A little while ago they were painting their faces, feeding their lusts, following their whores, playing their games and sports to pass away the time; but now they are in Hell — and they cry! It may be, that last year they heard some good sermons, were invited to receive Heaven, were told their sins should be pardoned if they closed in with Jesus. But, refusing His offers, and slighting the grace that was once offered — they are now in Hell, and they cry.

Jeremiah Burroughs' work, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, was first published in 1648. Since Jeremiah Burroughs passed away in 1646, the book was published posthumously. It has since become a classic of Puritan literature and has been reissued numerous times, including a well-known edition by the Banner of Truth Trust in 1964.

Is it from his actings as the great prophet of the church that you expect help and relief? Have you effectually learned of him "to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world?" Hath he taught you to be humble, to be meek, to be patient, to "hate the garment spotted with the flesh?" Hath he instructed you unto sincerity in all your ways, dealings, and whole conversation among men?

How strikingly and how blessedly was 1 Corinthians 10:13, illustrated and exemplified in the case of Elijah! It was a sore temptation or trial, when after all his fidelity in the Lord's service his life should be threatened by the wicked Jezebel, and when all his efforts to bring back Israel to the worship of the true God seemed to be entirely in vain. It was more than he could bear: he was weary of such a one-sided and losing fight, and he prayed to be removed from the arena. But God was faithful and with the sore temptation "also made a way to escape" that he might be able to bear it.

Let us hate all suspicious thoughts, as those brought about and prized by that hell-bound spirit who tried to divide the Father and the Son by jealousy, saying, "If you are the Son of God" (Matt. 4:6). Even now, his daily ambition is to divide the Son and us by creating false ideas of Christ in us, as if Christ did not have that tender love for us in him. It was Satan's design from the beginning to discredit God to man by calling God's love into question with our first father Adam. His success then makes him ready to use that weapon still.

Now all the millions of mankind, of whatever country and nation, whether they expect this tremendous day or not, all feel a shock through their whole frames, while they are instantaneously metamorphosed in every limb, and the pulse of immortality begins to beat strong in every part! Now also the slumberers under ground begin to stir, to rouse, and spring to life! Now see graves opening, tombs bursting, charnel-houses rattling, the earth heaving, and all alive, while these subterranean armies are bursting their way through! See clouds of human dust and broken bones darkening the air, and flying from country to country over intervening continents and oceans—to meet their kindred fragments, and repair the shattered frame with pieces collected from a thousand different quarters, where they were blown away by winds, or washed away by seas

Follow the Prophet with your mind's eye. Hour after hour he plods along beneath the burning sun, his feet blistered by the scorching sands, alone in the dreary desert. At last fatigue and anguish overcame his sinewy strength and he "came and sat under a juniper tree: and requested for himself that he might die" (1 Kings 19:4). The first thing we would note in this connection is that disheartened and despondent as he was, Elijah made no attempt to lay violent hands on himself.