Why Sirs, we have made a solemn Covenant with God, in the face of the Congregation in our Baptism, and oft renewed it in the Lo•ds Supper, and vowed that we would be his, and absolutely and unreservedly his. And would you wish us to break so solemn a Covenant? What honesty is in such perfidiousness? We have renounced the flesh, the world and the devil; and should we turn to them again ⟨p. 111⟩for Peace with you? O what a cursed Peace were that! Let me tell you, that we have not found God so •ad a Master, as to forsake him for the sake of you or any creature. We have tried h•m, •nd fou•d him […] to us then all •he wo•ld He hath never given us cau•e to fors••e him. And if we should now after all •he trials of his love, turn back to the way of sin and ungodliness, the Devil himself would charge us with dishonesty. What! must the godly turn drunkards, and worldlings, and haters of godliness to have Peace with you? Why you may next persuade us even to turn Devils, that we may be reconciled to you. The God that made us, hath forbid us upon pain of his hot displeasure, to walk in your ways. He saith to every one of us, as to Jeremiah, 15.19. [Let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them.] And should we obey ⟨p. 112⟩God or men? Judge you whether. Why Sirs, are you so utterly unreasonable, as to wish us or any man living to love you better then God, or to regard you more then God, or obey you before God? Or should we be so much worse then mad, as to yield to you if you did desire it? Why what are you in comparison with the Almighty! O poor worms, that are even dying while you are speaking! that are but as bubbles ready to burst, when you are swelled to the highest in ungodly pride! That even while you are eating, and drinking, and making merry, are passing on apace to weeping and gnashing of teeth, and everlasting woes and lamentations! What should we regard such dust and dirt as you are before the glorious God! It were far greater wisdom and honesty, for your children to set up a dog or a toad, and say, This is more to be ⟨p. 113⟩loved and honoured then my Father. If a Traitor against an earthly Prince deserve to be hanged drawn and quartered; certainly that man that would forsake God and his Laws to please such silly worms as you, did deserve to be hanged in the flames of Hell, and to be tormented by infernal fiends, and ground to powder by the wrath of the Almighty! Well!
Why Sirs, we have made a solemn Covenant with God, in the face of the Congregation in our Baptism, and oft renewed it in the Lo•ds Supper, and vowed that we would be his, and absolutely and unreservedly his. And would you wish us to break so solemn a Covenant? What honesty is in such persidiousness? We have renounced the flesh, the world and the devil; and should we turn to them aga•n ⟨p. 111⟩for Peace with you? O what a cursed Peace were that! Let me tell you, that we have not found God so •ad a Master, as to forsake him for the sake of you or any creature. We have tryed h•m, •nd fou•d him 〈…〉 to us then all •he wo•ld He hath never given us cau•e to fors••e him. And if we should now af•er all •he tryals of his love, turn back to the way of sin and ungodliness, the Devil himself would charge us with dishonesty. What! must the godly turn drunkards, and worldlings, and hate•s of godliness to have Peace with you? Why you may next perswade us even to turn Devils, that we may be reconciled to you. The God that made us, hath forbid us upon pain of his hot displeasure, to walk in your wayes. He saith to every one of us, as to Ieremy, 15.19. [Let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them.] And should we obey ⟨p. 112⟩God or men? Judge you whether. Why Sirs, are you so utterly unreasonable, as to wish us or any man living to love you better then God, or to regard you more then God, or obey you before God? Or should we be so much worse then mad, as to yield to you if you did desire it? Why what are you in comparison with the Almighty! O poor worms, that are even dying while you are speaking! that are but as bubbles ready to burst, when you are swelled to the highest in ungodly pride! That even while you are eating, and drinking, and making merry, are passing on apace to weeping and gnashing of teeth, and everlasting woes and lamentations! What should we regard such dust and dirt as you are before the glorious God! It were far greater wisdom and honesty, for your children to set up a dog or a toad, and say, This is more to be
