Parable he spake to them Luke 19. concerning a Noble Man v. 12. where in v. 14. 't is said That the Citizens hated him and sent forth a Messenger after him saying We will not have this Man to reign over us The unbelieving Jews would have none of his Government 't was too strict for them they hate him and from thence 't was that they could not endure such who either preached him up as Lord or his Laws as that by which they ought to be ruled or did submit themselves to him or it and they persecuted them as intollerable used all means to hindier the publication of his Laws or him as Lord and Saviour and to hinder others submission to him and it for which Christ pronounced against them Mat. 23.13 in these words Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against Men for ye neither go in your selves neither suffer ye them who are entring to go in They from their hatred to Christ would not be subject to him and his Laws themselves nor would they suffer others to be subject but did oppose and persecute them and contradict and blaspheme the Doctrin persuading People to subjection to him and because the Light which shone in his Life and Doctrin and in his Followers did discover and reprove their wicked Natures and Deeds of Darkness it could not be born with as Christ told his unbelieving Brethren John 7. The world cannot hate you but me it hateth v. 7. Why Because said he I testifie of it that their works are evil Again John 3.19 20. Light is come into the world but men love darkness rather than light Why Because their deeds are evil for every one who doth evil hateth the light lest his deeds should be reproved or discovered Thus hath the Scripture assigned this to be the Original or one main Cause of the wicked Ones Enmity against and persecuting of the Saints and their high opposition against the Light of the Gospel and true Holiness it self 2dly It did arise from this That the Saints the called of God did evidence themselves to have been changed from what they were by Nature and by Practice too they owned and loved what formerly they had hated they had declared themselves not to be of the World could not run with the same excess of Riot with others as they had done do as formerly they did but their Lives and Works did contradict and reprove the Lives of their Persecutors Now this they could not bear therefore did they hate them and brake out against them in those various Methods and Ways before noted as the Scripture saith He who doth evil hateth the light John 3.20 No sooner did Saul whom they had so much loved formerly leave his persecuting of the Saints and being changed did evidence the same by joyning with them and in preaching up what his Heart had been against but the Jews hated him and studied to kill him Act. 9.19 20 and so on and that it would be so Christ had told his before John 15. If saith he there v. 19. ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore doth the world hate you Here did he intimate to them that no sooner should they evidence by their good Life that they are called out of the World and off from the evil Courses thereof but the World hated them upon that very account and thereupon persecuted them as 't is written Habak 1.13 in those days That the wicked devoured the man who was more righteous than he And 't is expresly said Gen. 4.5 That Cain was angry with his Brother Abel because the Sacrifice Abel offered was accepted and not his and he in v. 8. slew him altho the reason given of his Non-acceptance was because he did not well v. 7. and his Brother did as the Holy Ghost doth affirm in these words 1 John 3.12 Not as Cain was of that wicked one and slew his Brother and wherefore slew he him because his own Works were evil and his Brothers righteous upon which account the Saints are exhorted in the next verse not to marvail tho the World do hate them When Elijah had but evidenced his Change by reproving King Ahaziah for his sending to the God of Eckron to enquire if he should recover 2 Kings 1. v. 2 3 4. the King was so enraged against him that he v. 9. sent a Captain with his fifty to fetch him and the Captain and his men were destroyed by fire from Heaven yet he sent another and tho he was destroyed sent a third in the next verses such was his bitterness against Elijah for this cause only So said the Psalmist also Psal 38.19 and so on They who hate me are multiplyed c. They also who render evil for good are mine Adversaries because I follow the thing which good is there is the cause why wicked Men are adversaries to good Men only because they are good now and not such as formerly they were So again Psal 37.12 The wicked saith the Psalmist plotteth against the just and v. 14. They have drawn out the sword to slay such as be of an upright Conversation So said Amos too Chap. 5.10 They hate him who reproveth in the gate they abhor him who speaketh uprightly and v. 12. They afflict the just Here the Scripture assigned no other cause why these Men did envy hate and persecute them but this that those hated and persecuted Ones were just righteous and good and reproved their Persecutors for the contrary this was sufficient to render them obnoxious to the wickedst hatred and scorn Herod in those days committed John to Prison and would have put him to death because John had told him it was not lawful to marry his Brother Philips Wife Mat. 14.3 4 5. The Apostle Peter declares this too in his time 1. Epist. Chap. 4. speaking of the unconverted Gentiles thoughts of the converted Ones because they could not do as they had done and as the wicked still did v. 3 4. in these words Wherefore they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same access of Ryot speaking evil of you Here they speak evilly of the Saints because they could not be so wicked as they they wondred at their change could no longer think or speak well of them So that the Scripture doth make it evident that the wicked unbelieving Ones did in those days hate and persecute the Saints as Saints and only because they were new Creatures called out of the World Men of a good Life could not be and do as others did or do as they themselves sometimes had done by which they did reprove the Spirits and Doing of those wicked Persecutors 3dly A third cause or ground which the Holy Ghost in Scripture hath assigned from whence the Envy and persecuting Spirits of wicked Men did arise that was
use in all Ages to all Men for there is no New Thing under the Sun saith Solomon Eccles 1.9 Of these in their order And first of the Evidences and Instances which the Scripture hath given and â—oted Of the First to wit That the seated Enmity in the Hearts of the wicked and their bitterness against God himself Christ his Followers the Saints of God the Laws of God Holiness it self and the Light thereof the Light which did shine in Christ himself the Saints and followers of Christ which Enmity the Holy Ghost did fore-tell Gen. 3.15 should arise between the Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman and accordingly it soon appeared when Cain from that Principle slew his Brother Abel Gen. 4.8 The Prophet Habakuk in his time noted Chap. 1.13 That the wicked devoured the Man that was more righteous than he The Apostle also asserts that in those days also 't was so in the general Gal. 4.29 As he who was born after the Flesh persecuted him who was born after the Spirit so saith he there it is now that is in those days By which they then did evidence the highest Heart-Enmity imaginable And this Heart-Enmity the Holy Ghost hath throughout the Old and New Testament frequently in especial manner observed No sooner had the Enemies of the Jews in Nehemiahs days Nehem. 2. received Intelligence that Nehemiah was come with Authority to build the Walls of Jerusalem v. 8.9 But 't is said v. 10. That it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a Man to seek the wellfare of the Children of Israel their envious Hearts here boiled within them of it when there was one good Prophet in Israel Micaiah by name wicked Ahab said of him 1 Kings 22.8 I hate him Such was his seated Enmity against him there that he could not in that time forbear openly to declare it upon the very naming of him The Psalmist also testifieth that in his time it was so The wicked in wrath or as the Margent hath it with un intestine hatred saith he hateth me Ps 55. v. 3. And Psal 64.4 He complains of the numerousness of these two in these words They who hate me without a Cause are more than the Hairs of my Head Of which Enmity also the Prophet Amos takes notice in the general in his days They hate saith he rebuke in the Gate and they abhor him who speaketh uprightly Amos 5.10 They there could not endure Verbal Rebuke nor the convincing Life of an upright Man their Hearts abhorred them both So afterwards in New Testament days they testified their fixed Enmity Hatred and Rancour which was seated in their Minds against Christ himself and against all who did own Him or his Laws As Christ in the Parable before mentioned Luke 19. did hint that the Jews did when he there said of the Noble Man v. 14. His Citizens hated him and downrightly tells him by their Messenger there We will not have this Man to reign over us there they declared their Heart-hatred against him and his Government in the general and consequently against all who owned him and submitted themselves to his Laws they hated the Light which shone in him them and it as Christ himself expresly said John 3. That they hated the Light v. 19.20 Light is come into the World saith he there and Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil for every one that doth evil hateth the Light lest his Deeds should be discovered And this Christ told his unbelieving Brethren John 7.7 The World cannot hate you but me it hateth because I testifie of it Nay their hatred of Christ was so evident and well known that Pilate himself had taken notice of it Mark 15.13 't is said of him there That he knew that the Chief Priests had delivered Christ to be Crucified for Envy Of which the Hearts of the unbelieving Jews were full which also Christ did beforehand inform his Disciples of that they might be prepared to meet with the Effects thereof John 15.18 19. in these words If the World hate you ye know that it hated me first before it hated you c. I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you here they hated Christ and others also because they followed him and bore his image yea further saith Christ there v. 24. of the same Chap. Now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father Again John 17.14 he said of his Discipes The world hath hated them because they are not of the world c. Thus did Christ again and again inculcate this which afterwards they found true as the Scripture also hath noted Acts 5.17 18. 't is said That the High Priests and those who were with him rose up and were filled with Indignation or Envy and laid their hands on the Apostles The like Spirit the Jews discovered Act. 13. when they there saw the multitude v. 45. They were filled with Envy and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul their Hearts here were full of Envy and Hatred both against the Apostles and their Doctrin Again Act. 17. 't is said That the Jews who believed not being moved with Envy took unto them certain lew'd Fellows of the baser sort and made an uprore v. 5. And Paul doth acknowledge of himself Acts 26. That he when he was yet an unbeliever was also exceeding mad against the followers of Christ v. 9. I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus and in v. 11. Being exceeding mad against them I persecuted them to strange Cities And herein was verified that which Christ had said John 16.1.2 3. That some should think that they did God good service in killing his Followers So far did Pauls blind Zeal then transport him That it filled his heart with madness against them So far were some of the Jews carried in this Enmity That when Judas repented and told them that he had betrayed Innocent Blood they say what is that to us tho they rejoyced and had given him Money to do it Mark 14.10 11. and they afterwards put Christ to death Mat. 27.34 35 c. Yea most desperately did they say when Pilate acquitted himself of that Innocent Blood His Blood be upon Us and our Children v. 24.25 of the same Chap. Thus hath the Holy Ghost recorded this Enmity that was naturally seated and fixed in the Hearts of the Sons of Men and evidenced by them in those days 2dly As to the various Ways and Methods these invidious Ones walked in and took towards and against the Saints against Christ himself and his Followers Or how these wicked Ones did in those Ages of the World express this their seated Enmity Hatred and Bitterness against them or which way it did evidence it self to be in them The Scripture hath also plainly taken notice of some of which were as followeth First They were studious and diligent by all
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