms⟩ they had it too dear a purchase? It was ⟨expedient⟩ and necessary, in pursuance of the wise counsels and ⟨purposes⟩ of God, that they should suffer for a while: ⟨but⟩ is God unrighteous? 'Doth he forget their work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope'? ⟨St.⟩ Paul, when he felt the smart of his present ⟨afflictions⟩, called them 'light afflictions, for a moment, not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed.' ⟨What⟩ must he judge of them now, that the afflictions ⟨are past⟩, and remembered only for the help and increase ⟨of his⟩ joy; now that he is entered into the possession of ⟨that⟩ glorious reward, which he then had only in view ⟨and⟩ prospect.
On the other side, whither are the great oppressors and destroyers of mankind gone? Where is Herod, and Pontius Pilate, and the rest of the bloody persecutors of Christ and his saints: what is become of all their pride, and their envied power and glory? Is God their debtor still for their injustice and blasphemies, and their insolent and prophane joys? Hath he forgotten what they did? Or doth he approve it? Now they know that, which either they did not believe, or would not consi-
