against their enemies, in the faith that
God would give them victory and lead them to their promised rest. The
battle was the Lord's, and he fought for them; but the means were
their exertions. Believers are God's workmanship; but this work he
carries on by exercising their natural powers, which he sanctifies to
a different end from that to which they were formerly by their own
spirit directed. Still, the Scripture testifies that if any man say he
has no sin, he deceives himself, and the truth is not in him; and
while sin remains, its consequence, suffering, must. The judgments of
God, as the moral Governor of the world, are denounced against, and
executed upon the workers of iniquity. The children of God experience
personal chastisements for personal sins, as a provision of the
covenant. Psalm 89:30. And, if I mistake not, there are afflictions
experienced by individuals, as members of Christ's body, in which God
does not bring into view the personal sins of the sufferer. In this
sense I read Paul's epistle to the Colossians, 1:24: 'Who now rejoice
in my sufferings, and fill up that which is behind of the sufferings
of Christ in my flesh, for his body's sake, which is the church.' 'I
sent Timotheus to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your
faith, that no man should be moved by these afflictions; for
yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.' 1 Thes. 3:3. 'Yea,
if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy
and rejoice with you all; for the same cause do ye joy and rejoice
with me.' Phil. 2:17. 'And whether we be afflicted, it is for your
consolation and salvation; or whether we be comforted, it is for your
salvation and consolation.' 2 Cor. 1:6. There is no conscious personal
sin expressed in these sufferings; on the contrary, Paul says, 'For
our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in
simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the
grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more
abundantly to you-ward.' 2 Cor. 1:12.

"Most of the prophets and apostles suffered martyrdom. They
indeed sustained public characters, but the beggar Lazarus, who, in
addition to poverty, was full of sores, was carried by the angels from
the rich man's gate to Abraham's bosom. And thousands and tens of
thousands of redeemed highly sanctified ones have suffered lengthened
martyrdom, and perished with hunger, in holes and caves of the earth,
un