Page:Saints' duty in evil times (2).pdf/4

 side, to set a mark upon the foreheads of them that sigh and cry, for all the abominations that be done in the earth; and commands his men, with the slaughtering weapons in their hands, to go after, and smite, and not spare nor pity, but to slay utterly, old and young, both maids, little children and women; but not to come near these upon whom the mark is set.

Now the Lord hath men prepared with slaughttering weapons in their hands, to kill a sacrifice at Bozrah in Scotland, of Prelates and malignants, and of backsliding ministers and professors; he is coming to be avenged on that cursed throne, and the supporters thereof, for the cruelty done against him, and of ministers and professors, for their heinous treachery towards him; and this is his commission, and our charge unto you, to invite and to call you and all that will give ear unto this Rock of ages for your shelter, unto the chambers of his presence and protection, where ye shall be saved with delight. O come my people, in which words ye have, 1st, An invitation, come. 2lly, The persons invited or the determination thereof, my people. 3dly, That which they are invited unto. The chamber of the Lord's protection and presence, whereunto he invites them to enter. 4thly, Their carriage, and that which they are to do there, Shut thy doors about thee, and hide thyself, as it were, for a moment. 5thly, The safety of these chambers, being an hiding place until the indignation be overpast; or rather a determination of the continuance of their hiding, until the indignation be overpast.

As to the first, The invitation, Come, O Come, a homely word indeed; this is no less than, ''Behold me! behold me!'' Here is enough to give, and here is willingness to give, only come, only receive, only take, and ye shall not want.

But to enlarge a little, we lay down a twofold doctrine

Doctrine. First, 'There is both ability and