all degrees saw how they had been deceived but also Kings by the Light of the Gospel saw how their Senses were stupified and made Drunk with the Wine of the Whores Fornication so that not only in other Nations but in this Nation also the Kings who had long given their Power to the Beast until the Words of God should be fulfilled Rev. 18. 17. began to hate the Romish Whore and the Beast that carried her so that a part of the Beast's power out of this Land was destroyed when the Cardinals Jesuits and others aforenamed were Abolished By which means the power of the Beast was abated and more of the Lord's Servants came boldly forth * Rev. 7. 14. out of great Tribulations all signified by an Angel flying through the midst of Heaven to Preach the Everlasting †Rev. 14. 6. Gospel unto them that dwell on the Earth So that by this time the Temple of God was opened in Heaven ‖ Rev. 11. 19. and the Ark of the Testament meaning God's Law clearly seen in the truth thereof as was signified by the Lightnings and Voices and Thunderings which wrought such an Earthquake among the Antichristian Professors that the tenth * Rev. 11. 13. part of the City fell meaning the great City the Romish Church that Reigned over the Kings of the Earth to the number of God's Elect in Israel 7000 of which number of Faithful Elect Precious Living Stones were many famous Churches established in England Scotland France Germany Holland and other parts to the great joy of Christendom And thus according to the Mystery signified to Zechariah by a Man with a †Zach. 2. 1 2. Ezek. 40. 2 3 5. Measuring-Line in his Hand signifying that Jerusalem should be built the second Temple in it and God's true Worship restored as was done in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah Even so according to the Figure was it shewed to * Rev. 11. 1. John by a Reed given him to measure the Temple of God the Altar and Worshippers that God's Temple of living Stones and holy Truth and Order of Worship should be restored by a Call of the Lord's People out of the Spiritual Babylon in these latter Days as aforesaid So that as Judah their Figure must separate themselves from all the †Ezra 6. 21. filthiness of the old Babylonians in Worship in so much that they admitted no Man to the work of the Priesthood but such as could prove their * Neh. 7. 64. Chronology according to God's Law neither suffer any Priest that had fallen down before an Idol never †Ezek. 44. 12 13. more to Administer in the Priests Office because they were Figures of Christ our High Priest in his Office Even so the forenamed Christian Protestants by the number 7000 would not take a Stone of Babylon for a Corner * Jer. 5. 26. or for a Foundation that is any one to be their Minister by virtue of Romes Ordination because the Ministers under the Gospel that enter not into their Ministry by the Door of Christ's Ordination as afore shewed are accounted by Christ but Thieves and Robbers So that as Virgins not defiled with Women or the devices of false Churches Rev. 14. 1 4. Heb 12. 22 ought all those to be that follow the Lamb Christ Jesus on Mount Sion no more bearing the Beast's * Rev. 13. mark in serving God by Mens devices but the †Isa 42. 4. Mat. 12. 21. Name or Law of Christ in their Fore-heads serving the Lord in Worship by the Appointment of the Lord Jesus only As it is written This is my beloved Son hear him Luke 9. 35. Moreover dear Protestants note that in the Earthquake aforesaid there were besides the 7000 aforesaid a Remnant * Rev. 11. 13. who seeing and hearing the powerful Doctrine of true Faith in Christ Temperance and Judgment to come like Felix ‖ Act. 24 25 trembled or as the Scripture saith were affrighted to see the great Power of God in the work of Conversion Of 7000 with Caleb and †Num. 14. Joshuah following the Lord fully gave Glory to the God of Heaven as some in Acts 5. 13. but durst not joyn themselves with them yet by the small glimps of the Light they saw they began to take their Journey towards Sion after the fore-named Christians But in the Wilderness †Rev. 12. 14. Ezek. 20. 35. Gal. 1. 16. of this World meeting with some Crosses and Troubles in the Flesh for Christ's sake began to reason with Flesh and Blood like some Israelites whether God were able to furnish a Table in the ‖ Numb 11. 4. Wilderness So these having received the Seed of God's Word on a Rock had no root * Luke 8. 13. that is having no more Love to Christ than to any Worldly Joy or Pleasure in time of Temptation fell away So that they would go no farther than the King and the most went in that Day not willing to suffer any more for Christ's sake were content to go so far as to have the Pope's Supremacy Lord Abbots Cardinals Jesuits Monks and Friars expelled the Land but staid there and sat down in the mid-way between Sion and †Rev. 18. 4 Babylon or * Rev. 11. 8 Egypt under a part of the Romish Ministry and Service-Book some of the grossest things being wiped out And this was the state of many Protestant Congregations as may be seen at this day as is also confirmed by Mr. Fox in the Acts and Monuments of those Times some of which Report is as followeth Acts and Monuments Edit 5. pag. 1180 1181 1184. The Priests and Clergy that yielded to the King's Laws were suffered to keep their Places and Livings After this the King appointed the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with other Bishops to make one convenient and meek Order Rite and fashion of Common-Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments who did so Then in the next Parliament following it was agreed that all Ministers in the Realm should be bound to say and use the Mattines Even-Song Celebration of the Lord's Supper in such Order and Form as was contained in the said Book and not otherwise Now because some small Alteration was made Complaint was made how * Ibid. 1186. by the cloaked Contempt and wilful Winking and stubborn disobedience of the Bishops and old Popish Curates the Book of Common-Prayer was long after the publishing of the same either not known at all or else very irreverently used through many places of the Realm Yet was there no great cause why the People should so despise it for as the King answered the Rebels in Devonsh †Ibid. 1189. If the Service was good in Latin it remained good in English for nothing was altered but to speak with Knowledg that which was spoken in Ignorance And thus we see that these Protestants did not separate themselves fully in coming out of Babylon so as
CHRISTIAN WARNING-PIECE FOR ALL TRUE PROTESTANTS BY WAY OF CHRISTIAN COUNSEL and ADVICE TO THE KING'S Most Excellent MAJESTY and all His good Protestant Subjects sounded forth out of the Written Word of GOD. Wherein is clearly shewed the true Causes why the Lord in former Ages brought his severe Judgments on his own People both before the Law under the Law and under the Gospel All which being applied to the present State of Protestants is proved both by Scripture and History that it is the same Cause still for which the Lord is bringing His severe Judgments on his Protestant People Together with the Means if imbraced which God in Mercy hath Ordained to prevent the same By THOMAS WALL Cry aloud spare not lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet and shew my People their Transgressions and the House of Jacob their Sins Isa 58. 1. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our Learning and Admonition upon whom the ends of the World are come Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall Rom. 15. 4. 1 Cor. 10. 11. Whosoever heareth the sound of the Trumpet and taketh not Warning his Blood shall be upon his own Head But he that taketh Warning shall deliver his own Soul Ezek. 33. 4 5. LONDON Printed in the Year 1680. TO THE King's Most Excellent Majesty Most humbly shewing THat the most Wise God who hath made all things for his * Rev. 4. 11. Pleasure hath ordained in every Nation but two States Pillers or Legs to stand upon the one Civil and the other Spiritual The Civil State is God's Ordinance of Magistratical Government under divers Titles as Kings or other Chief Governours unto whom an excellent †Dan. 4. 36. Majesty is given them of God as next under ‖ Rom. 13. God Head of the Commonwealth the Lord's Lieutenants here on Earth And seeing since the Fall Mans Heart is * Jer. 17. 9. deceitful and in Mans Flesh dwelleth no good thing so that the Good he would do he doth not but the Evil he would not that he doth †Rom. 7. Therefore for guide in Government God hath given Kings the second ‖ Exod. 20. Table of his Royal Law as a most sure Foundation and Rule to square all their Laws by to govern their People so that by it they bear not the Sword in vain but use it to the Glory of God for the punishment of Evil-doers * Rom. 13. and the praise of them that do well Of which Trust and Stewardship committed to them they must shortly give an Account to their Chief Judg the Prince of the Kings of the Earth the Lord Jesus at the last Day The other State or Piller is the †Rev. 15. 3 Mat. 28. 18 Kingly Government of the Lord Jesus in his Church or ‖ John 18. 36. Kingdom in all things Spiritual As Christ hath his Office under God the only Head of his Mystical Body * Ephes 5. 23. Col. 1. 17. the Church unto whose Government is given the first Table of God's Law according to which most sure Foundation are all the Laws made in all Ages for his worship And though Christ was not manifested in the Flesh till these last Times yet was he from the Days of Adam King in his Church on his holy †Psal 2. 6. Hill of Sion in those who were Figures of him as * Heb. 7. 1. Ps 110. 4. Melchisedeck ‖ Acts 3. 22. Moses and David so Christ was the same Yesterday to Day and for †Heb. 13. 8 ever who now in his Church sitteth on the Throne of his Father David as it is written of him * Isa 11. 3 4. That he shall not judg after the sight of his Eyes nor reprove after the hearing of his Ears but with Righteousness shall he judg the Poor and reprove with Equity for the Meek of the Earth and shall smite the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth and with the breath of his Lips shall he slay the Wicked So that his Weapons are not Carnal as his Kingdom is not of this World so differing from the Civil State Moreover as these be the only States ordained of God and the nature of them being so different the one from the other as the nature of a thing Civil and Spiritual is so that the one State may not meddle with the Work◠that belongeth to the other And hereupon did the Lord in his Wisdom constitute the Civil State in the Tribe of * Gen. 49. 10. 2 Chron. 5. 2. Judah and the Spiritual State in the Tribe of Levi but when King Uzziah would presume to break God's Order to do that Work which †2 Chron. 27. 16 17 18. belonged not to the Civil States Office the Lord smote him with Leprosie to the day of his Death that others may be warned not to presume above what is written 1 Cor. 4. 6. Therefore the Lord Jesus our High Priest and only Lord Spiritual in his Church would not meddle with the Magistrates-work nor Office to give Judgment on a Woman taken in Adultery ‖ John 8. 3 4 5. nor divide Inheritances between Brethren And likewise commanded his Disciples and all Bishops and Ministers to the Worlds end not to take on them the title * Luke 22. 25. Mat. 20. 25. of Politick Princes but rather he that would be Chief to be Servant to all and not as Lords either in Title or Rule over God's Heritage †1 Pet. 5. 3. or Churches of God Therefore we see God in his Wisdom hath limited either State to keep within the limits he hath ordained for them Therefore as touching the Civil Magistratical State we may justly conclude That whatsoever Person he be whether Noble or Ignoble that shall presume to Alter Change or Diminish to or from any part of the Laws Ordinances Offices or Order contrary to the King 's Royal Crown and Dignity established by Law according to the second Table of God's Law must needs be accounted a Traytor to the King and suffer his high Displeasure Accordingly may we conclude concerning the Spiritual State of Christ's Government in his Church That whatsoever Person he be whether Noble or Ignoble that shall presume to Add or Diminish Alter or Change any thing in Government or Ministry Time Maintenance or Order contrary to the Rules or Laws of Christ's Testament founded on the first Table of God's Law in all things pertaining to the Worship of God may justly be deemed a Traytor to the Royal Crown and Dignity of the Lord Jesus and may hear the Sentence out of his own Mouth against them saying Bring those mine Enemies that would not that I should Reign over them and slay them before me Either by casting out of his Church or by everlasting Wo at the last Day May it therefore please your Majesty in your Wisdom to consider these things That it is one of the Crying
an artificial Eye or Brest So shall your Majesty and People hope as King Josiah and his People did that the Judgments threatned against this Land may be turned away as it was from his As it is proved in the following Lines that it was chiefly for corruptions in Faith and Worship that God brought his Judgments on his own People Now would it please your Majesty in your Civil Kingdom to suffer your Self to be so abused as to have no Servants to serve You in your Kingdom or at your Table but what the King of another Nation thinketh fit No sure How then shall the Lord Jesus the Prince of the Kings of the Earth suffer himself any longer to be so Abused as to have no Servants to serve Him in his Church of his own Appointment either in Name or Office as Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons but what the Pope or other Mortal Men think fit Neither would your Majesty accept of the Service of any Subject Noble or Ignoble that should proffer his Service to serve You in your Civil Affairs if he did not do the same as your Majesty had given him Command and not as he pleased How then shall the Lord Jesus accept nay he doth not accept of the Service of any Person of what Degree soever that shall in his Spiritual Kingdom or Church serve him never so zealously except he do that Work and Service to God as Christ in his Testament hath commanded him If it were not so the very Turks that boast how they are Worshippers of the Living God and do abhor Idols would go beyond many that bear the name of Christians who though they do zealously worship the Living Beal Ep. to image of both Churches God and concerning Christ allow him to be a great Prophet the Word of God the Spirit of God born of Mary the Virgin yet because they worship not God by the Appointment of the Lord Jesus in his Testament but according to the directions of Mahomet therefore are they and their services rejected of God So likewise the Papists boast how they worship God yet abhor not Idols but because they do it by direction of sundry Popes and not by Christ's Appointment they are rejected of God and their service But if a Turk or Papist should ask many Protestants By whose Appointments do you worship God If truly answered must say Partly by the directions of Christ for we have his Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper and partly by the Appointments of sundry Popes and Bishops as after is shewed So that for these things among other Evils God is bringing his Judgments on your Kingdom Oh therefore that your Majesty together with your Honorable Council would seriously consider these things that the Wrath of the Lord may be turned away from us And lastly Seeing there is but one way to escape God's Judgments threatned let not a Heathen Prince as Christ told the Jews come in Judgment at the last Day against a Christian Prince viz. the King of Jonah 3. Nineveh who so soon as he heard the Judgment of God threatned against him and his People arose from his Throne and laid his Robes from him issued forth a Proclamation to his People to keep a true Fast to the Lord as he required that is to break off their Sins by Repentance in turning every one from his evil way and from the violence that was in their Hands who did so so that it is written God saw their Works and repented of the evil he threatned against them Thus having discharged the part of a true Protestant Subject presented to a Wise Protestant Prince not doubting but this Mite shall be accepted and protected by yonr Majesty in Christian love to the Truth for the Honour of God and comfort of your Soul and the joy and comfort of your Protestant Subjects So that your Majesty with the Godly Kings of Judah doing the Will of God herein may have many Years Acts 13. 36. Rev. 21. 24. on Earth a prosperous Reign and having brought your Honour and Glory to the glorious State of Christ's Kingdom in his Church whereby She may enjoy all her Rights and Priviledges you may undoubtedly receive with Christ a Crown of Glory eternally in the Heavens which is and shall be the Prayer of your most humble Subject THO. WALL A Word of Advice to all true Protestants AS it is the duty of every true Christian not to hide his Talant in the * Luke 19. with Mark 25. 25. Earth but put it on a Candlestick that all may be benefited by the same I therefore judg if ever there were a time to speak it is now when the Protestant Religion lieth at stake to be utterly Ruined and the Professors thereof Murdered by the Blood-thirsty Papists the Spiritual Assyrians the Rod of God's Anger †Isa 10. 5. against his own People So that as Affliction doth not come out of the ‖ Job 5. 6. Dust nor Trouble spring out of the Ground for as saith the Scripture Is there any Evil * Amos 3. 6. in the City to wit of Punishment and I have not done it saith the Lord And when the Lord giveth Quietness who can make †Job 34. 29. Trouble and when he hideth his Face who can behold him whether it be done against a Nation or a Man only Therefore I have thought it the most profitable way to shew what I have gathered out of holy Scripture was the cause in Ages past that the Lord brought Judgments on his own People and to apply the same to our present Condition Which if the Lord help us truly to mind the same as Christians ought to do it may be a means to obtain Mercy at the Hand of the Lord to turn away his Judgments Let us take a view of these things from the first State of old Secondly When God had graciously restored Adam by his Grace in Christ promised and given him Ordinances as Figures of Christ to come to perform in the Lord 's holy order of Worship which in the days of his Son Enos his Children had greatly departed from corrupted their Way meaning their ‖ Gen. 6. 12. with Acts 18. 25. and 22. 4. Faith and Religion as also their making Marriages with Cain's Posterity called the Daughters of Men which was not lawful for the Members of the Church called the Sons of God to do and though God called them to Repentance by Noah's Preaching and warned them by his building the Ark of the Judgment intended by the Flood yet they persisted in their evil Course untill the Flood destroyed them all And how like to this is the state of Luke-warm Protestants now So that Christ likened the last Days we are fallen in to the Days of * Luke 17. 26. Noah for Sin and Wickedness by departing from the true Faith and by corruption in Worship and Members of Churches now making Marriages with those they cannot in Conscience
joyn with in the Ordinances of Worship Thirdly Though God did miraculously save Eight Souls by †1 Pet. 3. 20. Water yet in the days of Ferah the Father of Abraham was the Church so corrupted in Faith and Worship that God forsook them and called Abraham thence ‖ Gen. 11. 12. Josh 24. 2. and they that would go with him so God made his Covenant in Christ with him and his Children which went in process of time into Egypt But when they defiled themselves with the * Ezek. 20. 7. Idols of Egypt and were corrupted in their Faith and Worship the Lord made the King of Egypt the Rod of his Anger †Exod. 2. 23. grievously to Afflict them How like is this to the Condition of Corrupt Protestants now in their Faith and Worship Fourthly The Lord for his own Name sake first by his Punishments and then by his Promises and Wonders ‖ Exod. 4. 30. won them again to his true Faith and Worship and then he quickly destroyed their Oppressors in the Sea and afterwards in the Wilderness gave them his just Precepts between Man and Man and his holy Ordinances and Decrees for Worship which when they broke the Lord * 1 Cor. 10. Numb 16. 31. destroyed some by the Sword of their Enemies and others by the Sword of their own Brethren Some the Earth opened and swallowed up alive others died of the Pestilence so that within the space of forty Years of 600000 Fighting Men that came out of Egypt but two †Numb 14. 24. 2 Cor. 10. entred Canaan And this is written saith the Apostle for ensample to us Protestants on whom the Ends of the World are come Fifthly When God by the hand of Joshua brought their Posterity into Canaan the Lord strictly charged them concerning their Faith and Worship saying After the * Lev. 18. 2 3 doings of the Land of Egypt wherein ye dwelt ye shall not do neither after the doings of the Land of Canaan whither I bring you shall ye not do neither walk in their Ordinances My Judgments shall ye do my Ordinances shall ye keep to walk in them I am the Lord. Yea they were not so much as to †Deut. 12. 32. enquire how the Nations served their Gods that they might do so unto the Lord their God but whatsoever the Lord commanded them they should take heed to do without adding or diminishing But how quickly after the death of Joshua and the Elders of his Time did they corrupt themselves with the Inventions of Men in their Worship for which the Lord sold them into their Enemies hands * Judges ch 2. that so they could no longer stand before them And will not Protestants mind this in our day of Danger Sixthly And was not King Solomon beloved of his God who appeared to him twice Yet when he was drawn away with his Idolatrous and straying Wives to a Worship devised by Man did not God stir up Adversaries †2 Kings 11. 14 25. against him Hadad the Edomite and Rezon who were Adversaries to Solomon all his days And shall not Kings remember this Because the Judge of all the Earth will reward every one according to their Works And when Rehoboam Solomon's Son who was brought up in the Ways of the Lord forsook the same the Lord stirred up Shishack King ‖ 2 Chron. 12. 12. 1 Kings 14. 24. of Egypt to come against him to his great Prejudice And when the ten Tribes under King Jeroboam worshipped God by the * 2 Chron. 11. 15. devices of Men and by another Ministry than what God had ordained they were not only said to be without the True God without a Teaching Priest and without Law but there was no †2 Chron. 15. 3 4 5 6 Peace to him that went out nor to him that came in Nation was destroyed of Nation City of City for God did vex them saith the Scripture with all Adversity And whilst God was thus chastizing them in Measure he sent his Prophets to call them to his true Faith and Worship which still they despising at length the Lord stirred up the Spirit of Pull ‖ 1 Chron. 5. 26. 2 Kings 15. 19. and the Spirit of Tilgath-Pilneser Kings of Assyria who carried them away into Captivity to their utter Ruine And when Judah would not take warning but fell to false Worship and would not be reclaimed by the Lord's Prophets rising early * 2 Chron. 36. 15. Jer. 25. 3. 35. 15. sent to them and after many Afflictions on them the Lord sent against Judah Rezin the King of Assyria to their great Prejudice And again the King of Egypt came against Judah and condemned the Land †2 Chron. 36. 3. in a hundred Talents of Silver and a Talent of Gold yet they were not bettered then came the King of Babylon and carried ‖ Ver. 18. away many of them Captive with much Spoil yet they would not repent and return to the Lord 's true Faith and Worship but persecuted the Lord's Prophets then the Lord gave them again into the hands of the King of Babylon who burn'd * 2 Chron. 36. 17 18 19 20. both City and Temple and carried more of them Captive Thus we see the grand cause is still for Corruptions in Faith and Disorder in Worship that God brought his Judgments on his People And will not Protestants mind this seeing the like Judgments for like Causes are at our Doors as will hereafter appear Therefore Now let us come to Gospel-Times and see the Causes of God's Judgments that fell on Christians in the Primitive Times of the Gospel and compare our Condition with theirs in Miscarriages and Rewards if it be not the same still So that unless there be a speedy Repentance we can expect to fare no better than they Thus if the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every Transgression received a just recompence of Reward though under the performance but of * Heb. 2. 2. Figurative Ordinances even the smallest breach of God's Law as Vzza for touching the Ark was struck dead †1 Chron. 13. 10. Numb 4. 15. Dathan and Abiram for offering of Incence were swallowed up alive in the Earth and King ‖ 2 Chron. 26. 19. Vzziah smote with Leprosie to the day of his Death And likewise Miriam * Numb 12. and Gehazi †2 King 5. were they unpunished No sure How then shall we escape the Judgments of God having the Word spoken unto us by the Son of God Creator ‖ Col. 1. 16. of Angels sealed with his precious Blood * Heb. 13. 20. delivered and commended unto all Christians by his Apostles †Acts. 20. 32. whereunto may nothing be added or diminished ‖ Rev. 22. 19. either in Doctrine Ministry Ordinances Time or Order according to fleshly Wisdom without Rebellion and most hainous Transgression Sacriledg and Impiety as against the
of all yet none can believe and obey but the Elect whom God giveth †2 Tim. 2. 25. Repentance to and to them only the Word is the savour of Life unto them that are saved by Faith in Christ Jesus Yet the Preacher knowing not who are the Elect doth apply the Word as generally calling all Persons to believe and obey in his Message As saith the Lord to Paul when he sent him to Corinth I have much People in this City So Act. 18. 10. John 10. 20. not all for they could not all believe because they were not all Christ's Sheep as it is written All Men have not Faith 2 Thess 3. 2. For these and the like errors in Faith and corruption in Worship which were too tedious here to refute about the state of Infant-Baptism and the Seventh-day Sabbath of the gross mistake in them that deny the one and keep the other largely handled by me not long since printed in a Book intituled Ancient Truth Revived Wherein is also in 22 Articles every true Protestant's Faith inserted the State of a true Church and how every Ordinance and by whom and in what Order they were performed in the Primitive Churches containing six Sheets of Paper unto which I refer the Reader is one cause why God hath not before this destroyed the false Ecclesiastical power of the Romish Babylon because as the Sins of God's People of old were the cause why old Babylon was not sooner destroyed even so is it See and read Jer. 25. now That as then God did first give his own People a Cup to drink and then Shishack did drink after them So Judgment must first begin at the House * 1 Pet. 4. 17. of God unless there be a speedy Repentance Else surely the time is come as that Servant of God Mr. Beal hath noted on Rev. 20. in his Book called The Image of both Churches That when the 1000 Years of the Beast's Raign was expired Satan the common Adversary of Man shall be loosed out of his dark Prison and set at large by the sufferance of God Mans wickedness deserving no other strongly deluding the Unbelievers for their unbelief-sake to deceive the Universal People of the World through the operation of Errors He shall cause them to give credance to Lyes that they may be damned for refusing the Truth So that the abomination of Desolation shall be set up in the holy Place meaning in the Heart where Christ by faith should dwell to the utter destruction of Faith Which People of him thus deluded is called in a mystery Gog and Magog that is as much as to say Covered and Off-covered For both the grand Captains of them depending doth these two words comprehend the one covering the Devil with many false Religions meaning Loe here is Christ and loe there is Christ the other in his sort following the same wicked consent these two Tyrants the Romish Pope and Mahomet with the whole generation of like Spirits with them mark that have gathered themselves together against God and his Christ to destroy the whole face of Christianity Now the woful experience of the beginning of these things is seen among us so that our Condition looketh too like the state of the Jews When Titus Vespasian the Roman Emperor came and besieged Jerusalem the Jews by reason of their many Errors were divided into sundry * Mark 12. 13 18. Sects and their dividing in Faith divided them in Heart that they destroyed one another So the words of Christ were fulfilled on them that despised his Counsel as it is written Every Kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation Mat. 12. 25. How then doth it behove all Protestants to be by Christ's Words warned with speed to examine whether they be in the Faith of God's Elect * Tit. 1. 1. Heb. 11. and worship God by Christ's †Rev. 14. directions only that there be no dividing in Judgment and so not in Heart considering what * In his Book called the Card and Compass of Life presented to Prince Charles the first one hath noted That the Jews affirm the first Blood split in the World was by reason of the differences in Judgment among Brethren for so all that bear the name of Protestants ought to be in these words Cain was so possessed with Covetousness that he believed there was no Life after this But Abel believed there was after this Life a reward for the Good and punishment for the VVicked in which Contention Cain slew Abel So that Cain was of the Wicked one For to Persecute Imprison or kill any one for Conscience sake is a work †1 John 3. 12. Rev. 2. 10. of the Devil and a Wo is pronounced against them As it is written Wo to them that follow the way of * Jude ver 11. Cain they shall perish So that Protestants may be ashamed to own that evil Spirit to force Men to believe when it is written That it is God shall †Gen. 9. 27. perswade Japhat to dwell in the Tents of Shem. Therefore to force Men to believe or practise in things Divine before God giveth them Faith is but to make a Church of Hypocrites whose Sacrifice is * Prov. 15. 8. Abomination to the Lord as their Father Cain's was Now if any Protestant should be offended like * Amos chap 7. Amaziah the Priest of Bethel with this Christian Warning-piece as he was with the Prophet Amos's Warning to King Jeroboam and his People and say The Land cannot bear these words against the Inventions of Men in the Worship of God charge me as Amaziah did Amos the Prophet with Conspiracy against the King when but for declaring the only means then from the immediate Mouth of the Lord to preserve the King and the Nation as this is from the mediate written Word of God to preserve our King and the Nations from the Judgments threatned I say if we like them will regard no Christan Counsel all Scripture being written for our Admonition then in all likelihood the Judgments threatned on them will fall upon us that God will darken * Amos chap. 8. the Earth in a clear day by sending a Famine in the Land not of Bread nor thirst for Water but of hearing the Words of the Lord. For by reason of so many false Teachers in Judah their Silver became †Isa 1 22. dross their Wine was mixt with Water and they were fed with * Jer. 23. 28. Chaff instead of Wheat As is now seen by woful experience whilst God's Word is not truly Taught but corrupted with Errors under the colour of Christianity with Lo here is Christ and lo there as they said of old The Temple of the ‖ Jer. 7. 4. Lord the Temple of the Lord are these Nevertheless they were told Thy Prophets †Lam. 2. 14. have seen vain and foolish things for thee for they have not