When they see that those whom they have severely judged for Hypocrites, shall own the Lord and his ways, and cleave to the Lord and his ways, and continue to follow the Lord and his ways, and hold on in a high honouring of the Lord and his ways, when their hedge is broken down, and God has stripped them as naked as in the day wherein they were born; O now they begin to 1change their note, and to conclude, surely these are the Servants of the most high God; these are no Hypocrites nor Dissemblers, but true Nathanaels in whom there is no guile. 2How have the people of God in London been judged Hypocrites, Dissemblers, Deceivers, Factious, and what not? Now God by burning up their substance, and by turning them out of house and home, and destroying all their pleasant things, doth certainly design to give those that have so deeply censured them, a proof of their integrity and sincerity, by letting them see, that all the changes that have past upon them, can never work them to change their Master Christ, nor to change his ways for the ways of sin, nor to change his Worship for the Worship of the world, nor to change their Religion for the Religion of Rome. Certainly those that love ⟨p. 52⟩the Lord, that delight in the Lord, and that highly prize the Lord for those infinite Perfections, Beauties, Glories, and Excellencies that are in him, they will own him, and cleave to him, and follow after him when they have little, as 3when they had much, yea, when they have nothing of the world, as when they had all the world; and by so doing, they put a Pad-lock upon the lying lips of such, they button up the mouths of such who asperse and calumniate them as a Generation that only serve God upon the account of a worldly interest. There is nothing that doth more amuse, amaze, and astonish wicked men, then to see the people of God keep close to him and his ways, when they are in a suffering estate; yea, when they have lost all but their God and their integrity. The fire tries the gold, as well as the touch stone, and diseases try the skill of the Physician, and tempests try the skill of the Pilot; and so do fiery trials try both the truth and the strength of a Christians graces. Paulinus Nolanus, when his City was taken by the Barbarians, prayed thus to God; Lord, let me not be troubled at the loss of my Gold, Silver, Honour, City, &c.
When they see that those whom they have severely judged for Hypocrites, shall owne the Lord and his ways, and cleave to the Lord and his ways, and continue to follow the Lord and his ways, and hold on in a high honouring of the Lord and his ways, when their hedge is broken down, and God has stript them as naked as in the day wherein they were born; O now they begin to 1change their note, and to conclude, surely these are the Servants of the most high God; these are no Hypocrites nor Dissemblers, but true Nathanaels in whom there is no guile. 2How have the people of God in London been judged Hypocrites, Dissemblers, Deceivers, Factious, and what not? Now God by burning up their substance, and by turning them out of house and home, and destroying all their pleasant things, doth certainly design to give those that have so deeply censured them, a proof of their integrity and sincerity, by letting them see, that all the changes that have past upon them, can never work them to change their Master Christ, nor to change his ways for the ways of sin, nor to change his Worship for the Worship of the world, nor to change their Religion for the Religion of Rome. Certainly those that love ⟨p. 52⟩the Lord, that delight in the Lord, and that highly prize the Lord for those infinite Perfections, Beauties, Glories, and Excellencies that are in him, they will owne him, and cleave to him, and follow after him when they have little, as 3when they had much, yea, when they have nothing of the world, as when they had all the world; and by so doing, they put a Pad-lock upon the lying lips of such, they button up the mouths of such who asperse and calumniate them as a Generation that only serve God upon the account of a worldly interest. There is nothing that doth more amuse, amaze, and astonish wicked men, then to see the people of God keep close to him and his ways, when they are in a suffering estate; yea, when they have lost all but their God and their integrity. The fire trys the gold, as well as the touch stone, and diseases try the skill of the Physitian, and tempests try the skill of the Pilot; and so do fiery tryals try both the truth and the strength of a Christians graces. Paulinus Nolanus, when his City was taken by the Barbarians, prayed thus to God; Lord, let me not be troubled at the loss of my Gold, Si•ver, Honour, City, &c.
- 1Dan. 3. 26. Acts 16. 17.
- 2Joh. 1. 47.
- 3Josh. 24. 15. Math. 19. 27. Rev. 14. 4, 5. 1 Pet. 3. 16 Chap. 2. 12. 15. [Greek or Hebrew] properly signifies to muzzle, or halter, or tie up, or to button up their mouths, as we say.Josh. 24. 15. Math. 19. 27. Rev. 14. 4, 5. 1 Pet. 3. 16 Chap. 2. 12. 15. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 properly signifies to muzzle, or halter, or tye up, or to button up their mouths, as we say.
