Exposition of John 17, Exposition · Part 37
JOHN 17.14.
I have given them thy Word, and the world hath hated them.
AND thus of the firſt argument, with which our Saviour preſſeth and enforceth his Petition to his Father in behalf of his Apoſtles and Diſciples, that he himſelf would undertake the keeping of them: Which hath been taken as you may remember, from his own effectual preſervation of them, during the time that he had been among them: Together with the reaſon which he interpoſes why he made this Petition for them in the world.
Proceed we to the ſecond argument with which he backs it, and it is taken from the place in which he was about to leave them, wherein he was aſſured they would ſtand in need of ſpecial preſervation from his Father: And therefore he deſireth him to keep them through his own Name, becauſe our Saviour for his own part, was even ready to depart from them, and to abandon them in ſuch a place, where they would be in danger every day, and every hour, as being hated and maligned upon all hands, and that for the truths ſake. I have given them thy Word, and the world hath hated them, becauſe they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
So that the words have in them a diſcovery of the condition and eſtate of Chriſts Diſciples in the world, together with the cauſes of it. Firſt the condition and eſtate of Chriſts Diſciples in the world is mentioned here, although not in the firſt place: and it is ſuch as cannot but be grievous and uncomfortable to them; For they are very ill beloved; yea, they are hated univerſally almoſt; the world hath hated them, ſaith Chriſt. And then the cauſes of it are annexed, by what means it comes to paſs that they are ſo maligned in the world; and this is not for any evill that is in them, or done by them. But either firſt, becauſe they receive the Word of God, not into their knowledge only, but into their practice and obedience too; I have given them thy Word, and the world hath hated them: So that it hates them for the Word, and for the Truths ſake. And ſecondly becauſe they are not of this world, but of another; therefore the world is ſo envenomed, and ſo malitiouſly bent againſt them: The world hath hated them, becauſe they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. They like them much the worſe, becauſe they are in this reſpect like me. At this time let us look into the condition and eſtate of Chriſts Diſciples in the world, the world hates them.
The world is taken divers ways; I think more differently then any other phraſe almoſt in Scripture. Sometimes we find it uſed for elect and ſanctified; ſometimes for reprobate and unſanctified perſons. Sometimes for the elect and ſanctified, as you may ſee that place for inſtance, Joh. 4.42. This is the Chriſt the Saviour of the world, that is, of all the choſen and elect of God, not limited to Jewry only, but whereſoever ſcattered over all the world. God was in Chriſt (ſaith the Apoſtle) reconciling the world to himſelf, 2 Cor. 5.19. Not all the world at large, but all his choſen people, whatſoever, or whereſoever living in the world. Sometimes the world is taken for reprobate and unſanctified men: So that, The world lies in wickedneſs, 1 Joh. 5.19. as Auſtin intimateth the diſtinction, there is mundus mundus, & mundus inmundus. Indeed it is ſo differently taken, that ſometimes they that are hated, are the world; and ſometimes they that hate them, are the world: And in this latter ſenſe, you are to underſtand it in my Text: The world, that is, the reprobate and wicked of the world, hath hated them, ſaith: our Saviour to his Father; The…, whom? why them whom thou haſt given me, as you may ſee, if you look a little back on the foregoing verſes. Them whom thou haſt beſtowed upon me, and whom I have received and entertained for my Diſciples, them hath the world hated. So that you ſee,
DOCTRINE. It is the manner of the world to hate them that are Chriſts Diſciples.
They that belong to Jeſus Chriſt are uſually but ill-beloved among ungodly and unſanctified men. The world is generally ſet againſt them, to malign them and oppoſe them, and do them all the ſpite and miſchief that they can. So it was in Chriſts time, and ſo it will be to the worlds end: And therefore it is made the Epithite of wicked men that they are ſuch as hate the righteous; you may ſee that place for inſtance, Pſal. 34.21. They are not only angry with them, but they hate them, and that to the very death. They deſire their extirpatation and deſtruction, that they may have no more a being; no nor ſo much as the memorial of a being, if it might be poſſible, that their name may be no mere remembred, Pſal. 83.4. And therefore you ſhall find the Saints complaining often of the hatred of the world, and of the rage and malice of ungodly men againſt them. And Chriſt fore-warning his Diſciples what they muſt expect in this world, You ſhall be hated, ſaith our Saviour, of all Nations, Mat. 24.9. That ſeems to be very much; yet in another place he goes further; You ſhall be hated of all men; you muſt conceive it of all worldly wicked men, Mat. 10.22. I ſhall add no more for proof; you ſee it is the manner of the wicked world, &c.
But what ſhould be the reaſon why they hate them ſo? It may be you will ask as David once, What hath the righteous done? what evil hath he wrought? what have Chriſts Diſciples done, that they are ſo maligned in the world? Why truly, my Beloved, if you would know the reaſon of it, it is not for any evil they have done, that they are ſo railed at, and that they have ſo much ill will on all hands; there is no juſt and real cauſe of all this hatred which they ſuffer from the world: No, my Beloved, as they hated Chriſt himſelf without a cauſe, as David once complained as his Type, Pſal. 35.19. ſo they hate Chriſts Diſciples too, thoſe that belong to Chriſt, without a cauſe, without any juſt cauſe. So that you ſee here is a Doctrine, of which no man in the world can give you one good reaſon. It is the manner of the wicked world to hate them that are Chriſts Diſciples; but it is without reaſon, without any good reaſon: However they have reaſons to themſelves, ſuch as they are, of this hatred. And I might give you many ſuch reaſons, more then a good many: For though there be not any reaſons why they ſhould, yet there are many reaſons why they do hate Chriſts Diſciples, and I might be large upon them: But I ſhall confine my ſelf to thoſe which Chriſt hath mentioned in the Text it ſelf.
The wicked world hates Chriſts Diſciples, becauſe they entertain the Word of God, becauſe they love it and obey it, and conform their lives to it; and this is the account our Saviour gives his Father of the buſineſs, I have given them thy Word, and the world hath hated them; as if he ſhould have ſaid for that cauſe: I have ſo given them thy Word, that they have entertained it as thy Word in their faith, and love, and practice, and obedience; and hence it is that they are ſo maligned, and deſpitefully entreated in the world. And ſo it is at this day; As long as men make no account and reckoning of the Word, as long as they profeſs it only, but are not very zealous for it, nor very careful to walk in every thing exactly by it, they may live pretty quiet with their neighbors: But if they come once to contend, and that with earneſtneſs for every truth that is contained in the Word; if they will not in any caſe, by any means depart in any thing from that Rule, the world will be about their ears upon a ſodain, and ſhew a great deal of malignity and rage againſt them.
But why ſhould this exaſperate the world againſt them, you will ask me? I cannot tell you why it ſhould, but I will tell you why it doth: For by this means they croſs the world, and they condemn and ſhame the world. And this is that which ſets the world ſo much againſt them.
By this means they croſs the world; and this they are not able to endure, it makes their very hearts to riſe againſt them: And they croſs them three ways, they croſs them in their judgements, and they croſs them in their wills, and they croſs them in their lives and converſations.
1. Firſt by this means they croſs them in their judgements and opinions. Till men receive the Word of God, they can in every thing conform their judgements and opinions to the world. They can think as they do, and they can ſpeak as they do; they can agree and hold with them in every point, and ſo they walk on lovingly together; there grows no difference or debate between them. But when they come to entertain the Word to be their rule in every thing, both in opinion and in converſation, now they are forced to differ from the world, to claſh with them, in many things to contradict and oppoſe them, and gain-ſay them. And this breeds diſaffection and diſlike, yea enmity and hatred againſt them: Nay, they are forced ſometimes, if they will keep exactly to the Word of God, to croſs the world in thoſe opinions which they are moſt intent upon, and for which they are moſt eager; and this they can by no means bear from them: As they that entertained Chriſt to be the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world, when he was converſant upon the Earth, and in the times that followed next after his Incarnation, Paſſion and Aſcenſion, they did exceedingly enrage the world againſt them: The generality of men would not endure to heat of Chriſt, or the Religion that embraced and worſhipped him; and therefore whoſoever undertook to own him and profeſs him, was ſure to meet with all the violence and rage and malice that the world could pour upon him. He might have croſt the world in many other truths, and not have found ſo ill meaſure; but this drew out their rage and malice to the utmoſt: And this is that (as I conceive) which our Saviour Chriſt aims particularly at in my text, I have given them thy Word, thy Goſpel Word; of that he ſpeaks, and they have entertained it and embraced it, and therefore the world hates them. And if you look into the ſtories of the Church, you ſhall obſerve that whoſoever cloſed with the Goſpel in thoſe early times, and profeſſed the faith of Chriſt, from which the world was ſo exceedingly averſe, he was expoſed thereby to all the miſery that humane cruelty, &c. could deviſe to inflict.
But after when this Goſpel-Truth came to be better ſetled and digeſted in the world, ſo that they were content to hear of Chriſt and his Religion with a little patience, then there roſe up other things in which they would not be gain-ſaid: As to leap down to Luther, time, who ever ſtuck to him, and to the doctrine which he taught, againſt the Pope and his adherents, got the world about his ears. And ſo in every age, there are ſome paſſages of holy Scripture, and the truths delivered in them, againſt which the world is violently bent: and whoſoever ſticks to theſe, the world hates him out of meaſure, and doth him all the miſchief that it can. And therefore this is called the Word of Gods patience, Apoc. 3.10. Thou haſt kept the Word of my patience; that is, thou haſt not only kept my Word in general, but more particularly thou haſt kept thoſe portions of my Word, and thoſe parcels of my Truth, which muſt have patience to the keeping of them. A man may keep ſome Truths delivered in the Word without patience, as being univerſally received by all, oppoſed by none: But there are others, which if a man maintain and hold them, he ſhall ſurely ſuffer, he ſhall be perſecuted for them. And he that keeps theſe notwithſtanding, keeps the Word of Gods patience. The patience which God works in his people.
2. They that embrace the Word of God, as they croſs the wicked world in their opinions, ſo they croſs them in their wills: They cannot do in every thing as the wicked world would have them; they cannot yeild to every thing, which they obtrude and force upon them, and this is another reaſon why they are ſo exaſperated and enraged againſt them. Were it not for the Word of God, to which they are reſolved to yield obedience, they might comply in every thing, and ſo the world and they might be very good freinds. But when the Word forbiddeth what the world requireth, & that moſt vehemently too perhaps, they are forced to croſs the world, and and ſo the Word brings the world and them out. Theſe men, ſay they, are ſo preciſe and holy, that they muſt have Scripture for every thing they ſay or do, they will do nothing but what they have a warrant for out of the Word of God. But we will make them ſtoop and yield, and we will make them turn another leaf ere we have done: and when they cannot have their wills, becauſe the other cannot bend or vary from the Word of God when they are croſt in that which they are ſo reſolved upon, this heats the furnace of their wrath ſeven times hotter then ordinary: and this the Prophet David found, Pſal. 119.161. Princes have perſecuted me without a cauſe; but my heart ſtandeth in awe of thy Word: Either he muſt have them againſt him, or the Word of God againſt him. They threatned him if he obeyed the Word: the Word upon the other ſide, that threatned if he diſobeyed it. Whom did he fear moſt? why ſaith the Pſalmiſt, My heart ſtandeth in awe of thy Word; I fear it more then I fear them: And this was that which got him much hatred and bitter perſecution too, as you may ſee in that place.
3. They that receive the Word of God, as they croſs the wicked world in their opinions and their wills, ſo in their converſations too; they do not live and walk as they do; their ways are of another faſhion, and this is another reaſon why the world is ſo malitiouſly bent againſt them. Were it not for the Word of God, and the rules that it preſcribes, there need to be no difference between them and other men, and ſo there would be no diſlike. But now they are not, neither can they be conformed and faſhiond to the world, Rom. 12.2. they cannot walk according to the courſe and cuſtom of the world Epheſ. 2.2. The world runs out exceedingly into all licentious courſes, but they run not out with them. They walk not as the Gentiles, Epheſ. 4.17. they ſleep not as do others, 1 Theſſ. 5.5. And this the world cannot abide them for, becauſe they are ſo ſingular, and will not do as they do.
They that receive the Word of God, as they do croſs the world, ſo they condemn and ſhame the world: For while they walk exactly by the Rule, their holy and unblemiſht lives and converſations do make the vitious and licentious courſes of ungodly men the more odious, and bring the more contempt upon them. And as the righteous is the more excellent, becauſe he dwelleth by a bad neighbour; ſo on the other ſide, the wicked is the more abominable, becauſe he dwelleth by a good neighbour; his vile and wicked actions ſhew the worſe, becauſe there are ſo good examples juſt by.
Thus we have ſeen the firſt reaſon of the point; the wicked world hates Chriſts Diſciples, becauſe they entertain the Word of God, I have given them thy Word, ſaith Chriſt, &c.
There is a ſecond alſo added in the Text, It is the manner of the world Reaſon 2 to hate them that are Chriſts diſciples, becauſe they are not of this world but of another. Therefore the world is ſo envenomed, and ſo malitiouſly bent againſt them. The world hath hated them, ſaith Chriſt, becauſe they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world: If they were of their own ſociety, and of their own Countrey, they would love them well enough, as Chriſt himſelf informeth his Diſciples, Joh. 15.19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but becauſe ye are not of the world, but I have choſen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Uſe 1 Is it the manner of the wicked world, &c. Here then you ſee one eſpecial reaſon why Chriſts Diſciples are ſo vilified and abuſed in the world. They dwell among a company of men that hate them, and that to the very death. And hence it is my brethren, that they do them all the miſchief that they can: It is a wonder to us, many times, that all the world almoſt ſhould be upon the skirts of the ſmall number that belongs to Chriſt, that they ſhould be continually perking at them, and raiſing ſcandalous reports upon them; we know not what to make of it. Why, whats the matter, think we, that they ſhould be ſo ill-entreated, and ſo unworthily and baſely uſed on all hands? Truly nothing elſe but this, the world hates them; and all theſe injuries, and wrongs, and moleſtations are the effects of that hatred.
Uſe 2 Is it the manner of the wicked, &c. the greater cauſe there is of admiration at the power and mercy of the Lord that keeps them, and preſerves them, notwithſtanding this hatred. Though all the world be bitterly envenomed and enraged againſt them, they cannot have their will upon them; no, they are ſafeguarded ſtill, as if a little Lamb were kept among a company of Wolves and Lions. Tis not for want of multitude or malice in the enemies of Chriſts Diſciples, that they have yet a being in the world, but by the power and goodneſs of a gratious God, upholding them, and providing for their ſafety. This is the Lords doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes; And we ſhall marvail at it, and admire the Lord the more, if we conſider yet a little more diſtinctly but theſe two things.
1. The diſparity in number between Chriſts Diſciples and them that bear ſuch mortal hatred to them; For Chriſts Diſciples they are very few, a little flock, a ſmall number, a petty inconſiderable company of men. But they that hate them, and deſire their ruine, are the world, a world of wicked and ungodly men. So that you ſee, there are enemies enough to eat up Chriſts people, (as David ſaid they did in his time, They eat up thy people, as a man would eat bread) to devour them, and to bring them all to nothing in a moment. And if you do compare them with the multitude that are againſt them, and conſider what a deadly and envenomed hatred they bear againſt them, their preſervation will appear to be a ſtrange thing, the greater and more admirable is the power that keeps them and upholds them in ſuch a poſture and condition as this is.
2. And as there is a great diſparity in number between Chriſts Diſciples, and them that bear ſuch hatred to them, ſo in diſpoſition too, which magnifies the power that keeps them yet more. For Chriſts Diſciples they are frequently compared to Sheep and Lambs, poor harmleſs things that are ſo far from being able or deſirous to offend & hurt others, that they are no wayes able to defend themſelves. And they that hate them on the otherſide, are compared to Dogs, and Wolves, and Bears, and Lions. How eaſie is it for ſuch ſtrong and cruel creatures to make a prey upon the ſilly Lambs? So Chriſts Diſciples are reſembled to a Lilly for their tenderneſs and ſoftneſs; and they that hate them on the other ſide, to Thorns for their injurious and offenſive quality, Cant. 2.2. They are ſharp, and rough, and boiſtrous; and theſe alas are ſweet and harmleſs, and how ſhall they ſubſiſt among them? They are not like to hurt the world, but the world is very like to hurt them. Thorns you know, are apt to prick, and rent and ſcratch; and on the other ſide, the Lilly by reaſon of her tenderneſs, is very lyable to wrong and very capable of ſuch impreſsions. The Greater cauſe there is of admiration at the power of God, by which the Church of Chriſt is kept, in ſuch a dangerous condition and eſtate as this is.
Is it the manner of the wicked, &c. Then ſurely it concerneth Chriſts Uſe 3 Diſciples to be very cautious how they walk in the midſt of ſuch men. If they were among their friends, there needed not ſuch curious circumſpection. For friends will make the beſt of every thing, and conſtrue matters in the mildeſt and moſt favourable way.
But ſince they are amongſt their enemies that hate them, it ſtands them very much upon to look exactly to their words and wayes. And that upon a few Conſiderations.
For, Firſt, if there be any thing to be miſconſtrued, they will be ſure to make an ill interpretation of it, they will miſtake your words (as David ſpeaks) and miſtake your actions too, and turn them all the wrong way. Becauſe they hate you, they will lie upon the the catch, that they may pick ſome matter of exception and reproach againſt you. And if there be but any ſhew, or colour for it, they will glory out of meaſure as you may ſee Michal for an inſtance when David danced before the Ark. And therefore David calls them his obſervers, Pſal. 5.8. for ſo the Hebrew word imports, and ſo you find it in the Margine. And if they once get any matter by the end, Oh with what Joy and exultation will they vent it! Aha, ſay they, our eyes hath ſeen it, our ear hath heard it. And therefore we have need of wiſdom, yea the wiſdom of an Angel, to know how to demean our ſelves before ſuch perſons as theſe are.
Seconly, And as by reaſon of their hatred of you, they will be very buſie, and inquiſitive, to catch at any thing againſt you. So if they find it in the leaſt degree; they will be ſure to make the moſt of it. They will be very carefull that it ſhall not loſe a Jot by their means. And therefore we have reaſon to be very wary of doing any thing that may be capable of miſconſtruction, yea though we know it to be Lawfull; And to avoid the appearance of evil, That ſo theſe enemies of ours, who watch and hope to take us tripping, may be aſhamed, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Titus 2.8. as being diſappointed of that which they expected and deſired. For ſhame you know, is the fruit of diſappointment, that they may be aſhamed having no evil thing to ſay of you.
If they can miſ-interpret any thing you ſay or do, they will not only wound your names with it, but the name of God himſelf, and the credit of religion.
So that it is not a ſufficient Plea to ſay, that we are very well perſwaded that we have done no evil, and therefore if they make an ill conſtruction of it, the fault is theirs, and we muſt bear it, we cannot help it, we muſt endure their ſcandals and reproaches; No, my beloved, this is not enough, it ought to be our care, as much as lyes in us, to prevent thoſe ill Conſtructions, and to take away occaſion from thoſe that long and ſeek for it. For theſe reproaches do not reſt in us. If we alone did bear them, if they did reach no further then our perſons, it were well. But God and his Religion, and his Goſpel, are miſerably wounded through our ſides, by this occaſion; and therefore we muſt ſee that we do nothing, as far as it is poſſible, from whence theſe enemies of ours may take advantage to wound ſuch pretious things as theſe are.
And as they will take occaſion, if there be any colour for it, to diſhonour Gods name, ſo to undo and damn their own ſouls. If they find weakneſſes and flaws, …n thoſe who are Chriſts Diſciples, this ſets them off the further from religion. If they ſee them to fall ſhort, or take them tripping any way, in any thing that falls within their compaſs to diſcover, this ſtrangely hardens them againſt profeſſion. I am perſwaded there are many ſouls in hell, who have been kept aloof from Chriſt, and from Religion, by the incircumſpect and careleſs walking of thoſe who have either been really, or have been taken to be Chriſts Diſciples. And therefore let it be our care, that while we go to heaven with our friends, no enemies of ours may go to hell by our means.
Uſe. 4 Is it the manner of the wicked, &c. Then let it not ſeem ſtrange to Chriſts Diſciples, if they be hated in the world, if they be wronged and injured and abuſed, on all hands. Let them not look upon it as a thing to be admired and wondred at, if they be very courſely uſed and very ill intreated here. If they be alwayes troubled and diſtreſſed, if they be alwayes followed and perſued with ſpightfull moleſtations, and vexations, let them not think much of it, but let them look upon it as an ordinary thing, and let them ſeriouſly conſider that they could expect no other, living in ſuch a place, and with ſuch company as they do. Only to ſtay them and ſupport them in ſuch a troubleſome condition, let them take notice of a few things.
1. God and Jeſus Chriſt love you, and love you very dearly, though the world hate you. And whether do you think the love of God will do you moſt good, or the hatred of the world will do you moſt hurt? I beſeech you my beloved, ſet the one in oppoſition to the other, and when you are diſquieted at any time, to think how you are hated and maligned and abuſed in the world, conſider on the other ſide, how you are beloved of God; how dear are you to Jeſus Chriſt, who loved you and gave himſelf for you. And if you weigh the matter well, you will find infinitely greater cauſe to cheer your hearts with his love, then to deject them with the worlds hatred.
2. Jeſus Chriſt himſelf was in the ſame condition with you when he lived in the world. You fare no worſe then he did. And this is that which he himſelf propounds to his Apoſtles and Diſciples to the very ſame end, John 15.18. If the world hate you, ſaith Chriſt, you know that it hated me before it hated you. Are you hated in the world? let not that ſeem ſtrange to you; you know your ſelves, it hated me before you, or elſe it hated me who am before you; It hated me foreign It hated me prius, or it hated me priorem, for it may be both wayes rendred. It hated me before you, in regard of time, or me who am before you in regard of Dignity, as Calvin very well obſerves upon the place.
And ſhould not this Conſideration quiet us and make us patient? we are hated in the world; why ſo was Jeſus Chriſt himſelf. Why ſhould we look to be exempted from that to which our bleſſed Saviour was expoſed? yea, he was hated in the firſt place, and we are hated after him, and in reference to him; Though he were abſolutely holy, harmleſs, ſeparate from ſinners, he was hated notwithſtanding. Alas, my brethren, how unholy, how faulty, how injurious many times are we to others? And then what wonder is it that they take offence at us? Though Chriſt were far above us every way, though he were our Lord and Maſter, he was exceedingly maligned in the world. And why ſhould we expect in this regard to be above him, to fare better then he did? No, let it be ſufficient for us, that we are no worſe, no nor ſo ill intreat-as our Lord and Maſter was.
3. The hatred of the world is no impediment at all, no barr, no hindrance to your bleſſedneſs. Indeed, it fits you rather and qualifies you for it, as Jeſus Chriſt himſelf inſinuates, in his Sermon on the Mount, Mat. 5.12. Bleſſed are ye when men revile you, and perſecute you, and ſay all evil of you falſly. And the Apoſtle Peter, to the ſame effect, 1 Pet. 4.14. ſaith he, If you be reproached for the name of Chriſt, happy are you. So that malignity and injury, and evil uſage from the world, are no way inconſiſtent with our happineſs, neither with our preſent nor our future happineſs.
1. Our preſent happineſs conſiſteth in the title that we have to Chriſt, the intereſt we have in him, and the Communion we have with him. Can the hatred of the world put an end to this Communion? No, ſaith the Apoſtle Paul, Rom. 3.35. Who ſhall ſeparate us from the Love of Chriſt? ſhall tribulation, or diſtreſs, or perſecution, or famine, or nakedneſs, or peril, or ſword? as it is written, for thy ſake are we killed all the day long. Nay, in all theſe things we are more then Conquerours through him that loves as. For I am verily perſwaded, that neither death nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor heigth, not depth, nor any other creature, ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the love of God which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord. Nay, to ſay truth, Chriſt loves us moſt, and hath moſt communion with us, when the world is moſt againſt us. Then he is ſpecially preſent with us, as he was with Paul, Acts 18.9. and with the Martyrs in the Dungeon, in the Stocks, in the flames. And it is certain that Chriſt doth then reveal himſelf moſt ſweetly to his people, when the world diſcovers moſt malignity and rage againſt them. So that it is not all their hatred can keep a Chriſtian from the love and fellowſhip of Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo by Conſequence it cannot keep him from his preſent happineſs.
2. And for our happineſs to come, it cannot hinder that neither. It doth not lie ſo looſe, my brethren, that all the world can take it from us. No, it is in Gods keeping; he openeth and no man ſhutteth; he ſhutteth and no man openeth. He opened Heaven upon Stephen, when the world was ſhewing the utmoſt of its rage againſt him. And verily a Chriſtian is as near the complement and the perfection of his happineſs, when he ſuffers all the wrong and ignominy and contempt that the world can pour upon him, and ſometimes nearer then he is at other times; for that may be the way to it. And hence, ſaith Chriſt in the forealledged text, Mat. 5.11. Bleſſed are ye when men revile you; Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, And why ſo? For great is your reward in heaven.