let these my words wherewith I have made supplication before the Lord be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night that He maintain the cause of his Servant and the cause of his people Israel at all times as the matter shall require IN the beginning of this Chapter we read of a General Assembly of the Representative body of the people of Israel thus in verse 1. Then Solomon assembled the Elders of Israel and all the heads of the Tribes the chiefe of the Fathers of the children of Israel and verse 2 3. And all the men of Israel assembled themselves and all the Elders of Israel came The special end of this great Assembly is shewed in verse 6. they brought in the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord into his place in the house of the Lord. Upon this occasion Solomon makes a large Prayer for the welfare and prosperity of the people of Israel which begins at the 22 and continues to the 54. verse wherin he mentions all the common Cases which might in changes of time befall the people of Israel and he commends their condition to the Lord for special mercy help in such cases as are expressed in the 37. verse If neâ—â— be famine or pestilence or warrs or captivity if there be these or such like cases and thy people Israel do repent and confess thy Name and praâ—â— then hear thou in heaven and forgive and do for them and hearken to them in all that they call upon â—hee for This is the SuÌ„me of his prayer At the Conclusion of which he pronounceth a solemn blessing upon the Congregation verse 55 He stood and blessed all the Congregation of Isâ—â—â— This blessing of Solomon consists in three things 1 A thankfull acknowledgment of present and former mercy that hitherto the Lord had given them rest verse 56 Blessed be the Lord that 〈◊〉 given â—â—st 〈◊〉 people Israel 2. A renewed Prayer for a threefold blessing to be farther granted boâ—â—at the present and for future times 1 And that he prayes for the gracious presence of God even such a gracious presence of God with them as their fathers had enjoyed verse 57 the Lord our God be with us 〈…〉 with our Father and because his heart was much in this therefore he repeats it againe let him not leave us nor forsake us 2. He payes so Divine assistance verse 58. That he may encline our hearts unto him to walk in his wayes and to keep his Commandements which he Commanded our Fathers 3. His third request is for Divine protection verse 59. Let these my Prayers be high to the Lord our God that his 〈◊〉 the cause of his People Israel which is amplyfied by the end of it that all the People of the 〈◊〉 may know that the Lord is God and that there is none elâ—â—â— verse 60. 3. And thâ—n the last particular wherein he blesseth the People is by Exhorting them to upright waking with God Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God â—o walk in his Statutes and to keep his Commandements as at this aâ—y verse 61. The Text as you see falls within the compass of Solomons blessing upon the representatative body of the People of Israel From the whole you may please to take notice of this Observation in the generall which I shall but briefly touch upon Doct. The Lords gracious presence with his people inclining their hearts to keep his Commandements and maintaining their cause is a Sufficient means to Establish the welfare of such a people even at their own hearts can wish For thus did Solomon bless the heads of the Tribes of Israel and he had the hearts of the whole Congregation going along with him that if the Lord would but grant his presence with them his assistance of them and his protection over them they had enough they could have no more they could be no better in this world And if we our selves now might have our wish if the Lord should say to us as Ahasâ—â—rus to Esther what is thy Petition or as he said sometime to Solomon ask what I shall give thee what could any of us or all of us desire more then this that the Lord our God would be with us as he hath been with our Fathers that he would incline our hearts to keep his Commandements which be Commanded our Fathers and that he would maintaine his own and his Peoples cause amongst us what can be desired and enjoyed by us more then this For doth not Immanuel God with us comprehend our whole good and the keeping of Gods Commandements containe our whole dutyâ— and is not the Lords maintaining the cause of his People enough to keep off whatever might interrupt or hinder us in the performing this duty and enjoying that good wherein the utmost happyness of a People on this side Heaven doth consist Let these requests therefore dwell upon the hearts of all the Lords People let us bear them continually upon our hearts before the Lord that as hitherto so still he may graunt unto all his Servants both Magistrates Ministers and People his Gracious presence divine assistance and divine protection in the times that are come upon us This is the Summe of all that we need or can receive or can desire whilest we are here tossed in the troublesome sea of this World passing to the Haven of eternall rest But I shall not further insist upon this It is another Doctrine which I mainly intend from the latter part of the 59 verse That he maintaine the cause of his People at all times as the matter shall require There are two things need a little opening here 1. What is meant by the cause of his People Israel 2. What is meant by the Lords maintaining the cause of his People at all times as the matter shall require 1. By because of his People â—râ—â— I understand the same which in other Scriptures is called the cause of Gâ—â— Pâ—â—l 74. â—2 Arise O God and plead thy own Cause So that there is a cause of God in the World mark I beseech you there is a cause which is God own cause Aâ—â—se O Lord and plead hâ—â— own â—use And if you please but to castâ—y urâ—ey upon two or three passages of that Psalm we need go no further to understand clearly what is the cause of God 〈◊〉 20. have respect unto the Covenant the cause of God is the cause of his Covenant it is also the cause of his Temple the dwelling place of his name verse 7. and further it is the cause of his Church verse 2. Remember thy Congregation which thou hast purchased of old thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed this mount Sion wherein thou hast dwelâ— i. e. his Church and so in the 8 verse you read of the Synagogues of God in the Land Now the very same was the cause of his People Israel for the speciall end of the great assembly mentioned in this Chapter it was to
simplicity of the Gospel on the right hand and on the left and many in the last dayes very many that have the form but deny the power of Godlyness Hence the cause of Religion much obscured and ready to be spoyled in the hands of those that profess to be the lovers of it That is the first Reason Reas 2. Taken from the Malice of the Devil and his Instrumentie Satan from the beginning hath had an old grudg against the seed of the Woman and he never wanted instruments who either by force or fraud or both have done what mischief they could against the Church and cause of God Thus in the story of Exodus Pharoah at first works wisely to undermine afterwards he works proudly to overtake and destroy the Israel of God Thus also in Psal 83.1 2 3. Keep not Silence O God for â—thine Enemies make a tumult they have consulted together they have said come let us cut them off that the name of Israel be had no more in remembrance and then there is mention made of Gebal Ammon and Amalek and many others And in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah no sooner had Zerubbabel and Joshua and the rest of the poor People of Israel begun to reform and set themselves about the work of the Lord but Sathan stood up to resist them as it is in Zech. 3.1 he had instruments at hand presently Sanballat and Tobia with their complices Nehem. 4.11 and our adversaries said they shall neither see nor know till we be in the midst amongst them and Slay them and cause their work to cease thus also in Ezr. 4.9 you read of Rehum the Chancellor and Shiâ—shi the Scribe with the rest of their companions pleading much the damage and dishonour of the King as in verse 13. and when they had got a commission they went up in hast unto Jerusalem to cause the work to cease and in the verse 23. they made them cease by force and power though it was but for a time as it appeares afterwards And if you look into Rev. 12.12 you shall find there in relation to the last times it is said Wee to the inhabitants of the Earth and of the Sea for the Devil is come down amongst you and his rage is great because he hath but a short time the shorter the time the fiercer the rage of Sathan against all that keep the Commandements of God and the Faith of Jesus where ever he can prevail down goes the divine Authority of the Scriptures and up goes the Commandements of Men in the Worship of God and all that will not doe must suffer and all that bear witness to truth and Holiness must be in sackcloth until the time of the End Now from hence againe the cause of Religion is much endangered by the haters of it That is the Second Reason Reas 3. The last Reason is taken from afflicting Providence He the great God changeth the times and the seasons Dan. 2.21 the History of the Church in all ages hath informed us of this that after a time of peace comes a time of trouble after a time of lâ—berty to be as good as men would be and as they should be there comes a time of restraint and sometimes even in the valley of vision there is a day of perplexitie and treading down and that from the Lord God of Hostes as it is in Isai 22.5 And though it hath been questioned whether Dioclesians persecution or Julians Toleration were more pernicious to the Church of God yet without question neither of these was without the Providence of God When the People of God know not how to use their peace and liberty when they have contracted the guilt of the Sins of such times it is but righteous with the Lord to bring them into bondage that they may know the service of the Lord with such a kind of Knowledg as Adam had after his fall to know good by the want and evil by the feeling of it by terrible thingâ— in righteousness wilt thou answer us O God who yet art the God of our Salvation and the confidence of such as are in the ends of the Earth Psal 65.5 But from hence also the cause of Religion comes to be in the same condition as the ship in which the disciples went when Christ was asleep there came down such a storm upon the Lâ—â—â— and they were so covered with the waves and in such Jeopardy they were faine to cry out unto him Master save us or we perish Gather up the Reasons briefly If the lovers of the cause of Religion be so unable to preserve it if the haters of it be so sedulous to destroy it and if the Lord himselfe seem to withdraw from it then it is no wonder if the times be such and the case be such as the maintaining of the cause of Religion doth need and require more then ordinary help from the Lord himselfe By this time you see the truth of the Doctrine Now let us consider the good of it in Application to our selves and that but in a couple of Uses The one for the Information of our Judgments The other for direction in point of Practice Vse 1. We may hence informe our selves not only what the Cause of God and his people is in other parts but what it is here with us I say to informe us what is the cause of God and his people in New-England This is the first use A mistake in this may be of dangerous consequence the true stating of this cause and the right understanding of it may be of no little help unto us in the times that are come upon us For it is more then our lives and as much as our soules are worth to own the cause of God and to be faithfull to it in our generation to confess or deny this cause is in Scripture interpretation to confess or deny Christ himselfe and you know what he hath said in Mat. 10.32 Whosoever shall confess me before men him will I confess before my Father which is in Heaven but whosoever shall deny me before Men him will I deny before my Father which is in Heaven and in the eighth of Mark and verse 38. Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful Generation â—f him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with all his Holy Angels Give me leave then I beseech you Honoured and Beloved to present a few things unto you about this Causâ— I confess I should be utterly inexcusable in adventuring to shew my weakness in such a place at such a time as this were I not able to call the Most Hâ—â—h to Witness that nothing but Conscience of my duty put me and kept me upon this Subject when I received the Summons of the Honourablâ— Gâ—â— to preach it this time it was desired that some suitable word might be spoken now whether the stating of
Judgment and in Ephes 5.17 Be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is In two evils of sin there is no Election neither is to be chosen but in two evils of affliction the less hath the respect of a good and may be chosen to prevent a greater evil In the question what is best we are not only to consider what is best in it self but what is best with reference to all the circumstances of a case In matters divine where we have a clear Command with Moses we must not yeild an hoof but in matters humane Summum jus may be Summa injuria standing upon extream right may prove extream wrong Saluâ— populi suprema Lex the safety of the Common-wealth is the supream Law And here suffer me I beseech you to exhort you unto that which is the duty of us all and that is to be peaceable and faithful in Israel according to that speech of one in a troublesome time when there were some that said they had no part in David 2 Sam. 20.19 I am one that am peaceable and faithfull in Israel it was the speech of a woman but it may well become the wisest men and the most godly to be peaceable and faithfull in Israel First peaceable from Schisme in the Church and sedition in the Common-Wealth or whatsoever tends unto faction studying to be quiet and every one to do their own work and then faithfull to the cause of Religion according to our duty to God faithfull to the King according to the oath of Allegâ—â—nce and faithfull to the Government here according to the Oath of fidelity And be you all exhorted in the words of the Holy Apostle Rom. 14. â—9 â—â—w after the things which make for peace and beware of such things as may endanger it amongst your selves let none say that these or those are disaffected to the Cause of God and his People because they see not 〈◊〉 some things as others do do not impropriate the cause of Religion to some in opposition to others who profess the same cause none should speak of themselves as if they were the Godly party and eminently Saints and faithful with despising others nothing is more offensive amongst Christians then to confine Religion to some singular Opinion as if Religion did mainly Center there there were differences at Corinth but how doth the Apostle write unto them all 1 Cor. 1.2 2 Cor. 1.2 to the Saints at Corinth and to all that call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus their Lord and ours mark that expression their Lord and ours theirs and ours wherin the Apostle checks the conceitedness in some that would impale and inclose the common Cause of Christ unto themselves and some peculiar Opinion of theirs let us beware of this And the Apostle saw it needfull to admonish the best Christians let nothing be done through strife or vain glory or in a way of provoking one another avoyding jealousiâ—s and uncharitable censures being watchfull that Satan get no advantage this also is for our Admonition and I hope that the votes of this day will make it appear you have a due respect unto your ancient Magistrates that have born the burden and heat of the day and that you have no undue prejudice against any that have been and may be still instruments of publick good When once in Capua they were thinking of leaving out some of their Senators they considered where they should have better and what might follow they considered what might follow and this Reconciled their mindes Finally Brethren be you all of one mind in this to be faithfull and peaceable in Israel that as it hath been so it may still be an honour to all the people of this Colonie that they are peaceable men and whatever the rumors and surmises have been yet I hope it will appear such as are not yet frâ—-Men will be so farr from disturbance that they will not offer to vote in the Elections of this day And I doubt not but the General Court will take the case into Serious Consideration afterwards but for the present all should be carefull that there may be a peaceable transaction of the publick affaire and a peaceable Subjection to the Government here and that all the People as one Man doe manifest their due sense of the many Blessings they have enjoyed under the present Government for so many years that there may be conjoyned Prayers and endeavours for the continuance of it according to the Patent which under God and the King is to be acknowledged as the foundation of the civil Government here It is now 35 year since I well Remember in the year 28 that one of the first Ministers that came over into this Wilderness giving some account of his grounds in a great Assembly of many Thousands at Leicester in Old-England he mentioned this as one the mercy of the Patent and the largeness of the Patent from the royall Authority of England for the people here to chuse their own Magistrates and to admit unto freedom such as they should think meet and that Religion was the Principall end of this Plantation in his Majesties Royal intention and the adventurers free possession This whole generation hath seen how good the Lord hath been unto us in this Wilderness for so many years under the Government setled here by the Patent And therefore at in the matter of Religion we are to keep to the Word of God so in the matter of the Civil Government keep to the Patent And thus to be peaceable faithful in Israel is the way of well doing wherin we are to commit the maintaining of the Cause of Religion to the Lord our God I shall now dispatch the other two directions very breifly 2. In the way of humble Prayer commit this Cause unto God by humble fervent and frequent Prayer as we are directed in the text let these my Prayers be nigh to the Lord our God that he maintain the Cause of his People Israel When the matter requires more then ordinary help from the Lord himselfe and yet the Lord seems to withdraw and to be asleep then the Servants of God must awaken him by their Importunate Prayers as the disciples in the storm did awaken our Saviour saying Lord save us or we Perish When the People of God are faithfull to own his Cause and carefull neither to fall short of their duty nor to go beyond it but keep in the narrow way of wel-doing and yet meet with such stormes of Providence as they are at their Wits end what remaines then but Prayers tears O our God we know not what to doe but our eyes are unto thee Arise O Lord and plead thy own Cause Awake awake O arm of the Lord as in ancient times 3. Last of all Sanctifie the Lord himselfe as the alsufficient maintainer of this Cause as David said thâ—â— O Lord art the maintainer of my Lâ—â— Psal 16.5 When the Cause of Religion seemes ready to be spoiled by the professors of it and ready to be mined by the opposers of it yet there is one in heaven that is able and faithfull and watchfull and skilful for the preservation of it and therefore in quietness and confidence in returning and resting shall we be saved as the Prophet speaks Isai 30.15 we should not onely submit unto but acquiesce and rest in the Infinite Wisdom and good pleasure of God that he may doe it in his own way rejoicing in this that the Lord Reignes over all Give unto the Lord the Glory due unto his name that he will not forsake his People he may afflict his People and there may be need of it and Cause for it but he will not forsake his People for his great names sake 1 Sam. 12.22 And be comforted in this that the safety of the Church Militant lyes upon the hand and belongs to the care of Jesus Christ the ship of the Church may be endangered it cannot be drowned so long as the Lord lives he hath a thousand wayes that we know not of for him to maintain his own and his Peoples Cause Now unto him be Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Amen FINIS
THE CAUSE OF GOD AND HIS PEOPLE IN NEW-ENGLAND as it was STATED and DISCUSSED IN A Sermon Preached before the Honourable GENERAL COVRT of the MASSACHVSETS COLONY on the 27 day of May 1663. Being the Day OF ELECTION at BOSTON By JOHN HIGGINSON Pastor of the Church of Christ at SALEM Mat. 22.21 And Jesus said unto them render unto Cesar the things that are Cesars and unto GOD the things that are Gods 1 Pet. 2.17 Honour all men love the Brotherhood fear God Honour the King 1 Chron. 12.32 And of the children of Issachar which were men that had understanding in the times to know what Israel ought to do CAMBRIDG Printed by Samuel Green 1663. Christian Reader THe Curse of God and his people which is the subject of this following Pious and Elabourate discourse never 〈◊〉 more â—â—lp from Heaven nor more servant prayers from earth to be put up to the God of heaven for then aâ—â—aming of it tâ—â—◠〈◊〉 this time For some there are and not a sin that are so engaged to their own interests that leâ— the cause of God and his people sink or swim they care not so their own â—nds be compassed and their own designe projects may find sure fooâ—â—ng and these are your self-loving worldly politiciâ—ns that are of this world as Christ speaks and savour nothing but the things of the world and seek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that seek their own and not the things of Jesus Christ Others there are so dissolute and prophane are risen up to such as height of impiety that they do no more regard this Cause than the airâ— under then â—â—et they are so around in drink other sensual deliâ—hts his and are so heightned in their Oaths blaspheâ—â—â— and other abominations thaâ— God and his peoples câ—â—se are not in their thoughts 〈◊〉 if at any time this câ—â—se come into them 〈◊〉 as it is only to cast the foulest persâ—â—â—â— they can upon it and to be spatter 〈◊〉 with the baâ—â—st obliquies and 〈◊〉 speeches that the Devil their own cursed hearts can invent and to persecute it wiâ—â— tongue 〈◊〉 and heart hand to the highest degree of persecution even unto bloud and slâ—ughter though when they have done all that ever they 〈◊〉 they shall not be able to 〈◊〉 the cause nor the faithfull servants of Christ that â—â—â—ck 〈◊〉 but as the Primitive believers said of persecuting Nero Nero may kill us but he cannot hurt us so may we say now Others there are that seem to own this cause and adventure much this way and may not only be willing to lose their liberty estates the favour of great freinds but go further also yet afterward turn away draw back and these are hypocrites which are either taken with the eye-lids of the aluring harlot the world in the profits pleasures honours of it or else are afraid of her frownes discouragements after all their former sufferings they have ventured so far but dare go no further and so lise all they have wrought and suffer in vain these are not true to the caâ—se of God and his people and by their puting away a good conscience and wanâ— of self-denial make shipwrack of the faith and cause we speak of Only there is a very few sincere ones that hold their own and in the worst times deale pâ—â—â—ently and discern both time and judgment and are valiant for this câ—â—se All which duty weighed and seriously considered no wonder that this holy man of God being guided by his Spirit made choise of this subject to preach upon in that great Assembly at the Court of Election now in these dayes wherin so many turne their backs of God and set themselves so desparately against Hâ—â— his peoples cause I was to starâ— us all up to besiege beleagâ—â— the â—â—râ—e of Grace now in thâ—se last and peâ—ilâ—us dayes and times to awake stand to maintaine this cause to shew forth his Almighty power in crushing all the designes and out-plotting all the plots of Sathan his instruments that undermine this cause and the Lord help us all to attend what God by his Spirit speaks to us and now if ever to pray give God no rest â—ll this cause be maintained against the faces forces of all its enemies The Sermon when preached was acceptable to all and found general approbation among all the wise-hearted and godly so far as we have heard Reader thou hast iâ— to peruse read it understand thy time according to it let the cause of God and his people lie neerer to thine heart then ever and let thy soâ—l awake more to be a Prince with God to prevaile that this cause may be main aâ—ed upheld against all the powers of darkness and all the conspiracies of men on earth and devills in hell that it may be victorious ride in triumph till Christ come who will own is before the whole world and them that have stood for it though it have cost them dear from those that have been the dâ—spisers of it We have no more to say but to desire from our hearts that the blessing of heaven may go along with the labour of his Servant in this work and that be we and whosoever read it may find this fruit that we may tread in this wise Kings steps who prayed so fervently that God would maintain his cause his peoples alwayes as the matter shall require Prayer of Faith opens all dores prevailes for all blessings hath such power with God that it never comes away empty but as that renowned Emperour said that he never sent any suâ—er â—â—d wâ—â— from his presence so we may be sure that the Lord will do to them that sue to him giving them all that they seek to him for especially in maintaining his own and his peoples cause which he cannot sâ—e forsaken and will not send his suiters and suppliants sad away from him they are bidden to come with boldnesse to â—he Throne of Grace One word more we have done Jesus Christ that great Favourite by whom both our persons and prayers are accepted and this cause comes to be maintained for the much Incense that he offers up with the prayers of all Saints prevailes ever for us this cause when it and we the honour of both are laid most in the dust To this Lord Jesus with the blessed Father and Eternal Spirit be Glory and Power everlasting Amen Thine in Him who is â—oâ— Love and Life John Wilson Senior Samuel Whitâ—ng THE CAUSE OF GOD AND HIS PEOPLE IN NEW-ENGLAND Stated and Discussed 1 King 8.57 58 59. The Lord our GOD be with us as He was with our Fathers let him not leave us nor forsake us That be may encline our hearts unto him to walke in all his wayes and to keep his Commandements his Statutes and his Judgments which he Commanded our Fathers And
the cause of God and his People amongst uâ— be not seasonable I leave to the consideration of â—his â—wful and 〈◊〉 Aâ—sâ—h And I hope â—n the Lord I shall say nothing about it but what might be more abundantly made out by Scripture light and what the generallity of all the People of God not engaged unto parties will readily subscribe unto First then in the general the cause of God and his people amongst us is the Cause of Religion I say the cause of Religion 〈◊〉 the profession and practize of the one true Religion to be in all thing according to Gods Word This was the cause of God and Israel then the same is the cause of God and his people now To keep and seek for all the Commandements of God To walk in his waies and to keep his Commandements which he Commanded our Fathers as it is in the text that every thing in Doctrine Worship and Discipline be conformed unto and regulated by the rule of the word This is the Cause of God and his People in New-England in the Generall But that it may be more clearly understood let me propound it more particularly both in the Negative what this cause is not and in the Affirmative what it is And first Negatively It is 1. Not the getting of this Worlds good 2. Not Separation from other Churches 3. Not a toleration of all Religions 1. Not the getting of this Worlds good The cause we are speaking of it never was it is not now the getting increasing of this worlds good Our Saviour Christ hath commanded seek first the Kingdome of God and the righteousness therof and all other things shall be added Mat. 6 33. Accordingly when the Lord stirred up the spirits of so many of his people to come over into this wilderness it was not for worldly wealth or a better livelyhood here for the outward man the generallity of the people that came over professed the contrary nor had we any rationall grounds to expect such a thing in such a wilderness as this And though God hath blessed his poor people here with an addition of many earthly comforts and there are that have encreased here from small beginnings to great estates that the Lord may call this whole generation to witness and say O generation see the word of the Lord have I been a wilderness unto you Jer. 2.32 O generation see look upon your towne fields look upon your habitations shops and ships and behold your numerous posterity and great encrease in the blessings of the Land Sea have I been a wilderness unto you we must needs answer No Lord thou hast been a gracious God and exceeding good unto thy Servants ever since we came into this wilderness even in these earthly blessing we live in a more plentifull comfortable manner then ever we did â—xâ—â—ct But these are but additions they are but additionall mercies it was another thing and a better thing that we followed the Lord into the wilderness for My Fathers and Brethren this is never to be forgotten that New-England is originally plantation of Religion not a plantation of Trade Let Merchants and such as are increasing Cent per Cent remember this Let others that have come over since at several times understand this that worldly gain was not the end and designe of the people of New-England but Religion And if any man amongst us make Religion as twelve and the world as thirteen let such an one know he hath neither the spirit of a true New-England man nor yet of a sincere Christian 2. Not Separation from other Churches either in our own or other countries I say not separation from any thing good in other Churches whether truth of Church estate or any Doctrine professed or any Ordinance administred so far as it was or is agreeable to the word of God We deny not the being of Churches where many things are wanting to their well-being We distinguish between the corruptions and disorders of Churches and the Churches themselves We profess communion with not separation from the Churches of Christ in lawfull things They are the European Churches in which that numerous company of 144000. are said to stand with the â—amb upon mount Sion Rev. 14.1 and these are said to â—â—â—p the Commandements of God and the faith of Jesus verse 12. It is the doctrine and worship of the Reformed Churches comming out of Popery which are said to be as a Sea of glass man led with 〈◊〉 Râ—â— 15.2 if gâ—â—â— then they are not clear as Cristall as those in the Primitive times Chap. 4 6 and yet not as the blood of a dead man as those under Popery Châ—â— 16.3 it 〈◊〉 a Sea of glâ—ss mingled with â—â—r the fire of persecution withâ—ut and of contention within and yet they that stand upon this Sea have gotten the victory over the Beast and have the Harpes of God in their hands and are accepted of the Lord. The end of our comming hither was a reformation only of what was amiss or defective in the churches we came from from which we made no separation but a locall secession only into this wilderness with true desires and endeavours after a more full Reformation according to Gods word 1. Not a toleration of all Religions or of the Heresies Idolatries of the age we live in I say not a toleration of these so farr as wee have liberty and power for to help it How inconsistent would such a toleration be with the love of the one true Religion revealed in the word of God would not such a state be guilty of having other Gods where such a toleration is is it not the end of Civill Authority that men may live a quiet peaceable life in godliness as well as honesty but not in the wayes of ungodliness no more then in the wayes of dishonesty in a word the Gospel of Jesus Christ hath a right paramount all rights in the world it hath a Divine Supream right to be received in every Nation and the knee of Magistracie is to bow at the name of Jesus This right carryes liberty along with it for all such as profess the Gospel to walk according to the Faith Order of the Gospell That which is contrary to the Gospel hath no right and therefore should have no liberty But the Lawes which have been made by the Civill Government here with respect unto Religion whereby you have declared your professed subjection to the Gospel and your non-toleration of that which is contrary thereunto this will be a name and a glory to New-England so long as the Sun and Moon endure And so much for the Negative what the cause of God and his People amongst us is not viz not this Worlds good not separation not a toleration 2. Now in the second place for the Affirmative if my weakness was able to shew you what the Cause of God and his People in New-England is according to its divine