This was made known to the primitive Christians.  Therefore their fortitude and zeal to do and suffer in the cause of God—­“Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.—­I reckon the sufferings of the present time, not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Totally groundless and unjust, was that charge—­“I knew thee that thou art an hard man.”  We serve a just, a kind, a good master.  Even a cup of cold water, given, out of love to him, will in no wise go unrewarded—­he asks no sacrifice of us for nought.  Much less that we would sacrifice ourselves, and be castaways.  “Those who honor him, he will honor.”

The slaves of Satan are repaid with misery; but not so the servants of God.  “He is not unrighteous to forget our labor of love.”  These things are revealed for our encouragement and support.  Yea, God hath “given us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature—­let us therefore be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as we know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

* * * * * *

SERMON IX.

St. Paul’s Wish to be accursed from Christ.

Romans ix. 3

“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

Few characters more remarkable than that of St. Paul, are to be found in history.  He is introduced to our acquaintance on a tragical occasion—­the martyrdom of Stephen, where he appears an accomplice with murderers—­“he was standing by and consenting to his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.”

The circumstances of Paul’s conversion to Christianity were very remarkable, and afford strong evidence of its truth.  He was not an ignorant youth, who could be easily deluded.  He had all the advantages of education which that enlightened age afforded.  He was born indeed at Tarsus, a city of Cilicia; but sent to Jerusalem for an education, and “brought up at the feet of Gamaliel,” a famous Jewish Rabbi, who is said to have been many years president of the Sanhedrin; and renowned for wisdom and erudition.

Paul’s mind was not only early imbued with general science, but he was particularly instructed in the Jews’ religion, and became a zealous member of the pharisaic sect—­verily believed the truth to be with them—­thought it to be his duty to inculcate their sentiments, both scriptural and traditionary, and oppose all who did not fall in with their views, and help to increase their influence, and spread their principles.  Therefore his hatred of Christianity, and determination to destroy it from its foundation—­Therefore his implacable aversion to Christians, and unwearied endeavors to reduce them from the faith, or compel them to blaspheme, or where he failed in those attempts, to destroy them from the earth.