The difficulty of and the encouragements to a reformation a sermon preached before the…

6. The general opposing and disliking of it by people: This is a great stop in the way, What should some sew stir for and against the current of mens desire? especially if many great, and many learned rise up against it; and this Luther confessed was no little temptation to him, Túne solus sapis? totne errant universi? Art thou only wise, are all others in an error? But if this were to be regarded, then neither Prophets, nor Christ, nor Luther, nor Calvin, should have set upon any Reformation: for the world could not bear them. Always Reformations have been judged impossible things; Abi in cellam, & dic, Miserere nostri, saith he to Luther, go and pray in thy Cell, for thou art not likely to do any thing by stirring; so Psal. 2. Why do the people rage and take counsel together; that Christ may not be exalted on his Throne; But this will not excuse, better it is to endure the rage of people then the anger of God; better have the world frown on you, then God frown on you.

6. The generall opposing and disliking of it by people: This is a great stop in the way, What should some sew stirre for and against the current of mens desire? especially if many great, and many learned rise up against it; and this Luther confest was no little temptation to him, Túne solus sapis? totne errant universi? Art thou onely wise, are all others in an errour? But if this were to be regarded, then neither Prophets, nor Christ, nor Luther, nor Calvin, should have set upon any Reformation: for the world could not beare them. Alwayes Reformations have been judged impossible things; Abi in cellam, & dic, Miserere nostri, saith he to Luther, goe and pray in thy Cell, for thou art not likely to doe any thing by stirring; so Psal. 2. Why doe the people rage and take counsell together; that Christ may not be exalted on his Throne; But this will not excuse, better it is to endure the rage of people then the anger of God; better have the world frown on you, then God frown on you.

7. The seeming newness that is in it; For indeed, truth is before error; it is for our sins that truth is new; It argueth our deep Apostasy and revolting, that the orders and ways of Christ should be new: That profane persons should lift up their heads so high among Christians, was not so from the beginning; 'tis a novel thing to be erroneous or superstitious, thy breaking of the Sabbath, thy neglect of piety, these are new things; and it is strange to consider, how doting men are of the old ways they have lived in, though never taken up at first upon any Scripture consideration: and see the corruptions of mens hearts, new fashions are admired, superstitious innovations were generally received, but truth and discipline that is seeming new, is rejected.