Sirs, I preſented you formerly with a Book intituled Thunder from the throne of God (againſt the temples of Idols) which the fooliſh people count a work of madneſs, but indeed were ſolid words of truth and ſoberneſs: yet ſuch thundering and convincing Arguments were not acceptable nor delectable unto you; being for the quite plucking down of the Idolatrous High-places, which are ſtill kept up, under pretence of uſefulneſs and convenience for Worſhip. But humane pretences without divine precepts, are like an empty Parliament-houſe without members, or a Parliament without power: even ſo is a bare name of godlineſs, famous with men, but infamous with God, like that fear towards him which is taught by the precepts of men.

Tell me, ye great men, did not Conſtantine the great give the Heathens Idol-temples for Chriſtians to worſhip in? and was it not a ſnare to him and them, like the Croſs in his Banners? And what followed at the laſt? was not Conſtantinople loſt, and the head of Conſtantine held upon the top of a ſpear? And how can ſuch your frequent appearances of evil avail you in your Spaniſh Wars, O ye mortal gods, who muſt die like men, and fall like one of the Princes? Pſal. 28.7.

Is it not remarkable, that the Jews for the ſpace of theſe 1600 years were not ſo totally blinded, as to hold ſuch a correſpondencie with Gods enemies the Papiſts, as to uphold their Idols or Idols Temples: but do pray heartily for their utter deſtruction: And the Law of God [for the quite plucking down of all the Idols Temples] is not repealed by Chriſt. And although the Jews (whom the fooliſh people would convert as the Spaniards the Indians) are not permitted here by the Law of this Land; yet I would not that ye ſhould be ignorant of this myſtery (leſt ye ſhould be wiſe in your own conceits) that blindneſs in part (I ſay not wholly but in part) •••• pened to Iſrael, until the fulneſs of the Gentiles be come in; and ſo all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, Rom. 11.25, 26. But concerning the Idolatrous Gentiles, who profeſs Chriſt, but deny him in their works, there is no ſuch promiſe; but contrariwiſe, it is propheſied concerning them, That (after the deſtruction of the third part of men, by the fire, and ſmoke, and ſulphur) the reſt of the men which were not killed by theſe plagues, yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they ſhould not worſhip devils, and idols of gold, and ſilver, and braſs, and ſtone, and wood, which neither can ſee, hear, nor walk; neither repented they of their murders, nor of their ſorceries, nor of their fornications, nor of their Thefts. Rev. 9.18.20, 21.

The Jews at mount Sinai had Ten Commands given unto them from God Exod. 20. Deut. 5. the Gentiles in mount Sion had Four given unto them in charge, Act. 15 20. for ſo it ſeemed good unto the holy Ghoſt, and the holy ſeparated Church, to lay upon the Chriſtian Gentiles no other burden then thoſe four neceſſary things, verſ. 28. amongſt which, to keep themſelves from things offered to idols was one principal, Acts 21.25. But the Idols Temples, with the Steeples and Bells, are ſo (as may appear unto you by this enſuing Treatiſe) and therefore they muſt be demoliſhed, that the names of the Idols may be utterly deſtroyed out of the Land.

O ye Senators of England, you are raiſing money now to maintain Wars againſt the Spaniards; and to Wars you will go: Go, and proſper: But be well adviſed, and take direction out of the book of the wars of the Lord: for there it is written, When the Camp goeth forth againſt thine enemies, then keep thee from every evil thing, Deut. 23.9. Idols Temples, the Steeples and Bells, are evil things, and ought to be thrown down. So long therefore as you will uphold them, how can ye expect the victory? for they are great ſtumbling-blocks to the Jews, and hinder them from embracing Chriſtianity; and do encourage the Gentiles in their idolatry, and do give offence to the Church of God: yet you will uphold theſe Steeple-houſes, under pretence of uſefulneſs, and convenience for Worſhip.

But what have you to ſay to the Steeples themſelves? doubtleſs you cannot but confeſs they are very uſeleſs and unprofitable: yea, they are idolatrous, and ought to be utterly deſtroyed.

Our firſt Parliament, after ſeven years ſervice and experience, driving a great trade in that Ware-houſe of Juſtice which you keep, began to be ſuch perfect Crafts-men, that they had no further need of their Maſters cunning: whereupon they were ſo witty, as in the very nick of time to cut off his Royal head, to ſtrengthen themſelvs in the Regal power, and aboliſhed the Kingly Office as uſeleſs and unprofitable: How much more ought theſe Steeples to be demoliſhed, for the uſeleſneſs and unprofitableneſs thereof? And therefore you ought to root them out leſt the great God of heaven root you out, as he did your predeceſſors.

They took away the Croſſes from the tops of the Steeples as idolatrous; but gave no order to demoliſh the Steeples: for their judgments were not informed, & they ſaw not that the Steeples were idolatrous, as the Croſſes thereupon. But it is no new thing for better & wiſer then they to be miſtaken, like the Scribes and Phariſees, who held a tradition, that Whoſoever ſweareth by the Temple, it is nothing: but whoſoever ſweareth by the gold of the Temple, he is a debtor. But Chriſt ſaith, (Wo unto you ye blinde guides) Ye fools and blinde: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that ſanctifieth the gold? Matth. 23.16, 17. So it may be ſaid contrariwiſe of theſe; Whether is greater, the Croſſes, or the Steeples the pillars and foundations thereof? Therefore when they pulled down the Croſſes from off the Steeples they ſhould have pulled down the Steeples alſo, the Steeples being as idolatrous and uſeleſs as the other. Therefore down with theſe old Chyming chimneys of the drunken whore of Babylon, that ſo the fire and ſmoke of abomination which maketh deſolation may be utterly extinguiſhed, with the names of the idols out of thoſe places.

It is written in the Law, Ye ſhall utterly deſtroy all the places wherein the nations ſerved their gods, Deut. 12.2. and you ſhall break down their idolatrous pillars, Deut. 7.5. & 12.3. And what are theſe Steeples? are they not the Popes pillars? for they were erected by the Catholick Papiſts, in honour to their Popiſh gods?

Therefore although theſe towers of Babel are builded to reach up to heaven As Sin Botolphs Steeple at Boſton in Lincolnſh: upon which a thunderbolt came a year ſince. , and ſome of them have as many ſteps in height as there are days in the year; down with them and their Babyloniſh Bells to the very ground, and let not a ſtone of them remain upon another.

And in ſo doing, ye ſhall do well.

Fare ye well.