John Trapp on John 17:4

Verſe 4. That thou gaveſt me to doe.] Our Saviour counts his work a gift: So ſhould we take it for a favour, that he employes us, that we may have any office about him, that we may magnifie him with our bodies, whether by life or death, Act. and Mon. Phil. 1.19. As an heretike I am condemned (ſaid Mr Bradford) and ſhall be burned, whereof I ask God heartily mercy, that I doe no more rejoyce then I doe, having ſo great cauſe, as to be an inſtrument, wherein it may pleaſe my dear Lord God and Saviour to ſuffer. And the greateſt promotion (ſaid Latymer) that God giveth in in this world, is, to be ſuch Philippians to whom it is given, Ibid. 1565. not only to believe, but alſo to ſuffer. Ignatius profeſſed he had rather be a Martyr then a Monarch. Ibid. 1831. John Noyes took up a Fagot at the fire, and kiſſed it, ſaying, Bleſſed be the time that ever I was born to come to this. The Apoſtles rejoyced that they were graced ſo, to be diſgraced for Chriſt, Act. 5.41.