Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse III · §31

Reviling

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But the persecution which attends all the children of God is the one our Lord describes in the following words. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you, shall persecute you by reviling you, and say every kind of evil against you falsely, for my sake. This cannot fail. It is the very badge of our discipleship. It is one of the seals of our calling. It is a sure portion entailed on all the children of God. If we do not have it, we are bastards and not sons (Hebrews 12:8). Straight through evil report, as well as good report (2 Corinthians 6:8), lies the only way to the kingdom. The meek, serious, humble, zealous lovers of God and man are of good report among their brothers and sisters, but of evil report with the world, who count and treat them as the filth and offscouring of all things (1 Corinthians 4:13).

1771 text

7. But the persecution which attends all the children of God, is that our Lord describes in the following words. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you (shall persecute, by reviling you) and say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake. This cannot fail: it is the very badge of our discipleship: it is one of the seals of our calling. It is a sure portion, entailed on all the children of God: if we have it not, we are bastards and not sons. Strait thro’ evil report, as well as good report, lies the only way to the kingdom. The meek, serious, humble, zealous lovers of God and man, are of good report among their brethren; but of evil report with the world, who count and treat them as the filth and off-scouring of all things.

About this text

Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.

Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.

Catalogue & scope

Sermon 23 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:8-12.

This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.