VERSE 3. Efay Zech.3.8. Luke. s. 34, Omani-au in Chrfteanopepa- lo bmor abi reltgio igno- bdcn2 ? -per hoc on:- nes podammo- do mi.lep co- guiltPr ne nuts habeantur. vian. Cant.1.5-8. Cani.1.7- to. The teautie f Holinefe. affliaions and perfecutions, and manifold temptations whither foever hee goeth, to warm withprincipalities and powers, and fpirituall wicked neties, to acquaint our felveswith the whole coun fell ofGod, and the like : and in (lead thereofto ream uponcertaine more tolerable maximes oftheir owne to goe to heaven by,certaine me- diocrities betweene piety and prophaneneffe, wherein men hope to hold God fail enough, and yet not to lofe either the world, or their finfull lulls. This is a certaine and confeffed truth, that the fpirit which is in us by na- ture, is contrary to the fpirit ofpurity and power which is in the world and therefore the univerfall and willing fubmiffiOnof the heart unto this, inua needs finds both many antipathies within, and many difcouragements and conternpts without. Chilli wasfet up for a lime of contradiction to be fpoken again°, and that in the houfet of Ifrael andof luda, and as it was then, fo is it now, even in Abrahams family, in the houfhold and vifible Church of Chria, They that are of the174A perfecute thole that are after thernirit ; Chria had never greater e- nemies than thole whichprofeffed his name. This is one of the ford+engines Satan bath againa his kingdome,to make it appeare in the eyesof men, as a defpicable, con- temptuous, and unbeautifull thing. And therefore no mancomes under Chrias government till that prejudice bymanifea evidenceof the Spirit be removed. And for this reafon the wayes ofChria are fet forth as beaenifid, evenundercrops and afflalionr. 1 am black.e with per- fecution, with the beatingofthe Sunne upon me,butyet Iam comely, 0 yee daughters of jerufalem. When the watch men (mote the Church, and wounded her, and tooke awayher veile,yet Hill (he acknovvIedgedChria, for whole fake the futfered thefe perfecutions ' tobe the whiteand ruddy,thefairefl often thomfand : and the fame opinion bathChriaof his Church, though fhe be affli- aed and maidwith tempea, yet he efleemeth ofher as of
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