June 3

Who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good? - 1 Peter 3:13.

THERE are two kinds of questions: some are for information, and some are for conformation. Now, the question here proposed is not of the former but of the latter character; that is, it does not arise from ignorance, but from knowledge; it does not import any doubtfulness, but is designed to express certainty. It is of the nature of a powerful asseveration; as if he had said, “No one will hurt you if ye be followers of that which is good.” The assertion, however, requires some considerable illustration, if not proof, because there are facts which seem to oppose it, and there are parts of Scripture which seem not well to harmonize with it.

Who will harm the believer? Will God? He is able; his very frown-his look-is annihilation; his eye is upon us, and we are nothing. But will he “harm us”? He? Is not he our Friend and your Father? He? Has he not “loved us with an everlasting love,” and drawn us to himself? He? Has he not sacrificed his own Son for the salvation of your souls? “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up, how shall not be with him also freely give us all things?” Will angels? They are able to do it; they are called the “mighty angels,” the least of whom could wield the elements of destruction; and we see in the Scriptures what they have done to the enemies of God. But, though they are the enemies of God’s enemies, they are only friends to God’s friends; for “the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, to deliver them.” Will devils? They are able. They have malice enough, if they had liberty; and they have liberty with regard to some, and therefore the Apostle Peter says, “Your adversary, the devil, goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” But what said Satan concerning Job himself? “Doth Job fear God for naught? hast not thou made a hedge about him and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?” And what said our Saviour of Peter? “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have thee, that he may sift thee as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” Oh, we need not be afraid of him; the apostle says, “The God of peace shall bring Satan under your feet shortly.”

Who among the children of men will harm a Christian? Good men certainly will not. They “who love him that begat love, love them also that are begotten.” A Cain may ask, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” but every one who partakes of the disposition of Paul will say, “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?” Will wise governors? No; they know that “righteousness exalteth a nation;” they know that the best subjects must be always those who are “subject, not for wrath, but for conscience’ sake towards God.” Will God-fearing magistrates? No; “they are ministers of God for good;” they bear not indeed “the sword in vain;” but while “they are a terror to evil-doers,” they are “a praise to them that do well.” But will not ignorant bad men injure a child of God? Solomon tells us that “he who follows after truth makes himself a prey.” The apostle says, “If any man will live godly in Christ Jesus, he shall suffer persecution.” Our Saviour says, “Marvel not if the world hate you; ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” There are yet instances of injury which law cannot restrain; and there are dependants-there are wives, and children, and servants, and workmen, and tradesmen-who are suffering from persecution at this very hour. In a subsequent meditation, we will endeavour fairly to meet this difficulty, and see whether we cannot remove this apparent contradiction; for this assurance must be true, notwithstanding all this.