VELIO. Ephefian:r,C-hap.I; I n; would needsbeat his owne hand : By nature all are without God. Se- condly, weare fcattered from Chrift,like Sheepe in the values of death, running after the Wolfe, and leaving the Shepheardof our foules. Thirdly, we are divided one from another ; a man being by nature a Wolfe toaman, his feet being (Witt to flied bloud, further then God rcftraineth. Now for the order in which we aregathered. Firft, the openingof 2 the Gofpell loth gatherus into one faith. Secondly, by faith as a fpiri- tuall finnew or Ncrve,it doth unite us with Chrift,making-tfs to become one perfon with him, as man and wife, in Law, make one perfon. Thirdly, It doth thus unite us with God, as a woman marrying a mans naturali forme, becommeth upon it daughter in law to him, with wholeTonne The is one by marriage: Yea, weare fo much fleeter to God; by how much God and Chrift arc more neerely united, then any naturali fonne can be with his naturali Parent, who cannot have the felfefame fingular being his father hath, but one inkinde like unto him, and derived from him. Fourthly, we by being gathered to Chrift, are gathered to the whole body of Chrift, to all who exift under him, by a kinde of pure fubordination, as Angels are fpirituall generation from him, as it is in all redeemed by him, the .. ngelsbecomming miniflring fJ+irits far our good , and we moltltriEìly knit withal' both in heaven earth, alreadyin Chrift ; not onely that we are under one head withthem, but we are quickned with one fpirit, and contained together, as the members of a naturali body areboth contained and quickned by one foule. Nay, we are gathered to all who in Gods predeftination belong to Chrift: As one borne of this or that man, is not onely lincked with chofe brethren hehath inprefent, but bath a refpeEt ofconfanguinitie, to all that may begot- ten ofhim, fo it is with us i from what time Chrift bath brought us, by a fupernaturall nativitie, to be borne ofhim, we have a refpeet of neare conjunélion toall, whoarein timeto be brought to faith by him. Who can unfold the fociety which the Gofpellrevealed cauferh' TheVfe is,firft to move us,that we would confider ofGods gracious VA r. purpofe, according ro which he revealeth the doctrine ofhis Sonneto us. What doe we it for, but to bring you to Chrift ; Even as a friend, whichgoethbetweene his lover and his love, fo Chrift fendethus with that hisminde, that we might winne you to him. It werehappineffe fora poorewoman to be contranìed toa man vertuous, wealthy,honou- table ; but what (hall be thy happineffe, when thou fhait by anunfained faith, havegot thy felfe contracted untoChrift Refute not wifdome rrov.9. fending forth her maids; refutenot God, fending out his fervants, and Mats:. inviting you tocome and partake in his Sonne Chrift, and all his bene- fits, to forgiveneflèoffinnes, and falvation of yourfoules, left youby defpifing his grace, molt highly provoke his indignation. We fee the vaine Hander of the world;whofay,the Gofpell marreth Yf. 2, all fellow fhip : Indeed it doth breake fometimegood fellowfhip,falfely fo called ;but itbreedeth andholdeth together al fellowfhipthat isgood L 3 indeede;
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