A Golden Chain

Lastly, here I not• the special care that God hath over his own children. He first giveth them warning to depart, before he begin to execute his judgement upon his enemies, with whom they live: that they might not be partakers of their sins or punishments. Thus, before God would punish Jerusalem, an angel is sent to mark them in the forehead that mourned for the abominations of the people. And in the destruction of the first borne of Egypt the angel passed over the houses of the Jews, that had their posts sprinkled with the blood of the paschal lamb: & this passing over betokeneth safety & preservation in the common destruction to those that have their hearts sprinkled with the blood of Christ. This blessing of protection should move us all, to become true & hearty servants of God. Men usually become members of those societies & corporations, where they may enjoy many freedoms & priviledges• Well, behold: in the society of the Saints of god, which is the true Church, there is the freedom from danger in all common destructions & from eternal vengeance at the last day. When Esther had procured safety for the Jews, and liberty to revenge themselves upon their enemies: it is said, that many of the people of the land became Jews. Even so, considering Christ hath procured freedom from hell, death, and damnation for all that believe in him: we should labour above all things to become new creatures, joining our selves always to the true church of God.

Lastly, here I not• the speciall care that God hath ouer his own children. He first giueth thē warning to depart, before he begin to execute his iudgement vpon his enemies, with whome they liue: that they might not be partakers of their sinnes or punishments. Thus, before God would punish Hierusalem, an angel is sent to marke them in the forehead that mourned for the abominatious of the people. And in the destructiō of the first borne of Egypt the angel passed ouer the houses of the Iewes, that had their posts sprinkled with the blood of the paschal lamb: & this passing ouer betokeneth safety & preseruation in the cōmon destruction to those that haue their hearts sprinkled with the blood of Christ. This blessing of protectiō should mooue vs all, to become true & hearty seruants of God. Men vsually become members of those societies & corporations, where they may inioy many freedōes & priuiledges• Wel, behold: in the societie of the Saints of god, which is the true Church, there is the freedom from danger in all cōmon destructions & from eternall vengeance at the last day. When Hester had procured safetie for the Iewes, and libertie to reuenge themselues vpon their enemies: it is said, that many of the people of the land became Iewes. Euē so, considering Christ hath procured freedom frō hell, death, and damnation for all that beleeue in him: we should labour aboue all things to becom new creatures, ioyning our selues alwaies to the true church of God.