MY Text , yee see , is Verbum diei in die suo , much like to King Salomons apple of gold in his picture of silver , a word spoken in due a a Prov. 25.21 . season : and as that golden apple artificially set within that hollow silver globe , when placed against the orient brightnes of the Sun , did thorow that chrystall glasse fastened in the globe before it , attract beholders delightsomely to view the beautie , and the splendor of it ; so may this word , so opportune and seasonable , raise up your serious thoughts unto its observation : And for that I find this storie of Hezekiahs sicknesse no lesse than thrice reported , viz. in 2 Chron. 32.24 . in Isa. 38.1 . and here in this Text : and ingeminations , or redoublings of the same things in the Scriptures , being no vaine tautologies , but the stronger arguments to perswade our notice , for this it doth promerit also , if not chalenge your best attention .

The Division . We have , in the words read , two generall parts .

The Kings evill ; and the Prophets charge , or commission to him , under that evill : each of these againe are amplified by severall circumstances : 1 Of the person sick , Hezekiah , a King , and hee not more great than good . 2 Of the disease it selfe , aegrotavit , he was sick . 3 The extremitie , or the danger of that disease , it was mortall and deadly , aegrotavit ( lethalitèr ) he was sick unto death . 4 Of the time when , in diebus illis , in those dayes : In those dayes was Hezekiah sick unto death . Thus for the first generall .

In the second also we have many particulars to be noted ; as , 1 The person comming to visit the sick Prince ; and he described to us a three-fold way . 1 By his name , Isaiah , 2 By his function , a Prophet . 3 By his pedegree , or birth , the son of Amoz , who was descended , as some say , of the blood royall it selfe : The Prophet , Isaiah , the son of Amoz . Here is the visit it selfe , He came to him . 3 His employment , when come , a punctuall deliverie of his message , or commission from the Lord ; which is described to us in a verie Rhetoricall way . 1 Formally , He said unto him , thus saith the Lord . 2 Materially , and this three wayes . 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Positively , Morieris , Thou shalt dye . 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Negatively , to cut off all hopes of a further prorogation , ac non vives , and not live . Lastly , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , by a serious exhortation , what in this desperate condition he would advise the King solemnly , and without delay , readily to resolve upon ; and that is to make his will , to set his house in order , e're a sudden stroke of death should seize him : ô Hezekiah , listen unto me thy Prophet , set thine house in order , for thou shalt dye , and not live .

These are the parts ; the present measures of my Sermon , and your Christian patience , which yet I shall be forced to pace over , as King David did before the Ark , * * 2 Sam. 6.16 . 2 Sam. 6.16 . in a manner without stay , leaping : and for that they be so many in number , I shall doe as your Lapidaries of rich jewels are wont , only shew them to you in a glance , or cursorie sight , and so put them up againe . The same hand that gave the opportunitie , vouchsafe to give successe to this busines . In those dayes was Hezekiah sick unto death , &c.

The person that leads me by the hand to my first discourse , is Hezekiah ; The first Part. who was both a mightie , and withall , a godly Prince ; his greatnesse and his goodnesse , like Davids palace , and Gods Tabernacle , dwelt both together on mount b b See Psal. 132.13 , 14. Sion ; or like to Jonathan and David , they were lovely and pleasant in c c 2 Sam. 1.23 . their lives ▪ and in their deaths they were not divided ; or like to Ezechiels d d Ezek. 1.21 . wheels , and the living creatures , which were both lifted up from the earth ( together ) : of his honour , opulencie , and exceeding riches , we have a large record , e e 2 Chro. 32.27 . 2 Chron. 32.27 . and of his pietie and goodnesse , f f 2 King . 18.3.5 . 2 King . 18.3 , 5. He did all that which was right in the sight of the Lord , according to all that David his father did , he clave to the Lord , so that after him was none like him among all the Kings of Judah , nor any that were before him : besides , we have a set commendation of him in Syracides , g g Ecclus. 48 17. Ecclus. 48.17 . Yet neither could the glittering of his Diadem , or the wealth in all his store-houses , or all the honor he had before the people , exempt him from the common fate of all men : as Death is said to be to Nature , which still desires to preserve it self in being from destruction , ( which appeares in creatures meerly sensitive , as the Beaver , to preserve his life , bites off his cods and leaves them as the prey to them that chase him ) as Death , I say , is unto Nature , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the King of feares , so is it also the feare of Kings : great ones be indeed as Gods , h h Psal. 82.6 . Psal. 82.6 . by * * See Dr. Sclater , my father , Serm. at the Assises at Tanton , Edit. 1616. p. 8. upon that Text. deputation and by authoritie delegated from on high , but it is all but tanquàm lumina illuminata , as S. Austin and Lyra interpret , so only by participation , as the stars are lighted from the chiefe taper of the Sun ; all earthly majestie being but a ray of that which is omnipotent , and independant above in heaven ; even ( there ) all crowns are cast before the Throne of God , i i Rev. 4.10 . Apoc. 4.10 . how much more must they be so here below ? therefore it is added in the Psalme , that they shall ( die ) like men : indeed it is true , as * * Agapetus in Paroen . ad Justinian . Agapetus told the great Justinian , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in the right and eminencie of dignitie they resemble God , being clad ( to borrow k k Psal. 93.1 . Davids phrase ) with majestie and honour , before the people , their loyall subjects ; yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in the substance , and the composition of their bodies , of the same materials with meanest men ; so that it is certain , though they be gods with men , yet are they men with God , and come all under that one common doom , Cinis es , & in cinerem ; Dust thou art , and to dust thou shalt returne , l l Gen. 3.19 . Gen. 3.19 .

Heare this then , ô all ye gilded potsherds of the earth , ye great ones all , I meane , that would faine nestle in the clouds , and in your soaring thoughts , with that proud Persian Sapor , write brother to the Sun and Moone , and like those twelve great Caesars , divide the moneths betweene your selves , singing to your beguiled soules , as that Atheist in the Gospell , m m Luc. 12.19 . Soul take thy rest for many years ; lo ! thy coffers are full crammed with golden ingots , thy barns and territories grown wider , and be enlarged : vain man ! Truly saith the Prophet , n n Psal. 144.4 . Psal. 144.4 . Man is like to vanitie , or , as o o My Lord the peerlesse Bishop of Exeter , in his Character of man , p. 33 , Edit. 1635. one most divinely doth invert the sentence , Vanitie is better like to man , for verily everie man living is altogether vanitie . Selah . p p Psal. 39 5 , 6. Psal. 39.5 , 6. yea , and that too in his verie best estate : Be yee in your vain imagination as teeth , that dwell in the mouth of eminence , grinding the faces of the poore thereby , thunder in your words , q q — 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Homer . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . de oculis Agamemnonis irati : & paulò pòst , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 — ib. lightening in your looks ; stay a while , and this bladder shall burst anon , and as a wall that swels before it fall , so shall your pride bring you all down as low as dust , and if impenitent , as Hell : what though yee dwell in Cedar , stretch your selves , as Amos speaks , on beds of * * Amos 6.4 . ivorie , and carrie your houses over your heads as snails , painting the earth as you go , with your silver slime : alas ! what 's all this to purpose ? if death but spurn upon you , yee are all crushed instantly into worms meat , and must shortly become provant for crawling Creatures to revell with in the grave : t is not Belshazzar's greatnesse , that can keepe him from , or rid him of a fit of r r Dan. 5.6 . trembling , where once the handwriting on the wall had startled him amidst his cups ; nor the vaingloriousnesse of , an haughty Herod , that could exempt him from the stroke of a destroying s s Act. 12.23 . Angell , or make him other , then a t t B● . Morton , c. 13. sect. 5. p. 252. grand imposture edict . 1628. Rex Herodes Agrippa , sub claudio ; Jacobum interfecit , qui & ipse non multo post ( phthiria si ) periit Joh. Carrion , Chron in claudio , l. 3. p. 234. & 228. edict . 1584. in 8ᵒ confer . Euseb. l. 2. c. 10. Histor. ecclesiast see placina in vita formosi , de Arnul●ho Imperatore . lowzy god : no nor the bigmouth'd ostentation of that peerelesse prodige of pride , great Nebuchadnezzar , keep him from the society of an u u Dan. 4.33 . oxe that eateth hay ; so besotted was he in his intellectuals , that for quality , and disposition , through the predominacy of his owne melancholique humour in him ; that though he had perhaps the forme , and figure , yet he had altogether lost the reason of a man : In a word , as that little stone in Daniel , cut out of the mountaine x x Dan. 2.45 . without hands , brake in peeces the yron , the brasse , the silver , and the gold , in that great image of the same mighty Babylonian ; by which is meant , in mystery , ( saith y y Hierom ad Eustoch . Hierom , z z Sulpit. Sever. l. 2. sac . Hist. p. 93. in 8ᵒ cum Drusio . & Barrad . l. 3. c. 4. p. 95. & l. 6 , c. 2. p. 282. concord : Evang. Sulpitius severus , and other greatly learned , ) our Lord and King Christ Jesus , who , as that stone was cut out of the mountaines without hands , was borne of a pure virgine , without contamination , or deflowring ; who shall , when installed to his spirituall throne and Kingdome , crush and shiver into nothing all the foure great monarchies of the world , Assyrian , Persian , Graecian , Roman , and make all Kings and nations of the earth , as the a a Matt. 2.11 . Magi of East did at his birth in Bethlem , bring b b Psal. 72.10 . & 68.29 . presents to him and to bow before him , that is , he shall make all scepters in the world to stoop to his one Scepter of the Gospell , in token of submission , homage and obedience , in like sort shall all potency and greatnesse under heaven be forced at last to yeeld to those his instruments of subjugation , either sicknesse , or death , or both : Loe here , and see , even Hezekiah , though a mighty and a wealthy Prince , yet could not wave off sicknesse ; no , nor much time , Death ; so sayth my text , Hezekiah , though a mighty King , was Sicke .

Now as Hezekiah's greatnes could not exempt him , so neither could his goodnes , for howbeit he were as eminent in grace , as rich in outward pompe & glory , yet sayth my text even he was ( sick : ) It's true indeed that Hezekiah's graces , though sometimes they might seem sick , to be weak and languish , as the Angel of the Church in Sardis had , in regard of use & exercise , his graces almost ready for to c c Rev. 3.2 . dye within him ; for which cause Saint John excites him to stengthen , by more vigorous employment , that life which yet remained in him ; yet his ( body ) that was , as the d d Exod. 26.1 . vide Granatens : tō 3 : concio : de Tenpore , conc : 1 : Dominica post ascens : p , 413 , in 8º , Latin . Tabernacle of testimony , with imbroyderies and works of divers colours , adorned with those eximious ornaments of grace ( that ) must stoope , not unto sicknes only , but to death : surely it 's true even the best men , ( for castigation , or at least probation ) are exposed to these outward miseryes , and calamityes as well as others ; and by what we can discerne without , we can descry no sure judgement of their mutuall future blisse or woe e e Eccles. 9.1 . Eccles. 9.1 . These outward things , sayth Solomon , come a like to all , though it be true not to all a like ; for either in the cause or in the end , or in the use and carriage under them ; in these ( modifications ) here is indeed a difference , not in the things themselves : yea if wee judge only after the appearance ; and not as we are commanded , f f John 7.24 . righteous judgement ; then we shall soon subscribe to that etymology of Christianus , to be quasi Crucianus , to come from Crux , as well as Christus the Hebrew letter η ( tau ) in the figure of the Crosse was that which Ezekiel with his pen and inkhorn g g Ezek. 9.4 . ( marked ) the chosen peeces of election under the old law , with Ezek. 9.4 . and old Jacob when on his death-bed he blessed the sons of Joseph , Manasses and Ephraim , Gen. 48.13.14 . is noted by Gods spirit to have h h Ge. 48.13 , 14. ( crossed ) his hands of purpose , thereby to note , say some , that either all blessings of this life have their mixture in them of sure i i see below , pa. 140. crosses ; as Christ is said to have had wine offered him , but such wine as was mingled with k k Mar. 15.23 . myrrh , which is of an harsh and uncouth taste ; or else that the whole vertue of a parents benediction was alone and only from the ( crosse ) of Christ ; for it is only the blood of his crosse that made heaven at peace with man , l l Col. 1.20 . Col. 1.20 . all the partriarchs of the first Testament had therefore their share therein ; the Jews reckon up ten severall afflictions , that even Abraham ( the m m Rom. 4.1 . Father of the faithfull ) met withall ; in all the Psalms of David , yee have nigh as many hearse-like ayres , as carols ; and for us Christians now , who sees not the n n My Lord Veculam , Essay 5. blessing of the new Testament to consist almost in crosses ? which yet carrieth the greater benediction and the clearer Revelation of Gods favor ; for which cause we see it 's set before the Alphabet of our little ones , and we receive it as the badge of of our enstalment into the Church of Christ at our Baptisme , in loco pudoris , in our foreheads , to denote our unashamednesse of the master we fight for : the very new-born babe with his first noise expresseth , ere yet he is able to o o Infans à non fando . speake , a p p Nondum loquitur tamen propheta . prophecy of his succeding misery ; to which a man , sayth Job is born as naturally q q Job 5 , 7. sparks , by reason of their innate levity , fly upwards , every man living being like to Rachel's younger sonne , born a r r Gen. 35 , 18. Ben-oni , a sonne of sorrow : in a word , our Lord and Master Christ hath trodden a full s s Isa. 63 , 3. wine-presse of woe before us , if we be his t t 2 Tim. 2 , 3. souldiers ( as if truely his members , we all are ) then as Gideon said to his , as we see him doe , so must we do u u Judge 7 , 17. likewise ; for that 's his word , learn of x x Matt. 11 , 29. me ; lo ! he hath taken off the full cup , there are left for us onely the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , some few y y Col. 1 , 24. remainders , as a smack alone . Col. 1.24 . And indeed what are we better then monsters in Christianity ; if we who pretend to be Christs members , should be so mishapen , as not to hold proportion with him our head ? He is a monster in nature ; who hath the head of a Serpent , and the body of a man ; and he is a monster in Christian ty who hath the z z Rev. 12 , 9. old serpent the devill , as his head to guide him ; and yet the body of a Christian in shew before men as Saint a a Bernard f , 25 , k Bernard tels us : Now we all know that as the Israelites , Gods old people passed through a b b Eod: 14. red-sea ere they came to their Canaan , so Christ went by his crosse , and by his blood , unto his Crown and glory . c c Multivolunt Christum consequi , sed non sequi , Bern. Dastards that we are , thus to give out , and to be cowed in our following so glorious , so victorious a Captaine ; who hath indeed promised us a Kingdome , but yet hath tyed the enjoying of it , to the unavoydable condition of our first d d 2 Tim. 2 , 12. suffering with him in this life ; for which cause , we never read in all the scriptures , that Christ in all his life time , ate any hony ; but that he tasted of vinegar and of gall , the e e Matt. 27 , 34. gospell mentioneth ; with ( this ) his cruell foes would have drench'd him on the crosse : indeed ( after ) his Resurrection , we find that he did eate of a broyled fish , and of an f f Luc. 24 , 42. honicombe , to wit , by way of dispensation & indulgency , ( condescending herein to the weakenesse of his disciples fayth ) though not of indigency & want , as the Schoole distinguisheth : but as Tertullian observes it was , post fella favum , first the gall and then the honicombe ; his sufferings went before his comforts ; which was also noted , in the broyling of the fish he ate of , Pisces assus est Christus passus , say the Fathers ; the broyling shewed his sufferings past , the honicombe , his instant , yea and his future joyes to come .

It 's worth our notice , in what phrase of speech , our Saviour puts the question to the sons of Zebede , that were it seems , of somewhat a climbing Spirit , and looked more for that time being , after their temporall advancement in Christ's outward Kingdome , ( which their weake mother fancied too much ) then otherwise ; he puts the question to them thus , g g Matth. 20.22 . Matth. 20.22 . are yee able to be ( baptised with the baptisme , that I am baptised with ? what Baptisme is this , that our Savior here speaks off ? Surely , it s neither fluminis nor flaminis , that of water , nor that of the Spirit ; but sanguinis , of blood , of affliction and persecution in this world , therfore Christ's garments are said to be dyed from Bozra , that is , in Tribulatione , ( as h h Philo judaeus , de nominibus Hebraicis , pag. 378. in patrum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Philo Judaeus interprets ) and to be red , and stayned with blood , Isa. 63.1 , 2. a direct prophesie of his after sufferings : Now therefore are these outward calamities compared to a Baptisme , saith one , because they set Gods ( i i Mr Goodwin p. 149. in his child of light walking in darknesse c. 13. sect 2. marke ) upon his Church , as the first Baptisme of water seales and marks her for his own : wherefore , what Simon of Cyrene was ( k k Matt. 27.32 . compelled ) to do , we must do ( willingly , ) carry Christ's crosse ; for no crosse , no disciple , l l Luke 9.23 . no suffering with him , no being glorifyed with him , m m Rom. 8.17 . Rom. 8.17 . For this cause , all Church story shewes us , that the blood of persecution hath alwayes kept running in the veines of the Church of Christ , from it's first n n Sanguine fundata est ecclesia , sanguine crevit , sanguine succrevit , sanguine finis erit . foundation ; even from the blood of righteous Abel to this day ; so that there can hardly be a truer inscription , wherewith to incircle so despised a coyne , as the Church is , then that of Salomon , o o Cant. 2.2 . Cant. 2.2 . as is a lilly among thornes , so is my love among the Daughters ; a lilly she is indeed , lovely and amiable to behold , but a lilly among thorns , therfore sure to be scratched by adversity : for whom God p p Heb. 12.6 . loves hee will certainely correct and chasten ; art thou weary then of Gods love-tokens ? art thou ashamed of Christ thy Captaines badges ? then long to want afflictions : this is , saith Saint Peter , no new thing that befals you , q q 1 Pet. 4.12 . 1 Peter 4.12 . Lo ! long since is it , that the Dragon drove the Church ( our Mother ) into the wildernes , and not so contented , sends out after her water as a flood to carry her away if possible , and to drown her in it , r r Rev. 12.6 , & 15. Apoc. 12.6 and 15. viz. in the flood of reproches , slanders , disgraces , all afflictions . To shut up this point , ( for how easy were it to be infinite this way ? ) St. Peter hath resembled the Church of Christ unto living s s 1 Pet. 2.5 . stones , which lying here rough in the quarry of this lower world , must first be hewen by affliction , squared by repentance , cemented by love , and so polished and fitted for the Church Triumphant , the Hierusalem which is t t Gal. 4.26 . above and free , the Mother of us all : Wherefore , let it no way trouble us , though our garments here , like those of the Kings daughter , in the Psalme , be of u u Ps. 45.13 . needle worke , that is , ( prickly ) by affliction , so we be , as she , all glorious ( x x ver. 14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Macarius , homil: 5. p. 79. in 8ᵒ within , ) multi vident punctiones , sed non vident unctiones ; many see our punctions , none but God discernes our y y 1 John 2.27 . unctions ; this made the standers by to be amazed , to heare Paul and Sylas ( singing ) prayses to their God , though in the middest of ( fetters , ) a a Act. 16.25 . Act. 16.25 . All this layd together , makes me admire how so great a Scholar , as the Roman Champion Bellarmine was , should in this particular point so play the part of an ill Rhetorician ( who is wont to place some of his strongest arguments in the b b Praecepta sunt eorum qui dicendi rationem tradunt , ut ad extremam orationis partem , quae potentissima atque optima in caussà sunt reserventur quoniam extremum illud in auditorum animis infixum haeret . Ludov. Granat●ns . quà supra conc . 2. p. 447. initio . close of his speech ) as to set this note ( last ) after a large catalogue before , as a certaine marke of the true Church , c c Bellar. ● lib. 4. de notis ecclesiae , cap. 18. initio nota 15. Temporall prosperity : whereas that is no where lesse to be found then there ; for that precious vessel of d d 2 Tim. 2.20 . honor would gather rust , were it not scowred often by afflictions . Beloved Christians , our good God deales with us , in this regard , as a refiner doth with his lumpe of oare of silver , or the richer metall ; to purge it from the drosse , and fit it for his use , he casts it first into the furnace ; so doth Almighty God his chosen ones , who ( below , ) are but as gold is in the oare , having the drosse of much corruption unmortified in them ; from which the Lord by sicknesse , or some such like affliction , would gladly purge them & refine them , so fitting and preparing them for his own use and glory ; by ( this ) sayth Esay , shall the iniquity of Jacob be [ e e Isa. 27.29 , and Mal. 3.3 . purged : ] And thus we read even of this very good King Hezekiah , f f 2 Chro. 32.31 . 2 Chro. 32.31 . that God left him , though a deare Saint , by a spirituall desertion to himselfe , for some time , to ( know ) what was in his heart : that is , sayth Austin , not that God meant hereby to informe himselfe ( for all things lye open and naked to the eyes of him , ( g g Heb. 4.13 . Heb. 4.13 . ) but to make Hezekiah know , that there was in his heart corruption enough , which like a Jebusite in Canaan ( 't is Saint Bernards comparison ) was not as yet wholly expelled from his inward coasts . And here againe in this text , whether for probation of his faith , as of h h Zech. 13.9 . Aurum indiget percussione , & puer verberatione , Ben Syra , moral . sentent . 4. est hoc ingenium auri , ut quo magis illud malleo diducendo percusseris , eò magis fulgeat ; sic , &c. Paulus Fagius , in exposit. ibid: in 2. Tim. 2.20 . electi vocantur [ aurum . ] gold , or for castigation of some speciall delinquency , he is permitted to be , as St Paul was by his messenger , i i 2 Cor. 12.7 . buffeted with a disease of sicknesse ; yea , though an k k Isa. 38.3 . upright man , and highly in Gods favor : for so we read , In those dayes was Hezekiah , ( a Prince not more great , then good ) sicke , and that unto Death .

Now , for application of this point , let me say to all Gods true Children , as Saint Peter doth of the l l 1 Pet. 4.12 . fiery tryall ; my deare brethren , thinke not this strange , as if some new thing , when yee be afflicted , happened unto you ; for lo ! this is the surest badge of Christianity , the unavoydable portion of all that will live godly in Christ Jesus ; yea , there is a necessity in it ; we ( m m 2 Tim. 3.12 . must ) suffer , sayth Saint Paul , n n Act. 9.16 . 2 Tim. 3.12 . This meditation made the primitive Saints to be ambitious of such sufferings for the cause of Christ ; the Apostles ( o o Act. 5.41 . rejoyced ) in it , as in the greatest worth and honor , in the dayes of persecution , when those ten bloody tyrants , whereof Nero was the first p p Tertull : in Apologet . c. 5. dedicator , as Tertullian cals him , the ring-leader to the rest , when Christianitie was nick-named a q q Act. 28.22 . sect , and that sect every where ( spoken against , ) Act. 28.22 . when but to name ones selfe a Christian , was crime enough to be sent unto the dungeon , or the metal-mines , or the teeth of Lyons , and such like other torments ; in these crimson-coloured dayes , your zealous Saints would so far strive , as 't were to suffer , that no voyce was oftner heard then this , Sum & ego Christianus , And I am also a Christian ; so had they then ( to borrow Jeremies expression ) r r Jer. 30.21 . engaged their hearts to approach unto the Lord , that they would s s Heb. 12.4 . resist iniquity , even unto the shedding of their blood . The crosse we read , in following times , was that which was by Christian Princes displayed in their banners , and the figure thereof much preferred to all other pompous shewes what ever ; so I t t See sir Henry Spelman , tom : 1. concil . Anglic. in anno , 712. ex concilio Londinensi , p. 207 , 208 edit. 1639. find that Constantine the great commanded it , ( instead of his wonted Labarum , richly decked with pretious Diamonds , ) to be carried before his souldiers ; as if , with the blessed Paul , he had u u Gal. 6.14 . gloryed in nought else , save in the crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ . All these Saints well knew , that this was the way to glory : they were not ignorant , that before God rested the seaventh day , he did first work six dayes ; so must we have our Hexameron of labor and enduring , before we may expect our Sabbatisme and eternall rest with Christ : But when we have thus suffered first , we may assure our selves of no lesse Crown , then of a Kingdome in eternall glory , x x 2 Tim 2.12 . 2 Tim. 2.12 . we see there is but a letters difference , nay but an aspiration , between onerari , & honorari , and the same word in Hebrew signifyeth both a burthen and blisse ; and the first Martyr under the gospell wore a Crown in his name ; for y y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Stephen in the greek so signifyeth : and surely , that I may conclude this point , the more we suffer for z z Mat. 5.11 , 12. righteousnesse sake ( for 't is the cause , not the smart that makes the Martyr ) the ampler will be our glory ; Qui habet in hâc vitâ multum crucis , habebit in alterâ multum lucis : this meditation , as the burthens did the Israelites , should make good Christians to encrease the ( a a Exod. 1.12 . more ) in number ; and as those precious plants & sweet-smelling trees , though they bee cut in peeces and dryed , yet still do reteine their sweet and pleasant sent ; yea , doe keep within them more true peace of soule , then all the barren and unsavory trees of wickednes , in their full flowers and blossomes can yeeld out , being beaten and scourged with a cursed conscience : In a word , our light affliction , which is but for a moment , worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory , b b 2 Cor. 4.17 . 2 Cor. 4.17 . yea , the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us , c c Rom. 8.18 . Rom. 8.18 . Wherefore , silence all recoyling passions , and repinings under Gods strokes , whatsoever they be , and whensoever they doe fall on thee ; see , sayth Saint d d Jam. 5.10.11 . James , thou hast the Prophets , my brethren , who have spoken in the name of the Lord , for an ensample of suffering affliction and of patience ; and behold , we count them happy which endure : so that truly saith Saint Peter , as yee heard but now , this is no e e 1 Pet. 4.12 . new thing happened unto you ; for loe ! Hezekiah , though a godly and a gracious Prince , was yet afflicted , he was sicke , and that unto Death .