This is to “live godly in CHRIST JESUS:” and hence we may easily learn, why so few suffer persecution? Because, so few live godly in CHRIST JESUS. You may live formally in CHRIST, you may attend on outward duties; you may live morally in CHRIST, you may (as they term it) do no one any harm, and avoid persecution: but they “that will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer persecution.”
2. _Secondly_, What is the meaning of the word Persecution, and how many kinds there are of it, I come now to consider.
The word Persecution, is derived from a _Greek_ word signifying _to pursue_, and generally implies pursuing a person for the sake of his goodness, or GOD’s good-will to him. The
_First_ kind of it, is that of the _Heart_. We ♦have an early example of this in that wicked one _Cain_, who, because the LORD had respect to _Abel_ and his offering, and not to him and his offering, was very wroth, his countenance fell, and at length he cruelly slew his envied brother. Thus the _Pharisees_ hated and persecuted our LORD long before they laid hold on him: and our LORD mentions being inwardly hated of men, as one kind of Persecution his disciples were to undergo. This heart-enmity (if I may so term it) is the root of all other kinds of Persecution, and is, in some degree or other, to be found in the soul of every unregenerated man; and numbers are guilty of this persecution, who never have it in their power to persecute any other way. Nay, numbers would actually put in practice all other degrees of persecution, was not the name of Persecution become odious amongst mankind, and did they not hereby run the hazard of losing their reputation. Alas! how many at the great day, whom we know not now, will be convicted and condemned, that all their life harboured a secret evil-will against _Zion_! They may now screen it before men; but GOD seeth the enmity of their hearts, and will judge them as Persecutors at the great and terrible day of judgment. A
♦ duplicate word “have” removed
_Second_ degree of Persecution is that of the tongue; “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.” Many, I suppose, think it no harm to shoot out arrows, even bitter words, against the disciples of the LORD: they scatter their firebrands, arrows and death, saying, “Are we not in sport?” But, however they may esteem it, in GOD’s account evil-speaking is a high degree of Persecution. Thus _Ishmael_’s mocking _Isaac_, is termed persecuting him. “Blessed are ye (says our LORD) when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name’s sake.” From whence we may gather, that reviling, and speaking all manner of evil for CHRIST’s sake, is a high degree of persecution. For “a good name, (says the wise man) is better than precious ointment,” and, to many, is dearer than life itself. It is a great breach of the sixth commandment, to slander any one; but to speak evil of and slander the disciples of CHRIST, merely because they are his disciples, must be highly provoking in the sight of GOD; and such who are guilty of it (without repentance) will find that JESUS CHRIST will call them to an account, and punish them for all their ungodly and hard speeches in a lake of fire and brimstone. This shall be their portion to drink. The
_Third_ and _last_ kind of Persecution, is that which expresses itself in _actions_: as when wicked men separate the children of GOD from their company; “Blessed are ye, (says our LORD) when they shall separate you from their company:” or expose them to church-censures. “They shall put you out of their synagogues;” threatening and prohibiting them from making an open profession of his religion or worship; or interdicting ministers for preaching his word, as the high-priests threatened the apostles, and “forbad them any more to speak in the name of JESUS;” and _Paul_ breathed out threatenings and slaughters against the disciples of the LORD: or when they call them into courts; “You shall be called before governors,” says our LORD: or when they fine, imprison, or punish them, by confiscation of goods, cruel scourging, and, lastly, death itself.
It would be impossible to enumerate in what various shapes persecution has appeared. It is a many-headed monster, cruel as the grave, insatiable as hell; and, what is worse, it ♦generally appears under the cloak of religion. But, cruel, insatiable, and horrid as it is, they that live godly in CHRIST JESUS, must expect to suffer and encounter with it in all its forms.
♦ “generallly” replaced with “generally”
This is what we are to make good under our next general head.
3. _Thirdly_, Why is it that godly men must expert to suffer persecution? And,