Use 3. If this hatred be restrained, be the more thankful to God and men.
1. To God. Certainly a good day should be well improved ; Acts ix. 31, when the church had rest, they walked in the fear of God and comforts of the Holy Ghost. When we are not called to passive obedience and sufferings, our active obedience should be the more cheerfully performed. The primitive christians suffered more willingly for Christ than we speak for him ; they dreaded the fire less than we do a frown or scorn. Surely when we are exempted from outward troubles and sufferings, our peace and comfort will cost us more in getting ; and therefore we should be more in service, and zeal, and diligence. If we cannot deny the ease of the flesh for the labours of the gospel, how shall we deny the interests of the flesh for the sufferings of the gospel, and lay all at Christ's feet ?
2. To men. Let us make all thankful returns to the magistrates we live under, by prayers for them, and exemplary obedience. The apostle telleth us that the magistrate is * the minister of God to thee for good,' Rom. xiii, 4. God by them reacheth out this good to thee, of peace and quiet in the profession and practice of godliness ; there- fore all manner of prayer is due for them : 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2, * I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men ; for kings, and for all that are in authority ; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.' Were it not for the ordinance of magis- tracy, what a shambles and slaughter-house would the world be ! Now when God inclineth their hearts to give peace and rest to his people, the favour is to be acknowledged by such ways as become Christianity, by hearty prayers to God for them, and eminent obed- ience to them.
112 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeR. XIX.
Use 4. Is information. Some practical corollaries I will thence deduce.
1. What little need we have to be troubled, if we meet with the hatred of the world in doing our duty. Surely it is better to suffer injuries than to do them, better be an Abel than a Cain ; there is glory and comfort in sufferings, but shame in sin. It is a discouragement to us ministers that a man cannot promote any public good, but he is like to be a sacrifice to public hatred, but he must displease men ; nay, not only the carnal part of the world, but even the weaker sort of the people of God, who, because of remaining darkness, many times put good for evil, and evil for good: 'If I yet pleased men, were I the servant of Christ ? ' Gal. i. 10. Displease them you must to their profit, though it be to your own hurt.
2. What need the children of God have to walk circumspectly. We live in the midst of those that hate us, and malice and hatred is quick- sighted, and will soon spy out our failings: Ps. xxvii. 11, ' Lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies;' in the margin it is, 'those which observe me.' Enemies are observers : Jer. xx. 10, ' They watch for my halting ; ' if they could find him tripping in anything, to defame him. Among friends we are more careless, but before enemies we look to every step. If you falter in your duty a little, their mouths will be opened against you : Neh. v. 9, ' Ought we not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies ? ' Col. iv, 5, * Walk in wisdom towards them that are without."
3. If it be no wonder that the world hateth the brethren, and you were sometimes of this world, you must show forth the reality of the change which God hath wrought in you by love. The characteristic of the world is hatred, but the people of God, love ; this is the very constitution of their souls, and this love is first to the saints, and then to all men : John xiii. 35, ' By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another.' In regeneration there is not only an impression of the purity and holiness of the divine nature, but the goodness and amiableness of it in real inclinations of doing good, and seeking the welfare of others to our power.
4. If the world hate God's children, see that this hatred be not deserved by any fault of yours, as pride, indiscreet zeal, unnecessary intermeddling, or any injurious dealing : 1 Peter iv. 15, 16, ' Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or a busybody in other men's matters. But if any suffer as a christian, let him not be ashamed ; but glorify God in this-behalf.' See that it be for truth and holiness. It is a sad thing to be a martyr to passion, pride, vain- glory, self-interest, private conceits and opinions ; this hardeneth the Avorld, and will be cause of shame to yourselves. The world will justify themselves, and say it is not for their religion, but their pride and peevish singularity ; and besides, you will lose that true comfort which otherwise you might have in your sufferings for Christ.