The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 462

hie dlsciplee in this discourse, " Do not run away into extravagant im11ginationa under the impulse of every bit of local civil commotion. There will be II good deal of that 10rt of thing, but the • end is not yet.' The world is not going to fall to ruin, even if Jerusalem should become a desolation." Our Lord bade the disciples take warning from passing events, so that they might secure their personal safety ; but be intimated that tney would be wise to leave the world's future altogether in God's hands, and not attempt to be wise above what was written. I. CHBIBTIANB SHOULD LET PASSING EVENTS HELP TO GUIDE THEIR CONDUOT, Our Lord commended observing the "signs of the times." Illustrate by reference to the anticipated siege and destruction of Jerusalem. Our Lord pointed out certain events which the disciples should take ee distinct warnings. They should respond to them by instant flight; and, as a matter of fact, the Christians of Jerusalem did note those signs, and did effect their escape to Pella. For Christians civil commotion is warning and education. It decides conduct, and it develops and tests character. Through the Christian ages this has been fully illustrated. There have been times of faction fight, of civil war, of invasion and national ruin. Christ prepares his disciples for such times, which give them the chance of showing noble example11 and exerting holy influences. II. CHRISTIANS SHOULD AVOID TRYING TO FIT PASSING EVENTS DITO Goo's SECRET PLANS. 1. Because Christians never can know God's secret plane. 2. Because Chris- tians could never fit their little pieces into the plan, even if they knew it. It is extraordinary that there hae alwaye been a strong disposition to expect a speedy termi- nation of the whole system under which we live. It may be one of the forms of human conceit. We cannot imagine that things can last much longer after we are gone. J. A. Alexander works out these two points. 1. So far as we have any means of judging, the "end is not yet." 2. So far as it remains a matter of doubt, it is better to assume that" the end is not yet," than to assume the contrary.-R. T. Ver. 9.-The mission of riligio'US perser:ution. Religious persecution is an evil, and a serious evil, but it cannot be called an unmitigated evil. Persecutors come under Divine judgments; but persecutors, in the Divine overruling, are made to do the Lord's work. 'l'he Lord Jesus was persecuted, and we fully sympathize with him in those persecutions. And yet we only know him through them. His perfect obedience as a Son only comes to view on the background of the sufferings he endured. What is true of the Master is true of his Church. It has ever been sanctified through the persecutions it has been called to endure. I. lTs MISSION IN RELATION TO THE TRUTH OF THE CBUBCIL Illustrate two points. 1. The conflicts of the Ohurch have helped to formulate the doctrine of the Church. Persecutions have dealt with opinion, and have helped to make right opinion. It may even be shown that the influence on truth has not been altogether good, because the strain of persecution has tended to exaggerate particular opinions, and put them out of the Christian harmony. 2. The martyrdoms of persecuting times have vivified the leading truths of the Churoh. The things men have died for l\l"e all- important. They must be worth dying for; they are primary truths of the "faith.'' II. 1TB IIIISSION IN RELATION TO THE SPIRIT OF THE CHIIBCH. 1. The ages of persecution have been spiritual ages. Then the critical spirit is wanting. Men easily believe. The underlying meaning of God's Word is more important than its literary form. Men find they need "the sincere milk of the Word." 2. The ages of persecution have been ages of brotherhood. The co=on peril ensures co=on service. There is mutual shielding, mutual sympathy, and the records tell of heroic acts of self- sacrifice done at such times. The story of such ages acts upon us to-day as an inspiration to brotherhood. III. 1TB MISSION IN RELATION TO THE SPREAD 01!' THE CHURCH. It has been, over and over again, as it was in the first Christian age. The disciples were "scattered abroad" in consequence of the persecution that arose over the preaching of Stephen, and they "went everywhere, preaching the Word." 1. At such times there is a secret spreading of the Cuurch. Hidden, it works like leaven. Illustrate by history of the Church in Madagascar and Uganda. 2. At such times there is the entering of new spheres, and· possession of new lands in the name of Christ (see story of the Pilgrim Fathers),-R, T.  -168 THE GOSPEL ACC'ORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [on, u1v. 1--ol,