[ontenzplationr~ LIB. llll. ver fee aworthier and more lively Embleme ofthe Church ; that in £ aypt was in A the furnace;yet wafted not.Since then how ofthath it beene fiamina, n~ver confumed! Thefamepower that enlightens it,prtfetves it;and to none b,:; to his enemies is heaconfuming fire: Mo[es was agreatPhilofophcr:butfmallskill would havefcrved toknow the nature offire,&ofthe bufh:that liremeeting with combuO:iblematter,could not but confume: !fit had bin fome folid wood, it ivould have yedded later to the flames; but bufltes arc offo quick difpatch,thatthe joy of the wicked is compared toa fire ofthornes. He noted awhile,faw it tontinucd,and began towon. der.ltwas fome marvel[ how itfliouldcometlrcre: but how it fhould continuewithout fupply, yea, without diminution ofmmer, was truly admirable. Doubtldfc he went oft about it and viewed it on all fides, and nowwheri his eyes and mind could meetwith nolikelycaufcs,fofuro~refolves,l wilgo feeir:Hiscuriolity led him nea- Jl rer,and whatcould he fee bur a buih and a fiame,,vhich he faw at fir!! unfarisfieddt isgood tocometo the placeofGods prcftnce, howfoever; God mayperhaps fpea~ to thy heart,though thou come but for novelty: Even thofe which have come upon curiality ha,·e beene ofttakcn: abfence is without hope; lh.Mofos had not come, he had not bccne called out ofthebulh. . .To fee a fire not confuming t~e bulb, was muclr; but to lieare a fl'l:aking fit', thiSwasmore; and to heare h1sowne name ourofthe mouth ofthe fire, it was moO: ofall. God makes way for his greateO: meffages by a!!onilhmemand admii:rtion:as onthe comrary,carelefneffe carries us ro a meere unproficiency under the be!!meanes ofGod:Ifour hearts were more awful!, Gods meff:~ges would be moro dfetluall tO us. C In that appearance God meant to callMofestocome,yet when he is come,inhibits him (Come not hither.) We mu!! come to God,mu!! nor come too neare him.When wemeditate ofthe great myO:eries ofhis word,wecome to him:wecometoo neare himwhenwe fearch into his counfels.The Sunand the fire fay ofthemfelves,Come not too neare:how much more the lightwhich nonecan attaine unto~ We haveall our limits fetus: The Gentilesmight come into fome outer courts, not ij)tOthe inmoll.The }ewes might comeinro the inner Court,not into the Temple: the Priefl: s and Levites into the Temple,not into the Holy ofHolies: t.Mojis to the Hill,not to the Bufl1.The waves ofthe Sea had not more needofbounds,thenmansprefumption.t.Mofts mull not come clofe to the bulh at all; and where he may fiand,he may not !!and with his fl10oeson. Thereis no unholineffe in clothes:God pr<pared them D for man at firO:,and that ofskins, le!! any exception lhould be taken at the hides of dead bea!!s. This rite was lignificant. What are the lhooes but worldlyand carnal! affections~ Ifthefe be not ea!!off when we come to the holy place, we make our felves unholy :how much leffe lhould wedar<tocome with refolutions of linne~ This is not only to comewith lhooes on,butwith fl10oes bemired with wicked filthindfe; the touch whereofprofanes the pavement ofGod,and makes our prefence odious. t.Mojis was the Son of o..Amram, vfmrllm of Kohath, KohathofLtvi,Ltvi of /acob,I.uob of Ifaac, I{aarofvtbraham. God puts roged1er both ends ofhis pedigree, I am tht Godof thyfather,andofAbrah•m, Ifaac, Iacob. Ifhe had faid onely, Jam tlry God, It hadbin C.:Hofes his duty to artendawfully;but now that hefayes,/am theGod E ojihJ Father, andof AbraBam; &c. He challenges reverenceby prefcription. Any thi~g that was our Ance!!ers,pleafes us; their Houfes, their Veffels, their Cote-armour; How much more their God'. How carefulllhould parentsbe to make holy choyces! Every pref,dent oftheirS arefo many monuments and motives to their po!!erity. Whatan happineffe it is to be bornof good Parents ! hence God claimes an intere!! in usand we in him,for their fake.As many a man fmarteth for his fathers fin, fo the goodneffe of others is <trowned in a thoufand generations.Neitherdoth Gog fay,I was the God of Ahrah.am,If'ac,ucob; bur,/ am. The Patriarkes O:!ll hve after fa many tl1outand yeares ofdiffolurion. No length of time can fepar~tothe foules ofthe ju!! from their Maker.As fottheir body,thereis O:ill a <'all rdauonbetwixtthedu!!ofit,&rhe foule : &ifthe beingofthispart be more defeaive, the b-e- -------L----------------------------------------------------~~~ng~
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