David Clarkson on those who suffer for Christ even when sin is mixed with their sufferings

[Reformed Covenanter]

It cannot be concluded, they do not suffer for Christ, who have some sin mixed with that which is made the cause of their sufferings, if it be the cause of God indeed, for the substance of it, and they sincere in it for the main. When the people of God are ready to offer up themselves, and what they have for him, he will not reject such a sacrifice for every blemish. Christ had something against the church of Ephesus, something to charge her with as matter of provocation, even when he is speaking of her sufferings, Rev. ii. 4. And yet he owns her as one that had suffered and laboured for his name’s sake, verse 3.

Nor can this be concluded, because of some miscarriage under their sufferings. David, while he was persecuted by Saul, miscarried divers ways, as you may see 1 Sam. xxi. 2, 12, 13, and elsewhere; yet this did not hinder him from being a sufferer for righteousness. ...

Or suppose one should suffer because he would not leave praying (which was Daniel’s case, Dan. 6), and yet in his prayer should have some mixture of unbelief, and lukewarmness, and other distempers, which the best cannot always escape, here would be some sin mixed with the cause of sufferings; yet who would deny but that, suffering for doing his duty, he is a sufferer for God? ...

For more, see David Clarkson on those who suffer for Christ even when sin is mixed with their sufferings.