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Another argument is here offered by our apostle for glorifying in sufferings and reproached for Christ, taken from the happiness of those that are so reproached, If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye.
Note here, That the reproaches which the saints suffer for the sake of Christ, are reckoned persecutions, and yet at the same time are esteemed a part, as well as a prognostic, of their happiness: Happy are ye, if ye be approached for the name of Christ.
Observe, 2. The reason assigned why Christians, under reproach for the sake of Christ, are to be esteemed thus happy, namely, because the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon them; that is, the glorious Spirit of God, which is both the mean and evidence of your happiness who is glorious in himself, and also a glory to you, upon whom he rests, and in whom he dwells.
Two things are implied by the Spirit resting upon a reproached Christian: 1. Complacency, that he is well pleased where he is; men do not rest where they do not like. 2. Permanency, He abides where he rests, and dwells there with delight.
Some take the expression to be an allusion to Noah's dove, that hovered about, but could not rest till returned to the ark. Thus the Spirit of God, called here the Spirit of glory, from its effects and fruits, namely, from its cheering, sealing, and reviving influences, which make Christians glory in tribulations; this Spirit flies from place to place, and from person to person, hither and thither, but rests upon and takes up his residence and abode with such Christians as suffer for the name of Christ: If ye be reproached, &c. happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: it follows,--On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified; that is, by their reproaches cast upon you, they blaspheme the Holy Spirit, as the word signifies; but he is eminently glorified by your patience and constancy of mind under all your pressures; which shows the power of the Spirit resting upon you, and mightily working in you.
Learn hence, That in those reproaches which good men suffer for the sake of Christ, the Spirit of God in a special manner is blasphemed on the one side, and glorified on the other.
O sinner! know, that all the reproaches thou castest upon religion and religious persons, as such, reach the Holy Spirit that rests upon them, and resides in them as his temples: but, O Christian, remember thou, that, by thy patience and constancy under sufferings, thou glorifiest the Holy Spirit eminently, abundantly showing that by his help afflictions are not only tolerable but joyous.