We have, through Gods mercy, a glorious work, the work of Church-Reformation under hand, now, though difficulties, delays, and oppositions, do cast discouragements upon our hearts, yet from hence, we have heartening. The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but 1my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Oh thou afflicted, and tossed with tempests, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay the foundations with Sapphires, &c. And when bloody oppressors prevail and prosper, we may thus plead with our God, Have respect unto the Covenant: for the dark places 2of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. For the tenor of the Covenant which God makes with Christ and ⟨image 4⟩his spiritual seed, runs thus, If they break my statutes, and 3keep not my commandments: Then will I visit their transgressions with the rod, and their iniquities with stripes. Nevertheless, my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him: nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips, &c. And, As for 4thee also, by the blood of the Covenant, I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water. How precious beyond all expressions are the treasures of Gods love in the Covenant of Promise! These mines are digged up and discovered in this discourse, many obscure Scriptures, full of rich Gospel-Grace are here interpreted from the original languages, and by a judicious comparing of one place with another. The book (I believe) will commend it self unto the considerate Reader: and because so many godly, learned, well-approved brethren, have been pleased to honour it with their attestation, therefore my further testimony would be altogether needless and unseasonable. If the phrase of speech seem sometimes knotty and unusual, I desire that serious attention may take off that discouragement. A little diligence doth often conquer great appearing difficulties, and love of truth will make laborious in searching after the knowledge of it.
We have, through Gods mercy, a glorious work, the work of Church-Reformation under hand, now, though difficulties, delayes, and oppositions, doe cast discouragements upon our hearts, yet from hence, we have heartning. The mountains shall depart, and the hils be removed, but 1my kindnesse shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Oh thou afflicted, and tossed with tempests, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with faire colours, and lay the foundations with Saphires, &c. And when bloudy oppressours prevail and prosper, we may thus plead with our God, Have respect unto the Covenant: for the dark places 2of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. For the tenour of the Covenant which God makes with Christ and ⟨image 4⟩his spirituall seed, runs thus, If they break my statutes, and 3keep not my commandments: Then will I visite their transgressions with the rod, and their iniquities with stripes. Nevertheless, my loving kindnesse will I not utterly take from him: nor suffer my faithfulnesse to fail. My Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips, &c. And, As for 4thee also, by the bloud of the Covenant, I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water. How pretious beyond all expressions are the treasures of Gods love in the Covenant of Promise! These mines are digged up and discovered in this discourse, many obscure Scriptures, full of rich Gospell-Grace are here interpreted from the originall languages, and by a judicious comparing of one place with another. The book (I believe) will commend it self unto the considerate Reader: and because so many godly, learned, well-approved brethren, have been pleased to honour it with their attestation, therefore my further testimony would be altogether needless and unseasonable. If the phrase of speech seeme sometimes knotty and unusuall, I desire that serious attention may take off that discouragement. A little diligence doth often conquer greatappearing difficulties, and love of truth will make laborious in searching after the knowledge of it.
- 1Isai. 54. 10. 11. 12.
- 2Psa•. 74. 10.
- 3Psal 89. 31, 32.
- 4Zech. 9. 1•.
