Owen - Houston-Packer Collection BT300 .O9 1679

_d5 built on the ·Perfon ofC!Jrifl. 11 .- .... - )~ The Gates ofHell, as all agree, are the Power and Policy of it; or the actings of Satan both as a Lion, and as a Ser– pent, by r.age and by fubtilty. But whereas)n thefe things he acts not viitbly in his own Perfon, but by his Agent~,he hath alwaies had two for ts of them employed in his fervice. By the one he executes his rage, and by the other his craft; he animates the one as a Lion, the other as a Serpent: in the one he acts_ as the 'Dragon, in the ot~er as the Beaft that had two horns ltke the Lamb, butJpake .ltke the 'Dragon. The firft is the un~elieving world, the ot~er Apofiates, and Seducers of all forts. Wht:;refore his ·work in this kind is ofa double nature; the one an effect of his power and rage, 3:fred by ~the world in perfecution, the other of his policy and craft, acted by Hereticks in [eduction·: In borh he defigns to fe– parate the Church from its Foundation. . The oppofition ofthe firfi fort he began againfi the Perfon of Chrifr immediately in his Humane Nature. Fraud he firfi once attempted in his Temptation, Matth . 4· but quick– ly found that that way he could make ~oapproach unto him. The Prince of this world came, but had nothing in him. \N'here– fore he betook himfelf unto open force, and by all means pof– fible fought his defirufrion ; fo .alfo the more ·at any time the Church is by Faith and Vlatchfulnefs fecured againfi fe– puction, the more cloth he rage againfi it in open perfecution . And {or the example and comfort of the Church, in its c~m - . formity unto him, no means were left unattempted that · might infiigate 'and prepare the world for his ruine. Re · proaches, contempt, fcorn, falfe and lying Accufations by his fuggefrions, were heaped on him on every hand. Hereby in the whole courfe of his rvtinifiry he endured the contradifl ion of/inners again/! himfelf, H e/; . 12 . 3· And there is herein bleifed pmvifion made of inefiimable confolation, for all , thofe who are predeflinate~ to .be conformed unto his Image~ - C 2 when

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