Page:Bush burning, yet not consumed, or, The church in the furnace, yet still preserved (2).pdf/6

 an emblematical repreſentation of outward condition of the Church of Chriſt in Egypt, in a very ſtrange and extraordinary manner, namely a Buſh burning, and yet not conſumed. In this he got to him repreſented the melancholy and deplorable ſituation of the children of Iſrael in Egypt, while they were grievouſly oppreſſed and born down by tyrannical taſk-maſters here. Tho' they were in a manner, burnt in the fire, and all means were uſed to bear them down, and root them out, yet they were not conſumed; the more they were oppreſſed, the more they grew. Their ſore affliction proved medicines unto them, and, by the bleſſing of God, were means of their growth and improvement.

In the words read in your hearing we may very briefly notice theſe five things following.

1. We have an emblematical repreſentation of the church of Chriſt. Behold a Buſh burning- Here the church of Chriſt is compared to a Buſh. As a Buſh is a mean, low, ſilly, and inſignificant thing.

2. We have the ordinary ſtate and circumſtances of the church, and that is a Buſh burnt with fire. The church of Chriſt is, for moſt part in flames either an inward flame raiſed by the old Man that dwells in her members, or an outward flame raiſed by hell and earth. 'Tis ſomewhat ſtrange that the Lot and condition of the Lords people, while in their militant circumſtances, ordered by their Lord and King, ſhould be fiery trials and a hot burning furnace. Whatever their ſtate and condition be, whatever ſun-ſhine of proſperity they may be under, at times, yet, for the moſt part, they are in the furnace. Their Lot is chequered with troubles and trials; their circumſtances are mixed with a fiery flame and furnace.

3. We have protecting mercy coming into the midſt of the Buſh. No ſooner is the fire kindled in the Buſh, but mercy leaps out of the heart of God into the midſt thereof, What the matter what thy