3 Of all sorts of men,1 faithful Ministers are most opposed by Satan and his instruments:h so soon as Christ was publicly set apart to perform his ministerial function, Satan set upon him in the wilderness; and ever after the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and other limbs of the Devil, persecuted him from time to time. iWhen Jehoshua stood before the Angel of the Lord to receive his commission, Satan stood at his right hand to resist him. When the Apostles were to be sent forth to preach,k then Satan desired to winnow them as wheat. The history of the Acts of the Apostles, showeth what storms have continually been raised against the Apostles, while they were diligently occupied in their ministerial function: one trouble came upon the neck of another, as wave upon wave. Other histories testify as much of other Ministers: our times are not without too evident demonstrations of this point. As Christ while he lived a private life, so others live quietly in comparison of the following times, but when they begin faithfully to exercise their ministry, then arise the storms: for Satan well knoweth⟨p. 512⟩ that if thel shepherd be smitten, the sheep will soon be scattered; therefore he usethm the King of Arams policy: he bendeth all his forces against the Captains of the Lords army.
3 Of all sorts of men,1 faithfull Ministers are most opposed by Satan and his instruments:h so soone as Christ was publikely set apart to performe his ministeriall function, Satan set vpon him in the wildernesse; and euer after the Scribes, Pharisies, Saduces, Herodians, and other limmes of the Diuell, persecuted him from time to time. iWhen Iehoshua stood before the Angell of the Lord to receiue his commission, Satan stood at his right hand to resist him. When the Apostles were to be sent forth to preach,k then Satan desired to winnow them as wheat. The hystory of the Acts of the Apostles, sheweth what storms haue continually beene raised against the Apostles, while they were diligently occupied in their ministeriall function: one trouble came vpon the necke of another, as waue vpon waue. Other hystories testifie as much of other Ministers: our times are not without too euident demonstrations of this point. As Christ while he liued a priuate life, so others liue quietly in comparison of the following times, but when they beginne faithfully to exercise their ministery, then arise the stormes: for Satan well knoweth⟨p. 512⟩ that if thel shepheard be smitten, the sheepe will soone be scattered; therefore he vsethm the King of Arams policy: he bendeth all his forces against the Captaines of the Lords army.
- 1Ministers are most opposed against.
- hMat. 4. 1, &c.
- iZac. 3. 1
- kLuke 22. 31▪
- lZach. 13. 7.
- m1 Kin. 22. 31
