A Moral Prognostication, Theological treatise 1

A Moral Prognostication · Theological treatise 1

p. 1A Moral Prognoſtication Of what muſt be Expected in the Churches of Chriſtendome, TILL THE GOLDEN AGE RETURNS; OR, Till the Time of True Reformation and Vnity.

1. MAnkind will be Born in a State of Infancy and Neſcience, that is, without actual Knowledge.

2. Yea, with a Nature that hath the innate Diſpoſitions to ſloath, and to diverting pleaſures and buſineſs; and more than ſo, to an averſneſs from thoſe Principles which are needful to Sanctification, and Heavenly Wiſdom. The Carnal Mind will have an Enmity againſt God, and will not mind the things of the Spirit, nor be ſubject to God's Law, Rom. 8. 5, 6, 7, 8.

3. Sound Learning, or Wiſdom, in things of ſo high p. 2a Nature, as are the matters of Salvation, will not be attain'd without Hard Study, and Earnest Prayer, and Humble Submiſſion to Inſtructions; and all this a long time Patiently Endured, or rather willingly, and delightfully Performed.

4. And if the Seeds of Wiſdom be not Born with us, in a capacious diſpoſition of underſtanding; but contrarily a Natural Unapprehenſiveneſs Blocks up the Way; even Time and Labour, will never (without a Miracle) bring any, to any great Eminency of Underſtanding.

5. And they that have both Capacity, and an Induſtrious Diſpoſition, muſt have alſo ſound, and able, and diligent Teachers, or at leaſt eſcape the Hands of Seducers, and of partial factious guides.

6. There are few Born with good natural Capacities, much leſs with a ſpecial diſpoſitive acuteneſs; and few that will be at the pains and patience, which the getting of Wiſdom doth require; and few that will have the happineſs of ſound, and diligent Teachers; But feweſt of all that will have a concurrence of all theſe three.

7. Therefore there will be but few very Wiſe Men in the World; Ignorance will be common, Wiſdom will be rare.

8. Therefore Errour or falſe Opinions will be common. For unleſs Men never think of the things of which they are Ignorant, or Judge nothing of them one way or other, they are ſure to err, ſo far as they Judge in Ignorance. But when things of greateſt Moment are repreſented as True or Falſe, to be believed or rejected, the moſt Ignorant Mind, is naturally inclined to paſs its Judgment or Opinion of them one way or other; and to Apprehend them according to the light he ſtandeth in, and to think of them as he is diſpoſed. So that Ignorance and Errour will concur.

p. 39. He that Erreth, doth think that he is in the Right, and Erreth not: For to Err, and to know that he Erreth in Judgment, is a Contradiction, and Impoſſible. (However in Words and Deeds a Man may Err, and know that he Erreth.)

10. He that knoweth not, and that Erreth, perceiveth not that Evidence of Truth, which ſhould make him receive it, and which maketh other Men receive it; And therefore knoweth not that indeed another is in the right, or ſeeth any more than he.

11. Eſpecially when every Man is a Stranger to anothers Mind and Soul, as to any immediate inſpection: And therefore, knoweth not anothers knowledge, nor the Convincing Reaſons of his Judgment.

12. As no Man is moved againſt his own Errours, by the Reaſons which he knoweth not; ſo Pride, and Self-love, and Partiality thence ariſing, incline all Men naturally to be over-valuers of their own Underſtandings, and ſo over-confident of all their own conceptions, and over-ſtiff in defending all their Errours, As Pride and ſelfiſhneſs are the firſt-born of Satan, and the Root of all poſitive Evil in Man's Soul; ſo a Man is more Naturally Proud of that which is the Honour of a Man, which is his Underſtanding and Goodneſs, than of that which is common to a Beaſt (as Strength, Beauty, Ornaments, &c.) Therefore Pride of Underſtanding and Goodneſs oft Live, when ſordid Apparel telleth you that childiſh Pride of Ornaments is Dead. And this Pride maketh it very difficult, to the moſt Ignorant and Erronious, to know their Ignorance and Errour, or ſo much as to ſuſpect their own Underſtandings.

13. He that ſeeth but few things, ſeeth not much to make him doubt, and ſeeth not the difficulties which ſhould check his Confidence, and ſtiffneſs in his way.

p. 414. He that ſeeth many things, and that clearly knoweth much; eſpecially, if he ſee them in their Order, and reſpects to one another, and leaveth out no one ſubſtantial Part, which is needful to open the ſignification of the reſt.

15. He that ſeeth many things diſorderly, and confuſedly, and not in due method, and leaveth out ſome ſubſtantial Parts, and hath not a digeſted Knowledge, doth know much, and err much, and may make a buſtle in the World of Ignorants, as if he were an excellent Learned Man; but hath little of the Inward delight, or of the Power and Benefits of Knowledge.

16. He that ſeeth many things but darkly, confuſedly, and not in the true place and method, cannot reconcile Truths among themſelves; but is like a Boy with a pair of Tarrying-Irons, or like one that hath his Clock or Watch all in peices, and knoweth not how to ſet them altogether. And therefore, is inclined to be a Sceptick.

17. This ſort of Scepticks, differ much from Humble Chriſtians; and have oft as high Thoughts of their Underſtandings as any others: For they lay the cauſe upon the difficulties in the Objects, rather than on themſelves: Unleſs, when they incline to Brutiſhneſs or Sadduceiſme, and take Man's Underſtanding to be uncapable of True Knowledge, and ſo lay the blame on humane Nature as ſuch, that is, on the Creator.

18. Few know ſo much as to ſee the difficulty of things, and make them doubt, or Sceptical. But far fewer know, ſo much as to reſolve their doubts and difficulties: Therefore, though (as Biſhop Jewel ſaith of faithful Pastors) I ſay not that there will be few Cardinals, few Biſhops, few Doctors, few Deans, few Jeſuits, few Fryars, (there will be anow of theſe) yet there will be few p. 5Wiſe Judicious Divines, and Paſtors, even in the beſt and happyeſt Countrys.

19. Seeing he that knoweth not or that Erreth, knoweth not that another Knoweth, or is in the Right, when he is in the wrong; therefore he knoweth not whoſe Judgment to honour and ſubmit to, if he ſhould ſuſpect or be driven from his own: And therefore is not ſo happy, as to be able to chooſe the fitteſt Teacher for himſelf.

20. In this Darkneſs, therefore he either Carnally caſteth himſelf on the Highest and moſt Honoured in the World, where he hath the moſt advantages for worldly Ends; or he followeth the fame of the time and Country where he is, or he falleth in with the Major Vote, of that Party whatſoever it be, which his underſtanding doth moſt eſteem and honour; or elſe with ſome Perſon that hath moſt advantage on him.

21. If any of theſe happen to be in the Right, he will be alſo in the Right materially, and may ſeem an Orthodox, Peaceable, and Praiſe-worthy Man: But where they are in the Wrong, he is contented with the Reputation of being in the Right, and of the good Opinion of thoſe whom he concurreth with; who flatter, and applaud each other in the Dark.

22. When Wiſe Men are but few, they can be but in few places; and therefore will be abſent from moſt of the People (High or Low) that need Inſtruction. Beſides, that their ſtudiouſneſs inclineth them (like Hierom) to be more retired than others, that know leſs.

23. This confidence in an Erring Mind, is not only the Caſe of the Teachers, as well as of the Flocks; but is uſually more fortifyed in them than in others: For they think that the Honour of Learning and Wiſdom, is due to their Place and Calling, and Name, and Standing p. 6in the Univerſities; how empty ſoever they be themſelves. And they take it for a double diſhonor (as it is) for a Teacher to be accounted Ignorant; and an injury to their work and office, and to the People's Souls, that muſt by their honor be prepared to Profit by them; And therefore, they ſmart more impatiently under any detection of their Ignorance, than the common People do.

24. It is not meer Honeſty and Godlineſs, that will ſuffice to ſave Miniſters or People from this Ignorance, Injudiciouſneſs and Errour; There having ever been among the very Godly Miniſters, few Judicious Men, that are fit to inveſtigate a difficult Truth, or to defend it againſt a ſubtile Adverſary, or to ſee the Syſteme of Theological verities in their proper Method, Harmony, and Beauty.

25. Morality hath innumerable Difficulties as well as School-divinity: Becauſe that Moral Good and Evil, are ordinarily ſuch by preponderating Accidents; (Actions as Actions, being neither; but only of Phyſical Conſideration.) And the work of a true Caſuiſt is to compare ſo many Accidents, and to diſcern in the compariſon which prepondorateth that it requireth both an Acute and a Large Capacious far ſeeing wit, to make a Man a true reſolver of Caſes of Conſcience. And Conſequently to be a judicious Paſter, that ſhall not lead the People into Errours.

26. As few Teachers have Natural Capacity for Exactneſs, and a Willingneſs, and Patience for long Laborious Studies; ſo many by their Paſtoral overſight of Souls, and many by the wants of their Families (eſpecially in times or Perſecution, when all their publike maintenance is gone, and they muſt Live (with their Families) on the Charity of People, perhaps Poor and Perſecuted as well as p. 7they) are hindred from thoſe Studies, which elſe they would undergo.

27. It is few that grow to much Exactneſs of Judgment without much Writing (for themſelves or others): For Study, which is to be Exactly ordered and expreſſed by the Pen, is uſually (at laſt) the exacteſt Study: As the Lord Bacon ſaith, [Much Reading maketh a Man full; much conference maketh a Man Ready: and much Writing maketh a Man Exact.] There are few Camero's, Men of clear Judgment, and abhorring to Write. And there are few Divines comparatively that have opportunity to Write much.

28. They that Err in Divinity, do think their falſehoods to be God's Truth; and ſo will Honour that which he hates, with the pretence of his Authority and Name.

29. Therefore they will call up their own, and other Mens Zeal, to defend thoſe falſhoods as for God, and think that in ſo doing they do God Service.

30. And the Intereſt of their own Place, and Honour, and Ends, will ſecretly inſinuate when they diſcern it not, and will increaſe their Zeal againſt Oppoſers.

31. Therefore, ſeeing they are uſually Many, and Wiſe Men but few, they will expect that Number ſhould give the precedency to their Opinions, and will call thoſe Proud, or Heretical that gain-ſay them, and Labour to defame them, as ſelf-conceited Opinionative-Men.

32. Therefore too many Godly Ministers will be great oppoſers of many of thoſe Truths of God, which they Know not, and which they Err about, and will help on the Service of Satan in the World; And will be the Authors of Factions and Contentions in the Churches; whilſt too many are [Proud, Knowing nothing (in thoſe p. 8matters when they think they are moſt Orthodox) but doting about Questions, and Strifes of Words, whereof cometh Envy, Strife, Railing, Evil Surmiſings, Perverſe Diſputings of Men of Corrupt Minds (in this) and Deſtitute of the Truth, 1 Tim. 6. 4, 5.

33. And if many Good Men will Erroniouſly ſtand up againſt that Truth which any Man Wiſer than themſelves maketh known, the Worldly, and Malicious, that have a manifold Enmity againſt it, will be ready to ſtrengthen them by their Concurrence, and to joyn in the Oppoſition.

34. Not they that are Wiſeſt at a diſtance, but they that are Neareſt the People, and are always with them, are likeſt to prevail to make Diſciples of them, and bring them to their mind: So great an advantage it is, to Talk daily and confidently to Ignorant Souls, when there is none to Talk againſt them, and to make their Folly known.

35. Eſpecially if the ſame Men can get Intereſt in their Eſteem as well as Neerneſs, and make themſelves Eſteemed the Beſt or Wiſeſt Men.

36. Therefore Jeſuitical, Worldly Clergy Men, will always get about Great Men, and inſinuate into Nobles, and will ſtill defame them that are Wiſe and Good, that they may ſeem odious, and themſelves ſeem excellent, and ſo may carry it by deceitful Shews.

37. And they will do their beſt, to procure all Wiſe and Good Men, that are againſt their Intereſt, to be Baniſhed from the Palaces of Princes and Nobles, where they are; leſt their preſence ſhould confute their Slanderers, and they ſhould be as Burning and Shining Lights, that carry their Witneſs with them, where they come: And alſo to bring them under publike ſtigmatizing Cenſures, and Sufferings; that their Names may be infamous and odious, in the World.

p. 938. And Heretical Paſtors will play a Lower Game, & creep into the Houſes of ſilly People, prepared by ignorance, and Soul-diſturbers to receive their Hereſies.

39. Between theſe two Sorts of naughty Paſtors (the WORDLY and the HERETICAL) and alſo the Multitude of Weak erroneous honeſt Teachers, the Soundeſt and Worthyeſt will be ſo few, that far moſt of the People (high and low) are like to live under the Influences and Advantages of Erring-Men; and therefore, themſelves to be an Erring People.

40. In that Meaſure, that Men are Carnal; their own Carnal Interest will Rule them. And both the WORLDLY and HERETICAL Clergy, are Ruled by Carnal Intereſts, though not the ſame Materially. And the Honeſter Erring Miniſters, are Swayed by their Intereſts too much; Inſomuch, that on this account, is was no over-valuing of Tymothy, or wrong to the other Paſtors, that it ſhould plainly be ſaid by Paul, Phil. 2. 21, 22. [For I have no Man like Minded, who will Naturally care for your State. For all ſeek their own, not the things which are Jeſus Chriſts.] And Act. 20. 30. [Of your own ſelves ſhall Men ariſe, and ſpeak perverſe things, to draw away Diſciples after them.] Beſides the Grievous Wolves which would not ſpare the Flocks.

41. The Intereſt then of the WORLDLY Clergy, will conſiſt in pleaſing the Great Ones of the World; for Lordſhips, and Worldly Wealth, and Honour, and to be made the Rulers of their Brethren, and to have their Wills: And the Intereſt of Hereticks will be to have Many to be of their Own Opinion to Admire them: And the Intereſt of upright Miniſters, will be to pleaſe God, and propagate the Goſpel, Increaſe the Church, and Save Mens Souls. Yet ſo that they have a Subordinate Interest, for Food and Rayment, and Families, and neceſſary Reputation, p. 10which they are too apt to overvalue.

42. Therefore, it will be the Great Trade of the WORLDLY Clergy, to pleaſe and flatter the Rulers of the World, and by all artificial Inſinuations, and by their Friends, to Work themſelves into their Favour, and by Scorns and Calumnies, to Work out all other that are againſt their Intereſt.

43. And it will be the Trade of Hereticks, to inſinuate into the more ductile People, eſpecially as Miniſters of Truth and Righteouſneſs, that have ſomewhat more excellent in Knowlenge or Holineſs, than the Faithful Miniſters of Chriſt.

44. And it will be the Work of Faithful Miniſters, to Save Mens Souls. But with ſuch various Degrees of Self-denyal or Selfiſhneſs, as they have various Degrees of Wiſdom and Holineſs.

45. Many Great and Piouſly diſpoſed Princes, like Conſtantine, will think that to Honour and Advance the Clergy, into Worldly Power and Wealth, is to Honour God and the Chriſtian Religion: And Great Munificence is fit for their own Greatneſs.

46. And becauſe ſuch Honour and Wealth cannot poſſibly be beſtowed on All; it muſt make a great Diſparity, and ſet ſome as Lords over the reſt.

47. And the unavoidable Weakneſs, Paſſions, and Diviſions of the Clergy, will make Rulers think, that there is a Neceſſity; that beſides the Civil Government, there ſhould be ſome of their Own Office, to Rule the reſt, and to keep them in order, obedience, and Peace.

48. Ambition and Covetouſneſs, will abuſe this Munificence of Princes: And whilſt that any Church Preferments are ſo Great (beyond the Degree of a meer encouraging Subſiſtence) as to be a ſtrong Bait to tempt the deſires of a Proud and Worldly Mind, the moſt Proud and p. 11Worldly that are within the reach of Hope, will be the ſeekers; by themſelves, and by their Friends.

49. Mortified, Humble, Heavenly Men, will either never Seek them, or with no gre… Eagerneſs; their Appetite being leſs, and their Restraints much greater.

50. Therefore they that have the Keeneſt Appetites to Church-grandure and Preferments, and are the Eager Seekers, are likeſt to find.

51. Therefore the Lovers of Wealth and Honour, are likeſt ſtill to be Lords among the Clergy; except in ſuch marvellous happy Times, when Wiſe and Pious Princes, Call the more Worthy that ſeek it not, and reject theſe thirſty ſeekers.

52. The greateſt Lovers of Worldly Wealth and Honour, are the worst Men, 1 Joh. 2. 15. Jam. 4. 4. &c.

53. Therefore, except in ſuch times as aforeſaid, the worſt Men will be ſtill the Rich and Powerful in the Clergy, for the moſt part, or at leaſt, the Worldly that are very bad.

54. Theſe Carnal Minds are Enmity to God, and cannot be Subject to his Law. And the Friendſhip of the World is Enmity to God. And the Honour, and Wealth of theſe Worldly Men, will be taken by them for their Intereſt: And they will ſet themſelves to defend it, againſt all that would endanger it.

55. The Doctrine and Practiſe of Humility, Mortification, Contempt of the World, forſaking all, taking up the Croſs, &c. is ſo much of the Chriſtian Religion, that however the Worldly Clergy may formally Preach it; their Minds and Intereſts are at Enmity to it.

56. Such Men will make Church-Canons according to their Intereſts and Minds.

57. And they will judge of Miniſters and People, according to their Intereſt and Mind; Who is Sound, and p. 12who is Erroneous; who is Honeſt, and who is Bad; who is Worthy of Favour, and who is Worthy of all the Reproches that can be deviſed againſt him?

58. The Humble, Mortified Miniſters, and People, that are ſeriouſly the Servants of a Crucified Chriſt; and place their hopes, and portion in another World, have a holy Diſpoſition, contrary to this Worldly Carnal Mind; And their Manner of Preaching, will be of a different Reliſh, and the Tenour of their Lives, of a contrary Courſe.

59. The generality of the beſt People in the Chriſtian Churches, will perceive the Difference between the Worldly, and the Heavenly manner of Preaching, and of Living, and will Love and Honour the Later, far above the former; becauſe their new Nature ſuiteth with things Spiritual, and fitteth them, to reliſh them.

60. The Worst of Vicious and Worldly Men, will diſreliſh the Spiritual manner of Preaching and Living, and will joyn with the Worldly Clergy againſt it.

61. The Worldly Clergy being Hypocrites, as to Chriſtianity-and Godlin…ſs (like Judas that loved the bag, better than Christ) They will make themſelves a Religion, conſiſting of the meer Corps, and Dead Image of the True Religion; of ſet Words, and Actions, and Formalities, and Orders, which in themſelves are (many, at leaſt, if not all) good; but the Life they will not endure.

62. This Image of True Religion or Corps of Godlineſs, they will dreſs up with many additional Flowers out of their own Gardens, ſome Tolerable, and ſome Corrupting: That ſo they may have ſomething which both their own Conſciences, and the World, may take to be Honourable Religion; leſt Known▪ Ungodlineſs ſhould Terrify Conſcience within, and ſhame them in the World without.

63. This Image of Religion ſo dreſt up, will ſuit their p. 13Carnal Auditors and People too, … the ſame Ends; and therefore, will become their Uniting Intereſt.

64. That which is but a Weed among theſe Flowers, the more Heavenly Miniſters and People will diſlike, and much more diſlike the Loathſome Face of Death (or lifeleſneſs) in their Religion.

65. Theſe differences of Mind and Practiſe, will Engage both Parties in ſome kind of Oppoſition to each other. The Worldly Clergy or Hipocrites, will have Heart-riſings againſt the Miniſters and People that think meanly of them, and will take it for their Intereſt to bring them down. For Enmity is hardly reſtrained from Exerciſe. And Cain will be Wrath, that Abels Sacrifice is better accepted than his own.

66. The better Miniſters, will be apt through Paſſion, to ſpeak too diſhonourably of the other: And the raſh, and younger ſort, and the Heretical Hypocrites that fall in with them, will take it for part of a Godly Zeal to ſpeak againſt them to the People, in ſuch Words as Chriſt uſed of the Scribes and Phariſees.

67. Hereupon the Exaſperations of each Party, will be increaſed more and more; And the Powerful Worldly Clergy, will think it their Intereſt, to deviſe ſome new Impoſitions, which they know the other cannot yield to, to work them out.

68. Whether they be Oaths, Subſcriptions, Words, or Actions; which they believe to be againſt Gods Word, the Spiritual, and Upright part of the Clergy and People, will not perform them; reſolving to obey God, rather than Man.

69. Hereupon the Worldly part will take their advantage, and call them Diſobedient, Stubborn, Proud, Schiſmatical, Self opinioned, diſturbers of the publick Peace and Order, Peſtilent fellows, and movers of Sedition among the p. 14People, that will let nothing be quiet, but Turn the World upſide-down, Act. 24. 5, 6. And will Endeavour to bring them to ſuch Sufferings, as Men really Guilty of ſuch Crimes deſerve.

70. And becauſe the ſuffering, and diſſenting party of Miniſters, when ſilenced will leave many Vacancies in the Churches they will be fain to fill them with men, how Empty and Unworthy ſoever, that are of their own Spirit, and will be true to their Intereſts.

71. The Exaſperation of their Sufferings, will make many, otherwiſe ſober Miniſters too impatient, and to give their Tongues leave to take down the Honour of the Clergy, whom they ſuffer by more than beſeemeth men of Humility, Charity, and Patience.

72. When the People, that moſt eſteem their Faithful Miniſters, are deprived of their Labours, by the Prohibitions of the reſt, and themſelves alſo Afflicted with them; it will ſtir up in them an inordinate, unwarrantable, paſſionate Zeal; which will corrupt their very Prayers, and make them ſpeak unſeemly things, and Pray for the downfal of that Clergy, which they take to be the Enemies of God, and Godlineſs. And they will think that to ſpeak eaſily or Charitably of ſuch Men, as dare forbid Chriſts Miniſters to Preach his Goſpel, and by Notorious Sacriledge, Alienate the Perſons, and Gifts that were Conſecrated ſolemnly to God; is but to be Luke-warm, and indifferent between God and the Devil.

73. And when they take them as Enemies to Religion, and to themſelves, the younger and raſher ſort of Miniſters; but much more the people, will grow into a Suſpition of all that they ſee their Afflicters ſtand for: They will diſlike not only their Faults; but many harmleſs things, yea many laudable customes which they uſe; and p. 15will grow into ſome Superſtition in Oppoſition to them, making new Sins in the manner of Worſhip, which God never forbad or made to be ſins; and taking up new Duties, which God never made Duties; yea ready to forforſake ſome old & wholeſome Doctrines; becauſe their Afflicters own them, and to take up ſome new unſound Doctrines, and Expoſitions of Gods Word; becauſe they are inclined by Opinion, and Paſſion conjoyned, to go as far as may be from ſuch Men, whom they think ſo bad of.

74. And the vulgar People that have but little ſenſe of Religion (that are not by the foreſaid Intereſt, United to the Afflicting Clergy) having a Reverence to the worth of thoſe that are Afflicted, and an Experience of the rawneſs, and differing lives of many that poſſeſs their Rooms, will grow to Compaſſionate the Afflicted, and to think that they are injured themſelves, and ſo to think hardly of the cauſers of all this.

75. Hereupon the Powerful Clergy, will Increaſe their Accuſations againſt the Party that is againſt them, and Declare to the World in Print and Pulpits, their ignorance, unpeaceableneſs, unrulineſs, giddineſs, falſe opinions, and conceits about the manner of Worſhip, and how unſufferable a ſort of Men they are.

76. By this time the Devil will have done the Radical part of his Work; which is to Deſtroy much of Christian Love to one another, and make them take each other for unlovely odious Perſons: The one part, for Perſecuting Enemies of Godlineſs, and Hypocrites, and Phariſees: The other for peviſh, ſeditious, turbulent, unruly Sectaries. And on theſe ſupoſitions, all their after Characters, affections and practiſes towards each other will proceed.

77. By this Enmity and Oppoſition againſt each other, both Parties will increaſe in Wrath, and ſomewhere in p. 16Numbers. The Worldly Afflicting Clergy will multiply not only ſuch as are diſaffected to them, but downright Fanaticks, and Sectaries that will run as far from them as they can, into contrary Extreams. For when they are once brought into a diſtaſt of the old Hive, the Bees will hardly gather into one new one; but will divide into ſeveral Swarms and Hives. As every Mans Zeal is more againſt the Afflicting party; ſo he will go further from them: Some to be Separatiſts, ſome Anabaptiſts, ſome Antinomians, ſome Seekers, ſome Quakers, and ſome to they know not what themſelves.

78. For the Women and Apprentices, and Novices in Chriſtianity, that have more Paſſion than Judgment, will abundance of them quite over-run, even their own Afflicted Teachers, and will forſake them if they will not over-run their own Judgments, in forſaking thoſe that do Afflict them.

79. And many Hypocrites that have no ſound Religion; but Ignorance, Pride, and U…charitableneſs, will thruſt in among them, in theſe diſcontents; or ſpring up in the Nurceries of theſe Bryers of Paſſion, and will bring in New Doctrines, and New ways of Worſhip, and make themſelves Preachers, and the Heads of Sects: By Reaſon of whom, the way of Truth ſhall be Evil ſpoken of.

80. And many unſtable Perſons ſeeing this, will dread and loath ſo giddy a ſort of men, and will turn Papiſts, upon the perſwaſions of them that tell them, that there is no true Unity nor Conſiſtency, but at Rome; and that all muſt thus turn giddy at laſt, that are not fixed in the Papal Head. And thus they that fly too far from the Common Prayer Book, will drive men to the Maſs, and the afflicters will make Sectaries, and the Sectaries will make Papists.

p. 1781. When the Violent Clergy, inſtead of a Fatherly Government of the Flocks, have driven the People into Paſſions, Diſtempers, and Uncharitable diſaffections to themſelves, and have alſo been the great Cauſe of multiplyed Hereſies, and Sects by the ſame means, inſtead of being Humbled and Penitent for their Sin, they will be hardened, and juſtify all their violences, by the giddineſs and miſcarriages of thoſe Sectaries, which they themſelves have made.

82. And when they publiſh the faults of ſuch, for the juſtification of their own violence, they will draw Thouſands into an Approbation of their Courſes, (to think that ſuch a turbulent people can never be too hardly called or uſed) and Conſequently into a participation of their Guilt.

83. By all this, the Diſſenters will be ſtill more Alienated from them; and many will aggravate the Crime of the Miniſters that Conform to their Impoſitions, and obey them; And for the ſake of a few that Afflict them, they will Condemn many Laudable Conforming Miniſters, that never conſented to it; but could heartily wiſh, that it were otherwiſe.

84. And the younger, and indiſcreeter paſſionate ſort, will frequently reproach ſuch, as unconſionable temporizers, that will do any thing for Worldly Ends, and that as Hypocrites for a Fleſhly Intereſt, concur with the Corrupters, and Afflicters of the Godly.

85. Theſe cenſures and reproaches, will provoke thoſe Conforming Miniſters, who are not maſters of their paſſions, nor Conquerors of their Pride, to think as bad of the Cenſurers, as their Afflicters do, and to joyn with them in the diſplaying of all their Enormities, and promoting their further Sufferings, and publiſhing the folly and turbulency of their Spirits, with Spleen and Partiality.

86. By theſe kind of Speeches, Preachings, and Writings, p. 81Multitudes of the Debaucht will be hardened in their Sin againſt all Religion: For when they obſerve that it is the ſame party of Men, who are thus Reproached, that are the ſtricteſt reprovers of their Lewdneſs, their Fornicatious, Tipling, Gaming, Luxuries, and Ungodlineſs: they will think that it's no great matter, what ſuch a defamed giddy ſort of People ſay, and that really they are worſe themſelves.

87. Each party of theſe Adverſaries, will Characterize the adverſe Party as Hypocrites: The Paſſionate Sufferers, will call the Afflicters, [Hypocrites and Phariſees, that have no Religion, but a formal ſhew of outſide Ceremonies and Words, and that Tythe, Mint, and Cummin, and waſh the outſide, while within, they are full of Perſecuting Cruelty, and are Wolves in Sheeps Cloathing, loving the uppermoſt Seats, and great Titles, and Ceremonious Philacteries, whilſt they are Enemies to the Preaching of the Goſpel of Chriſt, and get Revenues to themſelves, and devour not only the Houſes, but the Peace, and Lives of others, under pretence of long Liturgies; and that devour the living Saints, while they keep Holy-days, and build Monuments for the dead ones, whom their Fathers Murdered, &c] And the Powerful Clergy, will call the others Hypocrites, and labour to ſhew that the Phariſees Character belongeth to them, and that their pretences of ſtrictneſs in Religion, and their long Praying and Preaching, is but a Cloak to cover their Diſobedience, and Covetouſneſs, and ſecret Sins; and that their Hearts, and inſide, is as bad as others, and that their Fervency in Devotion, is but an Hypocritical, Affected, Whining, and Canting; and that they are worſe, than the leſſer Religious ſort of People; becauſe they are more Unpeaceable, and Diſobedient, and add Hypocriſy to their Sin.

p. 1988. The Ignorant, Worldlings, Drunkards, and Ungodly deſpiſers of Holineſs and Heaven, being in all Countrys moſt contradicted in their way, by this ſtricter ſort of Men, and hearing them in Pulpit, and Preſs ſo brandid for Hypocrites, will joyfully unite themſelves with the Cenſurers; and ſo they will make up as one Party, in crying down the Preciſe Hypocrites; and uſually make ſome Name to call them by, as their brand of common Ignominy: And they will live the more quietly in all their Sins, and think they ſhall be Saved, as ſoon as the Preciſeſt, that make more ſhew, but have no more Sincerity, but more Hypocriſy than themſelves.

89. The Suffering Party, ſeeing the Ungodly, and the Conforming Afflicters of them thus United, and made one Party in Oppoſition to them, will increaſe their hard thoughts of the adverſe Clergy, and take them for downright Prophane, and the leading Enemies of Godlineſs in the World, that will be Captains in the Devils Army, and Lead on all the moſt Ungodly, againſt ſerious Godlineſs, for their Wordly Ends.

90. And the young and indifferent ſort of People in all Countrys, that were engaged in neither part, being but ſtrangers to Religion, and to the differences, will be ready to judge of the Cauſe by the Perſons; and ſeeing ſo many of the Dignified Advanced Clergy, and the more ſenſual ſort of the People on one ſide, and ſo many Men of strict lives on the other, that ſuffer▪ alſo for their Religion, and hearing too that it is ſome Name of Preciſeneſs, that they are Reproached by, will think them to be the better ſide; And ſo the title of the Godly will grow by degrees, to be almoſt Appropriated to their Party, and the Title of Prophane and Perſecuters to the other.

91. All this while the Nonconforming Miniſters, will p. 20be ſomewhat differently affected, according to the different degrees of their Judiciouſneſs, Experience, and Self-denyal.

Some of them will think theſe Paſſions of the People needful, to check the Fierceneſs of the Afflicters (which doth but Exaſperate it); And therefore, will let them alone, though they will not encourage them.

Some of the younger or more injudicious hot-brain'd ſort will put them on, and make them believe, that all Communion with any Conforming Miniſters or their Pariſh-Churches is unlawful, and their forms of Worſhip, are Sinful and Anti-christian; and that they are all Temporizers, and Betrayers of Truth, and Purity, that Communicate or Aſſemble with them.

The judicious, and experienced, and moſt patient, and ſelf-denying ſort, will themſelves abſtain from all that is Sin; and as far as it is in their choice and power, will joyn with the Churches, that Worſhip God moſt agreeably to his Word and Will; But ſo, as that they will not be loud in their Complaints, nor buſy to draw Men to their Opinions in Controvertible Points, nor will unchurch and condemn all the Churches that have ſomething which they diſlike as Sinful; nor will Renounce the Communion of all faulty Churches, leſt they Renounce the Communion of all in the World, and Teach all others to Renounce theirs: But they will ſometimes Communicate with the more faulty Churches, to ſhew that they unchurch them not (ſo they be not forced in it to any Sin); Though uſually they will prefer the purest: yea, ordinarily they will joyn with the more faulty, when they can have no better, or when the publike good requireth it. They will never prefer the Intereſt of their Nonconforming Party, before the Intereſt of Chriſtianity, or the Publike good: They will ſo defend leſſer Truths, as not to neglect or p. 21diſadvantage the greater, which all are agreed in; They will ſo preſerve their own Innocency, as not to ſtir up other Mens Paſſions, nor to make factions or diviſions by their difference. They will ſo diſlike the pride and worldlineſs of others, and their injuries againſt God and Godlineſs, as not to ſpeak Evil of Dignities, nor to Cheriſh in the Peoples Minds, any Diſhonourable injurious thoughts of their Kings, or any in Authority over them: They will Labour to allay the paſſions of the people, and to rebuke their cenſorious, and too ſharp Language, and to keep up all due Charity, to thoſe by whom they Suffer; but eſpecially Loyalty to their Kings and Rulers, and Peaceableneſs as to their Countrys. They will teach them to diſtinguiſh between the Cruel that are Maſters of the Game, and all the reſt that have no hand in it; and at leaſt not to ſeparate from all the reſt, for the ſake of a few: If they will go as far as Martin (in Sulpitius Severus) to avoid all Communion with Ithacius and Idacius, and the Councils of Biſhops, that Proſecuted the Priſcillianiſts, to the ſcandal of Godlineſs it ſelf; yet not for their ſakes to avoid all others, that never conſented to it: nor with Gildas, to ſay of all the bad Miniſters, that he was not Eximius Chriſtianus that would call them Miniſters, or Paſtors, rather than Traitors. They will perſwade the People to diſcern between Good and Evil, and not to run into Extreams, nor to diſlike all that their Afflicters hold or uſe; nor to call things lawful, by the name of Sin, and Anti-chriſtianity, nor to ſuffer their Paſſions to blind their Judgments, to make ſuperſtitiouſly New Sin and Duties, in oppoſition to their Adverſaries: Nor to diſgrace their Underſtandings and the Truth, by Errours, Factions, Revilings, or Miſcarriages; nor to run into Sects, nor to divide Chriſts Houſe and Kingdom, while they pretend to be his Zealous Servants: They p. 22will perſwade the People to Patience, and Moderation, and Peace, and to Speak Evil of no Man, nor by Word or Deed, to Revenge themſelves; Much leſs to reſiſt the Authority that is ſet over them by God; but to imitate their Saviour, and quietly Suffer, and being reviled not to revile again; but to Love their Enemies, and Bleſs their Curſers.

92. The ſoberer ſort of the People, will be Ruled by theſe Counſels, and will do much to quiet the reſt. But the Heretical part with their own Paſſions, will Exaſperate many Novices and Injudicious Perſons, to account this Courſe and Counſel aforeſaid, to be but the effect of Luke-wa…mneſs, and Carnal Compliance with Sin, and a halting between two Opinions, and a Participation in the Sin of Perſecutors, and Malignant Enemies of Godlineſs: And they will believe that whoever joyneth with the Pariſh Churches, in their way, is guilty of Encouraging them in Sin, and of falſe Worſhip.

93. Hereupon they will defame the Non conforming Miniſters laſt deſcribed, as Men of no Zeal, neither Fleſh nor Fiſh; and perhaps, as Men that would Save their Skin, and ſhift themſelves out of Sufferings, and betray the Truth. And when ſuch Miniſters, acquaint them with their unſound Principles and Paſſions, they will ſay of them, that they ſpeak bitterly of the Godly, and joyn with the Perſecutors in reproaching them.

94. And they will carry about among themſelves, many falſe Reports and Slanders againſt them; Partly becauſe Paſſion taketh off Charity, and Tenderneſs of Conſcience; and partly becauſe an Opinionative Modal, and Siding Religiouſneſs, hath ever more Followers, and a quicker Zeal, than true Holineſs; And partly becauſe they will think that humane converſe obligeth them to believe the Reports, which thoſe that are accounted good Men utter; p. 23And partly becauſe that they will think, that the upholding of their Cauſe (which they think is Gods) doth need the Suppreſſion of theſe Mens Credit, and Reputation that are againſt it.

95. But the greater part of the honeſt Non-conformiſt Miniſters, will diſlike the headineſs, and raſhneſs of the Novices, and the Sectaries; and will approve of the aforeſaid moderate Wayes. But their opportunities, and diſpoſitions of Expreſſing it, will be various. Some of them will do it freely, whatever be thought of it; And ſome of them that have impatient Auditors, will think that it is no duty to attempt that which will not be endured, and that it is better to do what good they can, than none. And ſome will think, that ſeeing the Worldly Clergy forbid them to Preach the Goſpel of Salvation, they are not bound to keep up any of their Reputation or Intereſt, as long as they have themſelves no hand in the Extreams, and Paſſions of the People. And ſome that have Wives and Children, and nothing but the Peoples Charity to find them Food and Rayment, being turned out of all publike Maintenance by their Afflicters, and Proſecuted ſtill with continued violence, will think that it is not their duty, to beg their Bread from door to door; nor to turn their Families to be kept on the Almes of the Pariſh, by loſing the Affection of thoſe People, whoſe Charity only they can expect Relief from: And therefore, they will think that Neceſſity, and Preſervation of their Families Lives and Health, will better excuſe their ſilence, when they Defend not thoſe that would Deſtroy them, againſt the overmuch Oppoſition of the People; than the Command of their Afflicters will excuſe their ſilence, if they neglect to Preach the Christian Faith. And ſome will think, that finding themſelves hated, and hunted by one party; if they p. 24loſe the Affection of the other alſo, they ſhall have none to do their Office with, nor to do any good to; and that they ſhall but leave the People whom they diſpleaſe, to follow thoſe paſſionate Leaders, that will tempt them to more dangerous Extremities, againſt the Peace of Chriſtian Societies.

But the moſt judicious and reſolved Miniſters, that Live not on the Favour or Maintenanee of the People, or are quite above all Worldly Intereſt, will behave themſelves wiſely, moderately, and yet reſolvedly; and will do nothing, that ſhall diſtaſte ſober and wiſe Men, nor yet deſpiſe the Souls of the moſt Impotent or Indiſcreet; but by ſolid Principles, endeavour to build them upon ſolid Grounds; and to uſe them with the Tenderneſs, as Nurſes ſhould do their crying Children. But yet they will not cheriſh their Sin, under the Pretence of profiting their Souls; nor by Silence, be guilty of their Blood; nor ſo much as connive at thoſe dangerous Extreams, that ſeem to ſerve ſome preſent Exigence and Jobb: but threaten future Ruine to the Churches, and Diſhonour to the Chriſtian Cauſe. And therefore, they reſolve not to neglect the Duties of Charity, to the Bittereſt of their Perſecutors: And the rather, becauſe that it will prove in the end, a Charity to the Church, and to the Souls of the Paſſionate, whoſe Charity they labour to keep alive. And Silence at Sin, is contrary to their Truſt and Office: And they will not be Guilty of that Carnal Wiſdom, which would do Evil, that Good may come by it; or that dare not ſeek to cure the Principles of Uncharitableneſs, Diviſions, or Extremities in the People, for fear of loſing Advantages of doing them Good; or that dare not diſown unlawful Schiſms and Separations, for fear of encouraging thoſe Malignants, that call lawful Practices by that Name. They will do God's Work (though with p. 33Prudence, and not deſtructive Raſhneſs, yet) with Fidelity, and Self-Denyal. And they will lay at Chriſt's Feet, not only their Intereſt, in the Favour of Superiors; and their Peace; and Safety, and Liberty, and Eſtates, and Lives, which are expoſed to Malignant Cruelty, among the Cainites of the World: but alſo, all the Good Thoughts, and Words, and Favour of the Religious ſort of People, yea, and Paſtors too. And they will look more to the Intereſt of the Whole Church, than of a Narrow Party; and of Poſterity, than of the Preſent Time: As knowing, that at long-running, its only Truth that will ſtand upper-moſt; when Malignant Violence, and Sectarian Paſſions, are both run out of Breath. And therefore, in Simplicity, and Godly Sincerity, they will have their Converſations in the World; and not in Fleſhly Wiſdom, or Selfiſh-blinding-Paſſions, or Factions. Let all Men uſe them how they will, or judge or call them what they will; they will not therefore be falſe to God, and to their Conſciences. And ſeeing it is their Office to Govern and Teach the People, they will not be Governed by the Favour of the moſt Cenſorious, Ignorant, or Proud; but will Guide them as Faithful Teachers, till they are deſerted by them, and diſabled. But the Sober, Antient, Wiſe, and Experienced, will alwayes cleave to them, and forſake the Giddy and Sectarian way.

96. In the Heat of theſe Extremities, the moſt Peaceable and ſober Part, both of the Conformiſts and Non-conformiſts, will be in beſt Eſteem with the grave and ſober People; but in the grateſt Streight, with both the Extreams.

97. The Godly and Peaceable Conformiſts, will get the Love of the Sober, by their Holy Doctrine and Lives: But they will be deſpiſed by the Sectaries, becauſe they Conform; p. 26and they will be ſuſpected by the Proud and Perſecuting Clergy, as leaning to the Diſſenters, and ſtrengthening them by their Favour; becauſe theſe Miniſters will, in all their Pariſhes, more love and honour the Godly Non-conformists, than the Irreligious, Ignorant, Wordly, Dead-hearted Multitude, or the Malignant Enemies of Godlyneſs.

98. Hereupon theſe Conformiſts being taken for the chief Upholders of the Non-conformists, will be under continual Jealouſies, and Rebukes. And perhaps, new Points of Conformity ſhall be deviſed, to be impoſed on them, which it is known, their Conſciences are againſt; that ſo they may be forced alſo to be Non-conformists: Becauſe Secret Enemies are more dangerous, than Open Foes.

99. Theſe Conformiſts being thus troubled, will ſeel alſo the ſtirring of Paſſion in themſelves; and by the Injury, will be tempted to think more hardly of their Afflicters, than before: And ſo will Part of them, turn down-right Non-conformiſts; and the other Part will live in Diſpleaſure, till they ſee an Opportunity to ſhew it. And theſe are the likeſt to croſs and weaken the Worldly, Perſecuting Clergy, of any Men.

100. And as for the Moderate Nonconformiſts, that underſtand what they do, and why, and ſeek the Reconciling of all Diſſenters; they will alſo be Loved and Honoured by the Sober, Grave, and Experienced Chriſtians: But both Extreams will be againſt them. The Sectaries will ſay, as before, That they are Luke-warm, and Carnal, Selfiſh, Complying-Men: The proud impoſing-Clergy will ſay, That it is they that have drawn the People into theſe Extreams; and then complain of them, that they cannot Rule them. And they will tell them, That till they Conform themſelves, their Moderation doth. but. p. 27ſtrengthen the Non-conformiſts, and keep up the Reputation of Sobriety among them. And the nearer they come to Conformity, the more dangerous they are; as being more able to ſupplant it. And thus the Moderate and Reconcilers, will be as the Wedge that is preſt by both Sides, in the Cleft of Church-Diviſions: And no Side liketh them, becauſe they are not given up to the Factious Paſſions, or Intereſt of Either.

101. Only thoſe will, in all theſe Extremities and Diviſions, keep their Integrity; who are, 1. Wiſe. 2. Humble and Self-denying. 3. Charitable, and principled with a Spirit of Love. 4. And do take the Favour of God, and Heaven alone, for their Hope and Portion, whatever becometh of them in the World. But the WORLDLY Perſecuting, and the SECTARIAN Party, will be both conſtituted by theſe Contrary Principles; 1. Ignorance and Error. 2. Pride of their own Underſtandings; every one thinking, that all are Intollerable, that are not of their Mind and Way. 3. Uncharitableneſs, Malice, or want of Love to others, as to themſelves. 4. And over-valuing their Worldly Accommodations, Honours, and Eſtates.

102. Hereupon the Inſtruments of a Fooliſh Shepherd, will ſtill be uſed to the greater Scattering of the Flocks. And becauſe none are ſo able to Diſpute againſt them, as the Moderate; therefore they will be taken for their moſt dangerous Adverſaries: And when they are greatly inclined to the Healing of theſe Wounds, the Violent and Lordly will not ſuffer them; but will pour Oyl upon the Flames, which Moderate Men would quench. And (as if they were Blindfolding and Scourging Chriſt again) they will follow the People with afflicting Wounds; and then charge the Moderate Miniſters, with their Diſcontents; p. 28and charge them, to reduce them to Peace and Conformity. And if they cannot get them to Love and Honour thoſe that are ſtill Scourging them with Scorpions, the Scourgers will lay the Blame on theſe Miniſters; and ſay, It is all long of them, that the People love not thoſe that Wound them. And they that cry out moſt for Peace, will not endure it; nor give the Peace-makers leave to do any thing, that will accompliſh it: nor will keep the Spurr out of the Peoples Sides, whilſt they look that others (ſpur'd more Sharply)▪ ſhould hold the Reins; which yet, at the ſame time, they take out of their Hands, and forbid them to hold, by forbidding them to Preach the Goſpel. So that, it will be the Sum of their Expectations, [Perform not the Office of Pastors, nor Preach the Goſpel of Peace and Piety to the People, any more: But yet, without Preaching to them, ſee that you Teach them all to Love and Honour us, while we Silence you, and Afflict them; or elſe we will account you Intollerable, Seditious Schiſmaticks, and uſe you as ſuch.]

103. In ſome Kingdomes or Countries, it will be thought, that the People will be brought to no Obedience to the Lordly Paſtors, till their moſt able or moderate Miniſters, are kept from them, by Baniſhment, Impriſonment, or Confinement: Which will accordingly be done.

104. When the Miniſters are Baniſhed or Removed, that reſtrained the Peoples Paſſions, the People will make Preachers of themſelves; even ſuch as are ſuited to their Minds.

105. Where Papists or Hereticks are ſhut out by Laws, they will ſecretly contribute the utmoſt of their Endeavours, to make the Sufferings of Diſſenting Proteſtants, as grievous as poſſibly they can; that in deſpite of them, p. 37their own Neceſſities may compel them, to cry out for Liberty; till they procured a common Tolleration for all, and opened the Door for Papists and Hereticks, as well as for Themſelves.

104. Surely, Oppreſſion will make Wiſe Men Mad, Eccleſ. 7. 7.

107. Mad Men will ſpeak Madly, and do Madly.

108. They that ſpeak and do madly, will be thought meeteſt for Bedlam, and for Chains.

109. When the Miniſters are Baniſhed or Removed, and the People left to their Paſſions, and their ownmade-Guides and Teachers; paſſionate Women and Boyes, and unſetled Novices, will run into unwarrantable Words and Deeds; and will think thoſe Means lawful, which ſeem to promiſe them Deliverance, though they be ſuch as God forbiddeth.

110. The Seditions and Miſcarriages of ſome Few will be imputed to the Innocent.

111. For the ſake of ſuch Miſcarriages, in ſome Kingdomes, the Sword will be drawn againſt them, and the Blood of many will be ſhed.

112. Hereupon the miſ-guided, paſſionate Youth, being by the Proud Clergy, deprived of the Preſence of that Miniſtry that ſhould moderate them, are like enough to think Rebellion, and Reſiſting of Authority, a Lawful Means for their own Preſervation: And will plead the Law of Nature, and Neceſſity, for their Juſtification.

113. If any of the Sober, Wiſe, Experienced Paſtors be left among them, that would reſtrain them from unlawful ways, and perſwade them to patient Suffering; they will be taken for complying betrayers of Religion, and of the Peoples Lives; that would have them tamely Surrender their Throats to Butchery.

p. 30As in a Parentheſis, I will give them ſome inſtances for this Prognoſtick.

1. The great Lord Du Pl…ſſis (one of the moſt excellent Noble-Men that ever the Earth Bore, that is known to us by any Hiſtory) being againſt the holding of an Aſſembly of the French Churches, againſt the Kings Prohibition, was rejected by the Aſſembly, as complying with the Courtiers, (becauſe they ſaid, the King had before promiſed, or granted them that Aſſembly): But the refuſing of his Counſel, coſt the Blood of many Thouſand Proteſtants; and the loſs of all their Garriſons, and Powers, and that lowneſs of the Proteſtant Intereſt there, that we ſee at this Day.

2. The great Divine Peter De Moulin, was alſo againſt the Rochellers Proceedings againſt the Kings Prohibitions (and ſo were ſome chief Proteſtant Nobles): But he was rejected by his own party; who paid for it, by the Blood of Thouſands, and their ruin.

3. I lately Read of a King of France, that hearing that the Proteſtants made Verſes and Paſquels againſt the Maſs and Proceſſions of the Papiſts, made a ſevere Law to prohibit it: When they durſt not break that Law, their indiſcreet Zeal carried them to make certain ridiculous Pictures of the Maſſe-Prieſts, and the Proceſſions: which moderate Miniſters would have diſwaded them from, but were accounted Temporizers and Lukewarm: By which the King being exaſperated, ſhut up the Proteſtant Churches, took away their Liberties, and it coſt many Thouſand Men their Lives. And the Queſtion was, Whether God had Commanded ſuch Jears, and Scorns, and Pictures, to be made at ſo dear a rate, as the rooting out of the Churches, and Religion, and the Peoples Lives.

p. 314. Great Camero (one of the moſt judicious Divines in the World) was in Montabon when it ſtood out in Arms againſt the King (accounted formerly impregnable▪) He was againſt their Reſiſtance, & perſwaded them to ſubmit. The People of his own Religion, reviled him as a Traytor: one of the Souldiers threatned to run him Through: In a Scottiſh Paſſion he unbuttoned his Doublet, and cryed, Feri miſer, Strike varlet, or do thy worſt; And in the heat, ſtriving to get his own Goods out of the City, fell into a Feavor and Dyed: The City was taken, and the reſt of the holds through the Kingdom after it, to the great fall of all the Proteſtants, and the loſs of many Thouſand Lives.

114. Where the Devil can bring differences to extremities of Violence, the iſſues are not hard to be conjecturally fore-ſeen; but are ſuch as my Prognoſticks ſhall no further meddle with, than to foretell you, that both ſides are preparing for the Increaſe of their fury and extremities, and at laſt for Repentance, or ruinous Calamities, if they do, as I have deſcribed.

115. Carnal and diſcontented States-men, and Politicians, will ſet in on both ſides, to blow the Coals, and draw on feuds for their own Ends, and head the diſcontented People to their Ruine.

116. But in thoſe Countrys, where the difference never cometh to ſuch diſorders, there will be a War bred, and kept up in the Peoples Hearts; and Neighbours will be againſt Neighbours, as Guelphes and Gibellines.

117. When Kingdomes are thus weakened by inteſtine diſcontents; it will increaſe the Hopes and Plots of forreign Enemies; and make them think that one Party (that Suffer) will be backward to their own defence, as p. 40thinking they can be no worſe (which is the Hopes of the Turks in Hungary.)

118. It will be a great injury, and grief, and danger to Chriſtian Kings and States, to have their Kingdomes and Common-wealths thus weakened, and the Cordial Love, and Aſſiſtance of their Subjects made ſo looſe and ſo uncertain.

119. And it will be a continual vexation to Wiſe and Peaceable Princes, to Govern ſuch divided, diſcontented People; But to rule a United, Loving, Concordant, Peaceable People, will be their Delight and Joy.

120. A WORLDLY, Covetous, Proud, Domineering, Malignant, Lazy Clergy, will in moſt Chriſtian Nations, be the great Plague of the World, and troublers of Princes, and Dividers of Churches; who, for the Intereſt of their Grandure, and their Wills, will not give the Sober, and Peaceable, and Godly Miniſters, or People, Leave to ſerve God quietly, and live in Peace. And the Impatient, Self-conceited, Sectarian Spirit, which like Gun-Powder, takes Fire upon ſuch Injuries, is the ſecondary divider of the Churches, and hinderer of Chriſtian Love and Peace; and by their mutual Enmity and abuſes, they will drive each other ſo far into the Extremity of Averſation and Oppoſition, that they will but make each other Mad; and then like Mad-men, run and quarrel, while ſober Men ſtand by and pitty them; but can help neither the one party, nor the other, nor preſerve their own, or the publike Peace.

121. The grand Endeavour of the Worldly Clergy, will be (in moſt Kingdoms of the World) to Engage Princes on their ſide, and to borrow their Sword, to do their work with, againſt Gain-ſayers: For they have no Confidence in the Power of the Keys; but will deſpiſe them ſecretly in p. 33their Hearts, as leaden, uneffectual Weapons, while they make it the glory of their order, that the Power of the Keys is theirs.

122. If Princes ſuppreſs diſorders by the Sword, the ſaid Clergy will aſcribe the honor of it to themſelves; and ſay, It was their order, that kept up ſo much Order in the Churches: And when they have put Princes to that trouble, will aſſume to themſelves the praiſe.

123. The Devil will ſet in, and do his utmoſt, to make both Rulers and People believe, that all this Confuſion is long of the Chriſtian Religion, and the ſtrict Principles of the Sacred Scriptures; and ſo to make Men caſt off all Religion, and take Chriſtianity to be contrary to their Natural and Civil Intereſts.

124. And the Papists will every where perſwade High and Low, that all this cometh by meddling ſo much with the Scriptures, and buſying the Common People with Religion; and leaving every Man to be a Diſcerning Judge of Truth and Duty, inſtead of truſting implicitely, in the Judgment of their Church: And ſo they would tempt Princes, tamely to ſurrender half their Government (that is, in all Matters of Religion) to the Pope; and perſwade the People, to Reſign their Reaſon or Humanity to him; (that He who is ſo far off, may Rule it all over the World, by his Miſſioners and Agents, who muſt live upon the Prey) And then he knoweth, that he ſhall have both Swords, and be the Univerſal King.

125. To this end, they will ſtrive to make ſome Rulers as bad as they would have them, to do their Work, and to make the reſt thought worſe of than they are, that they may have a fair Pretenſe for their Treaſons and Uſurpations; which was the Caſe of all the Writers, that plead for Pope Gregory the Seventh, againſt the German p. 34Emperours; who took that Advantage, to ſettle the Cardinals Power of Elections; and, in a Council at Rome, to declare the Pope to be above the Emperour, and to Have Power to Depoſe him: And as bad was done in the General-Council, at Later▪ under Innocent the Third. Can. 2, 3.

126. Concerning Princes, I ſhall give you no Prognoſticks, but Chriſt's; That it will be as hard for a Rich Man to enter into Heaven, as for a Camel to go through a Needles Eve. And therefore, that you may know what Men the Rich will be, in moſt Countries of the World.

127. And the Rich will be the Rulers of the World; (and its meet, it ſhould be ſo: Not that Men ſhould Rule becauſe they are Rich, but that they that Rule ſhould be Rich; and not expoſed to Contempt, by a Vulgar Garb and State.)

128. But ſome Wiſe and Good Princes and Magiſtrates, God will raiſe up, to keep the Intereſt of Truth and Juſtice, from ſinking in Barbarouſneſs, and Diabolical Wickedn…ſs.

129. And where Princes and Magiſtrates are bad, they will ſeldom do ſo much Hurt as Good, or prove very Cruel, where the Worldly or Corrupt Clergy, do not animate and inſtigate them: Their Reaſon, their Intereſt, and their Experience, will lead them, by Man-like Uſage, to ſeek the Peoples Love and Quietneſs, and their Kingdomes Unity and Strength. But Bloody Perſecutions (ſuch as that of the Waldenſes, Piedmont lately, France, Ireland, Queen Maries, &c.) are ordinarily the Effects of Clergy-Interest and Zeal.

130. The Grand Deſigne of the Devil, through the World, will be to Corrupt the Two great Ordinances of Cod, Magiſtracy and Miniſtry; and turn them both againſt p. 35Chriſt, who giveth them their Power. The Inſtances of his Succeſs, are moſt Notorious, in the TURKISH EMPIRE, and the PAPAL KINGDOME, called by them, The Catholick-Church: (Which Campanella, de Regno Dei, doth labour to prove, by all the Propheſies cited by the Millenarians, or Fifth-Monarchy-Men, to be the True Univerſal Kingdom of Chriſt; in which, by his Vicar the Pope, he ſhall Reign over all the Kings and Kingdomes of the Earth.)