doe reuile and persecute them thinking they doe God seruice There doth yet remaine sacrifice and he may be both prayed for John 16.2 and exhorted to repentance and repenting find grace and pardon both with God and his true Church Luk. 23.34 Act. 7.60 and for such doth the Lord himselfe pray saying Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe and another saith Lord lay not this sinne to their charge So that this sinne or trespasse heere is not any sinne committed simply and alone against the ten Commaundements But it is to sinne against the new couenant in them that obey it For the Lord doth not heere giue rules and directions whereby to learne men to keepe the ten commaundements but to teach them to obey the Gospell yet not so but that euery sinne committed against the Gospell is also a breach of the law But one may sinne against the law and yet not against the Gospell not that any man hath leaue to sinne against or breake any of the ten commandements but in many things as one saith we sinne all and loue couereth a multitude of these sinnes and as it is written Iam. 3.2 1. Pet 4.8 Psal 32.1 Blessed is that man whose iniquities are couered so that as God in his loue doth couer the manifold iniquities of his blessed ones so doe they all couer multitudes of those sinnes in others And that it cannot bee meant of the literall breach of any of the ten commaundements experience may proue for if a man see his brother commit adultery or murder or theft or heare him take the name of God invaine or see him worship an Idoll or any other such like grosse sinne how may these rules and directions in this place serue for this man for after that he which onely is priuie to his fault beside God and himselfe hath plainely rebuked him as the Scripture other where doth commande him so to doe Leuit. 19.17 If hee will nor heare him Mat. 18. how may he then proceed according to the direction of Christ if he take one or two and then telleth him his fault and reproue him before them or him and the other denieth any such fault that he accuseth him of and taketh him or them whom he bringeth for witnesse to beare witnesse against him to proue him a slaunderer and so he may proceede against him in mens iudgement more lawfully and more agreeable to Christs direction then he may against the other because he hath one or two witnesses whereas the other hath none and so those witnesses whom he taketh to beare witnes against another commeth now against himselfe wherefore it is manifest that no man may accuse another of any sinne especially of that kind though he saw it with his eyes or heard it with his eares except he hath other eye or eare witnesses besides himselfe least hee bee condemned for transgression and punished for an euill doer Deut. 19.15 for an accusation may not be receiued vnder two or three witnesses So then the Lord dooth not meane here by trespasse any of the grosse sinnes of the Commaundements nor yet the smaller multitudes of them which loue doth couer but hee meaneth the sinnes or trespasses committed against the little ones that are borne againe hating them or despising them for that they walke in the light and so in despising them they despise the Lord Iesus and his father that sent him and so they sin against that light which should saue their soules which being done wittingly is vnpardonable And as the law of life and saluation is more excellent then the law of death so doth the sin excell in greatnesse As it is written If he that despised Heb. 10.28 29. Moses law died without mercie vnder two or three witnesses O how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be worthy that treadeth vnder feete the Sonne of God and counteth the blood of the Testament as an vnholy thing wherewith hee was sanctified and doth despight the spirit of grace So then to sinne against the law is one thing and to sinne against the Gospell is another Wherefore by trespasse here is meant pardonable sinne committed against the new Testament and those that walke in the light thereof vnwittingly And the trespassers are such as are not yet borne of God for hee that is borne of God sinneth not 1. Ioh. 5.18 neither is there any occasion of euill in him meaning by sinne and euill the sinne to death and the sinne not to death before mentioned for if he could sinne the sinne not to death hee must needes sinne the sinne to death because he cannot doe it ignorantly As Paul did 1. Tim. 1.13 who said I was receiued to mercy for I did it ignorantly seeing he knoweth the light which Paul did not then for how is it possible that he which is borne of God who loueth God and his brother also that is begotten of him who walketh in the light which is his life and saluation that he should hate his brother whom hee so loueth or despise the light which his soule delighteth in or resist the same seeing that his whole life and felicity doth consist therein And we know that he that is borne of God loueth God and he that loueth God 1. Iob. 3.9 loueth his brother also which is begotten of God and so he cannot sinne neither is there any occasion of those euils in him as it is written 1. John 5.1 Now let vs proceed seeing that the way as I hope is made cleere If thy brother trespasse against thee goe tell him his fault between thee and him alone Mat. 18.15 if he heare thee thou hast wonne thy brother That is to say If any one of those Disciples and brethren in common things not regenerate doe despise or speake euill of any one of you that are returned and reuile or persecute you for the lights sake wherein you walke Thou shalt informe him of his fault between thee and himselfe alone and giue him to vnderstand that if he despise speake euill of reuile or persecute thee he doth it vnto the Lord whom he professeth exhort him to humble his heart and be conuerted and walke in that light himselfe and then hee shall loue both it and embrace and loue them also that walke in it if he take knowledge of his faults and receiueth thy words of exhortation and counsell and say vnto thee it repenteth me thou shalt forgiue him seeing thou hast won thy brother but if he heare thee not Ver. 16 take yet with thee one or two that by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery word may be confirmed That is to say if he scorne thy information and despise both thee and thy exhortation still proceeding in his euill against thee and the light in thee thou shalt not yet giue him ouer but take yet with thee one or two of thy fathers owne children of those little returned ones
Angels stand alwaies beholding my Fathers face who is in heauen Nay Ver. 3 except ye returne saith the Lord to those Disciples who would so faine know who should be the greatest and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen But whosoeuer is become humble as a little childe Ver. 4 they are the greatest in the kingdome of heauen they are the chiefest and they haue the preheminence aboue all other in Gods treasures After this the Lord speaketh to the little ones Ver. 15 and saith If thy brother trespasse against thee thou shalt tell him his fault c. But before I proceed in the words of our Lord which followeth About the meaning whereof there is so great difference and strife at this day which hath caused great diuision and enuie And because it being a matter of great moment and very necessary at this day to be known wee will labour the more diligently by Gods assistance to dissolue the doubts and to bring the truth to light that by this meanes the wandring thoughts of those fled and disperst abroad might be reclaimed and brought home And our contentious spirits at home also better informed that we may haue a more spirituall peacefull and heauenly proceeding encrease frō good beginnings to most happy ends the which I make no doubt of if they will but vouchsafe to learne at the hands of trueth To this end 1. Ioh. 16.17.18 verse of the last Chapter we will first see what S. Iohn meaneth and then come to our Lords words If any man see his brother sinne a sinne that is not vnto death let him aske and he shall giue him life for them that sinne not vnto death There is a sinne vnto death I say not that ye should pray for it All vnrighteousnesse is sinne but there is a sinne not vnto death We know that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not but he that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe and that wicked one toucheth him not As if hee should say Verse 16 If any man that is borne of God see any one of these brethren that are not yet borne againe sinne against the light or those that walke in the light so it be not in that depth as that it reacheth vnto death let him that is born of God knowing it aske of God and he will giue him life for them that sin not to death There is a sin vnto death that some of those that are vnborne of God doe commit not to bee prayed for that is a sinne so malitiously committed and with knowledge against the light and with so bitter and enuious a spirit against those also that walke in it that he could withall his heart Psal 59.5 1. Iohn 3.12 serue him as Caine did his brother because his owne workes are euill and his brothers good And this sinne is not to be prayed for and may bee discerned by them which are borne of God from the other or else how could they tell for whome they ought to pray and for whome not All vnrighteousnes is sinne and all sinne is included vnder the name of vnrighteousnesse some of which 1. Iohn 1.8 all those that are borne of God are guilty of dayly and shall be so long as they liue 2. Cor. 5.1.2 in this earthly Tabernacle for which they sigh and mourne longing for this deliuerance But there is a sinne not vnto death which none of these that are borne of God do commit as he affirmeth in the next words We know faith he whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not that is sinneth not neither that sinne vnto death nor yet the sinne not vnto death before mentioned but he that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe and that wicked one toucheth him not that is through the spirit of Christ 2. Cor. 1.22 that sealeth that holy seede the word of faith to his heart whereby hee ouer commeth the world and that wicked spirit can take no place in him Now let vs returne to the wordes and mind of our Sauiour now that we perceiue the meaning of his seruant Iohn being all one and the same case and see what our Lord doth meane proceeding where wee left Moreouer if thy brother trespas against thee thou shalt tell him his fault betweene thee and him alone c. The Lord hauing from the beginning of the second verse of this Chapter to the end of the foureteenth verse of the same applyed his speeches Mat. 18. altogether to those vnregenerate Disciples and brethren giuing them to vnderstand how necessary it is that they should conuert and that to the conuerted little ones the great things doe belong and to receiue one of them in his name is to receiue him charging them with great threatnings to take heed that they offend not one of those little ones shewing them how vnrecouerable a sinne it is he pronounceth a woe vpon the committers thereof And that as a man cast into the sea verse 7 with a mil-stone about his necke cannot possibly returne againe so and more vnpossible it is for any one to returne that falles into this gulfe And telling them also what great priuiledges they had how their Messengers haue accesse into the presence of his father and beholde his face in heauen and how that his wil is that not one of these little ones should perish I say the Lord hauing aduised and charged the vnreturned ones thus verse 15 1. Iohn 2.10 doth now turne his speech vnto the little ones borne of God in whome is no occasion of euill as Saint Iohn saith shewing them how they ought to walke toward those vnreturned bretheren If thy brother trespas against thee c. Here we must consider before we proceed any further what trespasses these are and to this ende let vs looke backe to that which hath beene said from Saint Iohns words As there is a sinne vnto death 1. Iohn 5.16 not to be prayed for nor yet to be admonisht of being knowne for that man which they know they may not pray for they doe as well know it is in vaine to admonish So there is a finne not vnto death verse 17 which when they see any of the vnreturned brethren commit eyther against the light or against any of them for the light and Gospells sake that may be both prayed for and they admonisht of by them as it is written blesse them that curse you pray for them Leuit. 6.28 which persecute you as for him that sinneth wittingly and willingly against the light and the obeyers therof for the light and Gospels sake after he hath knowne the truth of the same Heb. 10.26 there doth remaine no more sacrifice of sinne c. Of whome one saith Psal 59.5 praying against the wicked Bee not mercifull to them that transgresse maliciously So to him that sinneth or trespasseth vnwittingly though willingly against the light and them that walke in it as many often
thy brethren and seeke his loue as before with all courtesie and meekenesse of exhortation and if he still resist thy loue and vtter wordes of scorne against thee or reuile thee as enuie cannot hide it selfe Then can that one or two witnesse against him and will if that he will not heare them neither but first let them also admonish him that so euery word that he speaketh euill against thee or the light in thee may be confirmed And if he refuse to heare them tell it vnto the Church if he refuse to heare the Church also let him be vnto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican that is If hee still like a scorner refuse to giue eare and to receiue instruction at the handes of that one witnesse with thee or two tell it to the Church These he hath made Pillars in his house and they shall goe no more out Reu. 3.12 that is to those little ones borne of God being gathered together in my name who onely haue this priuiledge to be my Church and Pillar of truth for if there were fiue hundred brethren more beside the little humble ones yet none can iudge this cause but they This Church doth neuer condemn the inocent and let the guilty goe free This Church neuer decreed lies and condemned the truth And if he refuse to heare this Church let him bee vnto thee no longer as a brother and a fellow partaker in the common things of the kingdome wherein before he did and might take part with thee as a disciple of Christ but let him be vnto thee and vnto all the Church euen as a Heathen that beleeueth not the truth of the Ghospell and as a Publican that professeth the practise of sinne Verily I say vnto you Ver. 18 whatsoeuer you binde on earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer you loose on earth shall be loosed in heauen for to you it is to whom I haue giuen the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen as well to binde them that sinne against you and the Conenant of loue written in you with the bond of death and to shut the gate of mercy and loue against them as also to lose the bonds of iniquity and the cords and chaines of their sinnes that do repent and to open the gates of my kingdome of mercy life vnto them so that whatsoeuer ye binde on earth is bound in heauen and whatsoeuer ye lose on earth is losed in heauen For if he escaped not that despised him that spake on earth how should he then escape that despiseth him that speaketh from heauen And as he died without mercy vnder two or three witnesses that despised Moyses law Much more lamentable and fearefull is the condition of him that despiseth that law and couenant of grace whereby his soule should liue resisting the voice of the bride and of her children which sought his good How much greater is his bondage and sorer shall his punishment be that is condemned by that Church where the Prince of the couenant doth sit of treason against his bloud by the testimony of two or three witnesses It had been good for that man if he neuer had beene borne And better for him after hee was borne that a milstone had beene hanged about his neck and throwne to the bottome of the Sea before he fell to despise the Lord in his Sanctuarie and to resist his spirit of grace in his little ones Againe verily I say vnto you That if two of you my brethren that beleene in me Ver. 19 agree in earth vpon any thing concerning my word and the meaning thereof either for the sentence of death to the disobedient or mercy and life to the returned sinner whatsoeuer ye shall aske the Father in my name if it be life for him that sinneth not vnto death or whatsoeuer else is necessary and good for the kingdome he will giue it you For Ver. 20 where two or three be gathered in my name there am I in the middest of you what will hee not therefore giue you for my sake Aske and ye shall receiue that your ioy may be full These are priuiledges belonging only to those little ones that are born of God who haue their parts in the first resurrection against whom the gates of hell shall not preuaile nor yet the second death But there was euermore an Israell after the flesh which persecuted that Israell which is after the spirit and shall be to the worlds end For this generation shal not passe away till the Lord himselfe come Mat. 24.34 And if there were not an Israell not of God Paul would neuer haue said To the Israell which is of God And if there were not an earthly Ierusalem he would neuer haue told vs of a heauenly Yea there were two Ierusalems in all times Two Israels in all ages two mothers two test aments two seeds euen from the beginning As Caine and Abell Ismaell and Isaack Esau and Iacob Two lands of Canaan heauenly and earthly Two rests carnall and spirituall As it is written saying To day if ye will heare his voice harden not your hearts least ye enter not into this rest Euen then while they were in possession of the earthly rest Heb. 3.15.16.17.18.19 which by vnhardning their hearts and hearing his voice they might haue entred into Euen the same way which euer was still remaines and shall doe to the worlds end Euen the same rest the same heauenly Ierusalem the same congregation of the first borne the same holy City the same Church which hath had in it at all times the same power from God to binde and loose to remit and to retain sinnes And this is the bride the Lambs wife This is she to whom is granted to be cloathed in white aray And these are they that watch and are sober attending with their Lampes burning to meete the bridgeroome their husband These all vnhardened their hearts and heard his voice and entred into his rest The rest and peace with God rest to their soules euen that rest which is said to remain to the people of God Heb. 4.9 And whosoeuer entred into that rest did first heare his voice that is receiued the word of faith And whosoeuer receiued that word of faith did first vnharden his heart that is did first repent was lost and dead crying and bewailing with an vn-vtterable desire of life his sinnes death and these are the dead which heare the voice of the sonne of man and liue Ioh. 5.25 And this is that one baptisme spoken of and is called the baptisme of repentance Acts. 19.4 Mark 1.1.2.3.4 and the beginning of the Gospell the preparation to the word of faith That one faith spoken of and they that are borne againe of these two Mat. 3.3 Ephe. 4.5 haue all receiued that one spirit spoken of euen the spirit of adoption and are all seruants vnto that one Lord and children to that one God their
and embracing the little ones knowing that he that is the greatest shall be as the least and he that is cheefe as him that serueth then shall they bee worthy of double honour Now let vs speake a little of some of the greatest things that God requireth at our handes the which we haue greatest neede to looke after to practise and performe and that is to bee borne againe of water and the holy Ghost I hat is to say the true teares of repentance and the fire of Gods loue by the power of the holy Ghost without the which we shall neuer enter into the Kingdome of heauen And though we should giue to Caesar the thinges that bee Caesars yet are we neuer the neerer to the Kingdome of heauen except we giue vnto God the things that are Gods The first effect of the spirit in vs is to beleeue that God is and is to be found Heb. 11.6 The second effect of the spirit for which the promise and word of faith is made and giuen is repentance First therefore whosoeuer commeth to God must beleeue that God is and that he is also a rewarder of them that seeke him for no man commeth vnto God to be borne againe and reconciled vnto him but he must first beleeue that he is euer was and shall be and is onely able to saue and willing also and ready to be found of them that seeke him Now then the first worke which the Lord doth worke in vs effectuall to saluation is repentance and is the beginning of our regeneration and the first steppe of seeking God after wee beleeue that hee is and is to bee found And this repentance is an vnspeakeable sorrow for sinnes desire of reconciliation with God with such a moulten and dissolued heart as yeeldeth forth thousands of teares from the deepe digged well of water broken vp from the bottome of that his sorrowfull heart Act. 19.4 washing and baptising it therin bewailing his wofull and lost condition in his father Adam and the loathsome vncleannesse of his owne life which the righteous law of God had most iustly condemned him for Sighing and sobbing beeing borne and become euen as water crying and calling for mercy night and day Iohn 3.5 neuer giuing ouer till God takes pitty vppon him and send downe the comforter vnto his oppressed soule The third effect of the spirit is peace loue The assurance of Gods fauor forgiuenes of our sinnes with the fire of his loue to kindle peace therein and to purge the same according to his promise made in the slaine Lambe the onely mediator betweene God and all such heauy loaded sinners prepared digged and powred full of water like Elias his Sacrifice which fire of heauen doth so consume and licke vp this wette and well prepared Sacrifice Rom. 8.26 that the odor thereof is carried vp by the comforter the holy Ghost the Angell which the Lambe did send vnto him who doth carry and recarry from heauen to earth and from earth to heauen who with golden censure doth receiue and present with much odors that is giuen him the prayers Reu. 8.34.5 cryes and teares of this poore sighing soule offering them vpon the golden Altar which is before the throane of God where the fire of his loue dooth burne night and day and the smoake of the odors with their requests the cries and teares of this dry thirsty soule Ascend vp before God out of the Angels hand who maketh intercession for him in the mediation of the Lambe Requesting grace and fauour for him for the mediators sake and that hee would regard and pitty his soule whose messengers Mat. 18 1â— these cryes and teares are standing before the face of God among his Angels to beseene which grace and loue God doth grant vnto his Angell for him who with speed taketh the Censer and filleth it with the fire of the Altar and hasteth downe to power it vpon this and all such like poore thirsty soules The ioyfullest messenger that any man can haue bringing peace and comfort loue and ioy Assuring him it is decreed in heauen that he shall liue And this is to be borne of water and of the holy Ghost and this is it which Iohn meaneth when he saith Mat. 3.11.12 I baptise you with water to repentance but he that commeth after me shal baptise you with the holy Ghost and fire Psal 51.17 The sacrifice of God saith one is a broken and contrite heart Esa 42.3 A broken and contrite heart oh God thou wilt not dispise Thou wilt binde vp the brused reed and giue fire to the smoaking Flax. Psal 24.6 This is the generation of them seeke him yea of them that seeke thy face oh God euen Iacob my beloued Psal 27.8 Seeke yee my face my heart answered O Lord I will seeke thy face The secrets of the Lord are opened to them that feare him and his couenant to giue them vnderstanding Psal 25.10 This is the man that can not onely giue Caesar the things that are Caesars But to God also the things that are Gods he offereth eueryday the sacrifice of a broken heart sighing and weeping to see his sinnes looke on him Rom. 7.35 which hee hath cast behinde him mourning to see how his flesh doth serue sinne whereas his minde doth loue and delight in the lawe of God his louing father who hath his heart night and day attending on his grace thinking on his mercies still neuer putting out of minde what hee hath done for him alwaies thinking where euer hee goes of his most pretious promises wondring at his great loue Vttering most ioyfull voices by himselfe alone vnexpressable ioyes in the holy Ghost hath hee often times and peace past vnderstanding thus doth hee walke with God and please him The night watches doth hee preuent and the Sun rising to giue thanks vnto his God and doth salute him before the day spring Thus doth God possesse him and he him Are not these thinges true Master Smith well time wil tell peraduenture you will obiect that I say but prooue nothing If heere bee nothing prooued you may the more easily disprooue for no man will gaine-say that which he taketh prooued if he be not possest with an euill spirit But it may bee you thinke scorne to fight with one that hath no weapon counting it no praise nor tryumph in such a victory well though you will neither fight nor yield as one that disdaineth so meane an offer yet truth shall winne though ye dispise to learne of her and scorne to speak vnto her But if you doe yet bethinke your selfe least you shold be thought to be put to silence by a foole and take heed I pray you kick not against the pricks let not the wisedome of the flesh ouer-rule you It is better a wise man should yeild a little to a foole then that the wise man should die at the point of
with all his trash is quite abandoned where all is reformed both life and doctrine And that is here with vs for we haue cast off all and haue beganne a new we baptise none but men of yeares and that doe make confession of our faith and are of vpright life wee haue strooke the right Couenant with him therefore he is here Then steppes vp the fift with a high spirit controuling al epecially the three last accusing them for wranglers and blasphemers saying ye are all lyers you are iangling contentious spirits ye seeke Christ without you seeke him within you you good thinking wise-ones you doe not so much as know what Christ is nor yet what Antichrist is you condemne that holy auncient father the Pope of Rome to bee the Antichrist the beast and man of sinne and all the holy orders of their Archpriests Priests and offices of good intentions hauing all names of good signification and all Images Sacrifices and Ceremonies of good information to bee all blasphemus Idolatrous and superstitious and so blaspheme the holy thinges vsed in the Catholicke Church of Rome Not knowing that as God did teach the world by the orders Sacrifices and Ceremonies vsed among the Iewes tell Christ came in the man Iesus So it pleased him also to teach the world by those Orders Images Sacrifices and Ceremonies vsed in the Catholique Church of Rome vntill the Christ came againe now in the end of the world according to his promises in his obedient man H. N. by whom hee hath appointed to iudge the world according to the Scriptures Not with fire and brimstone vpon mens heads as we suppose but with wise sentences with darke and parabolous saying deliuering high things with a high spirit teaching reproouing and condemning the whole word being the eight and the last breaker of the light The Archangel and the last Trumpe none in this third and last day wherein Christ is perfitted And is that Angell flying in the middest of heauen hauing an euerlasting Gospell to preach to them that dwell vpon the earth Saying Christ is not nor was not a man as yee suppose but holinesse is Christ And he that doth beleeue it is possible to keep all the ten commandements hath the right faith in Christ and they that doe attaine to the perfect keeping of them are risen from the dead according to the Scriptures and as holines is Christ and the sonne of God So sinne is Antichrist and the sonne of the diuell fight therefore against the Antichrist in your selues ouer come the beast which is the sinne and put on holines which is the Christ Put away therefore all your good thinkings and all your Scripture learnednese and come hether naked for here is cloathing enough for you for I tell your whosoeuer comes to learne at his schoole must be as simple and hold himselfe as ignorant as a little child for the tree of knowledge is the tree of death wherefore if ye will liue come hether did not the diuell tell you you should be as gods and will yee beleeue him still did he deceiue you once and will you not beware wherefore become fooles that yee may be wise And here take this booke but keepe it close for H. N. hath many enemies especially among this wrangling crue And therein thou shalt finde an interlude which if thou marke well shall teach thee all and harken no loner to those disturbing spirits who feed thee with nothing but the forbidden fruite Learne to liue againe in innocency wherein thou shalt not not be ashamed though thou shouldest goe naked as thou didst before and thou shalt know nothing but loue which shall neuer fade away and when thou hast attained to this thou shalt be in Paradice againe and then take of the tree of life and eate and liue for euer And tel me now Is no here Christ indeed and the very true Christ and haue I not also tolde thee what is the Antichrist and many other worthy thinges wherefore stay heere and thou shalt see wonders in the end These are strange and wofull times Are not these the dayes which the Lord fore-told here is Wolfes in sheepes cloathing on euery side and yet heere are not all but let others tell the rest for my part I am weary telling of these But which way is it possible for the little sheepe to escape these Wolues euen through a very narrow way and a straight gate which their Lord hath appointed and made easie for them for they must escape It is not possible the Elect should be deceiued the know them by their fruites These are the contentions of our dayes who shall end the cōtrouersie This we are sure of he that hath the bride is the bridegroome and shee which hath the bridegroome is the bride wheresoeuer shee be She hath begun to shew her face already a little and her voice hath beene heard euen in our land but the Wolues came so thick about her that shee was glad to retire a little into the wildernesse againe but when her appointed time and yeare is once come she shal come forth and end this controuersie whereby her little ones are so much dismayed in the meane time let her poore little children reioyce and be glad for her light shall shine euery day still more and more and as light comes in darknesse shall goe out howsoeuer things seeme to goe The night is euen passed the day begins to break it is but a little while the Sunne will shine for the morning and euening sacrifice must bee restored againe as in the former time and in the dayes of old And yet a little while and the King of Babell and his City both with all his army shall be ouerthrowne And the song of Moses shall be sung againe for the great City Rome shall be burnt with fire and like the great mill-stone which the Angell cast into the See be throwne downe and shall be found no more Then shall Israell sing in daunces as before saying Haleluiah Saluation and glory and power be to our God for hee hath triumphed gloriously The horse with his stately Rider is ouerthrowne and his pompe turned to the graue And then a very little while and that day so long looked for shall shew it selfe wherein that poore distressed and desolate woman tossed with tempest too fro who hath so long attended with many a wet eye and watchfull looke and her lamp alwaies ready burning for the cōming of her husband to the wedding day wherein he wil giue her a crowne of life and wipe her eyes for euer weeping more and giue her ioy and gladnesse in steed of mourning and beauty and euerlasting life and glory in stead of dust and desolation Great and meruailous are thy workes Lord God Almighty true and righteous are thy iudgements King of Saints who shall not feare thee oh Lord giue glory to thy name for thy iudgements are made manifest Let vs be glad and reioyce and giue glory to him for the mariage of the Lamb is come his wife hath made her selfe ready Esai 14. 4. 8. How hath the oppressor ceased and the gold-thirstie Babell rested Since thou wast laid low no hewer came vp against vs. FINIS To the Reader ANd if any man thinke heere is not so much said against them as their faults deserue Let him consider if one should lay open to others all his faults at once with their due deserts he would take it very vnkindly and very hardly euer receiue an admonition at his hands in good part that should so serue him Therefore to preuent this euill I haue rather laboured to tell them what they should be then to lay open what they are for loue hopeth the best till it see the worst And this I assure both thee them that no man euer was more forward and strict in outward obseruations nor more ready to contend about the forme and manner of religious exercises and carnall washings and all other commons of the Kingdome then the very hippocrite that neuer intended the purging of his heart nor yet to partake in her peculiar things though vnder the cloake of the one he doth pretend the greatest part in the other Make cleane then the inside first and the out-side shall bee cleane for whosoeuer is cleansed in heart neede not bee taught to wash his hands