I would wish all you who see this scripture fulfilled, by disturbance following the preaching the gospel, to remember the behaviour of that wise magistrate at _Ephesus_ on the like occasion. He did not lay the disturbance to the preacher’s charge, but _beckoned to the multitude and said, ye men of Ephesus――Ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought these men, who are neither robbers of temples, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess_: (not convicted of any such notorious crime, as can at all excuse this lawless violence.) _But if |Demetrius| hath a matter against any, the law is open, and there are deputies_ (or proconsuls, capable of hearing and deciding the cause) _let them implead one another. But if ye enquire any thing concerning other things, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly._ 3. “But you create divisions in private families.” Accidentally, we do. For instance, suppose an entire family to have the form but not the power of godliness; or to have neither the form nor the power; in either case, they may in some sort agree together. But suppose, when these hear the plain word of God, one or two of them are convinced, “This is the truth. And I have been all this time in the broad way that leadeth to destruction:” These then will begin to mourn after God; while the rest remain as they were. Will they not therefore of consequence divide, and form themselves into separate parties? Must it not be so, in the very nature of things? And how exactly does this agree with the words of our Lord? _Suppose ye that I came to send peace upon earth? I tell you nay: But rather division. For from henceforth there shall be five divided in one house, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father: the mother against her daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law._ (Luke xii. 51, 52, 53.) _And the foes of a man, shall be they of his own houshold._ (Matthew x. 36.) Thus it was from the very beginning. For is it to be supposed, that a _Heathen_ parent, would long endure a _Christian_ child? Or, that a _Heathen_ husband would agree with a _Christian_ wife? Unless either the believing wife could gain her husband; or the unbelieving husband prevailed on the wife to renounce _her way_ of worshipping God: at least, unless she would obey him in going no more to those _societies_ or _conventicles_, (ἑταιρίαι) as they termed the Christian assemblies.