Babylons downfall a sermon lately preached at Westminster before sundry of the honourable House…

3. Suppose there were danger in a reformation, ⟨p. 19⟩and extirpation of all that's Babylons, yet there's more danger in want of reformation. Vomiting Physic is very troublesome, but disease more. He that ventures against Babylon, at the worst can but lose his life, which may be taken away by the fall of some tile, on the turning of some humour in our body; but he that partakes with Babylon in her sin, shall partake with her in her plagues and punishments to all eternity. What a trouble did Achan cause, yet he was but one man, his act one, and the Babylonish garment but one. O what trouble then will it be to suffer many Achans, and that continually? Augustine says, that when the Jews would not acknowledge Christ, lest the Romans should come, and take their place, in preventing loss, they lost most. They would not lose their earth, and they lost their heaven, they would not lose their place, and they lost their God.

3. Suppose there were danger in a reformation, ⟨p. 19⟩and extirpation of all that's Babylons, yet there's more danger in want of reformation. Vomiting Physick is very troublesome, but disease more. He that ventures against Babylon, at the worst can but lose his life, which may bee taken away by the fall of some tyle, on the turning of some humour in our body; but hee that partakes with Babylon in her sinne, shall partake with her in her plagues and punishments to all eternity. What a trouble did Achan cause, yet hee was but one man, his act one, and the Babylonish garment but one. O what trouble then will it be to suffer many Achans, and that continually? Augustine sayes, that when the Jewes would not acknowledge Christ, lest the Romans should come, and take their place, in preventing losse, they lost most. They would not lose their earth, and they lost their heaven, they would not lose their place, and they lost their God.

4. But suppose that there were the most danger in the best reformation, is there not enough in heaven to pay for all. Nay, my beloved, even on this side heaven, there is no loss by Christ in losing for Christ; non habendo habemus, In not having, we have. I remember what is written of fortis Zisca, and (as my Author says) written upon his tomb in his Epitaph, thus, Eleven times in joining battle, I went Victor out of the field, I seemed worthily to have defended the cause of the miserable and hungry, against the delicate, fat, and gluttonous Priests, and for that cause to have received help at the hand of God. Mark the emphasis, it lies there, And for that cause. But ye have an