A Key of Knowledge to Open Revelation, Dedication 3
TO THE WATCHFVLL EYES IN THIS OVR STATE, THE WORTHY IVSTIces, Impriſoners of Malefactors, and Preſeruers of peace; that peace is wiſhed which paſſeth all vnderſtanding, with the zeale of God, in due execution of Iuſtice againſt the enemies of Chriſt, and our Countrey.
WHat furtherance your places of Iuſtice bee to Iudges, ſitting in the ſeate of iudgement, is better knowne vntounto your wiſedome, and learned ſelues, then I can any way imagine or think. Yet I, by my light obſeruation, perceiue thus much, that without your vigilancie and faithfulneſſe; the Iudges cannot do, what either their places require, or themſelues deſire to doe, for the good of our countrey. As therefore I hauehave been bold, in the zeale of God, and cauſe of religion, humbly to petition them: ſo in like manner, I beſeech you, in your places; to doe this good for Gods Church, to ſearch out theſe walking ſpirits of Antichriſt; I meane, the Prieſts and Ieſuites, that they may bee coniu…ed downe by the power of the law and ſword, which do ſo audaciouſly riſe vp, with contempt of the word and ſpirituall power of Chriſt. Likewiſe that the ſtatutes bee executed vponupon open Recuſants, who too boldly dare to profeſſe themſelues of the Popiſh Church. And withall, that a circumſpect eye bee had of our Church-Papiſts: ſuch, as for all their open comming to our aſſemblies, doe ſufficiently in many particulars, declare themſelues to be in their comming to Church, the very meere ſeruants of men; their courſe at home, and abroad, being duly examined. And that you may ſee, what may truly, and without breach of charity, bee thought of theſe, IMr. Ro. B. will be bold with a godly learned friend of mine, to ſet downe vntounto you, what he, concerning theſe Church-Papiſts, openly deliuered, as a preface before his Sermon once, at Pauls Croſſe, word for word, as neere as may bee. His affirmation was this:
Conformity to the Oath of alleagianed, and other outward formall ſatisfactions of the State, concurring with a reſolution to continue in Poperie, is farre more pernicious to the State, then open and profest Recuſancie.
I ſay it againe (ſaith hee), A follow which hath taken the oath of allegiance; firſt, either by power of ſome popiſh diſpenſation, which great men eſpecially may eaſily procure, becauſe by their wit, or worth, or high roome, they may be more hororiouſly ſeruiceable to the Church of Rome; or ſecondly, by proportionable deduction of ſome warrant to their conſciences in that caſe, from that briefe of Pius Quintus, in the Queenes time, mentioned before, which any vnderſtanding Papiſt will eaſily apprehend: or thirdly, by the couſoning art of mentall reſeruation, of which (perhaps) ſome of their Prieſts and cunninger ſort, eſpecially of the equiuocating generation, will bee ready to make aduantage of; or fourthly, by reaſon of wideneſſe of conſcience, euen directly and groſly againſt the corrupt notions and inſtructions thereof; which is much incident to the more ignorant & inferior rank of Papiſts, who through baſeneſſe and lowneſſe of ſtate, are exempted from intelligence with the Conſiſtorie of Rome, and acquaintance with the liberty of many popiſh reſolutions in ſuch caſes; and hauing no grounded and reall aſſurance of ſaluation in that profeſſion, (which is an inſeparable miſerie to popiſh hereſie), dare not hazard their temporall happineſſe, for any hope of future comfort they are euer like to hauehave, or reape by ſuch a miſerable religion: I ſay, a fellow hauing thus taken the oath of allegiance, either by popiſh diſpenſation, mentall reſeruation, or directly and groſly againſt the checke and contradiction of his popiſh conſcience, is by accident, and by conſequent, farre more peſtilentiall to the State, then he was before, for ſuch reaſons as theſe:
By this formall outward falſe hearted-conformitie, Firſt, he diuerts and declines the watchfull eye of ſtate-iealouſie, from ordinary excubation and vigilancie ouer his popiſh villanies and machinations; from a more narrow particular inſinuation into his vnderunder-ground vaults, and timely obſeruation of his engroſſing too much gun-powder; and ſo, workes a great deale of miſchiefe vnobſeruedly; fearfully vndermines, without any countermine of policie; and concurres moſt dangerouſly with the outraged malice of that man of ſinne, for the waſting of our Church, and diſ-ſtrengthening the S…te, without ſenſe or ſuſpition.
Secondly, he is vnworthily armed with the reſpect and reputation of a good ſubiect; and ſo may more boyſterouſly, and with greater brauery, wound and weaken the better ſide; vexe goodneſſe, and good men, more boldly without controlment; and ſecretly promote Poperie, and hinder proceedings againſt Papiſts, euen with authority, and ſome colourable oſtentations of ſafer policie, and flouriſhing pretences of deeper reaches into the myſteries of State.
Thirdly, hee may thereby giuegive deeper wounds into the heart of the truth, through the ſides of thoſe they call Puritans; and ouer their heads doe his worſt to knocke out the braines of the bleſſed Goſpell of the Sonne of God. It is incredible, what a world of wrong and miſchiefe is wrought vponupon the truth which we profeſſe, and true profeſſours thereof, by politicke conformable Papiſts, vponupon the wofull aduantage of certaine Miniſters inconformitie. If ſuch a fellow ſpie out a conſcionable painfull Miniſter, and finde him obnoxious to the rigour of the law, but in the leaſt point; and that (perhaps) out of a peacefull tenderneſſe of conſcience, while himſelfe is in heart a ranke traitor to the State: O then he plies the aduantage with much malice and bitterneſſe, by informations, aggrauations, exaſperations, fawning concurrence with Eccleſiaſticall Courts, vntill hee hauehave procured the putting out of that burning and ſhining lampe, (for he well knowes, when ſuch lights expire, the noyſome ſnuffe of Poperie is like enough to infect that darkſome place): and God knowes, all this is done, not for preſeruation of peace, as he publikely pretends; but for promotion of poperie, which he ſecretly intends. I would to God, the reuerend Biſhops and Fathers of our Church, would wiſely thinke of this point, before it be too late. I ſpeake not heere any thing to harten the Separatiſt, or any truly tumultuous; but to point out a dangerous depth of the mysterie of iniquitie, which worketh peſtilently vponupon ſuch aduantages. I rather pray, that all the bleſſings of the God of peace, both in this world, and in the world to come, may be heaped vponupon his head, whoſoeuer he be, which doth any way (with holineſſe and good conſcience) labour to further the peace of our too much diſtracted Sion.
Fourthly, he that conformes, in outward obedience, to the State, by warrant of popiſh diſpenſation, muſt labour to recompence the Popes liberality in that kind, with ſome more remarkable and notorious ſeruice to the See of Rome. Hee ſhall find himſelfe, out of a ſenſe of ſuch extraordinary fauour from that vnholy Father, bound in conſcience, and ingaged in congruitie, to be more ready & reſolute vponupon occaſion or aduantage, vponupon any deſperate aduenture and high attempt, for the aduancement of his triple infernall crowne.
Fifthly, hee that with wilfull inlargement of conſcience, and ſecret ſturdie reſolution, takes the oath, will eaſily and naturally grow reuengefully inraged againſt the righteous Torturers, & cōformers of his corrupt and exorbitant conſcience.
The conſcience receiuing a ſting, tranſfuſeth the ſmart into the affections. Which when they feele, they are preſently furiouſly inraged againſt the occaſioners of that their bitter miſerie. And therefore I am perſwaded, ſuch a fellow, ſo taking the Oath, howſoeuer he may beare himſelfe reſeruedly, is afterwards tranſported, with more violent and implacable ſpite, againſt the power of that truth, and patrons of that profeſſion, (a ſacred zeale where of hath iuſtly brought a racke and vexation vponupon his miſguided conſcience), then he was before. And aſſuredly, if the times ſhould turne, (which God forbid) wee ſhould finde the Church-Papiſt, and the politicke conformable Pſendo-Catholicke, more mercileſſe and blood-thirſtie againſt vsus, then the Recuſant. Though the beſt of them, no doubt, at that day, would bee as a brier, and ſharper then a thornie hedge; nay euen as a woolfe in the euening. For there is no malice neere vntounto the malice of Poperie, faue the malice of hell.
VponUpon theſe grounds alſo, I hauehave thought, that as the ſtate of a Church-Papiſt, obſtinated in poperie, is moſt damnable in it ſelfe, (euen the popiſh Doctours themſelues being witneſſes), as I hauehave proued elſewhere: (ſee my book of legall repentāce, p. 59.) ſo it is moſt dāgerous to the State.
I ſpeake not this to driue or deteine any Papiſt from the Church; for I pronounce vntounto him, out of the word of life and truth, hee muſt flie out of Babylon, into Sion, if euer hee will ſaue his ſoule: but to let him know, that comming to our congregation, he ought with humility, reuerence, and prayer, to ſubmit his vnderſtanding to illumination with truth, and his heart to ſanctification with grace, both for the procurement and comfort of his owne ſaluation, and the contentment and ſafety of the State. Otherwiſe, as his dangerouſneſſe to the State is euident and extraordinary: ſo his owne damnation ſleepeth not. For, if poperie were truth, as it is not, but the very doctrine of diuels; yet his ſtate is dānable, becauſe he ſhould ſo, denie Chriſt before men: if it be falſe, as indeed it is, and moſt accurſed from heauen, then hee iuſtly periſheth in his hereſie.
But, it may be, ſome will here reply; what can poſſibly be more required, and exacted from theſe men, then conformity in outward obedience to the State? what better ſecurity, or ſurer bond, can be thought vponupon, then an oath, the ſacred and ſoueraigne inſtrument of all iuſtice and obedience amongſt men? what further inuention of State, ſhall be able to ſtay the fearfull miſchiefes, that hang hourely ouer our heads, from this malicious and murtherous generation?
I anſwere, none in the world, while they ſtay amongſt vsus: not the moſt exquiſite and quinteſſentiall policie of all the wiſeſt Sates, that lie vnderunder the face of the Sunne, can affoord helpe in this caſe. Idolatry is euer attended with this inſeparable curſe, that it will plague the kingdome that nouriſheth it, and pay it home at length with a witneſſe, except ſome right round, and reſolute courſe be taken in the meane time, for the rooting of it out. And indeed the depthes of the myſterie of iniquitie are ſo vnfathomable, that they cannot bee ſounded by the plummet of any honeſt and Chriſtian policie, without diuing into the bottome of hell.
It is a right iuſt and holy thing, to giuegive them the oath, and to bring them to the Church. But their violations of oathes, diſpenſations, equiuocations, mentall euaſions, corruptions of conſcience, and execrable tranſgreſſions of all lawes, both of God and man, of nations and nature, are ſo infinite and endleſſe; and they ſo mingle their concluſions of Sate, with the very confuſions of hell; that it is euen in proportion as eaſie, to chaine vp thoſe damned ſpirits, from tempting men vponupon earth; as to bridle thoſe blood-thirſtie monſters, from vndermining and ouerturning thoſe States, which profeſſe the truth of Chriſt, if power and meanes were anſwerable to their malice and reuengefull humours.
It was a royall prouidence of our gracious Soueraigne, in his firſt ſpeech in the parliament, to admoniſh the Papiſts, that they would not ſo far preſume vponupon his lenitie, as thereupon to thinke it lawfull for them, daily to encreaſe their number and ſtrength in this kingdome: whereby, if not in his time, yet at leaſt in time of his poſterity, they might bee in hope to erect their religion againe. But it is more then manifeſt, by daily and wofull experience, that their maine end, all their plots, practiſes, ſtrange inſolencies, & the whole ſphere of a world of Papiſts, that ſwarm amongſt vsus, hold a ſtrong oppoſition and counter-motion to that gracious counſell and firſt motion of his Maieſty. A bleſſed and happy thing had it been, had his Princely pleaſure been followed in that point. For aſſuredly, were we rid of the Papiſts; and were Idolatry baniſhed out of the kingdome, as in conſcience, and policy, reaſon, and religion, it ought: the King and his poſterity, by the mercies of God, might ſit vponupon the throne of England, as faſt as the ſtrong and mighty mountaines vponupon their ſure foundations. Oh, then would the forraine mint and forge of popiſh miſchiefe, diſcontinue and expire. Ieſuites, the diuels Iourneymen, would take breath, from hammering any more, their helliſh powder-plots in haſt. That malicious and murthering generation would grow diſhartened and vnſpirited, for matter of proiect, and conſpiracie, againſt this noble Sate. The royall perſon of the King would hauehave none about it, but Angels, and good ſubiects. The concurrent furie of the greateſt enemies in the world, durſt not entertaine a thought of inuaſion, or ſtirre a finger againſt the vnconquerable glory of our peace. For certainly, the crowne of this kingdome is incircled and ſurrounded with ſuch infinite and endleſſe variety of popiſh inſidiations; and ſtands farre more liable to the furious thirſt of forraine ambitions, vponupon this ground principally; becauſe they hope, when time ſerues, to finde amongſt vsus, a ſide and faction of Papiſts, to ſerue their tume. Cut the thred of this hope; and cut the throat of all plots againſt the Kings perſon; and cruſh the Popes heart, for any probability, or poſſibility, of euer re-eſtabliſhing, and erecting his accurſed tyrannie, in this Iland againe.
Now this bleſſed buſineſſe of moſt important and higheſt conſequence, for the pleaſing of God, ſecurity of the State, and preſeruation of his religion, and royall ſeed, that now ſits with incomparable glory vponupon the throne, would bee happily furthered.
Firſt, if lawes worthily prouided in ſuch caſes, might hauehave their courſe and current, without oppoſition, diuerſion, partiality, interception by falſe friends, or any cunning defraudations and deluſions of the holy intentions thereof.
Secondly, if on our ſide there were but halfe the care and conſcience, for the maintenance of Chriſts truth, and extirpation of the infectious hereſies of the man of ſinne, which are incompatible, both with ſaluation of mens ſoules, and the ſafety of imperiall Crownes: as there is curiouſneſſe, and cruelty, in popiſh kingdomes, for the continuance of Antichriſtianiſme; and, by a bloody inquiſition into the very thoughts of men, (the greateſt ſlauerie that euer the ſunne, or the world taſted), for the baniſhing and barring out, euen of all poſſibility, (ſo far as in them lies) of reformatiō, plantatiō of primatiue truth, & profeſſiō of grace.
Thirdly, and aboue all, the plantation and protection of a conſcionable learned miniſtery, muſt doe the deed, when all is done, and ſtrike the deadlieſt and irreuocable blow into the heart of the Pope, if the neuer-erring Spirit of God hauehave told vsus the truth, 2. Theſſ. 2. 8. The Lord will conſume the wicked man, with the ſpirit of his mouth. Policy, State, wiſedome, confederations of Chriſtian States, inuention and execution of good lawes, the diſarming and diſabling of the Popes vaſſals, and the like are very notable and needfull meanes, glorious attendants, and aſſiſtants vntounto this holy worke. But the ſword of the Spirit, managed by the hand of a powerfull miniſtery, muſt ſtrike off Holoſernes head; and knocke out the braines of that great Goliah of Rome, which with intolerable inſolencie doth reuile the hoſt of the liuing God, and trample vponupon the neckes of the Lords annointed. The champions of Chriſt, in the battell of the great day of God Almighty, at Armaged don, may beare themſelues brauely, and triumphantly: but the ſpirit of the mouth of the Lord Ieſus, ſhall carry away the chiefeſt glory of the day, in that conqueſt and confuſion of Antichriſt, and in laying his triple crowne in the duſt.
But in the meane time, (vntill the Lord put to his helping hand, for ſetting thoſe means on foot, with reſolution and conſtancie) it is a matter of prodigious amaſement, to conſider, how mightily impunity of popiſh idolatry prouokes the wrath of God againſt vsus, & in what danger we ſtand; the State, the Goſpell, the royall perſon of the King, the daily inualuable hope of the ſucceſſion of his children, and particular welfare of eueryevery loyall ſubiect in the Land. For, if any man be ſo void of braine, to doe himſelfe and the State that wrong, as to thinke that there are not ſtill new miſchiefes on foote, and ſecret workings againſt vsus ſtill, by powder-plots, Pariſian Maſſacres, or ſome proportionable vilanies: let him thinke there is no diuell in hell, no Pope at Rome, no malice in the heart of a Ieſuite.
Me thinks, it is an aſtoniſhment beyond the comprehenſions of nature, reaſon, religion, policies of State; that ſuch an intolerable generation, ſo odious both to heauen and earth, with abominable Idolatrie; ſo viſibly infamous, both to this, and the other world, with many capitall characters of blood; ſo endleſſe and implacable, in their ragefull deſignments, againſt the crowned Maieſty of the Kings Throne; ſo prodigious in their plots, that they hauehave caſt an inexpiable and euerlaſting aſperſion, vponupon the innocency of Chriſtian religion; ſuch furious Aſſaſins and Incendiaries, for murthering of Princes, butchery of people, and fiering of Sates; ſo i…raged, euen like Wolues in the euening, to ſwallow vsus vp quicke (if the time did ſerue); I ſay, that ſuch, in ſo orthodoxe a Church, and noble a State, ſhould by allowance, toleration, conniuencie, or remiſſneſſe, and paralyticall diſtemper of the arme of iuſtice, or ſome thing, be ſuffered to receiue encreaſement, and multiplication, both in number, and inſolencie, to the great diſhonour of God Almighty, the continuall vexation of Gods people and good ſubiects, and the moſt certaine hazard of the whole State, and the peacefull ſucceſſion of the Kings poſterity. It would neuer bee, but that the Lord in his iuſt indignation, intends, and prepares vsus for ſome dreadfull iudgement. And I am afraid, Papiſts will bee the men, to execute Gods heauie wrath vponupon vsus: becauſe they are a principall matter in the meane time, of high offence againſt his Maieſty.
To let paſſe infinite more of very ſpeciall, and materiall ponderations, to this purpoſe; conſider, I pray you, but this one point, with feeling apprehenſions, which is able to inflame the heart of an ingenuous Heathen with extraordinary indignation. I am perſwaded, there was not a Papiſt in this land, whatſoeuer may be pretended, or proteſted to the contrary, but did heartily reioyce, at the taking away of that thrice, nay thouſand times noble and bleſſed Prince, of ſweeteſt memorie, for which the heart of eueryevery true ſubiect, did ſhead moſt worthily, euen teares of blood. Now, what a rufull caſe is this, that ſuch vipers ſhould bee nouriſhed in the bowels and boſome of this kingdome; the breath, heart, and life whereof, they hartily wiſh, and would reioyce to hauehave extinguiſhed? To conclude the whole point for the preſent: it is the generall ioynt conſent, and current concluſion of all the Chriſtian orthodox reformed Churches vponupon the face of Europe; and it is worthily, and vnanſwerably demonſtrated by our gracious Soueraigne, that the Pope is Antichriſt; and Rome, myſticall Babylon. Some particular men, (out of curioſity and conceit of their owne wit, affectatiō of ſingularity, doting addictiō to popiſh writers, want of further illumination in the point, partiall inclinations towards the diuinity of Rome, or the like), may diſſent, without preiudice of a truth, ſo vniuerſally reſolued vponupon, by Diuines of beſt learning, and ſincereſt iudgement. If ſo; then tell me the meaning of ſuch places as theſe, and to whom the ſpirit of God directs the edge and execution thereof.
Reward her euen as ſhee hath rewarded you, and giuegive her double, according to her works: and in the cup that ſhe hath filled you, fill her the double; Reu. 18. 6.
And the ten hornes, which thou ſaweſt vponupon the beaſt, are they that ſhall hate the whore, and ſhall make her deſolate, and naked, and ſhall eate her fleſh, and burne her with fire, Reuel. 17. 16. This prediction, by the iudgement of the beſt diuines, hath the power, and paſſeth into the nature of a precept, and therefore is charged as a commandement, vponupon thoſe of whom it is ſpoken.
Theſe, and the like, doe indeed ſtrongly confirme, and make good thoſe three propoſitions of that learned man, and excellent light of Heidelberge, in his booke de iure regum, pag. 6. & ſequ. The ſumme whereof may bee contriued into this concluſion: Princes and Magiſtrates, with their ſwords and ſcepters; Preachers, by the word and writings; priuate men, by prayer, and all lawfull oppoſition, ought to doe their beſt and vtmoſt, to bring confuſion vponupon that man of ſinne, and his accurſed doctrine. And thus to follow the counſell of the bleſſed Spirit, in rooting out the limbes of Antichriſt, and Antichriſtianiſme, is ſo farre from being perſecution, that it is a very glorious ſeruice vntounto the Maieſty of the God of heauen. The neglect whereof, and impunity of Idolatry is able in ſhort time, to ſhake the pillers, and diſtrengthen the ſinewes, to decrowne the head, and ſhorten the raigne of the ſtrongeſt State, and moſt potent Prince in the world. Delayes are dangerous; policy to the contrary is pernicious; and conniuencie, cruelty; in ſuch places where theſe ſayings hauehave place, bleſſed ſhall he be, that taketh and daſheth her children againſt the ſtones, Pſal. 137. 9. All yee that bend the bow, ſhoot at her, ſpare no arrowes: for ſhe hath ſinned againſt the Lord, Ier. 50. 14. In as much as ſhe glorified her ſelfe, and liued in pleaſure, ſo much giuegive you to her, torment and ſorrow, Reuel. 18. 7.
In the meane time, vntill the holy Spirits counſell and commandement to this purpoſe, be taken to heart, and throughly put in execution, I pray the Lord to ſtay their rageful malice, and to turne their popiſh murtherous hearts, from whetting any more ſwords, to ſhead the blood of the Lords annoynted: or elſe, to returne the ſharpeſt ſwords from the poynt, with a cutting edge on both ſides, in vp to the very hilts, in their owne hearts blood. And in deſpite of hell and Rome, good Lord, wee pray thee, let King Iames flouriſh ſtill, with a crowne of glory on his head, and a ſcepter of triumph in his hand; and ſtill waſh his Princely feete in the blood of his enemies.
Thus much I thought good to preface at this time, from this place, for the diſcharge of my owne conſcience, and the needfull refreſhing your memories, with the apprehenſion of thoſe dreadfull dangers, which howerly hang ouer our heads, by reaſon of the impunity of popiſh Idolatry, and the endleſſe ineuitable malice and machinations of the Papiſts. We hauehave had prouocations, and warnings enough; from this place, from the Parliament houſe: from heauen, by Gods meſſengers; from hell by the powder-plot; from Rome, by the roring of their Buls; from France, by their maſſacres, and butcherie of their Kings: by more mediate, and politicke; by immediate and miraculous reuelations, diſcoueries, deliuerances: by a blacke and bloody catalogue of moſt hatefull and prodigious conſpiracies, which runne parallell with the golden fine of Queene Elizabeths life; by the daily villanous libels of the ſwaggering runagates of our countrey; baſe and illiterate pamphlets, ſtuft with ribaldrie, and railings, and perſonall ſlanders, impudencies, out-facings, vtterly without any paſſage or impreſſions of grace, or gracious ſpirit. A thouſand times, a thouſand waies. And yet what good hauehave they done, ſith nothing will ſerue the turne? Gods will muſt bee done. For mine owne part, I hauehave deliuered mine owne ſoule. If any will not take warning, whom it concernes, his blood be vponupon his owne head.
But bleſſed is he, who fore-ſees the ſtorme, and hides himſelfe in the meane time, vnderunder the wings of Chriſt, and ſhelter of a good conſcience. With which Concluſion as hee ended, I alſo conclude, commending this pithie ſpeech of my ſo learned a friend, to your wiſedome and godly conſideration, your ſelues to Gods holy protection, and all your iuſt proceedings to his gracious bleſſing; that you may confidently looke for a reward of your well doing in the end of your dayes.
Your Worſhips in all ſeruiceable duties of my calling RIC. BARNARD. Batcombe, March, 14.