``"blessed" is the man, ( wnwyonb dmwe awhv), "who stands in his temptation", for there is no creature whom the holy blessed God does not tempt.''įor when he is tried by the fire of afflictions, as gold is tried in the fire when God hereby has tried what is in his heart, and the truth of grace in him, as faith, love, patience and has purged away his dross and tin, and has refined and purified him, as gold and silver are refined and purified in the furnace, or refining pot: and when being thus tried and proved, and found genuine, and comes forth as gold, after this state of temptation and affliction is over,Įternal happiness, called a "crown", because of the glory of it, which will be both upon the bodies and souls of believers to all eternity and as suitable to their character, they being kings, and having a kingdom and thrones prepared for them and in allusion to the crown that was given to the conquerors in the Olympic games: and it is called a "crown of life", because it is for life, which an earthly crown is not always and because it lies in eternal life, and is an everlasting crown it is a crown of glory that fadeth not away, an incorruptible one and differs from the corruptible crown given to the victors in the above mentioned games, which were made of fading herbs, and leaves of trees: and now the man that bears up under afflictions, and holds out unto the end, shall have this crown put upon him, and he shall "receive it" not as merited by him, by his works or sufferings, for neither of them are worthy to be compared or mentioned with this crown of life and glory but as the free gift of God, as it will be given him by the righteous Judge, as a reward of grace, and not of debt: The Jews have a saying F8 much like this, ![]() Saints are happy under afflictions, and even on account of them, for they are tokens of God's love to them, and evidences of their sonship and especially they are happy under them, when they enjoy the presence of God in them, when they are instructive to them, and are saner, lifted, when they learn from them the useful lessons of faith, patience, humility, and resignation to the will of God, and are made more partakers of his holiness and they will be happy hereafter, as follows. Such expect afflictions, and when they come, they are not moved by them, but, notwithstanding them, continue in the ways and work of the Lord and such are happy persons they are happy now, and shall be hereafter. Or affliction, which is designed by temptation, as in ( James 1:2 ) and the man that endures it is he that so bears it, and bears up under it, as not to be offended at it, and stumble in the ways of Christ, and fall away from the truth, and a profession of it, as temporary believers in a time of temptation do but manfully and bravely stands up under it, and does not sink under the weight of it, or faint on account of it and endures afflictions in such manner as not to murmur and repine at them, but is quiet and still, and bears them patiently and constantly, and so endures to the end. ![]() ![]() Blessed is the man that endureth temptation
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