will wipe off all dirt cast upon your faces also I deny not but praise is desirable among all Application And whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise these things are to be thought on Phil. 4 8. for a good name is rather to be chosen then great riches Prov. 22.1 But they that love the praise of men more then the praise of God or will not be content with the honour that commeth from God alone But receive honour one of another neither doe nor can believe John 5.44 Obj. How then doth the same evangelist avouch that many of the chiefe rulers believed on Christ but because of the Pharisees they did not confesse him lest they should be put out of the Synagogue for they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God John 12.42 43. are they not here said for all this to believe How then can you affirme that such persons neither do nor can believe A. What I affirm Christ hath taught and therefore we must distinguish of faith they believed the truth but not truly as * Illa non est vera legitima fides doctrinam credere simpliciter esse veram non autem penitùs se illi subjicere Calvin Non fuit vera viva fiides haec enim à confessione non separatur Brentius in Ioh. 12 Non habuerunt veram fidem sed fictitiam quae cum non constiterit adversus insultum Pharisaeorum multò minus constare poterit adversus insultum Sathanae Bucer and others conclude out of the comparing of these places together True faith they had not because they did not wholly submit themselves to Christ and his truth True and lively faith saith Calvin is not seperated from confession for with the heart man believeth to righteousnesse and with mouth confession is made unto salvation Rom. 10.10 For albeit it is likely saith he that they were not altogether dumb yet because their confession was not ingenuous or free enough the Evangelist-absolutely denieth that they professed their faith Wherefore let no man flatter himselfe who in any part concealeth and dissembleth his faith lest he should incurre the Odium or hatred of men For albeit the name of Christ be odious that fear is not excusable which compelleth us to decline in the least manner from his confession If any therefore preserve their reputations with whatsoever dependeth thereupon as worldly profit and safety before Iesus Christ and his truth they are not worthy of Him but they and their credit shall perish together as 1. all such whosoever they be as comply with evil times embrace heterodox tenets and side with factions swerving from the right rule of Gods word either for feare of losse or hope of preferment and 2. all such as dare not own the cause of Christ nor joyne with the true professors thereof in time of persecution and danger or basely forbeare holy duties and religious performances for the same causes for all these are but mongrel Christians as appeareth by the parable of the sower where they are compared to stony ground for though they heare the word and anone with joy receive it yet have they not root in themselves but when persecution ariseth because of the word by and by they are offended Mat. 13.20.21 where we meet twice with by and by suddenly they receive the word and as suddenly they start aside and recede from it How many such are there in our dayes as there have bin in former ages as they that were then eye-witnesses informe us * Lessius in Joan 12. Hodie multi affirmant in persecutione licere abnegare doctrinam Evangeli et occultare sententiam suam si modò corde servetur fides Many faith one of them at this day affirme that one may deny the doctrine of the Gospel in time of persecution and conceale their opinions if so be faith be retained in the heart This well considered would bring back into the right way all such Demasses as have fallen away and preserve others from backsliding Chara ∣ cter 8 A true Israelite loveth them who appertaine to the same city and are of the same family as all true believers are Eph. 2.19 And hereby we know saith the beloved Disciple that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren he that loveth not his brother abideth in death 1 Joh. 3.14 For every one that loveth him that begot loveth him that is begotten of him 1 Joh. 5.1 and how can we love the head Christ if we love not His members also But this love must not be in word nor in tongue onely but in deed and in truth and then thereby we shall know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before God 1 Joh. 3.19 True Christian love is like to the planet called Stella Veneris which attendeth the Sunne of righteousness and appeareth first and last in the soul among all the planets of graces in an Israelite indeed and shineth brightest in the night of temptation when faith and other graces like the rest of the stars are many times so clouded and obscured that we cannot discerne them in our selves Quest But how may we know that our Love of the brethren is sincere A 1. If it proceed from faith for faith worketh by love Gal. 5.6 and assureth us of Gods love to our owne souls and this maketh us to love one another as Christ hath loved us Eph. 5.2 2 If it extend to all the Saints the poor as well as rich Philem 5. to such as never yet shewed us outward kindness as wel as to them who have been beneficial to us 3. If it be real and operative in affoarding them seasonable and necessary relief according to our ability then God will not be unrighteous to forget our work and labour of love which hath been shewed towards his name in administring to the Saints Heb. 6.10 4. If it be constant yea increasing every day more and more 1 Thess 4.10 5 If it be chiefly set upon the good of the souls of men and women that they may prosper 6 If we can forbeare and for give them pray for them and sympathize with them in their several conditions and delight in their society above others These will be cleare evidences of the soundness of our affection to them which will evidence to us againe that we are of the fold of the great shepheard and little flock for whom he hath prepared the kingdom On the contrary they who hate the righteous as Esau did blessed Iacob Application Genes 27.41 who * Gregor moral l 25 c. 9. Si ergo tantâ poenâ mulctatur qui non dedisse convinci tur quâ poenâ feriendus est qui redarguitur abstulisse aliena rob and spoile them instead of feeding and clothing them who traduce revile curse and despise them separating them out of their society discover themselves to be
incense Gods displeasure against them but Jesus Christ ever lives to make intercession to God for them therefore is he able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 They need not care who is the accuser that have such an advocate to plead for them 8. He is alwaies prepared to hinder their prayers especially when they make intercession for Jerusalem as he did Joshua the high Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord for that end * Ministrantem Christo agentem typum ipsius in ecclesia Tremel Satan stood at his right hand to resist him Zach. 3.1 But the Lord said unto Satan the Lord rebuke thee O Satan even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee verse 2. 9. He dayly tempteth us to sin against God that thereby our peace with God and our own consciences might be interrupted so he buffeted Paul who upon that occasion betook himselfe thrice to prayer to God who answered him that his grace was sufficient for him his strength should be made perfect in weaknesse 2 Cor. 12.7 8 9. and when he desired to have the disciples to sift them as wheat Christ told Simon Simon I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Luke 22.31 32. 10. When the devil hath drawn any soul into sin he will labour to drive them to desperation even after their repentance as if there were no possibility for such to obtaine pardon Thus he dealt with the incestuous Corinthian who had been swallowed up of overmuch griefe had not this Lord provided a remedy against the greatest of evils by Pauls second Epistle written to the Corinthians Chap. 1.7.11 wherein he requireth them to forgive and comfort him and againe he beseecheth them to confirme their love toward him verse 8. as he himselfe forgave him in the person of Christ adding a cogent reason for his and their so doing verse 11. lest Satan get an advantage over us for we are not ignorant of his devices Now Satan hath a double end in all his slye and hellish contrivances against the Saints not only to tire them out but also to make others to take up hard conceits of the yoak of Christ as an insupportable burden whereby he drives many to consult how they may break his bonds asunder and cast away his cords from them Psalm 2.2 Antidotes Against this impediment therefore I oppose these following Antidotes 1. Jesus Christ hath overcome the devil for he took our nature upon him that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devil Heb. 2.14 and * Aug. de agone Christiano Hunc adversarium Dominus noster prior vicit ut etiam nos in illo permanentes vintamus per ipsum Christs victory is ours 2. He hath biddeth us to resist the devil and hath promised that he shall flee from us 1 John 4.7 3. He hath provided the whole Armour of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil Eph 6.12 4. He that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe and that wicked one toucheth him not 1 John 5.18 he cannot give him one blow 5. Neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come shall be able to seperate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ Nay in all these things we are more then conquerers through Christ that loved us Rom. 8.37 38. 6. The true believer is built upon the Rock against which the gates of hell cannot prevaile Matthew 16.18 7. As the evil angels infest us so God hath given charge to his holy angels to keep us in all our wayes to bear us up in their hands lest we dash our foot against a stone Psalm 91.10 And they according to this charge are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heires of salvation Heb. 1.14 no lesse doth the devil himself confesse Math. 4.6 8. If this be not sufficient behold God himselfe is the keeper of Israel who neither slumbreth nor sleepeth Psalm 121.4 9. If ye fight not under Christs banner against this enemy according to your vow in Baptisme you are his Captives and he will torment you for ever but if you overcome him in this life the time will come when you shall be made judges of these wicked spirits which now annoy you know ye not saith the holy writ that the Saints shall judge Angels 1 Cor. 6.3 to wit in the day of the generall judgment What confusion will theis be to those proud spirits 10. The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. It shall certainly be so yea and that shortly too 5. 5. Impediment the world The world also will not be wanting to play her prizes against this our true Israelite 1. By raising up troubles against him as already hath been declared for Christ hath forespoken it but withall hath enjoyned him to be of good comfort Iohn 16.33 In the world you shall have tribulation but be of good comfort I have overcome the World 2. By her various and dangerous allurements of profit honour and pleasure First the world will bespeak all mankind as Saul did the Benjamites 1 Sam. 22.7 Hear now ye Benjamites will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and Vineyards and make you all Captains of hundreds and thousands so say the Hypocrites and wicked It is in vaine to serve the Lord and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinance and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts As if they should say Here is sorrow but no gaine great cry but little wool But let us not hearken to this Enemy but to wisedome and she telleth you the truth Prov. 8.18 Riches and honour are with me yea durable riches and righteousnesse and godlynesse with contentment is great gaine 1 Tim. 6.6 Further this Delilah the world will set the snares of pleasures before our feet thereby to entangle us and betray us to our spiritual enemies thus was our mother Eve inveagled when she saw that the forbidden tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the Eye she did eat of the fruit thereof and gave also unto her Husband with her and he did eate Gen. 3.6 Here was delicious food as they thought before trial but they paid dearly for the sawce for for this fact were they driven out of Paradise verse 24. yet multitudes of their posterity by the like inticement are brought into a fools Paradise imagining the bread of deceit to be sweet till they find their mouths to be filled with gravell Prov. 9.17.20.17 And many there be who when they have heard the word are afterwards choaked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to perfection Luke 8.13 Any one of these baits are over-prevalent with us yet some are sooner caught with one some with
murtherers and our Prayers were that the righteous God would teach their hands to war and their fingers to fight what other language he used I have in writing attested by the hands of good witnesses A third man was a civilian who had been unhappily intercepted from going beyond sea to be bred a Jesuite yet retained his Jesuitical principles These with some others ejusdem furfuris with their revived oath ex-officio imprisoned some and banished or drove to flight others to the number of fourteen in one week some whereof might be truely called The Horsmen and Chariots of your Israel who stood day and night in the gap for you being able peaceable and diligent ministers of the Gospel besides many others who were driven away by this tempest After this a new project of far more dangerous Consequence was promoted by a faction in the army siding with the Irish party to wit a cursed Cessation was hatched to be made with the Irish rebels when we were masters in the field and our army was maintained mostly by the spoiles which they dayly recovered from the enemy who had formerly made a prey of all the estates of the English throughout the land excepting some few cityes and castles which stood out upon their owne defence and could onely preserve such goods as they had within the walls in most places The very mention of this designe was odious to all the remnant of our English nation who utterly abhorred the thought of ever shaking hands with such a barbarous generation of men or rather incarnate devils who had robbed them of all burnt their dwellings murthered their wives children and kinsfolk after they had exercised upon them all imaginable cruelties as full well you know And all that had but half an eye foresaw what the issue of this would be as afterwards the event manifested even a deadly snare to our side now were our brave soldiers left to starve in their garrisons many of them punished with death by their owne disaffected officers upon the least complaint of any of their inhumane perfidious enemies whilest they were free to kill rob and spoile at pleasure without controule and hereby had they opportunityes of recruiting themselves with fresh men and ammunition for a new war when the cessation should be expired now were foure of our best friends privy counsellors clapt up in the Castle of Dublin for opposing the Cessation when all the rebels who had been committed having beene taken prisoners by our army in the open field were released and some of them dubbed forsooth for their good service and more of our Ministers were driven to follow their brethren to shift for their lives and safety by flight some for preaching and praying against the Treaty as in duty and conscience they thought themselves bound to doe others for feare lest they should be destroyed if it tooke effect Thus were we like Levi divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel But since my departing from you I have beene exceedingly desirous to returne to you insomuch as I once advanced as for as Nesson towards you and thence was turned back how ever I am still mindfull of you in my Prayers on all occasions sympathizing with you in your straits and dangers have I condoled with you and joyfull have I been and still am at your deliverances and enjoyments of mercies as at the present to heare of your welfare that the Lord hath placed over you a prudent well principled and religious governour in chiefe and others subordinate magistrates men of Courage fearing God hating covetuousness that the Lord hath stored you with able conscionable orthodox divines And in testimony of my thankfulness I send unto you since I may not come over to you my self this small tract haveing thoughts of preparing a larger treatise for you upon a subject which I made entrance upon while I was among you entitled The way of salvation which may therefore more properly be layed claime unto by you as this present Treatise more peculiarly belongeth to my now parishioners of East Greenwich among whom most of the contents hereof have been published in diverse sermons in the pulpit though here much contracted and in other particulars enlarged And now to you do they come from the Presse my loving Christian friends and neighbours of East Greenwich and no lesse beloved for the helpe of your memories and for a permanent testimony of my thankfulness for all your loving kindness from the first day of my coming among you till his present time which I shall never be forgetful of viz. how unanimously you made choice of me between six and seven yeares agoe to be your Minister three Lords dayes together meeting for the confirmation of your choice and for contriving the best way for my better encouragement and subsistence among you and continuing your reall affection for the far greatest part of you till this day towards me and I trust that your love is of the right kind which will not decrease but encrease more and more till death put a period to our lives I shall not deteine you long in this praeludium as I have done my remote friends because you have me dayly with you upon all occasions to speak unto you viva voce Onely thus much I cannot but signify to you in as publike a manner as I could devise that I am yours and most unfainedly do I desire and accordingly by the Lords assistance I shall endeavour the spiritual and eternal welfare both of you and yours in striving to remove all the hinderances thereof and in faithfully revealing to you all the whole counsell of God that I may be kept cleare from the blood of precious souls and so save my self and them that heare me for for none other end do I desire to live among you and for this I humbly and earnestly implore your dayly Prayers to God for me To whom I commit you and to the word of his grace which is able to save your soules In whom I remaine Your humble servant for the good of your souls for which the Lord of life died FAITHFVLL TEATE Books Lately Printed for George Sawbridge at the signe of the Bible on Ludgate-hill THe power of Godlinesse both Doctrinally and Practically handled whereunto is annexed distinct treatises 1. Of the Affections 2. Of the Spirituall Combate 3. Of the Government of the Tongue 4. Of Prayer together with 5. An Exposition upon the Lords Prayers By that late eminent Divine Mr John Ball. And published by Mr Simeon Ashe Predestination defended against Post-destination being an answer to Mr Thomas Pierce his correct Copy concerning Gods Decree especially of Reprobation by Mr Will Barlee The Saints Communion with God and Gods communion with them in Ordinances by Mr. William Strong A Learned exposition of the Books of Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job and Psalms By Mr John Trap. The Preachers Tripartite in three Bookes 1. To raise Devotion in Divine Meditations upon Psal 25. 2. To Administer Comfort
Instance 6 6. Israel is called pater votorum the Father of vowes because he is the first that ever we read of in Scripture who made any religious vow Gen. 28.20 Jacob vowed a vow saying if God will be with me and will keep me in the way that I goe and will give me bread to eate and rayment to put on so that I come againe to my Fathers house in peace then shall the Lord be my God v. 21. and this stone which I have set for a pillar shall be Gods house and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee v. 22. The vow consisteth 1. of prayer for Gods presence protection and maintenance and a prosperous returne 2. of a promise that God shall be his God to worship him internally in spirit and externally in that place to build God an house and to give him the tenth of all his increase And accordingly he performed his vow Gen. 35.1.3 In like manner are we called upon to vow unto the Lord and to performe Psalm 76.11 But alas how little do most mind their vow in Baptism and many make vowes but pay not * Bernar. Epist 2. Justè exigitur ad solvendum qui non cogitur ad vovendum whereas it were better that is lesse evill not to vow then to vow and not to pay Eccles 5.5 Sect. 8 Instance 7 Seventhly in the same words Jacob seeketh not great things for himselfe all he desireth is bread to eat and rayment to put on to teach us that lesson which St. Paul deduceth hence 1 Tim. 6.8 Having food and rayment let us be therewith content many better then we who have not had so much have been better content The great Apostle of the Gentiles gives us his patern as well as his precept heâ—ein Phil. 4.11 where he proclaimeth to the Churches not by way of boasting but for our imitation that he had learned in whatsoever state he was therwith to be content If the Lord shall not give us estates suitable to our minds let us bring our minds to our estates and say The wise and loving God knoweth better than we what condition is fittest for us who hath taught us to aske for our dayly bread that is all things necessary and no more for this is the readiest way to have more bestowed on us as Jacob afterwards attained to exceeding great riches who passed over Jordan at the first with his staffe onely at his return back became two bonds Gen. 32.10 How great need have we all to beware and take heed of pride and covetuousnesse lest they discard us from among true Israelites either of which will never suffer the heart to be contented 1. The proud man meaning the Caldean keepeth not at home within his own bounds but enlargeth his desire as Hell and is as death and cannot be satisfied Habak 2.5 2. He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver nor he that loveth abundance with increase Ec. 5.10 For this end 1. Let us pray the Lord with David Psalm 119.36 to incline our hearts to his Testimonies and not to covetuousnesse Among the rest of Gods precepts let us well study the tenth Commandement wherein covetuousnesse is condemned and the contrary contentednesse is enjoyned 2. Think not that this Dropsie will be cured by increasing wealth but purge out the noxious humours within Quo plùs sunt potae plùs sitiuntur aquae Ovi and this distemper will be healed 3. Make Christ your portion with whom you are sure of all things Rom. 8.32 as St. Paul having nothing yet possessed all things 2. Cor. 6.10 Thus do and you shall find godlinesse with contentment to be better then the largest Patrimony here below Instance 8 Jacob is a mirrour of thankfulnesse both for privative and positive mercy for audience of prayer preservations spiritual and temporall as all along the story of his life you may read I will make an altar saith he to God who answered me in the day of my distresse and was with me in the way which I went Gen. 35.3 Of his children he saith to Esau These are the children which God hath graciously given to thy servant Gen. 33.5 And of his cattle God hath dealt gratiously with me I have enough v. 11. What Israel did all the house of Israel are required to do Psal 135.19 Blesse the Lord O house of Israel Others will not or cannot praise God aright when the Gentiles knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankfull Rom. 1.21 Hypocrites may boast themselves of a false gift but in so doing are like clouds and wind without raine Prov. 25.14 The proud Pharisee could say God I thank thee that I am not as othermen are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this publicane but went away as he came unjustified Luk. 18.11.14 Praise is comely for the righteous and for them alone Psal 33.1 Rejoyce in the Lord O ye righteous praise is comely for the upright 1. God hath blessed the house of Israel Psal 115.12 and they can blesse God who hath blessed them with all blessings in heavenly places in Christ But a person who is neither elected Ephes 1.3 nor redeemed nor justified nor sanctified cannot in truth blesse God either for his election redemption justification or sanctification or any other spiritual blessing before he knoweth in some sort these things belong to him 2. We must be in Christ and by him offer up spiritual sacrifices before we or our praises can be acceptable to God 1. Pet. 2.5 3 None else can praise God in faith and without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6.4 Their Instrument is in tune their heart is ready all the faculties of their soule are in right order Psalm 108.1 O God my heart is fixed I will sing give praise 5. they onely have skill to play upon this instrument Proverbs 10.32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable to God and men Instance 9 9. Jacob sware by the feare of his father Isaac Gen. 31.53 where by the the fear of Isaac is to be understood God himselfe as you see ve se 41. where he saith to Laban Except the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac had been with me surely thou hadst sent me away now empty And hence we learne 1. that swearing is not altogether unlawfull but may be used as a part of Gods worship 2 he sware not ordinarily till he had a weighty cause 3 he sware by the Lord. 4 with fear and reverence as his forme of words expresse unlike to him in their judgement are such as hold it unlawfull under the Gospel to swear at all or in any case whatsoever as some in our dayes teach and the * Ioseph l. 2. De bello Iudaico c. 7. Essaeans of old who thought all oaths as bad as perjurie whereas * Isa 45.23 the Lord hath sworn by himself that unto him every tongue shal
who are so far transported with rage that in way of private revenge they commit the horrid sin of murther as Joab slew Amasa and Abner men more righteous then himselfe All these I say are farre from Jacobs spirit and consequently are none of his spirituall seed Sect. 9 Instance 12 12. Israel is a worthy pattern to all in oeconomical and family duties 1. He was a dutifull child to his parents he obeyed his father and mother his father when he was decrepiâ— by reason of old age and his motheâ— though the weaker sex Genes 28.7 and for this among other his vertues his father blessed him and his mother loved him intirely Yea God also blessed him who hath made many great promises to all obedient children Eph. 6.1 2 3. Children saith the Apostle obey your parents in the Lord for this is right Honour thy father and mother which is the first commandement with promise that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the Earth whereas God hath denounced grievous threats against stubborn and unruly children Pro 30.17 The eye that mocketh at his father and despiseth to obey his mother the ravens of the valley shall pick it out and the young eagles shall eat it the meaning is In cruce Corvos pascere Horat. he shall come to a shamefull end as the common proverb importeth 2. When Jacob was grown up to be marriageable he was not Esau-like his owne carver to choose where he lusted but submitted himself to be disposed oâ— in wedlock as his father and mother â—hought good Genes 28.1.2 Thou â—halt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan said his father Isaac to him Arise go to Padan Aram and â—ake thee a wife of the daughters of Laban thy mothers brother and he did so Add to this the testimony of St Paul 1. Cor. 7.38 where he saith the father is to give his virgin in marriage 3. Iacob was a diligent and faithfull servant twenty yeares together to Laban a fraudulent and churlish master as he pleadeth with him for himselfe at their parting Genes 31.38 I have beene with thee 20. yeares they ewes and thy shee goats have not cast their young and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten that which was torne of beasts I brought not unto thee I bare the losse of all that was stolen whether by day or night In the day the drought consumed me and the frost by night and my sleep departed from mine eyes v. 40. And he appealeth to the knowledge of Rachel and Leah Laban's daughters to whom he thus spake Genes 31.6 ye know that with all my power I have served your father With this precedent agreeth the Apostolicall precept Servants be subject to your masters with all feare not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward 1. Pet. 2.18 not with eye-service as men pleasers but in singleness of heart fearing God and whatsoever ye do do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ Coloss 3.22.23 This may let all idle false purloyning servant who like Onesimus before his conversions do their masters harme instead of good or who Ziba-like slander deceive those who retained and do maintaine them for better ends to know that they feare not God nor be the servants of Iesus Christ yet will he pay them their wages even the wages of sin eternal death unless with Onesimus they repent 4. He reformed and cleansed his household and all that were with him and brought them to the publike place of Gods worship Gen. 35.2 Bethel As David went with his traine to the house of God Psal 42.4 and Joshuah professed as for me and mine house we will serve the Lord Josh 24.15 But how many may be found in our times who absent themselves from the assemblies of God Saints Hebr. 10.25 even upon the Lords dayes though no necessary impediment either of sickness or other justifiable cause detaine them or if they come yet their children or servants are left to themselves to goe whither they will and to do what they please contrary to the expresse commandement of God which requires all masters with their children and servants and all within their gates to sanctifie the sabbath 5. He taught them before they came how to prepare themselves charging them to cleanse themselves and to change their garments Genes 35.2 that they might come with reverence into so great a presence for holiness becometh thine house O Lord for ever Psal 93.5 So the preacher instructeth us to keep our feet when we go to the house of God and be more ready to heare than to give the sacrifice of fooles Eccl. 5.1 whereas many consider not that they do evil when they lend God their bodily presence in his courts though they lay not aside malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and evill speakings as God commands 1 Pet. 2.1 and that is the reason why many joyne with others in praying and hearing and it profits them not neither are they accepted with God as Cain offered up sacrifice as well as Abel but God had respect to Abel and his sacrifice but to Cain and his sacrifice he had no respect Genes 4.4 5. 6. Among other sins Iacobs care was that they should put away their idols Genes 35.2 put away saith he the strange Gods that are among you and they gave unto him all the strange Gods which were in their hands and all their ear-rings which were in their eares and he hid them under an oake that they might never be found againe v. 4. In like sort the Lord enjoyneth his people to abolish all the reliques of idolatry Deut. 7.25 26. The graven images of their Gods shall ye burn with fire thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them nor take it unto thee lest thou be snared therein for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thy house lest thou be a cursed thing like it but thou shalt utterly detest it and thou shalt utterly abhor it for it is a cursed thing O that this most strict charge were well regarded by all even such as are called protestants then would they quickly remove out of their houses and closets all popish pictures of Christ the Virgin Mary and other Saints and angels and sacrifice them to the flames before they be cast themselves into the lake of fire and brimstone Here let not any of them think that the sorry distinction of the Rhemists between the images and pictures of heathenish Gods and the true God and Christ Rhemish on 1 Iohn wil availe any thing Sect. 5 For the commandement runs Thou shalt not make to thy self the likeness of any thing in heaven above or the earth beneath And they are Christians to whom Saint John writeth 1 Joh. 5.21