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
was to deliver him thus did they there frame this Law and yet it confirmed upon this sole Design that they might take Daniel in the Matter of his God and so dispatch him So did Haman also with the Jews in Mordicays days when he had resolved to have destroyed both Mordieai and the Jews he applied himself to the King for a Decree to destroy them which he obtained and accordingly proceeded upon it till he was prevented Esther 4.6 8 and following verses After the same manner the Jews themselves did in Christs time under pretence of Law they persecuted Jesus himself unto death they brought him before Pilate the Judge in open Court and there charged him and prosecuted him in a pretended regular way Luke 23. Yea and that they might terrifie others from confessing and owning of him in the World at that time they made or agreed an Ecclesiastical Law too That if any did confess him they should be Excommunicated as 't is expresly said John 9.22 in these words That the Jews had already agreed that if any man did confess that he was Christ that he should be put out of the Synagogue of which Law the Jews at that time stood in great fear as is plain by the Parents of the blind Man there spoken of in this Chap. they answered so shyly when the question was asked them concerning their Son for fear of this Law of Excommunication which they did afterwards actually put in Execution against their Son when he owned Christ v. 34. And 't is expresly said John 7. That many said he is a good man v. 12. Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews v. 13. And again John 12. v. 42. 't is said Among the chief Rulers also many believed on him but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him lest they should be put out of the Synagogue for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God of which Law and the execution thereof Christ had told his Disciples Before Jo. 16. verse they will put you out of their Synagogues they will execute those Laws they have contrived on purpose to prevent mens confessing of me Thus doth the Scripture Records evidence that the wicked Ones in those Ages did take this Course also to prevent and deter Men from owning God and Christ and his Laws 6thly Yet a sixth Way wherein they did evidence their Enmity against God and Christ against the Saints and followers of Christ was this That when they otherwise could not in a Legal Way make out any of the Accusations and Charges they had brought against them and being resolved to take them they then did suborn and set up false Witnesses Men of Belial to swear against them and affirm even whatever they had suggested to them to whom the Magistrates in those days did easily give credit too as the Scripture declared That the Elders and Nobles by Jezebels means did in the case of Naboth 1 Kings 21. when Jezebel there had written to them in the Kings Name and under his Seal tho without his knowledge v. 8. and therein directed them v. 9 10. to set up Naboth on high among the People and to set up false witnesses They in v. 11 12 13. accordingly set up Naboth and 't is said there There came in two men children of Belial and witnessed against him saying Naboth did blaspheme God and the King which they the Elders and Nobles soon gave credit too for they presently carried him out and stoned him here they shed innocent Blood by false suborned Witnesses as they were commanded to do tho they knew it to be a desperate wicked thing so to do The Psalmist in his days complained of such dealings Psal 119.69 and said there The proud hath forged a lie against me and in Psal 35.11 he said False witnesses did arise up they laid to my charge things which I knew not After the same manner did the unbelieving Jews deal with Jesus Christ himself and with his Disciples in their days as the Scripture also affirmeth Mat. 26. it is said there v. 59. That the chief Priests and Elders and all the Council sought false witnesses against Jesus to put him to death and v. 60 and 61. At last came two false witnesses and said This Fellow said c. Thus the Holy Ghost takes notice that the Chief Priests Elders and Council were principally engaged in this wickedness too such was their Heart Enmity against him that they could not bear with his being on the Earth therefore they regarded not what wicked Course they took to send him hence So did the Libertines and others in the case of Stephen Act. 6. When they were not able to resist his wisdom c. v. 10. They then in the next verses suborned men who said We have heard him speak Blasphemies c. and afterwards v. 12 13. they set up those false witnesses before the Council against him This Charge they had framed against him and endeavored to prove tho by false Witnesses by Perjury that they might seem to be just and to persecute him in a Legal manner according to Moses Law and so put him to death for in the next verses They stir up the Elders and Scribes and People who were forward enough of themselves against him and took him brought him before the Council where they produced their suborned Men who said of him That this man ceased not to speak blasphemous words against the holy Place and the Law c. So far hath these divine Records taken notice of this Way and Procedure of these wicked persecuting and invidious Men in those Ages of the World 7thly And that the wicked Enemies of God of Jesus Christ and of his People and Laws in those days might carry their Matters the more plausible and obtain an Opinion in Magistrates of their own Loyalty and that they might get the greater countenance to their Proceedings and awe and engage other inferior Magistrates and Officers contrary to their own Inclinations and Judgments to assist them in their revengeful Acts they were found in this seventh Method or crafty Course They did mostly pretend themselves to be special Friends to the Kings and Governors and Laws Ecclesiastical and Civil in those days in all they did this way and that Governors Government and Laws were much concerned in all that they alledged against those Persons whom they had accused and that therefore only were they so zealous against them in those Matters altho in truth 't was only proceeding from their own envious and revengeful Hearts within them Examples and Instances of which the Scripture hath also Recorded In Ezra's days when the Adversaries of the Jews being vexed at them Ezra 4.1 2 c. the Chancellor and others wrote to the King against them v. 6. and amongst other things they in their Letter acquaints him that they were building that rebellious and bad City c. and in v. 13. they interrest
before the Rulers and there immediately they interrest Caesar and his Laws in the business v. 7. and say These do all contrary to the Decrees of Caesar saying that there is another King Jesus So again Act. 18. The Jews there made an insurrection against Paul and brought him before the Judgment Seat v. 12 13. they charge him with breach of their Ecclesiastical Laws saying there This Fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the Law or established mode by which no doubt they engaged many readily to assist them in their persecuting of him tho Galio drave them from the Judgment Seat and would not meddle in those Laws verses 15 16. Thus doth the Scripture note that the Enemies of the Saints and of the Truth it self in those Ages did walk in this Path also in order to the effecting of their envious and revengeful Purposes 8thly But when this Method neither did do the Work so effectually as they designed then they proceeded against them in an eighth Way that was They did in most places stir up base Fellows and all sorts of People and together with them did they tumultuously take hold of them hale them to Prison and before Magistrates and oftentimes contrary to all Laws and Justice Order and Peace beat them banish them and hastily stone them and go about to kill them as the Psalmist said of them in his days Psal 53.4 in these words Who eateth up my people as they eat Bread of which doings Jesus foretold and acquainted his Disciples that they were to bear a share in Mat. 10. They will saith he there deliver you up to the Council and they will scourge you in their Synagogues and ye shall be brought before Governors and Kings for my sake c. v. 17 18. Nay Christ himself escaped not such rude and illegal Dealings as 't is taken notice of Luke 4.28 29. in these words They were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust him out of the City and laid him to the brow of the hill whereon the City was built that they might cast him down headlong and Luke 22. The multitude with the chief Priests and Captains of the Temple and Elders came to take him v. 47. with swords and staves as against a Thief as Christ said v. 52. and these in this tumultuous manner led him to the High Priests house v. 54. v. 63 64. They mock him and smote him having blindfolded him they stroke him on the face saying Prophesie who it is who smote thee and in v. 1. of the next Chap. it is again said That the whole multitude arose and led him to Pilate Here the common Rabble as well as the great Ones hurry'd him about mock and beat him in a tumultuous and an illegal manner So did the Enemies of the Jews before in Nehemiahs days conspire to do Nehem. 4. when they had observed that all their other Attempts for hindring their Building would not do the Jews having the Kings Authority with them Sanballat and others here being very wroth v. 7. did conspire all of them together to come to fight against Jerusalem to hinder it such was their Enmity against the Jews here for building by the Kings Authority that how Loyal soever they otherways pretended to be yet here did they agree most rebelliously and wickedly to hinder the Building by fighting against them They readily obeyed the King in Ezra's time when his command was to cause the Work to cease but now when they were by the Kings command to build they would disobey and in an hostile and rebellious manner hinder it The like did the persecuting Jews themselves in the Apostles days too in Act. 4. As the Apostles spake unto the people the Priests and the Captain of the Temple and the Sadduces came upon them v. 1. and being that they taught c. they laid hands on them and put them into hold v. 2 and 3. so again Act. 5. when they had understood that the Apostles had done Miracles c. v. 15 16. The High Priest rose up and all those who were with him which is the Sect of the Sadduces and were filled with indignation v. 17. and in the following verses They laid their hands on the Apostles and put them into common Prison Stephen was so illegally and riotously handled Act. 6. when the Libertines and others had disputed with him and not able to resist the spirit and wisdom by which he spake v. 9 10. They in v. 12. to confute him stirred up the People and the Elders and the Scribes and came upon him caught and brought him to the Councel and again in the next Chap. 't is said v. 54. that when they had heard what Stephen said they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth and in v. 57. and so onward That they ran upon him with one accord and cast him out of the City and stoned him It is recorded also of Saul Acts 8. v. 3. That he made havock of the Church entring into every house and haleing men and women committing them to Prison which he after his Conversion did confess Act. 22. in these words v. 5 6. I persecuted this way to the death binding and delivering into Prison both men and women I went unto Damascus to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem to be punished and in v. 19. said he to the Lord I imprisoned and beat in every Synagogue them who believed on thee Thus did others deal with Paul himself when he became a preacher of Christ and with Sylas Act. 16. Paul having cast out the Spirit of Divination out of the Damsel v. 18. her masters v. 19 20. caught Paul and Sylas drew them into the Market-place to the Rulers and brought them to the Magistrates and there accused them for Troublers of the City upon which The multitude rose up together against them and the Magistrates commanded to beat them and when they had laid many stripes upon them they cast them into Prison v. 22 23. All which Proceedings were illegal violent and tumultuous and ought not to have been done to them as Paul himself told them v. 35 36. when the Magistrates had sent to discharge them in these words They have beaten us openly uncondemned being Romans and have cast us into Prison and now do they thrust us out privily nay verily let them come themselves and fetch us out and in the next verse The Magistrates feared when they heard that they were Romans and they came and be sought them to go out Even so did the unbelieving Jews Act. 13. upon their observation that multitudes did hear the Word were filled with envy and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul c. v. 45. and upon their second speaking v. 46. and so on The Jews v. 50. stirred up the devout and honourable Women and the chief Men of the City and raised Persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled