226 VERSE 2. The glorieofthego,e11. the wrath ofGod, and after all this tohave that pretious bloud whichwas fqueezed out with Inch woefull ago- tries, counted no other than the blondofa common ma- lefaRor, nor that facredbody which was thus broken, difcerntd from the bodies of the theeves which were crucifiedwith him. An indignitie beyond all apprehen- fon to the f frith ofGrace, whenwee fuffer him to wake dailyat our Bethefda, our houfes of mercy , and alt in vaine, to fpend his facred breath in the minitlerieof re- canciliation,indoubling and redoublinghis requeffs un- to our foules, that we would be contented tobee laved, and we (hall harden our hearts, and (lop our tares, and Pet up the prideand flout rreffe ofour ovine reafonings, till wee doe even wearie him and chide him away from U3. Now this is a certaine rule, God will not lofe any honour by mens finnes; if they refute togive him the glory ofhis mercy,he will (hew the glory ofhis Power and inflict, in treading downe the proud enemies of Chrift under his feet. As theythat honour him (hall be honoured ; fo theywho call anydifgraceuponhis truth and covenant, (hall be lure tomeet with fhame and dif- honour at the lati. Secondly,toavoid Scandal!. TheGofpell is the light ofa nation: And finnes in the light as they arecommit- ted with moreimpudence,fo likewife with moreoffence. Anoffence or fcandall tending untofinne in mifguiding the weake, in heartening and confirmingthe obdurate, in openingthemouthes ofadverfaries to revile our holy profeffion ; and a icandall tending untoforrow in woun- ding the hearts of thegodly, and vexing their righteous (pinks with a filthy converfation. Thirdly, wee lhould learne to vvalke as becommeth the Gofpell, even in refpea to thefate, for the Gofpell is the foundation oftrue peace and tranquility in acorn- mon-vveale,and thole who thew forththe power there- ofare, asit were, Lions about the Throneof their King. By
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