shouldst have had. Their appearance was too straight, and their
qualifications were too mean for thee to receive them; like the Jews of
old, that cried, Is not this the Carpenter's Son, and are not his
brethren among us; which of the scribes, of the learned (the orthodox)
believe in him? Prophesying their fall in a year or two, and making and
executing of severe laws to bring it to pass: endeavouring to terrify
them out of their holy way, or destroy them for abiding faithful to it.
But thou hast seen how many governments that rose against them, and
determined their downfall, have been overturned and extinguished, and
that they are still preserved, and become a great and a considerable
people, among the middle sort of thy numerous inhabitants. And
notwithstanding the many difficulties without and within, which they have
laboured under, since the Lord God eternal first gathered them, they are
an increasing people; the Lord still adding unto them, in divers parts,
such as shall be saved, if they persevere to the end. And to thee, O
England! were they, and are they lifted up as a standard, and as a city
set upon a hill, and to the nations round about thee, that in their light
thou mayst come to see light, even in Christ Jesus the light of the
world, and, therefore, thy light and life too, if thou wouldst but turn
from thy many evil ways, and receive and obey it. "For in the light of
the Lamb must the nations of them that are saved walk," as the scripture
testifies.

Remember, O nation of great profession! how the Lord has waited upon thee
since the dawning reformation, and the many mercies and judgments by
which he has pleaded with thee; and awake and arise out of thy deep
sleep, and yet hear his word in thy heart, that thou mayst live.

Let not this thy day of visitation pass over thy head, nor neglect thou
so great salvation as is this which is come to thy house, O England! for
why shouldst thou die? O land that God desires to bless, be assured it
is he that has been in the midst of this people, in the midst of thee,
and not a delusion, as thy mistaken teachers have made thee believe. And
this thou shalt find by their marks and fruits, if thou wilt consider
them in the spirit of moderation.

CHAP. III.

_Of the Qualifications of their Ministry_. _Eleven marks that it is
Christian_.

I. They were changed men themselves, before they went about to change
others. Their hearts were rent, as well as their