I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

First: It is possible that a true Believer, one very precious in the eyes of God, may meet with most unworthy usage from the hands of men; these were hard things, and unworthy that these Believers suffered; yet they were such of whom the world was not worthy. You know there is an old enmity between the Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent; a malignant disposition in the men of the world against the Saints, and People of God, they must work as they are; the wicked, and men of the world, are an unworthy people. But because you judg your selves unworthy (saith the Text) Lo, we turn to the Gentiles, because ye judg your selves unworthy. Go (saith our Saviour unto his Disciples) and preach, and if any be worthy stay; the men of ⟨p. 22⟩the world are unworthy, an unworthy people: Yea, they are an unreasonable people, absurd men, impertinent men that have not Faith. They are compared in Scripture unto beasts for their unreasonableness; Beware of Dogs, saith the Apostle. When our Lord and Saviour Christ, did send out his Disciples to preach the Gospel, Beware of men saith he; I do not say, tak• heed, and beware of Lyons, and Bears, but beware of men, you shall find such unreasonable dealing by men, therefore beware of men. Now if the men of the world, be an unworthy People, and unreasonable, will ye wonder that the Saints, and People of God, meet sometimes with unworthy usage from them? It is possible. To raise it a little higher; possibly, the more precious a man is, the more unworthy usage he may meet withal. The Apostle Paul was a most precious man in his day, and Generation, and yet what unworthy usage had he? It is said in 1 Cor. 4.11. Unto this present hour, we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place, and labour working with our own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things unto this day: We are the filth, we are made the filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things unto this day. Some think that the Apostle here, doth relate unto that of one man dying for the People, the guilt of all the People being upon him. Others, that it is a similitude taken from a kind of Tumbrel, and Vessel that goes up and down the City, that ye throw all the filth into.