A guide to the godly, or, The dayly meditations of Returne Hebdon Gentleman who for his conscience (through the tyrany of the Bishops) suffered many years imprisonment in the Kings-Bench and their remained till death : being very useful for instruction of all those that desire to walke in the paths of Jesus Christ.

The fifth day of the Week. (Book 5)

AS I understand carnall Adultery, and Forni∣cation in the flesh; so I apply spirituall A∣dultery and Fornication in the spirit, from Esa. 57.3.5. &c.

If the worldly authoritie•• make to themselves gods, and doe worship to them, they are men that ingender with gods in such a place, vers. 5. &c. and all that goe with them commit whoore∣dome against God their maker, either as Adulte∣rers that have the authority of a man, or Adulte∣••••ss••••s that willingly submit to mortall shame. And so further we may conceive, that what man or woman soever hath in them the spirit or autho∣rity of Idols, or other gods, if they enforce others to agree to their spirit, they are tyrannous over the conscience, and are as they which ravish the weaker to their filthy lusts. If any of these pri∣vately doe allure any to consent to their spirit, and to submit to them in prayer and spirituall worship of God; these deceivers, or any one of them, with many, or but with one that is allured,

hath committed the act of spirituall whoredom with the minde of all that are subject: Therefore it standeth us upon, both to shun all Idol wor∣ship in publike, and to trie all spirits that wee shall be subject unto, in private prayer, or sub∣mission in conference. For by submission in con∣ference with the uncleane spirit, Eve and the whole world is deceived, and so it is manifest that whosoever humbleth himselfe an anothers desire in prayer, is become one spirit with him that prayed, and thereby is defiled (if he have a•• common spirit) by the word, that from what he in his prayer, conceived to bee God, entred as seed of the uncleane spirit, into the heart of all that in unity received the spirit of that prayer a Wherefore it is as necessary to know the God, onely one true God, and the one spirit of ho∣linesse in Christ Jesus, as it is for a maide on wise to know her owne husband from all Adul∣terers, and that they be one spirit with him one∣ly, and not weake to any other that waite to de∣ceive and abuse to vanity.