II. The improvement that should be made of it —
The followers of Christ are called to tread in his steps. Would we then approve ourselves worthy of that high calling ? let us,
1. Expect all manner of evil to be spoken of us
falsely for his sake —
[He has warned us plainly to expect ith: and experience proves that we ought to be prepared for it Our ene- mies will not only take advantage of any thing we say or do, to build malignant reports upon it; but will be sure to impute our conduct to false principles, and to load our principles with consequences not at all deducible from them. We preach salvation by faith only ; therefore we are enemies to morality : " We are instant in season and out of season ;" and therefore we are irregular, and enemies to the established Church
If they would inquire, they would soon find that the
very reverse of what they affirm is true : but they desire our condemnation ; and therefore they make up by confidence and
clamour, what they want in truth and equity Thus
was our Lord himself treated ; and " if they called the Master of the house Beelzebub, much more will they those of his household1."]
2. Submit with meekness to whatever evils we may be called to suffer —
[Our blessed Lord has suffered, " leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps." It is true, it is not easy to preserve meekness and resignation amidst all the treatment which we experience from " unreasonable and wicked men :" but we should endeavour to " walk as Christ walked ;" and be willing to " be made perfect through sufferings," even as he was. " Let patience then have its perfect work ;" and, when led to indulge an impatient spirit, beg of God to strengthen you with all might " by his Spirit in your inward man" ]
3. Be steadfast and immoveable in the maintenance of our principles —
[Many occasions may arise wherein we may be tempted to conceal our principles : but it is better to confess them openly, and suffer for them, than to violate our conscience and offend our God. We are expressly commanded " not to fear man, who can only kill the body ; but to fear God, who can
h Matt. v. 11.
1 See 1 Kings xviii. 17. Jer. xxxviii. 4. Esther iii. 8, 9. Actsxvii. 6, 7. and xxiv. 5.
1582.] herod's reconciliation WITH PILATE. 129
destroy both body and soul in hell." We do not recommend it to any one to court persecution by a voluntary declaration of his principles to those who will only make them grounds of offence ; (for that were to " cast pearls before swine ;") but whenever called to give an account of our faith, let us follow the example of our Lord, and at the risk of our lives " witness a good confession."]