The watch-man

The watch-man.

Such who profess themselves watchmen, that take upon themselves glorious titles, Prophets and Ministers of God are called watchmen: and these made great profession that they would be as careful to foresee, and labor as much to prevent danger to the People as any of them all, they profest to be very useful to the people, and to be as much for God as any, but they were a snare; and this title of theirs, and this profession of theirs proved to be a snare to the people. Many vile things are hidden under fair and glorious titles, as many excellent things are disgraced under base and ignominious titles: you know what a deal of evil was lately covered among us by names and titles, as the clergy, and the Church; and likewise what abundance of good had dirt cast upon it by titles, as Conventicles, and Puritans, and the like; and now the titles of things may be changed into others, but may be as dangerous some other way, as formerly these titles were both one way and the other: Let people for ever take heed of titles and examin what lies under them, be not led away one way nor other, either by fair or specious titles, or by ignominious titles; ordinarily people that do not examin things to the bottom, they are taken with names and titles. But somewhat of these heretofore.