Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/382

 iation to  fortune,  honor,  or  life. These are  caused  by the  Devil  or  his  ministers,  sometimes,  also,  by  mistake (God so  permitting),  by  the  just  themselves. They are suffered for  justice  sake,  when  they  are  borne  with patience and  accompanied  with  the  exercise  of  virtue, and in  compliance  with  our  duty  toward  God  and  men. They ought  not  to  be  suffered  with  patience  only,  but with joy  at  the  greatness  of  the  reward;  therefore,  St. Peter  says,  "  Let  none  of  you  suffer  as  a  murderer,  or  a thief,  or  a  railer,  or  as  coveting  the  goods  of  others,  but if  as  a  Christian,  let  him  not  be  ashamed,  but  let  him glorify  God  in  that  name." (1 Pet.  iv.  15.)

II. Christ suffered  all  kinds  of  injuries  and  inconveniences in  His  honor,  in  His  goods,  and  in  His  person,  for  a cause,  which  on  His  part  was  perfectly  just. He suffered in consequence  of  His  publishing  His  Divine  law  and  endeavoring to  bring  men  back  again  from  vice  and  folly, into the  way  of  their  eternal  salvation. Therefore, " Look  and  make  it  according  to  the  pattern." (Exod. xxv. 40.)

III. The reward  attached  to  the  suffering  for  justice sake, is  no  less  than  "  the  kingdom  of  Heaven." When you suffer,  then,  with  joy  and  patience,  "  Rejoice  and  be exceeding  glad,  because  your  reward  is.  very  great  in Heaven." Ponder deeply,  therefore,  the  greatness  of  the reward, and  the  truth  of  the  apostolic  oracle,  "The  sufferings of  this  present  time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared with  the  glory  to  come,  that  shall  be  revealed  in us." (Rom. viii.  18.)