A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects

3. The violences against her, which have been fatal to other Societies, have been useful to her. This bush hath burned without consuming, and preserved its verdure in the midst of fire, not from the nature of the bush, but the presence of him that dwelt in it: It hath not only subsisted in the bowels of her Enemies, but hath been established by means of the violence of men, and grown greater in the midst of torments and death; she hath not only out-grown her afflictions, but grown greater and better by them. The last Monarchy composed of Clay and Iron, Clay for its earthly and miry designs, and Iron for its force and violence, is the immediate Usher of the Kingdom of God, that shall never be destroyed, but stand for ever, Dan. 2.41, 44.

3. The violences against her, which have been fatal to other Societies, have been useful to her. This bush hath burned without consuming, and preserved its verdure in the midst of fire, not from the nature of the bush, but the presence of him that dwelt in it: It hath not only subsisted in the bowels of her Enemies, but hath been established by means of the violence of men, and grown greater in the midst of torments and death; she hath not only out-grown her afflictions, but grown greater and better by them. The last Monarchy compos'd of Clay and Iron, Clay for its earthly and miry designs, and Iron for its force and violence, is the immediate Usher of the Kingdom of God, that shall never be destroyed, but stand for ever, Dan. 2.41, 44.

1. She hath been often increased. Persecution hath lopped off some branches of the Vine, but have been found more sprouting up instead of them, that were cut off. Her blood hath been seed, and the pangs of her Martyrs have been fruitful in bringing forth new witnesses. We have scarce read of more sudden conversions to Christianity, though indeed more numerous, by the Preaching of the Word, than by the shedding the blood of Christians. Eminent Professors have sprung out of the Martyrs Ashes. The storms have been so far from destroying her, that it hath been the occasion of spreading her Tents in a larger ground. Saul's winnowing the Church, blew away some of the Corn to take rooting in other places,