the goodness of God, protected by the laws, so that we can- not be treated with that arbitrary and lawless cruelty that was exercised towards the first Christians ; but we are no strangers to " persecution for righteousness' sake ;" on the contrary, it is as common as ever, though it shew itself only in a milder way.]
But if we use the strength we have, Christ will enable us to overcome them all —
[It had been foretold by Isaiah, that the enemies of the Church should, especially in the INIillennial period, be con- verted, so as to make open and unreserved acknowledgements of their errors and iniquities''''. To Philadelphia in particular it was promised, that this honour should be conferred on them as a recompence of their fidelity and patience. But we must not confine this effect to that age. We have seen, in every age and place, that infidels and heretics have been con- vinced of their folly, and been constrained to confess that the despised followers of Jesus are eminently and exclusively " the objects of his love."
Deliverance also from the various " temptations that come upon the world," or, at least, an effectual support under them, is promised to those who exert themselves to maintain their integrity. Wonderful have been the interpositions which God has sometimes vouchsafed, in order to protect his faithful people. But where he suffers them apparently to fall under the power of their enemies, he enables them, by faith and pa- tience, to be more than conquerors : nor shall earth or hell ever finally prevail against them,]
We are still further encouraged to put forth our little strength, since we are assured,
III. That the victories wrought by it shall be glori- ously and eternally rewarded — The reward promised to those at Philadelphia was expressed in very exalted terms —
[It is plain, that heaven is here spoken of as the Tem- ple of God, " the place where his honour dwelleth." And our Lord promises, that his victorious saints shall be " made pillars in that temple." Whedier he referred to the brazen pillars which Solomon had raised in the porch on the outside of the Tem])le, we cannot say '^ : but, as there were no inscrip- tions on those pillars, we rather think the allusion is to what frequently obtained in the heathen temples. It was not un- common for confjuerors to have pillars or monuments erected near, and sometimes in, the temples of their god«. On these there were inscriptions, which commemorated the name of
the
"'' Isai. Ix. 14. • I Kin. vii. 15—22.