N00255:54
A sermon wherein is showed that the church of God is sometimes a subject…A sermon wherein is shewed that the church of God is sometimes a subject…
A sermon wherein is showed that the church of God is sometimes a subject of great persecution; preached on a public fast at Boston in New-England: occasioned by the tidings of a great persecution raised against the Protestants in France. / By Increase Mather, teacher to a church of Christ. ; [Eight lines of quotations]A sermon wherein is shewed that the church of God is sometimes a subject of great persecution; preached on a publick fast at Boston in New-England: occasioned by the tidings of a great persecution raised against the Protestants in France. / By Increase Mather, teacher to a church of Christ. ; [Eight lines of quotations]
printed for Samuel Sewall, 1682
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. By Slandering of them. He is called [Greek or Hebrew] (i. e. a Slanderer) in the Scriptures. He raises evil Reports; causeth this and that Evil to be believed, concerning the Lords servants: as if they were Seditious, and Rebellious, & what not? So 'twas said of Jerusalem, Ezra, 4. 1•. This City is a Rebellious City; & Hurtful to Kings, & they have of old time moved Sedition within the same. Yea, so 'twas said of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ Himself; Luc. 23. 2. We have found this Man perverting the Nation, & forbidding to give Tribute to Caesar. Or, as if they were Heretics, and held blasphemous Opinions, Acts, 24. 14. Stephen was accused for speaking blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. Acts, 6. 11. In the Primitive Times, Christians were traduced, as if they did not wish well to the Emperors under whose Government they lived: yea, they were charged with most monstrous both Opinions and Practices; as we see by the writings of Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and others; who were necessitated to publish Apologies for Christians, vindicating them from the malignant Slanders, which Satan and his Instruments had raised against them. They would put them into Bears skins, and then Dogs would devour them.
1. By Slandering of them. He is called 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 (i. e. a Slanderer) in the Scriptures. He raises evil Reports; causeth this and that Evil to be believed, concerning the Lords servants: as if they were Seditious, and Rebellious, & what not? So 'twas said of Jerusalem, Ezra, 4. 1•. This City is a Rebellious City; & Hurtful to Kings, & they have of old time moved Sedition within the same. Yea, so 'twas said of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ Himself; Luc. 23. 2. We have found this Man perverting the Nation, & forbidding to give Tribute to Casar. Or, as if they were Hereticks, and held blasphemous Opinions,