yER.I. them and is is openly knowne toall them that dwell at Ierttfalem, andwee cannot deny it:But that it may henoyfed nofurther,let tts threaten,6. charge Ì them, that they fpeake henceforthseaman in his name. So Ads4.16,1 7. and Adis iz. ,9. This is is which the devill cannot endure with patience to fee him- felfe difpofft-ffed, and diflodgcd out of the hearts which fomctime hee hath rafted in,and therefore he doth fpit his venome againft them,ftir- ring up evills againft them from the children of difbedience in whofe ó the tin s hearts he is eftCii all. Uhatfoever pretences are fpread , why fuch are hinge meafurc is offered Gods fcrvants, this is the truecaufe ofall the trage- ded,b,t this is dies of this kind. S. Paul was a: cu fedas an enemy tothe State, as a diffo!- áát true taufe. ver cftheTemple andLaw, as afeditiousfellow; but thefe were flourifhes betide thetruth, for he taught every foule to befubjell to all orderedpow- Rom. =;. I. ers: Hce became under the Law to gaine , em under it , hee ne- ver committed the lean feditious attempt; the matter of all the quar- rell was , that the devills kingdome did fall down i:ke lightening from heaven in the hearts ofthe Gcnt.les. So that we mutt make hence this ufe toour (elves, to learne what it vp z; is which dothcaufe the diftur'moc°of Gods fcrvants that ferve him in the Gofpell, it is no matteroftr'A -s, (forthe devill doth not play fn,all games) it is the gainingof wen r Chrift, the bringing of men from the de, ill to God, and this is it which he fo hardly digefteth: So that though, the blind world will not feo , yet wee muff open our eyes and judge righteous judgement. y Againe feeing thatthe takingeffect of the Gofpell bath afflidtions w have a of this kind accompanying ir, we may well ferre that the devill doth saute to ef- holdall he would in the mote ofus, he is foquiet: for if men were tru- peachat the y fevered from the world and clave to God in his wayes , then the o[fp=r doth devill would not want engines wherewith to alfayle the ftoppage of workee, wheñ Inch proceedings; then you fhould heare fuch voyces as thefe, C an- ehedeve leec. venticlers, feditious, faWtious perfons, &c. But when the ftrongman is. 9 quiet, it is a figne he holds poffeffïon at his pleafure. For this route I Paul.]t.That Paúl here is often in Prifon for Chrift, 1who í411s 9. z. didbind all that profetfed his name; Obferve, That God can make chafe who have beene the:moll zealous perfe- annake I cutors ofhis truth,becomethe moil forward t..2 artyrs for the teflifying of the tort,. it. He that perfecutedusin timespaft,now preacheth thefaith which be- tors his forehedefiroyed. Paulonce zealous oftraditions, nom rejoyceth in nothing Go=fpee,111artbe but the croft ofChrifl,gal.6.14. Paul deftroying faith,the famea great font. r ¡planter of ir.Paul affli&ed and put inhold, thefame Paul made colledti- Gal.,. :z. ons for the cherifhingof them, molt dilìgently.God dock fo, that thus Gal. 1.14. Ito create hopes where they are hopeles,is molt with hisglory,Gal.t.z3. This is aground of prayer, that we fhould notgive over to pray for pf ,.; i meneven perfecutors ofgood things in force fort, that it would pleafe God to enlighten them and convert them if it mayftand withhis glory. ¡ Likewife it is aground ofhopefor the Church to thinke that ifno Pro 3. H h way 8pheflans, Chap.;. 3¢1
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