1 2 c/f Declaration of the Glorious -MYSTERY God, in and by him. (g.) Reproachful refleElions are made on fuchas plead the neceflity of acquaintance with him, or the knowledge ofhim, as though . thereby they rejefted the ufe of the gofpel. (4.) Profeffed love unto theper- fon of Chrift is traduced as a meer fancy and vapour of diftempered minds, or weak imaginations. (s.) The union of the Lord Chrifl and bis church, is alerted, to bepolitical only, with refpeót unto laws and rules of govern- . nient. And many other things of a like nature are alerted, derogatory unto his glory, and repugnant unto the faith of the' church. Such as from the foundation of chriftian religion were never vented by any perlons before, who did not openly avow fome impious heretic concerninghis per- fon. And I no way doubt but that men may with lefs guilt and fcan- dal fill under fundry doffrinal mifapprehenfions concerning it, than by cry- ing ba:l thereunto, to defpoil' it of all its glory, as unto our concernment therein, in our praftical obedience unto God. Such things have we de- ferved to fee and hear. 6. The very name or expreftion of preaching aryl is become a term of reproach and contempt; nor can fome, as they fay, underftand what is meant thereby, unlefs it be an engine to drive all rational preaching, and fo all morality and honeffy out ofthe world. 7. That which all thefe things tend unto and center in, is that hor- rible propianenefs of life, that negleft of all gofpel duties, that contempt of all fpiritual graces and their effefts, which the generality of them 'that are called Chriftians in many places are given up unto. I know not whether it were not more for the honour of Chrift, that fuchh per- funs would publickly renounce the profeffion of his name, rattier than praftically manifeft their inward difregard unto him. That by there, and the like means, ratan doth yet attempt the ruin of the church as unto its building on the everlafting rock, falls under the obfervation of all who are concerned in its welfare. And whatever others may apprehend concerning this fiate of things in the world, how any that love the Lord Jefus in fincerity, efpecially fuch as are called to declareand reprefent him unto men in the o9ice of the miniffry, can ac- quit themfelves to be faithful unto him, without giving their teltimony againft, anthendeavouring to ftop what lies in them, the progrefs of this prevailing declenion, from the only foundation of the church, I know not ; nor will it be eafy for thetnfelves to declare. And in that variety of conceptions which are about him, and the oppofition that is made unto him, there is nothing more necelary than that we fhould renew and atteft our confeflion of him, as the Son of the living God, the only rock whereon the church of them that faall be faved is founded and built. Palma ideo de Chriflo, as Tertulian fpeaks ; fome few things concern- ing the perfon of Chrift with refpeít unto the confeffion of Peter, and the promife thereunto annexed, wherein he is declared the foie founda- tion of the church, will be comprized in the enfuing ditcourf. And he who bath ordained ftrength out of the mouths of babes and fucklings, as he bath given ability to exprefs thefe poor mean contemplations of his glory, can raife by them a revenue. of honour unto .himfelf in the hearts of them that do believe. And fome few things I mutt prensile ingeneral unto what I do deign. As, t. The inftances which I fhall give concerning the ufe and confrdera- tion of the perfon of Chrift in cbrilfian religion, or of him as he is the foundation whereon .the church is built,, are but few, and thofe perhaps not the moft fignäl or eminent which the greater fpiritual wifdom and under.
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