What then! Is a State of Persecution more Eligible? Before I dare speak a word to this, I must premise this Caution: Let not Persecutors take encouragement to be more outrageous in their Persecution, and then scornfully tell you, this is good for 'em, their Pastors tell 'em 'tis sometimes better for 'em than Peace. This is like Julian, who in every thing he did, with a deep Reach, and greater Malice than former Emperors, to undermine and worm out the Christian Religion, he still twitted the Christians with some advice or promise of Christ to his Disciples about Persecution, jeeringly telling 'em 'twas for their good. Let such Persons know, and O that they would consider, that though God hath, and doth, and will bring good out of evil, and over-rule the fury of men for the good of his People; yet this is not the least excuse for their Sin, ⟨p. 25⟩nor can it be pleaded to abate their Punishment. To give you an Instance, I can't give a greater, and I need give no more: The Jews Persecution of our Blessed Saviour, 'twas predetermined of God, and eventually proved the greatest good to man, yet no thank to them, nor alleviation of their guilt:f Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have Crucified and slain. They pretended high to Piety, and necessity for their Process against him; they Charge him with Blasphemy against God, Treason against Caesar, Devilism against the Souls of People, and Luxury as to his common Conversation; whereas he was no other thang the just one, of whom ye have been now the Betrayers and Murderers. 'Twas Good Counsel that Gamaliel gave those Rulersh who were cut to the Heart, i. e. vexed at Heart, and counted it Criminal that the Apostles should dare to tell 'em, We ought to obey God rather than men: Refrain from these men, and let them alone, for if this Counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found to fight against God; for 'tis said of others of them that slighted this,i They have persecuted us, and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: forbidding us to speak unto the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sin alway; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. And how heavy doth that Doom lie upon them to this day!
What then! Is a State of Persecution more Eligible? Before I dare speak a word to this, I must premise this Caution: Let not Persecutors take encouragement to be more outragious in their Persecution, and then scornfully tell you, this is good for 'em, their Pastors tell 'em 'tis sometimes better for 'em than Peace. This is like Julian, who in every thing he did, with a deep Reach, and greater Malice than former Emperors, to undermine and worm out the Christian Religion, he still twitted the Christians with some advice or promise of Christ to his Disciples about Persecution, jearingly telling 'em 'twas for their good. Let such Persons know, and O that they would consider, that though God hath, and doth, and will bring good out of evil, and over-rule the fury of men for the good of his People; yet this is not the least excuse for their Sin, ⟨p. 25⟩nor can it be pleaded to abate their Punishment. To give you an Instance, I can't give a greater, and I need give no more: The Jews Persecution of our Blessed Saviour, 'twas predetermin'd of God, and eventually proved the greatest good to man, yet no thank to them, nor alleviation of their guilt:f Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have Crucified and slain. They pretended high to Piety, and necessity for their Process against him; they Charge him with Blasphemy against God, Treason against Caesar, Devilism against the Souls of People, and Luxury as to his common Conversation; whereas he was no other thang the just one, of whom ye have been now the Betrayers and Murtherers. 'Twas Good Counsel that Gamaliel gave those Rulersh who were cut to the Heart, i. e. vext at Heart, and counted it Criminal that the Apostles should dare to tell 'em, We ought to obey God rather than men: Refrain from these men, and let them alone, for if this Counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found to fight against God; for 'tis said of others of them that slighted this,i They have persecuted us, and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: forbidding us to speak unto the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sin alway; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. And how heavy doth that Doom ly upon them to this day!
- fActs 2.23.
- gAct. 7.52.
- hAct. 5.29.
- i1 Thes. 2.15, 16.
