If we were of the world, the world would love its own, but “because,” said Christ, “ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” “We know,” said he, “it hated me before it hated you.” True Christians are aliens, foreigners, men that speak another speech, men who are actuated by different motives, men who live for different ends, who are governed by different maxims from the rest of the men of this world, therefore it is that their pathway must be one of trial and opposition. All things the Christian teaches are so dead against the pleasures of the worldling and his gain, that it is no wonder he opposes us. Men hate the gospel because the gospel does not like them. That Church is never true to her Christ, nor true to herself which does not draw upon herself the hatred of ungodly men, by a faithful testimony against their sins.
From a sermon entitled "Fire! Fire! Fire!" delivered June 23, 1861. Flickr photo by Anita Martinz; some rights reserved.
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