T H E .T H I R D D E C A D· To M. Smith, and M. <R.oh. Ring~ leaders ofthe late Separation at ru1 mjlerdam. EPI s T . I.Stlti•g forth their ifljurJ d•n<,. tht church, tht i'!f"Jiicufthtirc••ft, •nt;/ fmtfolntjfo of theiroffence: CtN{tmng a11d advijing tbtm, r;:::~~~~=::::~iil E heare of your feparation, and moume; yet nor~~ 1iluch for you, as for your wrong : you c~uld not doe a grearer injury eo your Mother, then to lhe from her. Say fh~ were poore, ragged, weake; fay !lie were delhrmed; yet /he is not infectious : Or if /he were, yet !he is yours. This were caufe enough for you, to lament her , 'to pray tor het, to labour for het rcdrdfe, not to avoid her: This unnaturalnelfe is lhamefull ; and more hainous in· you, who are reported not parties in this evil! , but authors. Your fl ight is not fo much, asyour mif-guidance. Plead not: this fault is pall: excufe. Ifwe all fhocld follow you, this were theway,ofa Church(as you plead) imperfect, to make no Church; and ofa remedie, to make adifeafe. Still the fruirofour chariD ry ro you, is, belidesourgriefe, pitie. Your zealeofrrurhharh mif-ledyou, and you others: A zeale, ifhonell:, yet blind-folded, and led by lelfe-will. Orhat you loved Peace, bur ha!le fo well :s Truth : rheo, this breach had never beene: and you that are yet brethren, had beene ll:ill companions. Goeout ofB•byl•n. you fay; The voice not ofSchifme,but of holinelfe. Know you where you are! Looke about you, I befeech you, looke behind you; and fee ifwe have not left it upon our backs. Shee herfelfe feels, and fees that lhe is ab~ntloned: and complaines to all theworld, that we have not oaely fvrfaken, but fpoikd her; and yet you fay, C1me luii(B•bJI•n. And except you will be willingly blind, you may fecth<: heap$ofher Al~rs., the alhes of her Idols, the ruines of her monuments, the cond<mnation of her errours, the revenge ofher abommations. Andare we yet in B•~JIOn( Is B.lylon yetamongll: E us! Where are the maine buililing~ of that accurfed City; thole high and prQUd Towers of their univerfall Hierarchic, infallible judgement, difpenfation wirh the Lawes ofGod, and linnes of men; difpolition of Kingdomes, depolicion ofPrinces, pming ll:akes with God in our converfion, through freedome of will! · inour falvation, tllrough the merit ofour works ~ Where are thofe rotten heaps (rotrcif;. not through age, bm corruption) oftranfubll:antiating ofbread, adoring oflma{!I'S,. multitude ofSacraments, power oflndolgences, neceffitie of Conf(ffions, profit-of Pilgrimages, conll:rained and approved Ignorance, unknowne Devotions ! Where are thofe deepe vaults (ifnot mynes) of Penances and Purgatories, and whatfoever hath beenedevifed bythofe Popelings, whether profirabk or glorious, againll: the ' Lord aod his Chrill:! Are they not all rafed, and buried in the dull:~ Hath not the Majell:yofher Gods, like as was done to c.Mitbr~,and Serapt!,beenlong agone offer<d
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