A Map of Rome, Title page – Apology
A MAPPE OF ROME: LIVELY EXHIBITING HER MERCILESSE MEEKNESSE, and cruell mercies to the Church of God: Preached in fiue Sermons, on occasion of the Gunpowder Treason, by T. T. and now published by W. I. Minister.
1. The Romish Furnace.
2. The Romish Edom.
3. The Romish Fowler.
4. The Romish Conception.
To which is added, 5. The English Gratulation.
APOC. 17.6.
I saw the Woman drunken with the blood of Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus.
AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston, for Iohn Bartlet, and are to be sould at signe of the Talbot in Paternoster Row. 1620.
TO ALL THAT WISH WELL TO OVR SYON, HEARTILY AND VNfainedly: Grace be multiplied and peace in our Lord Iesus Christ.
BRethren, beloued in the Lord: You see by the Title, what you may expect in the booke following. I hope what it promiseth, shall be indeede performed. I wish it were more complete and accurate for your sakes: as it might hauehave beene, if the graue and diligent Author could himselfe hauehave set it forth: but blessed be God, that his weightier employments doe not giuegive him leaue or leasure. I am glad I hauehave it for you as it is, through my earnest request to him: whose modesty thought it vnworthy the publication, and my paines in writing it.
Reasons of this my request and paines, I can giuegive you many. First, I thinke it necessary, that our God, our gracious and louing God, may hauehave the praise of all his mercies (and namely that of this day) still reserued to himselfe wholly. His workes are glorious, and the benefit of them not confined to a scantling of time. Therefore these Gratulations cannot be lesse seasonable now than they were at the day of Deliuerance. Secondly, this I hoped might be a meanes to restraine our declining times from gazing and doting on that pompous Harlot, the Church of Rome. For when our nation shall see, and consider a fresh, how insatiable she hath alwaies beene of blood, and English blood! I cannot thinke we can be so inconsiderate, as to dreame of any toleration, much lesse any sound reconcilement with so implacable an enemie. Thirdly, I thought it not altogether impossible hereby to stop the slanderous mouthes of misse-conceiuing persons, scattered abroade through all the Country, yet pleasing themselues in the common error: who seeing in some good men a difference of iudgement in some small matters, presently conclude them enemies of the State, &c. For this I will say of the Author, (and I say the truth in Christ, Rom ….1.I lie not, my conscience bearing me witnesse in the holy Ghost:) that hauing beene partaker of his Ministery some hundreds of times, I neuer heard him more earnest, or more faithfull, than in this Argument. And the whole Towne of Reding will testifie with me of his holinesse, lowlinesse, peaceablenesse, vnweariable painfulnesse, and other graces beseeming his calling: which no ill-willer could euer yet impeach. Fourthly, and lastly, my intent is hereby to stirre vp our drowsie and forgetfull hearts to due thankfulnesse for so great a Deliuerance. And this (me thinks) is more than necessary. For when I behold the generall view of the Land, and the quality of peoples manners, the memory of that wonderfull day seemes vntounto me quite blotted out: And I know not whō better to resemble our selues vntounto, than those of whō the Psalmist speakes, Psalm. 106.11.12.13.14. The waters couered their enemies: there was not one of them left. Then beleeued they his words: they sang his praise. But they soone forgat his workes: they waited not for his counsell: but lusted exceedingly in the wildernesse, and tempted God in the Desert. Doe we not so euen in our Canaan, a Land flowing with milke and hony? What horrible prouocations are there daily and hourely amongst vsus, in all places, in eueryevery corner? Who can complaine sufficiently of the grieuous temptings and out-brauings of God, which our eyes doe see? Who would iudge by our strange demeanours, that God had euer done any thing for vsus, either by sea or land, either against water-workes or fire-workes? Ah sinfull nation, laden with iniquity! Doe we thus requite the Lord for his louing kindnesse? Is this his reward for so great fauours?
Hearken ye children of Syon, and consider: Though Israel play the harlot, yet let not Iudah transgresse. Though carnall persons,Hos. 4.15. who hauehave no true sence of the grace of Christ, set themselues out in their colours, and fashions, and Epicurisme, and Heathenisme, yet let it not be so with them that professe the feare of God. Though others loathe the word, and the meanes of saluation, yet let not Professors loathe them. Let it neuer be said, that Professors are proud, earthly, contentious, vaine, fantasticall, or willingly sweruing from the Rule of Piety.Exod. 19.5. You are his peculiar people: and if hee lose his honour in you also, he loseth it altogether. Therefore consider you the workes of the Lord, and his intent in them. Stirre vp your hearts, and frame your liues to a reall thankfulnesse. Let your moderation and discretion be quickned by zeale: and let your zeale be bounded by discretion. You shall (perhaps) mee…e with shame, Heb. 12.2.that is, reproches and ignominies: despise these. You shall meet also with the crosse, that is, persecutions and dammages: these endure. Here is patience, and magnamity. Let your patient minde be knowne to all men: yet let it be valorous in the causes of your God: saint not, neither be afraid. You may well take occasion to grow the faster by this Antiperistasis, and vnite your forces the more strongly. Are you so spighted and maligned on eueryevery side by profane Ismaelites? then let your louelove toward one another encrease the more solidly, and abound toward your selues mutually in the fulnesse of the blessing of the Gospell. Rom. 15.29.Liue fruitfully and peaceably in the Communion of Saints: here the Lord hath appointed the blessing, and life for euermore. Watch against Satan and his eldest sonne that Antichrist: pray for the dissolution of their Kingdome: especially see it be vtterly defaced in your selues and yours. GiueGive all diligence to leaue an holy seede behinde you, which shall praise the Lord in earth, while your selues praise him in heauen.foreign. A disgrace it is to godly Parents to hauehave vngodly children, especially by their owne default. Make your houses, houses of God, by setting vp, and then establishing his pure worship therein. Cast vp your accounts before-hand, and prepare for the comming of Christ in the clouds. Accept my endeauours for your good, and helpe me with your prayers.
Reding. Oct. 12. 1619. Your seruant in the Gospell of Christ, WILLIAM IEMMAT.
The Authors Apologie.
CHristian Reader, as I esteemed not the Sermons following sit for so publique a …iew, so neither meant I to purc…ase to my selfe so much enuie & wrath from the …atholiques, as these Sermons may (perhaps) bring vponupon me. But the opportunity of the Publisher, who hath taken paines in them, and of some others desirous of them, drew out at last my consent to their request. If any phrases may seeme more warme and earnest, the subiect may pleade for pardon, which is a fierie and furious Powder-treason: and fire vseth to warme and kindle. If any straines or phrases be met with oftner than once, consider these Sermons were preached many yeares asunder; and eueryevery yeare the same matter in substance was to be renewed among my Auditory. If I might heereby winne of some Catholiques, but to consider of the grounds of their Religion, which (as they say of Nilus) breedeth almost yearely such monsters, I should be glad to gather that f…ui… of my paines: whose hearts desire for my seduced Countrymen, is (as Pauls for his) that they might be saued in the day of the Lord: to whose grace I heartily commend thee, and desire to be commended by thee.
THO. TAYLOR.