Ver.14. the 17th Chapter of St. J O H N. I95 5. Observe; Libertines and Fanatical Perlons, when they encreafe in Power and Numbers, become cruel. Jude r 1. Wo unto them, for they have gone in the *ay of Cain: The Donatijls are of detectable and accurfed memory, becaufe of their infolent Cruel- ties. Hof. 5.5. The Revolters are profound to make Slaughter. Men that have tact off the holy Faith, after fome Profeffton, the Lord keep us from their tender Mercies. The .Arrians grew bloody. Want of Truth is ufually made up by a fupply of Rage. Lees and Dregs ate ufually very tart and fowre. 6. Obferve ; When Religion bath received Wounds in the Houfe of her Friends; Arid occafion is given to the World by Scandals, to think evil of the Ways of God, God taketh his Scourge in his hand,and the Devil bath an Advantage,heftirreth the Ma- lignant World againft the Children of God. As a Sea of Monfters, the Gnoilicks, by their impureand libidinous Courfes, made Chriftianity odious ; and then the Heathens rote up against them, as Pefis of Mankind. Satan is a Liar, but never his Lies carry more pretence. 7. Obferve ; When there is a decay of the Power of Godlinefs, and Formality and Contempt of the Word take place, which are the ufual Effe &s of Profperity. As fonti as we come out of Mífèries, we run into Diforders ; therefore God is wont to return us into our old Chains and Captivity, that we may wanton it no more. Hof. g. ult. I will go and return to my Place, till they ackí ortledg their Offence, and feels, my Face: In'their .ilftielion they will fekme early. I will try them by Adverfity, I will trywhat my Rod will do to better my People. As alfo to difcover Hypocrites : When the Ways of God are in Fachion, many pretend for him ; and fo Religion is turned into a Fashion, and empty Pretence. Salvian obferveth, That the Church; like a River, lofeth in depth, what it gaíneth in breadth ; as a Woman that bath born many Children, is with every Birth the weaker; as a large Body is lefs alive. Carnal Men coming under a Profeffron of Religion, weaken the Power of it. 8. Obferve ; When Profeflors grow worldly, this awakeneth the World's Rage, and God's Rod. The Men of the World take Mammon for their God, and the Conveni- encies of this Life for their Portion. Now when the Children of God put in for a (hare, and are all for worldly Hopes, and worldly Interdis, it ftirreth up their fleepy Enmity; they cannot endure to be difcountenanced. Luke i6.8. The Children of this World are in their Generation wijr than the Children of Light: This is their Generation and Sphere ; as a People take it ill to be beaten and foiled in their own Land : They are a&ive to recover their Interel, and are full of watchful Malice. God is very jea- lous of Mammon ; and when the World gets into the Church, God's Rod whippeth it out again. By the World God will (hew us the Vanity of our afpiring Projets. When Veffels grow mufty, they are not fit for ufe. I find the Spirit of the World breathing in moll Chriffians, who are proling for worldly Greatnefs, as if they ferved the God of this World. Some transform their Chriftian Hopes into a worldly Hope, and look for a fudden coming of Chrift in carnal Pomp, and dream of Greatnefi and Dominion. I Ihali fay no more, but that it is a Do&rine fit for a worldly Age. The Difciples had such a Dream, and Chrift cureth it by thole Threatnings, Mat. 24. But because that was not a fufficient Cure, but after Chrift's Refurre &ion they ask, .dar a: 6. Lord, wilt thou at this time reflore the Kingdom unto Israel? Therefore there were many Perfecutions in the Primitive Times.. If ever God lhould fend a Scourge, Men would complain, of their affe&ing worldly Greatness, and afpiring to raife their Families. II. When Sufferings come, do not think them irange. r John 3:13. Marvel noti my Brethren, if the World hate you. Wonder is for things unufual ; we do not wonder at the darknefs of the Night, as we do at the darknefs of an Eclipfe. Therefore if any thing were a Marvel, this were, that ever it ( hould be otherwife, that you ever fee the Church of God. to have any Rafe and Peace. We may Rand wondring at the bounty of God, that we have fo mùch Peace as we have. The Church muff have a time of learning and training up, and mutt be in the School of Af hi &ions and Petfe- cutions. r Pet. 4.12, 13. beloved, think it not frange concerning the fiery Trial which is to try you, as though :kme frange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, in as much as ye are partakers of Chr 's Sufferings. Alas ! why should it now feem ftrange ? Chrift had foretold it,the confiant Experience of the Church ratifies it. The Difpofition of the World is the fame; Satan never did, nor evetswill turn Chriftian ; and the World will never leave its old Wont. Why should we wonder at these things ? When Mufflers Bbbb 2 arc
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