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
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
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
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
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
Liberty of Conscience ASSERTED OR A Looking-Glass FOR PERSECUTORS Being a plain Deduction from Scripture-History OF THE Original Grounds Pretences FOR PERSECUTION The METHODS taken to put the same in Execution Together with the sad Consequences thereof Or The Reward that attends Persecuting-Spirits LONDON Printed and sold by R. Janaway in Queens-Head-Alley in Pater-Noster-Row 1687. A PREFACE to the READER Christian Reader PErsecution for Religion is almost as old as the World The first Murther under the Sun being committed on that account when Cain assassinated his righteous Brother Abel meerly because he worship'd God better than himself and ever since the Enmity has continued And when it will please Almighty Wisdom to put a final Period to such Practices throughout the World we are not able to determin But since merciful Providence has vouchsafed so to dispose the Royal Heart of our Gracious Sovereign as to give a Stop and we hope total Abolition thereunto in the Land of our Nativity and to open a Door to the Oppressed that they may both peaceably worship their Creator according to the best of their Light and freely remonstrate the Evils of the Persecuting Spirit to those who lately were so intirely possest therewith that even to complain of those Severities we unjustly suffered was made a new Crime It must certainly be our Duty to improve this Opportunity as far as we can to the common Interest of Christianity Not in the least to reflect upon or upbraid any for past Miscarriages much less to stir up any Heart-burnings or motions towards Revenge or Animosities but only to convince such as have had any hand in rigid Persecutions against their Neighbors meerly on the Score of a Conscientious Dissent in Matters of Religion of the Evil of such Proceedings and to caution all others for the future against the like Violences To advance these good and wholsom Ends is the design and purport of the following Treatise which in a plain familiar Stile endeavors to give the World a true Prospect altogether deduced from Holy Writ of the Original Source and several grounds from whence Persecution has in all Ages arose and been propagated amongst Men. The Means Methods and Pretences whereby the same has been carried on and palliated As likewise the sad Consequences thereof in the heavy Judgments righteously inflicted by Almighty God even in this World on those that have been guilty of such Out-rages In short As the natural Man views his own Vissage and all the Lineaments of his Countenance in a common Glass so every Murthering Cain or Oppressive Pharaoh or Envious Haman or Blasphemous Rabshekah or Raging Samballat or Bloody Herod or Treacherous Judas and all and every their Successors may in this Portraiture drawn to the Life by the Holy Ghost in the Inspired Writings behold represented the true Character of themselves their Motives Designs Words Actings and without sincere Repentance of their final Doom and Destruction too That the divine Blessing may so far accompany this Mean but well intended Work as to render it instrumental to bring some that have been Concern'd in this Kind to an hearty Acknowledgment of their Crimes And to make Persecution for Conscience an Abhorrence to all that profess to call on the Name of the Blessed JESUS who is both the Prince of Peace the Fountain of Love the grand Examplar of Meekness and Author of all Consolation Shall be the Prayer of the Publisher H. C. Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our Learning c. Rom. XV. 3 4. These things hapned to them for Examples and they were written for our Admonition upon whom the ends of the World are come 1 Cor. X. 11. THE Holy Scriptures being written and continued for the Learning and Admonition of those who should live in future Ages especially of those upon whom the ends of the World are come It doth highly concern every one who believes the things therein written to be Truth and Verity to be instructing themselves in the Matters which these divine Records do contain to the end that they may learn and be admonished thereby to follow the good Examples of Christ himself and of the eminent Saints therein mentioned be of such a Spirit as they were of walk and do as they did that it may be well with them in the latter end And to the intent that they may take heed of being found in the Spirit and Practices of some others who lived in those days and were of a contrary Temper to the former and did otherwise than they did and so consequently escape the direful Effects which in those days fell upon some of these latter ones and that all such may be assured they shall feel at the last day One grand thing therefore written and here and there to be found scattered in those divine Records worthy observation and to be seriously considered by all Men tho I fear least observed or flightly thought on by most as that which is a Matter of no small moment and concern to them for the warning and awakening of some comfort and quiet of others Is this viz. The great Opposition between the Two Seeds of the Serpent and the Woman the World and Christ those who are born after the Flesh and those who are born after the Spirit those who are yet of the World and those who are called out of the World the wicked of the World and the Saints of the most High God No sooner were Men born from above and evidenced the same by their Works but wicked Men not yet born again were ready to devour them as the Prophet Isaiah saith Chap. 59.15 He who departeth from evil maketh himself a prey No sooner depart from Evil but the Teeth of the wicked were edged against them The Evidences of which the Scripture hath abundantly delivered down to after Ages It testifieth not only of the Enmity Envy Malice and bitterness which was rooted seated and predominated in the Breasts of Men whilst in the Flesh yet Children of the wicked One in those Ages against them who were born of the Spirit Subjects of the King of Kings followers of God and Christ yea against Holiness it self against the Laws of Christ and his Government their Hearts said as Pharaoh's did Exod. 5.2 Who is the Lord that I should obey him And as Christ in a Parable intimates the Hearts of the Jews to be saying Luke 19. in these words His Citizens hated him and said We will not have this Man to rule over us v. 14. Nor will we endure any of his Subjects But also of the very Methods and Ways wherein they expressed this Enmity and bitterness of Spirit that was so fixed in them both by Word and Deed Yea moreover the very Causes from whence all the former did spring as also the sad Effects which was like to follow or be the reward of such Spirits and Doings The critical observation of all which when well searched out might be that no small
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