'' Here any recent deaths may be adverted to, and the circum- stances of tliem. If pecuHir, be specilied.
PERSECUTION FOR CHRISt's SAKE.
1 Pet. iv. 12 — 16. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the Jiery trial which is to try you, as thoi/gh some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings ; that luhen his glory shall be revealed^ ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. JJye he reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye : for the Spirit of' glory
and
and of God resteth upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of; but on your part he is glorified. JBut let none of ijoii suffer as a murderer, or as a thief or as on evil-doer, or as a busy-bodt/ in other mens matters. Yet, if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not he ashamed : hut let him glorifj God on this behalf
THE quiet and repose which Christians enjoy at this day, may seem to render a discourse on the subject of persecution quite uninteresting. But the whole New Testament abounds with warnings to expect it, encouragements to endure it, and directions how to conduct ourselves under it : nor is there any intimation given that this state of things was to be confined to the first ages, when Christianity was new in the world ; or that *' the offence of the cross should ever cease." On the contrary, we are taught to expect, that " they who are born after the flesh only, will hate those who are born after the Spirit; " and that " all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." The circumstance of Christianity having become the national religion, may justly be supposed to have abated somewhat of the fury of persecutors ; whilst the protection afforded by the laws of the land keeps within bounds their hostility against those whom they hate for righteousness' sake. But I am not sure that much of our repose may not be ascribed to the low state of religion amongst us : and I cannot but think, that, if God were to pour out his Spirit upon us as he did on the primitive Church, and our light were to burn as bright as theirs, there would yet be found much the same rancour in the hearts of men against vital godliness now, as there was in former days : for there are not wanting at this hour many proofs of what men would do to suppress real piety, if the toleration accorded to us by the laws did not restrain them. At all ( vents, we know not what trials we ourselves personally may be called to endure, even though the Church at large should still continue to enjoy tranquillity : and for these we ought to be prepared. Th.' words before us are admirably cal- culated
1164.] PERSECUTION FOR CHRIST's SAKE. 141
culated to fortify our minds against all that at any time may come upon us ; since, whilst they teach us to expect persecution for righteousness' sake, they shew us, I. In what light we should view it —
*' We should not think it strange as though some strange thing happened unto us" —
[God has seen fit to ordain that his people should be subjected to "fiery trials," not only for the discovery of their graces, but also for the improvement of tliem. To them he has given a new nature, altogether different from that which they brought into the world with them,— a nature, which for its excellence may be compared to gold : but there still re- mains in them much dross, which must be purged away : and, as gold is bodi ascertained and purified by the action of fire, so must these be tried and purified in the furnace of affliction. Of course, their persecutors have no such object in view : they seek only to suppress the piety that offends them : but God has other, and very opposite, ends to accomphsh : He seeks their advancement in the divine life, and v/ill suffer no heavier trial to assault them dian what he has strengthened them to bear, and will overrule for their eternal welfare. True it is that, notwithstanding he has taught us to expect these things, we are ready to account them strange : we think it strange that such trials should come upon us, and from such quarter^, and on us who have done so little to deserve them. But we should remember, that " the same trials are accom- plished also in our Brethren who are in the world ';" and that " none have come upon us but what are common to man, nor any which God will not enable us to sustain'':" and under this conviction v/e should receive them as our appointed lot, and submit to them as dispensations ordained by God for our eternal good.]