He was oppressed, &c. yet he opened not his mouth, &c. as a sheep, &c. so he opened not his mouth.Isa. liii. 7. Ps. xxxviii. 13, 14.

Jeremiah said, As for me, behold, I am in your hand, do with me as seemeth good, &c.—Jer. xxvi. 11. 14.

Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.-Matt. v. 38, 39.

If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.-Matt. vi. 14, 15.

When one of Christ's disciples drew his sword, &c. he bid him put it up, &c.-Matt. xxvi. 51, 52.

James and John said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned and rebuked them: and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy mens' lives, but to save them.-Luke ix. 53-56.

Ye shall be hated, &c. In your patience possess ye your souls, &c.-Luke xxi. 17. 19.

Paul said to Festus (when he had said, He was beside himself), I am not mad, most noble Festus, &c.-Acts xxvi. 24, 25.

Being reviled, we bless, &c. being defamed, we intreat.-1 Cor. iv. 12, 13. See that none render evil for evil unto any man.-1 Thess. v. 15.

Ye have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not resist you.James v. 6.

Recompense to no man evil for evil, &c. Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.-Rom. xii. 17. 19. Deut. xxxii. 35.

So is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, &c. Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps, &c. who, when he was reviled, reviled not again when he suffered, he threatened not.--1 Pet. ii. 15. 21. 23.

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, &c.-1 Pet. iii. 9.

II. Not to desire, or rejoice in the hurt of Enemies and Persecutors.

David mourned and wept when Saul was slain, although he had been his deadly enemy; and hated and pursued him several years.—2 Sam. i. 4, &c.

Abner, his great enemy, who set up Ishbosheth in opposition to him, being slain, David said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever, &c. He commands all the people to mourn for him and himself mourned, and followed him to his funeral.- -2 Sam. iii. 27-29.

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31, 32.

So David, instead of rejoicing that Ishbosheth was slain, commanded his young men to kill those who slew him.-2 Sam. iv. 8-12.

When Israel had conquered Judah, the prophet commanded them to let the captives go, feed them, and clothe them, and not insult over them.2 Chron. xxviii. 9, &c.

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.-Job xxxi. 29, 30.

He that is glad at calamities, shall not be unpunished.-Prov. xvii. 5.

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be

feed him, &c. be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.— Rom. xii. 14. 20, 21.

Being reviled, we bless; being defamed, we intreat.-1 Cor.iv. 12, 13.

Bless them which persecute you, &c. Therefore if thine enemy hunger,

When there was a famine in the land where Abraham was, he removed to Egypt.-Gen. xii. 10.

When Abraham had heard that Lot was taken, &c. he pursued the enemy, and rescued him.-Gen. xiv. 14, &c.

When Jacob heard of his brother Esau's coming against him, he was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, &c. and said, If Esau come to the one company and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape, &c. And he took of that which came to his hand, a present for his brother Esau, &c. for he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, &c.-Gen. xxxii. 6-8. 13.20. xxxiii.3. 8. 13, 14.

Joseph, in the dungeon, desired the king's cupbearer to speak to the king on his behalf.-Gen. xl. 14, &c.

Saul sought to smite David, &c. but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, &c. and escaped that night. Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him, and to slay him, &c. His wife let him down through a window, and he went and fled, and escaped.-1 Sam. xix. 10-12.

David consulted with Jonathan about his safety from Saul.-1 Sam. xx.

David consulted with Hushai, and directed him what to do in order to his defeating of the counsel of Ahithophel.-2 Sam. xv. 32-37.

Elijah being threatened by Jezebel, arose, and went for his life, &c.—— 1 Kings xix. 2, 3.

Hezekiah laid figs to his sore, by the prophet's direction, and he recovered.-2 Kings xx. 7.

Sanballat, &c. conspired all of them

together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder the work nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. -Neh. iv. 7, 8.

Sanballat sent often to Nehemiah, to come unto him, but he refused: because he knew they thought to do him some mischief.-Neh. vi. 2-4.

Esther and Mordecai did many things to procure the Jew's escape. -Esth. viii. ix. Prov. xxiv. 11.

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Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be of heavy hearts.Prov. xxxi. 6.

Jeremiah intreated the king that he might not return to the prison, lest he should die there.-Jer. xxxvii. 18. 20. xxxviii. 7, &c.

Daniel applied himself to the captain of the king's guard, and to the king himself, for himself and friends. —Dan. ii. 13-16.

When Herod sought Christ, to kill him, the angel said unto Joseph, &c. Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there, &c. for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.Matt. ii. 13-15.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves, &c. And when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another.-Matt. x. 16. 23.

The Pharisees, &c. held a council against him, how they might destroy him but when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence, &c. he charged the multitude not to make him known. Matt. xii. 14-16. Mark iii. 6, 7.

take, and give unto them for thee and me.-Matt. xvii. 24-27.

When Jesus heard that John was beheaded, he departed thence by a ship into a desert place apart.-Matt. xiv. 12, 13.

Though Christ was free, and ought not to be charged with tribute money; yet he said to Peter, Notwithstanding lest we should offend them, go, &c.

When Christ had raised the ruler's daughter from the dead, he commanded that something should be given her to eat.-Mark v. 41-43.

Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.-John vii. 1.

They took up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out, &c. and so passed by.-John viii. 59.

From that day forth they took counsel together to put him to death: Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence into a country near the wilderness.-John xi. 53, 54.

The doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews.-John xx. 19.

When Saul persecuted the church at Jerusalem, the brethren were scattered abroad.--Acts viii. 1: 3, 4. xi. 19.

The Jews took counsel to kill Paul; but their laying await was known unto Saul, and they watched the gates day and night to kill him: then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket, &c. The Grecians went about to slay him; which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.-Acts ix. 23-25. 29, 30. xix. 30, 31. xvii. 10. 14, 15. 2 Cor. xi. 32, 33.

Paul and Barnabas being at Iconium, the Jews and Gentiles made an assault to use them despitefully, and to stone them: they were aware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, &c.-Acts xiv. 1. 5, 6.

When the magistrates sent to let the apostles go, Paul said, Let them come themselves,&c.-Acts xvi.36,37.

When Paul was in danger, the brethren often sent him and others away from the place.-Acts xvii. 5. 10. 13. xix. 30, 31.

The captain commanded that Paul should be examined by scourging, &c. Paul said, Is it lawful for you to

scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? which prevented his being scourged.-Acts xxii. 24-26.29. xvi. 37, 38.

Paul said to Ananias, Sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? &c. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; of the hope and resurrection of the dead, I am called in question (whereupon the council divided, and broke up). When Paul understood that there was a conspiracy to kill him, he gave notice thereof to the chief captain, who conveyed him away from them.-Acts xxiii.3. 6-9.14,&c.

Paul pleaded in his defence before Felix; and afterward appealed unto Cæsar.-Acts xxiv. 10, &c. xxv. 8, 9. xxvi. 1, &c.

Paul persuaded those in the ship to eat meat, when they were in danger, saying, This is for your health, &c.-Acts xxvii. 33-35.

I beseech you, brethren, &c. that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea.-Rom. xv. 30, 31.

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Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil, &c. of whom be thou aware also, for he hath greatly withstood our words.-2 Tim. iv. 14, 15.

Some, of whom the world was not worthy, wandered in deserts, and in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.-Heb. xi. 38.

V. To look to the cause of our Sufferings, that it be for well doing, for the sake of Christ, and a good Conscience and not as Busybodies or Evildoers.

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They also that render me evil for good, are mine adversaries: because I follow the thing that is good.-Ps. Xxxviii. 20. xxxv. 20. cix. 4, 5.

worship not, ye shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.— Dan. iii. 14, 15. 18.

Daniel cast into the lions' den for praying to God contrary to the king's decree.-Dan. vi. 7, &c.

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time, for it is an evil time.-Amos v. 13. Ps. xxxix. 1.

Do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image? &c. but if ye

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, &c. falsely for my sake, &c. for ighteousness' sake.-Matt.v. 10,11.

When they charged the apostles not to teach in Christ's name, they said, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye; for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.-Acts iv. 17-20.

The high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this name? &c. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.-Acts v. 27-29.

But in all things approving ourselves, &c. as deceivers, and yet true. -2 Cor. vi. 4. 8.

If I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.Gal. v. 11. vi. 12.

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, &c. So is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, &c. This is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.-1 Pet. ii. 12. 15.19.

If ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye and be not afraid, &c. It is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.-1 Pet. iii. 14. 17.

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, &c. but let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other mens' matters: yet