Page:Bush burning, yet not consumed, or, The church in the furnace, yet still preserved (2).pdf/20

 the Church's back and drew long their furrows. Well what was the conſequence? The Lord cut aſunder the cords of that ungodly and perſecuting crew, verſes 3. 4. &c And did not a ſet of prelatic men kindle a fire of perſecution againſt the Church of Chriſt in the late perſecuting times in this land but what made they of it? The Lord confounded their plots and cut off many of the ring leaders in the height of their fury and ſent them to their place appointed like ſo many Magor-Miſſabibs, while they were a terror to themſelves and all around them, and ſent deliverance to his Church and people. And tho' the ſame ſpirit ſeems to be reviving at this day, amongſt a ſet of corrupt kirk men, yet let them take care. God will reach them with a blow, ſuddenly ſhall they be confounded.

6. The Church of Chriſt is a ſavoury Buſh. Take this Buſh out of the world and it will ſmell like hell, there would be nothing behind but the object of God's abhorrence. As long as the church of Chriſt is in the world that Sun will ſhine on the inhabitants there of. But when the Buſh is away, you will not have the light of the glorious goſpel nor that of the Sun in the heavens. O how fooliſh are they that grudge the church a reſidence in this world! O blind world that will not allow Chriſt's Buſh to abide among them while not conſidering that the holy ſeed of the church is the ſubſtance there of, and preventeth judgements from pouring in, like a deluge upon it.

10. And laſtly, the church of Chriſt is a coſtly Buſh. Tho' ſhe be but a poor bramble Bush, yet ſhe coſt Chriſt dearer than the talleſt cedars in Lebanon. They cost him but a creating word but ſhe coſt him redeeming blood. The Church is bought by the price of blood. Before the Church could be redeemed, the ſon of God muſt die between two thieves; be perſecuted, afflicted and at laſt crucifed, like a malefactor, on a curſed tree. O coſtly Buſh? Dear bought Church!