And this should be the endeavour of every one who liveth under the shade of this tree, under the purity of Gods Ordinances, under the pious government, and constitution of such a Church, or family as is here described (especially in such times when on the one side the world is so much loosened, and estranged from us; and on the other side Reformation in the Church is so much desired, to convert and turn unto the Lord. All endeavours of Reformation in a Church are miserably defective, when they come short of this end (which is the ultimate reason of them all) namely, the repentance, and conversion of those that dwell und•• the shadow of it. When God promiseth to give unto his Church the glory of Lebanon, and the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, the consequence of this beauty and Reformation in the Church is, The eyes of the blind shall be opened, the cares of the deaf shall be unstopped, the lame shall leap, the dumb shall sing, the parched ground shall be a pool, the thir••ie land springs of water. Isa. 35.2, 7. The Woolf, the Leopard, the Lion, the Bear, the Asp, the Cockatrice, shall be so turned from the fierceness and malignity of their natures, that they shall not hurt nor destroy in all the holy Mountain, but a little child shall lead them all: Isa. 11.6, 9. It is a great happiness and advantage to live under the shad• of a godly government; many men have reason to bless God▪ all their days, that they were in their childhood trained up in such a Sch•ole where Piety was taught them as well as Learning, where they had means as well of Conversion, as of Institution; ⟨p. 56⟩That they lived in such a Family where the Master of it was of Joshua's mind, I and my house will serve the Lord: Josh. 24.15. Salvation comes to a whole house when the governor thereof is converted: Luk. 19.9. Act. 16.33, 34. I shall never look upon a Church as Reformed to purpose, till I find Reformation work conversion, till piety and charity, and justice, and mercy, and truth, and humility, and gentleness, and goodness, and kindness, and meekness, and singleness of heart, and zeal for godliness, and mutual edification, and the life and power of Religion are more conspicuous, then before. When th• very head-stone was brought forth, and the last work in the building of the Temple •as finished, yet the people must then cry, Grace, grace unto it: Zach. 4.7.
And this should bee the endeavour of every one who liveth under the shade of this tree, under the puritie of Gods Ordinances, under the pious government, and constitution of such a Church, or family as is here described (especially in such times when on the one side the world is so much loosned, and estranged from us; and on the other side Reformation in the Church is so much desired, to convert and turn unto the Lord. All endeavours of Reformation in a Church are miserably defective, when they come short of this end (which is the ultimate reason of them all) namely, the repentance, and conversion of those that dwell und•• the shadow of it. When God promiseth to give unto his Church the glory of Lebanon, and the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, the consequence of this beauty and Reformation in the Church is, The eyes of the blinde shall be opened, the cares of the deafe shall be unstopped, the lame shall leap, the dumb shall sing, the parched ground shall be a poole, the thir••ie land springs of water. Isa. 35.2, 7. The Woolf, the Leopard, the Lion, the Beare, the Aspe, the Cocatrice, shall be so turned from the fiercenesse and malignity of their natures, that they shall not hurt nor destroy in all the holy Mountain, but a little childe shall lead them all: Isa. 11.6, 9. It is a great happi•esse and advantage to live under the shad• of a godly goverment; many men have reason to blesse God▪ all their dayes, that they were in their childhood trained up in such a Sch•ole where Piety was taught them as well as Learning, where they had meanes as well of Conversion, as of Institution; ⟨p. 56⟩That they lived in such a Family where the Master of it was of Ioshuahs minde, I and my house will serve the Lord: Iosh. 24.15. Salvation comes to a whole house when the governor thereof is converted: Luk. 19.9. Act. 16.33, 34. I shall never look upon a Church as Reformed to purpose, till I finde Reformation work conversion, till piety and charity, and justice, and mercy, and truth, and humility, and gentlenesse, and goodnesse, and kindnes, and meeknesse, and singlenesse of heart, and zeal for godlines, and mutuall edification, and the life and power of Religion are more conspicuous, then before. When th very head-stone was brought forth, and the last work in the building of the Temple as finished, yet the people must then cry, Grace, grace unto it:
