Book IT. G 0 D A MET A PH 0 R. VII. Thole that are environed round about with a Wall of Fire, ' are very fafr in the Mid£1: of the greate£1: Mulmudes of evil Bea£l:s. VIII. Nothing will keep off (as Naturalills bbferve) cruel and de– ·vouring Beafis, but a Wall of Fire. WALL OF FIR E.' PARALLEL. VII. Thofe that are furrounded about on every Side, by the Power, Wifdom, and merciful Pro. vidences of the Almighty God, this great Wall of Fire, need not fear Devils, nor brutilh Men, though never fo cruel and bloody. VIll. Nothing can keep off cruel and mere ilefs Men, from making a Spoil of God's Church, but God himftlf: Confcience cannot, the Cry of the Widow and fatherlefs Children, no, nor the Fear of Hell. Therefore God walls his People wund about in a wonderful Manner, that Men cannot find, nor come at them. IX. Thofe that are environed IX. Thofe that have God for a Wall of Fire, round by a Wall of Fire, are not are fecured from all the cold Blafis of Sin and only fafe from Enemies, but are Temptation, are fweet!y refrelhed and comforted ; alfo thereby kept warm from piercefor fuch is the Property of this Wall of Fire alfo ing Cold. unto them. X. Thofe that fee they are cornX. Thofe that fee they have God as a Wall of palfed about with a Wall of Fire, Fire round about them, are thereby made very are made very fearlefs and couravaliant and courageous, faying, I will not fear . gious thereby. what Man can do unto me, &c. METAPHOR. I. A Wall of Fire is made of outward Materials, viz. Wood, or fuch like Fuel. JI. A Wall of Fire properly is to fecure the Body from ravenous, wild and devouring Beafis. III. A Wall of Fire may be quenched, or for want of Fuel go out; and fo thofe that were fccured by it, may be expofed and laid open to the Rage of cruel and mercilefs Beafis. D IS PAR IT Y. I. GOD, who is faid to be a Wall of Fire for Defence of his People, is the Maker of all Things: By him all Things were made, &c. II. God is a Wall or Defence, to keep fafe and fecure both Body and Soul, not only from wild Beafis, but alfo from curfed Men and Devils. Ill. This Wall of Fire can never be quenched, nor go out, whil£1: therelhall be any wildBealls, and devouring and bloody Perfecutors in the World. This Fire will burn, and be a Wall to the Godly, let the Devil and Rome do what they can ; the . Church of Chrifi thaN never be left to the Rage of Papal Fury. I N F E R E N C E ~ 1. FROM hence we may note an Ufe of Terror to wicked Men: Their cruel At– tempts upon the Church of God will prove their Ruin; they will get nothina thereby, but a feared and wounded Confcience; this Fire will devour them. 0 2. We may fee how God is pleafed to reprefent wicked Men ; doth he not intimate to us by this Metaphor, that they are no better than ravenous Beafis? 3· What great Folly doth this demonfirate to be in the Beans of the Adverfaries! Will they, who are but Briars and Thorns, fee themfelves againfi the great God, who is a confuming Fire? 4· It alfo lhews the infinite Love and Care of God to his Saints. 5· In what Safety do the Godly dwell! Let the Beafis roar, and tear and gore one another, whilfi God's People are thus defended and preferved from their Rage and Cruelty. ObjeEl. But fome may objetl: and fay, How is God faid to be aWall of Fire to tht Church? &c. . Anfw. It may have refpetl: to his Divine Attributes, as Wifdom, Power, Goodnefs, Truth, Faithfulne(•, Ju!tice; by which he preferves his Church and People, throuah his glorious Providences, in this World, as thereby he defeats their Enemies. " GOD
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