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

Hence our Saviour, Joh. 15.20, 21. applieth that of David to all the godly, They have hated me without a cause: Indeed if you do regard the contrariety of wicked men to what is holy, this is a necessary cause, but it's not a just cause, for this indeed deserveth the clean contrary; Had the Pharisees a Cause to crucify Christ? Had the Galatians a Cause to become Enemies to Paul? Oh no, Those thou hatest should be accounted of as Jewels by thee; Those thou revilest and reproachest the delight of thy soul should be to them; It is a causeless hatred.

Hence our Saviour, Joh. 15.20, 21. applieth that of David to all the godly, They have hated me without a cause: Indeed if you doe regard the contrariety of wicked men to what is holy, this is a necessary cause, but it's not a just cause, for this indeed deserveth the clean contrary; Had the Pharisees a Cause to crucifie Christ? Had the Galatians a Cause to become Enemies to Paul? Oh no, Those thou hatest should be accounted of as Jewels by thee; Those thou revilest and reproachest the delight of thy soul should be to them; It is a causless hatred.

2, It is an universal hatred; For seeing he hateth a Godly man for his Godliness, then he must needs hate it wheresoever he seeth it; Indeed some Godly men either through the power and place they have, or for other Reasons are not so subject to the effects of wicked mens hatred, but the heart is full of poison ⟨p. 428⟩and venom against the one as the other, for he cannot be a good man whom wicked men do not hate one way or other; Woe be to you when all men speak well of you; This hating of Godliness is called hating of the Light, Joh. 3.19. Now all Light is offensive to soar eyes; Thus the Godly man liveth, but he must have his portion: Be afraid if wicked men love thee as seeing nothing of God in thee, they think thee like one of themselves, if I did my duty I should be more opposed.