iation to fortune, honor, or life. These are caused by the Devil or his ministers, sometimes, also, by mistake (God so permitting), by the just themselves. They are suffered for justice sake, when they are borne with patience and accompanied with the exercise of virtue, and in compliance with our duty toward God and men. They ought not to be suffered with patience only, but with joy at the greatness of the reward; therefore, St. Peter says, " Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a railer, or as coveting the goods of others, but if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." (1 Pet. iv. 15.)
II. Christ suffered all kinds of injuries and inconveniences in His honor, in His goods, and in His person, for a cause, which on His part was perfectly just. He suffered in consequence of His publishing His Divine law and endeavoring to bring men back again from vice and folly, into the way of their eternal salvation. Therefore, " Look and make it according to the pattern." (Exod. xxv. 40.)
III. The reward attached to the suffering for justice sake, is no less than " the kingdom of Heaven." When you suffer, then, with joy and patience, " Rejoice and be exceeding glad, because your reward is. very great in Heaven." Ponder deeply, therefore, the greatness of the reward, and the truth of the apostolic oracle, "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us." (Rom. viii. 18.)
