Againft Perfecution. who hate<h and oppofcth it, . and that he fhould be jufiified by the Gofpel who pcrfecutcth it, and that he fhould be a godly man, who fetreth himfclf againfl the godly , and feekerh to ddlroy them. 9· 2 z, 1 t. And it is a far more heinous fin in a Profejftd Chriftian, than in an Infidel or Heathen. For thtfc do according to the darkncfs of their Education and the interefi of thtir parry, and the principles of thtir own profdlioc. But for a p10te1fed Chri11ian to pcrfecutc Chriftianity, and one tbar profd[dh tobelieve the Gofptl, to perfecutethePreachers and fcrious pradifers of the doctrine of the Gofpel, this is fo near that fin which is commonly faid to be the unp:ardonable fin againtl the Huly Ghofl, that it is not cafie to perceive a difference; and if I did con{ent to that defcription of the unpardonable fin, I lhould have little hope of the convcrfion of any one of thdt:. But how– c.ver they make up fuch a mixwrc of HJ•pocrifie, and Impitty, and Cruelty, as tl1eweth them ro exceed a!I ordinary finnets, in malignity and mifcry. They are a {elf·condunncd fort of men: Out of their own mouths will God condemn them. They profefs rhemfelvcs to believe in God, and yet the)' p::r– fccute tho{C that fc::1VC him: They dare not fJ-eak againfi the preaching and prJCliling ofthe doCtrine ofGodlinefs, dircdly and in plain exprc.nlons ; and yet they pcrfecutt them, and cannot endure them! They fight againll the interefi and Law ofGod thdathtt, Son and Holy Ghoft, when they have in Baptifm vowc.d thcmfclvcs unto his fervicc. Of all men on earth, thefc men will have leafi to fay fOr th~ir fin, or againtl their condemnation. 9· 22· 1 z, Laft!y, Remember that Chrifi: taketh all that is done by perfccutors againll his fcrvanrs for his caufe, to be done as to himfelf, and will accordingly in judgement charge it on them. So fpcah:cth he to S::ul, A6fs9. s, 6. Saul, Saul, why perfecuttft thou me---1 am Jeflu wbom tb:Ju pcr[twujl! And fV!attb. 25· .~p. to46. Even to them that did not feed, and clothe, and vif'lt, and rclilVC them, he{aith, Verily, I fo.'J unto you, i1t aJ mHch a1ye did it not to OJit of the le.:Jjl of tbe[e, ye did it not tome. V\'hat then will he fay to thlm that impoveril11c::d a.nd imprifoned them? Re– member that it is Chrifi reputativcly whom thou dofi hate, deride and perfecute. §. 23. Direct. 3• If Y"' w,utd efcape the guilt of ptrfecutim , the caufe and intmft of Chrift in the Diretl. 3• world~ mujl bt truly Hnderjlvod. He that knoweth not that Holincfs is Chrifis end, and Scripture is his Word, and Law, and that the Preachers of rhe Gofpel an: his mdfeogc:rs, and that pre;tching is llis appointed means, and that fanCl:ificd believers are his members, and the whole number of them are his my!lical body, and all that profr{s to be fuch are his vifible body"or Kingdom in the world, and that fin is the thing which he came to defiroy, and the Devil, the world and the fle{h are the enemic:s which he caufeth us to conquer; I fay, He that knoweth not this, doth not kr.o-.y what Chrifiianity or Godlinefs is; and therefore may eafily pcrfecute it in his ignorance. If you know not, or believe not, that firiour Godline{i in heart and life, and feriDM preaching, and Jifcipline to prorr.ore ir, are Chrifis great caufe and intertft in the world, you may hght againft him in the da1k. whil!t ignorandy you call your fdves his followers. If the Devil tan but make you think tint Iguur..nrc is as good as Knowledge, and Pbarifaical formality, and hypocritical tl1ews, are as good as fpirztua.l worjhip. and rational fervice ofG_od ; and that fuming and lip-for-vice is as good as jerioufi1!{s in Religion, and that the ftritl and foriouJ obeying of God, and liviog as we profelS, according to the prin. ciples of our Religion, is but hypocrifie, pride, or faction; ( that is, that all are hypocrites who will not be hypocrites, but ferioufly Religious): I fay, if Sltan cm bring you once to fuch erroneous malignant thoughtS as- thcfe, no wonder if he make you perfecutors. 0 value the great bktfing of a found undtrHinding: FOr if Error blind you ( either impiour error, or fat1iom trr'Jr ) there is no· wickednefs (o great but you may promote it, and nothing fo good and holy, but you may perfecute it, and think all the whilethat you are doing well. John 16. 2. 'they jhaUput you out of theSynagogurJ; yea, tht timt comcth, that wbofoever kjUcth you, will thin~ that he datb God fcrvice. What Pro.. phet fo great, or Saint fo holy, that did not (illfct by fuch hands? Yea,Chrill himfelf was pcrfecutcd as a finner, that never finned. §. 24. Direct. 4· And ( if you would tfeape the guilt of perfecution) the c.ufi and intcrcft ofCbrjft, Dirctl· +• muji be bigheft in your lfttw, aJJd preferred before aDworldly carnal inurejls uf your awn. Orherwifc the Devil will be flill perfwading you, that your own intcrtft rcquireth you, to fupprefs the inte,. reil of Chtifi : t'or the truth is, the Gofpel of Ch1ifi is quite againit the intmll of carnality and concupifcence : It dmh condemn ambition, covetoufnefs and lufi: It forbiddeth thofe fins on pain of damnation, which the proud , and covetous, and fenfuallove, and will not part with; And therefore it is no more wonder to have a proud man, or a covetous man, or a lufiful voluptuous man to be a perfccutor, than for a Dog to fly in his face: who takes his bone from him. If you love your piide, and lufi, and plcafures, better than the Gofpel and a holy life, no marvel if you be perfecutors: For the[e will not well agree together : .And though fomc:times the ptovidence of God may fo con~ trive things, that an ambitious hypocrite may think that his worldly intcrefi reguireth him, to feem religious, and promote the preaching and practice of godlinefs, this is but {tldomt, and ufually .not loHg : i''or he cannot choofe hut GUickly find that Chrifi js no Patron of his fin, and that HolincCs is comrary to his worldly lufh : Therefore it you ca:onot value the Caufc of Godlinefs; above your lulls and carnal imerells, I cannot till you how to avoid the guilt of pe1fccution, nor the wuth and vengeance ofAlmighty God. · §. 25. Direct. 5· Yea, thnugh you do prefer Chrifts intercjl i.n the main, Yult muft carefuVy take Diretl. S• heed of ftcpping into any forbidden way, and efpoufing atry inttrtft of }l~ur own or otherr, which U con· lrary '~' the Laws or interejl ofChrift. Ocherwi{C:jn tbc defence or pro{ccution of your caufe, you will becanyed into a feemi•g Ntctffity of ptr[e<ulinz before you are awm : This hath been the ruine of · Kkkkkkk2 mul-
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