disappeared upon the approach of the sun, where it shined in its power; yet too many whose eyes were too sore to look upon the glorious beams of the sun, and yet withal their hearts too fearful to remain wholly in the dark, without any shew of light, did withdraw themselves from the former, and sought after the latter in dark corners, where alone such rotten wood could seem to shine, and such candles could give forth any light; and choosing night rather than day, they followed these false wandering fires, though they were led by them into many a precipice.

It is sad to remember, and seriously to consider what errors and strong delusions have abounded and prevailed in our Gospel days. How many false teachers have there been among us, which have crept on unawares; how many Jesuits and Priests sent from Rome and other places, to rend and tear our Protestant church to pieces, that they might make way for the introduction of popery; at least to cast a disgrace upon Protestantism, and delude many of us with the opinions they have broached, and to confirm their own in their delusions. Thus many cunning and learned Jesuits have disguised themselves in the habit of tailors, shoemakers, and of other mechanical tradesmen, that they might seem to the people to have been taught those things by the Spirit, which have been the product of much study: thus these cursed villains, "of old ordained to condemnation, have privily brought in damnable heresies;" some calling themselves Quakers, others Ranters, others Seekers, others Antinomians, others Brownists, others Anabaptists:

putting themselves into any shapes, that they might mislead, and the better "lie in wait to deceive" poor souls: some" denying the Lord that bought them," setting up the fancy of a Christ within them for their Saviour; others denying the foundation, undermining the divine authority of the Scriptures: others labouring to overthrow the doctrine of justification, and striking at most fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith; and all of them endeavouring to undermine the ministry of Christ's institution and sending, calling them Antichristian, Baal's Priests, false prophets, doing what they could to bring them and their ministry out of esteem, that they might the more effectually prevail with the people to receive their false doctrines, and arm them hereby against an undeceivement; and sweetening their poison" with good words, and fair speeches, they have deceived the hearts of the simple, so that many did follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth hath been evil spoken of;" and whatever good words they had, they were but "feigned words, whereby they made merchandize of souls, whose judgment now a long time lingereth not," and whose damnation slumbereth not," 2 Pet. ii. 1, 2, 3.

These the Apostle calls" spots and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings; wells without water, clouds carried about with a tempest, raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, wandering stars, unto whom is reserved blackness of darkness for ever," 2 Pet. ii. 13-17; Jude 13.

And yet many of these were hearkened unto, and adhered unto, by too many in London, rather than the true Gospel ministers, commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and ordained according to the prescription of his word.

Then many laymen, some gifted, (who would have given a better account of their gifts at the great day, had they kept their station) and some without gifts, but with a great measure of ignorance and confidence, did step up sometimes into pulpits, often took upon them to preach in private, invading the office, and intruding into the work of Christ's ambassadors, which he hath appointed a peculiar office for, and which he hath set a hedge about more than any other office we read of in Scripture; but they ventured to break over the hedge, I am confident, to the affronting and displeasing of the great King, whose representatives in the world his ambassadors are; and not only silly women were led captive by the deceivers, which crept in when so many took liberty to preach, but also men who professed themselves to be wise, and to have attained to a degree of light above the vulgar; yet, forsaking the ministry and ordinances of Jesus Christ, appointed to continue unto the end of the world, for the instructing, perfecting, and establishment of saints in knowledge and faith, they became fools, and " children, tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men," which led them aside, Eph. iv. 11-14.

Now all these persons have been slighters of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the ignorant, the profane, the hypocrite, and the erroneous; and

if you place them all in one company, how few will there remain in London, that have sincerely. and heartily embraced the truth as it is in Jesus, and upon whom the Gospel hath made a powerful and saving impression! And even amongst those that have been affected and converted by the preaching of the Gospel, and had it greatly in esteem at first hearing and believing; how was their esteem of the Gospel fallen, and their affection cooled! Did not Gospel-ordinances begin to lose their worth and excellency, and grow tedious and wearisome unto them? O, how generally unthankful was London for Gospel privileges and liberties! Yea, many began to be very nice and wanton, and the Gospel was not relished, unless it were served up with such neatnesses and dressings, in which some ministers possibly did too much endeavour to please themselves and the people; and then the sauce was more relished than the food itself, and the appetite of many was so spoiled, that plain, wholesome, soul-saving truths, would not go down with them. Londoners began to be glutted with the Gospel ; and like the Israelites in the wilderness, their souls began to loath the manna which came down from heaven. A strange curiosity there was in spiritual palates; which in many turned to a loathing of the food, insomuch that the Gospel became a burden unto them, and thence it was "that many trned away their ears from the truth, and were turned into errors; and they could not endure to hear sound doctrine, but having itching ears, heaped up unto themselves

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teachers according to their lusts," 2 Tim. iv. 3, 4.

And those that continued steadfast in the truth, did not duly prize the Gospel, none of them according to its dignity and worth. No wonder then if God grows angry at such contempts and affronts as were hereby offered unto him, and easeth them much of their burden; and withdraws the food so much, which they grew so weary of: no wonder that he suffers so many of their teachers to be thrust into corners, and so much withdraws the beams of that light which was so much abused; and when they are not sensible of his displeasure in this, no wonder if he sends the plague and fire, to awaken them unto a sensibility.

When the "King sent forth his servants to call the guests to the wedding-feast, and they make light of it, and excused themselves, and went away, one to his farm, another to his merchandize, and the remnant took his servants and entreated them spitefully, and slew them; the king was wroth, and sent forth his armies to destroy those murderers, and burn their city," Matt. xxii. 1 to 8. God hath sent forth his servants to call Londoners to this feast; how many invitations have they had to come unto Christ, to accept of him to save them, and to feed upon him, from whom alone they can get any spiritual nourishment. But how many in London have had their excuses; they have been following their merchandize and other business, and could not come; and what entertainment