1004 TheSlate of the Church, CAP. Z, he requireth that the should thew him her countenance, and fhould caufe her voice to be heard; he Ibeweth them that at length the Church (hould be feene againe openly, which had long lyen hid frommens fight in darknefle. And thatvoyce which her lover is fo defirous ro here,ts thevoyce of mourning and weeping, whereby the faithful in the timeofdeliverance,lhould acknowledge their for- mer offences, whereby they had provoked God, and fhould earneft- ly and heartily bewaile them. when ye fl,:allcall upon me (faith the Lord by ?eremy) thatye may goandpray unto me, then Will I heare you : andPeekingyeefyiallfndeme, When ye 'ball fearch for me with all year heart, Chap. 29. 12,13. This is that countenance all over- whelmed with. teares, in whole fight God is fo much. delighted : this is that mournful! and fufpicious voycc°, then which nothing is ro himmore fweere or pleafant: for fo the fecond company which Ezra brought backe, beginning their progrelfe with a Proclaimed fat}, (hewed the fame afpeet to their lover, caufing him to heare a molt fweere voy ce of the confeflion of fins, Ezra 8, 23. VerC 15. Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes, thatfpoile the vines; for our Vines have tender Grapes, Hithertoof the Captivity, now followeth the reflored condition of the Church. And flrft, of that State which it ()Stained next the returne in this, and the verles following. It appeareth not plainly, whether thefe be the words of Chrift, or the Church, orof both truely that which is here commanded concernes them both: yet fee- Ing it belongs to his government and authority, to rake away all hurtful! things, which may damniñe the Church, they feeme rather to be his. Thefe words teach three things of the Church of that time. Firft, the hath little Foxes lying. in waiter Secondly,. thole Foxqare to be taken and their deceipts made .vaine. Thirdly, the beginnings of the reflored Church were fo tender, that they might be grievoutly hurt by the fee Weft enemie. As to the firfi, The Foxes betoken a crafty, fubtile and di(fembling enemy : whereunto aleo the Heprew.word very well .agreech, which lignifies to dedroy un- der.a (hew of friendthip.. As Ufurers ufe, who feeming to helpe poore men,utterly undoe them withborrowedmoney. How to the lifehappenedchele things. For we know with what craft the Ene- mies endeavoured tohinder the building of the Temple, craftily of- fering ayde, and corrupting the.Counfellors with rewards, as long is the Kings favoured the Jewes, but when they law their favours ajittle to decline, they fpared.no reproaches, and falle accufations, whereby
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