Section I. — Observe the usage which this blessed apostle tinds from an ungi-ateful world ; a chain is put upon him, as if he were some rogue or thief. He preacheth liberty to poor sinners, and is deprived of his own ; he proclaims deliverance to the captives, and is used like a slave for his laboiu*. One would wonder what they could find against so holy and innocent a person to accuse him, who made it his dailj' exercise to live without offence to God and man ; yet see what an indictment Tertulhis prefers against him, Acts xxiv., as if there had not been such a pestilent fellow in the whole country : and Paul himself tells us, 'he suffered trouble as an evil-doer, even to bonds,' 2 Tim. ii. 9. Many grievous things were laid to his charge. Hence observe, that the best of men may, and often do, suffer under the notion of vile and wicked persons. Let the saints' enemies alone to black their persons and cause. Christ lumself must be numbered among transgressors, and no less than blasphemy be laid to his charge. Persecutors think it not enough to be cruel, but they would be thought just while they are cruel. ' Ye have condemned and killed the just,' James V. G. Here is a horrid murder committed with all the formalities of justice. They condemn first, and then kill. And truly, murder on the bench is worse in God's account, than that which is perpetrated by a villain on the highway. Well, there will be a time when Paul's cause, and the rest of suffering saints, shall have a fairer hearing than they could meet with here, and then it will appear with another complexion. The names of the godly shall have a resur- rection as well as their bodies. Now they are buried with their faces down- ward, their innocency and their sincerity charged with many false imputations ; but then all shall be set right. And well may the saints stay to be cleared, as long as God himself stays to vindicate his own government of the world from the hard speeches of vuigodly ones.
Section II. — Observe the true cause of Paul's sufferings : it was his zeal for God and his truth ; ' For which I am in bonds;' that is, for the gospel which I profess and preach : as that martyr, who being asked how he came into prison, shewed his Bible, and said, ' This brought me hither.' Persecutors may pre- tend wliat they please, but it is the saint's religion and piety that their spite is at. Paul was an honest man in the opinion of his countrymen, so long as he was of their opinion, went their way, and did as they did ; but when he declared himself to be a Christian, and preached the gospel, then they violently opposed him ; then his old friends became his bitterest enemies. The wicked are but the devil's slaves, and must do as he will have them. Now, it is truth and godliness that pull down his kingdom ; when, therefore, these appear in the saints' lives, then he calls forth the wicked world, as a prince would do his subjects, to fight for him ; so that it is impossible to get to heaven without blows : ' He that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution ;' and none more than the preacher. He puts his hand into the wasp's nest, and, therefore, must expect to be stung ; he treads on the serpent's head, and it were strange if it should not turn again to bite him. But let not this trouble you ; fear not what you can suffer, only be careful for what you suffer. Christ's cross is made of sweet wood ; there are comforts peculiar to those that suffer for righteousness. When Sabina, a Christian martyr, fell in travail in the prison, and was heard to cry in her child-bearing, some asked her, how she would endure the torments which her persecutors prepared for her, if she shnmk at those? ' O,' saith she, 'now I suffer for sin, then I shall suffer for (Christ.'
Section III. — Observe how close Paul sticks to the truth : he will not part with it, though it brings him into trouble ; he had rather the persecutor should imprison him for preaching the gospel, than he imprison it by a cowardly silence. He hath cast up his accounts, and is resolved to stand to his profession, whatever it may cost him. The truth is, that religion is not worth embracing, which cannot bear a man up in sufferings for it ; and none but the Christian is able to do this. Neither is he wortli the name of a Christian, that dares not take Christ's bill of exchange to receive in heaven, for what he suffers for his sake on earth. Yet, alas ! how rare is it to liave faith enough to do this! It is easier to bow at the name, than to stoop to the cross of Jesus.
gQQ AN AMBASSADOR IN BONDS.
Many like religion for a sunnner-honse, when all is fair abroad in the world ; , hnt when winter comes, the doors are shut up, and there is no one to be seen in or about it.