that Gods servants ar ful of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of judgement and of strength to declare vnto the people their traÌ„gression and their syn an example wherof we may see in Saul who being full of the Holy Ghost set his eyes vpon Elymas the sorcerer and sayd O ful of al subtilty al mischief child of the Divil enimy of all righteousnes wilt thou not ceâ—se to pervert the straight wayes of the Lord Now therefore behold the hand of the Lord is vpon thee thou shalt be blind and not see the Sun for a season And this courage the Sainctes have even before Princes and potentates of 〈◊〉 earth 〈◊〉 â—ay be 〈◊〉 in Zechâ—â—â—ah son of Iehojada who being cloâ—â—ed with the Spirit and rebuking the transgressions of the people was therefore stoned with stones at the comandement of the king For the Hâ—ly Ghost teacheth them in that â—owr what they ought to say wherefore they are to take no thought how or what to answer but resting vpon the ayd of Gods Spirit do boldly say â— wil speak of thy testimonies Lord before kings and wil not be ashamed 14 But in the Saincts themselves the Spirit is most mighty in operation for the subduing and sanctifying of their affections and confirmation of their sowles and spirits in the love favour of God For whereas before time some of them were fornicators idolaters theves covetous extortioners or given to other like vices they 〈◊〉 washed they a 〈◊〉 they ar â—ustified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of God And wheras while they were fleshly having not the Spiriâ— they walked after the flesh and favouâ—ed the things tâ—â—â— of could not â—lease God but were subject vnto death now hee that raysed vp Christ from the Dead doth also quicken their mortal bodies because that his Spirit dwelleth in them and so is fulfilled that which in figure God sayd of old vnto Israel Ye shal know that I am the Lord when I have opened your graves ô my people and brought you vp out of your sepulchres and shal put my Spirit in you ye shal live Who then living in the Spirit do also walk in the Spirit and by it do mortify the deeds of the body not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh which they have crucified but bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit which are love joy peace long suffring gentlenes goodnes faith meeknes teÌ„perance for when the Spirit is powred vpon them from above then the wildernes becometh a fruitful feild aâ— sayth the Prophet 15. And God which hath promiseâ— to powr water vpon the thirstie â— stoods vpon the drie ground tâ— powr his Spirit vpon the seed â— his Church and his blessing vpoâ— their buds wil not onely give the Holy Ghost to them that desiâ— him but also continew his gifts â— graces for the assurance of theâ— harts so that they shall not labouâ— in vayn nor bring forth in fear because they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord their buds with them The love of God is shed abroad in their harts by the Holy Ghost which is giveÌ„ vnto them and by him are they sealed vnto the day of redemption the same Spirit beareth witnesse with their spirits that they are the Sonnes of God and hereby they know that they dwel in God and he in them because he hath given them of his Spirit which is as a pawn or earnest in their harts whereby they do not onely behold the glory of the Lord with open face but are changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. And this Spirit which they have received is not the Spirit of bondage to fear again as at the giving of the Law and looking vpon Moses face but is the Spirit of adoption-of-children whereby they cry Abba Father even the Spirit of his Son Christ which God hath sent into their harts because they also are sons and the blessing of AbrahaÌ„ is come vpoÌ„ them through Christ Iesus So Gods good Spirit leadeth them vnto the Lanâ— of righteousnes and this is a parâ— of his covenant with them thaâ— his Spirit which is upon them anâ— his words which hee hath put iâ— their mouth shal not depart out â— the mouth of them or their seâ—â— or their seeds seed for ever Neithâ— wil he hide his face any more froâ— theÌ„ because he hath powred out his spirit upoÌ„ the hense of Israel as he hatâ— promised by his Prophet From aâ— which proceedeth vnto the Sainâ— vnspeakable peace comfort joy which they find and feel both â— the receiving of the word as the Apostle sayth ye received the worâ— in much affliction with joy of the holy Ghost in the obedience theâ— vnto in the kingdoÌ„ of God which is righteousnes and peace and joy in the holy Ghost 16. Amongst other benefits which the Spirit affordeth this is one special that it helpeth the Saincts infirmities in prayer who â—ls know not what to pray as they â—ught but the Spirit it self maketh request for them with sighs which cannot be expressed the request which he maketh is according to â—he wil of God who sercheth the â—arts and knoweth what the meaning of the Spirit is 17. But that the Saincts be not deceaved and led astray from the truth by any motion suggestion vision revelation or other means whatsoever as from the Spirit of the Lord our Saviour hath given vs a rule to discern the work of his Spirit from the delusion of Satan which is this that his Spirit speaketh not of himself but whatsoever he heareth he speaketh that he glorifieth Christ for he receiveth of Christs al things that the Father hath at Christs and sheweth it vnto Christians Therfore is he the Spirit of truth and leadeth into altruth because he teacheth nothing but according to the word of God which word is truth And by that word must al spirits be tried by it may be discerned the Spirit of truth from the Spirit of error and Iosua though he were ful of the Spirit oâ— wisdome yet was charged of God to attend vnto the book of the Law for his direction to obserâ—â— and doe according to al that was written therin 18. Finally the Spirit of God hath generally in all things wrought much and mightily in and by the Saincts With this was Bezaleel filled in wisdome and in vnderstanding in knowledg in al workmanship to find out curious works for the Lords Tabernacle with this were the seventy Ancients furnished for the goverment of Israel prophesied With the wisdom of this Spirit was Iosua full after that Moses had put his hands vpon him given him of his glory when he ordeyned him to be his successor in
life also and conversation he shewed all manner holynes without syn or spott For such an high priest it became vs to hav as is holy harmlesse vndefiled and separated from synners And he giveth holines and purity to his church for whose sake he sanctified himself and is therfore worthily intituled the holy one of God even the Holie of holies vnto whom the Seraphim doe sing as he sitteth on the high throne of his glorie within his temple Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts 3. The Angels are spirits holy by nature so created of God at the first and hauing kept their original are stablished by Gods election through Christ their head in their holy happy estate for ever therfore carie the title of Angels elect and holie Yet even these heavenly spirits being compared with God himself the bottomlesse fountaine of holines ar as impure in his sight hide their faces though through the grace of God by which they ar confirmed they alwayes doe behold his face 4. Holines in men by nature ther is not any for they ar sinners vnclean from the wombe children of wrath and rather to be reputed beasts then men having lost the holines wherin God at first created them as before is shewed But holines is restored againe to men by the Lord as it is written I The Lord sanctify you and againe Now the God of peace sanctify you throughout wherfore he caleth himself the Lord our Holy one 5. This our sanctification is ascribed vnto the Father according to the prayer of Christ Sanctify them with thy truth and in the epistle of â—ude to them that ar caled and sanctified of God the Father It is ascribed to the Son who loved the church and gav himself for it that he might sanctify it and of God is made vnto vs wisdome and justice sanctification redemption Also to the holy Ghost as it is written ye ar washed ye ar sanctified ye ar justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God 6. Our sanctification in Christ is two wayes First by imputation of that which himself wrought for vs when by the wil of God we wer sanctified by the offring of his body once and thus are we washed from our sins in his blood and God reconciled vs to himself in the body of his flesh through death to make vs Holy and vnblameable without fault in his sight SecoÌ„dly it is by his own gracious work in vs baptising vs with the holy spirit into his death burial resurrection that our old man being crucified with him the bodie of sin might be destroyed henceforth we should not serv sin but give our members servants vnto righteousnes in holynes and so being freed from sin and made servants vnto God may have our fruit in holines and the end everlasting life Both which wayes of our sanctification vvere shadowed out vnto Israel by blood and by oile 7. For when the body of that church was purged once a year the blood of the syn offring was sprinkled in the inmost holy place of the Sanctuary and vpon the altar without to â—ense and sanctify them from the sin and vncleannes of the sons of Israel When the priests were consecrate the blood of their sacrifice was put vpon their right eares thumbs toes and sprinckled vpon their bodies and garments that so they might be sanctified even as before at the making of the covenant the people had beÌ„ sprinckled with blood The holy Ghost thereby signifiing how by the blood of Christ much more our coÌ„sciences should be purged and therefore caleth it the blood of the testament wherwith we are sanctified 8. The precious oynting oyle made of principall spices and called holie did hallow and sanctifie the Tabernacle and al therin the brazen alter and all his instruments the Laver and his foot the Priests their garments on whom it was sprinckled together with the blood of their consecraion for their sanctification and figured out the graces of the Spirit and oyntment that wee have from him that is holy that Christ and his spirit being in vs the body may be dead because of syn and the Spirit life for righteousnes sake whiles the anoynting that we have received dwelleth in vs Christ as a bundle of myrrh lodgeth betweene our brests Thus are we made an acceptable sacrifice vnto God beeing sanctified by the holy Ghost 9. The outward means which God vseth for our sanctification is his truth or word as it is written Sanctifie them with thy truth thy Word is truth By this word fayth is wrought in vs which fayth purifieth the hart sanctifieth the beleevers and causeth them to sanctify the Lord as vnbeleef maketh men that they sanctify him not and therfore is worthily caled the most holy faith The seals of the covenant do also confirm and help forward our faith and sanctification yea even the chastisements of God vpon vs have this vse end that we might be partakers of his holines And we by prayer obteyn at Gods hand as other blessings so this sanctification both of our selves and of al his creatures to our vse Finally this grace is conveyghed both into our bodies into our spirits even into the whol man throughout so great is the Holy-one of Israel in the mids of vs. CHAPT VII How the word of God was communicated with Adam his children of the Saincts interest in the same Forasmuch as the word of God is the truth wherby we our selves ar sanctified and al his creatures vnto our vse even the immortal seed by which we ar begotten and born anew of Gods own wil that we should be as the first fruits of his creatures and the syncere milk without guile wherby we ar nourished grow in faith let vs take a view of this tresure and tree of life which is better to the Saincts then thowsands of gold and silver sweeter also then honey or the honey comb even sweetnes to the sowl and health to the bones which if a man keep he shal never see death 2. Three wayes ther are wherby God maketh himself knowen vnto meÌ„ The first is by his works for the invisible things of him that is his eternall power and Godhed ar seen by the creation of the world the heavens declare his glorie the firmament sheweth the work of his hands the beasts if they be asked wil teach man the fowles of the heaven wil tel him the earth wil shew him and the fishes of the sea wil declare vnto him for how manifold ar the works of
their roots as the trees of Lebanon dwelling vnder his shadow they revive as the corn and flourish as the vine and stil bring forth fruit even in their hoary age and God is their guid even vnto the death Yet then forsaketh he theÌ„ not but as when they lived they lived vnto him so now when they die they die vnto him are his peace cometh and they rest in their beds every one that walketh before him til their changing shal come and they be translated from death to life to see the king in his glory even God as he is to be satisfied with his image 31. For notwithstanding al this grace and communion that we have with God by faith we ar not perfect neyther shal be til we have attayned the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead here we see through a glasse darkly not face to face we know in part onely and doe grow in grace and knowledge dayly we behold the glory of the Lord with open face but as in a mirrour and ar changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. VVe have first our infancie and are as babes in Christ after we are as yong men strong in faith and doe overcome the wicked one and proceed in riper years wexing old in faith and knowledge of him which is from the beginning thus our way shineth as the morning light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day and we walk on earth as did Abram in Canaan going and iourneying towardes the South 32. But of al the wayes means wherby we hav communion with God ther is none more lively powrful coÌ„fortable then Prayer wherby we converse with the Lord most neerly powr out our complaints as children into the bosome of their father praise his name ar heard answered of him to the glory of his grace the joy of our harts the increase of our faith with al vertues and fruits of the Spirit 33. The ground of this heavenly exercise wherby man is so bold as to come vnto the throne of grace and talk with God is his commaundment which sayth * Cal vpon me in the day of trouble I wil deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me Cal vnto me and I wil answer thee and shew thee groat mightie things which thou knowest not Moreover he willeth vs to be nothing careful but in al things to let our requests be shewed vnto him in prayer and suppplicatioÌ„ with giving of thanks yea to pray coÌ„tinually and in al things to giv thanks because this is the will of God in Christ Iesus towards vs. 34. To guide vs in this action he hath given vs outward instruction in his word that we may ask according to his will with assuraÌ„ce that whatsoever we so ask he heareth vs and we have the petitions that we desire of him He giveth vs also inward assistance by his Spirit which dwelleth in vs and is the Spirit of the adoption-of-sons wherby we cry Abba Father which spirit also helpeth our infirmities who know not what to pray as we ought and it self maketh requests for vs with sighes grones vnutterable Thus powring out vpon his people as he did promise the spirit of grace of supplications and furnishing them with gifts for this heavenly work he heareth granteth their requests as David sayth Lord thow hearest the desire of the poor thow preparest their hart thow bendest thyne ear 35. So when we cal vpon the Lord in our trouble and crie vnto our God he heareth our voice out of his temple our crie comes before him into his ears yea before we cal he answereth whiles we speak he heareth for by the blood of Iesus we may be bold to enter into the holy place ask the Father in his name we shal receive that our joy may be full the spirit also maketh request for vs according to the will of God he that searcheth the harts knoweth what is the meaning of the Spirit and the odour of our prayers cometh vp as the sweet incense before him being perfumed with those odours that are offred with the prayers of al Saincts out of the Angels hand that Angel of the Covenant who is now at the right hand of God and maketh request also for vs. 36. Thus the Saincts have accesse vnto God and neer coÌ„munion with him in prayer though the wicked cal not vpon him or if they call he heareth them not Their golden vials are full of odours they delight in the Almighty and lift vp their faces vnto God they make their prayer vnto him and he heareth them they pay their vowes saying I will thank thee for thou hast heard me and hast been my salvation Blessed be God which hath not put back my prayer nor his mercy froÌ„ me 37. The fruits that come vntovs by this holy exercise are moe then can be told there being infinite occasions from day to day of making request to the Lord and filling our mouthes with new soÌ„gs of prayse for our salvations Admirable is the force and valour of this actioÌ„ which peirceth the heavens and cometh vnto God and prevaileth with him in whatsoever we ask according to his will if we ask in faith waver not for he is neer to al that cal vpon him to al that cal vpon him in truth fulfilleth the desire of them that feare him vnto whoÌ„ he hath promised Open thy mouth wide and I wil fil it Herevpon Moses sayd What nation is so great vnto whom the Gods come so neer vnto them as the Lord our God is neer vnto vs in al that we cal vnto him for And if he be so neer vnto every one of vs let vs know also that it wil be our good to draw neer vnto him to say revive thou vs and we wil cal vpon thy name because thou hearest the prayer vnto thee shall all flesh come trust in him alwayes ye people pour out your harts before him for God is our hope our God wil hear vs. 38. By all these things many other the like we may see how God hath exalted the horn of his people which is a prayse for al his Saincts the sons of Israel a people neere vnto him vnto whom he hath given most great precious promises that by theÌ„ they should be partakers of the godly nature in that they flee the corruptioÌ„ which is in the world through lust with whom he so graciously coÌ„municateth his goodnes that they tast in this world of the powers of the world to come and oâ—e walk in the light of his face feel his holy presence with them Which presence although it be with every of his Saincts in al
afflictions ar more then conquerours through him that loved them For they account the suffrings of this preseÌ„t time not worthy of the glory which shal be shewed vnto them they consider Christ their head who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God who when he was both in name power a Lion appeared as a Lamb killed yet behold he is alive for evermore Amen and hath the keyes of hel and of death And he it is that raiseth vp his children fioÌ„ death he wil prophesie and their dispersed bones shall come togither sinewes and flesh shall grow vpon them breath shall enter into theÌ„ they stand vpoÌ„ their feet an exceeding great army For in their tribulations they have but washed their garments white in his blood and this is al the fruit the taking away of their syn and the more the adversaries vex them thinking to root them out the more they multiply grow by patient suffering they triumph and by dying dayly they attayn to life eternal And God who hath chastened theÌ„ with rods for their good will turn his hand vpoÌ„ their enemies scourge theÌ„ with scorpioÌ„s they shal wring out and drink the dreggs of this cup of wrath he that made them wil not have compassion of them and he that formed them will have no mercie on them the beasts shal be destroyed and given to the burning fyre the righteous shal have dominion over them in the morning The zele of the Lord of hosts wil performe it The Lord preserveth the sowles of his Saincts he wil deliver them from the hand of the wicked Psalm 97. 10. CHAPT XXI How the peace and communion of the Church is disturbed by troubles syns within it self BVt it is a smal thing for Satan thus to molest the Saincts with troubles from abroad for he hath meanes and instruments many in the church it self to work the woe yea often the ruine of the same he most delighteth to kindle contentions among brethren knowing that such things are most offensive vnto God heavie to his people give to the enemie occasion of reproch The means are two that he chiefly vseth herevnto 1. the infirmities of the Saincts who though they would do good yet through syn that dwelleth in theÌ„ oft times doe the evil which they hate 2. the iniquities of false brethren and hypocrites who alwayes are corrupted in themselves and seek to bring corruptioÌ„ into the whol body of the church 2. For wheÌ„ the faithful through coÌ„mune â—iaylty defyle their precious sowles and bodies through the remaynders of â—yn both the enemies without take occasioÌ„ to blaspheme and the brethren within to stumble contend as Moses was murmured against by his owne sister and brother because he had maried an Aethiopian wife And God himself is often angry with the whol church and punisheth many for the fault of a few as wheÌ„ David synned in numbring the people God in displeasure plagued Israel that of them there died seventie thowsand men Again the home-bred warrs and dessentions are heavier to the brethrens harts then al forreyn troubles many weak ones are offended no lesse then was Rebekah who feeling the childreÌ„ to strive in her bodie made question of her conception and sayd If it be so why am I thus But above al the hypocrites in hart doe increase wrath oft-times molest the church of which they ar not though they be in the same like the Apes peacocks in SolomoÌ„s ships being in deed the serpents seed and apperteyning to an other kingdome then Christs yet are thrust among the Saincts through Satans malice for to annoy them God also permitting this for the trial of his elect By these means the litle bark of Christs church hathever been tossed as with winds and tempests and is like ever to be so lâ—g as it is on the seas of this world that none may look for Angelical perfection or absolute peace vpon the earth 3. The Saincts ar subject if they be not wary hav their wits exercised to discerne good and evil to be caried about with divers and strange doctrines to fal into errors heresies idolatries Satan rayseth vp even among the teachers of the church some speaking perverse things to draw disciples after theÌ„ and the people many of them ar through their owne corruption prone vnto vice even set on mischief The children of Israel living in Aegipt defiled themselves with the abominations and idols of that land being brought out into the wildernes and informed in the statuts of the Lord they ther rebelled against him sinned stil provoked the most High teÌ„pted God and limited the holy one of Israel made them a molten calf sayd this is thy God ô Israel that brought thee out of the laÌ„d of Aegipt coÌ„mitted great blasphemies When they were entred into the good laÌ„d promised to their fathers there also they mingled themselves among the hethen learned thir works and served their idols which were their ruine False prophets ther were many among them that seduced the people to errour and idolatrie strengthned their haÌ„ds in evil preached peace to the wicked put pillowes vnder their armes but smote the righteous grieved and killed what in theÌ„ lay the sowls of such as should not hav died False teachers the Apostle sayth ther wil be also amongst vs which privily shal bring in damnable heresies eveÌ„ denying the Lord that hath bought them The primitive churches had woful experience herof whiles in Galatia they wer soon remooved away to an other gospel being bewitched by their misleaders who vnder pretence of the law of God abolished them from Christ and made them fal from grace And in many other churches false doctrine fretted as a canker and destroyed the faith of certayn whiles some taught the resurrection was past already some with Iezabel BalaaÌ„ perswaded to eat of things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication with other hateful doctrine of the NicolaitaÌ„s idolatrous doctrine of worshiping Angels Christ the head being let goe the grace of God turned to wantonnes God the onely Lord our Lord Iesus Christ denyed Antichrist even many Antichrists entred in to deceyv destroy mens sowles 4. By such seducers much trouble discord was wrought amoÌ„g the people some of ignorance some of wilfulnes receiving and walking in their errors by whom the way of truth was evil spoken of others opposing against them and earnestly contending for the faith once given to the Saincts Especially the Apostles and other trustie ministers of Christ to whose care the sowles of men were coÌ„mitted set themselves against those falsers by the word of truth by the
power of God by the armour of righteousnes on the right hand and on the left coÌ„maunding meÌ„ to teach no other doctrine nor give heed thereto but keep the true pattern of wholsome words in faith love which is in Christ Iesus exhorting therevnto improving and convincing them that spoke against it stopping their mouthes rebuking them sharply that they might be sound in the faith Those againe like Iannes Iambres resisting the truth with prophane vayn bablings disputations and oppositions of science falsly so caled prating against them with malicious words and seeking to disgrace them And wel was it with the churches then whiles those circumspect carefull watchmen the Apostles and Evangelists lived among them took those foxes which destroyed the Lords vines but after their departure ther entred greivous wolves not sparing the flock as by the innumerable heresies and lamentable decay of churches since their time doth appear 5. As for doctrine so about many other things also contention hath often risen through mens infirmities malice and pride that by errors in faith corruptions in maÌ„ners as by a double chain of iniquitie many sowles hav been fettered afflicted For some moved with envie hav sold their brethren to aliants sought for tokil them some through ambition would clime above their caling intrude into higher offices presuming vpoÌ„ their own holines seeking to disgrace others And as the church of Israel was infamous al Moses dayes for their idolatries rebellions many murmurings for which thei carkesses fell in the wildernes strife blood-shed came among them so after that they were seated in the land of Canaan they continewed not long in peace togither but tribe with tribe made warr and rent themselves asunder to the great reproch of Gods true religion giving advantage to the commune adversarie to invade and dispossesse them of their land Yea even in families betweeÌ„ brethren parents and children most bitter bloody strife brake forth as the stories of Abimelech Amnon and Absalom Absalom and David sundry others do declare Also how they were divided when Christ lived among theÌ„ into Sects factions Pharisees Saducees other like the historie of the Gospel every where sheweth Neyther were the Christian Churches which the Apostles had planted free of this â—even but contentions among theÌ„ grew vnto schismes and factions whiles sundry men folowed and re 〈…〉 ed vpon sundry Teachers in their publick meetings also dissentions were among them Some ministers would of strife and envie preach Christ to the people some loving the praeeminence would tyrannyze over the flock forbidding to receiv brethren sent by the Apostles and thrusting them out of the Church And amoÌ„gst Gods elect most faithful servants and loving friends Satan did his vtmost to kindle the coles of emulation dissention and strife as between Abraham and Lot Moses Aaron Peter and Paul Paul and Barnabas and among the Apostles generally when there was contention who should be greatest till they had learned better of their maister Christ. 6. The poyson of syn hath spred it self exceeding farr in churches corrupted the manners actioÌ„s of al degrees For Magistrats leaving the love cherishing of the people loved gifts and followed after rewards judged not the fatherles neyther did the widowes cause come before them they pluckt off their skins from them and their flesh from their bones did eat their flesh and break their bones and chop them in peeces as for the pot Againe the subjects despised and spake evil of their rulers rose vp rebelled against them The rich were vnmerciful and cruel to the poor Among the people and brethren of the church was bitter envying strife sedition reproch every man hunted his brother with a net that they could not trust in any friend but must beware even of her that lay in their bosome The teachers were vayn talkers and deceivers of minds subverting whole howses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre sake the priests wrested the law the Prophets were like foxes in the wast places and from them wickednes went forth into al the land Thus judgement was turned into wormwood faith into heresie Gods grace into wantonnes the libertie of his Gospel made a cloak of maliciousnes and in sted of the gracious ornaments of his spirit ther was wretchednes miserie povertie blindnes nakednes they had a name to be alive but wer dead Nor this alone for they hated such as rebuked them and would not admit of reproof but made their faces harder then a stone they killed the prophets and stoned those that were sent vnto them even when Christ himself came among them they would not receiv him but sayd this is the heir come let vs kil him and the inheritance shal be ours 7. These and many moe like evils have crept into the Churches of God wherby they have been troubled distracted and rent in peeces much pople hav been defiled corrupted the Saincts hav had cause to complayn Thou hast multiplied the nation but hast not increased their ioy Against these the ministers and witnesses of the Lord hav cried out in their several ages being sent rising early to recal the synners into the right way Who wer threatned that Sion for their sakes should be plowed as a field and IerusaleÌ„ made a ruinous heap her habitation left vnto her desolate that Christ would warr against theÌ„ with the sword of his mouth and remove the candlestick out of the place except they amended And such as hearkned to the voice of their God turned vnto him had their iniquities forgiven and their crimsin syns made white as snow but such as obeyed not wer devoured of the sword and woe was vnto their sowles for they rewarded evil vnto theÌ„selves and wer caled reprobate silver because the Lord reiected them 8. Thus cometh it to passe through Satans malice and mens corruption that the citie of God of which so glorious things are spoken in the scriptures seemeth more vile and contemptible then any other place the spowse of Christ appeareth black which was named the fayrest among women her foes which feared and marveyled at her do hisse say Is this the citie that men cal The perfection of bewty the ioy of the whole earth her children to whom much peace was promised do mourn and crie for the many abominations that ar done in the middes of her from the daughter Zion al her bewtie is departed being thus persecuted by the Dragon hated reproched of the world molested and forsaken of her own children misvsed and wounded of her watchmen to the grief affliction of her