Secondly, another Reason is, the abundance ⟨p. 13⟩of Priests and Jesuits that are in the midst of us, and the preaching of Popery amongst us, and the proneness of people to run headlong to the garlic and onions of Egypt again. This is argument sufficient to make us believe the Ark of God is in danger. And shall I add, the discontents and divisions in the Nation, as Christ saith, A Nation divided against it self cannot stand; but I leave these things to your considerations; I do believe there is none here but will confess the Ark of God is in danger to be lost. But now where are our old Elis, to sit watching and trembling for fear of the Ark? Where is Phinehas his Wife, that would not be comforted, because the Ark of God was taken? Where are our Moses's? Our Elijah's? Our Uriah's? Where are they that lay to heart the dangers of the Ark? You complain of Taxes, and decay of Trading, of this civil burden, and that civil burden; but where is the man or the woman that complains of this misery, the loss of the Ark? Most of you are like Gallio, he cared not for these things; if it had been a civil matter, then he would have meddled with it; but for Religion, he cared not for that: every man is troubled about meum and tuum, about civil concernments; but who lays to heart? who regards what shall become of Religion? There is a strange kind of indifferency and lukewarmness upon most peoples spirits; so they may have their Trading go on, and their civil burdens removed, they care not what becomes of the Ark. There is a Text of Scripture, I shall not spend ⟨p. 14⟩much time in opening it, but I would have you well consider it, Hos. 7. 9. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not; yea, grey-hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. Shall I say grey-hairs are upon the Gospel? I come not hither to prophecy; I say not the Gospel is dying, but I say it hath grey-hairs; for you have had the Gospel a hundred years and above, and therefore it is in its old age; and I dare challenge any Scholar to show me an example of any Nation that hath enjoyed the Gospel for a hundred years together. Now that grey-hairs is to a hundred years, is no wonder: Well, grey-hairs are here and there, and yet no man layeth it to heart.
Secondly, another Reason is, the abundance ⟨p. 13⟩of Priests and Jesuits that are in the midst of us, and the preaching of Popery amongst us, and the proneness of people to run headlong to the garlick and onyons of Egypt again. This is argument sufficient to make us believe the Ark of God is in danger. And shall I add, the discontents and divisions in the Nation, as Christ saith, A Nation divided against it self cannot stand; but I leave these things to your considerations; I do believe there is none here but will confess the Ark of God is in danger to be lost. But now where are our old Elys, to sit watching and trembling for fear of the Ark? Where is Phinehas his Wife, that would not be comforted, because the Ark of God was taken? Where are our Moses's? Our Elijah's? Our Uriah's? Where are they that lay to heart the dangers of the Ark? You complain of Taxes, and decay of Trading, of this civil burden, and that civil burden; but where is the man or the woman that complains of this misery, the loss of the Ark? Most of you are like Galio, he cared not for these things; if it had been a civil matter, then he would have medled with it; but for Religion, he cared not for that: every man is troubled about meum and tuum, about civil concernments; but who layes to heart? who regards what shall become of Religion? There is a strange kind of indifferency and lukewarmness upon most peoples spirits; so they may have their Trading go on, and their civil burdens removed, they care not what becomes of the Ark. There is a Text of Scripture, I shall not spend ⟨p. 14⟩much time in opening it, but I would have you well consider it, Hos. 7. 9. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not; yea, gray-hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. Shall I say gray-hairs are upon the Gospel? I come not hither to prophecy; I say not the Gospel is dying, but I say it hath gray-hairs; for you have had the Gospel a hundred years and above, and therefore it is in its old age; and I dare challenge any Schollar to shew me an example of any Nation that hath enjoyed the Gospel for a hundred years together. Now that gray-hairs is to a hundred years, is no wonder: Well, gray-hairs are here and there, and yet no man layeth it to heart.
