The pastors farewell, and wish of welfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermonThe pastors farevvell, and vvish of vvelfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermon

Are your dangers bodily, he can bear off those ⟨p. 49⟩blows. No evil can arrest you without leave from this King. Al his Servants are Courtiers, and thereby privileged persons. He can make an hedge about your selves, your houses, and all that ye have (as about Job 1. and 10.) and then neither men not Devils can make a gap for any to enter and injure you. Hesiod speaks of thirty thousand Demy-Gods that were [Greek or Hebrew], Keepers of men; The true God keepeth his in a Pavilion, as a Prince his Favourite, from the mischief of others envy and malice, Psa. 31.20.

Are your dangers bodily, he can bear off those ⟨p. 49⟩blows. No evil can arrest you without leave from this King. Al his Servants are Courtiers, and thereby priviledged persons. He can make an hedge about your selves, your houses, and all that ye have (as about Job 1. and 10.) and then neither men not Devils can make a gap for any to enter and injure you. Hesiod speaks of thirty thousand Demy-Gods that were 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Keepers of men; The true God keepeth his in a Pavilion, as a Prince his Favourite, from the mischeif of others envy and malice, Psa. 31.20.

If afflictions be near, he will not be far off. He ventures his fortune in the same bottom with his people. When thou passest through the fire, I will be with thee, and through the waters it shall not come nigh thee, Isa. 43.2. If the Church be a burning bush, it will not be consumed, because God is in it. As it is safe in the fire, so also in the Water; though it be a Vessel (as that wherein the Disciples were sailing in a rough Sea, tossed up and down with tempestuous winds, and boisterous Waves, nay filled almost with waters, and ready to sink, yet there is no fear, because Christ is in it, for though he seem to sleep, waiting only for a fit opportunity to manifest and magnify his power, yet when the storm comes, he will be sure to awake, and with his word of command to cause a calm; The Church as Hierom saith of Arcturus, semper versatur, nunquam mergitur, is much tossed, but never drowned, God is in the midst of her she shall never be moved, he shall defend her, and that right early.