The Craft and Cruelty of the Church's Adversaries.

Matthew Newcomen (1610-1669) was a leading Puritan minister in England, and one of the "Ejected" on St. Bartholomew's Day in 1662. — He preached this sermon to both Houses of Parliament on the 37th anniversary of the Nov. 5, 1605 "Gunpowder Plot" to eradicate all the leadership of Protestant England. The Roman Catholic plot was to explode a massive amount of gunpowder beneath Parliament when both Houses, the King and all of the Protestant Aristocracy and Gospel Ministers were assembled. It was foiled at the last minute when Guy Fawkes, the one hired to ignite the powder, was discovered, arrested and later executed. — Though the anniversary of the historical event was the occasion for the sermon, Newcomen used that fierce opposition to reform in England, as an opportunity to extract truths and principles applicable to opposition and persecution in all periods of Christian history. He uses the experience of Nehemiah and other Jews, who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity after many decades, as the focal point. As they attempted to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, they were surrounded by crafty and cruel enemies who did not desire their welfare. He unfolds the history of the philosophy, tactics and spirit of God's enemies directed toward His people in Old Testament, New Testament and modern times. Though preached over 350 years ago, there are many applicable parallels to present-day opposition (including legal and violent persecution) to Biblical Christianity around the world, even by pretending friends. His theme: "The great design of the enemies of the Church, is by craft or cruelty, or both, to hinder any work that tends to the establishment, or promoting of the Church's good."

The Craft and Cruelty of the Church's Adversaries.

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