Philadelphia, Treatise · Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
LEt me now give Arguments to encourage the Godly to ſuffer the Hatred of the World.
1. Conſider what a God ye ſerve, for whoſe ſake ye are hated; and oppoſe the infinite Love of God to the worlds hatred: then you need neither to care for it, nor to be troubled at it. Perhaps a world of wicked men hate thee, yet an infinite God doth love thee: an hell of Devils are combined againſt thee, yet an infinite God ſtandeth for thee, and embraceth thee. Is the hatred of the world and of hell, greater than the Love of God is towards thee? The worlds hatred is but of a ſhort continuance; Gods Love is an everlaſting Love. There are bounds ſet to the worlds hatred, Gods Love is boundleſs. Look up to God in Heaven, when the world is in an uproar about thee, and quiet thy ſelf with this Meditation. I am cauſleſly hated of the wicked, Yet be not caſt down O my Soul, the Lord of Heaven loveth me; and what is their hatred to His Love? The world is every where railing upon me, and ſcoffing of me; but what are all the reproaches of the world to me as long as the Lord delighteth in me, and approveth of my ways. As David anſwered Micohl, mocking at him, dancing before the Ark, It was before the Lord who delighted in me: he cared not whom he diſpleaſed, ſo long as he pleaſed God; ſo the Saints need not regard the world hatred.
2. God hath a ſpecial care over thee in thy greateſt dangers and troubles. Tertullian ſaith, a Saint is, cura Divini ingenij, Gods own charge in the world; he hath none to look after, but the Saints. Thou art the Object of the hatred of the wicked, and of Gods care, as long as the ey…s of God are upon thee, what matter is it that the envious eyes of the wicked be againſt thee? God is more watchful for thy good, than they can be to do thee hurt. David could ſleep ſecurely in the night, although an H…ſt of ten thouſand men did encamp againſt him: Gods care over him was an impregnable Shield.
3. Conſider that you have Chriſt a Co-partner with you in their hatred. When he lived here, he was hated as much as you can be, and is ſenſible of all the wrongs that are done unto you. Thoſe Canaanites that are Thorns in thy ſide, are Thorns in his ſide. Thoſe wretches which are pricks in thine Eye, are pricks in the Apple of his Eye. See how comfortably Chriſt ſpeaks to you, Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
The wicked are but ſo many Serpents that have loſt their ſtings; though you fight with a malicious world, yet you contend with a vanquiſhed enemy, which ſhall ſhortly be trodden under your feet.
4. God doth over-rule their hatred: ſometimes he lets the wicked loſe upon his Saints, ſometimes he binds them up. Eſau hated Jacob, and purpoſed to ſlay him, but God chain-him up, and made the face of rough Eſau to look like an Angel of God. Wicked men are compared to Seas; ſometimes the Waves ariſe to ſuch an height in a ſtorm, as if they would over throw and drown all before them; b…t God hath ſet …ounds to them: thus far, and …o farther; here ſhall thy proud waves ſt…y▪ So God hath bounded the malice of the wicked. Thus … ſhall they trouble his people, …ut here ſhall their hatred and malice ſtay: fain would the Devil have taken away the life o… Job, but touch it not, ſaith the Lord. They cannot take away an hair from your heads, but what God permitteth.
5. Conſider, how God will manifeſt his Love to thee in Heaven, who art hated for him here; how Chriſt will hug thee in his arms, and kiſs thee with the kiſſes of his mouth, who art reviled for him here. Caſt up thine eyes to Heaven, when thou art ſenſible of the world; hatred, and ſay, Heaven will pay for all: Call to remembrance thy future glory, and then rejoyce that thou art counted worthy to be hated …o… Chriſts ſake. The more the world loads thee with malice and hatred, the more will God load thee with honour and glory. The more marks of Chriſt thou doſt carry about thee, the higher will Chriſt exalt thee. Our Saviour endured the Croſs, deſpiſing the ſhame, for his eye was fixed upon the glory ſet before him, Heb. 12.2. Set Heaven before thine eyes, and thou wilt neither regard the beſt nor the worſt in this preſent world. Oh what is the hatred of this world to the love of God in Chriſt, and that infinite maſs of glory that ſhall be revealed!