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[Would any one wish for a testimony from God, that he is in the right way, and that God is well-pleased with him? Behold, that is the very satisfaction which such evil treatment is intended to convey: 66 They shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you; delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons; being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake: and it shall turn to you for a testimony m." But it is, in fact, a participation of Christ's sufferings, and a source of great glory to God. And is that a ground of sorrow? No; but rather of exalted joy; as the Apostle tells us: "Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. On their part, he is evil spoken of; but on your part, he is glorified"." In truth, it is a signal honour conferred upon us : and, instead of repining at it, we ought to " rejoice that we are counted worthy" to sustain it. But to speak of it thus, is, in reality, to come very far short of the statement which should be given: for, if the truth be spoken, it is a most invaluable gift: "Unto you it is given, in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake"." Yes, it is conferred as God's choicest gift, in answer to the prayers of his only dear Son. In bestowing upon us pardon, and peace, and holiness, and glory, God gives to us: but when we are permitted to suffer for righteousness' sake, we give to God: we give our reputation, our property, our body, our life, to be disposed of according to his will, and for the glory of his name. And surely this is an honour in which we ought to rejoice with most unfeigned and exalted joy.]

2. It is no just occasion for fear

[I will grant, that there is a confederacy of the whole world against us: (that is the case supposed by the prophet, whose words are cited in my text':) What can they do? They cannot touch so much as a hair of our head, without the special permission of our Gods: nor can they do any one thing which shall not be overruled for our eternal good'. Hear the representation which holy David gives us of this matter: "The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him"." And if the Lord" laugh," shall we cry? God designs both to prepare us for glory, and to increase to us the measure of our happiness to all eternity: and for these ends he permits

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ungodly men to put us into a furnace, that he may "purify us from our dross ;" and he makes "our light and momentary affliction to work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Now, who that knew the designs of Heaven in relation to us, would dread the process by which such ends were to be accomplished? God has said, that "the wrath of man shall praise him; and the remainder of it he will restrain." As one, who, in a flood that threatens to destroy his mill, lets upon it so much water only as shall accomplish his own purposes, and turns off the remainder by another sluice; so will God effect his gracious purposes for his people's good, by the very efforts which their enemies are making for their destruction. Knowing this, therefore, we should "not be afraid of their terror, nor be troubled" at any confederacies they may make against us.]

3. A due regard to God is an ample security to all his people

[To" sanctify the Lord God in our hearts" is to conceive of him as an all-wise Governor, that orders every thing in heaven and earth; and as an all-sufficient Protector, who is "a wall of fire round about" his people, not only to protect them, but to devour their assailants; and, lastly, as an all-gracious Rewarder, who, "if we suffer with him, will cause us also to reign with him, that we may be glorified together"." In this view of him, our duty is precisely what St. Peter tells us: "Let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creatora." We have only to realize in our hearts the agency, the power, the love, the faithfulness, of the omnipresent God, and we shall be as composed in the conflict, and as confident of the victory, as if we were already in heaven. If God has said, "Fear not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness;" it is not merely our privilege, but our duty, to reply with David, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?"]

IMPROVEMENT—

1. Let us be thankful for the peace we enjoy[There have been seasons in the Church when persecution has raged with great fury, and almost driven Christianity from the face of the earth. That it is not so now, is not owing to

x 2 Cor. iv. 17.

z 2 Tim. ii. 11, 12. Rom. viii. 17. b Isai. xli. 10.

y Zech. ii. 5.

a 1 Pet. iv. 19.

c Ps. xxvii. 1.

men's love of religion; but to the protection afforded by human laws, and to the prevalence of an idea, that toleration in religion is essential to civil liberty. It is however a great mercy to us to live in these days: and I call upon you to improve the opportunities afforded you. You can assemble together, none making you afraid: : you can consecrate yourselves to the Lord, without any apprehension of being dragged for it to prison or to death. You must not however imagine, that "the offence of the cross has ceased," or that you will not in your domestic and social circles have any thing to suffer. You may still have to make considerable sacrifices your parents and governors may still act an unkind and oppressive part towards you; and your friends may treat you with such contempt as is not easy to be borne. But, if you are not "called to resist unto blood," you have reason to be thankful: and, in this season of comparative peace, you must prepare to maintain, when called to it, a vigorous and active warfare. The roaring lion is as vigilant as ever to destroy; and you also must be vigilant, if you would defeat his efforts.]

2. Let us, when persecution shall arise, act worthy of our high and holy calling

[The command of our blessed Lord is, that we should be ready to lay down our lives for his sake. And he has plainly told us, that "he who will save his life, shall lose it; and he only who will lose his life for his sake, shall save it unto life eternal"." On no other terms can we be acknowledged as his disciples. Nor should we wish for any other terms than these. We should be ready to "rejoice in tribulation';" and to "glory in the cross" for our Lord's sake: yea, we should even "take pleasure in infirmities and distresses for his sake," in order that he may be glorified in us, and that "his strength may be perfected in our weakness." To all of you then I say, Prepare to approve yourselves "good soldiers of Jesus Christ." Whoever you are, you are to "fight the good fight of faith," and to stem the torrent against all the enemies of your salvation : and to you God says, as he did to the Prophet Ezekiel," Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads; as an adamant, harder than flint, have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house." "Be faithful unto death, and then will God give unto you the crown of life!."]

d 1 Pet. v. 8.
g Gal. vi. 14.
k Ezek. iii. 8, 9.

e Luke xvii. 33.
h 2 Cor. xii. 10.
1 Rev. ii. 10.

f Rom. v. 3.
i 1 Tim. vi. 12.

MMCCCCII.

THE CHRISTIAN READY TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF HIS hope.

1 Pet. iii. 15. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

THE Christian's life must of necessity appear strange to those who know not the principles by which he is actuated. They see a friend or relative pause amidst the crowd of his associates, and retrace, in opposition to them, all the steps he has trodden throughout his whole life. Perhaps he was highly respected; and he now subjects himself to ridicule and contempt, from those who once held him in estimation. Perhaps he had fair prospects of advancement in the world, which now, by what are called his fanatical and over-righteous proceedings, he abandons. He once seemed happy in the enjoyment of all that the world could give him; and now he is turning his back upon it all, and following after phantoms of his own imagination. What can all this mean? Whence does it proceed ? Is it the effect of a disturbed imagination? Is it from a desire after notoriety and distinction? or is it the fruit of deliberate hypocrisy? What has he seen, what has he found, that can account for such a change in his conduct?

Such questions will arise in the minds of many. Many indeed will not trouble themselves with making such inquiries. A shorter method with them is to revile and persecute, if by any means they may deter this supposed enthusiast from persisting in his folly : but others, who are more candid, will be glad of information, in order that they may be able to form some judgment about the proceedings which appear at first sight so unaccountable.

Now with respect to the former of these, the open persecutors, the Christian has nothing to do, but to commit his cause to God, and to go forward in humble dependence upon him: but with respect to the

latter, he should gladly rise to the occasion, and "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh him a reason of the hope that is in him with meekness and fear."

You will perceive that the principle by which the Christian is carried forward, is hope-" a hope that is within him." What the Christian's hope is, will form the first point for our inquiry. His duty in relation to it shall then, in the next place, be set before you.

I. What is the hope by which the Christian is carried forward?

Whatever may be thought of it,

It is a glorious hope

[It has respect to all that the soul of man can need, and to all that God himself can bestow. Contemplate man as a sinner, redeemed from sin and death through the blood of God's only dear Son, who at the same time has purchased for him all the glory and felicity of heaven: hope fixes upon all these things as promised to the penitent and believing soul. Pardon and acceptance with a reconciled God; fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and a constant communication of grace and peace out of his fulness; the preserving and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit; victory over death and hell; and an everlasting possession of heaven as a rightful inheritance-all is apprehended by the believing Christian as his true and proper portion: by hope, he surveys it all, anticipates it all, enjoys it all. How wonderful! how surpassing all conception! Yet" to a lively hope of all these things is every child of God begotten"."]

It is a well-founded hope

[It may well be asked, What warrant has the Christian to indulge such a hope as this? Is it a mere conceit of his own, an expectation unauthorized and presumptuous? No: it is a hope founded upon the promise and oath of the immutable Jehovah. God has revealed a way of salvation, through the blood and righteousness of his only-begotten Son; and has promised to accept to mercy all who shall come to him in the name of Christ. To all such, without exception, he has engaged to give all the blessings both of grace and glory. And in resting on his engagements, the believer cannot be deceived: for "God cannot lie," "cannot deny himself."

a 1 Pet. i. 3.

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