Book IV. TuE CHURCH CALLED THE CITY oF GOD. 651 METAPHOR. PARALLEL. H. The Church of God hath ftrong Walls about it. We have a jlrong City ; Salvation will God appoint for Walls and Bulwarks, !fa. xxvi. r. The Church hath a threefold \Vall .about it. I!. A Cit)' is ufually compalfed about withWalls, that it may there– by become more fafe and fecure to dwell in; and fome Cities have two or three Walls, to make them more impregnabie. Firll:; The Wall of God's Providence. Hajl not thou made a Hedge (or Wall) about him? Job i. As t.be Mountains are round about Jerufalem; fo the Lord is round about them thatfear him, &c. Pfa!. cxxv. 2. Secondly; The ProteB:ion of the holy Angels : '!'he Angels of the Lord encamp round about them tbatfear him, &c. Pfal. xxxiv. 7· Thirdly ; God in an extraordinary Manner, is as a Wall of Fi•·e round about her, Zech. ii. 5· every one of his Attributes is a gracious Defence to the Church. Ill. Some Cities are bravely lituated, they are built upon a Hill. IV. A City is built of many Materials, and in it are many Build– ings or Houfes, fee in rare U ni– formity, curiouOy joined and com– paB:ed together. Ill. The Church ofGod is famous upon this ac– count: Beautiful for Situation, the Joy of the whole Earth is Mount Zion ; on the Sides of the North, the City of the great King, Pfal. xlviii. 2. re are as a City fet upo1: a Hill, Matt. v. 1 4· IV. The Church of God is built up of many living Srones, confifting of divers particular So– cieties, or fpiritual Houfts. Now the>'Cjore ye are no more Strangers and Foreigners, but Fe!low-citi– zms with the Saints, and oj the Houjho!d of God: /lnd are built upon tbc Foundation of the Apojlles and Prophets, Jefus Chrifl himfe!f being the chief CorMr:flone: In whom a!/ the Building jitly framed together, growetb to an holy 'Temple in the Lord: In whom ye a!fo are build– ed together for an Habitation of God, through the Spirit, Eph. ii. 19, ze>, 2 I, 22. Jerutalem is builded as a City that is compa[l together, !'fa!. cxxii. 3• , V. A City hath its particular V. The Church of God al!o hath fpecial Laws, Laws, lnflitutions, and Cuftoms, Inftitutiotts, and Cuftoms belonging to it, by by which it is governed. which it is in all Things governell, which are VI. A City hath a fupreme Go– vernor in it, who reCtifies all Dif– orders and Confufions, that other– wife would be therein, conudering the Multitllde of its Inhabitants. VII. A City hath, befides the chief Governor, and principal Ma– gifhare, diver3 inferior Officers, for Adminill:ration of J uftice, and well-governing thereof. VIJI. A City hath fame fpecial Trade belonging to it, by which its lnhabirants are enriched. .contained in lhe holy Scripmre, the great Charter and Statute-Book of the Church. VI. The Church of God is not without a good Governmenr, and a ft 1 Ipremc l\1agifl:rate, viz. the L ord Jei'us Chrill:, who is the chief Judge and Law-giver, or Head of this fpiritual Corpo– ration. VII. So the Church of God hath inferior Offi– c-ers under· Jefus Chritt, which the Citizens by the Appointment of Chtill: are required to fubfli– tute and ordain, to govern an,P keep all Things in good Order. And be gaco·e fame Apojlles, mtd fame Prophets, andfame Ev angelifls, and fome Paf– torsand'Ieachers, &c. Ephef iv. 8,g, 10,1 r, 12 . . VIII. The Church or City of God harh a Ipi– ritual Trade belonging to it, which all ·the Citi– zens do and always ought to follow, by which they are alfo greatly enriched. IX. Many Cities have Merchants IX. The Saints or Citizens of Zion are all Merin them,who trade into remote parts chants, who trade daily to Heaven ; they fetch of the World, anJ fetch their Mertheir blelfed Merchandrze from thence; Our Coltchandize from afar. verfatia~z is in Heavm, Phi!. iii. 20. Prov. xli. . Hence the Church is br Solomon compared to Merchants Slups. See Merchauts Ships. Saints have, like other Merchants, their Correfpondent, Jefus Chrill:, who makes glorious Returns of all they vemure, or fend to Heaven: For every Duty tightly performed, he makes Returns of Mercy; for Tears of godly Sorrow, he returns them the Oil of Joy. 'l'hou wilt, faith holy David, put my '!'ears into thy Bottle. By which means the fpiritual Citizens grow rich in Faith, Hope, Experience, &c. See the Parable of /he Merchant-man. 3 Now
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