The branch of the Lord, the beauty of ZionThe branch of the Lord, the beauty of Sion

Men looking upon the Church, do find that it is a fair Fabric indeed, but cannot imagine how it should stand. A few supporters it seemeth to have in the world, like crouching Antics under the Windows, that make some show of under-propping it: Here you have a Magistrate, there an Army, or so: think the men of the world, can we but remove these props, the ⟨p. 15⟩whole would quickly topple to the ground: Yea, so foolish have I been my self; and so void of understanding before the Lord, as to take a View of some goodly appearing Props of this building, and to think, how shall the House be preserved if these should be removed: they looked unto me, like the Mariners in Pauls ship without whose abode therein, they could not be saved: when lo, suddenly some have been manifested to be pargeted Posts, and the very best, to be held up by the House, and not to hold it up.

Men looking upon the Church, do finde that it is a fair Fabrick indeed, but cannot imagine how it should stand. A few supporters it seemeth to have in the world, like crouching Anticks under the Windowes, that make some shew of under-propping it: Here you have a Magistrate, there an Army, or so: think the men of the world, can we but remove these props, the ⟨p. 15⟩whole would quickly topple to the ground: Yea, so foolish have I been my self; and so void of understanding before the Lord, as to take a View of some goodly appearing Props of this building, and to think, how shall the House be preserved if these should be removed: they looked unto me, like the Mariners in Pauls ship without whose abode therein, they could not be saved: when lo, suddainly some have been manifested to be pargetted Posts, and the very best, to be held up by the House, and not to hold it up.

On this Account, the men of the world, think it no great matter to demolish the spiritual Church of Christ to the Ground: they encourage one another to the work, never thinking of the Foundation that lies hidden, against which they dash themselves all to pieces. I say then, Christ as the Foundation of this House, is hidden to the men of the World, they see it not, they believe it not: there is nothing more remote from their Apprehension, then that Christ should be at the bottom of them and their ways, whom they so much despise.