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II. Why to a burning Bush
III Shew what are these flames that endanger the Bush.
IV Discover how it comes to pass that the church of Christ, when in such a fixation, is preserved
V. Manifest how it is that our Lord Jesus Christ beholds this Bush with such care and concern
VI And lastly, apply he who
I return to the first thing proposed, namely, to shew why the church of Christ is compared in this emblematical representation to Bush——and, upon this head, I shall mention these ten particulars following.
1. Then, as a Bush is that which springeth from some seed or other, in a ⟨suitableness⟩ to its nature; just so to the church of Christ, this collective body of ⟨believers⟩, and ⟨every⟩ ⟨individual⟩ ⟨branch⟩ thereof, are begotten by the word of grace (illegible text), says the Apostle Peter, Ep Chap i v 23. 'Ye are born again, not of ⟨corruptible⟩ seed but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and ⟨abideth⟩ ⟨forever⟩ The (illegible text) not a twig, the least believer in this blessed (illegible text) what must be a new born creature of the seed of grace the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation. I own 'tis a great mystery what influence or concurrence the faith of the word of promise has thro’ the operating virtue of the holy Ghost, in producing a new creature in the (illegible text) of a sinner. This to carnal men appears a fanciful whim exceeding the belief of a rational man. But will you not believe it because you cannot comprehend it? at this rate, O man you may deny all mysteries of nature, and much more those of grace, because your shallow reason is not able to form suitable and adequate notions and conceptions of them But, are there no mysteries in spiritual things, because you cannot comprehend them? surely there are tho' you should remain eternally blind and the scales of ignorance remain for ever on your eyes.
