A guide to the godly, or, The dayly meditations of Returne Hebdon Gentleman who for his conscience (through the tyrany of the Bishops) suffered many years imprisonment in the Kings-Bench and their remained till death : being very useful for instruction of all those that desire to walke in the paths of Jesus Christ.

Hebdon, Returne.

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The fourth day of the week.

IN the Common wealth of Israel, there is the enmity of the Creator: There are the men of the worldly authority, that justifie themselves, and condemn and persecute the true prophet, and the obedient Children of Syon, the mother City, and God justifieth them against their accusers: There is the fear of men, and the fear of God in seperation: There is the Law of God holden in the worldly authorities, and the Law within the faithfull in opposition: The worldly men make to themselves a light, and walk in it, con∣demning the oppressed, as if they being separated Page 89from them did walke in darkenesse without light. Thus carnall Israel in all things walke by sight in a visible worship of God, persecuting and despi∣sing all that submit not to their glory: whereas the spirituall Israel, though they seeme to this world, as living in darkenesse, and dishonour, without the scare of men, and without the Law given by Moses, yet it is farre otherwise in spirit and truth, for God their God is a light un∣to them, they feare God and obey him, and they are not without the Law of God, but the Law is within them: And these onely are the redee∣med of God the Lord, as Esa. 50.51.1 Cor. 9.20.21.

2. In a generall enmity, Babel oppresseth •sra∣el. And God hath purged and chosen Jsrael in affliction, and hath given his glory unto him and will be glorified in him Esa. 47. & 48. & 41.9. & 42.8 with 46.13. & 49.4.

3. Abraham and Sarab are a type of God and Sion: the barrennesse of the one is compared to the solitarinesse of the other, and the delight and comfort of the one is signified to be fulfilled in the other, Esa. 51.1. &c. 54—

4. If the way of Christ were, that his people should so low him in the life of the flesh to im∣mortality, then men would perish in their hast: but seeing he is gone before in reproach through death to life, all that follow him in this way of suffering death in the flesh doe walke soberly, and make no Page 90haste; but goe out so as the Lord Jesus is gone before them, Esa. 52.11.12—& 53. with Luk. 9 22.23.—2 Tim. 1.10.

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