from saying, “He is a glutton, and a friend of the impure, and Beelzebub is his patron.”
Then remember, thou Christian martyr, it is enough if thou art found worthy to unloose the sandals of thy Master's faith.
To suppose that persecution for righteousness' sake belongs to the past, — and that Christianity to-day is at peace with the world, because it is honored by sects and societies, — is to mistake its very nature. History will repeat itself. The trials encountered by prophet, disciple, and apostle, — “of whom the earth was not worthy,” — always await, in some form, every pioneer of Truth.
A magistrate, who lived in the time of Jesus, left this record: “His rebuke is fearful.” The strong language of our Master confirms that saying. Still stronger evidence, that his reproof was pointed and pungent, is to be found in the necessity there was for such forcible utterance, when Jesus wished to cast out devils and heal the sick.
The only civil word which he had for error was, “Get behind me, Satan.” There is too much animal courage, and not sufficient moral courage, in society. Christians must take up arms against error at home and abroad. They must grapple with sin, in themselves and in others, and continue this warfare until they have finished their course. If they keep the faith, they will have the crown of rejoicing.
If we have triumphed sufficiently over the errors of sense for Soul to hold the control, we shall loathe sin, and rebuke it under every mask. Only in this way can we bless our enemies, though they may not so construe
