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even in the midst of affliction, that you can neither have cause nor time to be impatient, or to repine at any affliction, but to rejoice even in your tribulations, Rom. v. 1 - 3.

And as for the time to come, when you think upon all your crosses and sufferings of this present time, yet reckon, that they are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in you, Rom. viii. 18. For they are but short for time, and light for weight, being compared with the everlasting weight of glory which they will work for you, if you endure them patiently. I will say nothing of the shortness and lightness of your afflictions, in comparison of the far more intolerable and eternal weight of torments in hell, which you escape: and in comparing afflictions with glory, I will point out to you only the apostle's gradation; you shall have, for affliction, glory, 2 Cor. iv. 17; for light affliction, weight of glory; for short affliction, an eternal glory; for common and ordinary affliction, excellent glory. And although it might be thought that he had said enough, yet he adds degrees of comparison; yea, goes beyond all degrees, calling it more excellent, far more excellent: for thus he saith: Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory. Indeed, you must not look at the things which are seen with the eye of sense, 2 Cor. iv. 18, but at things which are not seen, which are spiritual and eternal, seen only by the eye of faith.

You will say, if you did but bear afflictions for Christ, then you could rejoice in hope; but you oft-times suffer afflictions justly for your sin.

I answer. Though this place principally points to suffering for Christ's cause, yet it is all one, in your case, if you bear afflictions patiently for his sake. A man may suffer afflictions for Christ two ways: First, When he suffers for his religion and for his cause. Secondly, When a man suffers any thing which God lays upon him, quietly, for Christ's will and commandment sake. This latter is more general than the former, and the former must be comprehended in this