pl /6o Of the Kingdom of God. S ER M. utterly infufficient, but by difobeying his VI. will. The head of the rebellion drew mul- titudes along with him, firft in heaven, and then on earth. Among mankind, par- ticularly, wickednefs rote to an enormous height ; for the imagination of their thoughts were evil continually ; they were corrupt, and did abominable works ; fcarce any did good: So that Satan, become the Godoofthis world, and the prince of the power of the air work- ing in the children of difobedience, fet up a kingdom of fuperflition, idolatry, and vice, dire ±ly oppofite to God's kingdom of righ- teoufnefs and purity. But our merciful crea. tor having great compaffion for the human race, and a kind intention to refcue fin ners from their depravity and unhappinefs, not only continued their Bate of trial, and thofe powers of reafon and confcience which, by a due exertion, might lead them to a bet- ter courfe ; and by the confiant care and bounty of his providence called them to re- pentance ; he likewife Pent mefrengers to invite them to return to their duty ; his wifdom cried, and underftanding lifted up her voice, perfuading the fimple to turn at her reproofs. Particularly, the Tewifh na- tion, difiinguifhed from all others by the divine .favour, had prophets raifed up to in- flrucî
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