go6 Of C o M M U N I o N with world are at this day alive, undevour'd, meerly on the account of the in- tcrceflionof the Lord jefus. His compaflionatenefs bath been the fountain of their deliverances. Hence oftentimes he rebukes their fuferings and afllitlions, that they (hall not ad to the uanoft upon them, when they are un'er them. He is with them when they pafs through fire and water,.Ifa. xliii. 2, 3. 2.) In that, that he both and will, in the winding up of the matter, fo forely revenge the quarrel of their fufFerings upon their enemies. He avenges his cleft that cry unto him, yea he doth it fpeedily. The contro- verfy of Sion, leads on the dayof his vengeance, Ifa. xxxiv. 4. He looks upon them fometimes in diftrefs and confiders what is the flate of the world in reference to them, Zech. i. II. We have walked to and fro through the earth, and behold all the earth frtteth ßi11 and is at ref? ; fay his meffengers to him, whom he fent to confider the world and its condition, during the atfliftionof his people. This commonly is the condition of the world in fuch a feafon, they are atreft and quiet, their hearts areabundantly fatiated ; they drink wine in bowls, and fend gifts one to another (a). Then Chrift looks to fee who will come in for their fuccour,,Ifa. lix. 16, 17. and find- ing none engaging himfelf for their relief, by the deftru&ion of their ad- verfrries, himfelf undertakes it. Now this vengeance he accomplifhes two ways. (t. Temporally upon perlons, kingdoms, nations and countries, a type whereof you have, If lxiii. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. as he did it upon the old Ro- man world, Rev. vi. 16. and this alfo lie doth two ways. [i. By calling out hereand there an eminent oppofer, and making him an example to all the world ; fo he dealt with Pharaoh, For this caufe have I railed thee up, Exod. ix. 16. $o he cloth to this day, he lays his hand upon eminent Adverfaries ; fills one with fury, another with folly, blafis a third, and makes another wither, or deftroys them utterly and terribly. As a provoked lion, he lies not down without his prey. [a. In general, in the viols of his wrath which he will in thefe latter days pour out upon the antichriftian world, and all that partake with them in their thoughts of vengeance and perfecution. He will miferably deffroy them, and make fuch work with them in the iffue, that whofoever hears, both his ears !hall tingle. (2. In eternal vengeance will he plead with the adverfariesof his beloved, Matt. xxv. 41, 42, 43, 44. 2 Theft. i. 6. fud. 15. It is hence evident, that Chrift abounds in pity and compaffion towards his beloved. Inflames might be multiplied, but thefe things are obvious and occur to tlae thoughts of all. In anfwer to this, I place the faints chaftity unto Chrift in every flate and condition, that this might be the Rate of the church of Corinth, the apoftle made it hisendeavour, 2 Cor. xi. 2, 3. I have efpoufed you to one husband, that I may prefentyou as a chafle virgin to Che , and I fear leaf! by any means as the ferpent beguiled Eve throughhis fubtilty, foyour minds fbanld be corrupted from the fimplicity that is in Chrifi. And fo it is faid of the followers of the lamb on mount Sion, Rev. xiv. 4. There are they that are not defiled with women, for they are virgins ;. what defilement that was they were free from, (hall be afterward declared. Now there are three things wherein this chaftity confifts. (4, , mo, vi. v.;, 4, 5, 6. Revd. xi. ro. (r.) The
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