Ah, my brethren ! let us remember we are pilgrims and
strangers upon earth, and our way lies over the brook Cedron ;
we cannot expect to enter with Christ into glory, but we must
first drink of the brook in the way; that is, we must endure
many afflictions, variety of afflictions. You will say, This is an
hard saying, who can hear it? When Jesus told his disciples
of his sufferings to be accomplished at Jerusalem, Peter takes
the boldness to dehort his Master, Be it far from thee, Lord,
this shall not be unto thee: Jesus thereupon calls him Satan,
meaning that no greater contradictions can be offered to the
designs of God, than to dissuade us from sufferings. There is
too much of Peter's humour amongst us ; O, this doctrine of
afflictions will not down with Antinomians ; and hence we believe
we have our congregations so thin, in comparison of some of
theirs ; they that can break off the yoke of obedience, and present
heaven in the midst of flowers, and offer great liberty of living
under sin, shall have their schools filled with disciples; but they
that preach the cross, and sufferings, and afflictions, and strict-
ness of an holy life, shall have the lot of their blessed Lord; that
is, they shall be ill thought of, and deserted, and railed against.
Well, but if this be the way that Christ hath led us, let us
follow him over the brook.
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