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body of believers that are under the influence and government of the glorious head Emannel himself: they that meddle with this Church will find her to be like Jerusalem, a burthensome stone that will crush them to pieces, and grind them to powder. Paul in the days of his ignorance and infatuation, tried his trade of crushing and hurting the Bush He like a poor fool, raised a bloody club to level the Church; he instigated the civil and ecclesiastical rulers to raise a storm of persecution against the Bush, thinking not to leave a living twig into it all. But, while he is in the heat of his bloody rage and fury against the Church and going with a furious force to ruin and destroy all the christians at Damascus the ⟨owner⟩ of the Bush surprises him with an alarming ⟨voice⟩ Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is ⟨hard⟩ for thee to kick against the p(illegible text)! That is to ⟨say⟩, thou actest as unwise and foolish a part it is ⟨for⟩ a beast to kick with its heels against sharp stakes ⟨and⟩ pointed irons. There’s prickly vengeance' ⟨surrounds⟩ the Bush of Christ: no man will meddle with ⟨it⟩, but shall be cut off with wounded and bloody ⟨fingers⟩. Ye that attempt to crush and oppress the ⟨Church⟩ of Christ what will you get but confusion ⟨destruction⟩ and ruin to yourselves and offspring? What got Pharaoh for meddling with this Bush, ⟨then⟩ in his dominions did he not meet with multip(illegible text) plagues, one plague upon the back of another? ⟨And⟩ at last he and his mighty host were overwhelmed ⟨by⟩ the red sea, and ⟨sink⟩ like lead in the mighty ⟨waters⟩. You think perhaps you are doing God good ⟨service⟩ when you are vexing and harassing the ⟨Church⟩ of Christ, and setting all on fire about her. ⟨but⟩ be not mistaken Zion will prove a burdensome (illegible text)e to all that burden themselves with her. The ⟨one⟩ that was hewn out of the mountain without ⟨hands⟩, will fall on you all, and crush you with ⟨redoubled⟩ strokes of fiery fury, in the cxxix psalm we (illegible text)d of a set of men, that like plowers plowed upon
