I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. No not yet For though this be a sufficient cause of great humiliation, (for backsliding in scripture phrase is called rebellion, and rebellion as the sin of witch-craft) yet a good man, hath no reason to be discouraged in this regard: for thus saith the Lord, Jer. 3.1. They say if a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another mans, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the Harlot with many lovers, yet return again unto me; saith the Lord. And vers. 12. return thou back-sliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever, & again vers. 14. Turn O back-sliding Children, for I am married unto you. & if ever the Lord Jesus Christ did betroth himself unto any soul, he will never put that soul away again, I hate putting away, saith God. Men put away their wives among the Jews, but saith the Lord, I hate putting away. And Isae. 50. vers. 1. Thus saith the Lord where is the Bill of your mothers divorcement, whom I have pu• away, or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Among the Jews, the husband did put away his wife upon small occasions. As for adultery, you know that was death, he did not put away his wife upon adultery, she was to die for it, but the husbands put away their wives upon other occasions, and when they put away their wives, they gave the wife a bill of divorce, that so upon all occasions the woman might show thereby, that she was free from such a man. Now, saith the Lord, you that charge me, and complain that I have put you away, come and show me the bill of divorce: Thus saith the Lord, where is the bill? &c. Poor soul, thou complainest that I have put thee away, come then and show me the bill of divorce: let any one who complains that I have put him away and cast him off, come and bring out his bill of divorce; This ye cannot do, men indeed put away, but if ever the Lord Christ doth match himself unto thee, he will never put thee away again.

Answ. No not yet For though this be a sufficient cause of great humiliation, (for backsliding in scripture phrase is called rebellion, and rebellion as the sin of witch-craft) yet a good man, hath no reason to be discouraged in this regard: for thus saith the Lord, Jer. 3.1. They say if a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another mans, shal he return unto her again? shal not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the Harlot with many lovers, yet return again unto me; saith the Lord. And vers. 12. return thou back-sliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I wil not cause mine anger to fal upon you, for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I wil not keep anger for ever, & again vers. 14. Turn O back-sliding Children, for I am marryed unto you. & if ever the Lord Jesus Christ did betroth himself unto any soul, he wil never put that soul away again, I hate putting away, saith God. Men put away their wives among the Jewes, but saith the Lord, I hate putting away. And Isae. 50. vers. 1. Thus saith the Lord where is the Bil of your mothers divorcement, whom I have pu away, or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Among the Jews, the husband did put away his wife upon smal occasions. As for adultery, you know that was death, he did not put away his wife upon adultery, she was to dy for it, but the husbands put away their wives upon other occasions, and when they put away their wives, they gave the wife a bil of divorce, that so upon al occasions the woman might shew thereby, that she was free from such a man. Now, saith the Lord, you that charge me, and complain that I have put you away, come and shew me the bil of divorce: Thus saith the Lord, where is the bil? &c. Poor soul, thou complainest that I have put thee away, come then and shew me the bil of divorce: let any one who complains that I have put him away and cast him off, come and bring out his bil of divorce; This ye cannot do, men indeed put away, but if ever the Lord Christ doth match himself unto thee, he wil never put thee away again.