Concerning the observation of the First Day to be kept above any other day, which is the world's old idol, wherein they satisfie their lusts in pride and idleness.

An Objection against the old Masse-house-Worshippers, whether they do enjoy what they pay so dear for, and give so many hundred pounds by the year for a few hours work on the first day, which is the Worlds old Idol, and the Priests Market-day, whether you do enjoy peace with the Lord in these things, now you are called up to the Lambs Bar of Iudgement, to answer and hear the Witness read, Guilty or not guilty?

COme people, you that have heard these Idol-shepherds, if you have peace and satisfaction for your wearyed souls, stand up, and plead for them now in their time of distress, for what good hath all your bought-prayers done you in the time of need? that is to say, all the prayers your priests have made, first, for children when they are sprinkled. 2dly, for women when they are churched, as ye call it. 3dly, For Marrying. 4thly, For prayers on those days called Holy-days. 5thly, Your prayers made at the grave when ye bury them. What people, are you so blind that your priests can get all this money besides their standing wages, money for you when you are children, money for you when you are in the middle of your ages, and money for you when you are dead? So they will sell you both alive and dead for money, & all this under a pretence of praying for you. And what good have they done you that have heard them some ten, some twenty yeers, or some thirty, or forty, or fifty, or sixty, or seventy, or eighty yeers? Can you in the fear of the Lord say that you are nigher the Lord now, then you were at first? Come, now you are called up to the Lambs bar of Judgement, to answer the Witness of God in your Conscience, to say Guilty or not guilty,

Come people, seeing that there is nothing to be had but for money, & all these things have no profit in them, but thei money & they are perished: For wo, wo, wo 〈…〉〈…〉 for ye have taken away the key of knowledge, ye••

would not enter in your selves, neither would you suffer them that would have en∣tered; for the gift of God is not to be purchased with money, but your money and they are perished. So now people, seeing these things are and will come to an end, and perish in the very using of them, as that the Witness of God can testifie in your consciences, and I know you can but say guilty.

Come people, what if you have a zeal for your first day to be kept above other days, I question whether you have yet kept one day to the Lord; for I have questi∣oned with my persecutors whether they did keep the day, and they said, No, we do not keep the day as we ought to do then I said, Have you a care of persecuting o∣thers for what you do allow in your selves, let but reason take place; for why should I be persecuted for that which my persecutors cannot keep themselves? what saith the Witness of God in your consciences, doth it not answer guilty?

Come people to the spiritual weapon that trieth all things, yea, it bringeth forth hidden things of darkness & try all things, & hold fast that which is good, and then you shall not need to fear what man can do unto you, for the Lord wil uphold you so long as ye abide in the vine, & the vine in you; for the ax is laid to the root of the old corrupt tree, and every tree that bringeth not forth fruit, shall be hewn down, & cast into the fire; and now come and prove your selves, and see whether you do bring forth fruit unto God, and see if the Witness of God doth not say, Guilty, and you made to confess and say guilty before the Lord.

This is my advice and tender salutation unto you who feel the least motion of the Spirit of the Lord striving in your hearts to turn you from vanity to the living God, turn at the reproofs of the holy Spirit, and stand no longer in opposition and defi∣ance of it, but to day saith the Scripture) if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, for know ye not that Christ is in you except ye be reprobates. So if you have Christ in you, he is made manifest to destroy the works of the flesh and the Devil; and no more do ye enjoy of him, then ye feel power over your sins, which is Christ the Light that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world, that ye may turn at his call, & hearken to the Spirit which calleth to repentance and amendment of life; for it is not your profes∣sing of him barely shall serve your turns, for the Lord is looking for fruits to be brought forth; for it is not your crying up the Lords day wil serve your turns while ye remain in your sins, for it is your sins that hath made the separation-wall between the Lord and you; and it is not your crying out against any sort of people, and say, such and such worship idols, this wil not serve your turns: For this I testifie in the Name & Power of the Lord God, that whatever is set up in the heart more then the Lord, that is an idol: therefore take heed to the manifestation of the Spirit, which is given to every man to profit withal, and so let the Witness search and try you whether ye be in the truth yea or nay, for the Spirit of the Lord will shew unto every man his condition, how it is with him, if he wil hearken to the knocks of the Spirit, which knock at the doors of your of the Spirit, for it is hard for you to kick against the pricks: For îf you wil not hearken to it in the tim•• of health, it will be hard in the time of sickness, or at the time of death, when you would with ye had made use of your ti•••• when the Spirit of the Lord did woo and entreat ye to turn to him & then ye kicked against its reproofs, and would have none of him, though it did call ye early and late, time after time, but then you would not hear. This is the sick mans or dying mans condition: Do not drive the day of your visitation afar off for the Lord hath said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, seeing he is but flesh: So it is to day if you wil hear his voice, harden not your hearts against the reproof of the Spirit of the Lord which is in you.

From the Common-Pri••on by Colchester, the 12. of the 2. Mo. 1663.

SIMON ADDAM.