Thus speaks this great and good man: my heart warmed, dear Sir, whilst I was reading his discourse; it is close, succinct and powerful: how could the publishers, after reading such a dreadful warning, print any thing out of his sermon, to prove the work in _New-England_, to be enthusiasm? I would heartily join with him and the other ministers in _New-England_, was I there, in bearing a faithful testimony against any thing that I might judge to be inconsistent with the precious rules of the holy scriptures. At the same time I pray, that even the ministers themselves may act with the same caution they recommend to their people, and then I doubt not but we shall see a happy end put to what may now be irregular or disorderly. The dear Redeemer has assured us, “that the gates of hell shall never prevail against his church.” He will cause that all things shall work together for her good. The wrath of man shall turn to his praise, and the remainder of it shall he restrain; he will bring order out of confusion, and the church shall be more than conqueror through his love. I will therefore conclude this long letter, with the words of the psalmist in the second psalm,
Why rage the heathen? and vain things, Why do the people mind? 2. Kings of the earth do set themselves, And Princes are combin’d To plot against the LORD, and his Anointed, saying thus, 3. Let us asunder break their bands, And cast their cords from us. 4. He that in heaven sits, shall laugh: The LORD shall scorn them all. 5. Then shall he speak to them in wrath, In rage he vex them shall. 6. Yet notwithstanding I have him To be my King appointed, And over Sion, my holy hill, I have him King anointed.
Upon this assurance, I rest in peace, and am, reverend and dear Sir, in the kingdom and patience of JESUS,
Your affectionate and obliged friend, brother and servant,