A Christian Library, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
NOr is this of theirs an ordinary hatred, but the most bitter, exorbitant, unlimited and implacable of all others. No such concord, no such dis… saith one of the Learned, as that which proceeds from Religion. He that upright in his wayes, saith Solomon, is an abomination to the wicked, Prov. …7. My …me, sayes, Luther, is more odious to them, then any thief or … Christ was more detestable to the Iews, then Barabas. And it … enough for the Pope was so busie and hot against Luther, that he … all Christandom against the Turk: which declared that he would easier digest Mahometisme then Lutheranisme. The case of two many in our dayes, in opposing the Reformation. Behold, saith David, mine enemies, for they are many; and they hate me with a cruel hatred, Psal. 25.19. Yea; so cruel, that it makes their teeth gnash, and their hearts burst again, as it fared with those that stoned Stephen, Acts 7.54. This made the truths adversar…es, give St. Paul stripes above measure, 2 Cor. 11.23. And the Heathen Emperors to devise such cruel tortures for all those that but profest themselves Christians. This made Ahab so hate Eliah, that there was not one Kingdom or Nation where he had not sent to take away his life, 1 King. 18.10. And this made the Papists dig many of our choice Ministers out of their graves, that they might the better curse them, with Bell, Book and Candle. Yea, ask from East to West, from one Pole to the other, search all records under Heaven, if ever there was the like of the intended Powder-plot.
Neither does this hatred extend it self to this or that person alone, but to the whole generation of the godly; as is well exprest, Psal. 83. Come let us cut them off from being a Nation, and let the Name of Israel be no more in remembrance, ver. 4.12. And the like we see in Haman, whose hatred to Mordecai was so deadly, that he thought it too little to lay hands on him only, except he destroyed all the Iews his people, that were throughout the whole Kingdome of Ahashuerosh, Esth. 3.5, 6. For the effecting whereof he offered ten thousand talents of silver into the Kings treasury, ver. 9.13. And of his mind was Herodias, who preferred the head of Iohn Baptist before the half of Herods Kingdom. And such another was cruel Arundale Archbishop of Canterbury, who swore he would not leave a slip of professors in this Land.
And the world is no changling, for this age hath but two many such Hamans and Arundales, who so hate the children of God, that they wish as Caligula once did of the Romans, that they had all but one neck, that so they might cut it off at a blow, were it in their power. As why are not our Sanctuaries turned into Shambles? and our Beds made to swim with our Bloods? but that the God of Israel hath crossed the confederacy of Balack, and their wickedness doth not prosper. For their studies are the plots of our ruine; and the best they intend, is the destruction and overthrow of Religion, or the religious, or both, Mat. 24.9. Iohn 16.2. Yea, their enmity and hatred is so virulent and bitter, that were their power answerable to their wills and malice, the brother would betray the brother to death, the father the son, and the children would rise up against their parents, and cause them to die; the kinsman against the kinsman, and the friend against the friend; only for profe… Christs Name and being religious, as himself affirms, Matth. 10.34, 35, 36. … 21.16, 17. Neither is it strange, for this was one of the ends of Christs … into the world, as appears Matth. 10.34, 35. where himself saith, Think … I am come to send peace but the sword: meaning between the seed of the …pent, and the seed of the woman: for I am come to set a man at variance … his father, the daughter in law against the mother in law, and … shall be they of his own housheld, Luke 12.51, 52, 53.
Neither want we Presidents of this: For by whom was upright …cuted and slain, but by his own brother Cain? who scoft at righteou… hara put to death, for imbracing the Christian faith, but by her own Father Dioscorus? who made Serena the Empress a Martyr, for her faith in Christ, but her own husband Dioclesian? who helped to burn Bradford but Bourn, whose life he had formerly saved? And lastly, By whom was our Saviour Christ betrayed, but by his own Disciple Iudas?