Mark, friends, that it is certainly his pleasure, that the servant be as his lord. Matt. 10:25. Hence Christ in his time assured his servants and disciples of so much sorrow, tribulation, reproach, suffering, and of death, for his name’s sake. He did not give it to them as his opinion, not as something which might eventually, or perhaps come to pass, but positively assured them that it should befall them, as will here follow, and, in part, be shown.

In the first place, Christ’s own words: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up (he says, they will deliver you up) to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.” Matt. 10:16–18.

Again: “The brother shall,” he says, shall, “deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child; and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall” he says, shall, “be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” Verses 21, 22.

Again: “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord, nor the disciple above his master. If they have persecuted me, they will (he says, they will) also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake.” John 15:20,21.

And again: These things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended. They shall (he says, they shall) put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, (mark well) ye may remember that I told you of them. 16:1–4. Paul, also, says that we must through much tribulation (he says, must through much tribulation) enter into the kingdom of God: Acts 14:22. And that all (he says, all) that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12.

Now, dear friends, mark, if it must be so, and also will be so; as has been mentioned in part, and is certain, then, in the name of God, let it be [borne] willingly, and let us not regard the fearful tribulation and distress, but look far beyond, as said before, and be mindful of the comfort contained in the declaration that this temporal tribulation is not worthy to be compared with the eternal glory (Rom. 8:18); and let us also remember that this evil and unrighteous world is not fit for, and was not worthy of, that blessed crown for suffering for righteousness’ sake. Heb. 11:38.

But they are fit who have followed Christ in the regeneration, and forsaken all that is dear to them here. Matt. 19:28. Remember also, brethren, that they who are, or would be, without this chastisement, are bastards, and not sons. Heb. 12:8. Thus, tribulation is certainly promised us believers, as has been heard.

With regard to this, I counsel with Sirach and many others. If we would serve God, let us do it with earnestness, lest we tempt him (Sir. 18:23); for he that would be God’s servant, must prepare (mark, prepare) himself for temptation, and always labor in the work of the Lord, that, whether we be present with him, or whether we be here, absent from him, we may always please God; and every one of us must strive to be (not to think, or boast [of being], but to be), the chief in good works, as also Peter says: “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for his coming, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Pet. 3:14. O how we must be prepared then with a holy conversation, and with godliness. Every man that hath this hope in him must purify himself, even as he (whom we look for) is pure. 1 John 3:3. He that is holy, must become still holier; and he that is pure, still purer. To become holier and holier behooves us, since we call upon such an Holy One as our Father, who judges without respect of persons, as Peter says, and this according to every man’s work. Hence, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear, and it will then be with us as Peter says: Let all them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him with good works (mark, with good works), as unto a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:19. Let no one here understand salvation by good works, but salvation with good works; good works without meriting salvation, (mark well) for salvation is of grace, thanks to our Lord Christ, as in Gal. 2:16, and still clearer in Eph. 2:7.[305] This I say is my advice, that we also thus prepare our souls, and commit them to him as unto a faithful [Creator], with good works without boasting (without boasting), as his unprofitable servants, who would fain be perfect. Luke 17:10. Finally, dear friends, let us not seek to save our life, which, at all events, we must eventually lose; but let us always entreat our God for strength to suffer, that we may finish our course as valiant adventurers. Amen, dear Lord, Amen.

Here now follow instances of exemplary adventurers of former times—pious persons that were persecuted, greatly hated, and put to death; mark, how, by whom, and also why these things always happened; namely, in order that we need not think it strange, when we become partakers of the same sufferings and death.

In the first place, pious, good Abel was slain by Cain, out of hatred on account of his piety. Lot was greatly vexed by the wanton Sodomites, because of his virtue and righteousness. David was persecuted by Saul, Shimei, and by Absalom his son, for his glory and own kingdom. The man of God from Judah was threatened by Jeroboam, because of his prophesying against Jeroboam’s gods and his altar. 1 Kings 13. The holy and mighty prophet of God, Elijah, and many others who were put to death in his time; he had to flee from the place, and was greatly persecuted by Jezebel, on account of his prophetic miracles which he wrought through God. 1 Kings 19. Micaiah was imprisoned by the king, who fed him with the water and bread of affliction, because he opposed the four hundred false prophets of Jezebel with the Spirit and holy word of God. 1 Kings 22:27. Urijah, a prophet, and also a fugitive, was brought back, and slain with the sword by King Jehoiakim, on account of his message from God, the prophecy against Jerusalem and the land of Judah. Jer. 26:20–23. Jeremiah, a prophet of God, was cast by the princes into the miry pit to die, because he would not cease to preach and prophesy in the name of the Lord. Jer. 38:6. Zechariah, a priest’s son, and prophet of the Lord, was stoned at the commandment of the king, because he had prophesied nothing but calamity for them, because they had forsaken that which was good, and transgressed the word of God. 2 Chron. 24:21. Mark, for what reason each one of these was put to death.