Page:Bush burning, yet not consumed, or, The church in the furnace, yet still preserved (2).pdf/23

 3. Is it ſo, as has been ſaid: then, pray ſirs keep company with the Buſh. It is good to be near her; there's ſome crumbs to be had from king's chidren. But ſome of you may ſay, O 'tis dangerous to be near her, ſhe is a burning Buſh all in a flame. I'll tell you ſirs, a burning fire at a diſtance, appears more formidable than near at hand. A great divine once ſaid, the croſs appears to be heavier at a diſtance than when you behold it on the believer's back- Juſt ſo is it with the Buſh all in a flame. Tho' it may appear ſome what diſcouraging and frightful-like at a diſtance; yet, when you more nearly inſpect it, it will appear with a more inviting and amiable aſpect. Then ſirs, if you are for chooſing ſocieties for ſafety to your ſouls and bodies, goods and gear, I know no ſociety better for you to join with. And any thing that you loſe, while in this company, the protector of the Buſh has promiſed to repay with ten thouſand times more advantage. There's not another ſociety under the cope of heaven for men to join with, recorded in ſcripture, but this alone. Thou art but a dead men if thou unite not with it. Whatever the flame in the Buſh is, 'tis no great matter, ſeeing thou art to be ſafe and ſecure amidſt the fame, if thou feareſt the loſing of thy worldly goods and gear, I am ſure thou can't not loſe them more honourably than to throw them all, yea, and life itſelf too into the flame for Chriſt's ſake. And this is the fair, the ready way to get all protected and ſecured to you and yours. What is become of all the perſecuters that have harraſſed the people of God! Why, they are all dead and gone. They, and what they had are moſtly periſhed from off the earth; whereas the godly, and their ſeed, have been well and plentifully provided for, amidſt all the external hardſhips and difficulties they have met with. Again,

4. And laſtly, Is it ſo, as has been ſaid: then, O dreſſed, tempted, and not comforted branches of this