Nor let it be thought that the persecutions of the present day are so very light. It is no easy thing for flesh and blood to withstand the hatred, and contempt, and ridicule to which he will be assuredly exposed, if he set himself in earnest to serve the Lord. The fear of these consequences is abundantly sufficient to deter multitudes from embracing the Gospel, and to turn back multitudes after they have embraced it. True it is, that all are not exposed to these things in an equal degree : but every follower of Christ must have his cross to bear, and be conformed to his Divine Master in sufferings, before he can be made like him in glory b.]
2. It calls for great exertions —
[Religion is the same that it ever was, and calls for the same efforts on the part of all who embrace it. A race is not won at this day without exertion ; nor does a wrestler over- come a strong antagonist without effort : nor a man engaged in warfare obtain a triumph without labour. Our spiritual enemies are as strong as ever: sin is not subdued and mortified by listless endeavours ; nor is Satan defeated without much watchfulness and prayer. The whole man must be engaged. We must summon to the conflict all our faculties and powers ; yea, such are the efforts required, that, if we be not strength- ened by that same almighty power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead, we can never prevail0.]
3. It requires incessant efforts even to the end —
[There is to be no period when we are to give way either to impatience or sloth. However long our trials may continue, we are " in patience to possess our souls :" and however diffi- cult the path of duty may be, we are " never to be weary in well-doing." God should be able to say of us, as he does of the Church of Ephesus, " Thou hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and not fainted d." This in particular is intimated in our text. It is supposed that the trials are long, and heavy, and calculated to turn us from the faith: and hence it is necessary that we "be long- suffering," and that our " souls be established with grace." It is in this way only that we can finally prevail : for to those only who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, will eternal life be adjudged e.]
To enter fully into the Apostle's exhortation, we must consider it,
II. In reference to the comparison with which it is illustrated —
b Rom. viii. 17. c Eph. i. 19, 20. d Rev. ii. 3. e Rom. ii. 7.