Experience, however, proves that sufferings for
righteousness' sake cannot altogether be avoided —
[This is conceded in my text ; and in other parts of this epistle is plainly intimated : " This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God: for even hereunto were ye called*." Now, here it is intimated, not that we may suffer though we do well, and maintain a good con- science toward God, but because we do so : our very piety may
b 1 Pet. ii. 12, 15. and iii. 1G. c ver. 1.
11 Prov. xvi. 7. e 1 Pet. ii. ID — 21.
be the ground on which the sufferings are inflicted. This shews that there is more connexion between the different beatitudes in our Lord's Sermon on the Mount than we should be ready to imagine. Our Lord, after saying, " Blessed are the poor in spirit, and they that mourn, and the meek, and they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, and the merciful, and the pure, and the peace-makers," adds, " Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sakef." But what connexion can there be between persecution and the characters before portrayed? Can they be persecuted? Are there any people in the world so blind, yea, so abandoned, as to " revile them, and persecute them, and say all manner of evil falsely against them," and that too "for Christ's sake," and because of his image that is thus enstamped upon them? Yes; this piety is the very thing which will provoke the world's enmity, and call it forth in every act of hostility that can be conceived. For thus has our Lord forewaned us : " If ye were of the world, the world would love its own : but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth youC David found it so in his day : " They that render evil for good are against me, because I follow the thing that good ish." And we also shall find the same : for it is said, " All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecu- tion1." Indeed, if our blessed Lord himself could not escape, notwithstanding the inconceivable wisdom of his discourses, and the immaculate purity of his whole conduct, how shall ive, who are so frail and fallible, hope to pass without much inveterate opposition ? " If they called the master of the house Beelze- bub, much more will they those of his household14." Hence we are told not to be surprised at persecution, when it comes : " Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto
you But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a
thief, or as a busy-body in other men's matters: yet, if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed ; but let him glorify God on this behalf1."]
This point being conceded, let us proceed to con- sider,
II. The consolation administered —
Persecution for righteousness' sake is by no means so great an evil as people are apt to imagine.
1. It is no proper ground for sorrow —
f Matt. v. 3—11. g John xv. 18, 19.
h Ps. xxxviii. 20. i 2 Tim. iii. 12.
k Matt. x. 25. i 1 Pet. iv. 12, 15, 16.