god's estimate of his people. Heb. xi. 38. Of ivhom the world was not worthy.
THESE words are introduced in a parenthesis ; and are intended to obviate an objection, which might weaken, if not make void, the foregoing statement. The Apostle has been insisting upon the operations and fruits of faith; and has adduced a great variety of instances in which its power has been displayed.
Those who wrought such stupendous works by the power of faith might be supposed to be objects of high and deserved admiration ; but those who suf- fered so many things under its influence might be thought to have merited their afflictions : whereas, in truth, the world itself, even that very world by which they were so persecuted, was not worthy of them.
Let us consider, L God's record concerning them —
It is obvious that there is an immense difference between God's estimation of his people, and that in which they are held by an ignorant and migodly world.
The world accounts the saints unworthy of it — [This appears from the manner in which the world uni- formly treats the saints. In the days referred to by the Apostle, multitudes of the saints were tortured on account of their piety ; many " had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment : they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword : they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented ; they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earths" And these are the persons to whom this testimony is given, that " the world was not worthy of them."
In the days of Christ and his Apostles, the same enmity against vital godliness betrayed itself continually. Our blessed Lord, though confessedly without spot or blemish, was " de- spised and rejected of men :" his whole " nation abhorred him," and combined to demand his crucifixion ; preferring even a murderer before him. His Apostles too, as he himself had forewarned them, were " hated of all men for his sake," and were counted as " the filth of the earth and the off-scouring of all things," precisely as the godly in the days of Jeremiah had been before them^ St. Paul was certainly not behind any in wisdom or piety; yet of him was it said, *' Away with such a fellow from the earth ; for it is not fit that he should live*'."
And is it not thus at this time also? I appeal to all. Whe- ther the very circumstance of a person being zealously devoted to the service of his God do not uniformly bring a stigma upon his character, so that, even though he should be the most active, and benevolent, and blameless of mankind, he will be regarded as weak and noxious in that particular? If from pe- culiar circumstances a man of piety be led to take a prominent part in the diffusion of true religion, I ask. Will not the world account him unworthy of their esteem, their company, their protection? Let the opprobrious names which are given to such characters, and the contempt with which they are treated, and the injuries which with impunity are inflicted on them, determine this point. He can know little either of the senti- ments or conduct of those around him, who does not see, that at this hour, no less than in former times, " they who are born after the flesh persecute those who are born after the Spirit;"
a ver. 35 — 38. ^ Compare Lam. iii. 45. with 1 Cor. iv. 13.
<^ Acts xxii. 22.
2332.^ god's estimate of Ills PEOPLE. MS
and that " the enmity of the serpent's seed against the Seed of the woman" is as strong as ever.
But, whilst the world thus accounts the saints unworthy of it,]
God, on the other hand, pronounces the world unworthy of them —