0 thotJ fairefl among ')}1omen,&c. there was inceft among them, the like was not SBR.XIII. amor,g theheathen. She is b)ack throt~gh the envy of the world, that looks more at theChurches j tmltsthen vertues. _ 'The Chttrch is 6lackeandunlovely, nothing diffe- .ring from others. In regatdof Gods outward dea– ling,AUfols alike to aU, they are ficke and defor· med,they have all thmgs outwardly whatfoever is commonwithorhers. Laltly and principaUy fhe is blacke, In rej}eCI of hr:rinfirmities tmdweaknejes, fubjed to weak– ndfe and paffions as other men;the beautyof the Church is inward and undifcerned to the camall eye ~!together : the Scribes and Pharifees fee no venue in Chri!l: himfelfe.It is faid, that he came 3. ' I Cor. )• How the Chur– cher flare in tbu life comet to be (o [u/J of f'anJalt. 4· Eccl.9.;t, 5· among his ovme, and his owne could not difcerne of him; tbe d~trknejfe could nflt comprehend that light. Ioh. I, 1 r. N'-1w as it was with Chrift, fo it is much more with the Churd1) let this then be the ufe of it. oppofethis ftate ofthe church to thefolfejudge. ment ofthe world:they fee all blacke,and nodHt1g 1 1 dfe tbat is good? c~~i~ fees that which is bla.ck too ; bur then hts Sptrtt mthem (togerherwzrh the ,fight of their blackneffe) feeth their beauty .too.!amblacke611t comely,&c.Benordifcouraged therefore at the cenfur~of the world,blind men Vflt. oppoft lttdge– m~nt to Judge· ment . cannot judge ofcolours. It is faid of Chrifi, he Ifa.q. hAd no forme or beauty in him when Jve flMU fee him, r. Not in oUtward glory,nor in the view of the world. If wee be therefore thought to bee b1acke, we are no otherwife thought of then . X 3 the : - - - - =--=--·
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