The child's portion, or, The unseen glory of the children of God asserted and…

3. To the representative body of this Government assembled in General-Court; on whom it lies as an indispensable duty to endeavour the maintenance of God's Glory, and to put forth utmost care for the securing of the interest of the true Religion, and extirpation of that which is false. The prevalency of corrupt Doctrines, and impudent boldness of many in prosecution of them, calls for your vigilant and resolute industry in the suppression thereof. I am not ignorant to how much calumny I expose my self in mentioning this point; but it is in Gods cause which I may not decline for fear of reproach. I have often heard (though, I must ⟨p. 192⟩needs confess, not without some secret regrets) the Encomiastic titles put upon this Government, as if it were singularly a Theocracy, and carried in it a glorious specimen of the Kingly Government of Christ: But I fear, if this Government decline, or think it not their concern vigorously to extend their power in upholding the duties of the first Table, and secure them from the invasion of perverse men, these will be found no more than a few empty Hyperboles. I confess, your legislative power is limited, and must take its measure from your Charter; nor do I advise to exceed that which God's providence hath invested you withal. I believe it shall never be charged as a sin upon you, that you did (with grief of heart) bear with those things which you could not regularly confront. But if men, upon pretence of Conscience (and who will not pretend it, if they may find it a shelter against Justice,?) If thus, I say, they may be suffered (though it be in your hand to oppose them) without any restraint to run to and fro. Disseminate their erroneous principles, make breaches in Churches, undermine and seduce silly souls, set up their Posts by God's Posts, enjoy as free and public liberty to carry on their own ways, as those Churches of Christ whom you profess to countenance and defend, and that by a total silence, and a full connivance; if thus you can tolerate the dishonour of Christ, let me ⟨p. 193⟩boldly say, I believe he will soon and signally testify his dislike of it.

3. To the representative body of this Government assembled in General-Court; on whom it lyes as an indispensible duty to endeavour the maintainance of God's Glory, and to put forth utmost care for the securing of the interest of the true Religion, and extirpation of that which is false. The prevalency of corrupt Doctrines, and impudent boldness of many in prosecution of them, calls for your vigilant and resolute industry in the suppression thereof. I am not ignorant to how much calumny I expose my self in mentioning this point; but it is in Gods cause which I may not decline for fear of reproach. I have often heard (though, I must