ukewarme
professors. The bodies of our many severall Congregations, yea even of
the better sort, whereunto have they beene likened by our separated
adversaries; but unto the Prophet _Hosea_ his cake, halfe baked upon the
hearth, having one side, that is, the one side to the world-ward, in
publique service, scorched a little and browned over; but the inside to
God-ward, in private, and family-duties, no better then dough; many of
them making indeede some shew, as the out-landish fruits that are
plashed upon our walls, but wanting heat never come to maturity. If wee
should make good their resemblances, how then should wee please the
stomacke of God? who hath indeede brooked and borne us a long time, I
doubt but wamblingly. How neare were wee going in 88. and in the powder
treason? Doe we thinke he will ever digest us, in the temper wee are in?
which (to confesse the truth of the fashionable Christian) what is it
but a state of neutrality, indifferency, or such a mediocrity, as will
just serve the time, satisfie Law, or stand with reputation of
neighbours? beyond which, if any step a little forward, do not the rest
hunt upon the stop? If there hap to breake out a sparkle of zeale in any
one house in a parish; is not the whole towne in an uprore, as when the
bells ring awke every man brings his bucket, to the quenching of this
fire? If hell bee in an Ale-house, who cryes out of it? & as for our
Sundayes Church-service, which is all that God gets at our hands; how
perfunctorily, and fashionably is it slubbered over; how are his Saboths
made the voyder and dung-hill for all refuse businesse, divided betweene
the Church and the Ale-house, the May-pole commonly beguiling the
Pulpit? What man would not spue to see God thus worshipped? This want of
devotion makes the foule mouthed Papists to spet at us: this want of
reformation, makes the queasie-stomacked Brownists cast themselves out
of the Church; and shall God alwayes suffer the land to beare us? But
behold, he stands at the door & knocks, by treasons, by plagues, by the
hammer of dearths, discontents, fires, inundations, especially by the
word; his locks are wet with waiting. Oh before hee shake off the dust
of his feet against us, and turne to some other nation more worthy, let
us open the doore, that hee may come in and sup with us; if hee love us,
hee will purge us, and scoure us, by one chastizement or other: if hee
have no pleasure in us, hee cannot but unburthen his stom