The Intranquillity ofthe Church. , place you fball fec heapes of lime,and morter,inanother piles oftimber, every where rude, and indigefied mate- rials, and a tumukuary noife of axes and hammers, but at length the artificer lets every thing in order and raifeth up a beautiful! aruaure : fuch is the proceeding ofthe Lord in the affliaions and vaaations of his Church, hough the enemie intend to ruine it , yet God intends onelyto repaire it. Thus farreas Donee refpeas Chrifis Kingdome in it felfe. Nowkit refpelletb the enemies ofChrill , it notes, Fitt+, Themefentinconfionmatenep of theviElories, and by confecidence the intranquillityof Chrifis Kingdoms here upon the earth. All his enemies are not yet under his feete,Satan is not yet Phut up;the rageof hell,the per- fecutions and policies ofwicked men, the prefent immu- nity ofdefperate !inners , are evidences that Chrift bath yet much worke to.doe in his Church. But cloth not the Apofile fay, that all things are put sander hisfeete ? Eph.1.22. It istruepoad judiciariampoteflatem, but not roadexercitiumpoteflatis.Hee (hall not receive any new power to fubdue his enemies , which bee bath not already; but yet-heecan execute that power when and how bee will. And hee is pleated to fuffer his enemies in this refpiteoftheir reprivall to rage, and revile, and per- fecute him in his members. Every wicked man is con- demned already, and hath the wrath of God abiding uponhint, lob. 3.1 8.36. ()nay Chria doth fufpend the execution ofchem for many weighty reafons. As fir{}, to Phew hispatience and long Coffering towards theveffels ofwrath, for bee ever comes firawith an offer ofpeace, before hee dravves the csord, Rom. 2.4. Rom, 9.22. Dent.zo.so- 13..Lrik,io.s,ii. Secondly, to magnifie the power of his proteaion and providence over the Church in the mida of their' enemies , for if the Lord were not on the Churches fide when man rifeth up againa it, if bee did not rebuke the proudwaves,and let them 91 VERSE I.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=