An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

And because of the influence that a Minister hath upon people, hence it is that the evil and malignant party ever desire to nourish these Ministers; and the force of their rage and malice is against godly Ministers, for like Minister like people they think; and indeed supposing their principles it is but that which is prudential for their ends; for when they cry out and say that these Ministers are the cause of all, they say true, & there is some kind of truth in it, that is, they are the cause to discover to people their evil and wicked ways, and to cause those to whom they preach to cleave to the truth, and that is it their spirits do vex and rage at, that they see the Ministry of the Word prevail so much upon the people as it doth. Therefore I remember a policy that I have read of Xerxes, that when he was in straights by reason of Agiselaus who prevailed much in his ⟨p. 116⟩country, he took this course, he sent men with good store of money to corrupt the Towns in Greece, and they went and corrupted Athens and Thebes, and so caused great disturbance in Greece, by reason of which Agiselaus was sent for home to look to his own Country. They went especially for the Universities Athens and Thebes and there corrupted the Orators and so thought to prevail much. It hath been the policy of our men in these days to corrupt Universities much, thinking by Scholars and others there to prevail most. There is a story of the Wolves that they would make a league with the Sheep, but they would by any means have one article granted, that was that their Shepherds must be delivered up unto them and then they would be at peace with the Sheep and do them no hurt. I make no question but if our adversaries should come to article with us, there is no one thing they would stand more upon than the delivery up of the shepherds and then there would be good peace between the Wolves and the sheep. Like people like Priest.

And because of the influence that a Minister hath upon people, hence it is that the evil and malignant party ever desire to nourish these Ministers; and the force of their rage and malice is against godly Ministers, for like Minister like people they think; and indeed supposing their principles it is but that which is prudential for their ends; for when they cry out and say that these Ministers are the cause of al, they say true, & there is some kind of truth in it, that is, they are the cause to discover to people their evil and wicked waies, and to cause those to whom they preach to cleave to the truth, and that is it their spirits do vex and rage at, that they see the Ministry of the Word prevail so much upon the people as it doth. Therefore I remember a pulicie that I have read of Xerxes, that when he was in straights by reason of Agiselaus who prevailed much in his