The Players Scourge — William Prynne

The Players Scourge · William Prynne

SCENA SEPTIMA.

Object. 7.TO passe by other Objections in the defence of Stage-playes; as namelie, that they reprehend sinne and vice;See Dr. Rainolds Overthrow of Stage-playes. that they inveigh against the corruptions and corrupt ones of the times; that they remunerate and applaud vertue, and sharply censure vice: that their abuses, their exces…es may be regulated, and themselves reduced to a good decorum: therefore they are lawfull: which Objections I have answered by the way before: viz. at pag. 34. to 42. p. 96. to 106. & p. 124. to 127. The grand Objection of our present dissolute times for the justification of these Playes is this; yThis Obiection as I have heard was much urged in a most scurrilous and prophane manner in the first Play that was acted in the New-erected Play-house: a fit consecration Sermon for that Divels Chappell.That none but a companie of Puritans and Precisians speake against them; all else applaud and eke frequent them; therefore cetainly they are very good recreations, since none but Puritans disaffect them.

To this I answer,Answ. 1. that the objection is as false as frivolous: For first, I have already fully manifested, that zSee Act. 6. Scen. 5. & Act. 7. Scen. 6, 7.many Heathen States and Emperors, and among the rest, Tiberius, Nero, and Iulian the Apostate, (who were as farre from Puritanisme, as the deboisest Anti-puritans, the most dissolute Players or Play-patrons this day living) have condemned, suppressed Playes and Players: Besides, I have largely proved, that aSee Act. 6. Scen. 3, 4, & 5.not onelyonly Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Seneca, and other heathen Philosophers; but even Horace, Iuvenal, nay Ovid and Propertius, (the most lascivious heathen Poets, who were as farre from Puritans, as they were from Christians) have declaimed against Stage-plaies. And is not this then a notorious falshood? that none but Puritans condemne Stage-plaies. Were Tiberius, Nero, Iulian, Aristotle, Tibullus, Ovid, (thinke you) Puritans? Were all those bSee A…t. 6. Scen. 5.fore-quoted Pagans, who censured and suppressed Stage plaies Puritans? If these be now turn'd Puritans in the Objectors phrase, I pray what manner of Christians (I dare not say incarnate Divels) are those persons, who thus taxe these dissolute Pagans for puritanicalll Precisians? certainlie if they are somewhat better than infernall Fiends, yet they are by cQuantum ad legem divinam per…inet, dico nos sine comparatione Barbaris esse meliores, quantū autem ad vitam, ac actus, doleo et plango esse peior…s. Hoc est autem deteriorem esse, magis r…um esse. I…ascens fortasse qui h…ec legis, et condemnas insuper quae legis. Non refugio censuram tuam; condemna si mentior, condemna si non probavero: condemna si id quod assero, non etiam Scripturas sac…as dixisse monstravero, &c. Salvian De Gubern. Dei, l. 3. p. 127, 128. &c. Vid. Ibidem, where he excellently proves this his assertion.many degrees worse than the very worst of all these Pagans; who by their owne confessions, are dIn hanc enim morum pro. probrosita…em prope omnis Ecclesiastica plebs redacta est; ut in cuncto populo Christiano genus quodammodo sanctitatis sit, minus esse vitiosum. Salvian D… Gubernatione Dei lib. 3. pag. 86.Saints, are Puritans in respect of them. O then the stupendious wickednesse! the unparalleld prophanesse of our gracelesse times! when Christians are not afraid, ashamed to professe themselves more desperately vitious, lascivious, and deboist, than the very worst of Pagans, whom they thus honour with the stile of Puritans… because they are more vertuous, lesse vitious than themselves! Certainly if atheisticall prophanesse, and infernall lewdnesse increase but a little more among us, as it is very like if Stage-playes still continue, I am afraid these O…jectors will grow to that excesse of wickednes ere long… that the Divell himselfe, (nay,*Matth. 12.24. Beelzebub the very Prince of Divels) shall be canonized by them for a Puritan, because he equalls them not in wickednesse. Let these Play-patrons therefore, either waive this false Objection, or else confesse these very heathen Puritans (as they deeme them) to be much better, much worthier of the name of Christians, than themselves.

Secondly, I have infallibly manifested; eSee Act. 7. Scen. 2, 3, 4. & Act. 6. Scen. 3, 4, 5, 12.That the whole primitive Church both under the Law and Gospell, together with all the primitive Christians, Fathers and Councels have most abundantly censured and condemned Playes and Players in the very highest degree of opposition. And were the primitive Church and Christians, the Fathers, or Bishops who were present at these Councels, Puritans? If not: then the objection is false. If Puritans; then Puritans are no such Novellers, or new upstart humorists as the world reputes them: yea then they are in truth no other, but the true Saints of God, the undoubted successors of the primitive Church and Christians, whose doctrine, discipline… graces, manners they onelyonly practise and maintaine. And indeede if the truth of things bee well examined, wee may easily prove fNos itaque paratiores sumus cum istis viris, et cum Ecclesia Christi in huius fidei antiquitate firmata, quaelibet maledicta et contumelias perpeti, quam Pelagiani cuiuslibet eloquii praedicatione laudari. Aug. De Nu…ijs et Concupiscentia, lib. 2. cap. 29.the Fathers, the primitive Church and Christians, (yea Christ himselfe, his Prophets and Apostles) Puritans, if that which brands men now for Puritans in prophane ones censures, may descide this Controversie. To instance in some few particulars. One grand badge of a Puritan is (as the objection testifieth) to condemne Stage-playes, Players and Play-haunters, and wholly to renounce these Pompes of the Divell: But this gSee Act. 7. Scene 1, 2, 3, 4. & Act. 6. Scen. 3, 4, 5, 12.the Apostles, the Fathers, the primitive Councels, Church and Christians did, as I have plentifully manifested, hSee here p. …57.this being the most notorious character of a faithfull Christian, to abstaine from Stage-playes. By this badge therefore they are arrant Puritans. To condemne iSe… here Act. 5. Scene 8. & Act. 7. Scene 3.effeminate mixt dancing, lasciviousnesse, and kSee here Act. 7. Scene 3.diceplay; together with lSee here Act. 7. Scene …. & my Healths Sicknesse.health-drinking, drunkennesse, deboistnesse, roaring, whoring, mSee here Act. 3. Scene 1. & Act. 5. Scene 9.ribaldry, obscene or amorous songs and jests, and naked filthy lust provoking pictures, are now *See Dr. Burgesses his Reioynder, Answer to the Preface, p. 6, 7. published by his Maiesties speciall command accordingly.chiefe Symptomes of a notorious Puritan: but nSee here Act. 3. Scene 1. Act. 5. Scen. 8, 9, 10, 11. & Act. 6. Scen. 3, 4, 5, 12. & Act. 7. Scene 1. to 6.Christ, his Prophets and Apostles, together with all the primitive Churches, Christians, Fathers, Councels have condemned all and each of these with an unanimous consent: therefore they are arrant Puritans. To speake or write against oSee my Vnlovelinesse of Love-lockes, Arch-bishop Abbots Lecture 28. on Ionas, sect. 11. p. 570, 571. and here Act. 5. Scene 6, 7. & Act. 6. Scene 3, 4.mens wearing of perewigges, Love-lock…s, and long haire, together with the effeminate frizling, pouldring, and accurate nice composing of it: to declaime against our whorish females frizling, broydring, pouldring, dying, plaiting, with their late impudent mannish, that I say not monstrous cutting and shearing of their haire; and their false borrowed excrements: to declaime against face-painting, vaine wanton complements, strange fashions, tyr…s, newfangled or overcostly apparell, are eminent characters of a branded Puritan: But pSee here Act. 5. Scen. 1, 6, 7. & Act. 6. Scen. 3, 4. & Act. 7. Scene 3. and My Vnlovelinesse of Lovelockes accordingly.Christ Iesus himselfe, his Prophets and Apostles, with all the primitive Churches, Councels, Fathers, Chri…tians, have earnestly spoken, written, declaimed against all & each of these lewd sinfull practises. Therefore they are Puritans. To q1 Pet. 1.15, 16. 2 Pet. 3.11.be holy in all manner of conversation even as God and Christ are holy: rTitus 2.12.to live right…ously, soberly and godly in this present evill world, sGal. 5.24. Iam. 1.27. Psal. 97.10 Psal. 119 104, 128.crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof; avoiding, detesting all sinne and wickednesse whatsoever in ones selfe and others; and *Phil. 2.15, 16.shining as lights and patternes of holinesse in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation… to be uDeut. 6.6, 7, 8, 9. Psal. 1.2.frequent in hearing, reading, preaching, or meditating… and discoursing of Gods word: to repeate Sermons, (a duty warranted by xActs 13.42. Mark 4.34. Matth. 13.10. to 53. Deut. 6.6, 7, 8, 9. Mal. 3.16. Ephes. 5.19, 20. c. 4.29. Col. 3.16. Hebr 8.11 c. 10.24, 25. 2 Pet. 1.12, 13, 15. Phil. 3.1. c. 416. Luke 28.18. to 36. Isay 28.9, 10, 13.Scripture, and much pressed by yRogo vos fratres charissimi, semper recolite, semper retinete quod vobis pro animae vestrae salute suggerimus: nolite hoc …ransitorie accipere. Debet enim sermo noster in corde vestro radices figere, ut in tempore retributionis possit aeternae vitae fructus soeliciter exhibere. Qui potest totum retinere quod dicimus, Deo gratias agat; et aliis quod retinet, semper ostendat. Qui totum non potest retinere, vel partem aliquam recordetur. Et si totum non potestis, singuli ternas vel q…aternas sententias retinete. Et dum unus alteri insinuat quod audivit, totum vobis invicem referendo non solum memoriter retinere, sed etiam in bonis operibus Christo adi…vante poteritis implere. Dicat unus alteri; Ego audivi Episcopum meum de …astitate dicentem: Alius dicat; Ego in mente habeo illum de ele…mosynis praedicasse; Alius dicat, Remansit in memoria mea quod dixit; ut sic colamus animam nostram, quomodo colimus terram nostram. Alius referat; Ego retineo dixisse Episcopum meum, ut qui novit litteras scripturam divinam studeat l…gere; qui vero non …ovit, quaerat sibi et roget qui illi debeat Dei prae…epta relegere, et quod legerit, Deo adiuvante, implere. Dicat etiam allus; Ego audivi Episcopum meum dicentem, quod q…omodo negotiatores qui non noverunt litteras, conducunt sibi mercenarios litteratos, ut acquitant pecuniam; sic Ch…istiani debent sibi requirere, et rogare, et (si necesse est) etiam mercedem dare… ut illis debeat aliquis Scripturam divi…am relegere: ut quomodo negotiator alio legente acquirit pecuniam; sic illi acquiran… vitam aeternam. Haec si agitis, si vos invicem admonetis; et in hoc saeculo fideliter potestis vivere, et postea ad aeternae vitae b…atitudinem perven…re. Nam si statim ubi de Eccl…sia discesse…it stotum quod ab Episcopo au…isti oblitus fueris, sin… fructu venisti ad …cclesiam, sine fructu inan…s redisad domū tuam. Sed absit hoc a vob…s… fratres, &c. C…sarius Arelaten…s… Episc… Homil. 20. Bibl. Patr. Tom. 5. pars 3. p. 766. F, G, H.Caesarius Arelatensis, an ancient Father; to pray constantly zPsal. 5.3. Psal. 55.17. Psal. 65.8.morning and evening with ones family; aProv. 1.15, 16. See Act. 4. Scene 2.to abandon bHebr. 11.25.all lewd places and companions, cSee Act. 2.all pleasures and delights of sinne, all Christmas excesses and disorders, all Pagan rites and heathenish customes; and to dPsal. 16.3.make the holiest S…ints his best, his sole familiar friends, the eIer. 15.16.word & service of God his chiefe delight: to fActs 21.13, 14 Gal. 2.11.stand for God and for his truth in evill times when they are most opposed; to live civilly and pio…sly in the gPhil. 2.15, 16.middest of wicked men, and h1 Pet. 4.34.not to joyne with them in the same excesse of sinne and riot of dissolutenesse and deboistnesse that they runne into: to i1 Iohn 3.20. c. 7.7. Prov. 15.12.reprove or crosse men in their sinfull fashions, customes, disorders, lusts or courses: with sundry other particulars which I pretermit; are now kSee my Perpetuity of a Regenerate mans estate, Epistle 3.infallible arguments and symptomes of a ranke Puritan. But this did Christ, his Prophets and Apostles, together with all the primitive Churches, Councels, Fathers and pious Christians, as those whom the world stiles Puritans doe now: therefore without all doubt they are Puritans (as Puritans are now reputed) even in the very highest degree. Yea, were our Saviour Christ, St. Paul, St. Iohn, together with all those holy Patriarkes, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Fathers, and other primitive Saints which we reade of in the Scriptures, or Ecclesiasticall Writers, now living here among us, I doubt not but they would all be l1 Cor. 4.10, to 14. Acts 17.3 to 15. c. 21.27, 28. c. 24.5, 6. Isay 8.38. Psal. 22.6. See my Perpetuity, Epistle 3.pointed at, hissed, reviled, hated, scorned, if not persecuted, as the very Archest Puritans, for their transcendent holinesse, and rebukes of sin & sinners: since those poore Saints of God, mMatth. 10.24, 25. Iohn 15.18, 19, 20.who have not attained to the moity of their transcendent grace and purity, are now stiled, & pointed at for Puritans, even for that little purity and holinesse which is discovered in their lives. If therefore Christ himselfe, his Prophets and Apostles, together with all the primitive Churches, Fathers, Councels, and Christians were Puritans, in that very sence, & on the selfesame grounds that those whom the world stiles Puritans are so named now, as I have fully manifested by the premises; and dare make good in all particulars against any Anti-puritans whatsoever; the objectors must now either disclaime their A…tecedent, (that none but Puritans condemne Stage-playes:) or in case they grant all these to be Puritans, they must now invert their rash conclusion: that Stage-playes certainely are evill, because Christ, his Prophets and Apostles, the whole primitive Church, the Fathers, Councels, and primitive Christians, (all ranke Puritans) have out of their very puritie and holinesse condemned them long agoe, and none but the very shame, the scumme of Christians, or men unworthy that worthy title did anciently approve them, as I have largely evidenced, Act. 4. Scene 1, 2. Act. 6. Scene 3, 4, 5. & Act. 7. Scene 1. to 7.

Thirdly, I have manifested, that many nSee Act. 7. Scene 5. & Act. 6. Scene 3, 4, 5.moderne Christians, not onelyonly Protestants, but Papists too, have utterly condemned Stage-playes. And I hope all Papists (the originall inventors of this stile of Puritans, which they have cast *See a Popish Pamphlet lately divulged; That Protestanisme is nothing else but a Puritan conceit.on orthodox Protestants as a very Motto or by-word of disgrace,) are exempted from this number of Puritans intended in the Objection. Either Papists therefore must be Puritans, for condemning Playes, which many of the chiefe Objectors being Papists (as are most of all our Players) will hardly grant; or else the Objection must be false.

Fourthly, admit that none but Puritans condemne or censure Stage-playes; consider then, I pray you, with an impartiall eye, what kinde of persons these Play-abhorring conformable Puritans and Precisians are: pSee my Perpetuity, Epistle 3. Mr. Boltons Discourse of true happines, p 190. to 196. Dr. Burgesse his Reioynder, the An…wer to the Preface, published by speciall command from his Maiesty, and my Healths Sicknesse, p. 79, to 89 accordingly.Are they not the holiest, the devoutest, the eminentest and most religious gracious S…ints, who leade the strictest, purest, heavenliest, godliest lives, outstripping all others both in the outward practise, and inward power of grace? Are they not such whose piety, whose universall holinesse in all companies, times and places, are an qSee Prov. 29.27. Iohn 3.19, 20. Psal. 35.15, 16. Rom. 1.29, …0. Wi…d. 2.12, to 2…eye-sore, a life-sore, an heart-sore, yea a shame and censure unto others? Are they not such as rDe Iustitia l. 5. c. 9.Lactantius writes of? Sunt aliqui …ntempestivè boni, qui corruptis moribus publicis convicium benè vivendo faciunt. Ergo tanquam scelerum et malitiae suae testes extirpare funditus ni… tur et tollere; gravesque sibi putant tanquam eorum vita coarguatur. Idcirco auferantur, quibus coram vivere pudet; qui peccantium frontem etsi non verbis, qui… tacent, tamen ipso vitae genere dissimili feriunt et verberant: Ca…tigare enim videtur quicunque dissenti…. (The case of the primitive, pious Christians, amongst the dissolute vitious Ge…tiles.) And they not such who are sIosh. 24.16, 18, 21.peremptory in the co…scionable performance of every holy duty; resolute in the tPsal. 119.104, 128.hatred of every customary sinne, u1 Pet. 3, 4.refusing to runne into the same excesse of wickednesse, into the grosse corruptions of the xRom. 12.1, ….times, into which most men rush yIer. 8.6.with greedinesse, as the horse into the battell? Doubtlesse, what ever the malice of others may conceive of them, yet they are no other but such as these, as the very fiercest Anti-puritans consciences whisper to them; zMinucius Felix Octavius, p 39.qui suspectis omnibus ut improbos metuunt, etiam quos optimos sentire potuerunt. If any man doubt of this, these few experimentall arguments may convince him. For first, there is never a sincere, de…out or pious Christian this day living in England, who aPsal. 16.3.excells in holinesse of life, in integrity of con…ersation, b2 Pet. 1.4. Gal. 5.24.avoiding all the corruptions that are in the world through lust; and cTitus 2.13, 14.living righteously, soberly and godly in this present evill world; refusing to dRom. 12.2. 1 Iohn 2.14, 1 Pet. 1.14.conforme himselfe to the fashions, vanities, pleasures, sinnes, and wicked humours of the times, (which perchance he hath too much followed heretofore before his true conversion,) but is eSee Mr. Boltons Discourse of true happinesse, p… 19…. to 197. accordingly.commonly reputed, and oft times stiled, a Puritan, a Precisian, and the like, be his place or condition what it will. Hee who hath more grace and goodnesse, more chastity, modesty, temperance or sobriety, more love and dread of God, more hatred of sin and wickednes; lesse tincture of atheisme, impiety, voluptuousnesse and prophanesse, than others among whom he lives, let him be never so just in his dealings towards men, never so *Nunc autē novum poenitentiae genus; oderunt nos, quasi hostes, quorum fidem publice negare non audent. Quid maledictorum pannos hinc inde con suitis, ut corum carpitis vitam, quorum fidei resistere non valetis? Hierom. Epist. 72. Pammacheo.conformable to the doctrine and ceremonies of the Church, is forthwith branded for a notorious Puritan and Precisian all England over; and fSicut cantharides maxime adultos frugibus et rosis florentibus incumbunt; ita invidia maxime adoritur bonos et ad virtutem et gloriam proficiscentes. Plutarch. De Invidia …t Odio, lib. Vid. Ibid. Persequitur probos semper invidia, et cum deterioribus non contendit. Pindari Nomen Ode 8. p. 293.the more eminent his graces and holinesse are in the view of others, the more is he maligned, envied, hated, and the greater Puritan is he accounted, as every mans owne experience can informe him… These Puritans and Precisians therefore are the best of Christians. Secondly, those who are most violently invective, and maliciously despitefull against Puritans and Precisians, both in their words and actions, are such who are unsound or popishly affected in their religion, or prophane and dissolute in their lives. The most Romanized Protestants, the *Plane confitebor qui conqueruntur de sterilitate Christianorum: primi sunt lenones, perductores, aquarioli, tum siccarii, venena…ii, magi: item a rioli, a…uspices mathematici: his infructuosos esse magnus est fructus. Ter…ul. Apologia advers. Gentes… p. 706.deboisest drunkards, the effeminatest Ru…fians, the most fantasticke apish Fashion-mongers; the lewdest whoremasters, Panders, Strumpets; the prophanest Roarers, Players, Play-haunters, and Brothel-hunters; the most prodigious Swearers, Epicures, and Health-quaffers; the most gracelesse vitious persons of all rankes and professions; (especially temporizing, sloathfull, unorthodox, epicurean, Alehouse haunting, dissolute Clergy men, the gSee Ier. 26.7, 8, 11. Ezech. 22.25, 26. c. 13.22. Ier. 23.14, 15. Amos 7.10. to 15. Matth. 27.1, 20.greatest enemies of all others, to true grace and piety, as all ages witnesse;) are alwayes the greatest railers, the hQ…ales ergo leges istae quas adversus nos soli exercent impii, iniusti, turpes, truces, vani, …ementes? Tertul. Apolog. adversus Gente… c. 5.fiercest enemies against Puritans and Precisians as the world now stiles them: therefore they are certainly the very best and holiest Christians, because the very worst of men (who like iNihil nisi grande aliquod bonuma Nerone damnatum. Seneca De Vita Beata c. 24. & Tertulliani Apologia c. 5.vitious Nero, never heartily condemne ought else, but some great good or other) detest, revile them most. kSeneca de Vita Beata c. 24.Et argumentum recti est, malis displicere, as not onelyonly Seneca, but the l2 Tim. 3.3. Rom. 1.29, 30. Psal. 38.19, 20. Prov. 29.37.Scripture teacheth us. Thirdly, there is no man ever stiled a Puritan or Precisian by another in scorne or contempt, as these names are now commonly used; but it is either for some evill or other that he hates, which he who stiles him so, affects; or for some grace or goodnesse, or some mOmne id quod communem sortem excellit invidiae aliorum obnoxium est: hinc illud eorum quorum conditio inferior est contra se superiores bellum exist it. Dion Cassius Hist. l. 38. p. 134, 135.transcendent degree of holinesse that is in him, which the other wants. To instance in some particulars. Let a man make conscience nSee my Healths Sicknesse, Epistle to the Reader, & p. 79. to 89.of drunkennesse, of drinking and pledging healthes, of frequenting Ale-houses, Tavernes, and Tobacco-shops; and presently he is cried out upon and censured for a Puritan by all the Pot-companions, and Drunkards with whom he shall converse. Let any one refuse to follow the guise and dissolute effeminate fashions of the times; let him crie out against oSee my Vnlovelinesse of Love-lockes, and here Act. 5. Scene 6. Absoloms Fall, or the Ruine of Roisters. Wherein every Christian may as in a mirror behold, the vile and abominable abuse of curled long haire, so much now used in this our Realme. f. 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.Love-locks and ruffianly long haire; against false haire and perewigs which our men and women now generally take up, as if they were quite ashamed of that head which God hath given them, and proud of the tire-womans which they have dearely bought: Let any Gentlewoman of quality now refuse to cut, to pAgainst which see Cyprian de Habitu Virginum Tertullian De Cultu Muliebri, & De Habitu Faeminarum. Clemens Alexandrinus, Paedag. l. 2. c. 10, 12. l. 3. c. 1. to. 5. Philo Iudaeus Legis Allegoria l. 2. p. 100, 101. De Fortitudine l. p. 106. De Specialibus Le…gibus, p. 1019. & De Mercede Meret…icis p &c. 1161, 1162. Zeno Veronensis Sermo de Pudicitia. Ser. de Continentia, Ser. de spiritu et corpore. Ser. 2. de Avaritia. Bibl. Patr. Tom. 3. p. 122, 124, 128, 130. Isiodor Pelusiota lib. 2. Epist. 53. Nazianzen ad versus Mulieres ambitiosius sese ornantes. August. Epist. 73. Gratian de Consecratione Distinctio …. Alexander Alesius Summa Theologiae pars 4. Quaest. 11. M…mb. 2. Art. 2. sect. 4. Quaest. 9. Alexander Fabritius, Destructorium Vitiorum pars 3. c. 10. & pars 6. c. 2. & 69. Peter Martyr Locorū communium Classis 2. c. 11. sect 71 to 83… Innocentius 3. De Contemptu mu…dil. 2. c. 40. Thomas Lake his Discourse against Painting; with all those other Authors and Fathers here quoted Act. 5. Scene 7. & in my Vnlov… of Love lockes, p. 1, 2, 16, to 21, 30, 49.50.poulder, frizell, and set out her haire like a lascivious courtezan, or to paint her face like some common prostituted harlot; or to follow any other amorous complements and disguises of the times, *1 Tim. 3.9, 10. 1 Pet. 3.2. to 6. See Calvin, Musculus, Aretius, Gualther, Dancus, Estius, Hyperius, Marlorat, Go…ran, Hugo Cardinalis, Lyra, Tostatus, Anselme, HRabanus Maurus, O…cumenius, Haymo, Theophylact, Sedulius, Primasius, Theodoret, Remigius, Chrysostome, Hierom and Ambrose, Ibidem.adorning her selfe onelyonly in modest apparell, with shamefastnesse, sobriety and good workes, as becomes a woman professing godlinesse; the onelyonly feminine ornaments that St. Paul commends: and what else shall they heare from all the Ruffians, fantastiques, and Frenchefied wanton Dames that live about them, but this opprobrious censure, that they are become professed Puritans. If any make conscience of frequenting Play-houses, Dice-houses, Whore-houses; of qSee here Act. 5. Scene 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. & Act. 7. Scene 3, 5, 6, 7.lascivious mixt dancing, lascivious ribaldry songs and discourses, inordinate gaming, and such other sinfull pleasures which the most delight in; refusing to beare men company in these delights of sinne: our Play-haunters, Dicers, Gamesters, Whoremasters, and such voluptuous persons, will presently voyce them up for Puritans. Yea such is the desperate wickednesse of the times, that let a man be vitious in one kinde, and yet temperate in another; as let him be a Play-haunter, a gamester, and not a drunkard; a drunkard, and yet no swearer, no whoremaster, no ruffian, or the like; or let a man be vitious in diverse kindes, and yet not so bad as others of his companions, and he shall be sometimes reproached for a Puritan, because he is not so universally, so extremely wicked and deboist, as those of his companions who are farre worse than he. Whence we oft times finde, that such who are reputed no better than prophane ones, when they are in company somewhat better than themselves; are censured for Puritans among prophane ones, rGenus quoddam sanctitatis sit minus esse vitiosum. Sal…vian de Guber. Dei l. 3.because they are not so unmeasurably wicked as the worst of them. And as those who are not so desperately outragious in their extravagant sinfull courses as others, are thus houted at for Puritans and Precisians, by such as are lewder than themselves: so those who outstrip all others in holinesse, pietie and vertue, are reputed Puritans too, because they excell in goodnesse. For let a man be a diligent hearer and repeater of Sermons and Lectures; a constant tSee my Perpetuity, p. 612. to 614. & Mr. Boltons Di… course of True Happinesse, p. 190. to 198. Deut. 6.2. to 10 Psal. 1.1, 2.reader and discourser of Gods word; a strict observer of the Lords day; a lover, and uPsal. 119.63. Tit. ….8.companion of the holiest men; a man that is x1 Pet. 1.14, 15, 16. Ephes. 4 29 Col. 4.6.holy and gracious in his speeches in all companies and places, desirous to sow some seedes of grace, and to plant religion where ever he comes: let him be yPsal. 69.9, 10 11.much in prayer, in meditation, in fasting and humiliation, zPsal. 50.1, to 12.much grieving for his sinnes, and complaining of his corruptions; let him be alwayes aMat. 5.6.hungring and thirsting after grace, and using all those meanes with conscionable care which may bring him safe to heaven, bPsal. …4.14. Psal. ….8. Ps. 37.27. Ps. 119.115. Hebr. 11.25.abandoning all those sins, those pleasures and companies which may hinder him in his progresse towards heaven: Let a man be a diligent powerfull soule-searching cAmos 5.8.sinne-reproving Minister, residing constantly upon his benefice, and dSee here p. 531, 532, 629. Mr. Boltons Discourse of true Happines, p. 193.preaching every Lords-day twice: or let him be a diligent upright Magistrate, eSee 21. Iacobi cap. 7.punishing drunkennesse, drunkards, swearers, suppressing Ale-houses, fDerived from the ancient Pagan feasts and pastim…s on the first of May, which feasts they stiled Maiuma, which Arcadius and Theodoret long since suppressed by this Edict. Illud ve…o quod sibi nomen procax licentia vindicabit Maium…m faedum atque indecorum spectaculū denegamus. Co…ex Theodosii l. 15. Tit. 6. Lex. 2. See Calvini Lexicon …uridicum, & Iacobus Spielegius, Pandulphus Proteus, & H…eronimus Verrutius, Lexicon Iuris, Tit. Maiuma: & Suidas Mai…mas, & Spondanus An. 399. sect. 5.M…y-games, Revels, gSee 1 Car. c. 1.dancing, and other unlawfull pastimes on the Lords day, according to his oath and duty; Let any of any profession be but a little holier or sticter than the Major part of men; and this his holines, his forwardnes in reliligion, is su…ficient warrant for all prophane ones, for all who fall short of this his practicall power of grace to brand and hate him for a Puritan, as every mans conscience cannot but informe him. It is manifest then by all these particular experimentall instances; that those whom the world stiles Puritans and Precisians, are the very best and holiest Christians, and that they are thus ignominiously intituled, yea hMalitia semper contra virtutem insanit. Chrysost. Hom. 23. in Gen. Tom. 1. Col. 142. A.hated and maligned, because they are lesse vitious, more pious, strict and vertuous in their lives than such who call them so. Fourthly, there is no man so fierce an Antipuritan in his health and life,iSee Mr. Boltons Discourse of true Happinesse, p. 192, to 197. accordingly, an excellent place to this purpose, well worth the reading, and all Antipuritans most serious consideration. but desires to turne Puritan and Precisian in the extremity of his sicknesse and the day of death. When God sends his judgements, crosses, or tormenting mortall diseases upon such who were most bitter Satyrists against Puritans all their lives before; or when hee awakens such mens consciences to see the gastly horrour of their notorious sinnes, when they are lying perplexed on their death-beds with the feare of damnation ready to breath out their soules into hell at every gaspe, they will then turne Puritans in very good earnest, desiring to die such as they would never live: yea then in such extremities as these they send for those very Puritan Ministers, whom they before abhorred to instruct, to comfort them, to pray with them, for them, and to advise them what to doe that they may be saved: & however they reputed thē no better than hypocrites, kSo were the Saints and servants of God reputed in former times. See 1 Cor. 1.18, 21, 23, 25, 27. c. 2.14. c. 3.18. c. 4.10. 2 Cor. 11.16, 17, 19, 23. Lactantius de Iustitia, l. 5. c. 16. Timor Domini simplicitas reputatur, ne dicam fatuitas. Virum circumspectum et amicum propriae conscientiae calumniantur hypocritā. Ber…ard. De Consideratione l. 4. c. 2. Col. 885. C.fooles, or lSo were the Saints of olde accounted, 1 Sam. 21.13, 14, 15. 1 Kings 9.11. Hosea 9.7. Isay 59.15. Ier. 29.26. Acts 26.24, 25. Mar. 3 21. Iohn 10.10. 1 Cor. 14, 23. 2 Cor. 5, 13.distracted furious mad ones before, yet they would willingly change lives, change soules and consciences with them then, wishing with many teares and sighes that they were but such as they. This every dayes experience almost testifies; therefore Puritans and Precisians even in the true internall conscientiall judgement of every Anti-puritan are the most godly men. Fifthly, let a drunkard, a whoremaster, a swearer, a ruffian, or any other prophane notorious wicked person be truly converted from these their sinnes, and unfainedly devoted and united to the Lord so as mPsal. 85.8.never to returne unto them more, nDeut. 11.22. c. 10.20. Iosh. 22.5. c. 23.8.cleaving unseparably unto him both in their hearts and lives; or let God worke any such visible notorious happy change in men, as to *Acts 26.18. 1 Pet. 2.9. Col. 1.13.call them out of darknesse into his marvelous light, and to translate them from under the power of Satan into the kingdome of his deare Sonne; and no sooner shall they be thus strangely pVt quisque nomine Christiani (I may now say, Puritani) emendatur offendit. Tertul. Apologia c. 2, 3.altered from bad to good, or from good to better, but presently they are christened, as it were, with these two proverbs or reproach, and pointed at for *Vnum nomen est persecutionis, sed non una est causa certaminis. Leo De Qu…. dr. Sermo 9. f. 89Puritans and Precisians, as if they were now unworthy for to live because they are thus converted to the Lord. Before people turne religious and gracious, they are never pestered with these disdainfull tearmes: but qSee Tertullian de Pallio lib. & Mr. Boltons Discourse of true Happinesse, p. 190. to 192. And my Perpetuity, Epistle 3.no sooner can they begin to looke towards heaven, to change their vitious courses and amend their lives, but these Mottoes of contempt are cast upon them, even because they are growne better than they were before. Thus was it long agoe even in Salvian his dayes, who thus complaines. rDe Gubern. Dei l. 4. p. 110, 111. And ad Ecclesiam Catholicam lib. 3. pag. 408. hee writes thus. At vero nunc diversissime et impiissime nullis omnino a suis minus relinquitur, qu… quibus ob Dei reverentiam plus debetur: nullos pietas minus respicit, quam quos praecipue religio commendat: Denique si qui a parentibus filii offeruntur Deo, omnibus filiis postponuntur oblati; indigni iudicantur haereditate, qui digni fuerint consecratione: ac per hoc una tantum re parentibus viles fiunt, quia caeperint Deo esse preciosi.Statim ut quis melior esse tentaverit deterioris abjectione calcatur. Si fuerit sublimis, fit despicabilis; si fuerit splendidissimus, fit vilissimus: fi fuerit totus honoris, fit totus injuriae: ubi enim quis mutaverit vestem, mutavit protinus dignitatem. Perversa enim sum et in diversum cuncta mutata. Si bonus est quispiam, quasi malus spernitur: si malus est, quasi bonus honoratur. Si honoratior quispiam se religioni applicuerit, illico honoratus esse desistit, ac per hoc omnes quodammodo mali esse coguntur ne viles habeantur. Et ideo non sine causa Apostolus clamat: Seculum totum in malo positum est: et verum est … merito enim totum in malo esse dicitur, ubi boni locum habere non possunt: siquidem ita totum iniquitatibus plenum est, a…t ut mali sint, qui sunt; aut qui boni sunt malorum persecutione crucientur. And thus is it now in our dayes. Therefore Puritans and Precisians are undoubtedly the very primest Christians, because they are never honoured with these titles till they sMulti, quod dolendu… est, pro…ectibus uruntur alienis; et qui se virtutibus vacuos despici noverunt, arm…ntur in …orum odium quorum non sequuntur exemplum. Leo De Quadragesima Sermo 10. f. 91.turne better than they were at first, yea better than all those that reproach them by these names of s…orne. And here we may observe a difference betweene eminency in religion, and excellency in all other things besides. For let a man be exquisite in any other art or profession whatsoever, be it in Phisicke, Musicke, Law, Philosophy, or any liberall science, or mechanicke trade; yea let a man be a zealous forward Papist, Iesuite, Priest or Votary; the more eminent they are in all or any of these, the more honoured, reverenced, frequented, admired, and beloved are they of all sorts of men; because they are but naturall humane excellencies, to which corrupt nature and the Divell have no antipathy at all. But let any man become a tIn bono proposito constitutis, inimicitiae dissimilium di abolo instigante non desunt, et facile in odia prorumpunt, quorum improbi mores detestabiliores fiunt comparationerectorum. Iniquitas cum iustitia non habet pacem, temperantiam odit ebrietas, falsitati nulla est cum veritate concordia: non a…at superbia mansuetudinem, pe…ulantia verecundiam, avaritia largitatem, et tam pertinaces habet diversitas is…a conflictus, ut etiam si exterius conquiescat, ipsa tamen piorum cordium penetralia inquietare non desinat, ut verum sit quod voluerunt in Christo pie vivere, persecutionē patientur, &c. Leo De Quadr. Ser. 9. f. 89.conscionable, zealous, sincere and forward professor of true religion, transcending others in the practicall power of grace, or in the inward beauty of holinesse; and the more perspicuously eminent he growes in these, the more is he commonly hated, slaundered, persecuted, reviled by the tongues of wicked men, and the greater Puritan doe they account him; because xGal. 5.17. 2 Cor. 6.15, 16.there is grace within him, that is diametrally contrary to their corruptions. Neither neede we wonder at it: for ever since God at first put yGen. 3.15.enmity betweene the seede of the woman and the seede of the serpent, zGal. 4.29. 1 Io… 3.12, 13.those who have beene borne after the flesh, have persecuted, slandered, abhorred those who have beene borne after the spirit; and aIoh. 15.19, 20.those who who are of this world, have hated such who are redeemed out of the world; there b2 Cor. 6.14, 15, 16.being never as yet in any age, any concord or truce betweene Christ and Belial, light and darknesse, righteousnesse and unrighteousnesse, Beleevers and Infidels; cProv. 29.27.those who are upright in the way, being alwayes an abomination to the wicked, for these very reasons onelyonly, and no other; dPsal. 38.19, 20.because they follow the thing that good is, and e1 Pet. 4.3, 4.runne not with them into the same excesse of riot; f1 Ioh. 3.12, 13.because their works are good, and theirs who thus revile and hate them, evill: gWild. 2.15, 16. &c.because their lives are not like other men, and their wayes are of another fashion: because they are not for wicked mens turnes, and they are cleane contrary to their doings, upbraiding them with their offending the Law, objecting to their infamy the transgressions of their education, and abstaining from their wayes as from filthinesse, hIohn 7.7. See my Perpetuity, Epistle 3. Malignorum spirituum adversus sanctos insidiae non quiescunt, et sive occulto dolo, sive aperto praelio, in omnibus fidelibus propositum bonae voluntatis infestant. Inimicum autem illis est omne quod rectum, omne quod castum. Leo de Passione Dom…ni Serm… 19. f. 140.testifying unto them by their holy lives, that the workes they doe are evill. These and no other were the true originall causes of mens hatred & reproach against iMaledictione autem et amatitudine replerios, valde mul…orum est. Quis enim ita emendati cris est, quem non maledicenti consue…udo sollicitet? non dicat adversus eos qui maledicto digni sunt, sed etiam adversus eos quos Dominus non maledixit; id est, iustos et innocentes viros. Origen lib. 3. in Epist. ad Rom. c. 3. Tom. 3. fol. 154. C. Vid. Ibid.Christians, against Christ and his Apostles heretofore; and of mens inveterate rancor and malicious calumnies against Puritans now, what ever mens pretences are against it, as I have more largely manifested in a kIn my Perpetuity Epist. 3. & Healths Sicknesse, p. 79. to 89.precedent Treatise. If any thinke this strange, that men should be thus persecuted, hated, reviled, nicknamed, slandered and contemned even for their grace, their holinesse, and the very practicall sincere profession of religion: let them consider but these few particulars which will give them ample satisfaction in the point. First, those frequent predictions or premonitions of our Saviour to all the professors of his name: lMat. 10.16. to 36. c. 24.9. Ioh. 15.19, 20. c. 16.2, 33. c. 17.14.That they shall be hated, persecuted, reviled of all men & Nations for his sake: mMat. 5.11, 12. Luk. 6.22, 23.that they shall seperate them from their company, cast out their names as evill, & say all maner of evill against thē *Maioris contumeliae res est, falsis quenquam notare et insignite crimimbus quam vera ingerere at que oblectare delicta. Quod enim sese dici, et quod esse te senties, morsum habet minorem testimonio tacitae recognitionis infractum. Illud vero ac…rbissime vulnerat quod innoxios et quod decus nominis er aestimationis infamat. Arnobius adversus Gentes l. 4. p. 147.falsly for his names sake: nIohn 16.33.that in the world they shall have tribulation, and oIohn 16.2.that whosoever killeth them shall think he doth God good service. Secondly, that memorable position of St. Paul, 1 Tim. 3.11, 12. Yea, and pOmnes dixit, excepit nullū. Quis enim exceptus potest esse, cum ipse Dominus persecutionum tentamenta toleraverit? Ambr. Enar. in Psal. 118. Octon. 20. Tom. 2. p. 501. G. See Ambrose, Chrysost. Theodoret, Theophylact, Remigius, Beda, Anselme, Primasius, Haymo, HRabanus Maurus, and all other Fathers and Expositors on this text.all that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution: qActs 14.22. 1 Thess. 3.4.for through many tribulations and afflictions we must enter into the Kingdome of heaven. Thirdly, the examples of Gods Saints in all ages even from Adam to this present. If we looke upon Cain and Abel, the two first-borne of the world, wee shall beholde gracelesse r1 Iohn 3.12, 13.Cain, who was of that wicked one, slaying his righteous brother Abel: & wherfore slew he him? S. Iohn resolves the question in these very termes, because his owne workes were evill and his brothers righteous: and thereupon he grounds this inference; Marvell not, my brethren, if the world hate you. sDe Gubernatione Dei l. 1. p. 22.Non enim mirum est, (writes Salvian) nunc sanctos homines quaedam aspera pati, cum videamus quod Deus etiam per maximum nefas, primum sanctorum sivit occidi. Looke we upon holy King David, we shall finde him thus complaining: Psal. 38.19, 20. They that hate me wrongfully are multiplied, they also that render me evill for good are my adversaries, (pray marke the onelyonly reason) because I follow the thing that good is. The Prophet Isay complaineth thus of his times: Isay 59.14, 15. Iudgement is turned away backward and justice standeth afarre off; for truth is fallen in the streets, and equity cannot enter: yea truth faileth, and hee that departeth from evill maketh himselfe a prey, or is accounted mad: yea hee brings in Christ himselfe prophetically speaking in this manner: *Isay 8.18.Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signes and wonders even in Israel. The Prophet Amos writes thus of his age: Amos 5.8. They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and abhorre him that speaketh uprightly: and the Prophet uZech. 3.8. See Psal. 102.6. Ier. 12.9. Psal. 71.7.Zechariah informes us, that Ioshua the high Priest, and his followers that sate before him (to wit, Christ and all his followers) were men wondred at in the world, as if they were some monstrous creatures, or men besides themselves. The Prophet Daniel we know, was so xDan. 5.3, to 12.unblameable in his life and actions, that his very enemies could not finde any errour, fault, or occasion against him, except it were concerning the law of his God, and that hee made prayers and supplications before the Lord his God three times a day: and for this his piety onelyonly they procured him to be cast into the Lions den. I could instance in ySee my Perpetuity Epistle 3.divers others of Gods dearest Saints who were thus persecuted and maligned for their graces before our Saviours time, but that Tertullian hath long since forestalled mee; whose memorable passage to this purpose I wish all Antipuritans to consider.zAdversus Gnosticos lib. p. 430, 431. Aprimordio justitia vim patitur: statim ut …oli Deus caepit invidiam religio sorti…a est. Qui Deo pla…uerat occiditur, et quidem à fratre, quo procliviùs impietas alie…um sanguinem sectaretur, à suo auspicata insectata est. Denique non modo justorum, verum etiam et Prophetarum: David exagitatur, Elias fugatur, Hieremias lapidatur, Esaias secatur, Zacharias inter altare et …dem trucidatur; perennes cruoris sui maculas silicibus adsignans. Ipse clausula legis et Prophetarum, nec prophetes sed Angelus dictus, contumeliosa caede truncatur in puellae salticae lucar. Et utique qui spiritu Dei ageb…ntur, ab ipso in martyria dirigebantur, etiam patiendo quae praedica…sent, &c. Talia à primordio et praecepta et exempla debitricem martyrij fidem ostendunt. If wee looke upon aSee my Perpetuity, Epistle 3. at large.Christ and his Apostles, we shall finde them hated, persecuted, slandered, reviled with opprobrious names and obloquies, b1 Cor. 4.9, 10.being made as the very filth of the world, and as the offscouring of all things unto this day; yea wee shall see them martyred and put to death for no other cause at all, cSee Iustin Martyr, Apologia 2. pro Christianis. Tertulliani Apologia, Lactantius De Iustitia l. 5. c. 1, 5, 9.but onelyonly for their grace, their holinesse, their transcendent goodnesse, and their opposition to the sinnes and errours of the times: as I have dIn my Perpetuity, Epist. 3…elsewhere amply discoursed. If we behold the primitive Christians but a while, we shall discover no other cause of their hatred and persecutions against them, but onelyonly this, that they were Christians, that they were better than they were before, and more holy than their neighbours. This eEpist. l. 10. Epist. 97.Pliny himse…fe affirmes in his Epistle to the Emperour Trajan. Affirmabant autem hanc fuisse summam vel culpae Christianorum, vel erroris; quod essent soliti stato die ante lucem convenire, carnemque Christo quasi De… dicere secum invicem: seque sacramento non in scelus aliquod obstringere, sed ne furta, ne latrocinia, ne adulteria committerent, ne fidem fallerent, ne depositum appellati d…negarent: A…d yet for this alone were they persecuted and put to death. Hence was it that Clemens Alexandrinus writes thus in the behalfe of Christians: fStromatum l. 4. f. 104. F.Nos ergo prosequuntur, non ut qui nos esse injustos depraehenderent, sed quod nos vitae humanae injuriam facere existiment e… quod simus Christiani, et ipsos inquam, qui sic vitam instituimus, et alios ad…ortamur ut vitam degant similem. Hence is that exce…lent discourse of Tertullian to the like purpose: gApologia adversus Gentes, c. 2, 3.Ecce autem et odio habemur ab omnibus hominibus nominis causa. Non scelus aliquod in causa est, sed nomen: et solius nominis crimen est. Non ideo bonus Caius, et prudens Lucius, quia Christianus. Vt quisquis nomine Christiani (I may now say Puritani) emendatur offendit. Oditur in hominibus innocuis, nomen innocuum. Nomen detinetur, nomen expugnatur, et ignotam sectam, ignotum et auctorem vox sola praedamnat, quia nominatur non quia convincitur. Which I may as justly apply to Purita…s and Precisians, as ever he did unto Christians who are persecuted and hated onelyonly for their graces, their surpassing goodnesse, under the vizard of these odious names, *Nam et hoc quoque genus invenitur qui meliores obtrectare malint quam imi…a…i, et quorum sim…li…udinem de…perent, eorum affectant simultatem; s…licet, u…i qui suo nomine obscuri sunt, alieno innotescant. Ap…l…iu… Floridorum l. 1. p. …05by such who would rather slaunder, than imitate their holinesse. Hence Gregory Nazianzen also thus complained of the usage of the pious Christians of his age: hOratio 21. p. 412.Spectaculum uovum facti sumus non Angelis et hominibus, sed omnibus fermè improbis et flagitiosis, et quovis tempore et loco, in foro, in compo…ationibu…, in voluptatibus, in luctibus: Iàm etiam ad scenam usque prodijmus (quod propemodum lachrymis refero) et cum perditissimis obscaenissimisque ridemur; nec ullum tam jucundum est spectaculum, quàm Christianus comicis cavillis suggillatus. And is it not as true of iWho are oft trad…ced on the St…ge: See Sir Thomas Overburie his Cha…acter of an excellent Actor… and here Act. 3. Scene …. accordingl….Puritans and Precisians now, as it was then of Christians? Hence also was the complaint of holy St. Augustine. k…narratio in P…al. 90. Tom. 8 pars 2. p 145, 146. See …nar. in Psal. 128. p. 750, 751.Insultatur homini quia Christianus est: insultatur etiam homini qui inter multos Christianos melius vivit, et timens aspera verba insultatorum incidit in laqueos diaboli. lEnarratio in Psal. 30. Tom. 8 pars 2. p. 209, 210. See Ibid. p. 190. to 208. accor…ing…y: & …e Civit. Dei l. 1. c. 1, 2.Tibi pro convicio objicitur quod Christianus es. Cur autem modo objicitur quod Christianus est? Tam pauci non Christiani remans…runt, ut ijs magis objiciatur, quia Christiani non sunt, quàm ipsi audeant aliquibus objicere quia Christiani sunt. Tamen dico vobis fratres mei, incipe quicunque me audis vivere auomodo Christianus, et vide si non tibi objiciatur et à Christianis, sed nomine, non vita, non moribus. Nemo sentit nisi qui expertus est. And is not this the case of Puritans… among titular Christians now? Survey we all the other mIustin M…rtyr, Apol…gia 1, …. A…axagoras pro Christianis Legat…o, C…rian Epist. l. 2. Epist. 2. Donato. Basil. Epist. 80. …ustathio Medico, Lactantius de Iustitia l 5. c. 1, 9. Leo de Qu…dragesima Sermo 9. & Athanasius Ep ad Solitariam vitam agentes. See Eusebius, Socrates Scholasticus, Theodoret, Sozomen, Cassiodorus, Nicephorus Callistus, The English and French Booke of Martyrs, the Centuries and Baronius, passim accordingly.Fathers and Ecclesiasticall Historians, we shall finde them very copious in this theame… that the best Christians have beene evermore hated, persecuted and reviled by carnall men, and that onelyonly for their grace and goodnes: Witnesse the expresse resolution of St. Chrysostome: oOpus imperfectū in Matth. Hom. 24. Tom. 2. Col. 772. B.Christianorum genus, non quia est odibile, sed quia est divinum, odiunt carnales: Which St. Augustine thus seconds. Invidentiae illius diabolicae qua invident bonis mali, nulla alia causa est, nisi quia illi boni sunt, illi mali. pDe Civit. Dei l. 15. c. 5. & Enar. in Psal. 128. p. 751.Omnis enim malus ideo persequitur malum, quia illi non consentit ad malum. And this onelyonly is the cause why Puritans and Precisians are thus maligned and despited now.

If any here object, that they condemne not Puritans for their goodnesse, but because they are hypocrites and dissemblers; or because they are seditious factious persons, & enemies to the state and government; the crimes wherewith the world now charge them, *Qui odio nostri non secus atque rei honestae student turpe forsan putantes si absque ratione nos odio persequi videantur, causas odii contra nos et crimina fingunt. Nihil autem eorum quae contra nos feruntur constanter tuentur, sed nunc hanc, paulo post aliam, et rursus quoque aliam inimicitiae causam contra nos assignant: atque ita nulla in re malitia …orum consistit, sed mox atque ab hac intentata culpa resiliunt, alii incumbunt et rursus illa neglecta aliam apprehendunt: et si omnia de quibus nos accusant diluerimus, ab odio tamen non recedunt. Basil. Epist. 80. Eu…tat…io Medico, Tom. 2… p. 74. Vid. Ibidem.whose accusations are still as various, flitting and uncertaine against Puritans, as they were of old against the Christians.

To this I answer first: That it is no wonder for Puritans to be reputed hypocrites and impostors now: For even our Saviour Christ himselfe was not onelyonly counted, but qMat. 27.63. Ioh. 7.12, 47.called a Deceiver, and one who did but cheate the people; though we all know and beleeve that there was no guile at all within him: Yea all the Apostles and Saints of God were accounted Deceivers, and yet they were true, 2 Cor. 6.8. And rEpist. 10. ad Furiam c. 1. See Spondanus Epit. Baronii Anno 56. sect. 3.St. Hierom informes us, that Christians were thus stiled even in his age. Vbicun que viderint Christianum, statim illud è trivio foreign; vocant Impostorem et detrahunt. Hi rumores turpissimos serunt, et quod ab ipsis egressum est, id ab alijs audisse se simulant; ijdem auctores et exaggeratores: as our Antipuritans are now. Secondly, admit that Puritans were but hypocrites & Impostors (which is impossible for any particular men to judge, since they are unacquainted with the secrets of their hearts, *Ier. 17.9… 10. Acts 1.24. 1 Chron. 22.9. 1 Cor. 2.11.which God alone can onelyonly search, which me thinkes should stop these objectors mouths) yet none exclaime against them as Puritans and Precisians for these vices onelyonly; but for that very profession of religion which they make. For let a man be never so treacherous or deceitfull in his dealing, yet if he make no forward profession of religion, he may passe very well sDat veniam corvis… vexat censura columbas. Iuve…al. Satyr. 2.for a politique, crafty, provident man; he shall then be no Puritan: but let him professe religion, be he never so honest in his dealings, yet he s… certainly be branded for a Puritan: It is not therefore mens hypocrisie, but their profession of religion that makes them Puritans: which if it be but meerely counterfeit, why doe not our Antipuritans make that profession of religion in truth, the very shew o… which they so much hate, even for the substance sake? Thirdly, admit some Puritans or Precisians are meere Impostors, making *Fideles se spondent ut oportunius fidentibus noceant. Bernard. De Consideratione l. 9. c. 2. Col. 884. M.religion a very vaile to cloake their treachery, and circumvent their brethren; as there are now too many such: yet malice it selfe must needs acknowledge that the Major part of them are most just and upright in all their dealings towards men; witnesse experience, and the common speech; that such and such are very honest and upright in their trades, or they are worthy Gentlemen which men may safely trust, but yet they are Puritans; as if their piety were a disparagement to their honesty: and yet men hate and slander them all alike for the hypocrisie onelyonly of some few; as they did the Christians in St. Augustines dayes. xAugust. Enar. in P…al. 30. p. 201, …02.Quanta mala (saith he) dicunt in malos Christianos quae maledicta perveniunt ad omnes Christianos? Nunquid enim dicit qui maledicit, aut qui reprehendit Christianos, ecce quid faciunt non boni Christiani? Sed ecce quae faciunt Christiani; non seperat, non discernit. Thus doe men deale with Puritans now; they hate, revile and persecute them in the lumpe without distinction; they deeme them hypocrites and deceivers all alike, when as the most of them are not such; (as if their very profession of religionyChristianus si sit improbus, ne accuses professionem, sed re bona utentem male. Non enim oportet damnare re…, sed eum quire bona male utitur. Quandoquidē et Iudas proditor fuit: verum ob id non accusatur ordo Apostolicus, sed illius animus, nec crimen est sacerdotii, sed malum animi. Chrysost. Hō. 4. de Ver…is Esaiae, Tom. 1. Col. 1302 Vid. Ibidem. made them hypocrites, which men are apt to believe:) therefore they detest them not for their hypocrisie which reacheth onelyonly to some few, but for the strict holinesse and precisenesse of their lives alone, wherein they all accord. Fourthly, the reason why men thus uncharitablie forejudge… all Puritans for hypocrites, though they neither know their hearts nor persons, is onelyonly this; because they zCaecitatis duae …pecies facile concurrunt ut qui non vident quae sunt, videre videantur quae non sunt. Tertul. Apol. adv. Ge… c. 1.see that holinesse, grace and goodnesse in them, See Wisdom. 2.12, to 20. &c. 5.1, 2, 3, 4.which they finde not in themselves or others: and th…reupon to satisfie their owne selfe-condemning consciences, they censure all excesse of grace and holinesse as meere hypocrisie, for feare themselves should be reputed but prophane in wanting all those graces, those eminent degrees of holinesse wherein they excell. It was a true speech of an heathen Orator: aCicero Tuscul. Quaest. l. 5. Seneca Consolatio.An non hoc ita fit in omni populo? nonne omnem exuperantiam virtutis oderunt? Quid? Aristides nonne ob eam ipsam causam patria pulsus est quod praeter modum justus esset? Certainly if the exuberancy of morall vertues have made heathens bNatura invidiosi erant Athenienses et ad optimis quibusque detrectandum proclives, non solum iis qui in administratione reipubl. et magistratu excellerent, verū etiam qui vel doctrina literarum vel vitae gravitate praefulgerunt. AEhan Van… his…. l. 2. c. 13.odious unto vitious Pagans, no wonder if the transcendent eminency of Puritans graces procure the malice, the reproaches of all carnall Christians, who being c1 Cor. 2.6. to 16.unacquainted with the power of saving grace themselves, are apt to censure it as folly, hypocrisie or madnesse in all others: but yet this may be their comfort; *Tertul. Apolog. adversus Gentes c. 50.Cùm damnamur à vobis, à Deo absolvimur.

If any now reply, that Puritans live not as they speake and teach; therefore the world condemnes them for hypocrites and dissemblers: let Seneca give them a satisfactory answer. *Seneca de Vita …eata c. 19, 20, 21.Aliter, inquit, loqueris; aliter vivis. Hoc per malignissima capita, et optimo cuique inimicissima bThis therefore was an ancient common obiectiou against the best heathen Philosophers, who were maligned for their vertues.Platoni objectum est, objectum Epicuro, objectum Zenoni, Omnes enim isti dicebant non quemadmodum ipsi viverent, sed quemadmodum vivendum esset. De virtute, non de me loquor. Et cum vitijs convicium facio, in primis meis facio: cum potuero, vivam quomodo oportet. Nec malignitas me ista multo veneno tincta deterrebit ab optimis. Ne virus quidem istud, quo alios spargitis, vos necatis, ne impediet, quo minus perseverem laudare vitam, non quam ago, sed quam agendam scio, quo minus virtutem adorem, et ex intervallo ingenti reptabundus …equar. Expectabo scilicet, ut quicquam malivolentiae in…olatum sit cui sacer nec Rutilius fuit nec Cato, &c. De alterius vita, de alterius morte disputatis; et ad nomen magnorum ob aliquam eximiam laudem virorum, sicut adoccursum ignotorum hominum minuti canes, latratis. *This then is the cause why men so hate and slander Puritans, because their goodnesse shames other mens badnes.Expedit enim vobis neminem videri bonum; quasi aliena virtus exprobratio delictorum vestrorum sit. Inviti splendida cum sordibus vestris confertis, nec intelligitis quanto id vestro detrimento audeatis. Nam si illi qui virtutem sequuntur avari, libidinosi, ambitiosi que sunt; quid vos estis quibus ipsum nomen virtutis odio est? Negatis quenquam praestare quae loquitur, nec ad exemplar orationis suae vivere. Quid mirum? cum loquantur fortia ingentia, omnes humanas tempestates evadentia: cum refigere se crucibus conentur, in quas unusquisque vestrum clavos suos ipse adjicit. Non praestant Philosophi quae loquuntur, multa tamen praestant quod loquuntur, quod hone…ta mente concipiunt. Nam si et paria dictis agerent, quid esset illis beatius? Interim non est quod contemnas bona verba, et bonis cògitationibus plena praecordia studiorum salutarium, etiam citra affectum, laudanda tractatio est. Quid mirum si non ascendunt in altum? Arduos aggressus virtutis suscipe: etiam si decidunt magna conantur. Generosa res est, respicientem non ad suas, sed ad naturae suae vires, conari alta, tentare, et mente majora concipere, quam quae etiam ingenti animo adornatis effici possint. Qui hoc facere proponet, volet, tentabit, ad deos iter faciet; ne ille, etiamsi non tenuerit, magnis tamen excidet ausis. *Note thisVos quidem qui virtutem cultorem que ejus odistis, nihil novi facitis. Nam et solem lumina aegra formidant, et aversantur diem …plendidum nocturna animalia, qui ad primum ejus ortum stupent; et latibula sua passim petunt, abduntur in aliquas rimas, timida lucis. Gemite, et infaelicem linguam bonorum exercete convicio. Instate, commordete, citius multo frangetis dentes quam imprimetis. It is true that the best of all c2 Chron. 6.36 Prov. 20.9. Eccles. 7.20. Iames 3.2. 1 Iohn 1.8. Acts 14.17.Gods children have their weaknesses, their passions and infirmities, which they cannot wholly conquer whiles they continue here; they have dRom. 7.14… to 25. Gal. 5.16, 17.flesh in them as well as spirit, which sometimes shewes it selfe; they have eRom. 7.24, 25.a dying body of sinne within them, which though it fRom. 6.12, 13, 14.raignes not in them as a King, yet sometimes it overmasters them in some particular actions as a tyrant; gGal. 5.17. Rom. 7.15… 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.insomuch as they cannot doe the good they would, and the evill that they would not that they doe … But yet this frees them from hypocrisie. First, that they unfainedly hRom. 7.16. to the end.desire and endeavour to mortifie all their sinnes and lusts, and to be freed from them. Secondly, they utterlyiRom. 7.16. to the end. c. 8.13. Gal. 5.24. Col. 3.4, 5, 6. abominate and detest their sinnes, continually watching, fighting, praying against them, and labouring to destroy them. Thirdly, when they fall into any sinne of infirmity out of humane frailty, k1 Cor. 11.31. Psal. 32.3, 5. Psal. 51.1, to 14. Psal. 38.6.they condemne and judge themselves for it; it is their greatest griefe and shame, and they goe mourning for it all their dayes, lIob 42.6. Ezech. 16.61, 63.loathing and abhorring themselves because they have thus offended. Fourthly, they become more mPsal. 39.1 Psal. 141.3. Iob 11.1. Mat. 26.41. 2 Cor. 7.11.vigilant against their sins and frailties for the time to come, binding nIob 31.1. Ps. 61.8. Eccles. 5.4, 5.themselves by solemne vowes and covenants never to relapse into them more, oEzra 9.5. to 5. Dan. 9.4. to 20. 2 Cor. 12.7, 8.crying mightily unto God for strength to resist… and power to subdue them. Fifthly, they pRom. 7.15, 16. Psal. 139.23, 24. Ps. 119.104.allow not themselves in one knowne sinne whatsoever; they sinne not so frequently, in that manner as others doe, qPsal. 19.13.keeping themselves innocent for the most part from great offences, and notorious sinnes, in which those who most condemne them wallow. Lastly, they leade farre r1 Pet. 1.12. to 16.holier and stricter lives than other men, they serve and honour God more than they; they sPsal. 119.20, 47, 48, 55, 57, 72, 97, 113. Psal. 1.1, 2.love and feare God more than others, being farre more frequent, more constant in hearing, reading, prayer, meditation, fasting, and all holy duties, than those who declaime against them most; and yet tPs. 119.5, 10, 33, 34. Phil. 3.…3, 14.they desire, they endeavour to be better and holier every day. Therefore they are no hypocrites, as all Antipuritans for the most part are; who professe themselves Christians as well as Puritans, and yet live like Pagans, like Infidels in grosse notorious sinnes, without any shame or sorrow for them, or any warre against them, endeavouring not to tExigo a me, non ut op…imis par sim, sed ut malis melior. Sen…ca De Vita Beata cap. 16.grow better than they are.

For the second part of the Objection; that Puritans and Precisians are seditious, factious, troublesome, rebel…ious persons and enemies both to state and government: and that this onelyonly is the cause why they are so much hated, persecuted, reviled. I answer, that this is an ancient scandall which hath beene alwayes laid upon the choycest Saints of God from age to age; whe… fore we may the lesse wonder at it now. For did not dSee Exod. 5.4, 5. & 10…8.Pharaoh long agoe, thus censure Moses and Aaron, and thereupon drove them out of his presence as factions persons who did let the people from their worke, and stirre them up to mutinie? Did not e1 King. 18.17, 18.King Ahab accuse the holy Prophet Eliijah as a troubler of Israel, when as it was onelyonly himselfe and his fathers house that did disquie… it? and f1 Kings 22.8, 24, to 29.did he not hate and imprison the good Prophet Micaiah as an enemie to him and his proceedings, because he alwayes prophecied truth unto him, and would not flatter him in his ungodly courses and humours? Did not that wicked gEster 3.8, 9, to the end.favourite Haman, accuse the whole Nation of the Iewes to King Ahasuerus, that their lawes were diverse from all people, that they kept not the Kings lawes, and that it was not for the Kings profit to suffer them; and thereupon procure the Kings Letters to the Lieutenants and Governours of the people, that they might be destroyed? Did not hEzra 4.10 to 17.Rehum and Sh…mshai write letters to King Axtaxerxes against Hierusalem of purpose to hinder the building of it ou… of their malice …o the pious Iewes: that it was a rebellious and a bad Citie, and hurtfull unto Kings and provinces, and that they had moved sedition of old time in the middest thereof, for which cause it was destroyed: informing the King withall, that if the walls thereof were set up againe, they would not then pay toll, tribute and custome, and so the Kings revenue should be endammaged? and did not*Nehem. 6.5, 6. S…nballat send his servant to Nehemiah with an open letter in his hand, wherein it was written; it is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Iewes thinke to rebell, for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou maist be their King? &c. Was not the Prophet iIer. 15.10. c. 20.1, 2, 3. c. 32.1. to 6. c. 38.1. to 14.Ieremy persecuted and imprisoned by the high Priest, the Prin…es and all the people, for a man of strife and contention to the whole earth; as a professed enemie both to the King, the State, and all the people, for no other cause but this, that he faithfully delivered those displeasing messages which God enjoyned him to proclaime against them for their sinnes? Did not kAmos 7.10. to 15.Amaziah the Priest of Bethel accuse the Prophet Amos to King Ieroboam, for conspiring against him in the middest of the house of Israel, and that the land was not able to beare his words? Which scandalons accusation not succeding, did hee not thereupon advise him, to flee into the land of Iudah, and to eate bread and prophecie there; charging him like an Episcopall controller, not to prophecie any more at Bethel, for it was the Kings Chappell, and the Kings Court, where he would have no faithfull Prophets, no truth-telling sinne-rebuking C…aplaines come who knew not how to flatter. Did not lDan. 6.12. to 17.the governours who conspired together against the Prophet Daniel, put in this information against him to King Darius, that he neither regarded him nor his decree which hee had signed; accusing him of disobedience… faction and opposition to his lawes and royall authority? Yea was not our blessed Saviour himselfe, though he mMatth. 17.24 25, 26, 27.payed tribute to Caesar, injoyning all his followers, nMatth. 22.21.to give unto Caesar the things that were Caesars; being as free from all sedition or rebellion against Princes as from all other sinnes; accused, condemned as a seditious Anti-monarchicall person? Did not the oLuk. 23.1, 2, 10. & Iohn 19.12.whole multitude of the people with the chiefe Priests and Scribes accuse him before Pilate, saying; We found this fellow perverting the Nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying, that he himselfe was Christ a King? and did not they thereupon cry out against P…tate when as he sought to have released him, saying, if thou let this man goe, thou art not Caesars friend, for he speaketh against Caesar? And if our most innocent Saviour were burthened with these most false and scandalous reproaches of sedition, faction, treason and rebellion against Caesar; no wonder if*Fundendo sanguinem et patiendo ma…gis quam faciendo contumelias Christi fundata est Ecclesia: pe…secutionibus crevit, martyriis coronata est &c. nos solos expelle…e cupiunt: nos soli qui Ecclesiae communicamus, Ecclesiam findere dicimur. Hierom. Ep…t. 63. Cap. 4. …. 226, 227. none of all his followers can be exempted from these calumnies: pMatth. 10.24, 25, 26. Iohn 13.16. & 15.20.For if they have thus falsely called the Master of the house Belzebub, how much more will they stile those of his houshold so? the Disciple not being above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord; as himselfe doth argue in this very case. To confirme this further by some other pregnant examples. Was not qActs 16.20, 21. c. 17.5, 6, 7, 8.St. Paul himselfe, together with all the Disciples and beleeving Christians both at Philippi and Thessalonica, accused by the Iewes and other lewd companions, as men who did exceedingly trouble the Citty, and teaching new customes which it was not lawfull for men either to receive or observe? that did all contrary to the decrees of Caesar, and that they had turned the whole world upside-downe, insomuch that rActs 28.21.their sect was every where spoken against? Did not the Iewes cry out against this most laborious Apostle St. Paul, saying, sActs 21.28. &c.Men and brethren helpe; this is the man that teacheth all men every where against the people and the law and this place, and hath likewise defiled this holy place; and did not all the people thereupon lay violent hands upon him, intending to put him to death, as a most seditious factious person. Yea did not tActs 24.5. & 25.2.Tertullus the Iewish Orator, accuse him before Felix, and the high Priests & Pharisees traduce him before Festus, for a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition among all the Iews throughout the world, & a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarens? And yet who so free from sedition, fa…tion, rebellion or discord, as this most blessed Apostle; who commandeth uRom. 13.1, 2, &c.every soule to be subject to the higher powers: xHeb. 13.17.to obey those who have the rule over them, and to submit unto them even out of conscience sake? y1 Tim. 2.1, 2.who exhorts all men to make supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings for Kings and all that are in authority: to zEphes. 4.3.keepe the unity of the spirit in the boud of peace: to aR…m. 16.17.marke those who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine they had received, and to avoid them: b1 Cor. 1.12, 13.blaming the Corinthians for their dissentions. Besides this, doth not St. Peter informe us, c1 Pet. 2.12. to 18. &c. 3.16, 17… compared together.that albeit the Christians in his time had their conversation honest among the Gentiles, submitting themselves to their Governours, Kings and lawfull ordinances for the Lords sake; yet the Gentiles were alwayes speaking against them as evill doers, and falsly accusing their good conversation in Christ, as if they were nought but seditious factious people, and rebels or enemies to Governours and government? To passe by dSee 1 Cor. 4.9. to 15. 2 Cor. 4.8. to 12. c. 6.…. to 11. 2 Tim. 3.3, 4. 2 Pe… 2.10, 11, 22 Hebr. 11, 36 37, 38. Iude 15. Rev 12.10.many notable texts of Scripture which ratifie this notorious truth; Doe not eVentum est igi…ur ad secun…dum titulum… Iaesae augustioris m…ie…tatis, &c. Propterea i…itur publici ho…tes Ch…istiani quia imperatoribus ne que vanos, neque mentientes, neque teni…rarios honores dicunt, &c. Apologi… ad…. Gentes, Tom. 2. p. 673. to 685.Tertullian, fAdvers. Gentes l. 1, 2, 3.Arnobius, gDe Iustitia l… 1. & 9.Lactantius, hApologia… 1. & 2. pro Christianis.Iustin Martyr, iOctavius, passim.Minutius Felix, kHom. 23. in cap. 13. ad Romano… Tom. … Col. 213… A.St. Chrysostome, with lEu…ebius Eccle…. Hist. l. 7… c. 10.14… Nicephorus Callistus, Ecclesiast. Hist. l. …. c. 3. to 8. Centuriae Magd. 2. Col. 419, 420. Centuria 4. Col. 10, 11, 121, 314. Baronius and Spondanus, Annales Eccles. Anno Christi 9. sect. 2, 14. An. 56. s. 2. An. 66 …. 3. An. 94. s. …. An. 98. s. 1. An. 100. s. 2. An. 200. s. 2. An. 202. …. 2, 3. An. 203 s. 3. An. 273. ….1, 2. An. 253… s. 15. An. 38. s. 3. An 286. s. 4. Mr. Fox Booke of Martyr…, 1610 p. 42, 48, 50. Antonini Chron. pars 1. Tit. 4, 6, 7. See Hierom. Epist. 63. cap. 3… 4.all Ecclesiasticall Historians, both ancient and moderne, expresly informe us, that the primitive Christians (who were oft nicknamed by the ignominious titles of mNicephorus Callistus… Eccl. Hist. l… 10. cap 4. pag 558, & cap. 20. pag 571. Origen contra Celsum lib. 5. Bibl. Patrum Tom. 1. p. 188. H. Tertullian. Apologia advers. Gentes c. 50 Hierom. Epist. 10. ad Furiam, c. 1. Arnobius lib. 1. contra Gentes, and Baroni…s and Spon…anus qua l.Galilaans, Sibyllists, Impostors, Greekes, Sarmentisij, Semassij, Biothonati, Magitians, nSocrates Scholast. l. 6. c. 4, 5, 16. To which I might adde the name of Lollard…Ioannites, and the like, as they are now derided under the names of Puritans and Precisians) though they were neve… detected of any tre…son, rebellion, mutinie, or sedition whatsoever (the case of those whom men stile Puritans and Precisian… now:) yet they were alwayes slandered, accused, traduced, persecuted as refractory, seditious, factious, mutineers; as enemies and rebels to the Emperours and Governours under which they lived, and as the authors of all the mischiefes and troubles that hapned in the world; by which false pestilent suggestions in the eares of Princes, continuall bloody persecutions were raised up against these innocent lambes, who had no other offensive or defensive armes, but prayers and teares: and doe not the Century-Authors thence conclude evē for our present times; oCentur. Mag… 2. Col. 420.Solenne est ut Christianis crimina seditionis, blasphemiae, et lesae majestati… à persecutoribus affingantur, quibus tamen non sun… obnoxij? Doe we not likewise reade, that pSocrates Eccles. Hist. l. 1. c. 20. l. 2. c 22, 23 Theodoret Eccl. Hist. l. 1. c. …o Sozomen Eccles. Hist. l. 2. c. 21. Baronius & Spondanus Anno …29. s. 1. Anno 362. s. 18.Athanasius, q…as…. Epist. 63. Spondanus An. 362. s. 18.Basil, rSee Oratio de Vita Gregorii Nazian…zeni prefixed to his workes.Nazianzen, sSocrates Eccles. Hist l. 6. c. 4, 5, 16. Sozomen l. 8. c. 20. Spondanus, An. 398. sect. 19. An. 404. s. 3Chrysostome, with sundry other ancient sinne-reproving, error-confuting Bishops were accused of faction and sedition for …pposing the sinnes and vices of the times? and was not our owne worthy tSee Bp. Latimers 2.3. & 4. Sermon before King Edward, and his 4. Sermon on the Lords prayer accordingly. And Bishop Hoopers Apologie to Qu. Mary.Bishop Latimer, with other pious Martyrs, accused, slandered as raisers of sedition, as factious, turbulent, and seditious persons, by those whose sinnes and errours they reproved, and that even in good King Edward the 6… his dayes? Survey wee all the Fathers, all Ecclesiasticall Stories, we shall finde poore innocent peaceable harmelesse conscionable Christians in all times and places, maliciously slaundered with the crimes of sedition, faction, rebellion, disobedience to Princes and their lawe…, of purpose to make them odious both to Prince and people, even without a cause; uLuke 10.….they being but as lambes in the very midst of wolves. And is it any wonder then… that Puritans and Precisians should suffer the very selfesame calumnies now? Alas what powder treasons, xIncestu… sum, cur non requirant? in Deos et Caesaris aliquid committo, …ur non hab…o quo purger? Tertull. advers. Gent…s c. 4.what conspiracies have these poore Play-condemning Puritans and Precisians hatched against King or State? what rebellions have they raised? what publike up…ores have they ever caused from the beginning of reformation till this present? what treacheries, what mutinies are they guilty of, that they are thus condemned, as if they were as bad or worse than Papists, Priests or Iesuites, (for so some a…firme;) whose ySee the prayer upon the fifth of November, Mr. Iohn White his Sermon at Paules Crosse, March 24… 1625. His defence of the Way, cap. 6 & Dr. Crakenthorpe his Defence of Constantine, and his Treatise of the Popes Temporall Monarchy acordingly.very faith is faction, whose doctrine rebellion, and their practise Treason? Certainly were these whom the dissolutenesse of the times now brand for Puritans and Precisians, though every way conformable to our Churches discipline, such rebels, factionists, mutineers, disobedient antimonarchicall persons as the world conceives them, as Papists, Priests, Iesuites, prophane & dissolu…e companions proclaim thē for to be, we should have seene some fruits, experiments and zSi semper latemus, quomodo proditum est quod admittimus? Fama tandiu sola conscia est scele…um Christianorum, hanc i…dicem adver sus nos profertis, quae quod aliquando iactavit, tanto que spacio in opinionem corroboravit, usque adhuc probare non va…uit. Ter…. Apologia, cap. 7. vid. Ibid.detections of it ere this. But blessed be God, we have heard of no Puritan treasons, insurrections or rebellions in our age; and experience (in despite of scandall and all lying rumours) hath manifested, that these Puritans and Precisians are such persons as both a1 Pet. 2.17.feare God and honour the King, though they oppugne the corruptions, sinnes, profanesse, and Popish and Pelagian Errors of the times, with all such factious Innovators, who either broach new heresies and superstitions, or revive olde. As for their loyalty to their Prince, his power and prerogative, it is so apparant, that however Papists and persons popishly affected,bEa enim de castis, probis et pudicis fingitis quae fieri non crederimus, nisi devobis probaretis. Minucius Felix Octauius p. 95. Voce neg…nt quod literis confitentur. Hierom Epist. 78. p. 303. now slander them as enemies to Monarchie and Princes Prerogatives in words, (to cIsti ut convicia in silenti…m mitterent sua vitam infamare conati sunt alien…m. Et cum possent ipsi ab innocentibus argui, innocentes arguere studuerunt, mittentes ubique literas livore dictante cons…ipta…. Optat… aduersu… Parmin. lib. 1. pag. 23.take off this merited imputation from themselves) yet they b…ame them even under the very name of Puritans, as over-great advancers and chiefest patriots and propugners of Monarchy, of Princes supremacy, in their dSee the Answer to De…s & Rex.printed workes; none going so farre in suppressing the Popes usurped Authority, or e…larging the Kings and tempora…l Magistrates prerogatives and supremacy as they, as even the Iesuite in his Answer to Deus et Rex, hath proclaimed u…to all the world. Let therefore the Moguntine Iesuites Contzen disciples, (following the desperate plot of their Master, to cheat a Protestant Church of her religion… and to scrue in Popery into it by degrees without noyse o… tumult, by raising slaunders upon the Doctrines and persons of the most zealous Protestant Ministers and Protestants, to bring them into the Princes, ePoli…icoru… l. …. c. 17… 18, 19.and peoples hatred, and thrust them out of office) accuse Puritans of faction, sedition and rebellion now, fQuis inson… erit si accusatori crimine non probato fides habeatur? Zonaras, Anual. Tom. 2. f. 118.without any ground or proofe at all as the Pagans did the Christians long agoe: or let the Epicures and prophane ones of our voluptuous times repute them such, because they gChristiani, non generis humani hostis sed erroris. Tertul. Apologi… c. 37.wage warre against their sinnes and sinfull pleasures: yet now upon the serious consideration of all these premises, I hope their consciences will acquit them of these malicious slaunders, and readily subscribe to this apparant truth, that they are the holiest, meekest, and most zealous Christians, and that they are onelyonly hated and reviled for their goodnesse.hSee Lipsius Oratio de Calumnia. Insani sapiens, nomen fert aequus iniqui: Vltra quā satis est virtutem si petat ipsam. Horace Epist. l. 1. Ep. …. Since therefore these Play-censuring conformable Puritans and Precisians in their proper colours (uncased of these odious persecuted termes of scandall, which represent them to mens fansies in a most ugly forme; iMr. Bolton… Discourse of true happines, p. 193.there being never poore persecuted word, since malice against God first seized upon the damned Angels, and the graces of heaven dwelt in the heart of man, that passed through the mouthes of all sorts of unregenerate men with more distastfulnesse and gnashing of teeth, than the name of PVRITAN doth at this day: which notwithstanding as it is now commonly meant, and ordinarily proceedes from the spleene and spirit of prophanesse and good fellowshippe, is an honourable nickename of Christianity and grace; as a worthy reverend Divine observes:) are the very eminentest, choicest, and most gracious forward Christians, let us not thinke the better, kPraestat enim paucis bonis adversus malos omnes, quam cum multis malis adversus paucos pugnare. Diogenes L… ert. p. 6. Antistines p. 322.but farre worse of Stage-playes, because they all abominate, condemne them, as all good Christians have done before them: and if any have thus persecuted, hated, or reviled them out of ignorance or malice heretofore, let them heartily bewaile it, and give over now, lSacrilegii quippe genus est, Dei odisse cultores. Sicut enim si servos nostros quispiam caedat, nos in servorum no strorum caedit iniuriam: et si a quoquam filius verbereturalienus, in supplicio filii pietas paterna torquetur: ita et cum servus Dei a quoquam laeditur, maiestas divina violatur, dicente idipsum Apostolis suis Domino: Qui vos recipit, me recipit; et qui vos spernit, me spernit. Benignissimus scilicet ac p…ssimus Dominus communem sibi cum servis suis et honorem simul et contumeliam facit, ne quis cum laederet Dei servum, hominem tantum a se laedi arbitraretur: …um absque dubio iniuriis servorum dominicorum Dei admisceretur iniuria, testante id suis Deo affectu indulgentissimo, in hunc modum… Quoniam qui vos tangit, quasi qui tangit pupillam oculi mei. Ad exprimendam teneritudinis pietatis suae, tenerrimam partem humani corporis nominavit, ut apertiflime intelligeremus, Deum tam parva sanctorum suorum contumelia laedi, quam parvi verberis tactus humani visus ac…es laederetur. Sal…ian. De Gubern. Dei l. 8. p. 286.because it is not onelyonly a kinde of sacriledge, but even an high indignity and affront to God himselfe, to hate, to slaunder, persecute or wrong his servants, especially for controlling us in our delights of sinne, of which these constantly condemned Stage-playes are the chiefe. And for a close of this Objection, and Scene together, let us all remember that worthy sentence of St. Hierom: mEpist. 77. p. 302.Apud Christianos, ut ait quidam, non qui patitur, sed qui facit contumeliam, miser est: and then these maliciou… calumnies against Puritans and Precisians will quickly vanish.

CHORVS.

YOV have seene now Christian Readers, the severall arguments and Authorities against Stage-playes, together with the …lender Apologies for them, which how poore, how illiterate and weake they are, the very meanest capacity may at first discerne. yRom. 12.1.I beseech you therefore by the very mercies of God, as you tender the glorie of Almighty God; the honour and credit of religion; the happinesse and safety both of Church and State; the serious covenant you have made to God in baptisme; zS…e here p. …. & 42. to 62. & 561. to 566. accordingly.to forsake the Divell and all his workes, the pompes and vanities of this wicked world, with all the sinfull lusts of the flesh; whereof Stage-playes certainly are not the least: as you regard that solemne Confession you have publikely made to God, and ratified in the very sacred blood of the Lord Iesus Christ, at every receiving of the Sacrament; aS…e the Con…es…ion in our Common Prayer-Booke before the Communion.that you doe earnestly repent, and are heartily sorrie for all your misdoings; that the remembrance of them is grievous unto you; the burthen of them intollerable; and that you will ever hereafter serve and please God in newnesse of life, to the honour and glory of his name: *Rom. 12.1, 2. & the Thanksgiving after the Communi…on.offering and presenting unto the Lord your selves, your soules and bodies to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto him: or as you respect your owne, or others soules, whom cSee Chrysost. Homil. 7. in Matth. here p. 409. & Hom. 38. in Matth. here p. 417.your evill examples may leade downe to hell: that upon the serious perusall of all the premises, you would now at last abominate and utterly abandon Stage-playes, as the very fatall pests both of your mindes and manners, and the most desperate soothing enemies of your soules, dSee Act. 6. Scene 5. & Act. 7. Scene 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.as all ages, all places have found thē by experience. It may be some of you through e1 Pet. 1.14. 1 Tim. 1.13. Act. 3.17.ignorance and incogitancy have formerly had good opinions and high thoughts of Playes and Players, (as being altogether unacquainted with their infernall originall… and most lewd effects, which fAct. 1, 2, & 6.I have here displayed to the full, and that made you so diligently to frequent them:) Let not this then which was only the …in of ignorance, of weaknesse heretofore, become the gIncidere in falsae opinionis errorem priusquam vera cognoscas, imperiti est animi et simplicis; perseverare vero in eo postquam agnoveris, con…umaciae. Salviani Epistola Afro et Vero, p. 316.sinne of wilfulnesse, or presumption now: but as God by these my poore endeavours hath opened your eyes to see, so doe you pray unto him for strength and grace, to re…orme your ancient errour in this case of Playes. hAct. 8.22. 2 Cor. 7.8, 9, 10.Repent therefor… with teares of griefe, for what is past; and then speedily divorce your selves from Playes and Theaters for time to come; that as your consciences upon the serious perusall of all the premises, cannot but now subscribe to this strange Paradox, (as some may deeme it) which I have here made good: iSee here p. 6.That all popular and common Stage-playes, whether Comicall, Tragicall, Satyricall, Mimicall, or mixt of either: (especially as they are now compiled and personated among us) are such sinfull… hurtfull, pernicious recreations, as are altogether unseemely, yea unlawfull unto Christians: so the lives and practise likewise may say Amen unto it. So shall you then obtaine the intended benefit, and I my selfe enjoy the much desired end of these my weake Endeavours, which was, which is no other, but Gods owne glory, your temporall and eternall happinesse, and the Republickes welfare: For which as I have hitherto laboured, so I shall now by Gods assistance proceede to endeavour it in the ensuing part of this Play-scourging Discourse; w^ch now craves your favour and attention too.

The Players Scourge, Part 1 · Act 8 · Scene 7

p. 796SCENA SEPTIMA.

CHORVS.

p. 831THE SECOND PART.

SCENA SEPTIMA.

THE SECOND PART.