Book III. THE WORD OF GOD COMPARED TO LEAVEN. s69 I N F E R E N C E ~ I. THIS may teach Believers~ what excellent ufe the Word is ~f in all their fpiri· tual Wars with the Devd, Sm, .and all other mortal Enem1es of thelf Souls. II. It may inform us what the great Delign of Satan is, in feeking fo many manner of ways to take away the Word of God from us, or in making it of little or no ufe to us. Ill. This ju(l]y repreoves the curfed Papifts and Church of Rome, in refpe<'l: of their Cruelty to the Souls of Men, in difarming them of their Weapons; a People dif– armed are foon overcome, and made a Prey to their Enemies; how can we defend our– felves when our Sword is taken out of our Hands? They have fame Fig-leaves, faith one, to hide their lhameful Practice; they endeavor to perfuade Men they do them a Kindnefs thereby, left they lhould cut their Fingers with it, &c. How cloth the Apo0Je condemn fpeaking in the Church in an unknown Tongue? All Men are exhoned to read the Scriptures, fearch the Scriptures, but the Pope makes it no lefs than Dellh, if not Damnation, for the Laity to have them in their own Language to read or lcarch, fearing left it fhould fpoil his Trade. IV. It reproves them for cafting fuch Contempt upon the Scriptures, as if they were infufficient to direct us in the Way of Salvation. What horrid Blafphemy and Reproach is this, faith the fame Author, to the great God, to fend his People inro the Field, and put fuch a wooden Sword in their Hands, as is not fufficient to defend them– felves or vanquifh their Enemies? And how much contrary is it to that of the Apoll:le to 'l'imothy, who faith, It is able to make us wife unto Salvation tbrough Faith in Chrift Jefus; perfeCt, thoroughly furnijhed unto all goodWorks, 2 'l'im. iii. 1 5, 17. V. Let us blefs God and be truly thankful, we have this Weapon left us yet, thi~ is in our H ands, and that all the World may know it hath done great Things in our Hearts. Let every true Chriftian an<i true Englifhman refolve to die upon the Spot, rather than lofe the Word, or fuffer their Sword to be taken from them. VI. Let it alfo caution all Chriftians to take heed how they engage their Enemy with– out their Sword. VII. Labor alfo to know the right Ufe of it, and how, and when to offend your Enemy hereby. Satan is a cunning Warrior : Sometimes when thou art tempted to fin, may be he will tell thee it is a little one, what is a merry Jell:, to fport and game, to drink and carrouze a little? When thou art thus befet draw thy Sword. Make no Provijion for the Flcjh: If ye live after the Flcjh, ye jha/1 die. Put off the former Con– verfation: Without Holilzefs no Ma11 jha/1 fee God. How jhall I do this 'J'hing, and fi;t again.ft God.? Ram. xiii. 14. and viii. I 3· 1 Pet. Heb. xii. 14. VJII. Again on the other Hand, may be he will aggravate thy Sin, to drive thee into Defpair, and tell thee by his evil Suggeftions, that there is no Mercy for thee; then draw thy Sword again. But he that confef!eth and forfaketh his Sin, jha/1 find Mercy, Prov. xxviii. I3 I dejirenot the Death of him that dieth, Ezek. xviii. 32. All manner of Sin and Blafphemy again.ft the Father and the Son jha/1 be forgiven unto Men, &c. Matt. xii. I3- Suchwerefome of you,&c. I Cor. vi. 11. IX. Yield up all your Sins though never fo pleafant and profitable, to the Edge of the Sword. X. Prize and highly value the holy Scriptures, the Word of God, and fay, as Da– 'Vid once did when he wanted a Sword, and it was told him there was none but the Sword of Goliath, none like that. Satan will, it is feared, ere long, make a diliaent Search for Arm•; do as David did, hide thy Sword : _.'I'hy Word ha~·e I hid in my H':art, that I might not fin again.ft thee, Pfal. cxix. 9· Get many Prumifes ready againft thou be befet, and !halt have need of them. THE WORD OF GOD COMPARED TO LEAVEN. .Again, the Kingdom of H.aven is like unto Leaven, which a Woman took and hid i11 three Meafures of Meal, till the Whole was leavened, MAtt. xiii. 33· SOME underftand by Leaven in this Place the Word of God, others Grace; the one concludes it is the Word of Grace, the other the Grace of the Word; a third , fort underftand the Church of God is intended by it. 7 F The
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