2 Thess. iii.

16.

peace always, by all means.

all."

The Lord be with you

The eighth and last Beatitude is, "BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE: FOR THEIR'S IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. BLESSED ARE YE, WHEN MEN SHALL REVILE YOU,

AND PERSECUTE YOU, AND SHALL SAY ALL MANNER Margin, OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY, FOR MY SAKE. "lying"evdóμεvo. REJOICE, AND BE EXCEEDING GLAD: FOR GREAT IS

Matt. v. 10 -12.

Luke vi. 22, 23.

YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN: FOR SO PERSECUTED

THEY THE PROPHETS WHICH WERE BEFORE YOU;" or, as it stands in St. Luke, BLESSED ARE YE,

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WHEN MEN SHALL HATE YOU, AND WHEN THEY
SHALL SEPARATE YOU FROM THEIR COMPANY, AND
SHALL REPROACH YOU, AND CAST OUT YOUR NAME

AS EVIL, FOR THE SON OF MAN'S SAKE. REJOICE YE
IN THAT DAY, AND LEAP FOR JOY: FOR, BEHOLD,
YOUR REWARD IS GREAT IN HEAVEN: FOR IN THE
LIKE MANNER DID THEIR FATHERS UNTO THE PRO-
PHETS 7.

says,

7 See Farindon's Sermon on this Beatitude. He "it is the seal and ratification of the rest; an argument, a protestation, a demonstration, that the rest were in us of a truth," &c. Serm. vol. ii. p. 695. The passage from St. Bernard is quoted by him.

Keble says in his Sermon " Counsels of Perfection," pretty much what Hammond does on the Order of the Beatitudes. "They begin and end with the kingdom of heaven, but it is assigned in the first instance to the poor in spirit, and not till other kindred virtues and graces have been mentioned, such as meekness, peace-making, purity of heart, is the same blessing

1 Pet. iv.

VIII. As the whole world liveth in wickedness, and, as such, is set against the righteous, thereby rendering their lot hard, and bestrewing their path with "briers and thorns," and assigning them their dwelling "among scorpions," so is their estate Ezek. ii. 6. ushered in with a double blessing. But, at the same time, this double blessing implies, that Christians were not to consider suffering "a strange thing." Persecution for Christ's, or for righteous- 12. ness' sake, is the inheritance of those that shall be "saints in light;" not always, and of necessity, but col. i. 12. most or oftentimes. They shall bear their cross, as did their Lord and Master, and their ascent heavenward shall be by the mount of sorrows on earth, and their reward is sure. "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him." 11,12. If so be we suffer with Him, our hope is we shall be "glorified together.'

Without referring to that special state of dignity

pronounced upon suffering for righteousness' sake.
these humble and quiet dispositions have been commended,
which belong alike to all times and circumstances, is any thing
said in praise of what may be called the heroic virtues of a
Christian; affliction, scorn, and calumny endured for Christ's
sake. Surely this is a significant circumstance, and much to be
considered by all who may have made any sacrifice for Christ,
or may think they find in themselves the heart to do so.
They are not to be satisfied with themselves till their humi-
lity and charity have been tried as well as their self-denial."-
p. 278.

2 Tim. ii.

Rom. viii.

17.

Ephes. iv.

13.

1 Thess. iii.

3.

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assigned by holy men of old to that mighty army of martyrs whose blood was as the seed-plot of the Church, something there is, something there will ever be, in filling up what is behind of our Redeemer's sufferings, which brings us onwards "to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” "No man should be moved by these afflictions, for," as St. Paul said to the Church at Thessalonica, yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto." Remember the word that the Lord Jesus said unto those He loved so well: "The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." That record of old "must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings." Even in Christian times and in the last days, "they hated me without a cause.” Christ Himself was "made perfect through sufferHeb. ii. 10. ings," and so, in their capacity, shall his followers Heb. x. 33. be. "Reproaches and afflictions" are a Christian

John xv.

20.

Rev. x. 11.

John xv.

25.

heir-loom.

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But here, it must be rightly understood, that mere suffering, in and by itself, is not of necessity blessed," it may be even the reverse; but the blessing is their inheritance who suffer "evdóμevo " ψευδόμενοι falsely, and for Christ's sake; for, as St. Chrysostom

"Those words contain a restraint or limitation of the subject to this purpose, that the Beatitudes belong not to those indefinitely that are persecuted and reviled, &c., but to those particularly who are true Christians."-See Hammond's Practical Catechism, ut supra, p. 35.

1.99

saith, without this distinction, "he, who is evil spoken of, so far from being blessed, is miserable' and, not without a purpose, "St. Cyprian observes, that our Blessed Lord, in admitting the innocent babes of Bethlehem first to die for Him, did, to all generations of Christendom, consign this lesson, that only persons holy and innocent were fit to be Christ's martyrs"." But all whose robes, like theirs, are washed in the blood of the Lamb, are participators in the sacredness of suffering, and, having Mark x.30, μετὰ διωγ had their possession here, "with persecutions," at μv. the end of the days they shall leave tribulation behind, and stand "before the throne of God, and Rev. vii. serve him day and night in his temple." The Lamb 14, 15. which is in the midst of the throne, in his salvifick presence, shall be their exceeding great reward. That ancient father spake not in vain, "AGNOSCO HÆREDITATEM MEAM IN CRUCE"."

Thus guarded, and stated with these limitations, suffering is a sacred estate, and there seems a voice from behind to arrest the ear, and to admonish each "chosen vessel," as it were, in those words spoken unto Ananias, of Paul; "I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." But on Acts x. 16. this head, St. Peter's words, on two several occasions, supersede all other remarks. "This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, 2 Jer. Taylor in loc.

1

In loc. Hom. xv.

I Pet. ii. 19-23.

1 Pet. iv.

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: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." And again, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but 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. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him

12-16. glorify God on this behalf."

Who, then, beleagured as the world is with sin and suffering, saith not, in his profitable times of humiliation, God's will be done? Who, even at such a time, saith not, let us up and be doing; let us follow their example who "departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were Acts v. 41. counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." The