Sixthly, Then are we in an healthfull frame of Grace, when God hath brought down our hearts to be content with the changes of his right-hand upon us: when we have learnt the lesson of Paul, to be content with food and raiment, with a travellers and strangers portion, of so much as may serve us in our Journey: When we can tell how to abound without Pride, or security, or trust in earthly things, and when we can tell how to want all outward mercies with quietnesse and contentation.
Obj. But may not Hypocrites be contented with smal matters, and suppresse their desires of great things, and say with Esau unto Jacob: Keep that thou hast my brother, I have enough?
All changes and losses are made up to Gods people only by himselfe.
I answer, the desires of all men are not alike greedy; but yet the desires of men are truely satisfied without God: Now when changes and the losse of all things fall upon the Hypocrite, he cannot finde those changes and those losses made up in God: No Habakkuk tels us, That it is the Character of Gods children, when the corne is gone, and the flocks and the heards, and the vine, and the figtree faile, to rejoyce in God alone for a portion, and to glory in the God of their Salvation.
Seventhly.
Joy in Sorrow.
Seventhly, Then are our hearts in an healthfull frame, when we are not onely willing to suffer for the name of Christ Jesus, but when we also conceive a kinde of pleasure in it; so saith Paul, I take pleasure in necessities, in distresses, and for Christs sake; Hence the Saints (Heb. 13. 10) not onely suffered the spoyling of their goods, but they took the spoyling of their goods with joy.
Object. May not Hipocrites suffer joyfully for Christ?
Hypocrites pretend to suffer for Christ.
I answer, An Hypocrite may doe and suffer with a seeming joy for Christ: But he can never doe this out of love to Christ, 1 Cor. 13. but always out of self-love for his owne glory and honour, out of strong conviction of conscience, least he be damned in denying his light, &c. Onely Gods children can out of love to Christ Jesus rejoyce (as some true friend or wife) to be afflicted and to sorrow and loose for their Souls beloved.