The Papists Reasons of State and Religion, Reason of state 4
IV REASON OF STATE.
FVrthermore, both the suncient Philoſophers and the Stateſ-men of latert me doe wrie, and common ſenſe proclameth, that the glory, puiſſaunce and ſtableneſſe of a kingdome, conſiſt more in the true vertue and goodneſſe then in the ſtore & multitude of ſubiectes; becauſe verſtue begeneth glory, and is the cheriſher of fortitude, both which diſdaine nothing more then treachery and baſenes of minde, the common ſlewees which conuey into all eſtates all that is diſhonourable. And it is ſeldome, if ever ſeene (moſt noble King) that they who are comſtant obedient and faithfull to God in the religion theyaNo mā can be faithfull to God in a falſe religion. beleeue, are not likewiſe true, ſubiectiue, and faithfull to their Kinge in all dutiesbThe Suppliants ſhould plainly declare what theſe duties appertaining are. appertaining. For as grace, the feare of ſinne, and the louelove of heauen doe worke them to the performing of the one; ſo will the ſame grace, feare and louelove (the neglect being of equall damage in both) induce hē to obſerue the other. Nay, they both are ſo neerely allied, depend ſo abſolutelie one of the other, and are alike eſſentially Imcked togither, as the one cānot be either laudably or in diſſefulfilled and the other not accompliſhed.
How conſtant and faithfull the Catholike hath carried himſelfe in the religiō he profeſſeth, it appeareth by this, that neither thecWhere divelliſh ſuper otisis ſittesh Judge, there neither Na…re nor Reaſon in aydare to plead the cauſe. What marveil then if deſperat Papists, neglecting their own ſafetie, & their Princes wercis, hauehave endured leſſe, embraced the gallowes, and wilfullie ſuffered the iust reward of death? Have not Pagans and Juſidels ſuffered many thinges for their owne Idolatrous deviſe? Have not the benis womed winds of miſerable men, by the ſubtill deluſion, of Saran ben ſo bewitched, that they have not hinafraid to offer both themſelues and their yourg bobes through vio uts flamec for the devils ſacrifice? paying of twenty pounds a monethmonth, onelyonly for not going to the Pioteſtants church, or where his ability could not affoord ſo much, there the leeſing of two parts of his liuings, and the vtter forfeiture of all his goods, nor making of Prieſtes (the ſeeders of their ſoules) to bee maitors and their receavers, ſellons (lawes and penalies that never,dA wanifeſt ſlander, and vntrush. had ſimilitude of inſtance or preſident in the worlde) either did or could make him to deny, or exteriorly to diſguiſe his religion, or relinquiſh to practiſe it: proofes, in all vnderſtanding, moſt ſufficient to convince, that he dreadeth God, feareth to offend his conſcience, & that he Chriſtialy ſeeketh to ſaue his ſoul. And if ſo, thē as we thinke there cannot iuſtly be made any doubte, but that he will likewiſe ſhew himſelfe obedient and dutifull to his Soveraigne in all thinges that belong toeHowe the Suppliants ſhewe themſelues in their right colours, they will needes divide their obedience, and ſerve his Maieſty in temporall maiters, as farre forth and ſo long as pleaſ…h their ſpirimall Lord. Inferences that would make a horſe breaks his Iuidle. temporall alleageance, or wherein ſoever the omiſſion may taint or endanger the ſafety of his ſoule.
Of that which is ſaide, wee would, vnderunder your Maieſties gracious leaue, inferre, that the Catholike ſubiect is (if any other) the glorie, ſtrength and perpetutie of the Kingdome, becauſe hee prin pallie ſeeking: heaven in this world,gAbraham ſaid to Dives, Remember that in thy life time then receavoof thy pleaſures. Luk. 16.25. And Chriſt vntounto his Diſciples for the world you ſhall hauehave affliction: Ioh. 16.33. The Popiſts looks for heaven heare, & for hell loveafoor. will not for the world be diverted, cannot be treacherous or diſloyal, or vndutiful to your Highnes, but in every ſeruice, & diſtreſſe occourring, vndiant, re oues & moſt faithfull. By which it ſeemeth manieſt, that it the Lawes of our deceaſed Queene ſhould not be repenled; but more, if they ſhould bee re eſtabliſhed (a rigor which in it ſelfe preſently, imbarketh vsus into all calamities) alas your Grace doth not only thereby deprue yourhThey hopely monacing his Maieſty is exters their requeſt Imperiall crowne and Realme of the beſt meriting aflection, and ſuppreſſingly diſable thoſe your ſubiects, who otherwiſe would for their qualities ſtand your Maieſtie and their Country in good ſervice, and due much ong for opportunity to make known their readines that way; but your Highneſſe by the ſame ſhall alſo giuegive occaſion to the frailer ſort, of adventuring their ſoules to everlaſting damnatiō, by diſſembling their faith and religion. Which inconſtancy and vomanly part of theirs, how little credite or reputation it ought to bring vntounto thē, or is cauſe of truſt to your Maieſtie, we leaue that prudent and heroicall example to informe your Highnes, whichkNiceph lib. 6. cap. 35. Nicephorus & others record of the Emperour Theodocius, who ſeeing aſpeciall minion of his to hauehave changed his religion, therby to pleaſe and wind himſelfe into greater favour, iudged him to looſe his head, ſaying,iThat is, how can Papiſtes who are mainers vntounto GOD, but be Traisours alſo vntounto then Prince. Si Deo fidō ſincorow non …ſli, quoinodo mini qui homoſum, conſcieniant ſanam preſtabis? Thou that haſt violated thy faith with God, how is it poſſible thou ſhould leſt keepe thy ſidelitie with mee being a man?
Reſolution of the 4. Reaſon.
The Papiſtes who are conſtant, obediout, and faithfull to God in the Religion they boleeve; will bee likewiſe true, ſubiective, & faithfull to then King in all dwens appartarring.
Ergo.
The Papiſtes ought to be …l…r…d firſty to exerciſe th… Religion.
ANSWERE.
I. To the Antecedent.
1 IT is not enough that a man bee conſtant, obedient, and faithfull in that Religiō which he beleeveth, except that his Religion be the only true Chriſtian Religiō given of GOD for the ſaving of our ſoules.
2 Conſtancy and obedience in any Religion, doth not inferre ſubiection and faithfulnes (of conſcience) towardes the Magiſtrate: but only conſtancy in the true Religion.
3 The Papiſts are not conſtant, obedient, and faithfull vntounto GOD in their Religion; becauſe their Religion is not of GOD, but of the Divell; and therefore the worſhip which they performe in their Religion, is not done vntounto GOD, but vntounto the Divell; See Deut. 32. ver. 17.
This Reaſon is thus cōvertibly verified of the Papiſts. The Papiſts who are traitours vntounto GOD, are alſo traitors vntounto the Magiſtrate, Againe, The Papiſts who are traitours vntounto the Magiſtrate, are alſo traitours vntounto GOD.
5 If the Papiſts were conſtant, obedient, and faithful in their Religion: yet can they not be ſo vntounto the Magiſtrate; becauſe their Religiō, in the Articles therof is treaſon againſt the Magiſtrate, as I hauehave proved before. Hēce it ſeemeth that the Petitioner aequivocateth in theſe words, in all duoties APPERT AINING: for happily, he will inferre, that in what diſpleaſeth the Pope, at APPERT AINETH not vntounto Papiſts to obey.
6 The more devout and zealous the Papiſts bee in their Religion, the more treacherous and pernicious they are vntounto his Maieſty and the State.
7 His Highneſſe, and the State hauehave had too much experience already of the loyalty and fidelity of Papiſtes towards their Magiſtrates.
II. To the Conſequence.
1 If the Papiſts were true, ſubiectiue, and faithfull vntounto the Magiſtrate: yet cannot the Magiſtrate permit the free exerciſe of their Religion, being ſo repugnāt vntounto the lawes of God.
2 If the Magiſtrate coulde permit this; yet were hee not in policie to doe it: conſidering that ſcabbed ſheepe will ſooner infect the whole, then the whole cure the ſcabbed.