A90263:132
The branch of the Lord, the beauty of ZionThe branch of the Lord, the beauty of Sion
The branch of the Lord, the beauty of Zion: or, The glory of the Church, in it's relation unto Christ· Opened in two sermons; one preached at Berwick, the other at Edinburgh. By John Owen, minister of the Gospel.The branch of the Lord, the beauty of Sion: or, The glory of the Church, in it's relation unto Christ· Opened in two sermons; one preached at Berwick, the other at Edinburgh. By John Owen, minister of the Gospel.
Edinburgh: printed by Evan Tyler, 1650
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
2. Learn hence the vanity of resting upon outward Church privileges, if we are not withal, interested in this spiritual estate where men are living stones indeed, they lie in beauty and order in the Assemblies: where they are otherwise, where Assemblies are made up of dead rubbish, and yet cry, the House of the Lord, the House of the Lord, the Lord Jesus abhors those Assemblies, He stands not in these Relations unto them.
2. Learn hence the vanity of resting upon outward Church priviledges, if we are not withall, interested in this spiritual estate where men are living stones indeed, they ly in beauty and order in the Assemblies: where they are otherwise, where Assemblyes are made up of dead rubbish, and yet cry, the House of the Lord, the House of the Lord, the Lord Jesus abhorres those Assemblies, He stands not in these Relations unto them.
3. See hence the Ruin of Persecution, that hath appeared in the world in various forms. It hath put on all manner of colours and pretences, and prevailed with all sorts of persons at one time or other to close with it: what hath been the Issue? what is like to be? The House indeed hath been battered sometimes, but they who have come against it, have been broken all to pieces. Shall the Residue of men, who under new pretences, or old ones new painted, drive on the same design, shall they prosper? Thou, O Lord Jesus, in thine anger, wilt cut them off. The Lord open the Eyes o• the sons of men, that they may not hope any more to separate between Christ, and his Saints, between whom there are so many everlasting Relations.
3. See hence the Ruine of Persecution, that hath appeared in the world in various forms. It hath put on all manner of colours and pretences, and prevailed with all sorts of persons at one time or other to close with it: what hath been the Issue? what is like to be? The House indeed hath been battered sometimes, but they who have come against it, have been broken all to pieces. Shall the Residue of men, who under new pretences, or old ones new painted, drive on the same designe, shall they prosper? Thou, O Lord Jesus, in thine anger, wilt cut them off. The Lord open the Eyes o the sons of men, that they may not hope any more to separate between Christ, and his Saints, between whom there are so many everlasting Relations.