Their churches are the devices of Satan, the pride and vanity of the natural Adam.

Their baptism is blasphemy; and their sacrament is an abomination, yea, an incantation and a spell.

Woe to them who take the shadow for the substance, that bow down to the altars of human device and cunning workmanship, that make idols of their ceremonies! Woe to the high priests and the Pharisees, and the captains and the rulers; woe to them who love the wages of unrighteousness!" The Familist paused from utter exhaustion, so vehemently had he poured forth the abundance of his zeal.

Mary Edmands, overwhelmed by his eloquence, but still unconvinced, could only urge the disgrace and danger attending his adherence to such pernicious doctrines.

She concluded by telling him, in a voice choked by tears, that she could never marry him while a follower of Gorton.
"Stay then," said Martin, fiercely dashing her hand from his, "stay and partake of the curse of the ungodly, even of the curse of Meroz, who come not up to the help of the Lord, against the mighty Stay, till the Lord hath made a threshing instrument of the heathen, whereby the pride of the rulers, and the chief priests, and the captains of this land shall be humbled.