called," that is, shall be, (a common Hebraism,) "the children of God." God shall continue unto them the Spirit of Adoption, yea, shall pour it more abundantly into their hearts. He shall bless them with all the blessings of his children. He shall acknowledge them as sons before angels and men; “and, if sons, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ."

III. 1. One would imagine such a person as has been above described, so full of genuine humility, so unaffectedly serious, so mild and gentle, so free from all selfish design, so devoted to God, and such an active lover of men, should be the darling of mankind. But our Lord was better acquainted with human nature in its present state. He therefore closes the character of this man of God, with showing him the treatment he is to expect in the world. "Blessed," saith he, "are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

2. In order to understand this throughly, let us first inquire, Who are they that are Persecuted? And this we may easily learn from St. Paul: "As of old, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now." (Gal. iv. 29.) "Yea," saith the Apostle, " and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution." (2 Tim. iii. 12.) The same we are taught by St. John: "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." (1 John iii. 13, 14.) As if he had said, the Brethren, the Christians cannot be loved, but by them who have passed from death unto life. And most expressly, by our Lord: "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." (John xv. 18, &c.)

:

By all these scriptures it manifestly appears who they are that are persecuted namely, the Righteous: He "that is born of the Spirit ;""all that will live godly in Christ Jesus;" they that are "passed from death unto life; those who are "not of the world;" all those who are meek and lowly in heart, that mourn for God, that hunger after his likeness; all that love God and their neighbour, and therefore as they have opportunity do good unto all men.

3. If it be, secondly, inquired, Why they are persecuted? The answer is equally plain and obvious. It is "for righteousness' sake" because they are righteous: because they are born after the Spirit: because they "will live godly in Christ Jesus" because they "are not of the world." Whatever may be pretended, this is the real cause: be their infirmities more or less, still, if it were not for this, they would be borne with, and the world would love its own. They are persecuted, because they are poor in spirit; that is, say the world, "Poor-spirited, mean, dastardly souls, good for nothing, not fit to live in the world: "-Because they mourn; They are such dull, heavy, lumpish creatures, enough to sink any one's spirits that sees them! They are mere death-heads; they kill innocent mirth, and spoil company wherever they come :" Because they are meek; "Tame, passive fools, just fit to be trampled upon: "-Because they hunger and thirst after righteousness; "A parcel of hot-brained enthusiasts, gaping after they know not what, not content with rational religion, but running mad after raptures and inward feelings: "-Because they are merciful, lovers of all, lovers of the evil and unthankful; " Encouraging all manner of wickedness; nay, tempting people to do mischief by impunity: and men who, it is to be feared, have their own religion still to seek : very loose in their principles: "-Because they are pure in heart; " Uncharitable creatures, that damn all the world, but those that are of their own sort! Blasphemous wretches, that pretend to make God a liar, to live without sin!"-Above all, Because they are peace-makers; because they take all opportunities of doing good to all men: This is the grand reason why they have been persecuted in all ages, and will be till the restitution of all things: "If they would but keep their religion to themselves it would be tolerable. But it is this spreading their errors, this infecting so many others, which is not to be endured. They do so much mischief in the world that they ought to be tolerated no longer. It is true, the men do some things well enough; they relieve some of the poor. But this, too, is only done to gain the more to their party; and so, in effect, to do the more mischief!" Thus the men of the world sincerely think and speak. And the more the kingdom of God prevails, the more the peacemakers are enabled to propagate lowliness, meekness, and ali other divine tempers, the more mischief is done, in their account:

consequently, the more are they enraged against the authors of this, and the more vehemently will they persecute them.

4. Let us, thirdly, inquire, Who are they that persecute them? St. Paul answers, "He that is born after the flesh : " every one who is not "born of the Spirit," or at least desirous so to be; all that do not at least labour to "live godly in Christ Jesus;" all that are not passed from death unto life," and, consequently, cannot "love the brethren;""the world,' that is, according to our Saviour's account, "they who know not him that sent me;" they who know not God, even the loving, pardoning God, by the teaching of his own Spirit.

The reason is plain: The spirit which is in the world is directly opposite to the Spirit which is of God. It must therefore needs be, that those who are of the world, will be opposite to those who are of God. There is the utmost contrariety between them, in all their opinions, their desires, designs, and tempers. And hitherto the leopard and the kid cannot lie down in peace together. The proud, because he is proud, cannot but persecute the lowly; the light and airy, those that mourn and so in every other kind; the unlikeness of disposition (were there no other) being a perpetual ground of enmity. Therefore, were it only on this account, all the servants of the Devil will persecute the children of God.

5. Should it be inquired, fourthly, How they will persecute them? It may be answered in general, Just in that manner and measure which the wise Disposer of all secs will be most for his glory; will tend most to his children's growth in grace, and the enlargement of his own kingdom. There is no one branch of God's government of the world which is more to be admired than this. His ear is never heavy to the threatenings of the persecutor, or the cry of the persecuted. His eye is ever open, and his hand stretched out to direct every the minutest circumstance. When the storm shall begin, how high it shall rise, which way it shall point its course, when and how it shall end, are all determined by his unerring wisdom. The ungodly are only a sword of his; an instrument which he uses as it pleaseth him, and which itself, when the gracious ends of his Providence are answered, is cast into the fire.

At some rare times, as when Christianity was planted first, and while it was taking root in the carth; as also when the pure doctrine of Christ began to be planted again in our nation;

God permitted the storm to rise high, and his children were called to resist unto blood. There was a peculiar reason why he suffered this with regard to the Apostles, that their evidence might be the more unexceptionable. But from the annals of the Church we learn another, and a far different reason, why he suffered the heavy persecutions which arose in the second and third centuries; namely, because the mystery of iniquity did so strongly work; because of the monstrous corruptions which even then reigned in the Church: these God chastised, and at the same time strove to heal, by those severe but necessary visitations.

Perhaps the same observation may be made, with regard to the grand persecution in our own land. God had dealt very graciously with our nation: he had poured out various blessings upon us he had given us peace abroad and at home; and a King, wise and good beyond his years; and, above all, he had caused the pure light of his Gospel to arise and shine amongst us. But what return did he find? "He looked for righteousness; but behold a cry!"-a cry of oppression and wrong, of ambition and injustice, of malice, and fraud, and covetousness. Yea, the cry of those who even then expired in the flames, entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. It was then God arose to maintain his own cause, against those that held the truth in unrighteousness. Then he sold them into the hands of their persecutors, by a judgment mixed with mercy; an affliction to punish, and yet a medicine to heal, the grievous backslidings of his people.

6. But it is seldom that God suffers the storm to rise so high as torture, or death, or bonds, or imprisonment. Whereas his children are frequently called to endure the lighter kinds of persecution; they frequently suffer the estrangement of kinsfolks, the loss of the friends that were as their own soul. They find the truth of their Lord's word, (concerning the event, though not the design of his coming,) "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace upon earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division." (Luke xii. 51.) And hence will naturally follow loss of business or employment, and consequently of substance. But all these circumstances likewise are under the wise direction of God, who allots to every one what is most expedient for him.

7. But the persecution which attends all the children of God is that our Lord describes in the following words: "Blessed

are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, [shall persecute by reviling you,] and say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake." This cannot fail; it is the very badge of our discipleship; it is one of the scals of our calling; it is a sure portion entailed on all the children of God: if we have it not, we are bastards and not sons. Straight through evil report, as well as good report, lies the only way to the kingdom. The meek, serious, humble, zealous lovers of God and man, are of good report among their brethren; but of evil report with the world, who count and treat them " filth and offscouring of all things."

as the 8. Indeed some have supposed that, before the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in, the scandal of the cross will cease; that God will cause Christians to be esteemed and loved even by those who are as yet in their sius. Yea, and sure it is, that even now, he at some times suspends the contempt as well as the fierceness of men; he makes a man's enemies to be at peace with him" for a season, and gives him favour with his bitterest persecutors. But setting aside this exempt case, the scandal of the cross is not yet ceased; but a man may say still, "If I please men, I am not the servant of Christ." Let no man therefore regard that pleasing suggestion, (pleasing doubtless to flesh and blood,) "That bad men only pretend to hate and despise them that are good, but do indeed love and esteem them in their hearts." Not so: they may employ them sometimes; but it is for their own profit. They may put confidence in them; for they know their ways are not like other men's. But still they love them not; unless so far as the Spirit of God may be striving with them. Our Saviour's words are express: "If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you." Yea, (setting aside what exceptions may be made by the preventing grace, or the peculiar providence of God,) it hateth them as cordially and sincerely as ever it did their Master.

9. It remains only to inquire, How are the children of God to behave with regard to persecution? And, first, they ought not knowingly or designedly to bring it upon themselves. This is contrary, both to the example and advice of our Lord and all his Apostles; who teach us not only not to seek, but to avoid it, as far as we can, without injuring our conscience; without giving up any part of that righteousness which we are