12 4wholefome Caveat der him but Vance they flip theCoffer, then wo ; and why ? Becaufe they forfookthe Lord' that brought them out ofEgypt, theyhad liberty, but they caft it off. What do you think was the moving caufe of all thole bloody perfecutions,, when the blood of dogs was more precious then of Chriflian Churches ? were not they godly ? yes, I do not doubt of it but as it was here, though humbled theymuft be in bondage, becaùfe they had cat off the government of the Lord Jefus,- And hence in the Apoftles time evill times were come, fad apoftafies from the truth, and becaufe it was longbe- ll= they were low enough.Ancl hence, Revel. 6. till the fifth feal was opened ; no crying, as it was with Ifrael in bondage, no prayer to purpofe, and becaufe the Lord faw they would abufe all liberties if they had them. And hence in Conflantines time, when peace came in,con- tention came with it, and fo abufed all, that their peace was their poyfon. And hence in the primitive Churches, they began to call off the government of the Lord Jefus, murmurings there were, hence carne perfecution ; but they were a precious people, and madebleffed ufe of it. And the Lord couples their chief perfecution with their refl. And 'ti laid, Atls 9. 3i. Then had the Churches refi, &c- And what doyou think ofrhe reafon of the long reign of Antichrift, exalting himfelf above God and all that's called God, bringing the Church under the heavieft bondage for body and foul that ever the earth faw? Men did not love the truth, either fpeculative to guide their minds, or ',radicall to rule their will& ; and hence left to this day. What is the caufe of Bleeding Germanies wo ? Oh poor Germany ! Whence the Gofpell firft brake out in its full ftrength , that now 'tis a field of blood, that men in woods like fatyres are afraid: ,of men, and men in Cities glad to eat the intrail pf Beans , and fometimes the flefh of their own haPO to preferve their lives. What was there no but the common condition of the Church to be un- der the croffe ? ask them, they cannot tell what Giles them , but curie thi Emperoxr and Swedes, &c. Oh
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