A Map of Rome, Sermon 1

A Map of Rome · Sermon 1

p. 1THE ROMISH FVRNACE.

Daniel 3.22. &c.

22 Therefore because the Kings commandement was straite, that the furnace should bee exceeding hote, the flame of the fier slew those men, that brought foorth Sadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

23 And these three men, Sadrach, Meshech, and Abednego, fell downe bound in the middest of the hote fiery furnace.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the King was astonied, and rose vp in hast, and spake, and said vntounto his Counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound, into the midst of the fire? Who answered and said vntounto the King, It is true, O King.

25 And he answered and said, Lo, I see foure men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they hauehave no hurt; and the forme of the fourth is like the Sonne of God.

NEbuchadnezzar maketh an image of gold, straitly enioyneth the worship, prescribeth the nanner of it, with all manner of musicke to draw and affect the simple and superstitious: Himselfe beginneth the daunce; his Nobles, Princes, Dukes, Iudges, Counsellors, Officers, Gouernours, Vers. 3.easily follow the Kings will and example, though in a most wicked decree:Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis. & what way now may we think the multitude went, but after their leaders?

p. 2But certaine Iewes, disordered fellowes (against whom in all likelihood the image was purposely erected, that such Chaldeans as Daniel had set ouer the Prouince of Babel,See chap. 2 49. might by this meanes be remoued from their places and charges:) are accused to the King, Vers. 12. Sadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are with expedition conuented, vers. 13. charged vponupon paine of present death, to conforme to the worship of the Land, vers. 15. But it is not the commandement of the King, nor the consent of Princes, nor seuerity of Lawes, nor threats, nor allurements of Tyrants, that can preuaile to draw the Elect from God: they will craue none, nor take any time of deliberation if it were offered in this thing: they boldly protest against that horrible idolatry to the Kings face, Wee will not serue thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set vp, vers. 18.

Heereupon as against confessed rebels (for so were Gods children euer accounted in the world) the sentence of death, without respite or further forme of law passeth vponupon them; that they should be cast into a fiery Furnace, seuen times hotter than euer it vsed to bee: not that the King would quickly thereby dispatch them out of their paine, but partly to shew his owne great indignation conceiued against them; and partly to terrifie and affright them the more: for Tyrants (if they could) would rather torment the minds of the Saints, than their bodies.

…ra furor br… uis est.—But they abiding vndaunted at this sentence, the wrath of the King proceedeth into a fury and short madnesse, precipitating eueryevery thing, and with more hast than good speed, executeth his wicked sentence: and lest any fauour should be shewed them, he commandeth his strong men and warriours to bring them before his eyes, and throw them into the Furnace, that hee might feed himselfe in their destruction: and so they did.

Diuision of the Text.Now of all this proceeding, these verses, and the other following, shew the euent; which is twofold. First, concerning the enemies of the Iewes, that the flame licked p. 3them in, who were the instruments of this wicked Tyrant: which is set downe with the accusation in the first words. 1. Because the Kings commandement was straite, they were so intent vponupon the Kings charge, as (in likelyhood they forgate their owne safety. 2. Because the Furnace was so extraordinary hote, the flame licked them in ere they were aware. The second euent is concerning the persons of the Iewes, and that is their escape and euasion, euen in the middest of the Furnace. Wherein three things are to be considered. First, the manner of it; it was miraculous, in that the flame had no power, either vponupon their bodies, or on their apparell, but onelyonly on their bonds: whereby being cast in bound, they were able to walke loose in the middest of the Furnace. Secondly, the meanes of this escape, a Sonne of God, whom the Tyrant saw walking in the Furnace with them. Thirdly, the effect of this deliuerance, the acknowledgement of the true God, by Nabuchadnezzar, and all his Nobles.

Wherein we hauehave an expresse type of our owne present estate, and of Gods dealing with vsus; which when I hauehave in one or two words parallelled, I will come to the seuerall parts.

The Romish Nabuchadnezzar, Affinity between Romish and Babylonish Nabuchadnezzar.head of that whore of Babel, not sitting ouer an hundreth seuen and twenty Prouinces, as this, but challenging the power of both the swords, ouer all the Princes and Prouinces of the earth, hath set vp an Idoll, in that the whole chaos and vast body of Popery, is as base an idolatry as euer was among the Gentiles: but especially their **Moulded first in the Laterane Councell vnderunder Pope Innocent the third. Popish Priests worse than Iudas, who valued Ch…ist at thirty pence; for they buy 40. cakes (eueryevery one of which is Christs body) for one halfe-penny.Breaden God in the Masse, (which the Gentiles would bee ashamed to fall downe before.) Hee hath sent out his Edicts, that all people, nations, and languages, should worship the image which hee hath set vp: and whosoeuer receiue not the mark of that Beast in their hands, and in their fore-heads, these he excommunicateth, and adiudgeth to fier and faggot, (as witnesse all the bloody Martyrdomes, and fiery trials in other, and in our owne countrey) his owne Kings, p. 4Princes, Dukes, and Gouernours in Italy, Spaine, France, and other Popish countreys, bow downe to this beast. But a few reformed Churches, as England, Scotland, Ireland, Germanie, Belgia, Hel…tia, Bohemia, Saxony, Denmarke, and Sweueland, doe not deliberate in this matter, that they will not doe this thing. He also hastily sends out his Bulles of Excommunication, and furiously threatens worse matters, of blood and slaughter, which (by his hands of mischiefe stretched into all countries) hee putteth in execution against Princes and people, who conforme not to the worship of his image.

Plentifull experience hereof we hauehave had in our owne countrey: witnesse those many and outragious conspiracies, both in the dayes of her late Maiesty, (blessed in all memory) as also of his Excellent Highnesse, both before and since his solemne Inauguration. But all these prouing no better than paper-shot,This was preached Nouemb. 5. 1612. and nothing so terrible and and deadly as he intended: seuen yeeres agoe hee set his Captaines on worke, for the heating of a Furnace seuen times hotter than euer before; yea seuenty times seuen times hotter than euer Nabuchadnezzars was.Romish cruelty surmounts the Babylon…sh, 3. wayes. For that was prepared onelyonly for three persons; but this, for the sudden burning and blowing vp of three Kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland: That, by heathens sanguinary 1and bloody men, without the knowledge of 2God; but this, by men (howsoeuer more bloody, yet) professing such a religion as out-boasteth all other for sanctity of life, and workes of mercy. That, openly as in a 3course of iustice, where prayer, or strength, or change of mind in the parties, might hauehave preuented the extremity; but this, in the depth of blacke darknesse, against all iustice in the fountaine, against the liuing Law, his Maiesty himselfe; against the honourable Iudges, which are speaking Lawes; against all the Records and instruments of iustice, which are silent Lawes; and against the whole Parliament, the makers of these Lawes; and all this in such secret and vndermining manner, as any league p. 5might assoone be made with hell it selfe, as with these pioners, who digged to the bottome of hell for mischiefe.

But marke, when all things were thus prepared, and these three flourishing countries (after a sort) a casting into that hellish flame: the selfe same euent, wickednesse returning vponupon the heads of wicked doers: wicked counsels, the worst to the counsellors: sowers of wickednesse,foreign. reapers of destruction. The Agents and instruments of this Romish Tyrant so intent vponupon the straite commandement of their Master, as forgetting their owne danger, were some of them licked into the flame, others eaten vp by the gallowes, others deuoured by the mouth of the sword; all of them made spectacles of confusion, which they most intended; while those,foreign. whom they had designed as fewell for their flames, had not an haire of their head, no nor of their garments touched. For which vnspeakable mercy, the name of our God bee euermore praised.

Now to the seuerall parts.

Therefore because the commandement of the King was straite, that the furnace should be exceeding hote, &c.

Hence we note first,Idolatry and cruelty alwayes coupled together what spirit it is that raigneth amongst idolaters, euen the same which is heere discouered in Nabuchadnezzar, namely, the spirit of malice, rage, and cruelty; which, when things succeed not to their mind, doth breathe out nothing but threatning, slaughter, and blood, against the Saints of God. Pharaoh a notable idolater, who professed that he knew not the Lord, Exod. 5.2.Exod 5:2nor would heare his voyce, nor let the people goe; how began he his raigne, but by consulting to keepe vnderunder the people of God by heauie burthens, and hard taske-ma-masters? But when that succeded not, but the more they were vexed, the more they encreased, hee added to the former cruelty a charge, that the Midwiues should kill all the males of the Hebrewes in the byrth. But neither did this prodigious cruelty prooue so successefull as hee desired; p. 6for the Midwiues feared God, Chap. 1.17.and did not as the King commanded them, but preserued aliue the men children. And therefore transported by rage, as one that had lost humanity it selfe, he makes a more publike & general law, charging all his people, Vers. 22.that eueryevery man-child that was borne, they should cast into the riuer, and drowne it: With what furie and violence, after he had made them weary of their liues by sundry oppressions, did follow them into the bottome of the sea, thinking belike that God had diuided the sea for no other purpose, than for him to pitch his field in, against his people? It is plaine, that had not God taken him off, he would neuer hauehave taken his rod from off the Israelites.

H…st. 3.6.Of Haman that idolatrous Tyrant, the text saith, being full of wrath against Mordecai, for not bowing vntounto him, he thought it too little to lay hands onelyonly on Mordecai, but sought to destroy all the Iewes that were throughout the whole Kingdome of Ahashu…rosh, euen the people of Mordecai: and to this purpose procured letters from the King, which he sent by Postes into all the Prouinces, to root out, to kill, and to destroy all the Iewes both young and old, Vers. 13.children and women in one day.

Manasses was a wretched idolater, who did euill in the sight of the Lord, after the abomination of the Heathen; he built the hie places, which his good father Hezekiah had destroyed; hee erected altars for Baal, and made a groue, he worshipped all the hoast of heauen, and serued them; he built altars for all the host of heauen, and that in the Court of the house of the Lord:2. King. 21.3.2 Kgs 21:3 hee caused his sonnes to passe through the fier; hee gaue himselfe to witchcraft and sorcery, and vsed them that had familiar spirits, and were southsayers. Now if to all this you would adde an inseparable note to know a wilfull idolater by, you hauehave it in the 16. verse; Moreover Manasses shead innocent blood exceeding much, till hee replenished Ierusalem from corner to corner.

See 1. Mach. 1. & Iosephus de bello Iud. lib. 1. cap. 1. Nequ… tantae caedes satis fuêre, sed Iudaeos cogere coepit, vt abrogato more patrio nec infantes suos circumciderent, porcósque super aram immolarent; quibus omnes quidem aduersabantur, optimus verò quisque propterea tru…cidabatur.1 Macc 1Antiochus Epiphanes, that monster of men, both for his p. 7horrible idolatry, and sauage cruelty against the Iewes, called Epimanes; forced the Iewes to lay aside the institution of God in circumcising their children; as also in hatred of God to offer swines flesh vponupon the altar, and eate swines flesh in their houses; in stead of Gods worship hee set vp the worship of Iupiter Olympius, and this within the Temple of Ierusalem. The bookes of Moses and the Prophets hee burnt, &c. All which horrible rage against God himselfe was attended with such barbarous and despightfull wasting, and oppressing of the Church of God, such murther and slaughter of the people of God, as neuer was since there began to be a nation till that time; as witnesseth Daniel, chap. 12.1. Insomuch as stories report, that Ierusalem was left desolate and void of all good men.

In both which high wickednesses (by the consent of all writers) he was an expresse type of that great Antichrist which was to come after him, and is now in the world, consuming the Saints of the most High, and working no lesse misery to the Church of God than he did; as we shal in part anon declare.

What shall I speake of the tyranny and cruelty of those Heathen Romane Emperours, within the first 300. yeeres after Christ? of whom not only the Apostles themselues suffered violent death; but whosoeuer made any profession of their doctrine, were most ignominiously tormented, no respect had of sexe, nor reuerence of age, in so much as the dead bodies of men, and women, and children, old and young together, were cast out and lay naked in the streets like the pauement thereof. And (if we may beleeue history) in the dayes of one of those ten Persecutors were ten thousand Christians crucified in one mount, crowned with crownes of thornes,Hadrian. and thrust into the sides with sharpe darts, in imitation (or derision rather) of the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. And in the last of those ten, in the space of one monethmonth were slaine vnderunder the name of Martyrs, seuenteene thousand p. 8persons, beside a multitude more, condemned to the mettals and mines, with other most cruell slauery. In one word, the histories of those times seeme to be written in blood, of which those monsters of nature (in the shape of men) made such effusion, as it seemeth true which was said in those times, that no m…n could step with his foote in all Rome, but he should tread vponupon a Martyr.

Rome Christian as cruell as Heathen Rome.Now to apply this note to our occasion and purpose. This very spirit of cruelty is the spirit of Antichrist, which raigneth in Popery at this day; which one religion exceedeth and outstrippeth all other religions, in barbarous blood-shead and cruelty (not the Turkish excepted.) Long it were to recite, and incredible to beleeue those horrible slaughters, which might be induced to prooue this part: there is neither writer that can bee so diligent, or writing so exact, as can make a sufficient relation, of the barbarous butcheries made vponupon the Saints by these enemies of God and nature. But yet so much as may giuegive a generall view, and (as it were) a glimmering light, must be set downe for the euincing of this truth, which so gladly they would auoid.

2. Thes. 2.3.2 Thess 2:3And first to begin with the Scriptures. Who is it whom the holy Ghost stileth the sonne of perdition, but the head of this Romish Apostasie? which title is commonly taken passiuely, for that he is appoynted, destinated, and borne to perdition: in which sense it is (besides this man of sinne) onelyonly giuen to Iudas, Ioh. 17.12.John 17:12whom Christ calleth the lost child, because being reiected and destinated vntounto destruction, he could not be kept by Christ as the rest of the Disciples were. But it is also fitly ascribed vntounto this man of sinne actiuely, in that he is a destroyer, and an author of destruction vntounto others, not onelyonly by seduction, and infection; but also by persecution, wasting the Church of God with all his might.

If any man stand in doubt hereof, let him further consider how the King of locusts is called Ab…ddon, and Apollyon, Reuel. 9.11.Rev 9:11that is, A Destroyer from his effect. Now it is p. 9made as cleare as the Sunne, from the apt connexion of all the circumstances of the place, that by these locusts are m…ant the Popish Clergie, who are bred of ignorance, heresie, superstition, and error, which is the smoake of the bottomlesse pit out of which they ascend.Trigin…a bellatorum mill…a, qui bellica munera guauiter …bire possent, nihil interpellato sacrorum cultu. Sabell Enead 9. lib. 6. Thence come they by infinite numbers, like locusts, insomuch as that one sect of Franciscans offred out of their Order for an expedition against the Turke, thirty thousand strong warriours, which they might well spare without hinderance of their holy Obseruances. And well might they so doe, if that of Polydore Virgill be true, that this one family of Franciscans suddainly filled the whole world, no otherwise then locusts couer the face of the earth. How can it then be other, but that these locusts, with all the other swarmes of Abbats, Monks, Fryars,Pulchra prosecto pulliti…s, & aulae Antichristianae decora familia. Grass. reg. p. 34. B. Vers. 4. Priests and Iesuites, must needs sodainly destroy & eate vp the fruites of the earth? not the grasse of God, which hath the greennesse and moysture of grace, nor the trees of righteousnesse, which are the planting of the Lord, (for ouer such no power is giuen them:) but only ouer such as the heauenly Father neuer planted, and whose names were neuer written in the booke of life.

But, were this more obscure; whither tend all those Prophesies, and where were they euer accomplished (if not in this man) whereof the Reuelation is full? It is said of the second Beast, which rose out of the earth, Reuel. 13.11.Rev 13:11and had two hornes like a Lambe, but spake like a Dragon, that hee caused so many to be killed as would not receiue the image of the beast in their hands, and in their foreheads. This Beast can be no other but the Pope of Rome, who riseth out of the earth, that is, out of most base beginnings, and steppeth or riseth aboue the earth, and all earthly power. He hath hornes like the Lambe, that is, professeth the meekenesse and innocencie of Christ (which the Turke neuer did:) but speaketh like the Dragon, that is, not with outward force and power, but euen by his word and speech exerciseth all the power of the Dragon, that is, of the Emperour: p. 10for, not the greatest Emperours or Monarchs in all the world can translate and remooue Kings and Kingdomes by all the power they can make, which hee can by his word alone.

The same is the Beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit, Reuel. 11.7.Rev 11:7and maketh warre against the two witnesses, and ouercommeth and killeth them: By which two witnesses whether we vnderstand the Scriptures in the two Testaments (as some) which are now ouercome in Popery,AntiChrist an enemie both to Scriptures and Scripture-men. and their owne Traditions made equall, or rather set aboue them, as triumphing ouer them; or else we vnderstand the zealous and sincere Professours of the Word of God, who both by their Doctrine and Conuersation giuegive witnesse vntounto the truth of it; it commeth all to one: for the Beast that dare make warre vponupon, and professe hostility to the Scriptures, will warre with, ouercome, and kill also the sincere louers of them, and vpright liuers after them.

To conclude this point: that one Prophecie may serue for all, Reuel. 17.6. where is affirmed of the great Whore, with whom the Kings of the earth hauehave committed fornication, &c. that this woman was drunke with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus. By this woman the Iesuites themselues, will they …ill they, confesse is meant their Rome,Rib…ra. Bellarm. but olde Rome (say they) such as it was vnderunder the Heathen Emperours. But, where are the scarlet coloured Fathers but in the present Rome? In whose forehead is the name mysterie written, but in the present Romish Babylon?Testantur hoc Iac. Brocardus Venetus in Apoc. et monachus quidam Celestin…s. The Heathenish Emperours proclaimed open warre against Christianity, and carried not their enmity in secret, and in a mysterie. These with sundry other circumstances in the Text, will (perhaps) draw them one step further one day, and force them to a free confession of the whole trueth, when they can no longer withstand it.

And thus hauing briefely propounded the Prophecies of this Antichr…stian cruelty,Prophecies of Romish cruelty accomplished to the full. let vsus in as few words see it p. 11in the accomplishment of them: Which if out of most approued Histories we should enlarge as wee might, it would easily appeare to be most matchlesse, and that no Scythian cruelty was euer comparable vntounto it. But I must keepe a measure, and giuegive but a taste of that cup filled and running ouer with blood, which the Saints of God in all Countries hauehave drunke vp to the bottome.

The Romish History teacheth vsus, that Romulus layde the foundations of the Citie of Rome in the blood of his brother Rhemus. And as the foundation was layd by him, so hath the frame been vpheld by his bloody brood vntill this day. Whence were the Emperours, who shed so much Christian blood in the first 300. yeares after Christ? were they not Romane? Whence hath almost all the blood,Pandolph. Colonutius ex Aenea Sylu. hist. Austr. et Nicol. Machiauel. that hath beene shed vponupon the earth since that time, issued, but either from the edicts, perswasions, approbations, or encitements of these firebrands of Babylon? Who committeth Kings and Princes together, making them Woolues and tyrants one against another, but this Romish Nebuchadnezzar? Who bloweth vp massacres, rebellions, seditions, treasons, in all Countries, but this scarlet whore of Babylon? Who sendeth out cut-throates and villaines with pardons, to stab and poyson Kings and Potentates of the earth, yea to blow vp whole States and Kingdomes with one terrible blow, but the holy Father of Rome? Where is the Lord crucified eueryevery day in his Saints, or where are the Saints condemned for heretiques, and consumed with fire, but in the furnace which is made so hot by the ministers of this idolatrous Romish Tyrant? What Doctrine besides, Romish is a teacher and maintainer of cruelty, of homicide, of parricide in the highest and most vnnaturall degree, so as the greatest Rebell or Traytor is Poperie it selfe? Whose Priests, or spirituall guides (who should be men of peace) besides Romish▪ be the nimble and actiue hands and instruments of all the former mischiefe, especially their Iesuites, who not onelyonly doe these things, Rom. 1.32.Rom 1:32but as stout p. 12patrons defend those that doe them?

If wee looke at the generality of this cruel…y, it hath beene almost without bounds or banks: What Country in all the world hauehave the Papists set foo…e into, but they hauehave left behind them the steps, impressions, and monuments of their tyrannie? Manasseh made the streetes of Ierusalem onelyonly runne with the blood of the Saints: but there is neuer a corner in all Europe, which these Idolaters hauehave not washed with streames of the blood of Martyrs, as History sheweth. If wee consider the multitudes of men, women, and children, on whom this cruelty hath fed, it will appeare to be most mercilesse. I will not say how true that is of some, who say there is not a day in the yeare which might not be dedicated to an hundreth seuerall Martyrs, whose blood the Romanists hauehave shed: But true it is, that with the cup of death, Babylon hath serued thousands and ten thousands at once, and yet her insatiable thirst hath not beene satisfied.

Ex Hermanno Mutio. Innocentius 3. anno. 1212. See this story at large in the booke of Martyrs, pag. 868. Out of which booke I hauehave picked some choise examples, that our common people hauing the booke by them, may see I belye them not in the things which seeme most incredible, Foeminea in pugna victoria nulla est.One of their Innocent Popes with his Bishops made but one Bonfire of an hundreth Nobles and others in the Country of Alsatia in one day. That mercilesse Minerius one of the Popes Captaines, dispatched with his bloody designes against the innocent Merindolians, caried himselfe in the execution more like a diuell, feeding on the bowels of men, than a man that had any bowels in him: Who destroying a number of Townes before him, to the number of two and twenty, slew and murthered with all the cruelty that could be deuised, the Inhabitants, whether they resisted, or not. The women and maydens were rauished; the women with childe, and Infants borne and to be borne were lamentably destroyed: the paps of many women which gaue sucke, were cut off, and the children looking for sucke at their mothers breasts, dead before, died also for hunger. And as a monster that had neuer come of a woman, hee waged warre against that seely sexe that could least resist him. For p. 13when the men of Merindoll fled from his Armie, and thought it best to leaue behinde them (for their better expedition and safety) their tender wiues and children, hoping that the enemie would shew merciemercy to such a multitude of destitute and helplesse women and children; this enemie of mankinde euertaking this seely prey, practised such villany and cruelty vponupon fiue hundred women, at once, besides the children, as hath beene vnheard of.

In another of those Townes named Cabriers, which vponupon composition, and condition, that hee would lay downe his armour, and vse no violence against them, was yeelded into his hands, he no sooner entred but falsifying his promise he raged (as Maister Fox saith) like a beast▪ Hee picked out thirty choise men presently, and caried them into a meddow, and caused them to bee hewen in pieces by his souldiers: Hee tooke forty seely women, (some of them with childe) and put them into a Barne full of straw and hay, and caused it to be set on fire at the foure corners; whose lamentable out-cry when a souldier heard, he in pitie opened a doore to let them out; but as they were comming out, the Tyrant caused them to be slaine and cut in pieces, opening their bellies, that their children fell out, whom they troad vnderunder their feete. And, lest he should be vnlike to Dioclesian (who set a Church on fire, and burnt in it many thousand Christians:) he sent also a band of Ruffians, not with fire (as in the former instance) but vvith the sword into the Church, wherein as in a Sanctuarie were hid a great number of vvomen, children, and young Infants, vvho vvithout all respect of place or persons, slewe all they found. In this one Towne vvere thus mercilesly murthered aboue a thousand Protestants.

In the yeare 1560. vnderunder Pope Pius (or,Acts & Mon. pag. 859. Impius rather) the fourth, were two Townes in the parts of Calabria taken, and condemned at one time, to the number p. 14of a thousand and sixe hundred Protestants: Of them in one day were executed fourescore and eight in this manner: They being all thrust into one house together, as into a sheepe-fold, the executioner commeth in and taketh one, and blinde-foldeth him with a muffler about his eyes, and so leadeth him into a larger place hard by; and commanding him to kneele downe, hee cutteth his throat, and leauing him halfe-dead, and taking his Butchers knife and muffler all of a gore-blood, he commeth againe to the rest, and so leading one after another, hee dispatcheth them all. A direfull and lamentable spectacle to see, insomuch that a Romanist professed in a letter to his friend at Rome, that he could not write it without weeping: Another Preacher, one Simon Florellus writing to an Italian Doctor of Phisicke in the Vniuersity of Basill, telleth vsus what became of the rest. These two Townes (saith he) are vtterly destroyed, and eight hundred of the Inhabitants, or (as some write from Rome) no lesse then a full thousand. And this yeare were the residue of that godly fellowship martired.

But if we reade ouer the whole Turkish History, and all the Records of the Heathen Emperours themselues, we shall not be able to match, no not in the Lion Nero, nor Decius, 2. Tim. 4.17. Gathered out of Ianus August Thuanus President of the Parliament of Paris.2 Tim 4:17nor Dioclesianus, that most wicked furie and rage which euer the sunne saw committed by the Papists in the Massacre of France, wherein in the space of three dayes were tenne thousand Protestants not more cruelly then perfidiously slaine and murthered: and in the space of thirty dayes to the number of thirty thousand. The furies of hell were neuer more furious than these blood-sucking Romanists. What reioycing was there at Rome for this Massacre, what solemne Processions and Masses were by the Pope and his Cardinals, (for so notable a stratagem) celebrated, what generall ioy in Rome, appeared in the publishing of a Iubile presently, in shoo…ing off great Ordinance in way of triumph, in gratuit…es and large gifts to those that brought the newes p. 15of it? insomuch as the History reporteth, that the Cardinall of Loraine gaue him a thousand crownes that first brought him the tydings of it.

And as these barbarous Butcheries were committed by secret fraud and conspiracie, so hauehave they by open hostility and professed warre made waste of Gods people, powring out the blood of Protestants as waters on the earth; and that with such fierce assaults, as they hauehave slaine in one battell an hundred thousand, and made their glory of it. How many fewer had tasted of the same cup in England, if their inuincible nauie in 88. had not beene broken by God? and in England, Scotland, and Ireland, how many aboue that number, if their fireworks had preuailed in 1605. That 5. of Nouember shold hauehave beene Englands dismall, and doomes day, a fearefull and terrible day like the day of the Lord, which shall burne like an Ouen, Mal. 4.1.Mal 4:1wherein our very Sunne should hauehave been turned into blood, and the whole land should hauehave beene drunke with the blood of the Inhabitants.

I would passe this point of their insatiable thirst after blood, but that I cannot omit to adde a word or two of that infinite effusion of blood, which the Popish Spaniards hauehave made among the poore Indians, vnderunder pretence of conuerting them to the faith: and that confirmed by their owne **Metellus Sequanus. Bartholomaeus Casas, a Bishop that liued in that Country. This booke written in Latine is wel worth translating: but these with a number more ins…ances of their hellish cruelty are o…racted by M. White in his way to the Church, the 50. digression, where the Reader may further acquaint himselfe with the Spanish conuersion or rather vtter subuersion of the Indies.writers, who report, that neuer since the beginning of the world was there made such an hauock of people as the Spaniards hauehave made there: That of two thousand thousand persons inhabiting one country Hispaniola, in the yeare 1580. are not left aboue 500. or an hundred and fifty: That more then tenne Realmes greater then all Spaine, with Arragon and Portugall, and those swarming with multitudes of people, as Emme…s on an Emmet hill, are all turned to a Wildernesse: That within the space of forty yeares seauen and twenty millions of people are destroyed; in Hispaniola three millions, in another Country fiue millions in fifteene yeares, in another fiue millions, in Perne foure millions, p. 16in fiue small Iles fiue hundred thousand. They hauehave throwne downe from the top of a steepe mountaine 700 men together, and dashed them all to pieces. In three moneths they famished 7000. children. At one time they massacred 2000. Gentlemen that were the slower of all the Nobility of that Country. And all this with such cruelties as were neu…r heard of before: Which to auoid, the poore men would hang themselues with their wiues and children, the women did destroy their conceptions, and in griefe and despaire dash their owne childrens braines against the stones, lest they should come into the Spaniards hands.The Prince of the Ile Cuba so answered the Fryar that came to shrine him at the slake. Some of them professed, that if the Spaniards went to heauen when they were dead, they would neuer come there: that they did carie themselues neither like Christians nor men, but like diuels: and, that it had beene better the Indies had beene giuen to the diuels of hell, than to the Spaniards. All which are the words of their owne Writers, and confirmeth the point in hand, that the Romish Woolues are neuer satisfied with blood, nor can be; seeing they must bee nourished of that whereof they are ingendred.

Secondly, their cruelty is not onelyonly euident in such direfull and tragicall outrages in all Countries, nor onelyonly in that (like rough Esaus) their hand is against eueryevery man; but also in their cruell and barbarous manner and minde in effecting their bloody proiects. Farnesius, hee voweth to ride his horse to the saddle in the blood of the Lutheranes.Satia te sanguine quem sit isti, & cuius semper insacrabilis fuisti. Thomyris de Cyri capite in v…re sang. Here nothing but a sea of blood can quench his blood-thirstinesse. Minerius being intreated for some poore Merindolians, who had left him their Citie, houses, and goods, and had escaped onelyonly in their shirts to couer their nakednesse, sternly answered that he knew what he had to doe, and that not one of them should escape his hands,Minerius the diuels Proctor, or Factor. but he would send them to hell to dwell among the diuels. Here was a more eager thirst, not onelyonly for the blood of their bodies, but of their soules too; the death of these poore Christians was a p. 17small thing in his eyes, vnlesse it be accompanied with their damnation.

Adde hereunto the exquisitenesse of the torments, and the vnnaturalnesse of the tortures,Acts and Mon. pag. 869. See another history of like cruelty, p. 805.…. by which they held men in death so long as possibly they could: arguing, that if they could inflict a thousand deaths on them, or could hold them in dying a thousand yeares, they would. Hence commeth their burning by piece-meale, and that not with fire onelyonly, but with fat, Brimstone, Pitch and Tarre also dropping on their heads: And thus was that meeke and innocent Martyr George Marsh burned, with a barrell of Pitch and Tarre dropping vponupon his head: neither when hee was thus tormented and dead, was it thought sufficient; vnlesse the Bishop should solemnly in a Sermon affirme, that hee was now a fire-brand in hell.

Iohannes de Roma a Monke (his name tels vsus what house he was of) got a Commission to examine the Lutherans;Pag. …60. and before any conuiction he vsed this torment to force them to accuse themselues: Hee vsed to fill Boots with boyling grease, and put them on the legges of whom hee suspected or listed; and tying them backward to a Forme, with their legges hanging downe ouer a soft fire, so he examined them.

In the History of the Andrognians wee reade of one Odul G…met, a man of 60. yeares of age,See the exquisite torments deuised, and suffered by Bertrand, p. 817. and by Rich. Atkins, p. 1948. for whom they deuised a strange kinde of death and torment, after this manner: When they had taken and fitly bound him, they tooke a kinde of vermine which breedeth in horsedung, and put them vponupon his nauell, couering them there with a dish, which within short space pierced into his belly, and killed him.

But what had these men done? Had they killed their Kings, or blowne vp whole Parliament houses? Surely either their facts were haynous, or the furie of their aduersaries ridiculous. As cruelty neuer wanted cause of putting forth it selfe, so here were no small causes pretended. p. 18The most horrible torments that any Protestant suffered among them, was for casting downe an Idoll, not able to defend it selfe, as in the examples of Betrand and Atkins: others put to most cruell death for not acknowledging more Christs then one, which was the first of those sixe bloody Articles, whereby it was capitall not to professe, that either there were not so many Christs, or that one Christ should not be according to his body in so many places, as there were seuerall hoasts distributed through the world.Marriage punished among Papists, whoredome escapeth. Others were murthered for marrying a wife according to the examples of the Apostles: many for reading the Scriptures: sundry for hauing them, or some small parts of them in the English tongue, as Robert Silkeb, and one Mistresse Smith at Couentry,Pag. 887. onelyonly because they had the Lords prayer, the Creed and tenne Commandements found about them. Some put to death for selling bookes of Scriptures,Pag. 863. although it was a branch of their calling: as a godly booke-seller in Auinion was burned with two Bibles about his necke, onelyonly for selling some Bibles; when at the same time a lewd Ballad-seller was graced in the selling of filthy and ribald Songs and Ballads.

Adde hereunto that lamentable merriment of a rich Merchant in Paris, who for a iest which hee brake vponupon the Fryars of S. Francis, lost his life; hee in merriment told them, that they w…re a rope about their bodies, because S. Francis should once hauehave beene hanged,…ag. 831. but was redeemed by the Pope, on this condition, that all his life after hee should weare a rope. But they in earnest got iudgement against him, that he should be hanged for it. And when hee to saue his life recanted his speech, they commended him for it, and made hast to hang him while he was in that good minde. Oh mercilesse men, to whom iudgement without mercy belongeth! Iam. 2.13.Jas 2:13Are these the principall causes of such sauage and pittilesse proceedings? Or if they be not, tell vsus of some greater, whereby poore Christians are chased with such seas of sorrowes out of the world.

p. 19Thirdly, the cruelty of these idolatrous Papists bewrayeth it selfe to be most inhumane, in that it spareth nor, respecteth not, nor pittieth any degree, order, sexe, age, or condition of men, whom they take to be their enemies; but as rough Ismaels, their hands are against eueryevery man, that is, eueryevery sort of men. Duke Medina professeth, that his sword knowes no difference betweene Hereticks and Catholickes: What no? will you not know your own? no not Catholicks? We read in the history of the Germane Martyrs,Acts and Mon. pag 814. how Alphonsus Diazius came from Rome to Neoberge, to kill his owne brother Iohn Diazius, because he was a Protestant: which most barbarous fact he with another cut-throat so cruelly performed, as hath scarce beene heard of since Cain killed his brother Abel for Religion. With what despightfull cruelty hauehave the poore Protestants beene compelled to carrie Faggots, to burne their faithfull and painefull Pastors? as two women of S. Germain… were forced to doe by Iacomell the Inquisitor, and other his Monkes.Pag. 874. How vnnaturally hauehave they forced (by their adiuration) the Protestants to detect and bring into the danger of their liues, their parents, their children, their brethren and sisters, yea their deare wiues and companions who hauehave layd in their owne bosomes?Pag. 751. All which in that one examination of Robert Bartlet, plainely appeareth.

I will adde hereunto that, to which no parts of vnnaturall cruelty can be added: that they hauehave compelled the children to set fire to the burning of their owne fathers, against all lawes of God and nature it selfe; as appeareth in the example of William Tilesworth, to the burning of whom his owne daughter Ioane Clerke was forced to set fire: as also of Iohn Scriuener, Pag. 710.whose owne children were forced to set fire to their naturall father.Pag. 766. And, as if this were but a small thing, yet Popish cruelty can afford vsus examples without example among the most sauage heathens and barbarisme it selfe: This one I cannot omit, testified by Thuanus, and out of his Historie p. 20transcribed by D. Bulkley in his addition to the booke of Martyrs: that in the Towne of Nonne a certaine woman being drawne out of a priuie place, where shee was fled from the rage of Popish Souldiers, was in the sight of her husband shamefully defiled, and then commanded to draw a sword,A woman forced to kill her husband by Papists. Acts and Mon. pag. 1951. was forced by others who ordered her hand, to giuegive her husband a deadly wound, whereof he died. Oh vnnaturall tyrants of mankinde, in whom naturall affection is so dried vp, as not one drop of it must be reteined in those who are knit in the straytest bonds, but, whom God and nature hauehave made one, euen these by Popish cruelty must be the executioners one of another.

Our owne vipers, who like so many Nero's wrought hard night and day in the bowels of the earth, to eate out the bowels of their owne mother-country, spared neither King, nor Queene, nor Prince, nor Nobles, nor Senate, nor Gentry, nor young nor olde, no not their owne friends and fauorites, whom they would hauehave sent to heauen with one iumpe for the louelove they bore them.

No plea sufficient against the cruelty of Romanists.Adde hereunto, that in the madnesse of their rage and furie they chased away all pittie and respect of seely persons, who in respect either of their impotencie of minde, or tender age, might by all lawes of nature and nations hauehave layd claime to mercy, if the Ocean of Heathenish (I meane, Popish) cruelty had not broken all bankes and bounds. To cleare this point, we might be large to set out the vnnaturalnesse of their cruelty against the liuing and dead, which could not hurt them any way. Most lamentable was that spectacle of the childe which sprung out of the wombe of a woman burnt at Garnsey, which being saued out of the fire was by the bloody executioners cast in againe,Acts and Mon. pag. 1864. Fel…yes childe. Dauies Boy vnderunder 12. yeares condemned for the 6. articles, p. 1879. because it was a young hereticke, and so baptized in the mothers flames and it owne blood. What hurt could that Boy of eight yeares olde doe vntounto them or their religion, which was scourged to death in Bonners house for religion? What madnesse was it to p. 21apprehend a mad man, as Collins, who seeing the Priest holding his hoast ouer his head, and shewing it to the people, held vp a little dogge by the legges ouer his head; for which he was taken, and immediatly condemned to be burned with his dogge as Hereticks: A wofull meane to bring a mad man into his wits. With how little reason could they demand a reason of one Cowbridge a mad man of his faith, and make the words of a mad man without vnderstanding to be heresie, for which hee was burned at Oxford? But ala…!Pag. 1035. where fury & rage hath made men mad, no excuse will serue to moue to p…tie.

How vnnaturall is that wrath that sticketh not neither to bury the quicke, as Marion at Burges was condemned to be buried aliue; nor to vnbury,Pag. 816. and violate the graues of the dead? In our owne Country, and dayes of our fathers, how M. Bucer and Phagius were cited out of their graues to appeare, or any that would for them, and that at Cambridge, foure yeares after their burial, is manifest: which when the seely ashes could not do, they were digged out & burned on the market-hill. How Wickliffe was condemned after his death,Pag. 1780. & his bones burnt 41. yeares after his buriall, appeareth in the History of Maister Fox. Richard Hun, who was first apparently hanged and murdred in prison by their wicked hands,Pag. 739. was burnt also after his death. Peter Martyrs wife the Diuinity Reader at Oxford,Pag. 1785. was two yeares after her death digged out of her graue. Iohn Glouer was not onelyonly excommunicate,Pag. 1556. but strucke with the great sentence of Maranatha, after his death. Iohn Tooly was cited by Bonner after he was dead and buried, to appeare before him by such a day, and the time of citation limited being expired, and he not appearing, he was excommunicate, & strait charge giuen, that no man should eate or drink with him, or if any met him he should not bid him God-speede, and if hee came to Church in diuine seruice hee must be thrust out … After this excommunication hee was condemned and committed to the secular power to be burnt for an Heretick, p. 22and so by the Sheriffes the poore dead man vvas the second time executed.

Now out of all this I conclude, that the spirit of N…buchadnezz…r is quickned or reuiued in these Romanists, and, that they are of the number of those whose mercies are cruell. Prou. 12.10. Gal. 5.22. Math. 11.29.Prov 12:10Gal 5:22Matt 11:29Certainly they are not led by the Spirit of God: for the fruits of the Spirit are meekenesse, gentlenesse, peace; neither by the spirit of Christ; for he was meeke and lowly of spirit. He and his Apostles put none to death. Obiect. You put Catholickes to death, and not for any thing but for maintaining the ancient religion of their fathers. Answer. This is a cunning wile of Satan, to put this imputation from his deare Antichrist vponupon others: for it cannot be shewed, that euer any Romanist suffered death amongst vsus for his religion, but for rebellion, and denying his allegiance: there being no law in England to put a Papist to death for his conscience. Yet yeeld that which can neuer be graunted, (without betraying our innocencie:) and compare which of our religions be more vnmercifull, it must needes fall vponupon their pate: for M. Fox in the fiue yeares of Queene Mary hath reckoned vp towards three hundred, and so the truth is, as eyewitnesses will testifie: whereas a Writer of theirs hath raked vp in fifty yeares vnderunder two hundred, namely 193. Compare the oddes.

I hasten to things that remaine; wherein I will be more briefe.

Note here how farre the Lord suffers the wicked to bring their purposes,Mans extremity, Gods opportunity. euen to the point of execution: for, here was the rage of the King vnplacable, till the furnace was prepared, and his seruants put in, whom the Lord would not deliuer till they were in the furnace; and, not in some corner of it, where the fire came not, but in the midst of the flames. This the Lord doth, 1. In respect of the wicked, to glorifie himselfe through them, both in his long patience toward them, forbearing them till there be no remedie, as also in his iustice, when p. 23they make all cock-sure, and glory in their vngodly purposes, then to confound them, and dissipate their counsels, recompencing his leaden feete with brazen hands, 2. In respect of the godly, either to try their patience, and faith, and louelove of himselfe, or else to declare his mighty power in their deliuery, when all other meanes are hopelesse.

This may stirre vsus vp to the greater thankfulnesse for the great merciemercy of this present day:Vse 1. for the same was the Lords dealing in that vngodly and diuellish plot, as here for the three children: It was brought euen to the birth, as the Scripture speakes. Oftentimes the wicked conceiue wickednesse, and trauell to bring forth iniquitie: and here the mischiefe had beene conceiued the full moneths, and they (no doubt) gloried in their hopefull birth: but yet our watchfull and gracious God caused their Sunne to fall at noone-day, and stretched out his owne right hand to saue, when all meanes failed; that all the glory and praise of it might returne to himselfe.

Let vsus learne hereby euer to wayte for the Lords deliuerance, though hee seeme to delay:Vse 2. if it be not suddaine, yet it shall be seasonable; how glorious will it be, if it be in the very flames, euen the night before the danger, as was Peters deliuerance, Act. 12. and ours also the very night before the intended execution?

Note further, how the prouidence of God guides all euents,Man purposeth, God disposeth. and ouer-rules all designements of all his creatures. Nebuchadnezzar purposed to burne the bodies of the Saints: but the Lord disposed, that the wicked should be burnt in their stead. He cannot burne whom he will: He cannot saue whom he would. He may command the furnace to be made, and to be made seauen times hotter than ordinary; yet can hee not commaund it to burne whom he would, he cannot forbid it to consume whom he would not. This ouer-ruling power of God makes fire and water, which (we say) hauehave no pitie, more mercifull and pittifull then tyrants & wicked men: as flames p. 24of fire here more fauourable than Nebuchadnezzar, as the sea it selfe more calme than Pharaoh. Nay more, this prouidence makes the vngodly meditate a vaine thing, Psal. 2▪1.2.Ps 2:1Ps 2:2especially in banding themselues against the Church. Nay more yet, their counsels are not onelyonly turned vntounto folly, the Lord disappointing them, but euen to a quite contrarie end, for a mischiefe to themselues, as here, the same fire that they kindle against the children of God, lickes vp themselues; the same destruction that Pharaoh intended against Israel, ouerthrew onelyonly himselfe and all his hoast. Hence Dauid obseruing this truth, is bold to say, that the wicked digges a pit for others, Psal. 7.15.Ps 7:15but falls into it himselfe: hee layeth snares for others, but himselfe is taken; he whetteth his sword against the innocent, but it shall pierce his owne heart. The wicked deuise of Haman against the Iewes, was turned vponupon his owne head;Hest. 9.25. both hee and his were hanged on the Gallowes which he had set vp for Mordecay. And the enemies of Daniel are cast into the same den that they prepared for him.

The selfe same thing we see experience of in the Popes and Percies barbarous deuise against the Church: they could make their furnace, but could not kindle the fire: nay some of the actors were marked with their powder, but none against whom it was layd: though they carried it a long time in their resolutions and plots, yet did not they meditate a vaine thing? yea did not the Artizans of death perish in their owne Art? yes most iustly. And so of D. Stories iron Cage, which was turned into an hurdle and halter against himselfe.

Let vsus all therefore (to the praise of God) acknowledge,Vse. both what a bootlesse thing and dangerous it is to be an instrument of malice against the Church. The Pope and holy league (or rather, impure faction) hauehave a long time leagued themselues against the Churches reformed: but hath not the Lord still dissolued their most furious practices, and made the end shamefull vntounto themselues? HaueHave they not lost more by their cruell Inquisition at p. 25home, then they hauehave gotten? Hee that hath knowledge of the state of the Low Countries, shall easily see it had beene good for them neuer to hauehave knowne it. HaueHave not the same persons by horrible stratagems and blood-sheds sought vtterly to waste the Church?Sanguis Martyrum▪ semen ecclesi…e. but is not the blood of Martyrs the seede of the Church? hauehave not we reaped the holy doctrine of Christ,Foecundi sunt Martyrum ci…eres. which was sowen in the blood and ashes of our Fathers? Was not that most hellish massacre in France a meanes vtterly to hauehave abolisht the mention of religion for euer? but hauehave wee not great hope, that the Lord will giuegive them to reape in ioy for such sorrowfull sowing? and in sight, France was neuer so furnisht with Protestants as at this day. Against our owne Country did not they bragge and beare themselues vponupon their Inuincible Nauie of 88. to destroy young and olde, Religion and Iustice on a day? Yet what was the end but this, the Lord brake their ships, and so weakened their strength, as they hauehave halted euer since, neuer able to gather such forces together againe? And of what attempt almost euer so wicked could they blush at, saue this most execrable deuise,Hest. 9.26. for which these dayes of Purim are instituted as a memoriall? for indeede, as neuer any vnfinished was so neare the accomplishment, so neuer any did cast more iust reproach vpō them, both for the accursed mischiefe and cariage of it, as also for the suddaine shame & confusion wherewith the actors were cloathed.

And, as it is bootlesse, so is it a dangerous thing to be an instrument against any good man,HaueHave nothing to do… against that iust man. come vvith what humane authoritie hee can come. These seruants of Nebuchadnezzar might thi…ke they had warrant enough for their fact, by the Kings commaundement; but yet the fire licked them in suddainly and irrecouerably. The Prophet Zachary calls the Church (and so the members of it,) an heaui stone: neuer man lifted at it, but was torne in pieces. The th…eatning is passed,Zach. 12.3.Zech 12:3 they shall be couered with shame which warre with Sion. A wofull thing it is for any man to hatch mischiefe against the Church: p. 26he carries his owne coales, and a sentence of condemnation with him, although hee goe in with Haman to the Kings banquet. See Esa. 33.1. and 41.14.15. and Obad. 18.

So much for the enemies: Now in the persons deliuered, the Text affordeth three notable points, 1. The manner, it was miraculous: 2. The meanes, a Sonne of God walking with them: 3. The effect, namely the acknowledgement of the true God by Nebuchadnezzar and all his Nobles. Of all these very briefly.

I. For the manner: they were cast in bound, and the fire onelyonly loosed their bonds, consumed them, and set their bodies free, yea their garments did not so much as sauour or smell of the fire. Gods children, and the children of the Church,Gods people, g…yners by fiery trials. by fierie trials get more liberty, and walke more enlarged; they hauehave their chaines of sinne consumed, and so walke more gloriously in persecutions than euer before, and themselues like gold come out more purified. 1. Pet. 1.7.1 Pet 1:7Neuer were these three more glorious than in the flames.

We must learne by the Papists furnace to take good, as we hauehave taken no harme:Vse. and labour, that our bonds of sinne may be more and more loosed, and our selues walke at more liberty in the wayes of Gods commandements. Thus wise men take more benefit of foes than of friends.

II. For the meanes of their deliuerance. Some ascribe it to virginity, as Damascene; some to fasting, as Basill: but the word of God ascribeth it to faith in the Sonne of God; Heb. 11.34. By faith they quenched the violence of the fire. And so in this place: Nebuchadnezzar saw a fourth like the Sonne of God; speaking indeede like an Heathen, whose Gods were begotten one of another: not vnderstanding the Sonne of the eternall Father, but an Angell, vers. 18. Yet hence we may note many good things, as

First, that the Lord Iesus the Sonne of God, and the protection of his people, by whose onelyonly power a true miracle can be wrought, then affords his most gracious p. 27presence, when his members are in extreamest dangers: as the head most bestirres it selfe in the exigence of the least member. He tooke not the quality of fire from this fire, (which did burne wood, and fewell, and the enemies bodies, and the bolts of Daniels fellowes:) but onelyonly restrained and repressed it from these subiects. And hence it is, that the Martyrs neuer finde such a chearefull presence of Gods Spirit with them, as in the midst of flames: whose consolations swallow vp all their feares, and all the horrour of those flames. Of this trueth if our selues had not had experience in their hellish conspiracie, we had not beene here at this time.

Secondly, let vsus ascribe that saluation vntounto the Sonne of God, who walked with vsus in that Furnace. The wicked tyrant could espie a fourth like the Sonne of God in the furnace: much more let vsus, and acknowledge, that it was no fore-sight, wisedome, merit, or humane meanes whereby we were preserued, but onelyonly the Sonne of God, who by themselues reuealed it. And for time to come let vsus hide our selues vnderunder his wing, which if wee doe, fire shall cease to burne, and water to drowne, rather than we shall perish.

Thirdly, as this tyrant by this sight of this Sonne of God in the furnace did acknowledge, that hee neither ought to hauehave commanded such an vniust command, nor his Ministers obayed it; so wee wish the Romish N…buchadnezzar would at length come (by such euents as hauehave befall …n him) to acknowledge the Sonne of God with vsus, protecting and defending his owne religion among vsus: and that the tyrant would but come to aske that Iewish question, Who is this whom the windes and seas obey, as in 88. and what is that fourth, Math. 8 …7.Matt 8:7who would not suffer the fire to burne those, for whom it was prepared, as in 1605? and conclude at last, that it is hard to kicke against such prickes.Acts 9.5.Acts 9:5

III. For the effect or euent of all: It is the acknowledgement and praise of the true God, euen among his p. 28enemies: much more should this be among vsus, who professe our selues friends, and had the sweet of the merciemercy. Note Dauids practice on the like occasion, Psal. 7.16.17. His mischiefe shall returne vponupon his owne head, and his crueltie, shall fall vponupon his owne pate: I will praise the Lord according to his righteousnesse, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord m…st high. Let vsus also praise the iustice of God in defending the good, and reuenging the wicked: As he hides not his righteousnesse, but drawes it out for our safety, so let vsus not hide his saluation, but draw it out for his glory: Let fathers tell their children, and so let it be in euerlasting memory, that the Lords grace and the Papists wickednesse may neuer be put out. And let vsus not onelyonly speake of it as a wicked intent, and so force one another to malice them, but driue our selues forward to such duties, of faith, louelove, obedience, as beseeme those who looke for such saluation.Psal. 33.1.Ps 33:1 Thus it becomes the iust to be thankefull. To this blessed Sonne of God, who is alwayes present with his Church in the hottest flames, together with the Father of mercies, and Spirit of all consolation, be all honour and glory, now and euermore. Amen. Amen.

The end of the first Sermon.