know, that the grace of juftification and fanctification is enervated, yea, almoft abrogated by them? While they affert, that our own works must neceffarily concur to the one, and free will co-operate, as a focial cause at least, with the other, so that the chief reafon why we differ from others, and are converted, while they continue in their fins, depends on our free will, directly contrary to Paul's doctrine, I Cor. iv. 7. (Turret.) By grace ye are faved, fays the apoftle; Not of works, leaft any man should boast, Eph. ii. 8, 9. Boasting is excluded, fays he, Rom. iii. 27. But the heretical church of Rome establishes it. It is not in the Lord alone that they have righteousness and ftrength, but also in themselves. Their good works, and their free will, they loudly extol. Juftification and fanctification are in the system of Christianity, as the fun and the moon in the firmament: and, therefore, when fo greatly eclipfed, what but the moft dreadful darkness muft enfue? To deftroy them, is to tab Christianity to the heart. Thefe foundationstones carried away, as with a torrent, down goes the building in a moment. Thus, the Romish enemy may be faid to come in like a flood, in respect of herefy in doctrine.

2. The Romish enemy may be faid to come in like a flood, in respect of idolatry in worship: when the Lord's land (I allude to Hof. ix. 3.) becomes the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols, Jer. 1. 38. Though adorability be the prerogative of Godhead; yet Papifts pay divine honours to creatures. They call upon the Virgin Mary to protect them from the enemy, and to receive them

at the hour of death. They affirm, that the Almighty hath taken her to him as a partner of his divine Majefty and power: that he hath given her the half of his kingdom. Hence they fometimes join her to Chrift as an affociate, fometimes they prefer her as a fuperior, and fometimes they cleave to her alone. It is notour, that they everywhere worship angels, not only as mediators of interceffion, but as benefactors and protectors.-They pray to all the nine orders of angels, to direct their thoughts, words, and actions, in the way of falvation and profperity. But, their chief devotion, they address every one to their guardian angel. They pray to the holy apoftles to abfolve them from their fins, defend them, ftrengthen them, and lead them to the heavenly kingdom. The Catechifm of Trent teacheth, that angels are to be adored by Chriftians. The Roman Miffal repeats it at every turn, that the cross is to be adored.-The expurgatory Index, published at Madrid, anno 1612, ordered these paffages of the fathers to be erazed, wherein it is obferved, that God only is to be wor fhipped; that no creature is to be worshipped; that the faints are to be honoured with imitation, not with adoration, (Turret, ib.)-The votaries of Rome worship the bread in the Lord's fupper, as according to them it is tranfubftantiated into his very body. What an overflowing enemy, when fuch idolatrous worship is practifed! When in oppofition to the exprefs will of heaven, fhipping of angels! Col. ii. 18. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, fhalt thou ferve, Matth. iv. 10.

there is a wor

It is written,

and him only This fingle fen

tence abundantly confutes all the fallacious reafonings of Rome.

What an overflowing flood, when the creature is worshipped and ferved befides the Creator! When Jeroboam's calves are fet up at Dan and Bethel! What elfe are all the Popish images? They are as much will-worship, and as remote from the spirituality of the divine effence, as the calves were. The human form into which they are caft, cannot poffibly exculpate their worshippers from the charge of idolatry. As God is a pure Spirit, he cannot poffibly have any fhape: and therefore the human shape has no more relation to him, and can no more represent him, than any other can. The image of corruptible man, is, according to the apostle, as real a changing of the glory of God, as is the image of birds, four-footed beasts, and creeping things: He makes no diftinction, reckoning them all in one clafs, Rom. i. 23.; and if so in Pagan-worship, what has made it otherways in Popish? The command is exprefs, Thou shalt not make unto thee ANY graven image, nor ANY likeness.— Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor ferve them, Exod. xx. 4, 5. What a defolating flood, when Bethel becomes a Bethaven; the house of God, a house of lying vanities! When Dagon is placed faft by the ark, and the mafs-book preferred to the Bible!

3. The Romish enemy may be faid to come in like a flood, in refpect of tyranny in government.Antichrift's yoke is the very reverse of Chrift's. It has galled the church's neck upwards of a thousand years. Juftly may fhe fay, a bloody enemy hast

P

word for him, who flew, as on the wings of love, to lay down his life for them! He foretold what the experience of ages has often, very often verified, because iniquity shall abound, the love of many fball wax cold, Matth. xxiv. 12. The enemy com. ing in like a flood, quencheth the love of multitudes. The loaves being ended, fo is their love. If the garb of godliness any how incumber them, they can drop it in a trice. As one impiously faid, They will not launch fo far into the sea of religion, but that they may fafely return to shore. They are too fenfible to be zealous, too wife to burn: having more of the ferpent than of the dove. They wade in fenfuality, instead of holding fast the profeffion of their faith without wavering. They halt as between two opinions. If their merchandife, or their farm profper, they give themfelves no pain concerning the ark of God, no; not though it should be among the hands of infidels. If the former go well, their hearts rejoice; but the utmost danger of the latter never makes them tremble. They can dwell in their ceiled houses, while the temple is in ruins. They are at ease in Zion; and are not grieved for the afflictions of Jofeph, Amos vi. 1,-6. Such a temper prevailing, is an infallible indication, that the enemy is come in like a flood.-Nothing is more hateful in the eyes of a holy and a jealous God. If a church, leaving her firft love, be threatened with the removal of her candlestick, what can a lukewarm Laodicea expect? Let the careless read and tremble: Because thou art neither cold nor hot, I will fpue thee out of my mouth, faith the Lord, Rev. iii. 16. As neutrals can be relied on by no fet of

He

men; fo neutrality in religion, is odious in the fight of God. It is the temper of an enemy. pretends not to hurt the truth, but neither will he help her. Heaven-born as she is, the can have no lodging under his roof. through as with a dagger, out his hand to her help. rueful her looks, and loud her cry; he will have none of her. Befriend her who will, he will not.

He will not thrust her neither will he stretch Marred as her visage is,

-He is an enemy, therefore, and with fuch he fhall one day be led forth.

The Romish Enemy comes in like a Flood, in refpect of Heretical Doctrine, Idolatrous Worship, and Tyrannical Government.

TH

THE Romifh enemy may be faid to come in like a flood, in three refpects; viz. in herefy in doctrine, idolatry in worship, and tyranny in government. 'Herefy overthrows the founda⚫tion of faith; idolatry entirely corrupts the purity

of worship; and tyranny destroys the true king'dom of Chrift.' (Turret.) But of these more particularly in their order.

All

as

1. The Romish enemy may be faid to come in like a flood in refpect of heretical doctrine. Herefy is of a deeper dye, than other errors. herefy is error, but every error is not herefy every disease is not fatal, nor peftilentious. man may.err in doctrine, and yet be faved. The apoftle fays, If any man build upon the foundation that

A