These things are as clear as day-light, and ought to be regarded by us, partly that we may bless God, who ⟨p. 100⟩hath freed us from this Tyranny, and have a liberty of judging of truth and falsehood, out of his holy and blessed word: Partly, that we may stand fast in this Liberty. Those that were never Pope-bitten, know not the mischiefs that attend this spiritual Tyranny, and God grant that we never more know it to our bitter cost. Therefore as Samuel dealt with the Israelites when they would cast off the Theocracy, or Gods Government, under which they had been well and safely governed, unless they forfeited the protection by their own sin, that they might be like all the Nations round about them, 1 Sam. 8.20. Samuel telleth them, what would be the manner of the King, that should reign over them, 1 Sam. 8.11, 12, 13. And he said, this shall be the manner of the King that shall reign over you, he will take your Sons, and appoint them for himself, for his Chariots, and to be his Horsemen; and some shall run before his Chariots, and he will appoint him Captains over thousands, and Captains over fifties, and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his Harvest, and to make his instruments of War, and instruments of his Chariots; and he will take your Daughters to be Confectionaries, and to be Cooks, and to be Bakers: And he will take your Fields, and your Vineyards, and your Olive-Yards, even the best of them, and give them to his Servants, &c. So if such a wanton humour should possess us, that we must have ⟨p. 101⟩the Religion of the Nations round about us, consider whom you receive spiritually to reign over you. The King of Pride, who opposeth, and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or is worshipped, &c. one that will not only devour your substance, but lord it over your Consciences, and put out the eye of your reason, that you may the better swallow his damnable errors, pestilent. Superstitions and Idolatries, and bold usurpation on the Authority of Christ, or else burn your Bodies with temporal fire, and cast out your name as one to be condemned to that which is eternal. It is easy to open the Flood-gate, but when that is done, it is not so easy to call back the Waters: and when you come to discern the difference between the blessed Yoke of Christ, and the Iron Yoke of Antichrist, it will be too late for a remedy to repent of your error.
These things are as clear as day-light, and ought to be regarded by us, partly that we may bless God, who ⟨p. 100⟩hath freed us from this Tyranny, and have a liberty of judging of truth and falsehood, out of his holy and blessed word: Partly, that we may stand fast in this Liberty. Those that were never Pope-bitten, know not the mischiefs that attend this spiritual Tyranny, and God grant that we never more know it to our bitter cost. Therefore as Samuel dealt with the Israelites when they would cast off the Theocracy, or Gods Government, under which they had been well and safely governed, unless they forfeited the protection by their own sin, that they might be like all the Nations round about them, 1 Sam. 8.20. Samuel telleth them, what would be the manner of the King, that should reign over them, 1 Sam. 8.11, 12, 13. And he said, this shall be the manner of the King that shall reign over you, he will take your Sons, and appoint them for himself, for his Chariots, and to be his Horsemen; and some shall run before his Chariots, and he will appoint him Captains over thousands, and Captains over fifties, and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his Harvest, and to make his instruments of War, and instruments of his Chariots; and he will take your Daughters to be Confectionaries, and to be Cooks, and to be Bakers: And he will take your Fields, and your Vineyards, and your Olive-Yards, even the best of them, and give them to his Servants, &c. So if such a wanton humour should possess us, that we must have ⟨p. 101⟩the Religion of the Nations round about us, consider whom you receive spiritually to reign over you. The King of Pride, who opposeth, and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or is worshipped, &c. one that will not only devour your substance, but lord it over your Consciences, and put out the eye of your reason, that you may the better swallow his damnable errours, pestilent. Superstitions and Idolatries, and bold usurpation on the Authority of Christ, or else burn your Bodies with temporal fire, and cast out your name as one to be condemned to that which is eternal. It is easy to open the Flood-gate, but when that is done, it is not so easy to call back the Waters: and when you come to discern the difference between the blessed Yoke of Christ, and the Iron Yoke of Antichrist, it will be too late for a remedy to repent of your errour.
