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

R. 4 4. We are to insist on this end because of the difficulty and great opposition that is in the work; For

1. The devil by his Instruments endeavours to keep men in darkness; All those black cloudy times which have been upon the Church brought in Idolatrous Superstition and profaneness, insomuch that the devil reigned almost within the Church as much as without, his Kingdom was not more promoted by those without then those within; No wonder then if such opposition hath always been against times of light and times of Reformation, because the bright shining of the Gospel doth immediately destroy Satan's dominion, as when our Saviour sent his Apostles to preach, he said, he saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning, Luk. 10.18. and who can bewail that Ignorance which did overflow in the time of Popery, The Sun of the Gospel being then in a constant eclipse, and howsoever learning of it self is either used well or ill, as the Subject is who hath it, yet in the general, Learning is a special means to preserve and convey the true knowledge of God, for the Apostle saith, The unstable and unlearned wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction, 2 Pet. 3.18. So that in some sense we may take up that allegory of Philo, Sarah cannot have children without the help of Hagar, i. e. The doctrine and knowledge of God is not propagated without the help of humane Learning especially the tongues and arts; Therefore it's required of the Minister of God, that he should rebuke with all doctrine, and to be able to convince the gainsayers, and to divide the Word of God aright, which can never be done without learning, so that you see the difficulty of it in respect of the opposition.

1. The devil by his Instruments endeavours to keep men in darknesse; All those black cloudy times which have been upon the Church brought in Idolatrous Superstition and prophanesse, insomuch that the devil reigned almost within the Church as much as without, his Kingdom was not more promoted by those without then those within; No wonder then if such opposition hath alwaies been against times of light and times of Reformation, because the bright shining of the Gospel doth immediatly destroy Satans dominion, as when our Saviour sent his Apostles to preach, he said, he saw Satan fall from heaven like lighening,