[For the truth of this he appeals to his own Disciples : they had seen how justly he was characterized by the prophet, as " one whom man despised, and whom the nation abhorred11." They had seen how ill he had been treated, notwithstanding his unerring wisdom, his spotless piety, his unbounded bene- volence.
Now, if He, our Head and Chief, was so hated by an ungodly world, how can we hope to escape their enmity ? We have in him an indisputable proof, that no wisdom, no prudence, no perfection of character, can enable us to obtain the approbation of worldly men : on the contrary, the more entirely we resemble him, the more shall we be hated by his enemies.
And may we not find in this abundant consolation? If we were not so treated, we should have reason to doubt whether we were " walking as he walked :" but if we are reviled and persecuted as he was, then have we an evidence that we belong to him ; and we have reason to " rejoice, inasmuch as we are partakers of his sufferings1."]
2. He has forewarned us to expect no other treat- ment than that which he himself received —
[We might well suppose, that, if he was so treated, tve should meet with similar treatment : for reason itself teaches us that the servant ought not to expect a better reception than his lord. But our Saviour himself also has told us thisk, and particularly calls upon us to " remember" his words. Indeed, if we only remembered what he has spoken to us, we should never be surprised at any thing that we meet with ; seeing that he has so plainly forewarned us of it. He has even told us, that the persecutions we meet with shall " turn unto us for a testimony." Being then forewarned, we should be fore- armed. This was the consideration with which St. Paul endea- voured to comfort the Thessalonians, when they were startled at the greatness and multitude of his afflictions1 : and, in truth, if the Scriptures be fulfilled in us, as they were in Christ, we may well be reconciled to whatever an ungodly world may inflict upon us.]
Address —
1. Those who are afraid of incurring the hatred of the world —
[Doubtless the hatred of the world is not to be desired : we should rather, if it could be, that they should love us : but, if the friendship of the world be incompatible with fidelity to
h Isai. xlix. 7. { 1 Pet. iv. 12, 13.
k Matt. x. 22— 2G l 1 Thess. iii. 4.