on displease both evil men, and, in some respect, good men, this
makes it no worse than "a refiner's fire;" and so it must be, if it be
according to the mind of Christ.

My second and chief application shall be unto you, my noble lords. If you
be willing to admit such a reformation as is according to the mind of
Christ, as is like the "refiner's fire" and "fuller's soap," then, in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ (who will say, ere long, to every one of
you, "Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer
steward," Luke xvi. 2), I recommend these three things unto you,--I mean,
that you should make use of this "refiner's fire" in reference to three
sorts of dross: 1. The dross of _malignancy_; 2. The dross of _heresy and
corruption in religion_; 3. The dross of _profaneness_.

Touching the first of these, take the wise counsel of the wise man, Prov.
xxv. 4, 5, "Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come
forth a vessel for the finer. Take away the wicked from before the king,
and his throne shall be established in righteousness." Remember, also, the
fourth article of your solemn league and covenant, by which you have
obliged yourselves, with your hands lifted up to the most high God, to
endeavour the discovery, trial, and condign punishment of all such as have
been, or shall be incendiaries, malignants, or evil instruments, by
hindering the reformation of religion, dividing the king from his people,
or one of the kingdoms from another, or making any faction or parties
among the people contrary to this covenant. There was once a compliance
between the nobles of Judah and the Samaritans, which I hope you do not
read of without abominating the thing: You find it, Neh. vi. 17, 19, "In
those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the
letters of Tobiah came unto them. Also (saith Nehemiah) they reported his
good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him." But you have also the
error of a godly man set before you as a rock to be avoided, 2 Chron. xix.
2, "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?
therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord." I am not to dwell upon
this point: "I speak as to wise men, judge ye what I say."

In the second place, think of the extirpation of heresy and of unsound
dangerous doctrine, such as now springeth up apace, and subverted the
faith of many. There is no heretic nor false teacher which hath not some
one fa