(6.) But there is another point in which our blessed Saviour has marked the contrast between the two classes still more clearly, viz., this, The world does not love Christ or His people. I know that the first impression produced on many minds by such a statement would be that there is not this antipathy in our own times. There is so much kindliness of heart amongst worldly people, and in many cases they show so much friendliness, that it is difficult to realise this hostility. But our Lord distinctly declares it, and all His words are true. In John, xv. 18, 19, He says, ‘If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.’ So again (John, xvii. 14), ‘I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.’ So St. John echoes His Master’s words, and says (1 John, iii. 13, 14), ‘Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you: we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.’ In all these passages there is the contrast clearly marked between the world and those whom God has called out of it to be a separate people unto Himself; a contrast so marked that it produces enmity on the part of the world towards the separated people. But still, as I have already said, there are multitudes of professing Christians who are ready to deny the existence of any such enmity, and most of ourselves have frequently met with generosity and kindness from those who we cannot but fear are still people of the world. How then are we to explain this apparent difference between Scripture and experience? How is it that we do not find a greater hostility on the part of the world towards the people of God? Of course the testimony of God’s Word must be true, and the explanation must be sought for in ourselves. I would suggest to those brethren who think they see a difficulty, three inquiries which may perhaps remove it. (1.) Do we not sometimes mistake conformity to the externals of the Gospel for love to Christ? In a Christian country like this, the most thoroughly worldly persons are induced, by their sense of respectability, to conform to the visible practices of Christianity; but it does not follow on that account, that the real enmity of the human heart towards a blessed Saviour is removed, or that the offence of the cross has ceased. (2.) Do we not sometimes mistake personal regard to ourselves, for a love to the people of God? Men of the world have strong natural affections, and those natural affections may happen to be fixed on the children of God; but it does not follow on that account, that they love either Christ or His people.