THE present and future condition of a Christian, especially of a Martyr, is not ill represented by what we take notice of in Corral; for whilst that Shrub yet lives, and remains fastned to its native earth or soil, it grows in an obscure Region of the world, and is perpetually surrounded, and over-flown, by the brackish and unpleasant waters of the Sea, and oftentimes expos’d to the irregular agitations of its waves. Besides, the substance of this Plant (as those that should know inform us) is but soft and tender under water, and its colour but sad and unlively: nor is it, like the Tulip or the Rose-bush, adorn’d with any pleasant verdure, and much less does it flourish with gawdy colours. And whilst it remains under water, the excellency of it does so little disclose it self, that men sail over it without suspecting or dreaming they have any thing of precious under their feet; and by the fishes, in whose Region, or rather Element, it grows, ‘tis pass’d by wholly unregarded: But when this unheeded Corral comes to be torn off from its root, and pluck’d out of his soil, and so is kill’d in the capacity of a Plant, it then exchanges the dark and unquiet place it was confin’d to, for a more elevated and lightsome Region; and instead of sharing the fate of common Shrubs and Flowers, first to degenerate into fading colours and offensive smells, and then to perish, either by rottenness or fire, our Corral, by the violence offer’d to it, acquires a delightful redness, together with a solidity and a durableness, that makes it a thing so lovely and immortal, that it serves for an Ornament, for the Cabinets of the Curious; and what stupid Fishes do not at all regard, those nobler Creatures, Men, do so highly prise, that oftentimes it finds place even among the Rarities of Princes.
Thus, a true Christian, whilst he is yet confin’d to the Region of the Animal Life, lives oftentimes in an obscure and low condition, and far from that prosperous state wherein the world’s Favourites are wont to flourish, he is almost perpetually expos’d to pressures and afflictions, and either most men consider him not at all, or those that look at his out-side onely are apt to despise him because it is so homely. And he is not onely in such a (seemingly forlorn) condition, as made the Psalmist complain of himself, that all the waves pass’d over him; but (like those Plants of Corral, that, not growing so near the shoar, are constantly cover’d with water, as well as sometimes disorder’d by storms) the calamities that do, as it were, over-whelm him, are never altogether remov’d, even in the intervals of those tempestuous Fits which increase his Distresses: But when the violence of sickness, or the fury of a Persecutor shall have taken away his life, he must be then translated into a higher and happier Region, Afflictions and Distresses will be all left behind. And when the sensual Idolizers of their Bodies shall be condemn’d to have those as loathsome as were their Minds, and as restless as their guilty Consciences, His Body will obtain new and glorious Qualities like that of his Redeemer, and his Soul shall find no less happy a Transfiguration, (2 Cor 5. 4)the mortal part will be swallowed up of life,1 that perfection which is but in part shall be done away. And these newly acquir’d Excellencies of the whole man, will never after vanish or decay. And he that liv’d unregarded by the stupid Inhabitants of the earth, shall be joyfully welcom’d into the blest society of Celestial Spirits, and, what is infinitely more, be graciously welcom’d and dignifi’d by the Son of God himself. Men should not therefore, by a Christians present state, take their measures of his future fate, but rather should remember that he who said of such, (Mal. 3. 17) They shall be mine in the day when I make up my (Segullah) special treasures, is one whose Estimate of Persons and Conditions we may safely rely upon, since he is able to make any of them infallibly such as he pleases to pronounce them, and consequently we may look upon the constant Christian’s differing condition, with his eyes that said, (Joh. 3. 2) We are now the Sons of God, and it does not (indeed) yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like HIM; who would be like himself alone, did not his goodness vouchsafe to exalt those that love him, to a likeness, which makes them very unlike the gloriousest things we here admire, by incomparably transcending them.
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Footnotes
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