A word in season, for a warning to England: or a prophecy of perillous times open'd and apply'd. Wherein the signes of bad times, and the means of making the times good, are represented as the great concernment of all good Christians in this present age. First exhibited in a sermon preached in the Abby at Westminster, July 5. 1659. and since enlarged and published. / By Thomas VVilles, M.A. minister of the Gospel, in the city of London.

The fift Case. Sinners Sedulity and Sloth in Saints.

[unspec V] VVHen the spirit of Errour and Pro∣fanesse prevailes more and more in the World, and the Spirit of Prayer and Zeale for truth and holinesse decayes more and more in the Church, the Dayes are evil, the Times perillous. When false Fires appear, and the Fire of the Altar goes

out, sure God is departing from his Tem∣ple. When the Locusts and Caterpillars swarme in the Fields, and the Frogs croak in every corner of the House, the Judge∣ment of God is already upon the Land. When† 1.1 silly women are led captive in Troops by subtile Deceivers, and soul-deluding Se∣ducers* 1.2 draw many Disciples after them, the last Dayes, which we are told shall be perillous Times, are come upon us. Acti∣vity of bad men, in carrying on their wic∣ked Designes, and Lukewarmnesse in good men, in promoting the Cause and Interest of Christ, is a sad Symptome of some sore evil at hand. When few are zealous for Truth and Righteousness, & multitudes are zealous for Errour and Impunity in the contempt of Gods holy worship, we may justly feare God will shortly bring some fearful judge∣ment on the Land. When† 1.3 Iniquity a∣bounds, and the love of many waxes cold, the Winter is come, and stormes must be expected. When the Spirit of Prayer de∣parts, the Spirit of Judgement comes in the roome of it. When the Winde ceases, presently the Rain falls. When the hands of Moses fall down in Prayer, and A∣malek prevailes in battel, we must needs ex∣pect it should go ill with Israel.

When Christians are fallen from their* 1.4 first Love, and Professors are grow'n† 1.5 Lukewarm in Religion; yea, and many are become Key-cold in the Cause of Christ,

whilest others are very forward and zea∣lous to promote the Honour and Adora∣tion of the Deified IMAGES of their own Fancies, they must needs be perillous Times. ZEALE is the Pulse of the Church, as JUSTICE is of the Common-wealth. Now a wise Physician by feeling the Pulse may judge of the state of the Patient. If it be violent and irregular, the body is inflam'd and in a great distemper; if it be very weak, slow, remiss, and much interrupted, it is a sad Symptome of ap∣proaching Death. Apostacy in Religion is a fore-runner of Ruine and Destruction to such a particular Church and People* 1.6. Lukewarmnesse in Religion is a loathed temper. I know thy Works (sayes the Lord of the Church of Laodicea† 1.7 too true a Patterne of the Church of England) that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art Lukewarme, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

In these cases all good Christians have cause to bewaile the sad condition of the Church of Christ.

Notes

• † 1.1

  2 Tim. 3.6, 7
• * 1.2

  2 Pet. 2.2
• † 1.3

  Mat. 24.12
• * 1.4

  Rev. 2.4
• † 1.5

  Rev. 3.16
• * 1.6

  Jer. 8.5, 15
• † 1.7

  Rev. 3.15, 16.