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…

This mercy is not without the Pharisees grudging ver. 7. When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. Murmuring is between secret backbiting, and open railing: a smothered malice, which can nether be utterly concealed, nor dare be openly vented. The cause of their murmuring was, that he was become a guest to a sinner: as if the Sun of righteousness could be corrupted in shining on a Dunghill of sin. No: whiles he did associate the bad, he made them good; feeding them spiritually, that fed him corporally. He did not consent to their sin, but correct it: not infecting himself, but affecting their souls, and effecting their bliss. A man may accompany those, whom he desires to make better, or them to make him better. And that the mouth of all wickedness might be stopped, our Saviour says, that his coming into the world was not only to call home Zacheus, but even many such Publicans. For the Son of man is come to seek, and to save &c.

This mercy is not without the Pharises grudging ver. 7. When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That hee was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. Murmuring is betweene secret backbiting, and open railing: a smotherd malice, which can nether beevtterly concealed, nor dare bee openly vented. The cause of their murmuring was, that hee was become a guest to a sinner: as if the Sunne of righteousnesse could bee corrupted in shining on a Dunghill of sinne. No: whiles hee did associate the bad, hee made them good; feeding them spiritually, that fed him corporally. Hee did not consent to their sinne, but correct it: not infecting himselfe, but affecting their soules, and effecting their blisse. A man may accompany those, whom hee desires to make better, or them to make him better. And that the mouth of all wickednesse might be stopped, our Sauiour sayes, that his comming into the world was not onely to call home Zacheus, but euen many such Publicans. For the Sonne of man is come to seeke, and to saue &c.

We are thus gotten over the threshold; For: let us now look into the house, and survey every chamber and room in it. The foundation of this comfortable scripture is Jesus Christ and the building may be distinguished into five several Parlours, all richly hung and adorned with the graces and mercies of God: and the midst thereof paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem. CHRIST is the Buttress or corner stone; and in him consider