Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

Now then if the Third Angel say thus, why should not we declare the like, that so we may be amongst the number of the Angels whom the Holy Ghost there speaketh of? Besides, Idolaters cannot be saved, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Revel. 21.8. But if there be any Idolaters in the World, the Papists are such, when they worship graven Images, and pray to Saints, & to Gods that cannot save them: How then should they be saved? Again, their Doctrine of Justification by Works is a Fundamental error, as Paul testifieth in his Epistles, especially in his Epistle to the Romans (which was not without mystery, that the Apostle writing to the Romans, should so much insist upon that subject) besides many other Heresies by them maintained. I remember our great Whitaker saith, If one Heresy be destructive, what then are so many as those which the Papists defend. If they (saith he) shall be saved, then we must needs be damned; but if we be in the way of Salvation, then they are in that way to destruction? Moreover, it is an ancient and true Maxim, that out of the Church there is no Salvation to be had: But ⟨p. 200⟩Papists do not belong to the visible Church of Christ. Therefore you read, Rev. 11.1. that the Temple is measured; and verse 2. it is said; But the Court which is without the Temple, leave out and measure it not, for it is given to the Gentiles, &c. So that Papist are without the Temple, that is to say, they do not belong to the Church of God; & thence also they there are called Gentiles, because those Apostate Christians are in the same condition with the Heathen, Persecuting, Idolatrous World; whose God is not Christ, but Satan and Antichrist. Yet if we come nearer home, and look amongst Protestants and Professors of the true Religion; Alas, we shall find many there that are walking in the broad way to destruction. It is said concerning the Church of Sardis, Thou hast a few names, Rev. 3.4. Some of good judgment that look upon the Epistles of Christ to the seven Churches in Asia, to be a Parable or Prophecy concerning the sevenfold state of the visible Church, from Christs first unto his last coming, conceive that our times fall under the fifth Interval, or the Sardian condition of the Church. Sardis might be a Type of Protestant Churches; now therein are but a few names. Amongst Protestants there are but few that