· M huilt on tl;e Perfon oJChrifl. 13 arife on this Foundation, but the whole world of Jews and Gentiles, fet.themfelves with open force to defiroy it. An~all_ that they contended with the Church about was their Faith, and confeffion of it,, that Jefus was the Chrifl the Son of the Living, God. This Foundation they would cafi it from, or exterminate it our of the Earth. What were the endeavours of theGateso{Hellin this kind, with what height of rage, with what bloody and inhumane cruelties they were exer~ cifed and e:x;ecuted, we have fonie obfcure remembrance in the fiories that remain from the Mart;'rclom of Stephen unto the days o(Conjlantine. But although there te 'enough remaining on Record, to give us a view of the infatiable ma– lice of theOldMurderer, and an afionifhing Reprefentation of humane Nature degenerating into his Image in the perpe" tration of all horrid ).nhumane cruelties, yet is it all as no– thing incomparifon of that profpefr which the lafi day will give of them, when the Earth fhall difclofe all the blood that it hath received, and the Righteous Judge ihalllay open all the contrivances for its effufion, with the rage and malice wherewith they were attended. The fame,Rag,e continueth y~t unallaye? in its ,Prin.ciples: A_nd alth?ug\ God in ma~y places refiram and lhuqt up m his Prov1de~te, by the clr– cumftances of humane Affairs, yet as it hath :the leafi advan– tage, as it finds .any door open unto it, it endeavours to act it felf in letTer or higher degrees. But whatever ·difmal Ap– pearance of things there may be in the world, we need not fear the Ruine of the Church by the-moit bloody oppofi~ tions. Former experiences will give fecurity -againil: future events. It is built on the Rock, and thofe Gates of Flell fhall not prevail againfr it. The fecond way whereby Satan attempted the fame end~ , and yet continueth fo to do, was by pernicious Errours and · Herejies. For all the Hereftes wherewith the Church was a!Taulted
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