“And now did I see plainly, that persons of every denomination, who are yet in their sins, under the guilt and power of them, are at enmity against Christ. And that Protestants, as well as Papists, have _naturally_ a spirit of calumny and persecution.” Alas, names and opinions, what are they? They do not, cannot alter the nature of men or things; and experience abundantly shews, how little influence they have over ♦the tempers and life of the generality of mankind. “Reformed and unreformed (adds he) I found it to be just alike; and that many who spoke against the _Pope_ and _Inquisition_ were themselves in reality of the same spirit.” ♦ duplicate word “the” removed “When I was first converted, I had no notion that people could hate, and speak evil of me, for fearing God, and working righteousness.¹ But experience has taught me otherwise, I soon found the truth of the apostle’s words, That _all who will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution_, (2 Timothy iii. 12.) relations, acquaintance, and neighbours, rich and poor, old and young, clergy and laity, were all against me. Some said I was an hypocrite; others that I was mad; others, judging more favourably, that I was deceived. Many that before thought well; yea, highly of me, knew not how to harbour a good thought of me.” ¹ This is not indeed the _avowed_ reason of the opposition which the world has in all ages made to the servants of Christ. But that it is the _true_ one the scriptures abundantly testify. But when God speaks powerfully to the heart, the sentiments and words of men, be they flattering or threatning, make but little impression. He was therefore so far from being moved by this treatment, that it became to him, rather a confirmation of the doctrine of the Son of God, who says, expressly, _Wo unto you, when all men shall speak well of you; and blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil of you falsely for my name-sake_. “Of a truth the _world lieth in the wicked one_. And they who are after the flesh, will hate and persecute them that are after the Spirit. The devil hates Christ and his children. It is the Spirit of Christ in his children, which that evil spirit in the _children of disobedience_ so violently opposes. The spirit of the world _lusteth to envy_. The devil envied _Adam_; so did _Cain_ his brother _Abel_: and as it has been of old time, so it is at this day. _Light can have no communion with darkness, neither Christ with Belial._ In this respect, _there is nothing new under the sun_; but _that which hath been, is the thing that is_. The true worshippers of God, under the old Testament, and the sincere disciples of Christ, under the new, have been evil treated by those among whom they lived. They hated them, because their works were righteous. And so it is even now.” CHAPTER XI.