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and_o die_v without_o the_o practice_n of_o any_o christian_a virtue_n and_o with_o the_o habit_n of_o many_o damnable_a sin_n unmortified_a yet_o if_o he_o have_v sorrow_n for_o sin_n and_o join_v confession_n with_o it_o and_o receive_v absolution_n in_o the_o last_o moment_n of_o his_o life_n he_o shall_v certain_o be_v save_v and_o according_o we_o see_v that_o if_o the_o lewd_a person_n among_o we_o will_v but_o be_v reconcile_v to_o the_o roman_a church_n on_o their_o deathbed_n they_o abuse_v they_o with_o the_o hope_n of_o salvation_n tell_v they_o there_o be_v no_o salvation_n in_o our_o church_n though_o they_o be_v never_o so_o good_a but_o in_o they_o there_o be_v though_o they_o be_v never_o so_o bad_a which_o be_v a_o clear_a demonstration_n that_o all_o their_o discourse_n about_o good_a work_n be_v a_o mere_a show_n and_o that_o faith_n alone_o among_o they_o be_v think_v sufficient_a to_o do_v the_o business_n and_o that_o it_o be_v their_o priest_n not_o we_o who_o 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whereby_o they_o be_v dispose_v to_o receive_v any_o religion_n which_o the_o great_a man_n of_o this_o world_n shall_v be_v please_v to_o set_v up_o by_o their_o authority_n which_o sad_a complaint_n with_o much_o more_o that_o there_o follow_v i_o wish_v we_o have_v no_o cause_n to_o renew_v in_o this_o church_n and_o have_v not_o lose_v our_o first_o love_n to_o our_o saviour_n and_o to_o his_o holy_a word_n which_o be_v disgrace_v by_o the_o mean_v foremention_v better_a people_n have_v be_v infect_v with_o such_o a_o negligence_n that_o few_o read_v the_o holy_a scripture_n as_o they_o be_v wont_v heretofore_o to_o do_v but_o live_v as_o if_o they_o believe_v the_o papist_n say_v true_a that_o the_o read_n of_o the_o scripture_n be_v the_o cause_n of_o all_o the_o mischief_n that_o be_v befall_v we_o nay_o the_o public_a read_n of_o they_o in_o the_o church_n be_v not_o so_o reverent_o regard_v as_o former_o it_o be_v and_o as_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v for_o there_o be_v those_o 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filthiness_n and_o sottish_a debauchery_n as_o have_v make_v man_n so_o beyond_o measure_n dull_a and_o stupid_a that_o it_o have_v give_v our_o adversary_n hope_v they_o be_v dispose_v to_o receive_v any_o religion_n nay_o they_o who_o be_v better_a incline_v have_v be_v too_o careless_a in_o the_o divine_a service_n too_o freeze_v in_o their_o devotion_n and_o not_o solicitous_a enough_o in_o the_o mortify_n their_o unruly_a affection_n and_o passion_n in_o bridle_v their_o tongue_n and_o add_v to_o their_o faith_n all_o those_o grace_n about_o which_o st._n peter_n require_v we_o to_o give_v all_o diligence_n 2_o pet._n i_o 5_o etc._n etc._n and_o yet_o the_o grace_n of_o the_o gospel_n teach_v we_o so_o plain_o how_o to_o walk_v and_o to_o please_v god_n that_o it_o be_v a_o wonder_n every_o body_n do_v not_o look_v upon_o a_o holy_a life_n as_o the_o most_o necessary_a part_n of_o christianity_n for_o nothing_o be_v there_o so_o earnest_o press_v as_o this_o which_o be_v most_o 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your_o faith_n work_v by_o love_n to_o god_n and_o to_o your_o neighbour_n and_o here_o there_o be_v as_o many_o sin_n to_o be_v repent_v of_o as_o there_o be_v christian_a duty_n to_o be_v practise_v if_o we_o have_v be_v negligent_a in_o any_o of_o they_o and_o if_o we_o will_v not_o amend_v but_o still_o continue_v to_o be_v barren_a and_o unfruitful_a in_o the_o knowledge_n of_o our_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n with_o what_o reason_n do_v we_o expect_v that_o he_o shall_v be_v please_v with_o a_o idle_a faith_n which_o do_v we_o no_o good_a and_o not_o rather_o look_v for_o that_o doom_n which_o be_v pronounce_v upon_o the_o empty_a figtree_n cut_v it_o down_o why_o cumber_v it_o the_o ground_n iii_o for_o the_o prevent_n of_o which_o dreadful_a sentence_n i_o must_v call_v you_o to_o repentance_n for_o one_o most_o dangerous_a sin_n contrary_a to_o our_o faith_n and_o christian_a profession_n which_o i_o fear_v too_o many_o will_v find_v themselves_o guilty_a of_o if_o they_o will_v but_o be_v at_o the_o pain_n to_o examine_v the_o state_n of_o their_o soul_n upon_o the_o three_o head_n viz._n the_o demeanour_n of_o the_o people_n towards_o their_o spiritual_a pastor_n and_o guide_n in_o the_o way_n to_o salvation_n towards_o who_o there_o be_v a_o great_a many_o pious_a person_n it_o must_v be_v thankful_o acknowledge_v who_o still_o preserve_v in_o their_o heart_n and_o behaviour_n that_o due_a regard_n which_o religion_n and_o reason_n require_v but_o it_o must_v on_o the_o other_o hand_n be_v bewail_v that_o there_o be_v vast_a number_n among_o all_o sort_n of_o man_n who_o do_v not_o only_o sleight_v they_o but_o have_v shake_v off_o the_o yoke_n of_o obedience_n to_o they_o which_o be_v the_o thing_n above_o all_o other_o that_o have_v make_v the_o papist_n so_o audacious_a and_o will_v certain_o if_o it_o be_v not_o amend_v bring_v in_o popery_n at_o last_o among_o we_o be_v not_o offend_v i_o beseech_v you_o if_o in_o a_o time_n when_o plain_a deal_n be_v so_o necessary_a and_o in_o a_o matter_n of_o such_o great_a consequence_n as_o i_o apprehend_v it_o i_o be_v so_o bold_a as_o to_o tell_v you_o that_o there_o be_v those_o who_o oppose_v themselves_o so_o senseless_o as_o well_o as_o arrogant_o to_o all_o spiritual_a authority_n that_o this_o doctrine_n of_o obedience_n to_o it_o they_o call_v popery_n which_o be_v a_o foul_a reproach_n to_o the_o reformation_n a_o apostasy_n from_o its_o principle_n and_o a_o cast_n off_o the_o direction_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n which_o require_v such_o obedience_n as_o we_o preach_v for_o we_o do_v not_o bid_v man_n follow_v any_o guide_n but_o such_o as_o take_v god_n for_o their_o guide_n that_o be_v guide_v themselves_o and_o the_o people_n by_o the_o word_n of_o god_n if_o we_o do_v go_v about_o to_o hide_v that_o from_o the_o people_n eye_n and_o hinder_v they_o from_o read_v it_o it_o will_v be_v a_o evident_a sign_n that_o we_o know_v ourselves_o to_o be_v reprove_v by_o the_o scripture_n and_o that_o instead_o of_o submit_v to_o that_o rule_n we_o will_v make_v our_o own_o authority_n to_o be_v the_o supreme_a rule_n which_o be_v the_o crime_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n but_o there_o be_v no_o colour_n for_o any_o such_o charge_n to_o be_v lay_v against_o we_o who_o exhort_v who_o press_v the_o people_n to_o be_v diligent_a in_o read_v the_o holy_a scripture_n only_o we_o desire_v they_o as_o the_o scripture_n themselves_o do_v that_o they_o will_v take_v along_o with_o they_o the_o assistance_n and_o direction_n of_o those_o who_o christ_n have_v appoint_v to_o guide_v their_o judgement_n without_o which_o direction_n man_n may_v easy_o see_v if_o they_o please_v to_o read_v they_o what_o a_o high_a crime_n it_o be_v to_o despise_v and_o
much_o more_o to_o revile_v and_o rail_v at_o their_o authority_n and_o yet_o some_o have_v proceed_v thus_o far_o in_o their_o opposition_n to_o they_o nay_o deny_v they_o have_v any_o authority_n at_o all_o the_o woeful_a effect_n of_o which_o we_o see_v as_o in_o other_o thing_n so_o in_o the_o division_n that_o be_v among_o we_o which_o have_v open_v a_o gap_n for_o popery_n and_o we_o all_o fear_n will_v bring_v it_o in_o but_o we_o will_v not_o see_v as_o we_o ought_v to_o do_v that_o all_o those_o division_n have_v spring_v from_o this_o other_o cause_n and_o still_o be_v maintain_v and_o widen_v by_o the_o general_a contempt_n of_o those_o who_o guidance_n ought_v to_o be_v religious_o observe_v which_o if_o we_o will_v not_o regard_v as_o god_n command_v we_o we_o shall_v inevitable_o run_v ourselves_o out_o of_o our_o religion_n for_o our_o division_n which_o this_o day_n we_o come_v to_o lament_v we_o all_o confess_v will_v do_v the_o business_n if_o they_o be_v not_o cure_v and_o of_o all_o the_o way_n of_o cure_n which_o be_v now_o think_v of_o we_o seem_v resolve_v to_o wave_v the_o principal_a if_o not_o the_o only_a way_n of_o god_n own_o prescribe_v the_o method_n of_o which_o i_o shall_v faithful_o and_o plain_o lay_v before_o you_o that_o thereby_o you_o may_v judge_v what_o be_v like_a to_o become_v of_o we_o if_o it_o be_v neglect_v we_o all_o grant_v i_o believe_v that_o the_o right_a mean_n to_o avoid_v or_o to_o remedy_v contention_n and_o division_n in_o the_o church_n be_v as_o clear_o set_v down_o in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n as_o any_o rule_n of_o life_n whatsoever_o for_o otherwise_o they_o will_v be_v extreme_o defective_a in_o that_o thing_n which_o be_v most_o necessary_a for_o the_o preservation_n of_o the_o religion_n which_o they_o teach_v 1._o now_o if_o you_o search_v the_o holy_a scripture_n with_o never_o so_o little_a diligence_n you_o can_v but_o observe_v there_o be_v a_o duty_n frequent_o inculcate_v of_o reverence_n and_o obedience_n to_o christ_n minister_n which_o if_o the_o people_n will_v not_o pay_v according_a to_o the_o evident_a meaning_n of_o such_o place_n as_o i_o shall_v mention_v anon_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o the_o society_n of_o the_o church_n shall_v be_v keep_v in_o unity_n but_o must_v necessary_o break_v in_o piece_n and_o be_v dissolve_v 2._o we_o must_v add_v indeed_o that_o the_o minister_n of_o christ_n ought_v also_o to_o take_v special_a care_n to_o be_v such_o wise_a and_o faithful_a steward_n in_o christ_n household_n that_o the_o people_n may_v be_v incline_v with_o the_o great_a forwardness_n to_o obey_v their_o direction_n for_o which_o end_n their_o duty_n be_v no_o less_o plain_o and_o ample_o set_v down_o in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n and_o such_o extraordinary_a caution_n be_v give_v by_o saint_n paul_n about_o the_o admission_n of_o person_n into_o holy_a order_n that_o be_v his_o direction_n sincere_o follow_v and_o do_v the_o people_n as_o he_o enjoin_v adhere_v unto_o they_o in_o hearty_a love_n and_o esteem_v of_o they_o for_o their_o work_n sake_n there_o will_v be_v a_o marvellous_a increase_n of_o christian_a knowledge_n and_o goodness_n without_o that_o strife_n and_o contention_n which_o now_o blast_v they_o both_o 3._o but_o if_o prince_n do_v not_o make_v such_o good_a choice_n as_o they_o ought_v of_o spiritual_a governor_n or_o if_o those_o spiritual_a governor_n by_o their_o negligence_n ordain_v worse_a inferior_a minister_n yet_o the_o authority_n of_o order_v or_o reform_v thing_n do_v not_o by_o devolution_n come_v to_o the_o people_n nor_o will_v this_o justify_v their_o disobedience_n to_o they_o but_o their_o christian_a duty_n be_v as_o manifest_v in_o this_o case_n as_o in_o any_o other_o which_o lie_v in_o these_o two_o thing_n first_o they_o ought_v to_o fall_v the_o more_o earnest_o to_o their_o prayer_n both_o for_o their_o king_n and_o for_o all_o in_o authority_n under_o he_o especial_o their_o spiritual_a pastor_n the_o scripture_n enjoin_v both_o and_o the_o gross_a neglect_n of_o both_o be_v one_o cause_n thing_n be_v no_o better_o among_o we_o what_o other_o meaning_n be_v there_o of_o those_o word_n of_o the_o apostle_n 1_o tim._n two_o 1_o 2._o i_o will_v that_o supplication_n etc._n etc._n be_v make_v for_o all_o man_n for_o king_n and_o for_o all_o in_o authority_n that_o we_o may_v lead_v a_o quiet_a and_o peaceable_a life_n in_o all_o godliness_n and_o honesty_n and_o why_o do_v the_o same_o apostle_n frequent_o desire_v the_o church_n will_v be_v help_v by_o prayer_n for_o he_o who_o need_v they_o less_o than_o we_o do_v but_o to_o teach_v all_o christian_n how_o earnest_o they_o shall_v recommend_v those_o to_o god_n guidance_n who_o be_v to_o guide_v they_o read_v 2_o cor._n i_o 11._o vi_fw-la ephes_n 19_o and_o other_o place_n and_o if_o they_o find_v that_o their_o prayer_n be_v ineffectual_a there_o be_v no_o amendment_n in_o those_o that_o shall_v take_v care_n of_o they_o their_o duty_n second_o be_v to_o examine_v serious_o and_o lay_v to_o heart_n the_o cause_n why_o they_o can_v prevail_v and_o a_o little_a consideration_n will_v teach_v they_o that_o in_o all_o likelihood_n it_o proceed_v from_o their_o own_o sin_n who_o deserve_v no_o better_a governor_n and_o pastor_n for_o as_o the_o prophet_n speak_v in_o the_o next_o chapter_n to_o the_o second_o lesson_n for_o evening_n prayer_n lix_o isai_n 1_o 2._o the_o lord_n hand_n be_v not_o shorten_v that_o he_o can_v save_v neither_o his_o ear_n heavy_a that_o he_o can_v hear_v but_o your_o iniquity_n have_v separate_v between_o you_o and_o your_o god_n and_o your_o sin_n have_v hide_v his_o face_n from_o you_o that_o he_o will_v not_o hear_v and_o for_o what_o sin_n do_v you_o think_v it_o be_v more_o probable_a that_o god_n be_v angry_a with_o we_o in_o this_o nation_n and_o will_v not_o hear_v the_o prayer_n of_o this_o people_n than_o their_o disesteem_a of_o christ_n minister_n even_o of_o the_o best_a of_o they_o their_o contempt_n of_o their_o office_n their_o proneness_n to_o disobedience_n nay_o their_o scurrility_n and_o scoff_v at_o all_o spiritual_a authority_n and_o such_o like_a sin_n express_o forbid_v in_o god_n holy_a word_n with_o which_o this_o church_n alas_o abound_v a_o great_a deal_n more_o than_o with_o supplication_n and_o prayer_n to_o god_n for_o they_o all_o be_v more_o forward_o to_o find_v fault_n if_o not_o to_o rail_v and_o revile_v than_o to_o beseech_v god_n of_o his_o infinite_a mercy_n to_o give_v they_o pastor_n after_o his_o own_o heart_n or_o to_o examine_v their_o own_o conscience_n how_o they_o have_v provoke_v god_n by_o their_o unprofitableness_n at_o least_o under_o the_o best_a mean_n of_o grace_n that_o he_o have_v bestow_v upon_o they_o 4._o but_o let_v we_o suppose_v further_o that_o the_o governor_n and_o pastor_n of_o the_o church_n be_v not_o only_o negligent_a but_o exceed_v the_o bound_n of_o their_o authority_n as_o it_o 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