But thou hast evilly entreated and requited them, thou hast set at nought
all their counsel, and wouldst have none of their reproof, as thou
shouldst have had. Their appearance was too straight, and their
qualifications were too mean for thee to receive them; like the Jews of
old, that cried, Is not this the Carpenter's Son, and are not his
brethren among us; which of the scribes, of the learned (the orthodox)
believe in him? Prophesying their fall in a year or two, and making and
executing of severe laws to bring it to pass: endeavouring to terrify
them out of their holy way, or destroy them for abiding faithful to it.
But thou hast seen how many governments that rose against them, and
determined their downfall, have been overturned and extinguished, and
that they are still preserved, and become a great and a considerable
people, among the middle sort of thy numerous inhabitants. And
notwithstanding the many difficulties without and within, which they have
laboured under, since the Lord God eternal first gathered them, they are
an increasing people; the Lord still adding unto them, in divers parts,
such as shall be saved, if they persevere to the end.
Pages:
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55