7. Blessed are they who are thus continually employed, in the work of faith and the labour of love. _For they shall be called_, that is, _shall_ be (a common hebraism) _the children of_ God. God shall continue unto them the Spirit of adoption, yea, shall pour it more abundantly into their hearts. He shall bless them with all the blessings of his children. He shall acknowledge them as sons before angels and men; _and if sons, then heirs; heirs of_ God _and joint heirs with Christ_.
III. 1. One would imagine such a person as has been above described, so full of genuine humility, so unaffectedly serious, so mild and gentle, so free from all selfish design, so devoted to God, and such an active lover of men, should be the darling of mankind. But our Lord was better acquainted with human nature, in its present state. He therefore closes the character of this man of God, with shewing him the treatment he is to expect in the world. _Blessed_, saith he, _are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven_.
2. In order to understand this throughly, let us, first enquire, who are they that are persecuted. And this we may easily learn from St. _Paul: [72]As of old, he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Yea_, saith the apostle, _and all that will live godly in_ Christ Jesus, _shall suffer persecution_. The same we are taught by St. _John. [73]Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren._ As if he had said, the brethren, the Christians cannot be loved, but by them who have passed from death unto life. And most expresly, by our Lord: [74]_If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world――therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his_ Lord. _If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you._
By all these scriptures it manifestly appears, who they are that are persecuted: namely, the righteous, _he that is born after the Spirit; all that will live godly in_ Christ Jesus: they that are _passed from death unto life_; those who _are not of the world_: All those who are meek and lowly in heart, that mourn for God, that hunger after his likeness; all that love God and their neighbour, and therefore as they have opportunity, do good unto all men.
3. *If it be, secondly, enquired, why they are persecuted? The answer is equally plain and obvious. It is _for righteousness sake_; because they are righteous; because they are _born after the Spirit_; because they _will live godly in_ Christ Jesus; because they _are not of the world_. Whatever may be pretended, this is the real cause: be their infirmities more or less, still if it were not for this, they would be borne with, and the world would love its own. They are persecuted, because they are _poor in spirit_, that is, say the world, “poor-spirited, mean, dastardly souls, good for nothing, not fit to live in the world:” Because they _mourn_; “they are such dull, heavy, lumpish creatures, enough to sink any one’s spirits that sees them: they are mere death-heads; they kill innocent mirth, and spoil company wherever they come.” Because they are _meek_; “tame, passive fools, just fit to be trampled upon:” Because they _hunger and thirst after righteousness_; “a parcel of hot-brained enthusiasts, gaping after they know not what, not content with rational religion, but running mad after raptures and inward feelings:” Because they are merciful, lovers of all, lovers of the evil and unthankful; “encouraging all manner of wickedness; nay, tempting people to do mischief by impunity: and men who, it is to be feared, have their own religion still to seek; very loose in their principles:” Because they are pure in heart: “uncharitable creatures! That damn all the world, but those that are of their own sort! Blasphemous wretches, that pretend to make God a liar, to live without sin!” Above all, because they are peace-makers, because they take all opportunities of doing good to all men. This is the grand reason why they have been persecuted in all ages, and will be ’till the restitution of all things.