The heart of N-England rent at the blasphemies of the present generation. Or a…

Lysander's counsel of old was, when the lions skin will not hold out, to piece it with a fox skin. Why should it seem strange, that men speaking doctrines of devils, and lies in hypocrisy, having their Conscience scared with an hot iron, and therefore past feeling of spiritual weapons, object (may that serve their turn) against obnoxiousness to Civill weapons, of which they remain only sensible, that so privileged with impunity, they may proceed in their madness without all restraint. That ancient stratagem of destroyers (otherwise often frustrated in their attempts) to open their way unto their flock, by endeavouring the removal of the keepers is famously notable from Demosthenes•s recital of the folly of the sheep sometimes delivering up the dogs that kept them, at the motion of the wolves. Whereby; he stayed the Athenians, from delivering up their Orators unto Alexander upon his proposal: out of whose hands, they had been instrumental to save the City. Should the People not of Athens, but of Zion, suffer themselves to be abused by heretical deceivers & destroyers into a persuasion, that whilst it is Lawful for them under a pretence to invade, it is unlawful for Civil power to defend Religion: they would render themselves more like those sheep in the Fable then men of understanding in Israel, not to make regular & seasonable use of the means, instituted & blessed unto such an end, in time of danger, is to Tempt, not to Trust God.

Lysander's counsel of old was, when the lions skin will not hold out, to piece it with a fox skinne. Why should it seeme strange, that men speaking doctrines of devils, and lies in hypocrisie, having their Conscience scared with an hot iron, and therefore past feeling of spiritual weapons, object (may that serve their turn) against obnoxiousnes to Civill weapons, of which they remain only sensible, that so priviledged with impunity, they may proceed in their madness without all restraint. That ancient stratagem of destroyers (otherwise often frustrated in their attempts) to open their way unto their flock, by endeavouring the removal of the keepers is famously notable from Demosthenes•s recital of the folly of the sheep sometimes delivering up the doggs that kept them, at the motion of the wolves. Whereby; he stayed the Athenians, from delivering up their Orators unto Alexander upon his proposal: out of whose hands, they had been instrumental to save the City. Should the People not of Athens, but of Sion, suffer themselves to be abused by heretical deceivers & destroyers into a persuasion, that whil'st it is Lawfull for them under a praetence to invade, it is unlawfull for Civil power to defend Religion: they would render themselves more like those sheep in the Fable then men of understanding in Israel, not to make regular & seasonable use of the meanes, instituted & blessed unto such an end, in time of danger, is to Tempt, not to Trust God.