3. And which is more sad, in some of them never, in others very hardly built up again: God proving severe, when we grow wanton, and so as he removeth the Candlestick when we play or fight by the light of the candle set up in it; 1so he is very hardly induced to light it again in that place where it hath once been wantonly or frowardly put out: there are more hopes of recovering a particular person fallen, by virtue of ⟨image 4⟩an everlasting covenant made with him (although he may go halting to his grave, and never here again rise up to his former comforts and enlargements) but a particular Church or people (unless it be that of the Jews, who in the great Jubilee after their rejection shall again return to their former possessions) cannot claim the like privilege of such a Covenant. 2The Ark never returned to the same place from whence it was in a way of judgement removed; and the glory of the Lord, when after its gradual removes, was at last quite gone from the first Temple, was not fully restored in the second till Christs first coming; nor will it be in this their rejection, till his second. I think there will be found very few instances of Gods presence and ordinances long enjoyed by a people, and after abused and rejected, if thereupon lost, easily (if at all) restored: 3the faith once delivered to the Saints, is not wont to be received or lost the second time. The reason is, because a jealous God can least endure upon trial made of him, to be slighted in that wherein he would most commend to us his special love, and ever account's the rejecting of such special tokens of it as a renouncing of himself. 4They have not rejected thee but me. And as the husband in the law pleaded some uncleanness in his wife, 5when he put her away: so God makes account that we tell the world, that we have found iniquity in him, 6when we go far from him, and walk after vanity, and that he hath been a wilderness and land of darkness, when we prove Lords, and will come no more at him. Dear Friends, he hath not been so to you, 7even your enemies being judges, and your own experience will bear ⟨image 4⟩witness for him, that his Gospel, even in point of outward advantage, hath paid for its entertainment.
3. And which is more sad, in some of them never, in others very hardly built up again: God proving severe, when we grow wanton, and so as he removeth the Candlestick when we play or fight by the light of the candle set up in it; 1so he is very hardly induced to light it againe in that place where it hath once been wantonly or frowardly put out: there are more hopes of recovering a particular person fallen, by vertue of ⟨image 4⟩an everlasting covenant made with him (although he may goe halting to his grave, and never here again rise up to his former comforts and enlargements) but a particular Church or people (unless it be that of the Jewes, who in the great Jubile after their rejection shal again return to their former possessions) cannot claim the like priviledge of such a Covenant. 2The Arke never returned to the same place from whence it was in a way of judgement removed; and the glory of the Lord, when after its gradual removes, was at last quite gone from the first Temple, was not fully restored in the second till Christs first comming; nor wil it be in this their rejection, til his second. I think there wil be found very few instances of Gods presence and ordinances long enjoyed by a people, and after abused and rejected, if thereupon lost, easily (if at all) restored: 3the faith once delivered to the Saints, is not wont to be received or lost the second time. The reason is, because a jealous God can least endure upon trial made of him, to be sleighted in that wherein he would most commend to us his speciall love, and ever account's the rejecting of such special tokens of it as a renouncing of himselfe. 4They have not rejected thee but me. And as the husband in the law pleaded some uncleanness in his wife, 5when he put her away: so God makes account that we tell the world, that we have found iniquity in him, 6when we goe far from him, and walk after vanity, and that he hath been a wildernese and land of darkness, when we prove Lords, and wil come no more at him. Dear Friends, he hath not been so to you, 7even your enemies being judges, and your own experience wil beare
- 1Rev. 2.5.
- 2Jer. 3.1, 12, 13, 14, 8, 4.
- 3Jud. v. 3.
- 42 Sam. 8.7
- 5Deut. 24.1.
- 6Jer. 2.5.
- 7v. 31.
