Use of Instruction, How much God may justly expect of us in England, who have not only had a plantation of the Gospel many hundred years ago, but after a deep apostasy, a gracious Reformation also. What manner of persons should we be? Angli, quasi Angeli, it was said of old. Certainly, we should be so in respect of knowledge, worship and godliness. The Christian Faith was by some received, long before we were called English, for in the eight hundredth year after Christ, Egbertus King of the West-Saxons, having got all the dominion into his own hands almost, made an universal sanction, that the whole Nation should be called the English Nation, being named Britons before. It is not my intent to enter into that Dispute of the learned, who planted the Gospel in England? As for the Papists, who would make one Augustine to be our Apostle, is so ridiculous, that it cannot be believed: for there were godly Christians already in the Island, that refused him, because he was a superstitious proud ⟨p. 82⟩person, saying, The Spirit of God was not in him, because there was not humility in him. The Gospel was brought in here long before those days. Some say, Joseph of Arimathea: Some say, that Pudeus and Linus, whom the Apostle salutes, were Britons; For Martial in his Epigrams mentioneth them as Britons. This is clear, that in Tertullians time, the Gospel was spread in this Island, and though unknown to the whole world, yet the word of God found it out; but to see our degeneration, it may make us astonished, especially in ignorance, superstitious worship and profaneness. Oh, were we thus planted at first, or were we reformed to be thus? Do not many among us live like brute beasts, rather than Christians? Setting aside the name, what is there either for knowledge or life, more than is in a mere Pagan or Heathen? Oh the patience of God that should continue the Gospel thus long amongst us!. Was there more unworthiness in Jerusalem, in Ephesus, in other Churches, which yet God hath made desolate places? Certainly, we might well conclude, That God would remove our Candlestick, were there not a remnant that love the Gospel, delight in it, and labour to walk worthy of it. How can profaneness and beastly courses be found amongst us, when the light of God hath shined round about us?
Ʋse of Instruction, How much God may justly expect of us in England, who have not only had a plantation of the Gospel many hundred years ago, but after a deep apostasie, a gracious Reformation also. What manner of persons should we be? Angli, quasi Angeli, it was said of old. Certainly, we should be so in respect of knowledge, worship and godlinesse. The Christian Faith was by some received, long before we were called English, for in the eight hundredth year after Christ, Egbertus King of the West-Saxons, having got all the dominion into his own hands almost, made an universal sanction, that the whole Nation should be called the English Nation, being named Brittans before. It is not my intent to enter into that Dispute of the learned, who planted the Gospel in England? As for the Papists, who would make one Augustine to be our Apostle, is so ridiculous, that it cannot be believed: for there were godly Christians already in the Island, that refused him, because he was a superstitious proud ⟨p. 82⟩person, saying, The Spirit of God was not in him, because there was not humility in him. The Gospel was brought in here long before those dayes. Some say, Joseph of Arimathea: Some say, that Pudeus and Linus, whom the Apostle salutes, were Britains; For Martial in his Epigrams mentioneth them as Britains. This is clear, that in Tertullians time, the Gospel was spread in this Island, and though unknown to the whole world, yet the word of God found it out; but to see our degeneration, it may make us astonished, especially in ignorance, superstitious worship and prophanenesse. Oh, were we thus planted at first, or were we reformed to be thus? Do not many among us live like bruit beasts, rather than Christians? Setting aside the name, what is there either for knowledg or life, more than is in a meer Pagan or Heathen? Oh the patience of God that should continue the Gospel thus long amongst us!. Was there more unworthinesse in Jerusalem, in Ephesus, in other Churches, which yet God hath made desolate places? Certainly, we might well conclude, That God would remove our Candlestick, were there not a remnant that love the Gospel, delight in it, and labour to walk worthy of it. How can prophanenesse and beastly courses be found amongst us, when the light of God hath shined round about us?
