CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

That the Word preached and received by people, ¹doth greatly enrage the wicked of the world. No other reason is here mentioned of the worlds hatred, but this. Who would think that the men preaching of so holy a Doctrine, and such glad tidings of salvation, and men obeying it, not wronging, injuring, or troubling others, yet should meet with so much opposition! But thus it hath been, and thus it will be. In Tertullian's time, To be a Christian, was to be a Publicus hostis; and though, as that acute Father pleaded, The Christians were no Albinians, or Barutians, such as embroiled the Civil Estate with wars, yet because they were Christians, this was enough. The very name was a crime, and this made so many Fathers make such excellent Apologies in their behalf. Of this opposition from the world, our Saviour informeth them, when he first gave them their Commission to preach, They should be hated of all men; Never any went about such an unwelcome and unthankful piece of service, as they did; Therefore they were as sheep amongst wolves; and whereas it might be thought, That the Apostles being men, though greatly assisted by God, might miscarry through ignorance, inconsiderate passion, &c. We shall find it befell even Christ himself, that he in his Ministry, though he wrought such wonderful miracles, that might astonish them; yea though those miracles were useful and profitable, not for curiosity, yet what reproaches, what slanders did they cast on him, calling him a wine-bibber, a friend to sinners, yea an Imposture, one that had a devil? and never ceased, till at last they put him to death in the most scornful and reproachful manner.

That the Word preached and received by people, ¹doth greatly enrage the wicked of the world. No other reason is here mentioned of the worlds hatred, but this. Who would think that the men preaching of so holy a Doctrine, and such glad tidings of salvation, and men obeying it, not wronging, injuring, or troubling others, yet should meet with so much opposition! But thus it hath been, and thus it will be. In Tertullian's time, To be a Christian, was to be a Publicus hostis; and though, as that acute Father pleaded, The Christians were no Albinians, or Barutians, such as embroyled the Civil Estate with warres, yet because they were Christians, this was enough. The very name was a crime, and this made so many Fathers make such excellent Apologies in their behalf. Of this opposition from the world, our Saviour informeth them, when he first gave them their Commission to preach, They should be hated of all men; Never any went about such an unwelcome and unthankfull peece of service, as they did; Therefore they were as sheep amongst wolves; and whereas it might be thought, That the Apostles being men, though greatly assisted by God, might miscarry through ignorance, inconsiderate passion, &c. We shall finde it befell even Christ himself, that he in his Ministry, though he wrought such wonderfull miracles, that might astonish them; yea though those miracles were usefull and profitable, not for curiosity, yet what reproaches, what slanders did they cast on him, calling him a wine-bibber, a friend to sinners, yea an Imposture, one that had a devil? and never ceased, till at last they put him to death in the most scornfull and reproachfull manner.