to thwart it or like to disgrace or disparage it as it was said of Israel of old 2 Chron. 36. v. 14. That the chief of the Priests and the Prophets transgressed very much after all the abominations of the Heathen and polluted the house of the Lord c. and they had habituated themselves so to do that this was the effect v. 15. That when God had sent to them by his Messengers because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place They v. 16. mocked the messengers of God despised his word and misused his Prophets Their custom to worship in that false way made them now not able to bear with a reprroof or persuasion to return to worship again after the way which God himself had prescribed so zealous were they for that which they had been used to in those days therefore did they persecute and misuse the Messengers whom God had sent to have turned them from their Heathenish way of worshiping which also the Psalmist noted in his time Psal 2. He prophesied that which should come to pass in Christs time Why saith he there do the heathen rage and the people imagin a vain thing The Kings of the earth set themselves and the Rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his Anointed saying Le ts break their bands assunder and cast away their cords from us When the Lords Anointed should come he would by his Laws alter the Jewish ways of worshiping according to their old Law Traditions and Customs and introduce a new as the Law of God before did contradict and forbid the Heathen Worship which neither the one nor the other could bear with while unconverted therefore would they rage imagin and take counsel against God and Christ how to break their Bands and to cast away their Cords they would none of Christs Government or Laws of which also Christ himself in his days spake to his Disciples John 16. v. 2. that this blind Zeal should put them upon killing of the Opposers thereof The time cometh saith he there that whosoever killeth you will think he doth God good service Their opinion of their own false Way should be so strong that it should prompt them to destroy any who should preach or practice the contrary as for instance it came to pass Such was Pauls Zeal before his Conversion Act. 8. 't is said of him v. 3. That he made havock of the Church entring into every house and haleing men and women and committing them to prison the cause of which was his zeal for his Religion as himself acknowledged Act. 22.3 4. in these words I was zealous towards God as ye all at this day and I persecuted this way unto the death c. All this as the consequent of his mistaken Zeal as he said Acts 26. v. 9. I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus which things I also did and the particulars he named in the next verses Being exceeding mad against them I persecuted them c. And again Gal. 1.13 he declared it in these words Ye have heard of my Conversation in times past in the Jews Religion that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God and wasted it The grounds and reasons stirring him up hereto was his mistaken Zeal as he himself saith in the next verse in these words And profited in the Jews Religion above many of mine equals in mine own Nation being more exceeding zealous of the Traditions of my Fathers Here his blind Zeal he verily thought he ought to do as he did he having been bred up in the strict observation of the Law and of the Jewish Traditions and Customs made him so exceeding mad against all such whose Doctrin or Practice was otherwise could not bear with any alteration or turning out of his accustomed way nor with any who did walk profess or teach otherwise therefore was he so violent in persecuting of Christians and in his endeavors to hinder the spreading of the Gospel till Christ met with him and convinced him to purpose of his mistaken zeal Another instance of this is noted by Daniel in his days Dan. 3. When the King there had set up an Image v. 1. and dedicated it v. 3. and in the following verses proclaimed that all should at such times fall down and worship And the Caldeans great zeal for this Idolatry put them upon accusing Shadrach Meshach and Abednego c. for not worshiping this Image as the Caldeans did worship this also set the King into a great rage too against them such was his zeal also yea to such a degree too that when they had utterly denyed to worship the Image he commanded the Furnace to be heat seventy times hotter and they to be cast in which was executed v. 21. So hot was he for his Image-worship that the Non-complyers must die for it Upon the like ground also did the Scribes and Pharisees quarrel with Christ and his Disciples in those days Mat. 15. Why say they there to Christ do thy Disciples transgress the Traditions of the the Elders for they wash not their hands when they eat Bread v. 2. Their Heat and Fervor for their Religion and Traditions put them upon this Cavelling tho Christ had told them that they by their Traditions had made void the Law of God this Tradition and Custom of theirs is set forth in Mark 7.3 4. thus That the Pharisees and the Jews except they wash their hands oft eat not holding the Traditions of the Elders and when they came from the Market except they washed they would not eat and many other things there be which they have received to hold as the washing of Cups and Pots Brasen-vessels and of Tables or Beds Their Heart engagedness to these Ways and Traditions received of their Father made them quarrel at Christ and his Followers for not observing of them So again for not observing the Sabbath Mat. 12. they said Behold thy Disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day v. 2. And this put them upon endeavoring to ensnare Christ by questions and take counsel against him how they might destroy him they could not bear with such who did not as they did in these matters in those days The Philosophers were so addicted to their Idols Act. 17. that they despised Paul and his Doctrin and said v. 14. What will this babler say he seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods and v. 19 20. they said May we know what this new Doctrin whereof thou speakest is For thou bringest certain things we would know therefore what these things mean These could not bear with the preaching up the true God they being worshipers of Idols the true God was a strange God to them and what Paul had preached were strange things because contrary to what they had been bred up in and their zeal was so hot for their false Worship that they despised
snares for me and they imagin deceits all the day long and in Psal 119.69 The proud hath forged a lye against me again in Psal 56. v. 5 6. Every day they wrest my words all their thoughts against me for evil they mark my steps when they wait for my Soul thus they commonly did every day saith he After the same manner did the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles deal with Christ and his Followers in those days Mat. 12.10 they there tempted Christ There was a man who had his hand withered and they asked Christ saying is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day that they might accuse him here they waited and by a question tempts Christ to speak that they might catch something of Matter of Accusation Again the Priests and Elders as he was teaching Mat. 21.23 said By what authority dost thou these things and who gave thee this authority Here doubtless they hoped for an answer which they might have interpreted to have carried in it some affront to Magistrates and Government whereof they might have accused him wherefore Christ refused to give them any direct answer And more expresly 't is said in the next Chap. v. 15. That the Scribes and Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk and in order hereto they in the next verse sent out some to him saying Master we know that thou art true c. neither carest thou for any man for thou regardest not the persons of men tell us therefore what thinkest thou is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not Here no doubt they expected some words from him our of which they might have pick'd some Treason which by their way of Addressing themselves to him they thought they might have drawn him too which wicked Design of theirs Christ well perceived as 't is said v. 18. by him VVhy tempt ye me c. Then Christ bid them give to Caesar the things which are Caesars v. 21 22. Again Luke 6.7 The Scribes and Pharisees watched him whether he would heal on the Sabbath day that they might find an accusation against him yea they are said Luke 11.53 To have urged him vehemently and to have provoked him to speak many things laying wait for him and seeking to catch something out of his mouth that they might accuse him so uncessant were they in their pursuit of Christ whom they hated and would have destroyed And further the Evangelist Luke Chap. 20. saith They watched him and sent forth spies who should fain themselves just men that they might take hold of his words that so they might deliver him into the power and authority of the Governor v. 20. Here they thought surely that Christ would be more free to talk with just Men and speak that to them which he would forbear to do before others that so they might ensnare him by insinuating Dissemblers and thereupon accuse him yet again did they set upon him John 8.3 They set before him a Woman taken in Adultery and said to him v. 5. Moses said that such should be stoned but what sayst thou This they said as in the next verse tempting him that they might have to accuse him which Christ also perceived as in the following verses So far also doth the Scripture take notice of this Way which those wicked and invidious Ones in those days took to express their Heart-hatred against the Saints and against Christ himself 4thly Another Way and Method wherein they proceeded against the Saints Christ and his Followers and against the Truth to suppress them and it and stop their growth was this They called Councils consulted together devised plotted and contrived Mischief against them in secret and how they might effect their Ends as the Scripture hath Recorded King Pharaoh Exod. 1. when he had perceived the Israelites to encrease and he had a mind to prevent their growth v. 9. he consulted with his People and said Come let us deal wisely with them lest they multiply c. v. 10. then in the following verses they put Burthens on them heavier and heavier but when that would not do he devised to slay the Male Children and charged the Midwives so to do and charged also his People to cast the Sons of the Hebrews into the River So did their Enemies in Nehemiahs days Chap. 4. when they had heard that the Walls were built they contrived always to prevent their further progress First they mock them saying What do these feeble Jews do will they fortifie themselves v. 1 2. but when they saw that would not do 't is said v. 7 8. That they were then very wroth and conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to hinder the work altho what the Jews did was by Authority from the King In like manner did they in Ezra's days Chap. 4. When the Adversaries of Jadah c. had heard that they builded the Temple v. 1. they v. 2. came and pretended that they would build with them this was their first Plot to weaken their hands in their Building but when that would not do they contrived in the 4th and 5th verses and hired Counsellors against them to frustrate their Progress all the days of Cyrus and afterwards v. 8. the Chancellor and Scribe and the rest consulted and wrote to the King a Charge against them of high Nature as in the following verses which effected their Design and staid the Work v. 21. so industrious were those in their Consults and Contrivances to hinder that Work which they hated Haman plotted the ruin of all the Jews because Mordicay did not bow to to him he devised a course in his Breast and accordingly proceeded Esther Chap. 3. Of such doings the Psalmist in his days complained to God Psal 35.7 Without cause saith he there they have hid from me their net in a pit which without cause they have digged for my Soul and in the 15th verse The abjects gathered themselves together and I knew it not and v. 19 20. They hate me without a cause for they speak not peace but they devise deceitful matters against them who are quiet in the Land the Psalmist had taken special notice that wicked Men in his days did usually contrive evil against such who were innocent and peaceable in the Land And Psal 38. he said That they also who sought his life did lay snares for him and they did imagin deceits all the day v. 12. Again Psal 31.13 Fear said he was on every side whilst they took Counsel together against me they devised to take away my life and so said he they did against others too Psal 94.21 They gathered themselves together against the soul of the righteous and condemn the innocent Blood thus did they in that day consult how they might take away the Life of them whom they hated and how they might do it with the greatest ease secrecy and security to themselves they could The Psalmist yet further spreads this
all the Jews must be destroyed together which he pursued in the following verses After the same manner did they pursue Christ himself to the death John 18. and because the Jews themselves could not proceed so far as to put him to death by their Law as themselves confessed v. 31. they therefore brought him before Pilate to be judged that they might by pretence of that Authority put him to death which afterwards they did tho so just a One as he was and by Pilate declared so to be as is in the next Chap. recorded yea when Pilate would have released him because of his Innocency Luke 23.14 15. the Jews cryed out v. 21. Crucifie him Crucifie him right or wrong they must have his life this was in their hearts to have as appears further v. 22 23. The Scribes and Pharisees having beforehand Mat. 12.14 taken counsel how they might destroy him Christ did forewarn his Disciples and Followers and intimated unto them that they should be so dealt with too Mat. 10. The Brother saith he there in v. 21. shall deliver up the Brother to death and the Father the Child and the Children shall rise up against their Parents and put them to death according to which they frequently did in those days as the Scripture doth evidence When Christ had raised up Lazarus John 11.43 44. The chief Priests in Chap. 12. v. 10 11. consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death because that by reason of him many of the Jews believed on Jesus So Acts 5. because the Apostles had preached Christ before the Council there they presently consulted to slay them v. 33. The same Spirit was Saul of Act. 8.1 he there consented to the death of Stephen and Act. 9.1 it s said of him That he yet breathed out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord which he himself acknowledged he had done Act. 22. v. 4. in these words I persecuted this way to the death so dealt he and others with Stephen upon his preaching of Christ Act. 7. They ran upon him with one accord and cast him out of the City and stoned him v. 57 58. Herod the King Act. 12. stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the Church v. 1. and v. 2. he killeth James with the sword yea there were more than fourty of the Jews who bound themselves in a curse not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul v. 12 13. of which they acquainted the chief Priests and Elders and directed them into a way to effect it too in the next verses And again Act. 25. The chief Priests and chief of the Jews designed to kill him and in order to it they desired the favor of Festus to send for Paul to Jerusalem v. 2. and v. 3. 't is said That there were lyers in wait in the way to kill him thus did they pursue their very Lives by all their former Methods For which doings the Apostle complained in his First Epist to the Thessalonians of the Jews Chap. 2. v. 14 15. thus The Jews who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophet and have persecuted us c. Thus hath the Scripture also taken notice that their Enmity was such that by way of revenge nothing less would serve them than the very Lives of the Saints and Servants of God yea of Christ himself in those days they could not rest till they had taken them off the Earth Then Thirdly As the Holy Ghost hath by Scripture Records shewn the bitter Enmity that was seated in the Hearts of the wicked in those days against the Saints and Holiness it self and the several Methods those Men then took to express or evidence their Enmity against them and it for their suppression and to hinder the growth of Holiness so also hath the same Spirit deluded down to after Age many of the Grounds and Causes of such their Enmity against and hatred of them and which put them upon Persecuting the one and Opposing the other The First and Original Cause why they did persecute at that rate in those days was from that irreconcilable Enmity which they brought into the World with them against God against Christ who came forth from him against his Laws and Government as is said Rom. 8.7 The carnal mind is enmity against God cannot be subject to him they cannot endure any thing of the Spirit whilst they are in the Flesh in the same State in which they came into the World they cannot bear with the Light which shineth in the Law of God because their Works are Works of Darkness and hence came their Hearts to be at enmity and hatred against the Saints and Servants of God such who owned God and his Laws and subjected themselves to him and it or did preach up Subjection to the same and so consequently to persecute their Persons and oppose and obstruct the spreading of the Truth by all the ways they could as the Psalmist impli'd they did when he spake in Psal 2. thus Why do the heathen rage and the people imagin vain things The Kings of the Earth set themselves and the Rulers take councel together against the Lord and against his Anointed saying Let us break their Bands and cast their Cords from us c. they could not bear them they would not be bound by them v. 1 2. Here their Enmity against God and Christ and his Laws put them upon imagining taking councel how to ease themselves of the good Men of God and Christ and as a consequent how to ease themselves of all those who did submit to those Laws of God and walk with him as the Psalmist again did cleerly assert Psal 83. in these words v. 2. Thine enemies make a Tumult and they who hate thee lift up the head v. 2. what follows why v. 3. they have taken crafty counsel against thy people and consulted against thy hidden ones and v. 4. they said Come and le ts cut them off from being a Nation here first they hate God himself and then consult to destroy his People To this cause doth the Psalmist reduce it in those days Psal 44.22 For thy sake saith he there are we killed all the day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter it was for Gods sake they hated him and must needs kill his whom they could reach Jeremiah spake after the like manner Chap. 15. v. 15. he prays thus Revenge me of my Persecutors c. and useth this as the Argument Know saith he that for thy sake have I suffered rebuke it was for his faithfulness to God So Christ told his Disciples Mat. 10. That they should be brought before Governors and Kings but for his name sake v. 8 they hated Christ so punished his Followers and again v. 22. Ye shall be hated of all men for my name sake their hatred of Christ is assigned here as the cause of their hatred against his Followers as Christ further hinted to the Jews in the
the Pride height of Spirit and revengeful Nature which was in them Such was their Pride that they would not seek God themselves nor bear with those who did as the Psalmist said Psal 10.4 That the wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek God and in v. 8. 't is said of him That in the secret places doth he murther the innocent his eyes are privily set against the poor as their Pride here would not permit them to seek God so it set them against the Saints innocent Ones who did seek God The Psalmist again Psal 119.69 said The proud have forged a lie against me And again Psal 123.4 he saith Our Soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of them who are at ease and with the contempt of the proud Here the Holy Ghost takes notice that the Pride of their Hearts did render the Saints the objects of their Scorn and put them upon forging of lies against them This very thing set Haman into so great hatred against Mordicai and made him so resolute on revenge against him and all the Jews Hester 3. his proud Heart could not bear with Mordicai because he did not arise and do him Reverence as is expressed v. 5. in these words When Haman saw that Mordicai bowed not nor did him reverence then was Haman full of wrath and in the next verse He thought scorn to lay hands on Mordicai alone but sought to destroy all the Jews with him such were his revengeful Purposes from the dreadful Pride of his Heart Hence it came to pass that the Presidents and Princes in Daniels time so much hated him studied to revenge and took those courses to execute it upon him Dan. 6. He being now advanced by King Darius over all the Presidents and Princes v. 1 2. their proud hearts could not bear it and this put them upon seeking occasion against him concerning the Kingdom v. 4. and finding none so good a Subject and innocent Man was he they in the next verses resolves to take him in the matters of his God procured a Law and pursued him in the ways they had devised till they had gotten him into the Lions Den tho the King himself would have saved him From the like pride of Heart the Libertines and others who were disputing with Stephen Act. 6. and not able v. 9. to resist the spirit and wisdom by which he spake nor able to bear to be silenced by Stephen they in the next verses evidenced their Pride and revengeful Spirits they confute him by suborning Witnesses stirring up the People Elders and Scribes against him caught him and carryed him before the Council The like Spirit did the Jews evidence in those days in their Behaviour towards the Man who was born blind John 9. when he had by such convincing Arguments which they could not resist proved Christ to be of God v. 30. and so on The Pride of the Pharisees being such that they could not bear to be put to silence by such a poor unlearned Man as he was therefore they v. 34. took this course they first say to him Thou wast altogether born in sin and dost thou teach us And they Excommunicated him Having no better Argument they confuted him this way and revenged upon him after this sort Thus hath the Scripture noted that the wicked Ones envy against good Men often did arise from the Pride of their Hearts and revengeful Nature 4thly A fourth cause or ground from whence they so maligned and persecuted the Saints Christ himself and his Followers in those days did arise from their great ignorance of God himself of Christ and of the Saints in persecuting of whom they persecuted Christ as he told Saul Act. 9.4 As 't is said of Pharaoh Exod. 5.2 Who is the Lord that I should let Israel go I know not the Lord said he therefore I will not let Israel go his ignorance of God here made him oppress and grieve Gods People still and pursue them afterwards So it was with Saul Act. 9. when Christ had said Why persecutest thou me Saul answered Who art thou Lord v. 4 5. Here his ignorance of Jesus was the cause why he persecuted him and his Saints Christ intimates this also to be the cause why the Jews hated him and persecuted him to the death Luke 23. when they were Crucified of him he there prays for them in these words v. 34 Father forgive them for they know not what they do Had they known him saith the Scripture they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.8 Their ignorance here was the cause of their persecuting Acts and of their malignant Mind against him and his The Psalmist took it for granted that in those days it did proceed from hence Psal 14.4 thus he said Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread Which Saying strongly implies that had they had knowledge they would not they could not have done so The Apostles also in their time did intimate the like and assigned the Ignorance of the Jews to be the cause of their malignity against Christ and his Act. 3. they tell them v. 15. That they had killed the Prince of life but v. 17. saith to them thus Now Brethren I wot that through ignorance ye did it as did also your Rulers And again Act. 13. said the Apostle to them in v. 27. That they who dwell at Jerusalem and their Rulers because they knew him not nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read every sabbath-Sabbath-day they have fulfilled them in condemning him and in v. 28. Tho they found not cause of death in him yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain Upon the same Foundation of Ignorance Paul acknowledgeth that he went Act. 26. I verily thought with my self v. 9. that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus The Jews themselves John 9. did own their ignorance of Christ v. 29. said they As for this Fellow we know not from whence he is all the undeniable Evidences they had had that he was of God did not enlighten them nor convince them therefore they persisted to envy and persecute him and as to such who professed to own him many denied him Titus 1.16 being unto every good work reprobate or void of Judgment In like manner the Scripture declared that afterwards they persecuted and hated good Men upon this account or from hence that they knew not God Christ or them 1 Jo. 3.1 Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew not him and as Christ had told his Disciples John 15.20 If they persecuted me they will also persecute you and in the next verses gives the reason of it in these words All these things will they do unto you for my name sake because they know not him who sent me So again John 16. The time cometh said Christ there v. 2. that whosoever killeth you shall think he doth God
good service the reason of which he gives in the next verse in these words These things will they do because they have not known the Father nor me From this Root also doubtless it came to pass that the Christians in that Age were called a Sect Act. 28. and were so much spoken against every where as Pauls Countrymen said v. 2. We desire said they to him to hear of thee what thou thinkest for as concerning this Sect we know that every where 't is spoken against right or wrong they speak against them and their way because they understood them not nor it Peter in general assigns this as the cause of Mens speaking evil of many things 2 Pet. 2.12 Those saith he speaking there of wicked Men as natural brute Beasts c. spake evil of the things which they understood not nay 't is marvellous that the malice of the Jews against Christ did so blind them that when Judas came to them and acknowledged to them that he had betrayed innocent Blood Mat. 27.3 4. They say What is that to us look thou to that when they had been the chief Instruments in the betraying of him and putting him to death Thus doth the Scripture Records note this Cause among others of which Mens envy against Christ himself and his Followers in those days against the Saints of old before his time and why they persecuted them 5thly A fifth cause or ground yet which the same Scripture doth assign or declare of these their Spirits and Doings was from a causeless and carnal Fear which they had conceived that if the Saints of old Jesus Christ and his Followers in those days were suffered amongst them or if their Doctrin should have prevailed then these would grow to big for them and would withdraw their subjection from their Rulers Rebel usurp Authority and would be had in greatest Esteem and Repute by the People and so derogate from the Honor Esteem Authority and Rule of those who did thus envy and persecute them they were ready to think that all Men would believe on Christ and that all the World would go after him if they should have let Him and his Followers alone and should not have stopped their course as they did declare John 11.48 If we let him thus alone said they there all men will believe on him and the Romans shall come and take away both our Place and Nation And again John 12.19 they said Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing behold the world is gone after him thus did their causeless Jealousie work to Envy and Hatred and Persecution This made the Chief Priests and Scribes so highly displeased Mat. 21. when they had seen Christ to have such Esteem among the People and the same so evidenced by the multitudes spreading of their Garments decking the Ways where he did ride with Branches and crying out Hosanna to the Son of David blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the Highest v. 8 9 15. and upon this they v. 23. demanded of Christ by what authority he did those things as if he were about to usurp Authority or at least that he did it against or without Authority Particular instances of this cause or ground too not a few the Scripture takes notice of as in Exod. 1. The King there was without cause jealous that the Jews there would grow too great and numerous and Rebel therefore consulted to prevent their increase by dealing hardly with them his Jealousie is expressed v. 9 10. in these words The Children of Israel are more and mightier than we Come let us deal wisely with them lest they multiply and it come to pass that when there falleth out any War they join also to our Enemies and fight against us This causeless Fear put him upon dealing cruelly with them in order to prevent their growth as in the following verses upon which account also Josephs Brethren went Gen 37. they suspecting by his Dreams and his Fathers shew of love to him that Joseph would be greater than they v. 4. and the 8 11. they thereupon are said there to hate him and envy him and v. 19 20. of the same Chap. they consulted to slay him They could not bear with the thoughts of this that he should be greater than they in his Fathers Heart nor superior unto them in after-times which they had guessed his Dreams did intimate that he should be therefore they hate him and resolve to prevent the coming thereof to pass by taking away of his Life tho God purposed to advance Joseph to save them alive as Joseph afterwards told them Gen. 45.5 This Spirit is taken notice of also in Joshua from the same ground in Moses time Numb 11.26 When Eldad and Medad had prophesied in the Camp the young man presently thinking Moses was clouded somewhat by this told Moses on 't v. 27. and v. 28. said My Lord Moses forbid them which Spirit of Envy in Joshua and the cause on 't too Moses perceived and blamed him for it in these words in the next verses Enviest thou for my sake would God that all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all doubtless Joshua here thought that none should have the honor of a Spirit of Prophesie but Moses or if they had they should not shew it as being eclipsing to Moses Glory and this stirred up this Envy in him For this cause also did Saul eye and envy David in that day and sought his Life David had gotten far into the opinion of his Fellow Subjects through his prudent Behavior in the Kings business and Saul feared that he would usurp the Kingdom too doubtless which he intimated in these words 1 Sam. 18. When the Women came after the overthrow of the Philistines singing in v. 6 7. that Saul had slain his thousands and David his ten thousands he v. 8. was very wroth and the saying displeased him and he said they have ascribed to David his ten thousand and to me thousand and can he have more but the Kingdom The Effect followeth in the next verses Saul from that day following eyed David and resolved and endeavored to kill him and Chap. 19.1 He gave order to his Son and Servants to kill him Yea he was also wroth with his Son Jonathan upon the same grounds for Jonathans sake 1 Sam. 19. when Jonathan had been excusing Davids absence v. 28 29. Sauls anger was kindled against Jonathan v. 30. and he said unto him Do not I know that thou hast chosen the Son of Jesse to thine own confusion c. and in the next verse he said As long as the Son of Jesse liveth upon the ground thou shalt not be established nor thy Kingdom wherefore send and fetch him to me for he shall surely die Here Sauls apprehension that David did eclipse his Glory and that the People had too much esteem for David and that he might prove disloyal and usurp
the Kingdom and that it could not be sure to him or his Son if David lived was the great cause of his envy and malice against David and his pursuing of his Life altho David had fully evidenced his Duty and Loyalty to Saul all along and eminently in that when Saul had been twice in the power of his hands that he might have slain him he would not hurt him not revenge himself yea and rescued him from those with him who would have done it all which Saul himself acknowledged as it is at large 1 Sam. 24.4 5 6 17. Chap. 26.8 9.10 11 25. After the same manner did Herod the King against Christ in those days and from the same cause or ground Mat. 2. He having heard that Christ was born and that some had come to him to worship him v. 1 2 3. He was troubled and all Jerusalem with him He now began to be jealous that this Christ the King of the Jews might possibly take away his Power or lessen him and he thereupon resolves to prevent it and v. 8. sends to enquire after him under pretence that he would worship him but as is evident by the Sequel it was that he might kill him for v. 16. it is said That when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men he was very wrath and sent forth and slew all the Children which were in Bethlehem and the coasts thereof from two years old and upwards according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men Here rather than he would endanger his Honor and Authority which he had causelesly feared if Christ lived he that he might be sure to his Christ shed the innocent Blood of many Children Upon the same grounds went the Chief Priests and Pharisees in John 11.47 48. in their envy against and persecuting of Christ said they in their Council What do we do for this man doth many miracles If we let him alone all men will believe on him and the Romans shall come and take away both our Place and Nation Here were they jealous that if Christ did go on he would get such Esteem and Honor that it would endanger their Honor and Authority too that they should be lessened among the People and this set them at enmity against Christ and upon persecuting of him and using of all means to render Him and his Doctrin contemptible and not to be endured Upon this account too the Adversaries of the Jews dealt so with them Ezra 4. They hearing that the Jews were building the Temple v. 1. presently in the 12 13. and following verses conceived a causeless Fear that these would Rebel withhold the Kings due and dishonor the King and so did they tell the King in these words The Jews are come unto Jerusalem building the rebellious and bad City c. Be it known unto the King That if this City be builded c. they will not pay Tole c. and it s not meet for us to see the King dishonored which Letter of theirs begot the like jealousie in the King and thereupon he commanded their Work to cease v. 20 21. So also 't is recorded of the Jews themselves that they suspected Christ because he was called King of the Jews that he would grow too great and vail their Glory and therefore did they persecute and hate him therefore did they tell Pilate thus John 19.12 If thou let this man go thou art not Caesars Friend for whosoever maketh himself a King speaketh against Caesar and v. 15. when Pilate said to them Shall I Crucifie your King they answered We have no King but Caesar So did their fear of their own falling into Infamy and Disgrace amongst the People cause them also to hinder the preaching of Christ to be the Messiah and to have been risen from the Dead by all the means they could and to persecute the Preachers of the Gospel for they knew well that if the People should once believe that indeed he was the Christ the Son of God all those who had had a hand in persecuting and slaying him would have been judged murtherers of him as the Apostle Act. 5. did affirm they were v. 30. and so all their Honor and Credit among the People that this was upon their Heart the Holy Ghost in the same Chap. notes v. 24. 't is said When the Chief Priests and the Captain of the Temple had heard what the Apostles had preached and done in this Name of Jesus they doubted of them whereto this would grow and v. 27 28. They took them and brought them before the Council and the High Priest asked them saying Did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this name and behold you have filled Jerusalem with your Doctrin and intend to bring this mans Blood upon us of which tho they had been guilty of yet would they not that notice should be taken of that wickedness lest they should fall into disesteem amongst the People Upon this ground also was it that Haman hated Mordicai at that rate and sought his Life he thought that Mordicai clouded his Honor and further feared that Mordicai might get some favor at Court because he remained still in the Kings Gate and would not bow to him therefore did Hamans jealous Heart work how to destroy him as is expressed Hester 3. it is said there v. 5. That when Haman saw that Mordicai bowed not nor did him reverence then was Haman full of wrath and thereupon in the following verses he attempts both his and his and all the Jews destruction Here the fear of the deminution of his Honor or obstructing of the heigth he aspired too put him upon hating of Mordicai and endeavoring his ruin as is yet more plain from his own words Chap. 5. after he had given an account to his Friends there throughout the beginning of the Chapter of all his Honor and Favor at Court and other his Advantages he v. 13. spake thus All this availeth me nothing so long as I see Mordicai the Jew sitting at the Kings Gate strongly did his Jealousie work within him lest Mordicai should be in Favor and check his that all he had availed him nothing therefore makes a Gallows to hang Mordicai on in the next verse Thus was this noted to have been one cause why Men wicked Ones have hated and persecuted others in those Ages of the World 6thly A sixth ground of their wrath and violence against good Men and Things in those days and of which the Scriptures giveth an account was the blind Zeal of some for the Heathenish and Idolatrous Worship others for that Religion they were born and bred up in the Traditions Ceremonies and Customs of the Jews of which they were so tender and so jealous of loosing or altering that they could not bear with the appearance of any thing which looked that way but presently did fly out into rage and violence against all Men and Doctrins that seemed
and persecuted such as offered the true they took Paul here and carryed him before the highest Court where they put these questions to him After the same manner did the Jews with Paul upon this ground too Act. 18.11 He having before preached Jesus Christ to them at Corinth They here with one accord made an insurrection against him and brought him to the Judgment Seat saying This Fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the Law Here now was the great ground of their Enmity and Violence against him they could not bear to have Men worship God in any other way than in that which they had usually worshiped according to the Law and their Traditions nor bear with any Persuasions thereunto such was their blind zeal for that wherein they had been educated and used to Their old received Customs were more valued by them than the Laws of God tho God was then to be worshiped otherwise as Christ had hinted to them and as the Apostle Paul Acts 24. there confessed before the Governor that he did v. 14. in these words After the way they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers believing all things written in the Law and the Prophets But because he did dissent from their Traditions and Customs and worshiped not as they did therefore called they his Way Heresie and they persecuted him as in the beginning of the Chapter and before altho it was according to what was written in the Law and the Prophets So again Act. 21. The Jews there v. 27. stirred up the People and laid hands on Paul and v. 28. cryed out this is the man who teacheth all men every where against the People and the Law and this Place This was the great thing which moved them here Paul had taught the People to worship God otherwise than according to the Ceremonies of the Law the Customs and Traditions of the Jews wherein they had been so long conversant and this they could not bear with The Admirers of Diana did so too Act. 19. when the Silversmith there had tho upon another account insinuated that the Apostles did design by their Preaching to disgrace and render their Goddess Diana contemptible v. 24 25. and so on These Adorers of Diana were very wroth upon the hearing on 't and the whole City was filled with confusion crying up Diana O they could not bear with any thing which they had apprehended to have any tendency to the lessening of their so much admired Diana which quickly put them into an unanswerable uprore and violence against Pauls Companions whom they had caught v. 28. and so on as the Town Clerk himself had told them v. 37 38. and so on Thus the Scpipture hath taken notice of this Cause also of the Enmity in the Breasts of wicked Men and of their persecuting Spirit against the Saints in those days 7thly There was yet a seventh cause or rise of the Enmity and persecuting Practices of these against the Saints which those divine Records hath set down in it that was the privat Profit and Gain that some Men had by some Religion then professed or some other Way then in esteem amongst the People which Gain being by Christ or the Apostles preaching of the truth abated or in danger of being gone they were set in a rage against the Truth and against all those who preached it or believed and embraced it they could not bear with the thoughts of their Gain being taken away therefore did persecute and endeavor to destroy the Apostles and others and used all means to prevent the spreading of their Doctrins This very thing put the Silversmiths upon stirring up the People who were the great Adorers of Diana Act. 19. Not their zeal for Diana so much as for their Profit When Paul there had preached in Asia and turning People from the worshiping of false gods the Silversmiths presently apprehending that this would bring Diana their Goddess into disesteem that People would not worship her any more and then farwell their Gain which matter so troubled them that 't is said thus there v. 23. That there was no small stir about this way and in the next verses That Demetrius who made the Silver Shrines to Diana brought no small gain to the Craftsmen whom he called together and said unto them Ye know that by this craft we have our wealth and Paul hath said They be no gods which are made with hands so that not only our craft is in danger but Diana would be despised which Saying proved sufficient to beget an Enmity in the Breasts of the Craftsmen against the Apostles and that Doctrin and to set them upon persecuting of them as in the following verses they did for they very well knew that if once the People did believe that the Religion and Worship they were found in were not right Diana no Goddess and that all their Zeal in and for that way was no better than Vanity Superstition and Idolatry then no body would imploy them to make Silver Shrines for Diana any more and consequently they must take leave of their old Gain this now set them into such a flame of Envy and Violence against the Apostles and their Preaching From the very same cause were the Masters of the Damsel who was possessed with the Spirit of Divination stirred up against Paul and Sylas and did persecute them Act. 16.16 't is there said That a certain Damsel possessed with a Spirit of Divination met us who brought her master much gain by southsaying whom Paul in v. 18. cast out upon which her masters in the next verses caught Paul and Sylas and drew them unto the Rulers unto the Magistrates saying These being Jews do exceedingly trouble our City and teach Customs c. Upon which the multitude rose up against them and the Magistrates commanded them to be beaten which they did and put them into Prison The main cause of all these Accusations and Complaints against them and of their Imprisonment and Beating was only the loss of that Gain the Damsel had brought her Masters as 't is expresly said v. 19. in these words And when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone they caught Paul c. Thus hath the Scripture also taken notice of this cause too why some in those Ages of the World did hate and persecute the Saints 8thly Yet further these divine Records hath taken notice of an eighth cause or spring from whence ill Mens Spirits were moved against the good or from whence many were engaged in persecuting and destroying of them that was from a fear of or desire to please and gratifie others some great Men or Men of Power who were themselves full of Envy and Malice against the Saints and did persecute them and thereby to secure to themselves the good opinion of those still tho otherwise against their own judgments and inclinations and it may be against convictions too that in so doing they did not well
as the Scripture speaks it was in Christs time John 12.42 Some great ones there did believe on Christ but 't is expresly said That because of the Pharisees they did not confess him lest they should have been put out of the Synagogue and the reason in the next verse is given for it further For 't is said they loved the praise of Men more than the praise of God And doubtless these who would not loose the praise of Men did sit and judge with their Fellow Rulers when they persecute Christ and his Followers whatever their own thoughts on 't were their desire to abide in the good opinion of the Great Ones and their fear of being frowned upon by them put them upon thus doing against such of whom they had good thoughts And as the Elders and Nobles dwelling in the City where Naboth lived did obey the wicked command of Jezebel in Ahabs name 1 Kings 21. They feared no doubt the displeasing or loosing the Favor of Jezebel or Ahab therefore executed that wicked Command against innocent Naboth as in v. 8 9. and following verses Jezebel there writes in the Kings name and under his seal and sent it to these Nobles and Elders that they should proclaim a Fast set Naboth on high and set two witnesses Sons of Belial before him saying Thou didst blaspheme God and the King and then to carry him out and stone him which the Elders and Nobles readily did rather than they would run the hazard of falling into the King or Queens disfavor altho they knew in so doing they did shed innocent Blood most unjustly under the notion of a judicial Proceeding v. 12 13. and no other cause of their execution of this wicked Commandment can be assigned with any probability So Herod in his days from this very Root did deal so with John the Baptist Mat. 14. He v. 10. sent and beheaded John the Baptist in Prison and the Evangelist there in the former verses give this as the cause or that which put him upon so doing he having formerly promised to the Daughter of Herodias that she should have whatsoever she should have asked v. 7. and she v. 8. asking Johns head 't is expresly said v. 9. That the King was very sorry nevertheless for the Oaths sake and them who sat at meat with him he commanded it to be done Here Herods unwillingness to displease his Company took away Johns life that did influence him here to do what otherwise he would not have done And again it is said of Herod Act. 12.1 That he stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the Church v. 2. He killed James with the sword and v. 3. because he saw it pleased the Jews he proceeded further to take Peter also To persecute the Church was a matter so light to him that he could do it upon so small a motive as the pleasing of the Jews who were fixed in their Enmity against Christ his Disciples and Doctrin before as he well knew In like manner did Felix with Paul upon the fame motive Act. 24.26 27. Having sent for Paul often and when another Governor came in Felix room he left Paul bound tho he knew him to be innocent upon this ground only as 't is expresly said That Felix willing to shew the Jews a pleasure left Paul bound The pleasing of the persecuting Jews was of sufficient force to persuade him to leave Paul bound So is it said of Festus himself Act. 25. Paul having pleaded his own Innocency before him Festus to gratifie the desire of the Jews who had a design to have killed Paul in the way persuadeth Paul not to have stood to his Appeal but to go to Jerusalem the Jews desire and design is expressed in v. 2 3. in these words The High Priest and the Chief of the Jews informed him against Paul and desired favor against him that he would send for him to Jerusalem laying wait in the way to kill him upon which Festus v. 9 moved thereto only upon this account that he thereby might please the Jews would have exposed Paul to their intended Violence as 't is expressed there in these words But Festus willing to do the Jews a pleasure answered Paul and said Wilt thou go up unto Jerusalem Pilate also under the same Temptation being willing to keep the favor of Caesar and loath to be accouted Disloyal the Jews having urged that Argument did deliver up Christ to be Crucified as is fully expressed John 19. for he had acknowledged Christs innocency often as in Chap. 18. v. 38. in these words I find in him no fault at all and in Chap. 19. v. 4. Behold I bring him forth to you that ye may know that I find no fault in him the same words again he said to them Yea and v. 12. he sought to release him But the Jews then in the next words crying out if thou let this man go thou art not Caesars friend which when Pilate had heard their clamour prevailed Here was he touched when nothing else would prevail by Argument of force to cause him to deliver up Jesus to be Crucified this was he either for fear of loosing Caesars favor being thought no Friend of his or to please the Jews did that which was otherwise against his own judgment and inclination for in Mark 15.15 't is said That he did it to please the multitude so that both seemed to be upon his Heart Thus hath the Scripture also taken notice that fear of Flattery was often the main cause which put many Persons upon the unjust and cruel Persecuting of innocent and good Men and to assist others therein when nothing else would have influenced to such Doings In the fourth and last place the Scripture is not silent neither in setting forth the desperateness of such a Spirit of Enmity and of such persecuting Practices in those wicked Men in those Ages of the World First In that it sheweth that God himself and Christ did take themselves to be concerned in all that which was done against his People And Secondly It declared the many direful Threatnings against such Persecutors as also the sad Effects and Consequents of such Doings And First It sets forth how much God and Christ reasons themselves concerned therewith as he was for his People under the burthen laid upon them in Egypt Exod. 3. God said v. 7. I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and I have heard their cry by reason of their Task masters for I know their sorrow and in the next verse I am come down to deliver them of which God told Moses again v. 9. Here is observed what notice God took on 't and how he was concerned about it So again Psal 105. 't is said of Israel there by the Psalmist v. 13 14 15. That when they went from one nation to another c. he suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes saying Touch
Jews he v. 15. said of them in these words Who killed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets and have persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary to all men forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved Here were they highly engaged in a persecuting Spirit and of opposition of the Gospel of Salvation But what saith the Holy Ghost in the next words concerning the Consequents thereof To fill up their sin alway saith he for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost And least any Man should flatter himself with vain hopes of Escaping tho he should have persisted in such a Spirit and Practice Christ himself hath possitively asserted that God will avenge it Luke 18.7 8. in these words Shall not God avenge his own elect who cry day and night unto him c. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily Here or hereafter vengeanc will overtake the Enemies and Persecutors of his Elect and that it is but just in God so to do the Apostle intimates 2 Thess 1.6 7. and so on in these words Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them who trouble you and to you who are troubled rest when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed c. to take vengeance on them who know not God c. v. 9. Their punishment is said to be then their everlasting destruction from the Presence of the Lord and the Glory of his Power And the righteousness of God is proclaimed in his executing this vengeance on them Rev. 16. v. 5 6. in these words Thou art righteous O Lord c. because thou hast judged thus for they have shed the blood of Saints and Prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthy The Scripture hath taken notice that sometimes God did execute threatned Judgments upon such in this World so did he with all the Countrys before threatned for their hatred against and vengeance and cruelty they took and exercised upon his People Israel and Haman himself met with the same evil he had designed to have executed upon Mordicai And some times 't is reserved to be punished in the World to come and shall remain upon them for ever of which Judgments unavoidably to come upon them that envious Spirit they were found in was a full evidence as the Apostle said Philip. 1.28 to the persecuted Saints in that day by way of comfort to them in these words And in nothing terrified by your Adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition and to you of salvation and that of God And to which also Christ spake home unto the Jews Mat. 25. speaking there v. 31. and so on of his coming to judge the world he v. 41 42 and so on saith Then shall the King say unto them on the left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels for I was an hungary and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye cloathed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not and he explains his meaning to them in v. 45. In as much saith he as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me and this direful Word followeth in v. 46. These shall go away into everlasting punishment whence they might have easily inferred that if it should be so sad with those who gave not Meat Cloathed not gave not Drink visited not in Prisons in Sickness how much more sad would the Condition of such be who took away their Meat and Drink made them Poor and Naked cast them into Prison were instrumental to make them Sick yea and take away their Lives too If a Woe be pronounced against them who are at ease in Zion and not grieved for the Affliction of Joseph as in Amos 6.1 2 3. and so on what might those expect who were the Afflicters of Joseph It was no light thing when God should come to avenge for much the Apostle did give them to know in those days when he had affirmed Heb. 10.30 these words as that which God had said Vengeance belong to me saith the Lord and I will repay it c. He subjoins this in the next verse It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Therefore God himself by the Prophet David Psal 2. After he had been Prophesying of the Rage of Princes and People against the Lord and his Anointed and had set forth their Vanity and the ineffectualness of their Attempts against him in the beginning of the Psalm he v. 10 11 12. adviseth them to submit because of the sad Consequents of their persisting in their Rage in these words Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little c. What dreadful Judgments hath befallen the Jews since they in their rage against Christ utttered these words Mat. 27.25 His blood be upon us and our Children Thus do these divine Records especially note the great and seated Enmity which was in the Hearts of wicked Men in those days of the World against good Men and Things and the breakings out thereof in the several Ways they then took to prevent the increase of them and it together with the Causes or several Grounds from when that Spirit in those days did arise and took life as also the dreadful Case of such the sad Consequents of being found in such a Spirit and Practices And are not these things written as are other things in the Scriptures of old for the admonition of those upon whom the ends of the world are come And doth it not concern all Men to instruct themselves therein in order to their own escape from the Errors of these and so save themselves from the direful Consequents and Effects depending upon them FINIS