6So 'THE CHURCH COMPARED TO A MOTHER. Book IV. · Children, Ifa. lxvi . 8.. The Church may be fatd to trava>l two manner of ways: ( r.) By Preaching, Prayer, and by other godly Means and Endeavo1'3, lO hnng forth poor Smner; out of a State of Nature Into a State of Grace. Paul was fatd to travail in Pain, till Chrift was formed in thofo to whom he preached. (1.) She travaileth by Preaching, Prayer, Tears, and Sufferings, and other lawful Ways, to bring Jorth her Children out of a State of Bondage, and external Slavery and Captivity, into a State of perfeCt Peace, Joy and Profperity, free from all outward Violence and Thraldom, according to the Promife of God ; 'J'berifM'e will I gi~·e 1"'"' up, until the 'Time which fhe that travaileth batb brougbt forth :-'!'ben the Rtmnant of his Brethrm.jhall rettirn . untoJhe Children of lfrac/. Mic. v. 3.-Sbe being with Child, cried, travailingin Bir.th, and pained to be deliwred, Rev. xii. 2.-For ! haw heard a Voice as of a Wo;nan in 'Travail and .llng;'ifh, as of her tbat bri11geth f•t·th her firfl Cbild. '!'be Voice of tbe Daughter of Zion, tbat br.JJaileth herfeif, that fpreadeth forth her Hands, Jaying, Wo is me now, for my )oul is weary becaufe of A1urderers, ]£r. iv. 3'· Be in Pain, labor to bring forth,. 0 Daugbte;· of Zion, like a Woman in 'I'ra·vail. For mr..v jhalt thou go forth out of the City, and t/;ou jhalt dwell in the Field; and tbou jhalt go even to Babylon, .there jhalt ·thou be delivered, Jbe Lord fhall redee;i! thee fr~m .the Hand of thine. Enemies, . Mic. iv. ·t O. MET A i>H 0 R. . pAR A . L LE L. IV. A Mother, when fhe hath lV. So the Church of God, when fhe hath in ' brought forth her children, layeth ~ fpiritual monner brought forth Children, fhe them to her Breafls, to feed and giveth them her two precious Breaf\s, which are , nourifh them, and letterh them lie the found and facred DoCtrine of the Old and in her very Bofom, taking abun· New Teftament; thofe fhe draweth , forth, to dance.of Care and Compaffion of . give ber new bom Babes the fzncere Milk of the Jhem. ..JVord, tbat they may grow tbereb)', 1 Pet. ii. 2. V. A godly Mother giv<'th good V. So the Church oiGod giveth good Counfel Counfel and In!lruction to her and Inf\ruCtion to all her. Children. Saints are Children, Prov. xxxi. 1. lt was not only fed by the Church, but well taught alfo. a great Mercy ro '1 imoth)'• that he Solomon exhorts the Sons of Wifdom to bear the had fuch a good Woman as Eunice ·Injlruflions of tbeir Father, and nnt to ja~Jake the .. to be his Mother, who took care La.w of their Mother, Prov. i. 8. The uue Church to give him good Education, and teacheth nothing for DoCtrine, but what fhe bath brought him up religioufly ; it is received from the Mouth of Chrift. She cloth faid, he knew the. holy .Scriptures , not, Jike·the Mother of Harlots, teach for Doe– from a Child. trine curled FopFeries, idle, ridiculous, and fu- ..perftitious Ceremonies, which are a Reproach 10 the Chriflian Religien, ·and a gceat Hindrance both of the ·J ews and Heathens from owBing of it. They are all holy Rites,; pious and undeniable Laws, and ju!t Rules of . Difcipline, confonant to the holy Word of God, chat fhe.teacheth all her Children. VI. A Mother ought. to be-o- '-VI. So the Church of God ought to be obeyed beyed and reverenced in all Things : -and reverenced in all Things.. It is an nbomin•bk by her Children; her juft ComEvil to !light or difobey the Cburcb, our fpiritual mands muft be fubmitted to. It is Mother. H"r InftruC\ions .:;nd . Admonitions _a great Evil eo. rebel again!l a muft be rececved wid1 all due care and read:n~f~ ; Mother. and chafe who ftubbornly and obftinately refufe to fubmir, are._guilty of great Sin. VII. So the Church of- God taketh care ·-to carry. it tenderly, and with much Wifdom, to all her Children. She . aC\s not ; partially cowards them, to countenance one more than another ; the weak and pooreft Saint is. as dear•to our.fpiri· .cual Mother•· as the.ftropgeft .and richeft of them. VII. A wile and godly Mother greatlyloves, and is tender of all her Cluldren. She taketh care to carry it evenly towards every one .of them .;: not to indulge any one out of a fond and .great Paffi<>n, and flight another, becaufe not fo beautiful and amiable to look upoJl, VIII. ·A tender . Mother hath · VIII. So Go'd's Church is filled with Bowels of much Compaffion and.Bowels to- . ·Pity and Compallion towards her weak and dif– wards her weak, lick, and helplefs tempered Members. , How is fhe troubled for : Children; her Heart achs. many fuch as are under Temptations, or fallen into any .Times for fuch. · fpiritual Diftemper of .the Soul ! .The Church's , 3 · · Bowels
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