They should remember, that there was never but one perfect man on earth, and that He was not loved, but hated. It is not the infirmities of a believer that the world dislike, but his goodness. It is not the remains of the old nature that call forth the world's enmity, but the exhibition of the new. Let us remember these things, and be patient. The world hated Christ, and the world will hate Christians.
The second thing which demands our notice in this passage, is the encouraging description of our Lord Jesus Christ's character, which St. Matthew draws from the prophet Isaiah. "A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench."
What are we to understand by the bruised reed, and smoking flax ? The language of the prophet no doubt is figurative. What is it that these two exjDressions mean ? The simplest explanation seems to be, that the Holy Ghost is here describing persons whose grace is at present weak, whose repentance is feeble, and whose faith is small. Towards such persons the Lord Jesus Christ will be very tender and compassionate. Weak as the broken reed is, it shall not be broken. Small as the spark of fire may be within the smoking flax, it shall not be quenched. It is a standing truth in the kingdom of grace, that weak grace, weak faith, and weak repentance, are all precious in our Lord's sight. Mighty as He is, " He despiseth not any." (Job xxxvi. 5.)
The doctrine here laid down is full of comfort and consolation. There are thousands in evey church of Christ to whom it ought to speak peace and hope. There are some in every congregation, that hears the Gospel,