a.K.ings ;Y. 47 2 Comfortalle Prefruatrxe.ragaìrftdeleration.' burning Cage, that he breathed out (fill threatnings and . ílaughter againfl the Difciplis ofthe Lord, it pleated Goct . wonderfully toconuert him, to allure him of the rctnii3toti ofall thefe his horrible finnes, and tommkehim ofa bloodie perfecutor, a moll excellent preacher ofhis Gofpell, and ofa rauenous deuouring woofe, a moll vigilant and painefull fhepheard. To thefe wee might adde the example, of the thcefe, who though he had fpent his whole life wickedlyand prophanely, yetwas conuerted at thehoure ofdeath, and re- ceiaing the pardon of his fumes, was prefently allured of euerlafli ng happinelfe. But I (hall not need to heapevp ma- nyparticulars, onely I cannot paffe that nötable example of c_tlanaffes,one of the moll outragious finners and pro_ phanefl wretch that euer liued, as the holy Ghofl bath de- scribed him in the 2r.chapterofthe 2.booke oftheKings.For there he affirmeth ofhim that hewas a moll horribleidola ter, a moll malitics enemy and cruell perfecutor of Gods. truth, adefiler oftods holy temple, afacrificer ofhis owne children vnto Idòls,.that is,diucls, a notable witch, and wie - ked forcerer, a bloodie murtherer of exceeding many, the deare Saints and trueProphets ofthe-Lord,one who did not: runne headlong alone intoall hellifh impietie, but alfo led . thepeople vnderhisgouernment out ofthe way to do more wickedly then did theHeathen peoplewhom theLord de_- ffroyed before the children ofIfrael, andin aword, wrought more abominations and outragious wickedneffe then the cttrfed 4morites and Cananites, ofwhom notwithflanding the land furfetted and fpued them out for their crying finnes. And yet this tAtmaffe.r, this wretch,more like adiuell incar- nate then a Saint ofGod, repenting him ofhis finnes from thebottome olhis heart, was receiued (I cannot fpeake it without rauifhing wonder ofGods- bottomles and neuer fuf- ficiently admired mercy) was receiued I fay, to grace, and obtained thepardonofall his horriblefinnes and moft abo- minablewickedneffe. Now all thefe examples are written for our learning, and are recorded by the holyGhofl, to the end that wee maycontinually laud and praife the Lord for hisendleffe and infinite mercies, and gather vntoour fillies, aßùrance,..
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