Rejoice
No. Rather, rejoice and be very glad when people persecute you for his sake, when they persecute you by reviling you and by saying every kind of evil against you falsely, which they will not fail to mix with every kind of persecution. They must blacken you to excuse themselves. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:12), those who were most eminently holy in heart and life, yes, and all the righteous who have ever been from the beginning of the world. Rejoice, because by this mark also you know to whom you belong, and because great is your reward in heaven (Matthew 5:12), the reward purchased by the blood of the covenant and freely given in proportion to your sufferings as well as to your holiness of heart and life. Be very glad, knowing that these light afflictions, which are only for a moment, work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
1771 text
11. Nay, rather, rejoice and be exceeding glad, when men persecute you for his sake: when they persecute you by reviling you, and by saying all manner of evil against you falsely; (which they will not fail to mix with every kind of persecution; they must blacken you to excuse themselves.) For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you, those who were most eminently holy in heart and life; yea, and all the righteous which ever have been from the beginning of the world. Rejoice, because by this mark also, ye know unto whom ye belong. And because great is your reward in heaven: the reward purchased by the blood of the covenant, and freely bestowed in proportion to your sufferings, as well as to your holiness of heart and life. Be exceeding glad; knowing that these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
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.