Christianity hath more lustre when there is such a common consent, and sweet brotherly accord. The truths of God have their power, and the servants of God their grace with them. Well then, the scandal being so great, the Prayer of Christ so urgent, God will at one time or another do somewhat eminently and visibly to right the honour of Jesus Christ, and to recover the lustre of Christianity, and our glorious profession: for I take this for granted, that at some special times God will roll away the reproach of every eminent scandal, that hath bin cast upon Christ, and Religion. And because God loveth like the good householder to bring forth the best wine at last, it hath not bin done hitherto, but is reserved for the latter days; for indeed you shall find that all the latter providences are but so many vindications, and clearings of Christ from the former scandals of the world; as for the scandal of meanness hitherto, Not many noble, not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty are called: Christ's company hath bin despicable, and poor; but now in the latter days it is every where promised that Kings shall bring their glory into the Church, that they shall hold their mouths at Christ, Isa. 52. ult. That is, with silence and reverence receive his commands: and the like every where. So for the scandal of persecution, it is every where declared that in the latter days the enemies ⟨p. 13⟩shall be the subjected party, glad to take bold of the skirt of a Jew, Zech. 8. bow to the soles of their feet, Isa. 60. The magistrates shall call the inhabitants of Jerusalem their strength; and the like elsewhere. So again, the Church hath been under the abasure of reproaches, but God hath promised a vindication in the latter days, that he will establish Zion a praise throughout the earth, set it as a royal diadem, Isa. 62. 3. with the 7. that he will give them praise in the lands of their shame, Zeph. 3. Proportionably to their abasures that they shall have glory. So for paucity and fewness, which is another scandal, there are promises of the Gospel's being propagated, of the flowings out of living waters, of the flying in of Converts like doves to the windows, Isa. 60. and the like.
Christianity hath more lustre when there is such a common consent, and sweet brotherly accord. The truths of God have their power, and the servants of God their grace with them. Well then, the scandall being so great, the Prayer of Christ so urgent, God will at one time or another doe somewhat eminently and visibly to right the honour of Jesus Christ, and to recover the lustre of Christianity, and our glorious profession: for I take this for graunted, that at some speciall times God will roll away the reproach of every eminent scandall, that hath bin cast upon Christ, and Religion. And because God loveth like the good housholder to bring forth the best wine at last, it hath not bin done hitherto, but is reserved for the latter dayes; for indeed you shall finde that all the latter providences are but so many vindications, and clearings of Christ from the former scandalls of the world; as for the scandall of meannesse hitherto, Not many noble, not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty are called: Christ's company hath bin despicable, and poore; but now in the latter dayes it is every where promised that Kings shall bring their glory into the Church, that they shall hold their mouthes at Christ, Isa. 52. ult. That is, with silence and reverence receive his commands: and the like every where. So for the scandall of persecution, it is every where declared that in the latter dayes the enemies ⟨p. 13⟩shall be the subjected party, glad to take bold of the skirt of a Jew, Zech. 8. bowe to the soales of their feet, Isa. 60. The magistrates shall call the inhabitants of Jerusalem their strength; and the like elsewhere. So againe, the Church hath beene under the abasure of reproaches, but God hath promised a vindicatiō in the latter dayes, that he will establish Zion a praise throughout the earth, set it as a royall diadem, Isa. 62. 3. with the 7. that he will give them prayse in the lands of their shame, Zeph. 3. Proportionably to their abasures that they shall have glory. So for paucity and fewnesse, which is another scandall, there are promises of the Gospel's being propagated, of the flowings out of living waters, of the flying in of Converts like doves to the windowes, Isa. 60. and the like.
