[Had it been intimated, that persons professing religion and at the same time dishonouring it by their conduct, would be objects of reproach, it would have been nothing but what we might reasonably expect ; because hypocrisy is more de- testable than even the most flagrant vice : but that persons " in whose heart is God's law," and who consequently reve- rence and obey all the commandments of God, should be reviled and hated, seems almost incredible. We should be ready to think that such persons would rather be universally loved and honoured, not only because all occasion of blame is cut off from them, but because there is in them an assemblage of all that is virtuous and praise-worthy.]
But the fact supposed is common in all ages —
[The very first-born of the human race hated and mur- dered his own brother, for no other cause than his superior piety : and it was on similar grounds that Ishmael mocked and derided his brother Isaac. Our blessed Lord experienced similar treatment from the men of his day; and has taught all his followers to expect the same. After portraying the cha- racter of his people in a great variety of particulars, he adds, " Blessed are ye, when men shall hate and revile youc." We are ready to wonder that such an expression should be intro- duced in such a connexion ; but a little observation will suffice to convince us that that addition was not made without reason.]
Nor is it difficult to account for this fact —
[The natural man hates Godd; and consequently hates his image, wherever it appears Moreover, men have esta- blished a false standard for judging ; viewing things only in reference to this present life. What wonder then if they ac- count those to be fools and mad, who disregard the things of time and sense, and look only to the things that are invisible and eternal? But, in condemning the godly, they are actuated also in no small degree by self-defence. It is obvious, that, if the godly be right, the ungodly must be wrong : yea, if there be only a remote probability that the godly may be right, the ungodly must be wrong, because they do not pause to examine carefully into the truth or falsehood of their own opinions. Hence the ungodly decide at once, and load the godly with revilings and reproach, as the only, or, at least, the easiest way of justifying their own conduct.]
The existence of this fact being clearly ascertained, let us contemplate,
c Matt. v. 3—11. and Luke vi. 20—23. d Roin. viii. 7.
u 2