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Show ( 296 j of it is and will be fo far above ail the Glory~ Treafure and Pleafure of the Lan_d of Darknefs, thar ic will wholly take the MedHatlOn~. o~.t of them as if [hev were noc wonh the mmdmg, no ~ore rhan brofs or Duft; yea, or wharfo. ever elfe may arcend, or ca~ com~ upon. thofe char follow rhe Lighr, as Perfecutto~, ~dhefs; Affiittion, Farnine, Nakednefs, P~nls m the' \Vildernefs, in the Sea, in the City, y~a, or Death ir felf: I am perfwad.ed that Gods A.rmour of Light, as ic is lived in and _love~, Wtll pref~rve them. And I furthe~· Telbfie! m the fear of rhe Lord God, and wttnefs, wtth ~Pen of Trembling, ~That the Noife of the W~tp_on my Back, all the Imprifonments, and B~mfumg upon pain of Death, and after rerurmng, t~e loud rhrearning found of an Halter, fro!h the~r Mouths, who, J ez.ebel-like, fat on the tm~enous Throne of Iniquity, did no more affnght me, through the S[fengrh of the Power of God in me, chan if they had threatned t? have bound a Spider's We~ to my ~inger;. whtch ~pakes me fay, with unfe1gned Ltps, Wazt upon the Lord, 0 my Soul, for ever, who bath made k~own unto. me his Loving- Kindnefs, when I even Thzrjled for hzm; and kept rny Feet upon the Rock, wbilft the .raging. /¥aves of the Sea went over my Rack; wbzlft for the Truth and Caufe of God's People, I have been f1·eely offered up, and am not at alt_ ftraitned to be Baptiz.ed for the Dead, whether mto D~atb, or other·mife ; Jollo·JVing his Example, w_ho l~zJ down his Life for his Enemies. And herem the_Reco~d .in Heaven knows I lye nor, and the Wttnefs m Earth is bearing Witnefs to me, that I yet do not (as I have not hitherto ) feek to withdr~w my Cheek from rhe Smiter, nor to mrn a11de my Feet from the Foot-fteps of the Flock, 'as witnef~ 1 ( 297 ) Witnefs this Chain and Log at my Leg ; but do defire, fo far as the Lord draws me, to follow my' Fore~f~th~rs and Brethren in Suffering and ill; Joy: Wher-efore tny Spirit Waits and Worlhips at the Feet of Emmanuel, unro whom I commit my Caufe, who may work my Body,s Deliverance; if not, yet the Freedomi Peace, Joy and Patience, which in the midll of Trou.: ble I have enjoyed, and I believe fhall continue from . him, fhall faJly fatisfie me; for which let my Soul, and all char is wirhin me, Praife hini for ever and ever. And I fhall continue my Exhortation co you, earnellly defiring ye may wait to feel the Love and Life of God flow in your particular Veffels; and therein watch over and ferve one another ; and let the Strong and Faithful among you dwell in £he Power, rhat he may have a Garment ready w cover the Na .. ~ednefs of t~e Weak ; and if the Tares at any ttrile appear, ler Wifdom and the Spirit of Meeknefs be always ufed to feparate the Tares from the Wheat, bmh in rhe Ground and Off-fpring, that the Bearer may dearly fee it; and then, if he will not put in his fharp·threfhing Inftrumem: w CLU them down, his Blood will be required at his Hands, and with Compaffion pour Oyl into ch.e Wounds of the wounded, and bring them Into the Houfe where Salvation is ; for the Hope of Glory in you is come to fave that whiGh was 1oft; fo rhe Plam of God wilfgrow~ the Thorns and Thillles wiJl be cur down, and the Ground cleanfed, rhar rhe Curfe may be ncJ more; and if the Weeds lhould appear again; let them frill be trodden down and broken off • lhe Root, and in time you thall fee them dye at th~ Root; and then the Plant of Renown, rhe Srem of the Root of Jef!e, within its feed and 1." beginning~ |