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KNow ye not that holiest David, and wisest Salomon had their crimes; yet both repro∣ved, repented, and found mercy? Where is Pharaoh your Covenanted Idol become? Is he not seeking all ways and means to destroy your hopes, and lay them in the dust? Must you Idolize the sons of men, and even betray all Governments that
put you not in the room of Christ himself? Nor know ye, that for the transgressions of a Land, ma∣ny are the Princes thereof? Why cannot ye sub∣mit to that Power the Lord hath appointed, and vail your Plumes in the time of sudden Calamity, and indeed joyn heart and hand with despised little ones, to seek your Maker in humility and love? O condescend in time, lest else your untempered Morter suddenly make our Walls fall about our ears: let your moderation be known to all men, and be you Serpent-like wise, but Dove-like innocent; not Wolves in Sheeps clothing, to fleece the Flock and feed the belly-gods, but study the peace of the Government and people, if you can do no more; letting alone the Civil Magistrate to punish Tur∣bulencies and Seditions: Indeed you should more observe and proclaim the holy Name of the ever-living God, his dearly beloved Son, and sacred Spirit, more and more; nay deny your selves (if true Disciples) take up his Cross and follow him wheresoever he shall call you, or into what condi∣tion soever. But 'tis to be feared you more serve the god of the world, not preaching in season and out of season, fearing not what man can do unto you, in persecution, and out of persecution. You may observe, the first Horn of the Beast in the last unhappy Queens time, fell immediately with it depending thereon, the Prelacy; the second, I must say, comes too near your selves, and ye have had Power to procure the Image of the Beast to speak, and some to be slain which worshipped not the Beast: But beware, though you cannot see it, Ba∣bylon
is faln, is faln in the hour of Gods judgement, the great City; and the reason is rendred, She made all Nations drink of the Wine of the wrath of her fornicati∣on. But let such as tast thereof, take heed they drink not of the wine of the wrath of God and his indig∣nation poured forth without mixture. Your Hie∣rarchy is even grown threed-bare; and as it crush'd the Bishops, 'tis but just yours be crush'd. You'll say I am a mad fellow to tell you Diana is falling. I am of your opinion; yet not ashamed to maintain or write truth at any time: prosecute me if you dare; you shall shortly be your own prosecutors, so well as I have been mine; then read me some pretty Homily of your conversion to comfort me. But lest I should make you so mad as my self, let me sober∣ly advise you to joyn your Prayers publickly and privately with the Saints, for the deliverance of a justly-afflicted people; peradventure God may have mercy on you and them, if ye unfainedly repent, amend, and advance Christ without private end.