more love, less pride of opinion and judgement, must either be in these kingdoms, or then we are to fear that God must work us to an union, by the sword of the common enemy, we might have union at an easier rate. 3. It is a mystery, but it is also from the Lord who is wonderful in counsel, that truth must be trailed through floods of blood. 4. That a Church is green and flowering and smelling out beauty, glory and life, in the flaming fire, that the cruelty, policy, wisdom, counsels of nations round about Britain, and so many bloody men within our bowels in the three kingdoms,1 do kill us, and behold we live, 2trouble and us, we are not distressed, perplex us, and we despair not, persecute us, and we are not forsaken, cast us down, and we are not destroyed. What a living death? what a breathing and triumphing grave is this? what a shining darkness? what a rejoicing sorrow is here? 5. We wonder that our wars are not at an end? But Gods thoughts are not like our ⟨image 4⟩thoughts, when God hath by the sword taken away his Jewels and his precious ones out of these Kingdoms, it is rather like the continued burning of the house, then any apparent end of our miseries. 6. Yet after the Lord hath made the glory of Jacob thin, and the fatness of his flesh to wax lean, are we not in silence and hope to believe that a remnant must be saved? 3and that yet gleaning Grapes shall be left in the kingdoms, as the shaking of an Olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel? Lord, hasten his work, and ripen us by humiliation and turning to him who hath smitten us, for the day that the Lord is bringing forth out of the womb of his decree of peace,4 when the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun shall be seven fold as the light of seven days; Farewell.
more love, lesse pride of opinion and judgement, must either bee in these kingdomes, or then wee are to feare that God must worke us to an union, by the sword of the common enemy, wee might have union at an easier rate. 3. It is a mystery, but it is also from the Lord who is wonderfull in counsell, that truth must bee trailed through floods of blood. 4. That a Church is greene and flowring and smelling out beautie, glory and life, in the flaming fire, that the crueltie, policie, wisedome, counsels of nations round about Britaine, and so many bloody men within our bowels in the three kingdomes,1 doe kill us, and behold wee live, 2troubleand us, wee are not distressed, perplex us, and wee despaire not, persecute us, and we are not forsaken, cast us downe, and wee are not destroyed. What a living death? what a breathing and triumphing grave is this? what a shining darkenesse? what a rejoycing sorrow is here? 5. Wee wonder that our warres are not at an end? But Gods thoughts are not like our ⟨image 4⟩thoughts, when God hath by the sword taken away his Jewels and his pretious ones out of these Kingdomes, it is rather like the continued burning of the house, then any apparent end of our miseries. 6. Yet after the Lord hath made the glory of Jacob thinne, and the fatnesse of his flesh to wax leane, are wee not in silence and hope to beleeve that a remnant must bee saved? 3and that yet gleaning Grapes shall bee left in the kingdomes, as the shaking of an Olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, foure or five in the outmost fruitfull branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel? Lord, hasten his worke, and ripen us by humiliation and turning to him who hath smitten us, for the day that the Lord is bringing forth out of the wombe of his decree of peace,4 when the light of the Moone shall bee as the light of the Snnne, and the light of the Sunne shall bee seven fold as the light of seven dayes; Farewell.
- 12 Cor. 6. 9.
- 22 Cor. 4. 8, 9.
- 3Isaiah 17. 6.Esay 17. 6.
- 4Isaiah 30. 26.Esay 30. 26.
