A39682:140
A Saint Indeed
A saint indeed: or The great work of a Christian, opened and pressed; from Prov. 4. 23 Being a seasonable and proper expedient for the recovery of the much decayed power of godliness, among the professors of these times. By John Flavell M. of the Gospel.
London: printed by W.R., 1668
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
5. Direct. Believe, that how low soever the Church be plunged under the waters of adversity, it shall assuredly rise again. Fear not, for as sure as Christ arose the third day, notwithstanding the Seal and Watch that was upon him; so sure the Church shall arise out of all her troubles, and lift up its victorious head above all its enemies: there's no fear of ruining that people that thrive by their losses, and multiply by being diminished. O be not too quick to bury the Church before she be dead! stay till Christ hath tried his skill before you give it up for lost; the Bush may be all in a flame, but shall never be consumed, and that because of the good will of him that dwelleth in the Bush.
5. Direct. Believe, that how low soever the Church be plunged under the waters of adversity, it shall assuredly rise again. Fear not, for as sure as Christ arose the third day, notwithstanding the Seal and Watch that was upon him; so sure the Church shall arise out of all her troubles, and lift up its victorious head above all its enemies: there's no fear of ruining that people that thrive by their losses, and multiply by being diminished. O be not too quick to bury the Church before she be dead! stay till Christ hath tryed his skill before you give it up for lost; the Bush may be all in a flame, but shall never be consumed, and that because of the good will of him that dwelleth in the Bush.
6. Direct. Record the famous instances of Gods care and tenderness over his people in former straits. Christ hath not suffered ⟨p. 69⟩it to be devoured yet, for above these 1600 years the Christian Church hath lived in affliction, and yet it is not consumed: many a wave of persecution hath gone over it, and yet it is not drowned; many designs to ruin it, and hitherto none hath prospered: this is not the first time that Hamans and Achitophels have plotted its ruin; that an Herod hath stretched out his hand to vex it. Still it hath been preserved from, supported under, or delivered out of all its troubles: and is it not as dear to God as ever? is not he as able to save it now as formerly? though we know not whence deliverance should arise, Yet the Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of temptations,