A trumpet blown in Zion, or, An alarm in God's holy mountain containing an…A trumpet blown in Zion, or, An allarm in God's holy mountain containing an…

SOME PASSAGES Of the Fearful Estate of Francis Spira, Spira having received the Light of the Gospel, became a Teacher of the Blessed Truths thereof amongst his Friends and familiar Acquaintance; and (says the Narrative) in comparison seemed to neglect all other Affairs, much pressing this main point of Doctrine, viz. That we must wholly and only depend on the free and unchangeable Love of God in the Death of Christ, as the only way to Salvation. As to his natural and corrupt Inclination; I was, saith he, excessively Covetous of Money; and accordingly applied my self to get it by Injustice, corrupting Justice by doing it, &c. As touching Spira's Sin and his grand fall, it was thus, viz. The Popes Legate, Resident at Venice, was stirred by the malice of the Papists to accuse Spira to him, and by the Craft and Policy of the Legate, and through slavish Fear, Spira first fled, and afterwards renounced his Testimony to the Truth; before which it appears he reasoned thus within himself, thro' the Suggestion of the Devil, viz. Be well advised, fond Man, consider Reasons on both sides, and then judge, how canst thou thus overween thine own sufficiency, as thou neither regardest the Examples of thy Progenitors, nor the Judgment of the whole Church, dost thou not consider what misery this thy Rashness will bring thee into? thou shalt lose thy Substance gotten with so great Care and Travel; thou shalt undergo the most exquisite Torments that Malice can devise; thou shalt be counted an Heretic of all; and to close up all, thou shalt die shamefully: ⟨p. 45⟩What thinkest thou of the loathsome stinking Dungeon, the Bloody Axe, the Burning Faggot? are they delightful? be wise at length, and keep thy Life and Honour.—Go to the Legate, Weak Man, and freely Confess thy Fault, &c. And upon these thoughts he goes to the Legate, and salutes him with this News, viz. Having for these divers years entertained an Opinion concerning some Articles of Faith, contrary to the Orthodox and received Judgment of the Church, and uttered many things against the Authority of the Church of Rome, and the universal Bishop, I humbly acknowledge my Fault and Error, and my Folly in my misleading others; I therefore yield my self in all Obedience to the supreme Bishop of Rome, into the Bosom of the Church of Rome, never to depart again from the Traditions and Decrees of the Holy See;

SOME PASSAGES Of the Fearful Estate of Francis Spira, SPira having received the Light of the Gospel, became a Teacher of the Blessed Truths thereof amongst his Friends and familiar Acquaintance; and (says the Narrative) in comparison seemed to neglect all other Affairs, much pressing this main point of Doctrine, viz. That we must wholly and only depend on the free and unchangable Love of God in the Death of Christ, as the only way to Salvation. As to his natural and corrupt Inclination; I was, saith he, excessively Covetous of Money; and accordinly applyed my self to get it by Injustice, corrupting Justice by doing it, &c. As touching Spira's Sin and his grand fall, it was thus, viz. The Popes Legate, Resident at Venice, was stirred by the malice of the Papists to accuse Spira to him, and by the Craft and Policy of the Legate, and through slavish Fear, Spira first fled, and afterwards renounced his Testimony to the Truth; before which it appears he reasoned thus within himself, thro' the Suggestion of the Devil, viz. Be well advised, fond Man, consider Reasons on both sides, and then judge, how canst thou thus overwean thine own sufficiency, as thou neither regardest the Examples of thy Progenitors, nor the Judgment of the whole Church, dost thou not consider what misery this thy Rashness will bring thee into? thou shalt lose thy Substance gotten with so great Care and Travel; thou shalt undergo the most exquisite Torments that Malice can devise; thou shalt be counted an Heretick of all; and to close up all, thou shalt die shamefully: