The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

¹Now Gods gracious presence in his Church, is discovered these ways.

¹Now Gods gracious presence in his Church, is discovered these waies.

1. 1Of Gods presence with his Church.

First, Here only are the Privileges of grace: Here only is Justification, Adoption, Sanctification. This is the Pool of Bethesda, wherein the Angel comes down. Through all the world be Gods, yet his Church is the place of his gracious favours. This is the Ark in which salvation only may be had. There is no pardon of sins among Heathens; God indeed, doth many times differ his temporal judgments upon Heathens, and he heareth their prayers and groans, as their natural desires, even as he doth the young Ravens; but their is no gracious answer of any Prayer, nor any pardon of the least sin. Thus they are, as some places of the earth, where (they say) it is always night; Ice and cold always, no Sun beams to comfort and refresh.

First, Here only are the Priviledges of grace: Here only is Justification, Adoption, Sanctification. This is the Pool of Bethesda, wherein the Angel comes down. Through all the world be Gods, yet his Church is the place of his gracious favoures. This is the Ark in which salvation only may be had. There is no pardon of sinnes among Heathens; God indeed, doth many times differ his temporal judgments upon Heathens, and he heareth their prayers and groanes, as their natural desires, even as he doth the young Ravens; but their is no gracious answer of any Prayer, nor any pardon of the least sinne. Thus they are, as some places of the earth, where (they say) it is alwaies night; Ice and cold alwaies, no Sunne beames to comfort and refresh.