Lastly, The manner of Christs Governing his Church by his Ordinances is full of Beauty and Sweetness; with a dstill voice, with thee cords of a man, & with the bands of Love, fhe gathereth the Lambs in his arm, and carrieth them in his Bosom; asg one whom his Mother comforteth, so doth he comfort them; he doth not hbreak the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax; he deals with persuasions and entreaties, by his Ambassadors,i beseeching us to be reconciled unto God: hek leads his Flock by still waters, and into green pastures, throughl ways of pleasantness, and paths of peace; hem doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men; In then midst of wrath he remembereth Mercy; when he causeth grief, he showeth compassion; and wheno he speaks against Ephraim, he earnestly remembereth him still; he hath set up a sweet order in his Church both in Doctrine and Policy, managing both with pmeekness and gentleness, qpreaching ⟨p. 21⟩peace,r proclaiming Liberty, erecting over his people as Banner of Love; and though he have ant iron Rod for his enemies, yet he holdeth forth a golden Sceptre to his people, ruling in their hearts by a spirit of Adoption, and by a Law of Love. Thus he feedeth his Church by his Staff called Beauty; Great therefore is the Indignity which they offer unto Christ, who despise the sweetness of this his Government, the uwaters of Shiloah which go softly, refusing to submit to hisw easy yoke, being xoffended at the severity and Sanctity of his Doctrine, saying in their hearts like those in the Gospel, Luke 19. 14. We will not have this man to rule over us, disdainfully undervaluing thaty great salvation, which he by his precious blood purchased for them, and by the word of his Grace doth continually tender unto them; Spretae injuria formae is no small dishonour done to him who is the Lord of Glory.
Lastly, The manner of Christs Governing his Church by his Ordinances is full of Beauty and Sweetness; with a dstill voice, with thee cords of a man, & with the bands of Love, fhe gathereth the Lambs in his arm, and carryeth them in his Bosome; asg one whom his Mother comforteth, so doth he comfort them; he doth not hbreak the bruised reed, nor quench the smoaking flax; he deals with perswasions and entreaties, by his Ambassadors,i beseeching us to be reconciled unto God: hek leads his Flock by still waters, and into green pastures, throughl ways of pleasantnesse, and paths of peace; hem doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men; In then midst of wrath he remembreth Mercy; when he causeth grief, he sheweth compassion; and wheno he speaks against Ephraim, he earnestly remembreth him still; he hath set up a sweet order in his Church both in Doctrine and Policy, managing both with pmeeknesse and gentlenesse, qpreaching ⟨p. 21⟩peace,r proclaiming Liberty, erecting over his people as Banner of Love; and though he have an
- d1 Reg. 19. 12.
- eHos 11. 4.
- fIsa. 40. 11. 46. 3.
- gIsa. 66. 12, 13.
- hMat. 12. 20,
- i2 Cor. 5. 20 Ezek 33. 11.
- kPsal. 23. 2.
- lProv. 3. 17.
- mLam. 3. 32, 33.
- nHab. 3. 2.
- oJer. 31. 20.
- p2 Cor. 10 1.
- qEph. 2. 17.
- rIsa. 61. 1.
- sCant. •. 4.
- t
