Page:On the providence of God in the government of the world.pdf/19

 notwithstanding. When men feel the smart own, or think of their friends affliction, or their  prosperity, they are easily deluded with, or envy, or compassion. But if you would judge how inconsiderable the things that happen now,  in comparison of an eternal state, look back to the  and prophets, to the apostles and martyrs;  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  that moment of life in which they were persecuted,, tormented, in comparison of all the time since,  for ever to come, in all which they enjoy the most  and ravishing delights, wherewith God is now  their obedience, and humility, and faith, and ? Is the objection against Providence, for them exposed to so many calamities, too hard for  to answer? Do they think heaven, upon the they had it too dear a purchase? It was and necessary, in pursuance of the wise counsels and  of God, that they should suffer for a while:  is God unrighteous? 'Doth he forget their work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope'? Paul, when he felt the smart of his present, called them 'light afflictions, for a moment, not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed.' must he judge of them now, that the afflictions , and remembered only for the help and increase  joy; now that he is entered into the possession of  glorious reward, which he then had only in view  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-