Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

Ninthly, if there be any thing conceived evil, that ¹hath any nearness or likeness to that which is done, malice will fasten that evil upon what is done, as if it were that; as appears notably in the example we have Ezra 4. of Rehum the Chancellor, and Shimshai the Scribe, and the rest of their companions, as the holy Ghost calls them, ver. 9. in their reproachful accusation of the people of God; whereas the Text speaks only of their building the Temple, yet they accuse them for building the rebellious City, that thereby they might free themselves from subjection to the King. Thus while Gods people seek to build the Temple, to set up the Ordinances of Christ, they are accused for disturbing the Commonwealth; because they cannot do as others do, because they cannot subject their consciences to men, therefore they are reproached and accused, as disturbers of the State, enemies to Government, &c.

Ninthly, if there be any thing conceived evil, that ¹hath any nearness or likeness to that which is done, malice will fasten that evil upon what is done, as if it were that; as appears notably in the example we have Ezra 4. of Rehum the Chancellor, and Shimshai the Scribe, and the rest of their companions, as the holy Ghost calls them, ver. 9. in their reproachful accusation of the people of God; whereas the Text speaks onely of their building the Temple, yet they accuse them for building the rebellious City, that thereby they might free themselves from subjection to the King. Thus while Gods people seek to build the Temple, to set up the Ordinances of Christ, they are accused for disturbing the Commonwealth; because they cannot do as others do, because they cannot subject their consciences to men, therefore they are reproached and accused, as disturbers of the State, enemies to Government, &c.

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