The great necessity of unity and peace among all Protestants, and the bloody principles…

which while they take to be their God, we must still account them guilty of spiritual fornication, 'and such fornication, as is not so much as named amongst the Gentiles.

These then being the Idolaters with whom we have to deal, let us learn first how dangerous a thing it is to communicate with them in their false worship. Rev. 18. 4. For if we will be partakers of Babylons sins, we must look to receive of her plagues. Secondly, we are to be admonished, that it is not sufficient that in our own persons we refrain worshipping of idols, but is further required, that we restrain (as much as in us lieth) the practice thereof in others; lest by suffering God to be dishonoured in so high a manner, when we may by our calling hinder it, we make our selves partakers of other mens sins. Eli the High Priest was a good man, and gave excellent counsel unto his lewd sons: yet we know what judgment fell upon him, because his sons made themselves vile, and he frowned not upon them, (that is, restrained them not;) which God doth interpret to be a kind of idolatry, in 'honouring his sons above him. The Church of Pergamus did for her own part hold fast Christs name, and denied not his faith: yet had the Lord something against her; because she had there ⟨p. 13⟩them that held the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So we see what special notice our Saviour taketh of the works, and charity, and service, and faith, and patience of the Church of Thyatira: and yet for all this he addeth, Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth her self a Prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Revel 2. 20.

These then being the Idolaters with whom we have to deal, let us learn first how dangerous a thing it is to communicate with them in their false worship.