The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God

This despitefulness added to rejecting of the Gospel, brings a man into a most fearful and desperate estate: yet all that ascend to this high pitch of impiety, do not simply therein sin against the holy Ghost: for all this may be done on ignorance. Instance Pauls example: he was so zealous of the traditions which the Jews received from their Elders, as he hated the Gospel, which he deemed to be contrary thereunto:¹ in which respect, He thought that he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus: ²and so he did: for out of his inward hatred He breathed out threatenings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord: he did much evil to the Saints: he destroyed them that called on the name of Jesus: he compelled many to blaspheme, ³and waxed mad against the Saints: yea, he himself was a blasphemer. ⁴But all these he did ignorantly: for a man may hate and blaspheme that which he knoweth not. Great was that despite which many of the Jews showed against Christ, and against Stephen: ⁵They were cut to the heart, and gnashed at Stephen with their teeth: ⁶yet both Christ and Stephen prayed for them:⁷ which they would not have done,⁸ if they had sinned the sin unto death, because it is forbidden so to do.

This despitefulnesse added to reiecting of the Gospell, brings a man into a most fearefull and desperate estate: yet all that ascend to this high pitch of impiety, doe not simply therein sinne against the holy Ghost: for all this may be done on ignorance. Instance Pauls example: he was so zealous of the traditions which the Iewes receiued from their Elders, as he hated the Gospell, which he deemed to be contrary thereunto: