is in their hearts a rooted enmity against him, which, like sediment in clear water, will shew itself, the very instant it is stirred. It needs but little to inflame a whole community against him. They can hear unkind reports respecting others, and disregard them ; but in every thing that leads to the dis- advantage of a child of God, they take an interest ; and, like inflammable matter, easily communicate the malignant fire to each other, so as rapidly to produce a general conflagration f. And hence every believer is fore-warned to expect persecution as his proper and certain lotg.]
And God has graciously ordained, that trials shall attend us for our good —
[Our blessed Lord "learned obedience by the things that he suffered," and " was made perfect by sufferings :" and we are to be conformed to him in these respects : we must " suffer with him, in order that we may be glorified together'1. There is in us a great deal of " dross and tin," which, in the furnace of affliction, must be purged away1. Our graces also must be exercised and confirmed by means of trials, which are altogether necessary to call them forth k : and to the graces so exercised will our eternal weight of glory be proportioned1.]
Address —
1. To those who are the friends of this world —
[This is a state, which, though greatly desired by men in general, is not by any means to be coveted; for it proves infallibly that we are not faithful to our Godm. It is not possible for light and darkness to coalesce, or for Christ and Belial to agree together". It were better far to be hated of all men for the Lord's sake, than to incur his displeasure for the sake of retaining their good opinion.]
2. Those who suffer for the Lord's sake —
[Be not surprised at any thing that you suffer0, nor be grieved at it. The inspired writers speak of your trials as a just occasion of joy p. Only endeavour to improve them aright*1; and you will never complain of the difficulties of the way, when you have reached your journey's endr.]
f Ps. lvii. 4. and lxiv. 3 — 6. s 2 Tim. iii. 12.
h 1 Pet. ii. 21. Rom. viii. 17, 29. * Isai. i. 25.
k Rom. v. 3, 4. ' 2 Cor. iv. 17. m Jam. iv. 4.
» 2 Cor vi. 15, 16. "1 Pet. iv. 12—16. p Jam. i. 2, 3, 12. i 1 Cor. iv. 9—13. r Rom. vii. 14.