Galatians 4:29

These wordes, are an answer to an Obiection, on this manner. We are hated of the Iewes: and therefore we are not the children of promise. The answer is two fold. One in this verse, thus, No maruell: this is the old fashion: it was thus in Abrahams familie. For Ismael (borne after the flesh) persecuted Isaac (borne after the spirit:) and so it is at this day.

Obserue, that there is a perpetuall enmitie and opposition, betweene true beleeuers and hypocrites. God put enmitie betweene the seede of the serpent, and the seede of the woman. Gen. 13. 15. The world hates them that are chosen out of the world. Ioh. 15. 19. Carnall men cannot abide that their opinions and doings, should be iudged, and condemned of others. Ioh. 3. 20. And hence comes the opposition that is betweene beleeuers, and hypocrites, who cannot abide such as are not like themselues.

This hatred and opposition, shewes it selfe in persecution: of which, three things are to be considered.

The first is, who persecutes? Ans. Carnall Ismaelites, such as are of the same religion and familie with Isaac. Thus the Iewes persecuted their owne Prophets, and the Thessalonians were persecuted of their own prophets. 1. Thes. 2. 14. Thus Priests and Iesuits, that haue bin hertofore borne, baptised, & brought vp among vs, are the causes of many seditions, conspiracies, and seeke the subuersion of Church, and land.

The second is, who are persecuted? Ans. Spirituall men, the children of the promise. They suffer wrong, but they doe none. In the mount of the Lord there is no hurt done. Isa. 11. 9. they turne their speares and swords, into mattocks and sithes. Isa. 2. 4. And they which doe no wrong, but are content to suffer wrong (and that for a good cause,) are in this respect blessed. Matth. 5. 10.

The third point, is, touching the kind of persecution: and that was skorning or mocking. Gen. 21. 9. It may be demanded, how mocking can be persecution? Ans. Mocking and derision, which riseth of the hatred and contempt of our brother, is a degree of murder. He which saith Raca to his brother, is guiltie of a Councell. Matth. 5. 22. Here Raca, signifieth all signes and gestures that expresse contempt, as snuffing, tushing, iering, gerning, &c. Cain is rebuked of God, euen for the casting downe of his countenance. Gen. 4. 6.

Againe, the mocking wherewith Ismael mocked Isaac, proceeded from a contemp: and hatred of the grace of God in Isaac: which Paul notes when he saith, that he was persecuted which was borne after the spirit. This hatred of Gods grace in men, is the beginning of all persecution, and the deriding of the grace of God, is as much as the spoiling of our goods, and the seeking of our liues. Thus Cain hated his brother, by reason of the grace of God: because his deedes were good. 1. Ioh. 3. 12. A great part of the sufferings of Christ, stood in this, that he was mocked for his confidence in God. Psal. 22. 8. Matt. 27. 43. The children of Bethel mocke Elizeus: first, for his person, calling him bald pate: secondly, for the fauour of God shewed vpon Elias his master, in saying, Ascend, bald pate: that is. o Iustin. in quæst. ascend not to Bethel, but ascend to heauen as Elias did. And this prophane skorning he cursed in the name of God. 2. King. 2. 23. The like skorning is vsed among vs at this day. For the practise of that religion which stands by the law of God, and the good lawes of this land, is nicknamed with tearmes of precisenes, and puritie. A thing much to be lamented: for this bewraies that there is a great want of the grace of God among vs. Therefore take heede of it.