3. This Church or Zion shall have a numerous progeny. The Spiritual Israel shall be as the Sand of the Sea, which cannot be measured or numbered, Hos. 1.10. which was the promise made to Abraham, Gen. 22.17. and renewed in the same terms to Jacob, Gen. 32.12. The Church is a little flock in comparison of the carnal world, yet it is numerous in it self, though not in every place; for sometimes there may not be above three found to withstand the worship of a Golden Image; yet in some one or other place of the world, and successively it shall be numerous; he will not lose the honour of the feast he hath prepared, though those that are invited prefer their Farms and Oxen before it, but will find Guests in the high-ways; he will spread his wings from East to West, and in every place Incense shall be offered to his Name, Mal. 1.11. The Church is compared to the morning, Cant. 6.10. which from small beginnings in a short time fills the whole Hemisphere with light; and the promises concerning it run all that way. The Hills were to be covered with the shadow of it; her boughs are to be sent out to the Sea, and her branches to the River, Psal. 80.10, 11. It was to spread it self like a goodly Cedar, and be a dwelling-place to the Fowl of every wing, Ezek. 17.23. Yea, a numberless multitude from all Nations, Kindreds, People and Tongues, are to stand before the Throne, and before the Lamb, Clothed with white Robes, and Palms in their hands, Rev. 7.9. adorned with innocency, and crowned with victory. No Monarchy ever did, ever can so far stretch her bounds; nor hath the Sun seen any place where it hath not seen some sprinkling of a Church. Every Kingdom hath met with unpassable bounds; but the Ensigns of Christ have not been limited. The Church was once crowded up in a narrow compass of Judea; but since that her Territories are enlarged, her Ensigns have flourished over many Countries, Rahab, Tyre, Ethiopia, the vast circuit of Asia, and the deserts of Africa, have been added to her Empire; her Progeny shall be hereafter as numerous as it hath been; when the devices of Antichrist shall be more seen and perceived, they will be more nauseated, and many with Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with Idols?
3. This Church or Sion shall have a numerous progeny. The Spiritual Israel shall be as the Sand of the Sea, which cannot be measured or numbred, Hos. 1.10. which was the promise made to Abraham, Gen. 22.17. and renewed in the same terms to Jacob, Gen. 32.12. The Church is a little flock in comparison of the carnal world, yet it is numerous in it self, though not in every place; for sometimes there may not be above three found to withstand the worship of a Golden Image; yet in some one or other place of the world, and successively it shall be numerous; he will not lose the honour of the feast he hath prepared, though those that are invited prefer their Farms and Oxen before it, but will find Guests in the high-ways; he will spread his wings from East to West, and in every place Incense shall be offered to his Name, Mal. 1.11. The Church is compared to the morning, Cant. 6.10. which from small beginnings in a short time fills the whole Hemisphere with light; and the promises concerning it run all that way. The Hills were to be covered with the shadow of it; her boughs are to be sent out to the Sea, and her branches to the River, Psal. 80.10, 11. It was to spread it self like a goodly Cedar, and be a dwelling-place to the Fowl of every wing, Ezek. 17.23. Yea, a numberless multitude from all Nations, Kindreds, People and Tongues, are to stand before the Throne, and before the Lamb, Clothed with white Robes, and Palms in their hands, Rev. 7.9. adorned with innocency, and crowned with victory. No Monarchy ever did, ever can so far stretch her bounds; nor hath the Sun seen any place where it hath not seen some sprinkling of a Church. Every Kingdom hath met with unpassable bounds; but the Ensigns of Christ have not been limited. The Church was once crowded up in a narrow compass of Judaea; but since that her Territories are enlarged, her Ensigns have flourished over many Countries, Rahab, Tyre, Ethiopia, the vast circuit of Asia, and the deserts of Africa, have been added to her Empire; her Progeny shall be hereafter as numerous as it hath been; when the devices of Antichrist shall be more seen and perceived, they will be more nauseated, and many with Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with Idols?
