144 Generad direllionsfar a hanged. But in fuch cafes looke unto thy heart with extra= ordinarywatchfulneffe arid fearch : That hebe an enmmie in= deed, I meane, toChriftianitie; that thou do it not out of fpleene, humour, faéion, perfonall enmitie, for the deflruai- onofthe creature or the like : but limply and fincerelyout-of zeale totheglory of Gods Tuflice, profperitie ofthe Gofpel, and peace ofthe Church. Otherwife, in !lead of a Chriftian dutie, it will groove to thee a curfedcrueltie. 3. Of Prayer, Thus, or in the like manner : Thou art ac-; quainted with the fecret plots of fome plaufibleTyrant a- gainft the people of God, whofe words perhaps maybee as Loft as Butter, or Oyle, and outwarddeportment promifeth faire; but his thoughtsand invifible intendments againft the better fide, compofed all of blond and bitternef'e, of Gall and Gun- powder ; wherevpors, as occafion is offered, thou unmaskeft his malice arnongft thyChriftian friends, to the endthat theymay comrnunicate,and contribute their prayers forthe confufion& infatuation of all his devillifh depths and devices ofhell. Teares, patience, and prayers, were ever the defenfive weapons of Gods people. Let Powder-plots, Pa- rifian Maffacres,invincible Armadoes, Ilaughtering ofKings, and fuch like horrible and hellifh combuftions, brand with an everlafting ftaine ofcrueltie andbloud, the Popifh reli- gion and perfecutors ofHeavenly Truth : But letthe fonnes of the Gofpel bee ever content to confront and beate Backe, the implacable rageof all Gods enemies, and haters of fin- ceritie and grace, onely with thecutting edge,and fharpened point offervent prayer. Which weapon they may difcharge three waies: r. Indefinitely, againft all defperate enemies to God, his Church, and Gofpel, without intimation, fo much as by thought, of any particular perlons. So David, Pfalme 129. 5. Let them all bee confoundedand turned backe, thathate Zion. Deborah, Iudges 5. 3 i. Solet all thine -enemies periJh, O Lord: but let them that love hies , bee as the Sunne when hee goeth forth in his might. a. Conditionally, when theyperceive fome infulting Shebnaes, and infolent Hamans to perfift and hold on perfecuting the Saints, and oppofing the
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