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-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
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
before God Psal 83. Be not still O God saith he v. 1. Why what is the matter Why saith he in the next verses Lo thine Enemies make a tumult and they have taken crafty counsel against thy people and consulted against thy hidden ones they have said Come le ts cut them off from being a Nation that the name of Israel be no more in remembrance for they have consulted together with one consent they are confederate against thee 'T is noted too that the Presidents and Princes in Daniels time did take the same way with him Dan. 6. When they saw the King had advanced him over them verses 1 2 3. they in the next verses because they could not find occasion against him in the Matters of the Kingdom which they had sought to do they consulted and contrived to ensnare him in the Matter of his God v. 5. and accordingly they in the next verses pursued the thing they had contrived procured a Law in that Matter and convicted him thereupon After the same manner did the unbelieving Jews and the Gentiles too in those days contrive against Christ and his Followers as it is written Mat. 12. when Christ had v. 13. healed the withered Hand The Pharisees in the next verse went out and held a Council against him how they might destroy him again after Christ had spoken to them in a Parable Mat. 22. They in v. 15. went and took counsel how they might entangle him and afterwards in the next verses they pursued their Contrivances so Mat. 26. Then assembled together the chief Priests and the Scribes and the Elders of the people unto the Palace of the High Priest and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty and kill him in verses 3 4. The like Counsel they took again Mat. 27.1 to put him to death Here the chief Men amongst the Jews were frequently in taking counsel how they might have destroyed this innocent and just One such was their Heart-hatred of him Nay when he had raised Lazarus and the Fact was so evident that they could not deny it John 11.44 45. Then gathered the chief Priests and the Pharisees a Council and said what do we if we let him thus alone all Men will believe on him v. 47 48. to prevent which they were most industriously engaged They did the like afterwards to the Apostles when these had preached Christ Acts 5. They were cut to the heart and they took counsel to slay the Apostles v. 33. Yea when Paul had given over to persecute the Saints and had preached Christ Acts 9. The fews v. 23. took counsel to kill him too And more than forty Acts 23. had conspired together and bound themselves under a Curse not to eat or drink till they had killed him v. 12 13. and these had agreed with the chief Priests and Elders how they should have effected this Murther v. 14 15. Thus hath the Scripture declared and set forth the several Consults Contrivances Plots and wicked Devices that these wicked envidious Ones in those Ages of the World had made and designed against Christ good and peaceable Men according to that in Psal 2. They took counsel against the Lord and his Anointed c. v. 2. c. 5thly A fifth Way that those envious Ones Unbelievers c. did take in those days to express their Enmity against Gods People Christ and his Followers was this They did procure and Enact Laws and Decrees Civil and Ecclesiastical on purpose both to ensnare punish and destroy them And to deter others from owning and following of them or their Doctrins and under collour of such Laws or Decrees they did proceed to accuse them as disobedient and so punish them thereupon as the Psalmist Psal 94. intimated that they did in his days Shall the Throne of Iniquity saith he v. 20. have fellowship with thee who frame mischief by a Law And what they did upon these Laws is expressed in the next verse in these words They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous and condemn innocent blood The Holy Ghost takes notice on 't here that altho they seemed to do it by a Legal Process yet 't was the Righteous 't was innocent Blood they condemned thereby as Jezebel the Wife of Ahab did with innocent Naboth 1 Kings 21. when she had seen Ahab discontent about the Vineyard v. 5 6. she resolved to dispatch Naboth out of the way and that by colour of Law too as 't is said there v. 7. she said to Ahab Dost thou not govern the Kingdom of Israel Let thine heart be merry I will give thee the Vineyard of Naboth c. In order to which she v. 8. wrote Letters in Ahabs name and sealed it with his Seal and sent the same to the Elders and the Nobles of the City where Naboth dwelt and by that Letter in the next verses directs them to proceed against him in a Judicial way but to set up false Witnesses against him to which the Nobles and Elders reasoning themselves secure having the Kings Commandment for it did comply tho the way was desperately wicked they set up Witnesses Sons of Belial against him judged condemned and executed him in the 11 12 and following verses The Enemies of the Jews did by false suggestions against them procure a Decree from the King to stop their work of Building in Ezra 4. Nebucadnezar the King having set up an Image Dan. 3.1 and in the following verses Decreed That all who heard the sound of the Cornet c. should fall down and worship him and that such who did not should be cast into the fiery Furnace upon this the Caldeans v. 8. accused the Jews and v. 12. they said These Men O King regard not thee they serve not thy gods upon which the King in great fury sent for them v. 13. and v. 19. in greater wrath commanded the Execution of them according to that Law which in the following verses they performed Here was a wicked Law or Decree and upon this they condemned those innocent and peaceable Men. And thus they dealt with Daniel himself too in those days The Presidents and Princes who had hated him having sought occasion against him in the matters of the Kingdom and found none could not hit him upon any Law in that respect such was his Faithfulness and so good a Subject was he Dan. 6.4 5. They contrived a Law or Decree on purpose in the Matter of his God that upon this they might ruin him 't is said v. 7. That all the Presidents of the Kingdom and the Governors and the Princes the Counsellors and the Captains had consulted together to establish a Royal Statute to make a firm Decree That whosoever shall ask c. and in the next verses they obtain a Confirmation thereof by the King upon which they v. 11. and so onward prosecuted Daniel for praying to the true God and cast him into the Den of Lyons tho the Kings Heart
them out of their coasts here when contradicting and blasphemy would not do they stir up a Tumult and by illegal and violent means drive them away And this course they did uncessantly follow Act. 14. v. 2. it is Recorded in these words That the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil affected against the Brethren and v. 5. as the effect on 't 't is said That when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their Rulers to use them despitefully and to stone them they fled and v. 19. They pursued them came where they were and having persuaded the People and stoned Paul drew him out of the City c. Thus did they here most unjustly riotously and illegally persecute Paul and others stirred up the People every where so to do Again they did walk in the same Steps in Act. 17. 't is said of them thus in v. 5. They being moved with envy took to themselves certain lewd Fellows of the baser sort and gathered a Company and set the whole City in an uprore and assaulted the house of Jason and v. 6. They drew him to the Magistrate here these made great Riots dealt rudely illegally and violently with Christ and the Saints when by Law they could not effect their Purposes And again v. 13. of the same Chap. They pursued Paul to Barea and stirred up the people there too And in Act. 18. The Jews there made an insurrection with one accord against Paul and drew him to the Judgment Seat v. 12. and when Galio refused to meddle with the matter because there was no matter of wrong that he was charged with or wickedness verses 14 15 16. They then took Sosthenes the chief Ruler of the Synagogue and beat him before the Judgment Seat such Outrages as these did they then commit The like riotous illegal and tumultuous Ways did the Silver-Smiths take against Paul Acts 19. when they saw that their Craft was like to be set at naught if People believed Diana to be no Goddess v. 24. and so on they were full of wrath v. 28. and the whole City was filled with confusion and having caught Gaius and others v. 29. they rushed with one accord into the Theater they were in a great Tumult and Riot in the City in the next verses which whole Proceeding was illegal as the Town Clerk afterward told them in these words v 36 37. and so on Ye ought to be quiet and to do nothing easily for ye have brought hither these Men who are neither robbers of Churches nor yet blasphemers of your Goddess wherefore if the craftsmen have any matter against any man the Law is open c. let them implead one another if it be concerning other matters it shall be determined in a lawful Assembly for we are in danger of being called in question for this days uprore c. This course was not allowable here among the Heathens themselves The Jews again dealt so with Paul Acts 21.27 28. They stirred up all the people and laid hands on him and cryed out Men of Israel help this is the man c. upon which cry all the City was moved in the next verses and the people ran together and they took Paul and drew him out of the Temple and went about to kill him till the Captain came whom when they saw they left of beating of him yea more than fourty conspired together and resolved to kill him Act. 23.12 Thus hath the Holy Ghost taken notice of this Practice of the wicked Enemies of God and his People in those days and that it was very common in those days The Apostle James intimated in the 2d Chap. of his Epistle v. 6 7. saith he there Do not rich men oppress you and draw you before the Judgment Seats do not they blaspheme that worthy Name by which ye are called These Interrogations implies an Affirmation that they did so used so to do Neither here did their Envy and Enmity against the Saints in Old Testament times nor against Christ and his Followers in the New end and proceed no further no they were never satisfied while any of those remained alive upon the Earth like those Act. 22.22 who cryed out against Paul in these words Away with such a Fellow from the Earth for it is not fit he should live right or wrong let him be taken off the Earth They therefore persecuted them to the death that did they design that did they pursue by all the before-mentioned ways Nay such was their bitter Enmity that if the Magistrate at any time seemed to be willing to acquit any of them because of their Innocency they cryed out upon him away with him and told Herod he was no Friend to Caesar if he let him go and that rather then Jesus should be acquitted they desired a most notorious Criminal should be saved even Barabbas who for Sedition and Murther in the City was cast into Prison they preferred the most vile Men to that most innocent and unblamable One Further instances of this too the same divine Records hath delivered down as the Apostle James said in the general Cap. 5.6 of rich Men Ye have condemned and killed the just and he doth not resist you So said the Psalmist Psal 37. The wicked hath drawn out the sword v. 14. to slay such as be of an upright Conversation And again in Psal 44.22 For thy sake are we killed all the day long we are counted as Sheep for the slaughter And more particularly Gen. 4. Cain there having brought an Offering and Abel another to the Lord and the Lord respecting Abels and not Cains v. 3 4 5. Cain v. 8. upon this very account rose up against him and slew him In like manner did Josephs Brethren intend to do with him Gen. 37. they perceiving that their Father loved him more than he did them envyed him or hated him v. 3 4. and in v. 18. Seeing him afar of they conspired against him to slay him and v. 20. said Come now let us slay him and cast him into some pit c. Nothing less than his Life would satisfie some of them at least such was their Envy against their innocent Brother in that day Jezebel Ahabs Wife after Elijah had caused the Prophets of Baal to be slain 1 Kings 18. she Chap. 19. understanding the matter by the King sent a Messenger to Elijah in v. 2. saying So let the gods do and more also if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time such was her hatred of him that nothing but his Life was desired by her but he fled So Hamans fiery Enmity against Mordicai could be no way quenched but by his Life and the Life of all the Jews Hester 9.5 6. when Mordicai would not bow and give Haman reverence to him he was full of wrath and thought scorn to lay hands on Mordicai alone but he and
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
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
not my Anointed and do my Prophets no harm Isaiah records these words Chap. 63.8 9. He was their Saviour in all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them c. Here were great Expressions of his care and concernedness for them God himself by the Prophet Zachariah spake thus concerning them Chap. 2. v. 8. He who toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine eye and in v. 9. he saith of their Enemies Behold I will shake mine hand upon them c. So did Christ himself declare his concernedness for the Church when Saul had persecuted them Act. 9.1 2 3. Christ met him in the way and in the next verses uttered these words Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Who art thou said Saul I am Jesus whom thou persecutest it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks Here Christ evidenced himself to be neerly concerned for his Saints and also he hinted to Saul the danger of persecuting too It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks Then Secondly The Scripture Records the many direful Threatnings against such Persecutors in those days and declared the many sad Effects and Consequents of such doing in those Ages of the World In the general God said Deut. 32. v. 43. That he will revenge the blood of his servants and will render vengeance to the adversaries And again Psal 7.13 He hath ordained his arrows against the Persecutors Yea thus spake he to his People Israel in particular by the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 10. O my people c. be not afraid of the Assyrians he shall smite thee with a rod v. 24. and in v. 25 26. For yet a little while and the indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction and the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian Yea and tho their stout Hearts would not take notice of Gods Hand lifted up against them Isa 26. yet God said there That they should see and be ashamed for their envy at the people or towards my people yea said he there the fire of thine enemies shall devour them v. 11. Again Isa 51. I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling the dregs of the cup of my fury thou shalt no more drink it again but I will put it into the hands of them who afflict thee who said to thy soul bow down that we may go over c. v. 22 23. Here God tho he did permit his Peoples Enemies sometimes to lay the Rod on his yet the Dregs of the Cup the Enemies Persecuters themselves are threatned to drink with which God threatned several Nations who had been his Peopls Israels great Enemies and Oppressors for their insolent insulting over them and for all their cruel and severe Dealings with them Ezek. 25. The Amonites for their saying Aha Aha against Gods Sanctuary when it was profaned and against the land of Israel when it was desolate and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity v. 3. and in the next verses there are Threatnings denounced against them for this further and for that That they had claped their hands and rejoyced in heart with all their despight against the Land of Israel v. 6. and in the following verses Threatnings are denounced against them and against Moab too in the 8 9 and following verses and v. 12. 't is said from the Lord That because Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance and hath greatly offended and revenged himself upon them therefore did God threaten them sorely in the next verses and again in v. 15. 't is said of the Philistines thus Because they dealt by revenge and have taken vengeance with a despightful heart to destroy for the old hatred therefore thus saith the Lord I will stretch forth my hand c. in the next verses God also threatens Titus for the lifting up her self against Israel see it at large Ezek. 26. and in Chap. 35. God by the Prophet there saith to Mount Seir thus I am against thee and I will stretch out mine hand against thee and I will make thee most desolate c. v. 1 2 3 4. and in v. 5. he declares the cause in these words Because thou hast a perpetual hatred and hast shed the blood of the Children of Israel by the force of the sword and in the time of their calamity c. and in the next verses he saith I will prepare thee to blood and blood shall pursue thee c. So did God threaten the Heathen in general for the same cause in Chap. 36. at the beginning and in Zephan Chap. 2. did he threaten Moab and Ammon upon this account v. 8. I have heard the reproach of Moab said he and the revilings of the Children of Ammon whereby they have reproached my people and magnified themselves against their borders therefore as I live saith the Lord there v. 9. and so on Moab shall as Sodom c. Nay God threatned the Heads of Jacob and Princes of the house of Israel for their hating of the good and loving of the evil and as the natural consequent thereof their hurting and persecuting of his People Micah 3.1 2 3 4. And again he threatens Edom in Obadiah v. 9 10. for this cause too in these words And thy mighty men O Teman shall be dismayed to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter for thy violence against thy Brother Jacob shame shall cover thee and thou shalt be cut off for ever Thus did God in those days take notice of the abuses done to his and did threaten their Persecutors Yea further in the days of the New Testament too doth the Holy Ghost take special notice of these things Christ himself pronounced a woe in general to such who should offend his Mat. 18. said he there Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea v. 6. and in v. 7. he adds a woe to the world because of offences c. and woe to the man by whom they come this he spake in general but more particular to the Jews He in Mat. 23.29 30. pronounced Woes against them upon this account and spake dreadfully to them v. 34 37. in these words I send you Prophets c. and some of them ye shall kill and crucifie and some of them shall you scourge in your Synagogues and persecute them from City to City That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the Earth from righteous Abel c. According to which the Apostle spake 1 Thess 2. of the Jews he having said to the Thessalonians v. 14. That they also had suffered like things of their Countrymen as they have of the