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I. KIngs 19.10. And Eliah sayde, I haue bene very zea∣lous for the LORD of Hoasts: for the children of Israel haue forsaken thy covenant, throwne downe thine Altars, and slaine thy Prophets, and I onlie am left, and they seeke my life.
I aske, Where was then a visible com∣panie of true and publicke worshippers at this time in Israel?
And that the like estate of true pro∣fessours was at one time both in Israel and Iudah, is evident out of 2. Chron. 15.
8. and 1. King. 15.9. the whole King∣dome of Iudah beeing idolatrous, in A∣biiam's latter reigne, and at the same tyme whole Israel being idolatrous vn∣der Ieroboam.
Againe, 2. Chron. 28.24. it is recor∣ded, how at once both Iudah was alto∣gether idolatrous vnder King Ahaz, and the Lords publicke worship vtterlie was abrogated, and at the same tyme Israel was even so vnder their Kinges Pekah and Hoshea.
Of this tyme it is sayde in Historie, 2 King. 17.16. And Israel left all the Com∣mandementes of the Lord their God, and made them molten Images, even two calues, and made a groue, and worshipped all the hoste of Heaven, and served Baal. Vers. 18. So there was none left, but the tribe of Iudah onlie: and Iudah kept not the Com∣mandementes of the Lord their God, but walked also in the statutes of Israel, which they made. And so the Lord reiected all the seede of Israel, and afflicted them, &c.
And of this tyme also it is sayde in prophecie by Ieremie, (Ier. 5.11.) For the house of Israel, and the house of Iudah, haue dealt verie treacherouslie against mee, sayeth the Lord. And by Ezechiel (23.13.) it is sayde, that these two sisters in their spirituall whoredomes tooke both one way.
Note then, When both this people, which onelie were then counted Gods Church, made defection with their Kings •…•…n common, to the publicke practise of •…•…dolatrie onlie, and abrogated the pub∣licke worship of the true God alluterlie, where was then the face of a visible com∣panie of true professours, having a pub∣•…•…icke worship? Therefore, Zeph. 3.12. the Lord sayeth of his true Church, Then I will leaue in the midst of thee an afflicted and poore people, that shall trust in the Name of the Lord. Which is farre from an outward pompous, and a glo∣rious visibilitie to all.
Marke 14.27. And Iesus saide vnto them, All yee shalbe of∣fended because of mee this Night; for it is written, I will smyte the Shepheard, and the Sheepe shall bee scattered. I aske then, when this was done, Where was a visible companie to all of true professours to be pointed at?
Revel. 12.14. And to the Woman were given two Winges of a great Eagle, that shee might flie into the Wildernesse vnto her place, vvhere shee is nowrished for a time, and times, and halfe a time, from
the face of the Serpent.This wom•…•… the Romanists themselues (as Lyra and•…•…¦thers) interprete to be the true Churc•…•… lurking vnder persecution, (as Elias d•…•… three yeares and an halfe in the W•…•…¦dernesse, where hee was miraculous•…•… fed.) I aske then, at this same time, shee could lurke vnder persecution, a•…•… yet bee gloriouslie and conspicuous•…•… visible to all? Or, Rev. 13.3. When the time of Antichrists prevaili••g the Earth shall follow the Beast, wh•…•… shall such visibilitie be? Even no whe•…•… as the Rhemists, on the 2. Thess. 2. grant: but a communion in heart onl•…•… and a practise of worship in secret.