Very early the young prophet learned to use persecution as a means of identifying himself with the great martyrs. In writing of his ill-treatment in his history he said: “They spit upon me, pointed their fingers at me, saying, ‘Prophesy, prophesy!’ And thus did they imitate those who crucified the Savior of mankind, not knowing what they did.” The insults magnified the significance of his mission, else they would have been unbearable.
