of the PERSON of CHRIST. 7 dragon. The firft is the unbelievingworld ; the other, apoftates and fedu- cers of all forts. Wherefore his work in this kind is of a double nature-, the one an effect of his power and rage, a&ed by the world in perfecution; theother of his policy and craft, ailed by heretics in feducîion. In both he defigns to feparate the church from its foundation. The oppofitionof the firft fort he, began againft the perfon of Chriff immediately in his humane nature. Fraud he first once attempted in lais temptation, Matth. iv. but quickly found that that way he could make no approach unto him. The prince of this world came, but bad nothing in him. Wherefore he betook himfelf unto open force, and by all means poffible fought his deftrudion , fo alfo the more at any time the church is by faith and watchfulnefs fecured againft fedu&ion, the more cloth fataia rage againft it in open perfecution. And for the example and comfort of the church, in its conformity to Chrift, no means were left unar- tempted that might inftigate and prepare the world for his ruin. Re proaches, contempt, fcorn, falfe and lying accufations by lais fuggeftions, were heaped on him on every hand. Hereby in the whole courfe of his miniftry he endured the contradillion of'Inners againfi himfelf, Heb. xii. 3. And there is herein bleffed provifion made of ineftimable confolation, for all thofe who are predeflinated to be conformed unto his image, when God !hall help them by faith to make ufe of his example. He calls them to take up his croft and follow him i and he hath [hewed them what is in it by his own bearing of it. Contempt, reproach, defpiteful ufage, ca- lumnies, falfe accufations, wreftings of his words, blafpheming of his doctrine, reviling of his perfon, all that he faid and did as to his prin- ciples about humane government, and moral converfation, encoinpaffed him all his days. And he bath affured his followers, that fuch and no other, at leaft for the molt part, [hall be their lot in this world. And fome in all ages have an experience of it in an eminent manner. But have theyany reafon to complain ? why fhould the fervant look for bet- ter meafure than the mafier met withal? To be made like unto him in the worft of evils, for his fake, is the beft and molt honourable condi- tion in this world. God help fome to believe it. Hereby was way made for his death. But in the whole it was manifefted how infinitely in all his fubtilty and malice fatan falls fhort of the contrivances of divine wif- dom and power. For all that he attained by effeding his death, in the hour of darknefs, was but the breaking of his own head, the def rss&ion of his works, with the ruin of his kingdom i and what yet remains to confummate his eternal mifery, he Ihall himfelf work out in his oppo- fition unto the church. His reftlefs malice and darknefs will not fuffer him to giveover the purfuit of his rage, until nothing remains to give him a full entrance into endlefs torments, which he hafteneth every day. For when he [hall have filled up the meafure of his fins, and of the fins of the world in being inftrutnental unto his rage, eternal judgment [hall put all things unto their iffue. Through that fhall he, with the world, enter into everlafting flames, and the whole church built on the rock in- to refs and glory. No fooner did the church of the NewTefiament begin to arife on this foundation, but the whole world of Jews and Gentiles fet themfelves with open force to deftroy it: And all that they contendedwith the church about was their faith, and confeffion of it, that Jefus was the Chrifi the Son of the living God. This foundation they would caft it from, or exterminate it out of the earth. What were the endeavours of the gates of bed in this kind; with what height of rage, with what bloody and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=