Lesson 20: Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they despise me.
www.bible.com/bible/59/psa.25

O Lord of hosts, when I was of the world I spoke and did as the world and the world hated me not. But as soon as I had eaten the book that was shown to me, although it was in my mouth sweet as honey, yet it made my belly bitter, for there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe (Ezekiel 2:10). While I served the world I received my reward. All men spoke well of me even as the fathers did of the false prophets. But now that I love the world with a Godly love, have sought from my heart their welfare and happiness, rebuked, admonished, and instructed them with Your word, pointing out to them Jesus Christ and Him crucified, they have become unto me as a grievous cross and as the gall of bitterness.

So fiendlike is their hatred that not only I myself, but all those who love me, showing me favor and mercy must, in some places, look for imprisonment and death. O blessed Lord! I am more despicable in their eyes than a notorious thief and murderer.

I have taught throughout a true repentance, a dying unto our sinful flesh, and the new life that comes from God. I have taught a true, sincere faith in You and in Your beloved Son, that it might be made powerful through love. I have taught Jesus Christ and Him crucified, very God and very man who, in an incomprehensible, inexpressible, and indescribable manner, was born of You from all eternity, Your eternal Word and Wisdom, the brightness of Your glory, and the express image of Your person, and that in fullness of time, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, He became, in the womb of the unspotted virgin, Mary, real flesh and blood, a visible, tangible, and mortal man, like Adam and his posterity in all things, yet without sin.


Why then do they hate me because out of pure zeal I teach the doctrine of Christ and His apostles unadulterated? Had I not the word of Christ, how cheerfully would I be taught it, for I seek it with fear and trembling.

It will also never deceive me. Let them write and threaten, and dispute, boast, persecute and destroy as they please; still Your word will triumph and the Lamb will gain the victory. I rest assured that with this as my doctrine, which is Your word, I shall, at the coming of Christ, judge and condemn not only man, but also angels. And though I and my beloved brethren were all killed and taken from the earth, yet Your word would remain eternal truth. We are no better than our coworkers who preceded us. Yet the time will arrive when they shall exalt Your power and look, perhaps too late, upon Him whom they have pierced. O Lord! with that cruel hatred they hate me! Whom have I slandered in a single expression? Whom have I cheated a penny’s worth? Whose gold, silver, or cattle have I desired? I have loved them with a pure love, even unto death.

Your word and will have I taught them and with earnest diligence have I shown them, by Your grace, the way that leads to felicity. Therefore my enemies are many and they hate me with cruel hatred.