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

And if you be a Minister, you know your duty; only (as Luther phrases it) let your knowledge be incarnate into godly practice; good works are faith incarnate, knowledge incarnate. Now you read Joshua 3. 13, 15, 17. That when the children of Israel went through Jordan, those Priests that bare the Ark of the Lord, were first to enter upon the waters, & to stay in the midst of them, till all Israel past over. The water doth note affliction, the feet of those that bare the Ark, are to be first in danger, and there to stand till all be over. In the place before mentioned, Ezek. 44. 10, 11, 12. Gods threatening is very terrible. As if he should say, As for those Levites that go astray when Israel goes astray, and do admit the uncircumcised in heart to mine holy things, though they be suffered in mine house, yet they shall but do the out-works thereof, as for those inward things of mine house, and self, they shall not be admitted to them, nor trusted with them. Though they may preach some outward truths, which they may read of in books, yet for those inward secret heart things of the Covenant, I will never trust them with them, they shall not draw near to me. O therefore beloved, that we could deny our own knowledge, wisdoms, parts, gifts, liberties, and all that's ours in this great service.

And if you be a Minister, you know your duty; onely (as Luther phrases it) let your knowledge be incarnate into godly practice; good works are faith incarnate, knowledge incarnate. Now you read Joshua 3. 13, 15, 17. That when the children of Israel went thorow Iordan, those Priests that bare the Ark of the Lord, were first to enter upon the waters, & to stay in the midst of them, till all Israel past over. The water doth note affliction, the feet of those that bare the Ark, are to be first in danger, and there to stand till all be over. In the place before mentioned, Ezek. 44. 10, 11, 12. Gods threatning is very terrible. As if he should say, As for those Levites that goe astray when Israel goes astray, and doe admit the uncircumcised in heart to myne holy things, though they be suffered in mine house, yet they shal but do the out-works thereof, as for those inward things of mine house, and selfe, they shall not be admitted to them, nor trusted with them. Though they may preach some outward truthes, which they may read of in books, yet for those inward secret heart things of the Covenant, I will never trust them with them, they shall not draw neere to me. O therefore beloved, that wee could denie our own knowledge, wisedomes, parts, gifts, liberties, and all that's ours in this great service.