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

That this may not scandalize any, Consider these things.

¹1. Though unity among the godly be thus necessary, yet that inferreth necessarily divisions and oppositions to the world, and therefore we are not to wonder if the Gospel and powerful dispensing of Christs ways makes fractions and troubles in the world, for the godly cannot have peace with themselves but they must be in open opposition to the world; Therefore in this Chapter, and in other places our Saviour informs them that the world will hate them, So that we are not to say, That the Gospel of Christ is in it self of a turbulent dividing nature, as carnal Politicians suggest, and that therefore the best peace and unity is where Atheism doth abound, for if by the Gospel there be sad distractions and concussions of Kingdoms and States, it's not from the genius of the Gospel, but from the opposition and corruption of mens hearts; Therefore when our Saviour said, he came to send fire and sword in the earth, Luk. 12.49. that Father should be against Son, and mother against daughter, That a mans Enemies should be those of his own house; This was not from the nature of Christs doctrine but the corrupt indisposition of the subject, as when the Sun doth offend soar eyes, or the medicine and potions taken disturb the humours and makes a man the sicker, in these cases not the Sun or the Physician is to be blamed, So if the Introduction of Christs Kingdom and his Ordinances make great divisions in a place; It's not Christs way but wicked mens sins that are to be blamed; This then is to be concluded upon, that the godly and the wicked can have no unity, The godly may not come off to the worlds principles, and the world will not come off to the godly mans principles, and therefore there must be a perpetual enmity, which made the Wise man say, That the Righteous was an abomination to the wicked, and the wicked to the Righteous; Pro. 29.27.

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