The happiness of the church, or, A description of those spiritual prerogatives wherewith Christ…The happines of the church, or, A description of those spirituall prerogatiues vvherewith Christ…

When he hath thus exercised his policy, will he spare his power? when his Foxes part is done, he begins his Lyons. Blood, massacre, destruction are his softest ⟨p. 225⟩embraces: horror and amazement are the pleasures of his Court: kill, kill, burn, burn, is the language of his tongue; to those miserable wretches, which must ever be burning, never consumed; ever killing, and never die. Oh then let us never return to Herod, nor venture on his mercy. The poor bird, that hath escaped the hawk's talons, is careful to avoid his walk. The strayed Lamb, fallen into the wolfs cave and delivered by the Shepherd, will no more straggle out of the flock. If the Lord Jesus hath sought and brought us to himself by the Star of his Gospel, let us no more go back to Herod: flying the works of darkness, and serving the living God with an upright heart. Indeed they that are truly freed from his servitude, will never more become his vassals. Many seem escaped, that are not. If the adulterer return like the ^aHog to the mire, and the drunkard like the Dog to his vomit; it is likely that they love Herod well, for they go back to him. The minister may desire to ^boffer them up a living sacrifice to the Lord; but like wild beasts, they break the rope, and will not be sacrificed. But we ^cbeing delivered by Christ out of the hands of our enemies, must serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life.

When he hath thus excercised his policie, wil he spare his power? when his Foxes part is done, hee begins his Lyons. Bloud, massacre, destruction are his softest ⟨p. 225⟩embraces: horror and amazement are the pleasures of his Court: kill, kill, burne, burne, is the language of his tongue; to those miserable wretches, which must euer be burning, neuer consumed; euer killing, and neuer die. Oh then let vs neuer returne to Herod, nor venture on his mercie. The poore bird, that hath escaped the hawkes talons, is carefull to auoyd his walke. The strayed Lambe, falne into the wolfes caue and deliuered by the Shephard, will no more straggle out of the flocke. If the Lord Iesus hath sought and brought vs to himselfe by the Starre of his Gospell, let vs no more goe backe to Herod: flying the workes of darknes, and seruing the liuing God with an vpright heart. Indeed they that are truely freed from his seruitude, will neuer more become his vassalls. Many seeme escaped, that are not. If the adulterer returne like the