A59035:929
The bowels of tender mercy sealed in the everlasting covenant wherein is set forth…
The bowels of tender mercy sealed in the everlasting covenant wherein is set forth the nature, conditions and excellencies of it, and how a sinner should do to enter into it, and the danger of refusing this covenant-relation : also the treasures of grace, blessings, comforts, promises and privileges that are comprised in the covenant of Gods free and rich mercy made in Jesus Christ with believers / by that faithful and reverend divine, Mr Obadiah Sedgwick ... ; perfected and intended for the press, therefore corrected and lately revised by himself, and published by his own manuscript ...The bowels of tender mercy sealed in the everlasting covenant wherein is set forth the nature, conditions and excellencies of it, and how a sinner should do to enter into it, and the danger of refusing this covenant-relation : also the treasures of grace, blessings, comforts, promises and priviledges that are comprized in the covenant of Gods free and rich mercy made in Jesus Christ with believers / by that faithful and reverend divine, Mr Obadiah Sedgwick ... ; perfected and intended for the press, therefore corrected and lately revised by himself, and published by his own manuscript ...
London: printed by Edward Mottershed for Adoniram Byfield, 1661
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.
6. Your Covenant-Interest and Relation should secure your hearts against the 1fears of what shall become of the Churches of Christ, especially in times of heresies and seducements, and of threatenings, and endeavours to subvert the Ordinances, and all Gospel Ministrations; And truly many do fear (in respect of these) at this time; but we should not inordinately fear in respect of them: for there are no people in the world, that have Christ so near them, and God so engaged unto them, as the Church. The foundation of the Church is too strong for the gates of hell; and the Church of God will always be found a very burdensome-stone for all people; All that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it, Zach. 12. 3. And as for the Ordinances and Ministrations of Christ in his Churches, they shall continue as long as Christ hath a Church on earth; ⟨p. 101⟩as long as the Covenant abides, a people of the Covenant shall abide, and as long as the people of the Covenant abides, the Ordinances for those people shall abide; no not all the corrupt opinions of men, nor powers of men shall ever be able to pluck the Sun out of heaven, nor drive out the everlasting Gospel from the earth. If any thing should make us to fear the continuance of those amongst us, it is only our unthankfulness, and our unfruitfulness, and our contempt, and scorn of them.
6. Your Covenant-Interest and Relation should secure your hearts against the 1feares of what shall become of the Churches of Christ, especially in times of heresies and seducements, and of threatenings, and endeavours to subvert the Ordinances, and all Gospel Ministrations; And truly many do fear (in respect of these) at this time; but we should not inordinately fear in respect of them: for there are no people in the world, that have Christ so near them, and God so engaged unto them, as the Church. The foundation of the Church is too strong for the gates of hell; and the Church of God will alwaies be found a very burdensome-stone for all people; All that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it,