The Epiflie Dedicatory, But further the work of Chrift in their hands, with all your power. I am no Prophet, but yet prefume t fay, that if the reproaches ofa faithful minifier in .Eng- land bepurg'd away without somedreadful judgment of God on the Apoflate reproachers, or else a defertion of the nation, by a removing of our glory, t (hall wonder at the patience and forbearanceof the Lord. Its a dreadful ob- fervation ' to fee fo muchof the fpirit of Malignity poi felling thofe that once Paid, they fought againft Malig- nant s. And that the Minifters and fervants of the Lord, are railed at by many of them, as formerly they were by the worft of thofe that their hands deftroyed And with this dreadful aggravation, that then it was but fome that were reviled, and now with many it is all : then it was under the name of Puritans and Round-heads 3 and now it is openly as Minifters, un- der the name of PrieIfs, and Blackcoats, and Presbyters, and Pulpeteers. What have thefe fouls done, that they are fo far forfaken by the Lord ! The judge ofall the world is at the door, that will plead his fervants caufe in righteoufnefs. It is hard kickingagainft the pricks. He that defpifeth, defpifeth not men, but God. Pet- fecution under pretence of Liberty, is heightened with hypocrifie, and is one of the greateft fins in the world. But men are not catcht in fp;ders webs, though Ayes are: our. Lord will make us a way to efcape. Perfecu- tion never. conquered Chrift : And becaufe he lives we live alto. Here is the faith and patience of the Saints. I know that malice wants not words to cloak their iniquity, He that hath will and power todohurt, bath fo much wit as topretend form reafon for it : Though I think that maiice did never walk more nakedly , fince ( c 2 ) the
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