Persecution Every
Christian's Lot

WHEN OUR LORD WAS pleased to take upon
himself the form of a servant, and to go about
preaching the kingdom of God; he took all opportunities
in public, and more especially in private, to
caution his disciples against seeking great things for
themselves, and also to forewarn them of the many
distresses, afflictions and persecutions, which they
must expect to endure for his name's sake. The great
apostle Paul therefore, the author of this epistle, in
this, as in all other things, following the steps of his
blessed Master, takes particular care, among other
apostolical admonitions, to warn young Timothy of
the difficulties he must expect to meet with in the
course of his ministry:

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times
shall come. For men shall be lovers of their ownselves,
covetous, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural
affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors,
heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than
lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying
the power thereof: from such turn away. For of
this sort are they who creep into houses, and lead
captive silly women laden with sins, led away with
divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come
to the knowledge of the truth. Now, as Jannes and
Jambres (two of the Egyptian magicians) withstood
Moses (by working sham miracles) so do they also
resist the truth; and (notwithstanding they keep up
the form of religion) are men of corrupt minds, reprobate
concerning the faith." But, in order to keep
him from sinking under their opposition, he tells
him, that though God, for wise ends, permitted
these false teachers, as he did the magicians, to oppose
for some time, yet they should now proceed no
farther: "For their folly (says he) shall be made
manifest unto all men, as theirs (the Magicians) also
was,".

George Whitefield (1714-1770) - Used of God in
the Second Great Awakening in America. Preached to
crowds of 50,000 people. One of the founders of the
Methodist movement.
Mighty to Save