CAP.4e in the time ofDiocleÍian. íoz to take away the molt divine favour oftruth,and bring it to nothing. But this fweetnes of Lebanon could not be overcome. But the fined ofher,garmentswas afterward. weakned, thereforeno n.arvell iffii- rhy errours prevailed.Theholin'esofthe Church wastcftifled as well by enemies(fuch as was Plirúe the fecond,in Eufbius lib.3.chap. 3 3.)' as by friends,yufline,Tertallian,and Çypri n, which mervelloufiy let forth;the frweetneffe ofher garments. This dignity continued in force meafure,untijl the timeoFDiocifla the Emperour. Indeed the truth and regard ofmanners'and honcfty by little and little began to de- cay,pride privily creeping in; yet thefinell of the garments for the firft 300. yeeres remained found anduncorrupted, without'any no- table.ch,ngeas the Spirit foretold it. Verf..r a. A Garden inclofed is myfiler, my Simile, a fpri;:g )Zei up, afountain fealed. Ye have heard how the Church in her flonriOEing eftate was all fair : Now followeth herdecli ping Condition, and firft how fhe ran to ruine, threatning a fall, beforeThe fell away altogether. In this verle is propounded II- double eflare,ocr: in refpeE..of ífranv- ers, theother in regard ofherlówn houflshld. A. to ítrangérs,,itt is a garden inclofed: Toher own, it fpring j7ut up, a foe.:ntain /call d. The Church is often compared to a Vine, her fafcty ( wherewiih God vouchfafeth to defend her from the rage ofher enemies ) toa Waft, aHedge or Inclofure, as Pfäl. co, g t a, and If -y 5. r, 2. But now the Church was void of filch defence for three hundred yeer. fortified by no power of Princes, or authority of Magiftrates, or any Ordinance of Lawes. Yet at length '.God f irred up Conflantin: the Great, who fenced this Garden witha wadi, rooting ont the Tyrants, and rearaining all hoffility that might dill trbe the pease,' and <,quietnefie of the Church. And not onely freed her from the power of her enemies, butconfirmed. her liberty _by I.awes and Ordinances, and alfo advanced her to great honour and dignity, Eufeb. ;lib. 2. Now the Garden was inclofed and fenced from the invalon of all her enemies. But what was he then in refpea ofherown. houfhold? ffprinóAuto up, afoxnt,in fealed. From common Theeves, we defend our fortunes with walks and' hou- les ;fromprivate theeves, which live with us in the fame houles, ti e keep our goods in Chefts with lockes. Therefore the fountain foal- ed ihewerh, that all had not leave to draw and to drinke, which li- ved within the inclofure ofthe Garden: for Being the fountain and fpring yeeldeth lively jiice to hearbes and trees , many which had room
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