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Seasonable Counsel: By J O H N.B U N Y A N. L O N D O N, Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1684. Published four years before John Bunyan's death. |
ADVICE TO SUFFERERS.
"WHEREFORE LET THEM THAT SUFFER ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD, COMMIT THE KEEPING
OF THEIR SOULS TO HIM IN WELL DOING, AS UNTO A FAITHFUL CREATOR"—1 PETER 4:19.
his epistle was written to saints in affliction, specially those
of the circumcision, for whom this Peter was an apostle. And it was written to them
to counsel, and comfort them in their affliction. To counsel them as to the cause,
for which they were in afflictions, and as to the right management of themselves,
and their cause, under their affliction. To comfort them also both with respect to
their present help from God, and also with reference to the reward that (they faithfully
continuing to the end) should of God be bestowed upon them: all which we shall have
occasion, more distinctly, to handle in this following discourse.
The text is a conclusion, drawn from the counsel and comfort which the apostle had
afore given them in their suffering state. As who should say, my brethren, as you
are now afflicted, so sufferings are needful for you, and therefore profitable and
advantageous: wherefore be content to bear them. And that you may indeed bear them
with such Christian contentedness, and patience as becomes you; commit the keeping
of your souls to your God as unto a faithful Creator. "Let them that suffer
according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him [in well doing,]
as unto a faithful Creator."
In this conclusion, therefore, we have three things very fit for sufferers to concern
themselves with. FIRST, A direction to a duty of absolute necessity. SECOND, A description
of the persons, who are unto this, so necessary a duty, directed. THIRD, An insinuation
of the good effect that will certainly follow to those that after a due manner shall
take this blessed advice.
The duty so absolutely necessary is, that sufferers "commit the keeping of their
souls to God." The sufferers here intended, are those "that suffer according
to the will of God." The good insinuated, that will be the effect of our true
doing of this, is, we shall find God "a faithful Creator."
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