springs up within themselves, and is called the light within them all. Now the Spirit that doth the work of God is promised from above, is given by Christ, and is expected and received from thence.

'

2dly. It is known also by its company. The Spirit which beareth witness with Christ is always accompanied with the word; Isa. lix. 21. This is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth,' &c. Now the work of this spirit, is to cast the word of God out of the church, to render it useless.

3dly. It is known by its work. The work of the Spirit of God is to glorify Christ; the work of this spirit is to glorify itself, to resolve all into itself, for measure, rule, principle, and all abilities.

I could not but mention this by the way, because I put the great opposition that is made in the world in these days against the Spirit of God, his graces and gifts, and the worship which believers are enabled to perform by the Spirit, in this thing. And therefore let us try the spirits, and not believe every spirit that is gone forth.

This is the first thing we are not to be ashamed of, viz. The truths of God that are reproached in the world, especially those concerning the Spirit, his graces and gifts, and the revelation of the mystery of the gospel, while a heathenish morality is advanced in their place. God forbid we should be ashamed of the gospel in this respect; that every one of us should not bear his testimony, as God is pleased to call us.

2. There is the worship of the gospel, which is always exposed to reproach and contempt in the world in the due performance of it. I pray God to keep this always in our minds, that we have no other way to be ashamed of the gospel, but by being ashamed of these things; and we have no other way to be ashamed of them, than by neglecting the due performance of them, as the gospel commands.

Men are ashamed of the worship of the gospel, (1.) Upon the account of the worshippers; and, (2.) Upon the account of the worship itself.

(1.) Upon the account of the worshippers, who are for the most part poor and contemptible in the world; for not many

great, not many noble, not many wise and learned are called.' Whatsoever work God hath to do by his, they are looked upon as the off-scouring of all things, such a company as those who are of gallant minds and spirits, do despise. I wonder what thoughts they would have had of Christ himself when followed by a company of fishermen, women, and children, crying Hosannah; and others, who said, 'This people who know not the law are cursed;' John vii. 49. Now is not a man apt to be ashamed of such abjects as follow Christ? Shall a man leave the society of great, and wise, and learned men, to join with them? Let those think of it who are upon any account lift up in the world above their brethren. Do not be ashamed of them; they are such as you must accompany, if ever you intend to come to glory. We must keep company with them here, if we intend it hereafter. And therefore be not ashamed of the worship of Christ because of the worshippers; though they can do nothing but love Christ and worship him; notwithstanding the suffrage that lies against them by great and learned men, such as were at Rome when Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

(2.) Upon the account of the worship itself. The world is, and ever was in love with a gaudy worship, which some of them have called, being well painted, the beauty of holiness. The Jews and Samaritans take them in all; the one was for the temple, the other for the mountain. The gospel comes and calls them from them both, to worship God in spirit and in truth; to a worship that hath no beauty but what is given by the Spirit of Christ; nor order, but what is given by the word. This is greatly despised in the world, and not only despised, but persecuted, I mean, sometimes it was so, I am sure formerly. Therefore the apostle gives that caution, Heb. x. 25. If you would not be ashamed, 'forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is.' There is a synecdoche in the word assembling, and it is put for the whole worship of Christ, because worship was performed in their assemblies; and he that forsakes the assemblies, forsakes the worship of Christ, as some of them did when exposed to danger: and it is the manner of some still to do so. When a fair day comes, then they will go to the assemblies; but in a storm they will absent themselves, as

did the Samaritans. But what should move them to forsake their assembling? He tells you, ver. 33, 34. Ye were made a gazing-stock by reproaches and afflictions, and the spoiling of your goods. But you know in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.' This made some weary of assembling; but be not you ashamed of assembling, or of the worship of God. This is the second thing that is exposed to shame and reproach in the world; and which in particular we are bound by our profession not to be ashamed of,

SERMON XXXVIII.*

3. WE are not to be ashamed of the professors of the gospel. Our Lord Christ hath laid it down as an everlasting rule, that in them he is honoured, or dishonoured, in the world. And it is the great rule whereby false professors will be tried at the last day; men who pretend a profession of the name of Christ, as you may see, Matt. xxv. 40. 45. 'What you have done unto them, you have done unto me,' saith he, and 'what you have omitted, that ought to have been done to them, you have omitted the doing of it unto me.' It is those alone in whom Christ may be honoured or despised in this world: for he is in himself, in his own person in that condition, that our goodness, our honour, extends not immediately unto him; and for the contempt and despising of men, he is not concerned in it. Hence this is reckoned as the great commendation of the faith of Moses, Heb. xi. 23-26. that he refused all the honours of the world, and all the reputation he might have had, to own and esteem the poor, reproached, despised, persecuted interest of Christ in the world, as he there calls it. He joined himself unto the professors of the faith, in opposition to all the world, and the greatness of it, which was his greatest commendation. And see the pathetical prayer of the apostle Paul for Onesiphorus upon the discharge of this duty, 2 Tim. i. 16-18. The Lord,' saith he, give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: but when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him, that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day.' Onesiphorus was a man of some credit and repute in the world; poor Paul was a prisoner bound with a chain, that he might have been ashamed to own him; but instead of that, he sought him out, he was not ashamed of his chain. To be ashamed of the poor professors of the gospel, so in themselves, or made so by the power of oppressors, is to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, his truths, his worship, and his people.

VOL. XVI.

This sermon was preached May 26, 1670.

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4. There is a special kind of profession, that in its own nature is exposed to reproach in the world. The apostle Paul tells us, 2 Tim. iii. 12. They that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.' There is, John xv. 4, 5. a being in Christ by profession, and not living godly; for there are branches in the vine by profession, that bring forth no fruit; men that have a profession wherewith they do not trouble the world, and for which the world will not trouble them; that can go to that length in compliance with the world, and the ways of it, as that they shall not have one drop of the spirit of the witnesses of Christ, who torments the men of the earth. But they that will live godly,' that is, engage in a profession, that shall upon all occasions, and in all instances manifest the power of it, they shall suffer persecution.' We see many every day keep up a profession, but such a profession as will not provoke the world. Now this is to be ashamed of the gospel, to be ashamed of the power and glory of it, to be ashamed of the author of it; no man can put Jesus Christ to greater shame, than by professing the gospel without shewing the power of it.

III. I shall now give the reasons why we ought not in any thing to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. I speak unto persons that are under a conviction that such and such things belong unto the gospel. If we are not, what makes us here this day? I do not go to persuade any, that this or that worship, or this or that way, is according to the gospel; but I suppose a conviction thereof to be upon us; upon a supposition of which conviction and persuasion, I shall offer these reasons, why we ought not to be ashamed of the gospel. And,

1. The first is this; because Christ, the captain of our salvation, and the great example of our obedience, was not ashamed of all that he had to undergo for us.

There are two things that greatly aggravate things shameful, and press, if possible, shame upon a person.

(1.) The dignity of the person that is exposed to things shameful. It is more for a person honourable, noble, and in repute for wisdom in the world, to be exposed to indignities, reproaches, and things shameful, as the apostle speaks; than for beggars, poor, vile persons, of no repute. Now consider the person of Christ, who he was, and what