-----.- ....._ ___ ---- --~-----· . --- ·- ---- ~ - --------------- \ 408 1 Andtogather LiDits, , j :SE a .xvrnl f~re the Gh.urch is CQrnp~red ro .them. Other ! men are compared to thorpes, nor onely for a i , noxious, h_urtfull qu:tlity in them, but for their \ .- bafenelfe Iikewife: Whatarethornes good for, but to cumber theground, to eat outthe tleart of it;to hide.fn.akes, ana for the fire. Wicked men j are nor Ltlhes but thornes, they arc bafe meane 1· Dln.u.ar. perfons. t.AntiochtU is faid to be a vileperfon though he were aKing, becaufe he was anaugh- 1 ty man. Wicked men though they be neve"r fo great, being void of the graceof God :1revile perf9ns, though wee mufi refpect them in re– gard of their places ; yet as they are in their qualification , they are vile and bafe thornes; but the Church is not fo, but as a Lilly among thornes, that is, among vile nnd abhominable 1 1 perfons. Vfl r. The Ufe is to ·comfort Gods children) they comfort Gatk have an excellency and glory io ,them, which children. howfoever i.t is not from them, yet iris thtirs by gift andete'r!18l1y theirs 5 therefore let tht'm CGm– fort themfdves againfi 'all the cenfures oflinfull perfom, that labour ro·trample themunder foot> and th,nke bafdy a~d meanly ofthem,as 'ofrhe off-fcowring of the world. Le·r the unworthy world thinke of them as they will, they are Lilx Pet+ . Htb I !. lies in Gods eHeem, and are fo indeed} glorious perfons -that have the Spirit of glory ·refiing up– on them, and wh_9m.theworld-is ·not worchyof, thoughtheir glory be within ; therefore·let us g!.ory in ir, that God vouchfafeth faving gracel to us above anyorher priviledgc. I AgJine,
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