Tranquillity and Prosperity of the Churches on the Conversion of Saul of Tarsus

    It is true that many useful purposes in the Divine Providence are served by persecution of the faith of Christ. It is equally true that persecution is always an evil in itself, and is only indirectly made subservient to the divine glory. The good that God effects by it is good brought out of evil. In its own nature it is calculated to injure, and would not only injure, but destroy the cause of God, were it not that his Almighty power and his wisdom can make the wrath of man to praise him. Instead, then, of being sought and longed for as a blessing, it "ought to be deprecated and avoided as far as possible. Our Lord, therefore, charges us to pray that we enter not into temptation, because it is a grievous thing in itself; and unless we were upheld by the Almighty power of God, we should assuredly be overcome and fall. In this many of the earliest saints known to church history were to blame, and nothing shows more clearly a commencement, even at that time, of a defection from the faith, than the fanatical ambition that they had for the honour of martyrdom. They courted the stake and the teeth of the lions; and were displeased with those who endeavoured to save them, as if they had done them an injury. Christ does not command this. When they persecute you in this city, says he, flee you to another. We are to give our lives only when we must either yield them, or deny Christ. If we, out of ignorance, go beyond this, and throw away life without being called to it, the Lord, no doubt, will pardon our ignorance, but we will have no reward for ignorance. Ignatius was much to blame in this respect. His letters are rather a sort of pious raving about the glories of martyrdom, than an example of the strongest self-denial in parting with the thing of all things on earth most valuable—the life. He is like the warrior who is prodigal of life from the love of fame, and his own advantage from victory, rather than from a single eye to the authority and glory of his sovereign. Would that general deserve approbation who would grieve that a part of the dominions of his sovereign should be saved by the voluntary submission of the enemy, and that victory was not gained by the effusion of an ocean of blood?

    Even in modern times, when, alas! there are no symptoms of the zeal of Ignatius, the common maxim, which in one sense is true, is generally quoted in a very false sense—" The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." Many quote this maxim, as if they longed for persecution, and as if they considered times of trial as the halcyon days of the church. Neither Scripture nor experience warrants this doctrine. God may always bring good out of evil, and always make persecution tend to spread the gospel somewhere. But persecution, while it may send the gospel to distant places, may almost extinguish it in the place where it exists. It may, indeed, afterwards arise from the ashes into new life. But it may also be in a manner extinguished for ages. Witness France, Bohemia, and many of the best reformed countries at the Reformation. They are still in the ashes of the conflagration. And, at all events, whatever is to be the result, the immediate consequence to many is a fall to rise no more. In every time of persecution, multitudes deny Christ. This ought to make every one dread it even more than death; because no man could stand, unless God should uphold him. Instead, then, of fanatically congratulating one another that times of glorious persecution are shortly ready to arise, we ought to pray earnestly and constantly that God may not, in his Providence, lead us into temptation. And let us not only, being aware of our own weakness, and well informed of our duty in this respect, pray against times of suffering; but let us labour incessantly, and with every talent, to do the will of God, that so, when he comes, we may be found, like good servants, doing his will, and waiting for his coming. Whatever our hand finds to do, let us do it with all our might. This, we are sure, is right, whether times of prosperity or times of adversity are at the door. This is the course in which we shall have peace and confidence now; and this is the course which Jesus will approve when he comes to judgment. "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Let us not be ashamed of any truth, or of any duty. They who laugh at us now will shortly weep and mourn. Let every soldier of Christ attack the enemy with whatever weapons God has put into his hands. The metaphysician affects to prove not only the uselessness, but the absurdity of Christianity. Physical science insults the records of Holy Scripture by pretended discoveries, deduced from facts in the most philosophical manner; and a multitude of the undecided, who still wear the livery of the Lord Jesus, hover between the camp of Israel and the camp of the uncircumcised, under the pretence of mediating between the contending armies, and effecting a reconciliation in a way that will do full justice to the claims of both. A new philosophy has been invented by the prince of darkness for the vulgar and the profane and ignorant rabble are made to talk with an appearance of the wisdom of Socrates. Heresy and fanaticism appear in all their forms, and almost in every party. If it were possible, surely, among them, they would deceive the very elect. Soldiers of Christ, arise; put on your armour! Onward, onward, brave companions of Christ. Fear not the multitude nor the talents of your adversaries. The Lord sits in the heavens, and shall laugh them to scorn. He entered into Jerusalem into the midst of his enemies, surrounded only by the body guards of little children singing hosannas. It is glorious to be called to fight the battles of the Lord: it is peculiarly glorious to be called to the encounter of the enemy at a time when they are so powerful and so determined. Dread not the number nor the fierceness of their hosts. Think of the resolution of Jonathan and his armour-bearer. "Come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few."

    If it is wrong to wish for persecution, it is equally wrong to provoke it. As in the early ages of Christianity, some persons offered themselves unnecessarily to danger and death, so at present some seem desirous of provoking hostility and of exciting persecution. They seem to think that they are never strictly faithful, except they are giving studied offence. This is wrong: this serves not the gospel, but effectually injures its progress. We are to give no offence to Jew or Gentile, or to the church of God. Paul was faithful, and by that made many enemies ; but Paul, instead of wishing to give offence, laboured to become all things to all men, that he might gain some. There is offence enough in the cross, without adding any thing to it. Let us profess all the truth, and practise all the duties which we have learned from the Scripture: let us defend that truth and practice against all their enemies. But let us not suffer for our own whims. Let it be God's truth only for which we can contend. Then we will be enabled to despise ridicule and reproach; and with exultation anticipate the promise to faithfulness, when the Lord comes to judgment. We ought not to preach the gospel as a cruel magistrate would read the riot act, merely as a form to enable us lawfully to fire on the crowd. We ought to wish earnestly, and to pray fervently, and to strive with all the zeal of love, to bring the opposer and the persecutor to the knowledge of Christ. In the fact before us in this passage, we see how easily the Providence of God turns the storm into a calm. By the conversion of Saul of Tarsus he gave rest to the churches. "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."

    Here we see that, if persecution is always overruled by Providence for the good of the truth, the direct means of edifying and multiplying believers is by giving rest to the churches. Many new churches were planted through the means of the late persecution which arose on the death of Stephen; but these churches were all edified and multiplied in the time of rest from persecution. Let us not, then, wish for persecution, but let us use that rest which we enjoy in energy of efforts for the prosperity of Zion. Here we see also that Providence can give peace and rest to the churches as easily in countries which are arbitrary and tyrannical in their government as in the freest states. There is no external blessing more valuable to the Christian than a free government. When he enjoys liberty of conscience, he ought to be grateful to God, and grateful to the civil constitution which confers on him so valuable a privilege. Nothing is more unbecoming in a Christian than to encourage petulance, discontent, or a spirit of insubordination in the country in which he lives. But Christians who enjoy not this invaluable privilege ought not to be discouraged. They should remember that the supreme government of any country is in the hands of their Lord; and that he can protect them under a despot, as well as under a government limited by law. -Here the churches have rest even in the countries in which they had been persecuted, without any change of rulers, or of the constitution of government.

    Who is so blind as not to see Providence here? In Russia, the Christian ought not to meddle with those who should conspire to restrain despotism. His God can give him peace even from an absolute sovereign, even when that absolute sovereign might be himself an enemy of God. When God desires to change a wicked and tyrannical government, his Providence will employ the hands of the wicked to effect his purpose. His children, in all cases, should obey the existing powers, in all things not contrary to the laws of God. Another observation equally true, and equally important, and almost equally obvious, is, that as God can give rest to his churches under the most despotic governments, so persecution may take place in one form or other, in the most free countries under heaven. In every country," as a matter of fact, there is persecution under various forms. But even where there is protection by law, there may be annoyance and danger of life in the service of God. Who is ignorant that, under the British government, in some parts of the empire, a disciple of Christ could not oppose the superstitions of the people but at the hazard of life? Even where we live, then, in the countries that are blessed with liberty, we must, in the service of Christ, look to his Providence for protection. We may have liberty as an act of legislation, but the violence of irreligion may render it useless. What, then, I would wish to impress on all Christians is this: In free countries, let them not trust to their civil privileges for protection. Let their strength be the Rock of Israel. In despotic countries let them not be discouraged. If they have correct views of the duty of Christians to civil government, there will be no just grounds of suspicion against them, even to the most tyrannical rulers. It is to be regretted, that though the nature of civil subjection is taught in Scripture, with a clearness, and precision, and fulness beyond almost any other subject, yet few, very few, Christians fully understand it. They are all perfectly willing to obey government as long as government patronises themselves and their religion; but there are comparatively few who will not murmur when they are called to conscientious submission even under tyranny, and oppression, and persecution. Right views of Providence are as essential on this subject as right views of civil subjection. If Christians see their Lord ruling with an invisible arm in every thing that takes place on the earth, they will have no apprehension from the unreserved civil obedience that he allows them to give to their rulers. But if they overlook this, or look on Providence as ruling only by general design and original arrangement, they will wince when they feel the lash. The well taught Christian can see the Lord presiding in the fires of his execution. All things work together for the good of them who love God.