The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

2. The second thing that I would mind our Rulers of, is, What mortal Enemies those men are to their souls, that would persuade them that they must not, as Rulers, Do Good to the souls of men, and to the Church as such; nor further the Reformation, nor propagate the Gospel, nor stablish Christs orders in the Churches of their Country, any otherwise then by a common maintaining the Peace and Liberties of all. What doctrine could more desperately undo you if entertained? If you be once persuaded that it belongs not to you to Do Good, and the Greatest Good, to which all your successes have but made way, then all the Comfort, the Blessing and Reward is lost: And consequently all the Glorious preparative successes, as to you, are lost: If once you take your selves to have nothing to do as Rulers for Christ, you cannot promise your selves that Christ will have any thing to do for you as Rulers in a way of Mercy: This Mr. Owen hath lately told you in his Sermon, Oct. 13. The God of Heaven forbid, that ever all the Devils in Hell, the Jesuits at Rome, or the seduced souls in England, should be able to persuade the Rulers of this Land, who are so deeply bound to God by Vows, Mercies, Professions, and high expenses of treasure and blood, to Reform his Church, and propagate his Gospel; that ⟨p. 343⟩now after all this it belongeth not to them, but they must as Rulers be no more for Christ the• for Mahomet: But if ever it should prove the sad case of England to have such Rulers (which I strongly hope will never be) if my Prognostics fail not, this will be their fate: The Lord Jesus will forsake them, as they have forsaken him, & the Prayers of his Saints will be fully turned against them; and his Elect shall cry to him night and day, till he avenge them speedily, by making these his enemies to l•ck the dust, and dashing them in pieces like a Potters vessel, because they would not that he should reign over them: And then they shall know whether Christ be not King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

2. The second thing that I would mind our Rulers of, is, What mortal Enemies those men are to their souls, that would perswade them that they must not, as Rulers, Do Good to the souls of men, and to the Church as such; nor further the Reformation, nor propagate the Gospel, nor stablish Christs orders in the Churches of their Country, any otherwise then by a common maintaining the Peace and Liberties of all. What doctrine could more desperately undo you if entertained? If you be once perswaded that it belongs not to you to Do Good, and the Greatest Good, to which all your successes have but made way, then all the Comfort, the Blessing and Reward is lost: And consequently all the Glorious preparative successes, as to you, are lost: If once you take your selves to have nothing to do as Rulers for Christ, you cannot promise your selves that Christ will have any thing to do for you as Rulers in a way of Mercy: This Mr. Owen hath lately told you in his Sermon, Oct. 13. The God of Heaven forbid, that ever all the Devils in Hell, the Jesuits at Rome, or the seduced souls in England, should be able to perswade the Rulers of this Land, who are so deeply bound to God by Vows, Mercies, Professions, and high expences of treasure and blood, to Reform his Church, and propagate his Gospel; that