Page:Bush burning, yet not consumed, or, The church in the furnace, yet still preserved (2).pdf/12

 drew you to Chriſt, you accepted of Chriſt and forgot your conſciences pacified by the ſprinkling of the blood of Jeſus upon them, and thuſ faith, or an active reception of Chriſt, was the firſt breathing of the new creature within you? But I muſt not inſiſt, regeneration not being the ſubject I am juſt now called to diſcourſe upon.

2. The Church of Chriſt is called or compared to a Buſh, becauſe, as a Buſh, you know has a root on which it depends, and from which it draws nouriſhment, ſo it is with the church of Chriſt; ſhe has the renowned root of Jeſſe, on which ſhe depends, and from which ſhe derives all her ſpiritual nouriſhment and growth. As is evident from what our Lord ſays in John 15, 4: " Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itſelf except it abide in the vine: no more can ye except ye abide in me." There is not the leafy branch of the poor Buſh that can by nature, bring forth any ſpiritually good fruit, unleſs it be united to Jeſus Chriſt the living root, from whence all fruitfulneſs does proceed. The greateſt and talleſt Cedar in this Buſh, as well as the meaneſt twig, are all obliged to the renowned root of Jeſſe for their fruitfulneſs and growth, and not to any inherent fruitful principles of their own. Chriſt's myſtical body, his believing members are a vaſt weight upon him: but, being the mighty God, he is abundantly able to bear them all. And indeed the church of Chriſt is well born; ſhe is on a ſtrong foundation; ſhe has Jeſus Chriſt himſelf for her foundation, and ſo muſt be immoveable. They that would raze the Buſh muſt firſt raze the : the one muſt go before the other go. You are but ſtark fools and madmen that meddle with the Buſh of Christ, for ſhe ſhall never be conſumed. We challenge Men and Devils to wrong the leaſt believing twig in all this Buſh. The Church can never be wronged becauſe Chriſt is engaged to preſent her "without