1. What I speak here of God and his excellency, is but a shadow to the expressions of others; and what others can say, men or Angels, is but a short and rude shadow of that infinite All, the High Jehovah, Creator of Heaven and Earth: so my thoughts come forth as shadows of shadows, for there behoved to be much honey in the Ink, much of Heaven in the breast, much of God in the Pen of any who speaketh of such a transcendent subject; yet if these do affect you, it is possible I say more, if not, I shall desire not to spill the Lords highest praises with my low-creeping under-expressions. 2. Concerning Gods dispensation now in Britain, and his Churches condition; I shall be your debtor, in all humble modesty, to beg these thoughts to go along with God. As 1. Let the Lord have a charitable sense and good construction of his most wise dispensation,§1 and believe that he who hath his fire in Zion, 1and his furnace in Jerusalem, seeth good that Christs Cross should be the Church of Christs birth-right, and that a life-rent of afflictions, is a surer way for Zion, then Summer-days. 2. You are not to stumble that God §2will not fit his times to mens apprehensions, when to rain, and when to shine fair, neither is clay to usurp the chair, and dispute the matter, to make the All-wise providence a School-Problem,2 nor asks, Why is our Zion builded, with carcasses of men, in two kingdoms, fallen, as dung in the open field, and as the handful after the harvest man? Why is the wall of the daughter of Zion sprinkled with blood? One thing▪ I know, It is better to believe, then to dispute; and to adore, then to plead with him who giveth not account of his matters. 3. Innocency §3in these times, is better then court with princes, and the condition of the heirs of Heaven, yea, their tears, better then the joy of the hypocrite. 4. Christs Church can neither shift nor adjourn such a ⟨image 3⟩§4share of affliction, as is written in Gods book. It is a standing and a current court which hath decreed what grains of Gall and Wormwood England must drink; what a cup is prepared for Scotland; and the Balance of wisdom hath weighed by ounce weights, how much §5wrath shall be mixed in the cup of wasted Ireland. 5. You know it is generally the condition of the Church, if she have any Summer, that it is but a good day betwixt two Fevers;
1. What I speak here of God and his excellency, is but a shadow to the expressions of others; and what others can say, men or Angels, is but a short and rude shadow of that infinite All, the High Jehovah, Creator of Heaven and Earth: so my thoughts come forth as shadows of shadows, for there behoved to be much honey in the Inke, much of Heaven in the breast, much of God in the Pen of any who speaketh of such a transcendent subject; yet if these do affect you, it is possible I say more, if not, I shall desire not to spill the Lords highest praises with my low-creeping under-expressions. 2. Concerning Gods dispensation now in Brittaine, and his Churches condition; I shall be your debter, in all humble modesty, to beg these thoughts to go along with God. As 1. Let the Lord have a charitable sense and good construction of his most wise dispensation,§1 and beleeve that he who hath his fire in Zion, 1and his furnace in Jerusalem, seeth good that Christs Crosse should be the Church of Christs birth-right, and that a life-rent of afflictions, is a surer way for Zion, then Summer-dayes. 2. You are not to stumble that God §2will not fit his times to mens apprehensions, when to raine, and when to shine fair, neither is clay to usurp the chair, and dispute the matter, to make the All-wise providence a School-Probleme,2 nor asks, Why is our Zion builded, with carcasses of men, in two kingdomes, fallen, as dung in the open field, and as the handfull after the harvest man? Why is the wall of the daughter of Zion sprinkled with blood? One thing▪ I know, It is better to beleeve, then to dispute; and to adore, then to plead with him who giveth not account of his matters. 3. Innocencie §3in these times, is better then court with princes, and the condition of the heirs of Heaven, yea, their tears, better then the joy of the hypocrite. 4. Christs Church can neither shift nor adjourne such a ⟨image 3⟩§4share of affliction, as is written in Gods book. It is a standing and a current court which hath decreed what graines of Gall and Wormewood England must drink; what a cup is prepared for Scotland; and the Ballance of wisedome hath weighed by ounce weights, how much §5wrath shall be mixed in the cup of wasted Ireland. 5. You know it is generally the condition of the Church, if she have any Summer, that it is but a good day betwixt two Feavers;
- 1Esa▪ 31. 9.
- 2Jer. 9. 21.
