Page:Bush burning, yet not consumed, or, The church in the furnace, yet still preserved (1).pdf/2

 Preached at Lintoun, March 11th 1739.

iii. 1. 2.

Anifold Metaphors are made use of by the Spirit of God in the holy Scriptures to illustrate and set forth the nature and properties of the church: so in the words of our text, sh gets the denomination of a Bush, a poor mea Bramble-Bush, a despicable like creature that makes a very silly and mean appearance in the view of the world. As the glorious Monarch of Heaven when he appeared on the Stage of this world, to accomplish the purposes of his Father's love and grace, made but a mean and insignificant appearance, far from answering the carnal expectations the Jews had conceived of him and was esteemed as a tender plant, and a root springing out of a dry ground, by the unbelieving and blind generation that then acted their part on the stage of life who saw not the glory, the Divinity and ravishing excellency of his person, concealed under the rags of the human nature: just so does the spouse of Christ tho’ her robes are of needle work, and she be all glorious within: tho' he be the seed-royal of heaven, and has her descent above, make but a mean, silly and