Practical discourses on sundry texts of Scripture wherein is shewed and made known the absolute necessity for all people to turn immediately unto the Lord their God / by Richard Stafford ...

The CONCLƲSION.

THE Wickedness and Rebellion of former Generations did endeavour to Dethrone God and Christ. Nay, it did put Christ to Death who was the Prince of Life, whom God again loosed from the Pains of Death, it being not possible that he should be holden by it, for God raised him up. And the very same degree of Re∣bellion and VVickedness, would (if such a thing were possible, which was not) with Reverence be it spoken, have Killed God himself. Yea, they would what lay in them, Ʋngod him, from whence they are properly called Ʋngodly Men, for they would not that God should reign over them. Hence did arise up those Strivings of the People. But herein the Heathen did rage, and the People did imagin a vain thing: For after all this long Fight and Controversie with the Inhabi∣tants of the Earth, wherein the Lord did Fight against them with the Sword of his Mouth; even that two edged Sword which is called the Word of God; And these Rebels did again fight with him,

with all their Ʋngodly deeds, which they have Ʋn∣godly committed, and with all their hard Speeches, which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him, Jude 15. Yet after all God hath the better and upper Hand. Though they did as it were Mur∣der his own Divine Majesty, in putting to Death his Prophets, Son and Servants; God hath rai∣sed up his Son already, and he will also raise up all them again, and bring them along with him Alive to Judgment, when When he will tread down his Enemies in his Anger, and Trample them in his Fury, Isa. 63. 3. and He will slay them, Luke 19. 27. serving them as they did his A∣nointed and his Chosen ones. Still the Lord li∣veth, and Blessed be my Rock, and let the God of my Salvation be Exalted. The Psalmist goes on to speak in the Person of Christ (who must Reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his Feet.) It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the People under me: He delivereth me from mine Enemies; yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me. Which was eminently fulfilled when those that rose up against him lifted him up upon the Cross, and afterwards God lifted him up from the Grave wherein they had put him into the highest Heavens in his Ascension, and sitting now at his Right hand, where he is now lifted up infinitely above all his Enemies. Thou hast delivered me from the violent Man, who is as contrary to the Meckness and Gentleness of Christ as a Wolf is to a Lamb. But here God, the Everlasting Shepherd, who brought again the Lord

Jesus from the Dead, did deliver and restore this Lamb of God safe again from out of their Mouth, after they had taken him and with wicked Hands Crucified him. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the Heathen, and sing Praise unto thy Name: Great deliverance giveth he to his King (who in that day in reality and very deed shall be King both of the Jews and also of the Gentiles, yea, of all the Earth) and to his Anointed (which is the very Christ) to David and to his Seed for evermore. By which last word the Son of David is included; of whom as concerning the Flesh, Christ came, and also all the Seed and Children whom the Lord hath given him from the Beginning, from thenceforth and for evermore, in the most U∣niversal, comprehensive and extensive Signifi∣cation, throughout all the Earth, and to the end of Time, from thenceforth throughout all Eternity. Which is here so expressed for our Understanding and Apprehension. For there is no passing throughout all Eternity; for into that is an entrance, and in that is a continu∣ance, but no going through any part of what is without Succession of days or ending of time; but like God himself the Ancient of days, abi∣deth continually the same.

And they sung a new Song, saying, Thou art wor∣thy to take the Book and open the Seals thereof, for thou wast sla••n and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood, out of every Kindred and Tongue, and Peo∣ple and Nation. And hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests, and we shall Reign on the Earth.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom, and Strength, and Ho∣nour and Glory, and Blessing. And every Crea∣ture which is in Heaven and on the Earth, and un∣der the Earth, and such as are in the Sea, and all that is in them, heard I saying, Blessing and Honour and Glory and Power be unto him that sit∣teth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever, Rev. 5. 9, 10, 12, 13. After this, I beheld and lo a great Multitude which no Man could number of all Nationt and Kindred and People, and Tongues, stood before the Throne and before the Lamb, cloathed with white Robes and Palms in their Hands, and cried with a loud Voice saying, Salvation unto our God, which sitteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb, Blessing and Glory and Wisdom, and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power, and Might be to our God for ever and ever. Amen. Rev. 7, 9, 10, 12.