And unto all these things v/e may add the fatal miscarriages and miserable ends of such apostates from the true religion as have not been contented to ruin their own souls alone, but have been active and instrumental, in their capacities, to draw or drive others into the
5o4t THE STATE AND FATE OF
same perdition. Examples in this kind might be multiplied suffi- cient to stop this sort of persons in their career, if an open discovery of the pit whereinto they will precipitate themselves may have any influence upon them.
Some few tilings may yet be added concerning the outward means of the preservation of the protestant religion as unto its public pro- fession (for the thing itself will be preserved in despite of the world), which those concerned therein may do well to apply themselves unto ; and I shall only name them at present.
And the first is, fervent prayers to Almighty God that the princes and potentates of the earth may have light to discern that their prin- cipal interest in this world lies in its preservation. And although some reasons that may induce them hereunto may not seem of force unto them, yet there is one that is uncontrollable; for Avhere the pro- testant religion is received, publicly professed, and established by law, it cannot be changed without the extreme havoc and ruin of the gi'eatest and best part of their subjects in all their temporal concerns. And this there is no doubt but that they are obliged, so far as in them lies, to prevent, as they will give an account unto God of the trust reposed in them : for as thing's are stated in the world, as the designs and interests of the parties at variance are formed, it is a madness to suppose that any alteration can be made herein without these direful effects; and if they should be covered for a season, they will break forth afterwards with more rage and fury. But I refer this unto the wisdom of them that are concerned.
It is also necessary hereunto that all those who sincerely own this religion, and make it the rule of their living unto God, in hopes of the eternal enjoyment of him in another world, do depose the consi- deration of the lesser differences amongst themselves, and unite in one common design and interest to oppose the entrances and growth of Popery among us. And it is a hard thing to persuade rational men that they are in earnest for its opposition and exclusion who are not willing so to do.
But that whereon amongst ourselves the event of this contest doth depend is the repentance and reformation of all them that profess this religion, upon the divine calls and warnings which they have received.
For a close of this discourse ; if we may suppose, what we may justly fear, namely, that the holy God, to punish the horrible sins and ingratitude of the nations professing the protestant religion, should suffer the profession of it by any of these means, or any other that he shall think meet to use in his holy permission, to be extinguished for a season, and remove the light of the gospel from these nations, we may yet conclude two things : —
THE PROTESTANT RELIGION. 555
1. That it shall issue at last in the advantage of the church. Anti- christ shall not be a final gainer in this contest ; his success herein Avail be the forerunner of his utter destruction. The healing of his deadly wound will preserve his life but for a little while. Religion shall be again restored in a more refined profession. There shall en- sue hereon no new revelations, no new doctrines, no new Scriptures, no new ordinances of worship ; the substance of the protestant doc- trine, religion, and worship shall be preserved, restored, beautified, in themselves and in their power, in them by whom they shall be pro- fessed ; the demonstration whereof shall be given elsewhere.
2. In the meantime, to suffer for it, even unto death, is the most glorious cause wherein we can be engaged, and wherein we shall be undoubtedly victorious. It is no less glorious in the sight of God, no less acceptable with him, to suffer in giving testimony against the abominations of the apostate, antichristian church-state, than to suffer for the gospel itself in opposition to idolatrous Paganism.
END or VOL. XIV,
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