1The Churches of the Saints and the World, may not be unfitly compared to the Pearl and the Pebble: though both of one natural substance, earth; yet the one of rare price, whose beauty is the sunbeams enclosed; the other wanting ⟨image 3⟩it, is cast away as refuse. What maketh the Saint more excellent then his neighbour, seeing both are borne of flesh, both subject to the same corruptions, sickness, death, but this?2 The Saints excellency is nothing else but the Image of Jesus Christ the Sun of righteousness shining in him: For as the moon and stars derive their light from the sun;3 so all the wisdom, righteousness, holiness a Saint hath, he deriveth from Christ. Hence David the King doth so prize their fellowship, All my delight is in thy Saints, 4thine excellent ones that are in the earth, and them that excel in virtue. Yea, it is a sure note of a Citizen of Zion, that he honours them that fear the Lord: 5Whereas worldly men without grace, are rendered in his eyes as vile. Hence the Spouse acknowledgeth that all her excellency cometh from plantation; Let my Beloved come into his garden, 6and eat his pleasant fruit. Yea, Christ ⟨image 3⟩declareth to Nicodemus that a believers holiness cometh from regeneration; 7that in Christ he may only glory. How doth the Lord discover this his excellency to a believer, by his calling, till that time he lieth amongst the refuse of the world,8 as foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But then the kindness and love of God to man appeared,9 by delivering him out of the kingdom of darkness, and translating him into the kingdom of his dear Sonne. By which it is manifest, that he is one of the Chosen generation, the royal priesthood, 10the holy nation, the peculiar people, whom he hath called out of darkness into his marvellous light. But when doth the Lord discover the truth of his calling to his conscience? Then when he giveth him precious faith; for that only distinguisheth him form the world that lieth in sin. Gal. 3. ⟨image 4⟩22. The Scripture concludeth (father, mother, son, daughter, nay the infant that is borne of the most holiest parents) all under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
1THe Churches of the Saints and the World, may not bee unfitly compared to the Pearle and the Pebble: though both of one naturall substance, earth; yet the one of rare price, whose beauty is the sunbeames inclosed; the other wanting ⟨image 3⟩it, is cast away as refuse. What maketh the Saint more excellent then his neighbour, seeing both are borne of flesh, both subject to the same corruptions, sicknesse, death, but this?2 The Saints excellency is nothing else but the Image of Jesus Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse shining in him: For as the moone and starres derive their light from the sunne;3 so all the wisdome, righteousnesse, holinesse a Saint hath, hee deriveth from Christ. Hence David the King doth so prize their fellowship, All my delight is in thy Saints, 4thine excellent ones that are in the earth, and them that excell in vertue. Yea, it is a sure note of a Citizen of Sion, that hee honours them that feare the Lord: 5Whereas worldly men without grace, are rendred in his eyes as vile. Hence the Spouse acknowledgeth that all her excellency cometh from plantation; Let my Beloved come into his garden, 6and eat his pleasant fruit. Yea, Christ ⟨image 3⟩declareth to Nicodemus that a beleevers holinesse cometh from regeneration; 7that in Christ hee may onely glory. How doth the Lord discover this his excellency to a beleever, by his calling, till that time hee lieth amongst the refuse of the world,8 as foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envie, hatefull, and hating one another. But then the kindnesse and love of God to man appeared,9 by delivering him out of the kingdome of darknesse, and translating him into the kingdome of his deare Sonne. By which it is manifest, that hee is one of the Chosen generation, the royal priesthood,
- 11 Cor. 14 27
- 2Ephes. 4. 24
- 31 Cor. 1. 30
- 4Psal. 16. 3.
- 5Psal 15.
- 6Cant 4 16.
- 7Joh. 3. 5.
- 8Tit. 3. 3.
- 9Col. 1. 13.
- 101 Pet. 2. 9.
