38 A VISION' OF
the word ; tliougli for faitli and persuasion we do not find that they were corrupted, and do find that they were tena- cious enough of antique discipline, as appeared in their following oppositions to the Roman tyranny, as in Beda. Secondly, It was lost in regard of the purity and power thereof, by blind superstition and antichristian impiety, accompanied also with abominable lewdness, oppression, and all manner of sin, in the face of the sun; so that first profaneness working a despising of the gospel, then super- stition ushering in profaneness, have in this land shewed their power for the extirpation of the gospel. Oh, that we could remember the days of old, that we could * con- sider the goodness and severity of God, on them which fell severity, but towards us goodness, if we continue in that goodness, for otherwise even we also shall be cut off!' Yet here we may observe, that though both these times there was a forsaking in the midst of the land, ' yet there was in it a tenth for to return as a teil-tree, and as an oak whose substance is in them when they cast their leaves, so was the holy seed and the substance thereof;' Isa. vi. 13. As in the dereliction of the Jews, so of this nation, there was a rem- nant that quickly took root, and brought forth fruit, both in the one devastation, and the other : though the watcher, and the holy one from heaven, had called to cut down the tree of this nation, and to scatter its branches from flourish- ing before him ; yet the stump and root was to be left in the earth with a band of iron, that it might spring again. Thus twice did the Lord come seeking fruit of this vine, doing little more than pruning and dressing it, although it brought forth wild grapes ; but if he come the third time and find no fruit, the sentence will be, ' Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground ? Now to prevent this I shall not follow all those gospel supplanting sins we find in holy writ, only I desire to cautionate you and us all in three things.
(1.) Take heed of pretending or holding out the gospel for a covert or shadow for other things. God will not have his gospel made a stalking-horse for carnal designs : put not in that glorious name, where the thing itself is not clearly intended ; if in any thing it be, let it have no com- peer; if not, let it not be named ; if that you aim at be just.
UNCHANGEABLE, FREE MERCY. 39
it needs no varnish ; if it be not, it is the worse for it. Gilded pills lose not their bitterness, and painted faces are thought to have no native beauty ; all things in the world should serve the gospel, and if that be made to serve other things, God will quickly vindicate it into liberty.
From the beginning of these troubles. Right Honourable, you have held forth religion and the gospel, as whose preser- vation and restoration was principally in the aims ; and I pre- sume malice itself is not able to discover any insincerity in this, the fruits we behold proclaim to all the conformity of your words and hearts. Now the God of heaven grant that the same mind be in you still, in every particular member of this honourable assembly, in the whole nation, especially in the magistracy and ministry of it ; that we be not like the boatmen, look one way and row another ; cry gospel, and mean the other thing; Lord, Lord, and advance our own ends ; that the Lord may not stir up the staff of his anger, and the rod of his indignation against us as a hypocritical people. (2.) Take heed of resting upon and trusting to the pri- vilege, however excellent and glorious, of the outward en- joyment of the gospel. When the Jews cried, 'The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord,' the time was at hand that they should be destroyed. Look only upon the grace that did bestow, and the mercy that doth continue it; God will have none of his blessings rob him of his glory, and if we rest at the cistern, he will stop at the fountain.
(3.) Let us all take heed of barrenness under it; * For the earth that drinks in the rain that cometh upon it, and beareth thorns and briers, is rejected, and nigh unto curs- ing, whose end is to be burned ;' Heb. vi. 7, 8. Now what fruits doth it require ? Even those reckoned Gal. v. 22, 23. ' The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.' O, that we had not cause to grieve for a scarcity of these fruits, and the abundant plenty of those works of the flesh recounted ver. 19 — 21. O that that wisdom, which is an eminent fruit of the gospel, might flourish amongst us ! It is first ' pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated,' that we might have less writing, and more praying ; less envy, and more charity; that all evil surmisings, which are works of the flesh, might have no toleration in our hearts, but be