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head. Take this
comparison.1
There is a besieged town, and
there is a watchman appointed with a captain and a guard at the
West Port. Now he hath commission from the Prince or State
to sound the trumpet whenever he perceives any danger; just as
in the third and thirty-third chapter of Ezekiel, and that place in
Nehemiah, "he that sounded [the trumpet] was beside me." Weel,
he seeth the enemy coming on, — he doth like a wise man, how?
He marches his men all to the East Port, which is the far stronger,
and hath a great rampier, and there he stands where there is none
to oppose him; he is a sicker man: he
thinks2
he will only preach against Poprie, and not
make3
with other controversies; and it may
be if Popery come along, (as indeed we have great
ground4
to fear it will be the next tryall,) he will preach you good moral
doctrines,5
love to God and love to your neighbour. Now should a man be
silent that way, how shall he look for a blyth sight of
Christ6
on his death-bed, when his Master shall say, Ha, Sir, I know you well
enough; you spake but never in a mister; you spoke, as they say,
when none speired at you; you were stout then; but when my
cause came in hand, when you might have done good service, to
have born up my banner when it was like to fall, you would not;
therefore, now get you gone.
But you will say, Many as good and better have done so and
soe. I answer, The Word of God is written and compleat, and
men's practises are not to be rules to us; and good men have
slidden in some things, and it may be, few of Christ's witnesses
but sometime or other they have
slidden.7
Is it strange, that a
man may goe wrong, and afterwards get repentance? you may
follow that man's example in that wrong, and never get repentance.
This is a very sad thing. But why may not men goe some
length, less or more, with usurpers in civill things? Doe not men
take their benefits in things due to them by the law of God and
**************
1
Will you have yet a parable.
2
Ye think.
3
"Medle."
4
"Cause."
5
"Doctrin."
6
From Jesus Christ.
7
And, it may be, never a witnes of Jesus Christ but hes one time or other
slidden.
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PAGE 209
man? will they not some way acknowledge usurpers? and why
not usurpers in spirituall
things?1
Truely, the case holds not the
same. Sundry sorts of governments are acknowledged by all in
commonwealths; but our Lord Jesus Christ hath not left the
government2
of his house to be changed by humane witt as they
please. It is a strong tye we are under.
We3
know well what the
Lord was doing when he engadged these three dominions in covenant with himself,
what tryalls he would bring out of it, and what
glorious outgates, I say again, and what glorious outgates, and what
a lasting work of glory for us and our posteritie would come out
of it. And it is a sad thing that Satan, by any instrument he
pleases, for fear of a few dayes' life, and men's outward means,
prevaileth so far with
them,4
as when he saith, Come, give me your
religion [and your soul,] your conscience, your bonds and covenants
to the living God, and I shall cast you loose as to religion,
men should doe soe. Lord save us from this!
But you will say then, What shall we doe? It is true, we are
appointed in some sort to be seers and guides. Truely, I
dare5
not answer that question; there are so many things into it, because
we know not what shall be the particular tryalls of Christians. I
have no will to frighten you; Lord forbid you be discouraged. He
were ane unhappy commander, that when he were leading on his
people, and venturing his own life and their lives, would then
aggredge the forces of his
enemies.6
But it may be, (brethren and
sisters,) that you have somewhat to goe through, that ye wot not
yet what it will be; you have possibly a very sad strait to goe
through. I use this comparison unto you: A man brings his flock
to such a foord, and he must have [them] through. Now, it is
safe enough, and no hazard in it; but the poor sheep, oh! as they
start aback, and have no will to step in, but strive not to be foremost
to weet their feet; and yet
he7
calling and wearing one way
or other, some steps in, and so all follow, and
win8
safely through
**************
1
Spirituall usurpers as weill as civill.
2
Ordering.
3
"None."
4
"Men."
5
"Dow."
6
The enemy
7
"With."
8
Go all.
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