PREFACE.
pp. v10 passages
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PREFACE.
WHEN the Disciples of our glorious Lord were filled with Sorrow upon the heavy Tidings of his Departure from them. He cheered their drooping Spirits with that good Word, John 16. 7. Nevertheless, I tell you the Truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And after his Ascension, he fulfilled this great and precious Promise by the extraordinary Effusion of his Spirit, under whose Conduct and Influence, the Apostles went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them: so that when we read the Acts of the Apostles, we must say; Not by Might, nor by Power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts. And tho', soon after the first Days of Christianity, there was a dreadful Apostasy, yet God did not wholly take his Spirit from his People; but raised up faithful Witnesses to testify against the Heresies and Corruptions of the Times wherein they lived. And since Antichrist that wicked One has been revealed, our Lord, according to his Word, has been gradually consuming him with the Spirit of his Mouth, in the Reformation.
WHEN the Disciples of our glorious Lord were filled with Sorrow upon the heavy Tidings of his Departure from them. He chear'd their drooping Spirits with that good Word, John 16. 7. Nevertheless, I tell you the Truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And after his Ascension, he fulfill'd this great and precious Promise by the extraordinary Effusion of his Spirit, under whose Conduct and Influence, the Apostles went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them: so that when we read the Acts of the Apostles, we must say; Not by Might, nor by Power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts. And tho', soon after the first Days of Christianity, there was a dreadful Apostacy, yet God did not wholly take his Spirit from his People; but rais'd up faithful Witnesses to testify against the Heresies and Corruptions of the Times wherein they lived. And since Antichrist that wicked One has been reveal'd, our Lord, according to his Word, has been gradually consuming him with the Spirit of his Mouth, in the Reformation.