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To all those that love God, and Jesus Christ in Sincerity and Truth, partakers of like precious Faith with the rest of his Saints and faithful followers, living in or near unto the Parish of Lavenham in the County of Suffolk, and else∣where, to whom these Papers shall come.

I Know not whether you have taken up the ob∣servation before me, or not, but it is worthy of your serious consideration, That an Enemy under the vizor of a Friend, is far more danger∣ous, then an open and professed Adversary. David in his dayes took signal notice of this evil-Spirit, manifesting it self in wicked and ungodly men; for, speaking of the wicked man, he expresseth himself thus; He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath BROKEN HIS COVENANT. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oyl, yet were they drawn swords; Psal. 55.20, 21. Now that hatred which coucheth it self under the smoothest words, and softest expressions, is most sharp, and deeply piercing: and that enmity which cloatheth it self with pretended friendship, is most cruel and diabolical. Art thou in health, my Brother? was Joab's salutation to Amasa, and took him by the beard to kiss him; when immediately he smote him with the sword in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, 2 Sam. 20.9, 10. Judas also when he betrayed our Lord Jesus, saluted him with, Hail Master, and kissed him, Mat. 26.49. And it is beyond all doubt that Jesus Christ hath no greater enemies in the world at this day, than many, who pretend very highly for his interest, and glory; Page  4and would be accounted the only promoters of his Worship and Service amongst men: The Scribes and Pharisees them∣selves, that generation of Vipers, pretended high for Religion and Godliness, and were found very busie in building the Tombs of the Prophets, and garnishing the Sepulchres of the Righteous, professing, that if they had been in the dayes of their fathers, they would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets †; and yet never theless by their works they witnessed against themselves, that they allowed the deeds of their fathers *, in killing the Prophets; and by their cruel persecutions of the Saints, brought upon their own heads all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, unto the blood of Zacharias, the son of Barachias, slain be∣tween the Temple and the Altar †. Suitable hereunto is that also of the Prophet Isaiah, Your Brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my Name-sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; Isa. 66.5. And the Great Anti-Christ, or MAN of SIN, (as the Apostle stiles him) sitteth in the Temple of God *; as though he were the first-born of his sons and servants, soley devoted to the promotion of his Worship amongst the children of men: when nevertheless he is Christs most dead∣ly enemy, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming; 2 Thess. 2.8. From these premises I shall commend unto you (Chri∣stian Friends) the following Inferences and Deductions;

1. Let it seem no strange thing unto you, that a person of such seeming piety and zeal for God and Godliness, as he to whom these Papers relate, hath been esteemed, (with divers others) should notwithstanding put forth his hand to the service of the Beast, and the false Prophet: for the truth is, Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth †, could never have ascended so high upon her throne of dignity and honour in the world, had she not had some from time to time amongst her sons, very eminent, both for parts and abilities: and likewise for seeming Pie∣ty and Zeal for God: When once Satan can prevail with such men as these, to engage in his work, he may say of them, (as David of the Sword of Goliah) There are none like to these, Page  5for the promoting of his Kingdom of darkness in the world; especially if they retain any competent esteem in the minds of men, and pass in common repute for good Christians.

2. Let the premises also (my dear Brethren) teach you this word of Christian care and caution, viz. to beware of all com∣pliance with men of this character; for he that cometh against you with a kiss, and a salute, Art thou in health, my Brother? may sooner shed your bowels on the ground, than he that appeareth in open hostility with Sword and Spear: And as the sharpest hook hath oft-times the pleasantest bait, so the Devil and his Agents do frequently make use of some excellent Truths and glosses, to prevail with men to swallow the most destructive Errors and Superstitions: Thus it is written, saith the Devil to Christ, when notwithstanding he tempted him to the greatest disloyalty to God his Father imaginable. A little leaven (saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 5.6.) leaveneth the whole lump. Therefore let all such as desire to worship God in Spirit and in Truth; and who tremble to pro∣voke him, by joyning with Superstition and Profaneness in his Worship and Service, avoid all communion with such men as these, in their way of Worship, as they would escape a dangerous snare of death.

3. Yet once more, Let all the Children of God be from hence informed, how great service those do for God, and the Christian World, by whose means the wickedness of such men as these, shall be detected and laid open. For, 1. This is an happy means to put a stop to their further progress in this evil way; and consequently to prevent much danger that might otherwise ensue to the precious souls of many, who possibly might be infected with, and ensnared by their evil practices: * They shall proceed no further (saith the Apo∣stle) for their folly shall be made manifest unto all men. The detection and discovery of the madness and folly of an evil course or undertaking, is an excellent preservative unto Page  6others from suffering themselves to be entangled therein. Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird, saith the Wise-man, Prov. 1.17. And 2dly. It is an opportunity of great advantage put into the hands of these evil-minded men themselves also, which through the blessing of God, may happily tend to their repentance and restoration: for, that which more private addresses will not do, God is sometimes pleased to effect by more publick shame: And certainly if ever any man stood in need of this Antidote, against the Poison of his own deceitful heart, viz. to be brought to reflect upon himself with shame, and to cover his face with sackcloth and ashes, surely Mr. Gurnal is the man: who if we compare himself with himself, may not his Motto be,

One while he appears as if wrapt up into the third Heavens, with zeal for God: another while as if drawn like a Star from Heaven by the tail of the Dragon. One while up goes the Co∣venant, and down with Episcopacy and Superstitious Inven∣tions; another while down with the Covenant, and up with Prelacy and Common-prayer-book-devotion. One while all for Christ, and a Reformation according to God's Word: another while a little (at least) for Antichrist and the rebuilding of the Synagogue of Satan. One while he appears as one of the houshold of Faith, sitting and putting on the Christian Armour; another while as if he were of the house and linage of that Soldier in Plautus, who represents his prudence in war thus:

Neither is Mr. Gurnal alone in these horrible defilements, hateful to the Soul of God & his Saints; but he is compassed about with a Cloud of Witnesses, (even in the County where himself liveth, as well as elsewhere) men of the same order of Antichristian Priesthood, and Brethren in the said iniquity with himself; Witness Mr. Grey of Cavendish, who upon one Lord's-day preached his Farewel-Sermon, and argued very Page  7strongly, and with many considerations, the unlawfulness of Common-prayer-book-conformity; and so took his Farewel of the Congregation: But by the very next Lord's-day following, he had (it seems) met with some Episcopal eye-salve, which wrought so effectually with him, that it immediately closed his right-eye, by which the Lord's-day before, he saw such great deformity in Common-prayer-book-devotion: and also opened his left-eye to see Conformity-truth in that asser∣tion, which the Apostle gives notice to be only supposed by some in his dayes, viz. that Gain is Godliness, 1 Tim. 6.5. and then with much zeal and heat preached up Subjection to higher Powers: not considering that there are Powers higher than those on earth, which whether it be right to obey rather, or before men, or not; judge ye.

To these may also be added for company Mr. Hudson of Ca∣pel, Mr. Knights of Ipswich, Dr. Harison of Hadly, Mr. Blac∣kerby of Stowe, with more than a good many besides, who have all bowed themselves to the Whore of Babylon; and given hostages to the Prince of the power of the Air, that they will never make any great inroad into his Kingdom in the world; or do any great execution upon the powers of sin and dark∣ness amongst men. These all, (with many others of their fellows and companions in these broad wayes) have given the world a lively testimony, that the Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, is not yet bound, and cast into the bottomless pit, and shut up from deceiving the Nations any more †: But contrarywise, that he hath been at work in the world, and with his tail hath drawn some of the Stars from Heaven, and cast them to the Earth. A small pittance of the glory and honour, with the profits and pleasures of this world, in conjunction (possibly) with the fear of suffering for Christs sake, hath cau∣sed many of the same Tribe and Coat with these, to quit their station in Christ's Vineyard, and give the right-hand of fel∣lowship to his deadly enemy, Antichrist; yea, and to renounce their Covenanted Reformation, &c. So that it may be too truly said of Mr. Gurnal in respect of these abominations,

Page  8Who encourage and strengthen the hands one of another, much like as the Carpenter and the Goldsmith did, of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaketh † justifying each one his Brother, as Jerusalem justified her sisters, Sodom and Samaria ‖. Though amongst this Synagogue of Sa∣tan, and corrupted Tribe of Priests, Mr. Gurnal (possibly) may have merited the shame and ignominy to be reputed one of the first-born sons of folly, in ascending up to the top of so high a mountain of op∣position to, and contestation with, that generation of men, and way of worship; into the polluted gulf whereof he hath now descended; and in the judgment of the Apostle Paul, made himself a transgres∣sor, in building again the things which he destroyed ‖; or rather labour∣ing in vain so to do: either not believing, or else not duly consider∣ing, that they that partake with Babylon in her sins, shall also receive of her plagues †: which whether it be believed or not, shall certainly be fulfilled, and her plagues shall come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, and she shall be utterly burnt with fire: for strong is the Lord God, who judgeth her †. Then shall every one that hath made himself a bondslave to her, call unto the Mountains and Rocks, to fall on them, and hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the Wrath of the Lamb. For the great Day of his Wrath shall come, and who shall be able to stand? ‖ Therefore be astonished, O Gurnal, with thy fellows, and tremble all ye that have been perfidious in the Covenant of your God: For he will enter into the house of him that sweareth falsly by his Name ‖, and will be a swift Witness against the False-Swearer *; yea, the sinners in Sion shall be afraid, fearful∣ness shall surprize the Hypocrite ‖.

But (to draw to a conclusion) I have but one thing more to ac∣quaint my Christian Friends with, before they and I part, for the present; and that is, That these Letters were sent to Mr. Gurnal many months ago, ever since which time, until now, I have waited in expectation that some good effect would have been wrought up∣on him by them; but finding by due observation that he still remains under the guilt, and in the practice of his sinful conformity, to the dishonour of God, and the great scandal of Religion; I have there∣fore exposed the written Copy to your view, (the former of the two is verbatim as it was sent: the latter, is the substance of what was sent him, a little abreviated) Let me (for a close) caution all those unto whose view this Manuscript may happen to come, to be warned by other mens falls, to look well to your standing †; lest you also be led away with the errour of the wicked, and fall from your own stedfastness ‖. The Lord grant that these Papers may be a means to preserve you from all pollution and defilement in the Superstitions of Babylon, that her plagues may not be your por∣tion †.