Arrows Against Babylon, Letter 2
I ſhall gladly ſubmit to the judgement of ſuch touching theſe following Endeavours; knowing full well that they dare not ſo turne the grace of God into wantonneſſe, as deliberately, to ſlight on the account of liberty, the leaſt hint of truth, clearely convincing them of duty; yet ſeeing ſuch may be tempted (for a worldly intereſt) to ſtifle their light in this thing, my Counſell is that they bare in minde the great price of their Redemption from a vaine converſation; which if they doe, they will not thinke it much to ſuffer loſſe in their names, and trades, for righteouſneſſe ſake in this fiery trying day; which is growne ſo darke to ſome, who not long ſince rejoyced in the light, that now they complaine in the words of the Prophet Iſaiah 59.9. We waite for light, but behold obſcurity, &c. Whilst knowledge ſeemes to be deſired, is not doing omitted? And are there not many, who will not ſee the things they have no minde to practiſe? But precept muſt be upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little, that they may goe, and fall backward (as men doe who begin to reforme, and then when their intereſt is ſtruck at fall backward) and be broken, ſnared, and taken, Iſa. 28.13.
Courteous Reader, I ſhall not hide from thee the riſe of this diſcourſe, and the occaſion of its publication. The Lord having eminently appeared to a conſiderable number of his people in their waiting on him, together in ſeverall ſolemne Meetings, clearely witneſſing to their Conſciences againſt their ſuperfluous ornaments on their apparrell, in ſo much as diverſe did forthwith repent, and reforme; Some calling for a reaſon for this reformation, I thought it needfull (to avoyde much ſpeaking of this matter) to put pen to paper; and ſince that (to prevent the labour of tranſcribing Copies) to put my papers to the preſſe: If God teach thee to profit by them, give him alone the glory. As for ſcorners, let them delight in ſcorning; but let the wiſe heare the whole matter, and then give judgement.
And as for ſuch who are ſtrong, and by reaſon of uſe, have their ſenſes exerciſed to a cleere diſcerning between good and evill, let ſuch beare with my rude Endeavours, and bring forth a better teſtimony againſt that abomination of pride in apparrell, wherewith most profeſſors are ſo ſpotted, and the profeſſion of godlineſſe, by reaſon thereof, ſo much evill ſpoken of, that if all ſhould hold their peace, a man might expect, according to the words of Chriſt in another caſe; Luk. 19.40. The ſtones would immediately cry out; Who knowes, but the leaſt of the flock, by an holy zeale (accompanied with many infirmities, which love ſhould cover) may provoke ſome great Preachers to looke more narrowly into this matter?Rom. 2.14. and to examine themſelves, why (ſeeing there was never more occaſion given to declare against pride) they have no more diſcovered this iniquity, which now it is to be feared, they winke at in others, becauſe ſo much of it cleaves to themſelves, and theirs; The Lord, who is faithfull and true, hath promiſed, That he will purely purge away all the droſſe of Syon, and take away all her tinne; then will he reſtore unto them Judges as at the firſt, and Councellers as at the beginning, Iſai. 1.25, 26. Which good thing that the Lord may ſpeedily performe, is the hearty deſire, and dayly prayer of
The Lords moſt unworthy ſervant, whom he hath pluckt as a brand out of the fire. JOHN PENDARVES.