The heads of some sermons preached at Finnick, the 17 of August. 1662 By…

Fourthly: There is a way that men prefer their natural life to the Cause and interests of Christ by doing that which is positively sinful, and that by giving obedience to sinful Acts and Laws, for fear of personal hazard, is such a thing as I know to be iniquous and sinful; but there comes out such a Law from the Supreme Magistrate, that such a thing must be done, or then be liable to such and such hazard, and for fear of that hazard I give obedience to that iniquous Law, and that way seek to save my life with prejudice to Christ and his Cause. This was the case of the three children that were put to it at Babylon, but they did not obey; there came out a wicked Law against them, that whenever they heard all the bag-pipes blow, they should without any more fall down and worship the idol that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, or then take it upon their peril to be cast into the fiery furnace. O! but the three children made a fair and honest choice, Be it known to you all Gentiles, quoth they if the bag-pipes should blow till they burst again, we will not fall down and worship the Idol that Nebuchadnezzar has set-up; if our God please, he can deliver us, but whether he will deliver us or not, we will not bow down to your glecks. O! but they made a fair choice! There are many Folks now in our days, I think, if the King would command the most iniquous Law that ever was commanded in a church, I doubt not but they would give obedience thereunto, for fear of inconveniences that they fear would come upon them for their disobedience: they have given a great proof of this already, and a greater proof than this can not be given, for they have sworn that his Majesty's will shall be the rule, according to which they shall level all their actions. I hope it is clear to you all, that these Lowns have taken a sinful way to save their life, with prejudice to Christ and his Cause, as ever was taken. I am sure their lives must be in hazard.

Fourthly: There is a way that men prefer their natural life to the Cause and interests of Christ by doing that which is positively sinfull, and that by giving obedience to sinfull Acts and Laws, for fear of personal hazard, is such a thing as I know to be iniquous and sinfull; but there comes out such a Law from the Supream Magistrat, that such a thing must be done, or then be liable to such and such hazard, and for fear of that hazard I give obedience to that iniquous Law, and that way seek to save my life with prejudice to Christ and his Cause. This was the case of the three children that were put to it at Babylon, but they did not obey; there came out a wicked Law against them, that whenever they heard all the bagg-pipes blow, they should without any more fall down and worship the idol that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, or then take it upon their peril to be cast into the firy fornace. O! but the three children made a fair and honest choise, Be it known to you all Gentiles, quoth they if the bagg-pipes should blow till they burst again, we will not fall down and worship the Idol that Nebuchadnezzar has set-up; if our God please, he can deliver us, but whether he will deliver us or not, we will not bow down to your glecks. O! but they made a fair choice! There are many Folks now in our days, I think, if the King would command the most iniquous Law that ever was commanded in a church, I doubt not but they would give obedience thereunto, for fear of inconveniencies that they fear would come upon them for their disobedience: they have given a great proof of this already, and a greater proof than this can not be given, for they have sworn that his Majestys will shall be the rule, according to which they shall level all their actions. I hope it is clear to you all, that these Lowns have taken a sinfull way to save their life, with prejudice to Christ and his Cause, as ever was taken. I am sure their lives must be in hazard.