But the Apostle did not intend this instruction to be limited to servants ; for, in the close of the chap- ter, he extends it to all, who " like sheep have gone astray, but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls."
His words suggest,
I. A precept for our observance —
It is here taken for granted that persons in every age will be persecuted for righteousness' sake —
[And the whole history of mankind fully justifies this as- sumption : for from the time of Abel to the present hour it has been verified. The lovers of darkness hate the light ; and will endeavour, when it lies in their power, to extinguish ita. The whole life of David tends to illustrate this : " They that render evil for good are mine adversaries," says he ; " because I fol- low the thing that good isb." And what shall I say of him who was greater than David, even the Son of God himself? Surely his wisdom precluded a possibility of any fault being found with him ; whilst his goodness suppressed, in every bosom, a disposition to find fault. But this was by no means the case : on the contrary, in proportion to his superiority above all the sons of men, was the inveteracy of the carnal mind against him. Can ive, then, hope to escape their malig- nity ? No; "The disciple cannot be above his Master, or the servant above his Lord : if they have hated him, they will hate us alsoc :" we, like him, must have our cross to beard : and "all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution6."]
But, whatever be our trials, and however unde- served, we must "take them patiently" —
[" We are called to them" by God himself; who has wisely and graciously " appointed V' that, by means of them, our graces should be both elicited and improved, and our fidelity to him be placed beyond a doubt. He has ordained too, that by means of these trials, glory shall accrue to him, and everlasting good to our own souls. They give to us an opportunity of shewing how highly we regard his favour, when, for his sake, we are willing to endure all that men or devils can inflict upon us. They display, at the same time, the power of his grace, which can uphold us under such cir- cumstances; and the excellency of his religion, which shines
a John iii. 19. b Ps. xxxviii. 20.
« Matt. x. 24. John xv. 18. d Luke xiv. 26, 27.
e 2 Tim. iii. 12. f 1 Thess. iii. 3.