10. blesseth his word with great increase among them, which at the first despise it, and entreat cruelly the preachers and messengers thereof. When Paul disputed, and exhorted the Jews and the Grecians at Corinthus, and found little fruit of his labour, and that there were few or none that liked his doctrine, and many enemies which resisted and blasphemed Acts xviii. 9, it, he purposed to depart and go away from them: "Then the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Fear not, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall lay hands on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." They shall hear thee: if not now, yet they shall hear thee at some other time. They shall bear thy sayings in mind. I will be with thee, I will open their hearts, and make them obedient to the gospel, and they shall be turned unto me. Thou shalt see the fruit of thy labour, and that thy coming unto them hath not been in vain. Vers. 2. The story of these his persecutions is written in the sixteenth of the Acts. He was stript naked, and scourged with rods, and cast into prison, and put in hazard of life. Yet, notwithstanding he were thus evil entreated at Philippi, when he came to Thessalonica he was nothing discouraged, but proceeded more boldly than before, and went into the synagogue Acts xvii. 2. of the Jews, and disputed three sabbath days, and taught them that Christ is that Messias, even the Son of God. But, that we may the better conceive how mightily God worketh, and what great strength he giveth to weak creatures, when he appointeth them to set forth his glory, let us behold this boldness of the apostle in speaking the gospel unto them. To whom did he speak? To the Jews, the enemies of the cross of Christ. Where? Not in hugger-mugger, and in corners; but openly, in their synagogue, for he feared no man. What time chose he? Then, when all the Jews were assembled together. How often? Three sabbath days together. In what city? In Thessalonica, the greatest, and most famous city of all that country. How was he entreated? There arose great trouble and contention. They resisted him, spake against him, and sought to destroy him. For what cause? what had he deserved? what had he taught? The gospel of God, and of Christ, of the kingdom, and of the life to come. The gospel, in which God offereth his grace, and reconciliation, and comfort, and peace, and salvation. Who would think such joyful tidings should not be welcome? What eye would not willingly open itself to behold the brightness of the sun? what ear will refuse to hear God speak? But it hath always been so. There have ever been some, that have loved darkness rather than light. The world shall never be without some Annas, or Caiaphas, or Judas, or Pilate. The children of the devil shall always set themselves against the children of God. The cause of tumults and troubles proceedeth not from the gospel. The gospel of Christ is the gospel of peace. But the enemies of the gospel are stirrers of unquietness and inflamers of war. Abel was simple, Cain spiteful; Jacob smooth, Esau rough and hairy; David gentle, Saul cruel; Joseph innocent, his brethren wicked, and fell upon him; the apostles humble in heart and peacemakers, the Pharisees bloodthirsty, and sought to put them to death. The like examples are before us this day. The whole world is in an uproar, and great troubles and afflictions are in all places. No man is able to declare the misery thereof. Let no man therefore slander or forsake the gospel. It hath been so from the beginning, and from time to time. Such troubles, confusion, and misery, are wrought not by the gospel, or them that receive the gospel, but by those which resist it. They practise all means, and turn all things upside down, rather than it should take place. The wicked are angry therewith; they gnash their teeth and consume away. This is the cause for which "the children shall rise Matt. x. 21. against their parents, and shall cause them to die." Cain murdered Abel, because God had respect unto Abel and to his offering. Esau could not abide Jacob, because Isaac had given him his blessing. The brethren of Joseph sought to make him away, because God had a favour unto him. Saul was wrathful against David, because God gave him great gifts of courage, and strength, and wisdom. The Egyptians loathed the children of Israel, because they were God's people. The Galatians resisted Paul, because he preached the truth. 1 Tim. iv. 10. "Therefore," saith St. Paul, "we labour and are rebuked, because we trust in the living God, which is the Saviour of all men, specially of those which believe." Likewise saith John xvi. 2, our Saviour: "They shall excommunicate you: yea, the time shall come, that whosoever killeth you will think he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.” 3. Even so standeth it with the church of God this day. There is nothing new, that is under the sun. Whatsoever is done now, hath been done afore. Who will lift up his eyes, and look to the doings of men, shall see Cain rise up against Abel, Esau against Jacob, the cruel brethren against Joseph, Saul against David, Pharaoh against Moses, the Egyptians against the people of God, the high priests and the Pharisees against Christ and all that will be his disciples: they change peace into war, they turn judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood; they resist the truth of God, to establish devices and doctrines of men. But blessed be God, they shall not prevail. He giveth us peace. He hath made us turn our swords into mattocks. He hath taught us all together with one mouth and one heart to praise him, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. His truth is mighty, and shall prevail. Ver. 3, 4. For our exhortation was not by deceit, nor uncleanness, nor by guile. But as we were allowed of God, that the gospel should be committed unto us, so we speak, not as they that please men, but God, which trieth our hearts. God (saith he) hath chosen me from my mother's womb, and set me apart to the office of an apostle. He hath appointed me to carry his name before the Gentiles. Therefore, as he hath given me charge to preach the gospel, and to bring the people unto him from the power of Satan; so I speak truly, faithfully, sincerely, not as the words of men, but as the words of God. I have used no deceit, nor taught you to follow traditions of men instead of the commandments of 1 Cor. xi. 23. God. In like sort saith he to the Corinthians: "I have received of the Lord that which I also have declared unto 2 Cor. v. 20. you." And again: "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you through us." For this cause he saith unto them: 66 Seeing that we have this ministry, as 2 Cor. iv. 1, 2. we have received mercy, we faint not; but cast from us the cloaks of shame, and walk not in craftiness, neither handle we the word of God deceitfully: but in declaration of the truth, we approve ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." In these speeches he asketh credit, because of his upright handling of the word: and chargeth the false prophets for marring the word of God with unclean and deceitful corruptions and glosses. In foreign countries, women, that have no natural beauty of their own, use to paint and colour their faces, that, whereas they lack beauty indeed, yet they may seem beautiful. Even so is it oftentimes in matters of religion. Such as hold not the true religion, as it is taught by the word of God, and hath been practised in those churches which the apostles planted, and among those Christians which lived nighest unto that time when the apostles preached; because they know their religion which they profess now will not agree with that, they deal deceitfully and with guile. These be false apostles, and deceitful workmen. They beguile our senses, and blind our eyes. They call us to worship an idol, instead of the true and living God. They lead us out of the light into darkness, from the truth into error, from knowledge unto ignorance. They forbid lawful matrimony, and call it filthiness, and allow open stews and harlots as a thing which nothing impaireth their holiness. I will not speak all that I might, nor in such sort as the matter occasioneth. Yet can I not but say somewhat of their spiritual craftiness, in abusing and beguiling the people of God. The Egyptians furnished richly and decked their churches beautifully, and all in the honour of a cat. Many things among these men carry great show of holiness, which are nothing else but cloaks of their shame, and manifest proof that they are not allowed of God, but are crept in by deceit and by guile. Single life carrieth a fair show. But, O merciful God! what shame and villanies have been covered with this cloak! Pius Secundus saw somewhat, when he said, "As marriage Platina in Pio II. Gallum. [iv. was taken away from priests upon great considerations, so now upon other greater considerations it were to be restored Ad Rusticum to them again." Hierom saw somewhat, when he wrote thus: pt. 2. 771.] Videas nonnullos accinctos renibus, pulla tunica, barba prolixa, a mulieribus non posse discedere, sub eodem manere tecto, simul inire convivia: ancillas juvenes habere in ministerio, et præter vocabulum nuptiarum omnia esse matrimonii: "You may see some (that pretend gravity) are girded and go in black, and have long beards, who can in no wise leave the company of women, but keep house with them, and banquet with them. They take young maidens into their service, and do all things as if they were married, save that they lack the name of marriage." Castitatem docent, et castitatem non servant, saith Origen: "They teach chastity, and yet keep not Epiph, con- chastity." chastity." And Epiphanius: And Epiphanius: "They refuse marriage, but not lust or pleasure." Orig, tract. 24. in Matt. [iii. 836.]. tra Origen. hæres, xlii. Images are fair and beautiful. The churches are decked and beset with them. But they are a cloak of shame. They are set in place of teachers. The priests are ignorant, and live in idleness, and send the people to learn at pictures. They call them laymen's books: yet, "What profiteth the Habak. II. 18. image?" saith Habakkuk; "for the maker thereof hath made Jerem. x. 8. it an image, and a teacher of lies." And Jeremy saith, " The stock is a doctrine of vanity." What is their meaning to speak and pray in the church in a strange tongue? This is a cloak of their shame. Their priests be so unlearned, they can scarce understand English, yet they save their credit, seeing they are able to read Latin. And hereby they cover all their blasphemies and superstitions because the people cannot understand, and therefore not reprove them. I speak nothing of their relics, pilgrimages, purgatory, and such other cloaks of shame, which they use to hide their covetousness, and thereby draw unto themselves the riches of the whole world. They cannot say with the apostle, "Our exhortation was not by deceit, nor uncleanness, nor by guile." I know there are some, that lay it unto our charge, as the false apostles did unto Paul, that we use the word of God deceitfully they find fault with our translations of the scrip |