PERSECUTION, to persecute. Persecution in all Ages has been the Portion of the Elect, and of good Men. Cain persecuted Abel. Joseph was persecuted by his Brethren. The Israelites in Egypt were persecuted by Pharaoh, David by Saul, Elijah and Elisha by Ahab, the Prophets by the Kings and People of their Time, Jesus Christ by Herod and the chief of the Jews, John the Baptist and the Apostles by all wicked Enemies of Piety, Truth, and Justice. Lastly, ‘tis a Maxim laid down by our Saviour, that all those that would lead a godly Life shall suffer 2 Tim. iii. 12.Persecution. Omnes qui pie volunt vivere in Christo Jesu persecutionem patientur. But happy are those that shall suffer Persecution Matt. viii. 10.for Righteousness Sake. Beati qui persecutionem patientur propter justitiam.
But the Verb to persecute, persequi, is not always to be taken in this odious Sense; it is often put purely for following an Enemy in their Flight or Retreat, or Deut. xvi. 20.for applying one’s self vigorously to any thing. For Example, Juste quod justum est persequeris; You may apply yourself Ps. xxxiii. 15. Prov. xiii. 21. Ecclus. xxxiv. 2.diligently to the Practice of Justice. And elsewhere, Inquire pacem, & persequere eam. And in the Proverbs, Peccatores persequitur malum; Punishment pursues Sinners. And in Ecclesiasticus; He that depends upon deceitful Visions is compared to one that catches at a Shadow, or grasps at the Wind. Quasi qui apprehendit umbram, & sequitur ventum.