Fearless witnessing.
The Christian is Christ's witness. He has to testify for Christ of his Person, offices, and work. He has to testify for the salvation of the believer; to the condemnation of the rejecter. To the rejecter the testimony is unpalatable and rouses resentment. This is often fierce and deadly. To face this resentment requires courage. In the text the witness has the encouragement, viz.—
I. THAT THE POWER OF THE WICKED IS LIMITED.
1. They have the disposition to destroy.
2. But their power reaches only to the body.
3. Therefore God only is to be feared.
"If ever call'd
To give thy witness in a doubtful case,
Though Phalaris himself should bid thee lie,
On pain of torture in his flaming bull,
Disdain to barter innocence for life;
To which life owes its lustre and its worth."
II. THAT THE FAITHFUL ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF A SPECIAL PROVIDENCE.
1. The providence of God is everywhere.
2. It is specially concerned for the servants of Christ.
"He sees with equal eyes, as God of all,
A hero perish or a sparrow fall"!
Or of Hume, who says, "In the sight of God every event is alike important; and the life of a man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster"!
3. What, then, has the servant of Christ to fear? "Nothing can harm us"—even the killing of the body—"if we be followers of that which is good."
III. THAT THE FAITHFUL SHALL BE EVERLASTINGLY REWARDED.
1. There is a coming day of revelation.
2. The day of revelation will be a day of retribution.
3. Therefore let the witness for Christ be fearless.