be hated of all nations for my name's fake *"

"When affliction or perfecution arifeth for the word's fake, immediately they are offended t."

"They fhall lay hands on you, and perfecute you, delivering you up to the fynagogues, and into prifons, being brought be fore kings and rulers for my name's fakeand ye fhall be betrayed both by parents and brethren, and kinsfolks and friends, and fome of you fhall they cause to be put to death ??

"The time cometh, that he that killeth you will think that he doeth God fervice. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the father nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come ye may remember that I told you of them §."

*Matt. xxiv. 9.

+ Mark iv. 17. See alfo x. 39;

Luke xxi. 12-16. See alfo xi. 49.

§ John xvi. 4. See also xv. 20, and xvi. 33.

I am

I am not entitled to argue from these paffages, that Chrift actually did foretell these events, and that they did accordingly come to pafs, because that would be at once to affume the truth of the religion; but I am entitled to contend, that one fide or other of the following disjunction is true; either that the evangelifts have delivered what Chrift really spoke, and that the event correfponded with the prediction; or that they put the prediction into Chrift's mouth, becaufe, at the time of writing the hiftory, the event had turned out fo to be for the only two remaining fuppofitions appear in the highest degree incredible, which are, either that Chrift filled the minds of his followers with fears and apprehenfions, without any reafon or authority for what he faid, and contrary to the truth of the cafe; or that, although Chrift had never foretold any fuch thing, and the event would have contradicted him if he had, yet historians who lived in the age when the event was known, falfely as well as officioufly, afcribed these words to him.

4

3. Thirdly,

3. Thirdly, thefe books abound with ex hortations to patience, and with topics of comfort under diftress.

Who fhall separate us from the love of Chrift? Shall tribulation, or distress, or perfecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or fword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us *

"We are troubled on every fide, yet not diftreffed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; perfecuted, but not forfaken; cast down, but not deftroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jefus, that the life alfo of Jefus might be made manifeft in our body-knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jefus, fhall raise us up alfo by Jefus, and fhall prefent us with you-for which caufe we faint not, but, though our outward man perifh, yet the inward man is renewed day by day; for our

Rom. viii. 35. 37.

light

light affliction which is but for a moment; worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory *."

"Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have fpoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of fuffering affliction, and of patience. Behold we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy t."

"Call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions, partly whilst ye were made a gazing-stock both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly whilft ye became companions of them that were so ufed; for ye had compaffion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the fpoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring sub

* 2 Cor. iv. 8, 9, 10. 14. 16, 17,

† James v. 10, II.

ftance.

2

ftance. Caft not away therefore your con→ fidence, which hath great recompenfe of reward; for ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise*.'

"So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your perfecutions and tribulations that ye endure. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be accounted worthy of the kingdom for which ye alfo fuffer t."

"We rejoice in hope of the glory of God; and not only fo, but we glory in tribulations alfo; knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope ‡.”

"Beloved, think it not ftrange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though fome ftrange thing happened unto you, but rejoice, inafmuch as ye are

Heb. x. 32-36. † 2 Theff. i. 1-5. Rom. v. 3, 4..

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