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petuate our names and families in the earth? Which base fenfuality is moft pathetically expreffed and comprised by the beloved Apostle John, in these words: The luft of the flesh, the luft of the eyes, and the pride of life, which, fays he, are not of the Father, but of the world, that lieth in wickedness.*

§. III. It is a mournful reflection, but a truth no confidence can be great enough to deny, that these worldly lufts fill up the study, care, and converfation of wretched Chriftendom! and, which aggravates the mifery, they have grown with time. For as the world is older, it is worse; and the examples of former lewd ages, and their miferable conclufions, have not deterred, but excited ours; fo that the people of this feem improvers of the old ftock of impiety, and have carried it fo much farther than example, that inftead of advancing in virtue upon better times, they are fcandaloufly fallen below the life of heathens. Their high-mindedness, lafcivioufnefs, uncleanness, drunkenness, fwearing, lying, envy, backbiting, cruelty, treachery,covetoufnefs, injuftice, and oppreffion, are so common, and committed with fuch invention and excefs, that they have ftumbled and imbittered infidels to a degree of fcorning that holy religion, to which their good example fhould have won their affections.

§. IV. This miferable defection from primitive times, when the glory of Christianity was * 1 John ii. 16.

the purity of its profeffors, I cannot but call the fecond and worst part of the Jewish tragedy upon the bleffed Saviour of mankind. For the Jews, from the power of ignorance, and the extreme prejudice they were under to the unworldly way of his appearance, would not acknowledge him when he came, but for two or three years perfecuted, and finally crucified him in one day. But the false Christians cruelty lafts longer: they have firft, with Judas profeffed him, and then, for thefe many ages most bafely betrayed, perfecuted, and crucified him, by a perpetual apoftacy in manners, from the felf-denial and holinefs of his doctrine; their lives giving the lie to their faith. These are they that the author of the epiftle to the Hebrews tells us, Crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open fhame: whofe defiled hearts, John, in his Revelation, ftiles, The streets of Sodom and Egypt, fpiritually fo called, where also our Lord was crucified. And as Christ said of old, A man's enemies are thofe of his own house, fo Chrift's enemies now are chiefly thofe of his own profeffion: they fpit upon him, they nail and pierce him, they crown him with thorns, and give him gall and vinegar to drink. Nor is it hard to apprehend, for they that live in the fame evil nature and principle the Jews did, that crucified him outwardly, muft needs crucify him inwardly; fince they that reject the grace now in their own hearts, are one in

• Heb. vi. 6. * Rev. xi. 8.

Mat. xxvii. 34.

ftock and generation with the hard-hearted Jews, that refifted the grace that then appeared in and by Chrift.

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§. V. Sin is of one nature all the world. oyer; for though a liar is not a drunkard, nor fwearer a whoremonger, nor either properly a murderer, yet they are all of a church; all branches of the one wicked root; all of kin. They have but one father, the devil, as Chrift faid to the profeffing Jews, the vifible church. of that age: he flighted their pretenfions to Abraham and Mofes, and plainly told them, That he that committed fin, was the fervant of fin. They did the devil's works, and therefore were the devil's children. The argument will always hold upon the fame reafons, and therefore good ftill: His fervants ye are, faith Paul, whom ye obey: and, faith John to the church of old, Let no man deceive you; he that committeth fin is of the devil. Was Judas ever the better Christian for crying, Hail, Mafter, and kiffing Chrift? By no means; they were the fignals of his treachery; the tokens given, by which the bloody Jews fhould know and take him. He called him Master, but betrayed him; he kiffed, but fold him to be killed: this is the upshot of the falfe Chriftian's religion. If a man afk them, Is Christ your Lord? they will cry, God forbid elfe: yes, he is our Lord. Very well but do you keep his commandments? No, how fhould we? How then are 1 John iii. 7, 8.

• John viii. 34, 35.

f Rom. vi. 16. Mat. xxvi. 49.

you his difciples? It is impoffible, fay they : What! would you have us keep his commandments? No man can. What! impof fible to do that, without which Chrift hath made it impoffible to be a Chriftian? Is Chrift unreasonable? Does he reap where he has not fown? Require where he has not enabled? Thus it is, that with Judas they call him Mafter, but take part with the evil of the world to betray him; and kifs and embrace him as far as a fpecious profeffion goes; and then fell him, to gratify the paffion that they moft indulge. Thus, as God faid of old, they make him serve with their fins, and for their fins too.

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S. VI. Let no man deceive his own foul; grapes are not gathered of thorns, nor figs of thiftles: a wolf is not a fheep, nor is a vulture a dove. What form, people, or church foever thou art of, it is the truth of God to mankind, that they which have even the form of godlinefs, but, by their unmortified lives, deny the power thereof, make not the true, but falfe church: which, though the intitle herself the Lamb's bride," or church of Christ, she is that mystery, or myfterious Babylon, fitly called by the Holy Ghoft, the mother of harlots, and all abominations: because degenerated from Christian chastity and purity, into all the enormities of heathen Babylon; a fumptuous city of old time, much noted for the feat

1 Mat. XXV. 24. * Ifa. xliii. 24.

1 Mat, vii. 16. m Rev. xvii. 5.

of the kings of Babylon, and at that time. the place in the world of greatest pride and luxury. As fhe was then, fo mystical Babylon is now the great enemy of God's people."

§. VII. True it is, They that are born of the flesh, hate and perfecute them that are born of the fpirit, who are the circumcifion in heart. It feems they cannot own, nor worship God after her inventions, methods, and prefcriptions, nor receive for doctrine her vain traditions, any more than they can comply with her corrupt fafhions and cuftoms in their converfation. The cafe being thus, from an apoftate fhe becomes a perfecutor. It is not enough that fhe herfelf declines from ancient purity, others must do fo too. She will give them no reft that will not partake with her in that degeneracy: or receive her mark. Are any wifer than fhe, than mother-church? No, no: nor can any make war with the beast the rides upon, thofe worldly powers that protect her, and vow her maintenance against the cries of her diffenters. Apoftacy and fuperstition are ever proud and impatient of diffent all muft conform, or perish. Therefore the flain witnesses, and blood of the fouls under the altar,° are found within the walls of this mystical Babylon, this great city of falfe Christians, and are charged upon her, by the Holy Ghoft, in the Revelation. Nor is it ftrange that fhe fhould flay the fervants, who firft crucified the Lord: but ftrange and bar

■ Gal. iv. 29. • Rev. vi. 9.

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