the world would hate them, despitefully use them, and put them to death. And, worst of all, their persecutors would actually persuade themselves that it was right to persecute, and would inflict the crudest injuries in the sacred name of religion.
How true the prediction has turned out ! Like every other prophecy of Scripture, it has been fulfilled to the very letter. The Acts of the Apostles show us how the unbelieving Jews persecuted the early Christians. The pages of history tell us what horrible crimes have been committed by the Popish Inquisition. The annals of our own country inform us how our holy Reformers were burned at the stake for their religion, by men who professed to do all they did from zeal for pure Chris- tianity. Unlikely and incredible as it might seem at the time, the great Prophet of the Church has been found in this, as in everything else, to have predicted nothing but literal truth.
Let it never surprise us to hear of true Christians being persecuted, in one way or another, even in our own day. Human nature never changes. Grace is never really popular. The quantity of persecution which God's children have to suffer in every rank of life, even now, if they confess their Master, is far greater than the thoughtless world supposes. They only know it who go through it, at school, at college, in the count- ing-house, in the barrack-room, on board the ship. Those words shall always be found true : " All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution." (2 Tim. iii. 12.)
Let us never forget that religious earnestness alone is no proof that a man is a sound Christian. Not all zeal is right: it may be a zeal without knowledge. No one is so mischievous as a blundering, ignorant zealot. Not all earnestness is trustworthy: without the leading
JOHN, CHAP. XVI. 13j[
of God's Spirit, it may lead a man so far astray, that, like Saul, he will persecute Christ himself. Some bigots fancy they are doing God service, when they are actually fighting against His truth, and trampling on His people. Let us pray that we may have light as well as zeal.
For another thing, we find our Lord explaining His sjyecial reaso7i for delivering the prophecy just referred to, as well as all His discourse. "These things," He says, *' I have spoken unto you, that ye should not be oflTended."
Well did our Lord know that nothing is so danger- ous to our comfort as to indulge false expectations. He tlierefore prepared His disciples for what they must expect to meet with in His service. Forewarned, fore- armed ! They must not look for a smooth course and a peaceful journey. They must make up their minds to battles, conflicts, wounds, opposition, persecution, and perhaps even death. Like a wise general. He did not conceal from His soldiers the nature of the campaign they were beginning. He told them all that was before them, in faithfulness and love, that when the time of trial came, they might remember His words, and not be disappointed and offended. He wisely forewarned them that the cross was the way to the crown.
To count the cost is one of the first duties that ought to be pressed on Christians in every age. It is no kind- ness to young beginners to paint the service of Christ in false colors, and to keep back from them the old truth, "Through much tribulation w^e must enter the kingdom of God." By prophesying smooth things, and crying " Peace," we may easily fill the ranks of Christ's army with professing soldiers. But they are just the soldiers, who, like the stony-ground hearers, in time of tribula- tion will fall away, and turn back in the day of battle.