Fifthly,1 It may teach all the Saints in this Country, or where-ever, not to trust the pretences of deceitful men, especially such as are not sound in Religion, and take heed also how you trust upon your own strength (let me put them both together for brevity sake): We know not how soon any of us may be tempted in this kind, what wars may be raised against this Country (though we have none for the present, nor fear none) yet in time we know not what may come: what, are we better then our Fathers? The Beast of Rome still lives, his 42. months is not yet out (though his power he much weakened) but his Agents still live: He is able to blow a coal to those that look for salvation from him, to do this great and glorious service to the Catholic Church and cause: And if it please the Catholic Church, then it grows a great business to root out Heretics, to blast them by censures of Excommunication, and Civill State; if it were so, we stand upon our own defence you see. It behooves you therefore, as you desire to be faithful to God, to Religion, to your Churches and Common-wealths, to your Wives, Children, Estates, as you desire to be faithful to his Ordinances, to the Kingly, Priestly, and Prophetical Office of Christ, to attend to that which these Saints neglected, that is to say, to attend to the word of Faith, and to the wisdom of God: Trust not upon the experience of your Captains or Soldiers, to fight by Land or Sea: Trust not upon your Castles or Vessels by Sea, any thing you have, or ⟨p. 111⟩may have: Trust not upon the pieces of Ordnance, they are all vain things to save if you stand in need (and yet of use.) Be prepared in this kind, that you may be instrumental to Gods providence, but trust not in them, they are but the Arm of flesh: And if Wars come against New-England, it will be from Principalities and Powers, and flesh and blood will not be able to with-stand them: They will be Principalities from Hell, or the great Beast, the Catholic Church, or from the Image of this Beast, otherwise there is no fear of any War: but if any War do come, trust not in those means you have, nor though all the Natives in the Country were on your side: and if any great Protestant States should offer you help, use them, but do not trust in them.
Fifthly,1 It may teach all the Saints in this Countrey, or where-ever, not to trust the pretences of deceitfull men, especially such as are not sound in Religion, and take heed also how you trust upon your own strength (let me put them both together for brevity sake): We know not how soon any of us may be tempted in this kind, what warres may be raised against this Countrey (though wee have none for the present, nor feare none) yet in time we know not what may come: what, are we better then our Fathers? The Beast of Rome still lives, his 42. moneths is not yet out (though his power he much weakned) but his Agents still live: He is able to blow a coale to those that look for salvation from him, to do this great and glorious service to the Catholick Church and cause: And if it please the Catholick Church, then it grows a great businesse to root out Hereticks, to blast them by censures of Excommunication, and Civill State; if it were so, we stand upon our own defence you see. It behooves you therefore, as you desire to be faithfull to God, to Religion, to your Churches and Common-wealths, to your Wives, Children, Estates, as you desire to be faithfull to his Ordinances, to the Kingly, Priestly, and Propheticall Office of Christ, to attend to that which these Saints neglected, that is to say, to attend to the word of Faith, and to the wisdome of God: Trust not upon the experience of your Captaines or Souldiers, to fight by Land or Sea: Trust not upon your Castles or Vessels by Sea, any thing you have, or ⟨p. 111⟩may have: Trust not upon the pieces of Ordnance, they are all vaine things to save if you stand in need (and yet of use.) Be prepared in this kind, that you may be instrumentall to Gods providence, but trust not in them, they are but the Arm of flesh: And if Wars come against New-England, it will be from Principalities and Powers, and flesh and blood will not be able to with-stand them: They will be Principalities from Hell, or the great Beast, the Catholick Church, or from the Image of this Beast, otherwise there is no feare of any War: but if any War do come, trust not in those means you have, nor though all the Natives in the Countrey were on your side: and if any great Protestant States should offer you help, use them, but do not trust in them.
- 1Use 5.Ʋse 5.
