The works of Ephesus explained in a sermon before the honourable House of Commons…The workes of Ephesus explained in a sermon before the honovrable House of Commons…

But let this word be to You especially, even to You (of the Great and Honourable Assembly) who are the called of God and the King, and the chosen of this whole Nation. Your great work for God, for the King, for the whole Nation, is, to find out and take away both things and persons which are evil. Let your Acts testify before Heaven and Earth, that you cannot bear them. It was ⟨p. 57⟩[…] ⟨p. 58⟩[…] ⟨p. 51⟩a noble resolution of the Israelites, who were no sooner informed that their Brethren the children of Reuben and ¹the children of Gad, and the half Tribe of Manasseh, had built an Altar on the borders of Jordan: but presently they resolve to fight against them. They will not ²bear them in this, though their Brethren: the reason was, because as the Moral Law taught but one God, so the Ceremonial taught but one Altar; and therefore a second was insufferable. And had not their answer ³to the Princes (sent in Embassy) satisfied them (that they meant it not for Sacrifice) doubtless they had taken deep revenge in that quarrel of God. And let me beseech you this day to take up the like resolution, and speedily to execute it against every Altar, yea every thing about Gods worship, whose Authors and abetters cannot give as good an account for its beginning, standing and continuance, as those Reubenites did for that. I hope, I have seasonably moved you this day of your Fast to resolve on this. For the Prophet tells us, this is Gods Fast, Is not this the Fast that I have ⁴chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Those things then, which are bands of wickedness, resolve now to loose them, whatsoever is a heavy burden resolve to undo it: when ⁵