Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 6:26

26 Wo unto you when all men shall speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

A good Report of all, even those that are without is a desirable thing, and what all good Men ought to Labour for, both by avoiding any just occasion of their speaking ill of them, and by doing all the Acts of Kindness and Charity, that may commend Religion to them. But the World is so Corrupt, that usually none are worse spoken of, then the best Men. And this is true of no sort of Men, more then of the Ministers of the Gospel; neither the Prophets of Old, nor Iohn the Baptist, nor Christ, nor the Apostles could have good Words from the wicked party of their several Ages. The false Prophets of old, were in much greater Credit with the Generality of the Jews, then the Prophets of the Lord. The Doctrines of the Law, and the Gospel are so contrary to the most of Mens Lusts, as it is impossible that the most of the World should be Reconciled to it, or to those who faithfully declare it; this the Pharisees in their Age, and the Papists and their Friends in our age, have for some time so well understood, that as it was the business of the Pharisees in their time, so it hath been the business of the Popish Casuists, so to Expound the Law of God, as Men may flatter themselves, that they are no Debters to it, tho they keep their several Lusts, and so to Interpret the Gospel, that the way to Heaven is made so broad, that it is not easie for any to miss it.