;o6 VERSE 3. Ezek.34.11-15. Heb.3.5,6. Ezck.16.8,9. Ezek.t/.c. Prat SO.1 fa Efay 63.8-19. Efay 26.13. Ezek,16.8,9. Iohn /5.s. Tit. 2.14. Pfal.4.3. z Tirn.z.zr. arills people.. 'beep,. But 1am thegoodShepherd, andknowmyAeepe, andamknowne ofmine, becaufe theyare mine, therefore I am careful) of them. He watcheth over us, he fearcheth and feekech us out in our aragglings, and feedeth us. This is the principal' argument we have to beleeve,that God will looke upon us for good, notwichflanding our manifoldprovocacions,becaufe he is ?leafed to owne us, and to take us as hisowne peculiar people. Though the Church be full of ruincs,yet becaufe it is his ownhoufe, he will repaire it; though it be blackeafvvell as comely, yet becaufe it is his owneSpoufe, he will pitieand che- all it ; though it bring forth wilde grapes,and bee in- deed meet for no worke, yetbecaufe it is his owne vine, planted by his owne right hand, and made thong for himfelfe, he will therefore be careful! to fence and prune it. This is the one!), argument we have to prevailewith God in prayer, that in Chrict we call him Father, wee prefent ourfelves before him, as his owne,we make men- tionofno other Lord or name over us, and therefore he cannot denyusthe things which are good for us. Secondly, ifwee are Chrifis, thenbee will certainely purge us, and make the members futeable to the head. I fware unto thee, and entred into covenant with thee, faith the Lord, and thoubecamefi mine,and immediately it foliowes,tben wlfhedI thee withwater,yea,I through- ly wa (bed away thy blond from thee. Every branch in me that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Heperipth tohimfelfe a peculiar pro. ple : Ifwee be hispeculiar people, and fet apart for him- fare (as the Prophet David fpeakcs) he will undoubted. ly7)04° tee ; that we may be honourable veffelsfan6li, fled and 1w:et for the Millers ufe, and prepared unto everygood worke. He will furniih us with all filch fup.. plies ofthe fpirit ofgrace, as ehe conditionof that place in his body requires, in the which he bath fet us. Grace andgloi1y will he give, and nogood thing will he with- hold
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