Luke 20

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XX.—Fear of men may restrain persecutors from murdering, but not from cavilling. Satan and his emissaries will always oppose Christ and his gospel, and his spiritual Headship over his church, to their utmost. And it is but lost labour to attempt persuading such as are resolved to shut their eyes against all conviction, and who will take the most base and false evasions to avoid it. Surprising is the patience and mercy of God, that so long affords unfruitful and rebellious sinners such means of grace before he casts them utterly off. But dreadful will be their condition at last, when all the injuries they had done to Jesus and his ministers shall be avenged upon them, and he shall glorify his power in their temporal ruin or eternal damnation. Faithful ministers have great need to be always on their guard against deceitful brethren. Pretences to piety, and of regard to civil rulers, and cavils of carnal reasoning, will be all tried to ensnare or expose them. But let us at once fear God and honour the king, and hold fast plain scripture truths, in the well-grounded nope of a glorious resurrection. It is necessary that we believe God’s truths with all our heart; but not that we should be able to answer every wicked cavil against them. And, in the faith and contemplation of Christ as God-man in one person let us hate hypocrisy and avoid hypocrites