The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-20

best Of all men he yet was hated as
few bad men have been hated. AS old
Thomas Decker in the seventeenth CEN
fury wrote in his best known play Of
him:
The best of men
That e'er wore earth about him was a
sufferer;
A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil
spirit,
The first true gentleman that ever
i~brearhed."
He was so hated that He told His
disciples ruhat He was hated and THAT
they would he hated. II have chosen
you out of the world, therefore the
world hateth you. = II they have
prosecuted me-, they will prosecute you
also" John Is, 2O.) He distinctly states
that 'sthey hated me (Him) without a
cause" The works of Christ were His
witness, and they gave full proof Of
His ministry, Of His divinity, of His
mission into this sin-ridden, sin-cursed,
lost world. His beholders were not ig-
norant, but knew whence He was and
why He came. They knew therefore
just whom they hated, and that it was
without cause. The reason of their
hatred n malice was of no avail for
it was because His enemies loved sin.
That was the real, the only cause of
their hatred n Opposition-sin in
their souls. Sinful men are apt to hate
those whose words or actions are a
reproof unto themselves" So no disci-
pie of Christine sincere, c~onsecrated,
Christ-seeking disciple-one with the
root of the matter" in him-one who
has been born genuinely again, born
into Christ's kingdom of Righteousness,
born of the Holy Spirit, reed to expect
immunity or escape from the persecu-
tors of the world-the men who move
on a very low plane of christian living
if they move at all-men who are still
in sin, without a proper knowledge Of
Christ, without holiness unto the Lord.
If like minded with Christ you will be
made ito suffer with Him. The conso-
lations Of the true disciple must come
from God-come from His blessed
promises, His sustaining grace, His
ineffable love. So there is NO need
Of despondency or worry if
says, MY grace shall be sufficient
for you," with emphasis on "shall be-
Christ was hated, so shall you be hated
if you are indeed His. If you are not
worldly minded you can draw comfort
from the reflection that this persecution
you bearcomes because you are Christ's
disciple. Christ endured and SO must
His faithful ones, for 1.-The servant is
greater than his Lord Men per-
secute, wound, revile, hate in ignorance
Of God, of His fellowship, Of His grace
and guidance. Sin lies at the. root of
all hatred n persecution. Cure the
sin and the fruits disappear. No man
would ever bless his enemy and per-
secutOr if he were put of Christ, away
from God, untainted by the spirit of
grace. Ignorance of God is wilful, and
is not therefore, excuse or cloak for
sin Of any kind. No man trying to
serve God sincerely, to love Him with
the whole heart, to be a benefit in some
way to lost and suffering humanity,
should either los peace or hope-should
be either surprised ever or detected
when the fulilment comes that Is writ
ten in the eternal Scriptures of In
%spiration. Because I have chosen you
therefore the world hateth
you." Thus spoke the Master. 1t was
prophesied Of the Lord Jesus Himself
They that are mine enemies. and
would destroy me guiltless are mighty"
The thing for the humble, sincere,
faithful disciple to do is to avoid sin,
to give no occasion for sin, if possible
not to awaken the hatred Of sinners.
Do not provoke the prosecutor to per-
peace and pursue it," Live peacably
with all men,. It is wrong to provoke
any n to sin. 1t is sinful to provoke.
to invite sin. Follow the Lord and
Master here. Study Paul's letters and
Johns first Epistle, and learn what it
is to be a Christian indeed. If we are
wronged and sinned against let us try
avoid the spirit Of retaliation. We
should strive to be submissive and con- |
tent to suffer if God so pleases without /
to b angry and sin not" We |
ought to cultivate, to seek the blessed
and glorious fruits Of the Spirit as
taught in the Holy Scriptures. We
ought to have the spirit Of meekness, |
IF g~entleness and love. The command |
S "love your enemies" Our light ought |
to shine in darkness as at MONDAY |
lin the storm and stress, as the Ger |
say. as well is in calm and CON- |
when life is sweet and the skies |
ire bright. God lead US ito glorfiy our
which is in Heaven"