A vision of unchangeable free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserved…A vision of vnchangeable free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserved…

Secondly, It was lost in regard of the purity and power thereof, by blind superstition and Antichristian impiety, accompanied also with abominable lewdness, oppression, and all manner of sin, in the face of the sun, so that first profaneness, working a despising of the Gospel, then superstition ushering in profaneness, have in this Land showed their power for the extirpation of the Gospel; Oh, that we could remember the days of old, that we could consider the goodness and severity of God, on them which fell severity, but towards us goodness, if we continue in that goodness, for otherwise ⟨p. 34⟩even we also shall be cut off: yet here we may observe, that though both these times there was a forsaking in the midst of the Land, yet there was in it a tenth for to return as a Teil-tree, and as an Oak whose substance is in them when they cast their leaves, so was the holy seed and the substance thereof, Isa 6. 13. at in the dereliction of the Jews, so of this Nation, there was a remnant that quickly took root, and brought forth fruit, both in the one devastation, and the other, though the watcher and the holy one from heaven, had called to cut down the tree of this Nation, and to scatter its branches from flourishing before him, yet the stump and root was to be left in the earth with a band of iron, that it might spring again; Thus twice did the Lord come seeking fruit of this vine, doing little more then pruning and dressing it, although it brought forth wild grapes: but if he come the third time and find no fruit, the sentence will be, Cut it down, why cumbreth it the ground? Now to prevent this I shall not follow all those Gospel-supplanting sins we find in holy writ, only I desire to cautionate you and us all in three things.

Secondly, It was lost in regard of the purity and power thereof, by blinde superstition and Antichristian impiety, accompanied also with abominable lewdnes, oppression, and all manner of sin, in the face of the sun, so that first prophanenes, working a despising of the Gospel, then superstion ushering in prophanenes, have in this Land shewed their power for the extirpation of the Gospel; Oh, that we could remember the daies of old, that we could consider the goodnes and severity of God, on them which fell severity, but towards us goodnes, if we continue in that goodnes, for otherwise ⟨p. 34⟩even we also shall be cut off: yet here we may observe, that though both these times there was a forsaking in the midst of the Land, yet there was in it a tenth for to returne as a Teyle-tree, and as an Oak whose substance is in them when they cast their leaves, so was the holy seed and the substance thereof, Isa 6. 13. at in the dereliction of the Jews, so of this Nation, there was a remnant that quickly took root, and brought forth fruit, both in the one devastation, and the other, though the watcher and the holy one from heaven, had called to cut down the tree of this Nation, and to scatter its branches from flourishing before him, yet the stump and root was to be left in the earth with a band of iron, that it might spring again; Thus twice did the Lord come seeking fruit of this vine, doing little more then pruning and dressing it, although it brought forth wilde grapes: but if he come the third time and finde no fruit, the sentence will be, Cut it down, why cumbreth it the gronnd? Now to prevent this I shall not follow all those Gospel-supplanting sins we finde in holy writ, onely I desire to cautionate you and us all in three things.