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
Conversation in Christ so Christs words implies Mat. 5. when he said v. 11. Blessed ye when Men shall revile you c. and shall say all manner of evil against you for my sake Thus the Scripture declare fully that wicked Men did express their Heart-Enmity against the Saints Christ himself and his Followers by defaming and disgracing of them and their Doctrin thereby to bring them into Contempt and evil Esteem amongst the People and render their Doctrin of no force And 2dly These wicked Ones Unbelievers that they might seem unto all Men to be very just and righteous in all that which they did and that they did require nothing but the due execution of the Law upon those whom they persecuted did not rest in a speaking evil of the Saints in the general as before but proceeded further and that without any sense of Honesty or Religion to render them highly Criminal tho most unjustly and falsly by accusing and charging of them as guilty of the most heinous Crimes as Enemies to Kings Governors and Government as Rebels Traytors Seditious Factious breakers of the Kings Laws and the Law of God too breakers of the Peace Deceivers Ring leaders of Heresies and such like which they could never prove and this they did usually in those days before Magistrates and among the People and not only so but they did use many Artifices to insinuate into the Peoples Minds and also into the Rulers to persuade them fully to believe that those Accused Ones were really guilty of those things their Persecutors then charged them with and thereby both Magistrates and People were the easier drawn to assist the Persecutors all which the same Scripture also hath fully noted As in John 18. when Christ there had been brought by them before Pilate and he had asked them What Accusation they had against him v. 29. They said unto him v. 30. If he were not a Malefactor we would not have delivered him up to thee No doubt they would have been thought by Pilate and those present to have been so just tho they could prove nothing against Christ that they must believe them barely upon their confident saying so without more ado and that Pilate ought not to think otherwise when they had brought Christ before him but that he must be a Malefactor and not Innocent The Psalmist in his days complains Psal 38. in general They saith he there who seek my hurt speak mischievous things and imagin deceit all the day long v. 12. And Psal 31.13 I have heard the Slanders of many c. Particular instances hereof are noted throughout the divine Records as in Exod. 1. The King of Egypt there having a mind to prevent the Israelites growth and to suppress them v. 9. he suggests this against them as if they had Rebellious and Trayterous Principles in them v. 10. in these words Come let us deal wisely with them lest they multiply and it come to pass that when there fall out any War they joyn also unto our Enemies and fight against us c. So did that wicked King Ahab 1 Kings 18. when his own great wickedness mentioned 1 Kings 16.30 31 c. had procured the sore Famine prophesied of by Elijah Chap. 17.1 he having sought Elijah every where to kill him v. 10. upon sight of him he presently charged him for being the Troubler of Israel in these words v. 17. Art thou he who troubleth Israel this was a most unjust Charge as Elijah then and there told him in the next verse in these words I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy Fathers House in that ye have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord c. The Enemies of the Jews in Ezra's time did so against them in Ezra 4. They there wrote Accusations against them the Chancellor and some other Great Ones wrote to the King in these words v. 12. and so on Be it known unto the King That if this City be builded and the Walls-set up again then they will not pay Tole Tribute and Custom and so thou shalt endamage the Revenues of the Kings know that this City is a Rebellious City and hurtful to Kings and Provinces and that they have moved Seditions within the same of old time Here were these charged to be a Rebellious Seditious and disloyal People by which suggestion tho never so false they got Authority to stay the Work v. 21. In like manner did they in Nehemiahs time Nehem. 2. when he came with Authority from the King to rebuild Jerusalem v. 8.9 10. Sanballat and others having heard on 't v. 19. they said to them What is the thing that ye do will ye rebel against the King Here they presently suggested a Design of Rebellion tho what they were about at that time they did by the Kings own Authority And again Sanballat Chap. 6. sent to Nehemiah a Letter in these words v. 5.6 7. It is reported amongst the Heathens and Gashum saith thou and the Jews think to rebel for which cause thou buildest the Wall that thou mayst be their King according to these words and thou hast appointed Prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem saying a King in Judah than all which there was nothing more untrue as Nehemiah did tell him v. 8. said he there There is no such thing done as thou said but thou fainest them out of thine own heart Heinous desperate Enmity he had in his Brest against Mordicai put him upon taking this Course against him and against all the Jews the easier to bring about their destruction he accuseth the Jews before the King Hester 3. in these words v. 8. 9. There is a certain People scattered abroad c. and their Laws are divers from all people neither keep they the Kings Laws That it is not for the Kings profit to suffer them Let it be written that they may be destroyed By which Suggestion and false Charge he procured a Decree to destroy them in the next verses Thus also did the Presidents and Princes in Daniels time their Enmity was so great against Daniel That having on purpose Dan. 4.4 5. and following verses procured a Law in the matter of his God they not being able otherwise to accuse him and prove any fault against him they go to the King in v. 13. and charge Daniel in these words in the presence of the King Daniel said they regardeth not thee O King nor the Decree which thou hast signed c. Here did they insinuate that he was a Contemner of the King and of his Decrees when as in truth it was nothing so but only a due regard to the true God on whom he was bound to call The Jews likewise who believed not in Christ in his time and afterwards trod in the same Steps they charged Christ himself with such Crimes Luke 23.2 They began to accuse him before Pilate saying We found this Fellow perverting the Nation and forbidding to give Tribute to Caesar saying that he
the King in these words which they suggested Be it known unto the King That if this City be built c. then will they not pay Tole Tribute and Custom and so thou shalt endamage the Revenue of the Kings and v. 13. Now said they because we have maintainance c. it is not meet for us to see the Kings dishonour therefore have we sent and certified the King here they pretended that the Kings dishonour and the loss he was like to bear was that they were concern'd about and that therefore the King was concerned to prevent it when all this proceeded only from their Heart-Enmity against the Jews as such as 't is said in v. 1. v. 5. of the same 4th of Ezra In like manner did Sanballat and other their Enemies in Nehemiahs days when they had understood Chap. 2. that Nehemiah had come with Authority to build the City they were sorely grieved v. 10. It grieved them exceedingly that there was come a Man to seek the welfare of the Children of Israel their Heart-Enmity against the Jews made the Favor that the King shew'd to them to be Grief to those and contrary to true Loyalty they endeavor to oppose what these were doing by Commission from the King as in v. 19. They said to them will ye rebel against the King thus they suggested that they would rebel against the King altho they knew the King did allow what the Jews did in that matter so again the same Sanballat in a Letter sent by his Servants to Nehemiah Chap. 6. told Nehemiah thus v. 5 6 7. It is reported c. that thou and the Jews think to rebel for which cause thou buildest the Wall that thou mayst be their King c. and shall it be reported to the King according to these words thus these Mens hatred of the Jews made them suggest these things against them wherein the King must be concerned altho what the Jews did then was by the Kings own Commission which Loyal Subjects should have encouraged Haman afterwards took the same way against Mordicai and the Jews Esther 3. he being full of wrath against Mordicai because he did not bow before him v. 5. he the better to compass his revengeful Design and being a great Favourite of the King presently interrests the King in the matter and like a very Loyal Subject tells the King v. 8. thus There are a certain people c. and their Laws are divers from all people and what then O neither keep they the Kings Laws and in the next words Therefore 't is not for the Kings profit to suffer them let it be written that they be destroyed v. 9. here he seemed to be greatly concerned for the King in this matter as a very Loyal Man but the Holy Ghost hath there set forth that he did this only to effect what his malicious Heart had resolved so to do in revenge against Mordicai even to destroy him and all the Jews who were a peaceable and profitable People So when the Enemies of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego would have destroyed them Dan. 3. they presently there v. 12. concerns the King therewith in these words There are certain Jews c. These men O King have not regarded thee they serve not thy God c. which enraged the King presently by which they had their End in the next verses Here these Men pretended to the King that these Jews in affront to the King would not worship the Image when their Enemies knew the contrary that they were good Subjects only in that matter could not actually obey And so dealt the Presidents and Princes with Daniel himself whom they hated because the King had advanced him above them Dan. 6. their design was to destroy him and the better to effect it they presently concern the King and the Law in the matter for both which they seemed to be zealous and having on purpose to take him procured a Law or Decree to have been made they v. 13. said thus to the King Daniel who is of the captivity c. regardeth not thee O King nor the Decree which thou hast signed c. Here they did insinuate that the King was concerned in Honor to vindicate his Authority and Law against Daniel as a despiser of both altho they very well knew 't was duty to God not disloyalty to the King that made him to pray to God contrary to that Decree of which also the King himself was so sensible that 't is said of him v. 14. He was sore displeased with himself and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him and he labored till the going down of the Sun to deliver him to which these pretenders to Loyalty having their hearts set to destroy Daniel would not yield their love to the King would not bring them to stoop to his desire because it contradicted their design but now they press the King with the Law and shew their zeal for the punishment of Offenders against the Law v. 15. as if the King had not power to discharge the Offenders that their Heart-Enmity against Daniel and their purpose to destroy him not the Kings Honor nor true zeal for Justice made these Men thus warm against Daniel is here very evident Thus did the unbelieving Jews and other Enemies of Jesus Christ and of his Followers in after Ages against Christ himself and his Apostles in those days Luke 23. They there out of a design to destroy Christ accused him as an Enemy to Caesar interrests Caesar in the matter that they might seem to persecute Christ rather from Loyalty than secret Hatred and Enmity they carryed against him as in v. 2. they said We found this Fellow c. forbidding to give Tribute to Caesar saying That he himself is a King by this they designed as an expedient the easier to get Pilate to pass Judgment against him as is evident John 19 â—r when they there perceived that Pilate was willing to release Christ and probably would have done it in v. 12. The Jews cryed out If thou let this Man go thou art not Caesars friend for whosoever maketh himself a King speaketh against Caesar upon which words 't is said in the next verse That Pilate brought him out here was great concernedness for Caesar seemingly yet Envy was the motive and Christs Life the design only which Pilate very well knew for he found no fault in him and it s expresly said so That he knew that the Priests had delivered him up for envy Mark 15.10 Tho this very thing did so awe Pilate as they designed it should against his inclination and judgment that he delivered this Just One into their hands to be Crucified After the same manner did they with the Apostles and Disciples of Christ afterwards in Act. 7. 't is said there v. 5. That the Jews who believed not moved with envy took some base Fellows with them and laid hold on Jason and some others v. 6. and brought them
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