VeR. 129.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 339
castles, free towns, councils, armies, senate, markets ; everywhere but in the idol temples. Such a wonderful increase and success was there in a short time ! The apostle : Col. i. 6, ' The word of the truth of the gospel is come unto j'ou, as it doth to all the world,- and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you.' The doctrine itself is contrary to nature ; it doth not court the senses, nor woo the flesh ; it offereth no splendour of life, nor pleasures, nor profits ; but biddeth deny all these things, and expect persecution : Mark xvi. 21, ' If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.' It only telleth us of spiritual comforts, and the recompenses of another world. Mahomet allures his followers with fair promises of security and carnal pleasure ; there wind and tide went one way. Man is credulous of what he desireth ; but Christ telleth us of denying ourselves, taking up the cross, cutting off right hand, and plucking out right eye, rowing against the stream of flesh and blood, bearing out sail against all the blasts and furious winds without: here is nothing lovely to a carnal eye. This was the doctrine. It taught the proud world humility ; the uncharitable world love of their enemies ; the unchaste world that a glance is adultery : Mat. v. 25, ' Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart ; ' the revengeful world to turn the other cheek to the smiter ; the covetous man to be liberal, not to cark and take thought for worldly things, but to lay up treasures in heaven ; the dissolute world to walk circumspectly in all godliness and honesty. The persons and instruments that were to manage the doctrine were in the world's eye contemptible : a few fishermen, destitute of all worldly props and aids ; of no power, wealth, secular wisdom, autho- ritj^ and other such advantages as are apt to beget a repute in the world ; yet they preached, and converted many nations, though they had no public interest, were not backed with the power of princes, as superstitions are wont to prevail by their countenance and example: ' Every one seeketh the ruler's face ; ' but the gospel had gotten firm footing in the world long ere there was a prince to countenance it ; there were many to persecute it, none to profess it. As the instru- ments were poor, so the persons that received their message : James ii. 5, ' Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him ? ' 1 Cor. i. 26, ' Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.' When destitute of worldly succours and supports, it held up head. Ne videretur authoritate traxisse aliquos, et veritatis ratione, non j^ompce gratia i^rmvaleret, saith Ambrose. It was much it should hold up head ; yea, the powers of the world against it, bonds and sufferings and deaths did abide for them everywhere that professed this way. Horrible tortures ; never did war, pestilence, and famine sweep away so many as the first persecu- tions; poor Christians were murdered and butchered everywhere; yet still they multiplied, as the Israelites did in Egypt, under oppression ; or as a tree lopped sends forth more sprouts. As without worldly interests ; they had not such gifts of art, eloquence, and policy as the world with whom they had to deal ; all was carried on in a plain way.
340 SERMONS UPON TSALJI CXIX. [SeR. CXLI.
wllhout pomp of words. Paul was learned, but he laid aside his ornaments, lest tlie cross of Christ should be of none effect : 1 Cor. ii. 4, 5, ' And my speech and my preacliing- was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in den:ionstration of the spirit and of power ; tliat your faitli sliould not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.' They were to deal with men of excellent parts and learning, some of which received the gospel. This plain doctrine was set afoot in that part of the world where arts and civil discipline most flourished at that time, and were in their ci/c/ij;. Thus as Aaron's rod devoured the magicians' serpents, so was the gospel too hard for the wisdom of the world : it prevailed not by force of arms and the power of the long sword, as all dotages do, and superstitions are planted ; but ' overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony ; and they loved not their lives unto the death,' Rev. xii. 11. Christ's sword is in his mouth: Ps. viii. 2, ' Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mighte.st still the enemy and the avenger.' This way seemed to the world a novel way ; they were leavened with prejudices, and bred up by long custom, which is a second nature, in the worship of idols : 1 Peter i. 18, ' Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers.' Men keep to the religion of their ancestors with much reverence. Christ did not seize upon the Avorld as a waste is seized upon for the next owner. The ark was to be set up in the temple that was already occupied and possessed by Dagon. Before Christ could be seated in the government of the nations, first Satan was to be dispossessed, and superstitions received by a long tradition and prescription of time were to be removed, the wolf hunted out. Thus the power great.