Another Sermon Preached to the House of Commons 5 November 1641, Sermon

Another Sermon Preached to the House of Commons 5 November 1641 · Sermon

p. 1PSAL. 76.10.

Surely the rage of man ſhall praiſe thee, the reſt of the rage ſhalt thou reſtraine.

THis Text and this day doe well agree.Introduction ſhewing. I. The fitneſſe. Never did day more exactly demonſtrate the truth of this Text. Never did Text more fully ſet forth the Workes of this Day, whether we regard the rage of man, or the Power of God in over-ruling thereof to his own Praiſe and our preſervation.

This is that day wherein the moſt prodigious rage of man, that ever the Sun beheld, or that Hell it ſelfe boyled up to an height juſtly execrable to all the world, was ready to break forth out of the nethermoſt Pit, againſt our Late King, Queene, the Royall Seed, the Parliament, Church, Kingdome, this Place, our ſelves, and all ours, all at once. And this is that day wherein our God came riding to us in his Chariot of Triumph, and made himſelfe fearfull in prayſes, by doing wonders, and leaving us no more to doe, but to praiſe his Name, and lengthening out our happineſſe joyfully to celebrate this Publike Anniverſarie of that ſtupendious Deliverance.

So that,II. The occaſion. while Interpreters contend and ſweat about the ſpeciall occaſion of this Gratulatory Song, whether penned as a Laſting Trophee of the many Victories atchieved by David over the Philiſtines, Moabites, Syrians, and others (2 Sam. 8.) or of the diſcomfiture of that formidable Army of the Ethiopians, in the dayes of Aſa (2 Chr. 20.) Or of the ſelfe-deſtroying of that huge Hoſt of the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, in the reign of Jehoſhaphat. 2 Ch. 20. Or rather, (which is more probable) as a Pillar of Gratitude in the time of Hezekiah, for the wonderfull defeat of thoſe numberleſſe p. 2Forces of blaſphemous Sennacherib, nigh to Ieruſalem, where an Angel went forth, and in one night, and ſlew 185000. men, in the campe of the Aſſyrians, King. 19. Sure we are,Introduction. that none of all thoſe Great Acts of the Lord, ever adminiſtred greater occaſion to advance a Publike Thankſgiving, beyond the faint and dull ſtraine of Proſe, to the ſpritefull courage of a Verſe, by the gratefull violence of a Poetick Rapture, truly divine, than that admirable, and even ineffable over powering of the matchleſſe fury of thoſe Romiſh Pioneers, imployed in that Maſter-peece of Helliſh Invention, the Gun-powder Treaſon, affords unto us, and all Poſterity, of greateſt exilience, and of utmoſt induſtry to make His Praiſe glorious, who juſtly inhabiteth the praiſes of Iſrael, and is (in himſelfe) exalted above all bleſſing and Praiſe.

For, on this Day if ever, and even here alſo, if any where, brake He the arrows of the bow, the ſhield, the ſword, and battell, whereby he is become more glorious and excellent than the mountaines of prey.

Here, the stout-hearted are spoiled, they have ſtept their ſleep, and none of the men of might **In that great ſlaughter in the hoſt of Sennacherib, the Leaders, Captaines, and mighty men of Valour, were all cut off 2 Chron. 32.21.2 Chr 32:21have found their hands. At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the Chariot, and the horſe are caſt into a dead ſleep. — Thou didst cauſe judgement to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was ſtill, when God aroſe to judgement, to ſave all the meek of the earth. Therefore wee, even wee alſo will for ever ſay, and ſing to thy Name, as thy people of old,

Surely, the rage of man ſhall praiſe thee, the reſt of the rage ſhalt thou reſtraine.

III. The Summe.Which words (Janus like) have a double Aſpect. For, they looke not only backwards, as a Thankfull Remembrance of what God hath already done; but alſo forwards, as a Prophetick Reſolution, and well grounded Concluſion of Faith, touching the conſtant ordering and curbing the rage of all his and our enemies, ſo as to get himſelfe glory out of all, to the end of the world.

IV. The Parts of the Text.If we make a Diſtribution of the Text, there will be found in it an Aſſeveration, and an Aſſertion.

p. 31. An Aſſeveration, in the firſt word, ſurely.

2. An Aſſertion, conſiſting of two ſimple Propoſitions, diverſifyed by the various conſideration of the ſubject of them both, the rage of man; which if we conſider,

1. As the permiſſion of it, by his wiſe and powerfull ordering, may conduce to his honour; So, the rage of man ſhall praiſe thee.

2. As the breaking out of it further might prove inconſiſtent with his Glory; So, the reſt of the rage ſhalt thou reſtraine.

The time allotted me will not be ſufficient for a diſtinct proſecution of every Obſervation which theſe ſeverall branches afford. And your weightie Affaires preſſe for all expedition. I ſhall therefore fixe only upon the principall points in the ſhorteſt way, after a briefe explication of the words of the Text.

Surely. Explication. Surely, foreign.] So I find the Originall [Chi] rendred by our Engliſh Tranſlators, Old & New, and by ſome of the Latine, correſpondent thereunto. I acknowledge the Hebrew word to be moſt frequently uſed as a Cauſall particle [For, or Becauſe.] Howbeit it is, not ſeldome, put for a vehement Aſſeveration, or Atteſtation, and tranſlated, Surely, or Verily. Thus, Iacob to Laban; aaGen 31.42.Gen 31:42Surely, thou hadſt ſent me away empty. So Judah to Jacob; bbGen. 43.10.Gen 43:10Except we had lingered, ſurely we had returned a ſecond time. And, ſurely there is no inchantment againſt Jacob, ſaid wretched Balaam of bleſſed Iſrael. In all which places, and many moe, the Originall word is the ſame that is in this Text.

This may be ſufficient warrant for our Tranſlation, which is both pertinent, and emphaticall. Pertinent, becauſe, had the word been otherwiſe rendred, the ſenſe had been obſcured; for that it is not a Reaſon of the Premiſſes, but rather p. 4a Concluſion deduced from them. Emphaticall alſo, becauſe it lively expreſſeth the aſſurance of Faith in Gods Wiſedome, Power, and Goodneſſe for the happy diſpoſing of that Rage, which he ſhall at any time pleaſe to permit, and for the maſtering and ſuppreſſing of the reſidue, which hee ſhall finde cauſe to reſtraine. You ſee the Aſſeveration. I proceed to the Aſſertion.

The rage, from foreign …al…re foreign Ex a deſcere.The rage.] So I tranſlate [Chamath.] not anger; as ſome; not yet wrath, as others. Anger is too milde, wrath, too ſhort to expreſſe it by. I know anger, wrath, and rage, (or fury) be ſometimes promiſcuouſly put one for another. But withall, I finde them ſometimes**Anger is cruel, and wrath is raging. So the old Tranſlation. Prov. 27.4.Prov 27:4 diſtinguiſhed, and in ſtrictneſſe ſome difference may bee found betweene them.

Anger is the boyling of the blood about the heart, cauſing a commotion of the ſpirits that are neere. Wrath is the manifeſtation of that inward diſtemper by lookes, geſtures, or actions tending to revenge. But Rage is the extremitie of both the former, cauſing the heart to ſtudy deſtruction ddProv. 24.2.Prov 24:2, to meditate and contrive the utmoſt of miſchiefe and villanie; and, the outward man to watch, and lay hold upon all opportunities and occaſions of putting it in execution, out of the depth of malice, and in the height of fury. Beſides, it is of longer continuance than anger, ſtrictly ſo called. It is ſuch an inveterate anger as**Eccleſ. 7.9.Eccl 7:9 resteth in the boſome of fooles, keepes houſe, and conſtant reſidence there; being deeply rooted, and wrought up unto a ſetled habite, which (though it doth not alwayes actually breake forth, yet) is continually deſirous of vent, like fire impatient of reſtraint.

That all this is compriſed under the word here uſed, is manifeſt both by the judgement of the Learned, who have expounded it, and by the uſe of it in Sacred Writt. Therefore ſome expreſſe it by Fervor: Tremellius by Aeſtus, or a burning heate like to that of an Oven, or Furnace, which ſets the whole man in a flame, that cannot, without extraordinary meanes, bee quenched, or allayed. And the Scriptures informe us both of a rage within Pſal. p. 52.1. Why doe the heathen rage, which is immediately expounded by an internall act, the imagining (or meditating) of a vaine thing: and, of a rage without too, namely, the rage of the tongue. Hoſea 7 16. and the rage of the hand. Curſed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath (or rage) for it was cruell, ſaid dying Jacob, touching the bloody butchery committed by his two Sonnes, Simeon and Levi, upon the newly circumciſed Sechemites, in cold blood. Geneſ. 49.7. Which alſo ſhewes the ſetled permanencie, and predominancie of ſuch a Diſpoſition in a wicked man.

This rage is amplified by the ſubject wherein it is, Man. Of man. foreignFor it is called, the rage of m…n. The Text names no individuall, whether Sennacherib (of whoſe rage God himſelfe took notice,ee2 Kings 19.27.2 Kgs 19:27) or any other blaſtering Tyrant, or boyſterous Ajax; but indefinitely termes it [Chamath Adam] the rage of man, a Livery that fits the ſhoulders of any wicked man in the world.

And this indefinite expreſſion is uſed partly for diſcovery, and partly out of contempt of the man that is here demonſtrated.

1. By way of Diſcovery, to point out the vicious qualitie, and corrupt eſtate of the man, in whom this rage reigneth. It is the rage of Adam, of the old man, of every man that hath not put off the first Adam, and is not ingraffed into the ſecond. Therefore is it called the rage of man; becauſe, of every man yet remaining upon the old Stock, or the firſt man, which is of the earth, earthly ff1 Cor. 15.1 Cor 15. Hence is he called, a man of the earth. Pſalm. 10.18 the violent man. Pſalm. 18.48. the bloody and deceitfull man. Pſal. 55.23. and by ſuch like Epithites.

2. By way of contempt, to ſhew that, be the rage what it will, it is yet but the rage of a weake ſilly man, that is of baſe originall, and of too ſmall a ſtrength to grapple with Omnipotencie. Thus, in Pſalm 9.19. Ariſe, O Lord, let not Man prevaile. Where the Strong GOD is oppoſed to impotent Man. So the next words. Put them in fe…re, O Lord, that the Nations may know themſelves p. 6to be but men: that is, poore weake graſhoppers,ggJob. 4.19.Job 4:19 whoſe houſes are clay, whoſe foundation is in the duſt, that are cruſhed before the moth: ſo that neitherhhEzek. 22.14.Ezek 22:14 can their hearts endure, nor their hands be ſtrong in the dayes that God ſhall deale with them Wilt thou yet ſay before him that ſlayeth thee, I am God? But thou ſhalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that ſlayeth thee. Ezek 28.9. This is the man; and this, the account which God makes of him in whom this rage is found. But againſt whom is it bent? If we conſult the ſtory, wee ſhall find God complaining that it went very high, for it reached even unto Himſelfe.Explication. I know thy abode, — and thy rage againſt mee, ſaith the Lord. 2 King. 19, 27. that is, firſt more immediately, by blaſphemous speaking againſt the God of Hieruſalem, as againſt the Gods of the people of the earth, which were,2 King. 19.21, 22.2 Kgs 19:212 Kgs 19:22 the worke of the hands of man. 2 Chron. 32.19. Secondly, mediately, through the Loines of Hezekiah, and ſuch of his people as truſted in the Lord.

Now, what of all this rage of man againſt God and his ſervants? The Text tells you what is predicated of it.

Shall praiſe thee. foreignIt ſhall praiſe thee.] Or, as the old Tranſlation hath it, it ſhall turne to thy praiſe. Praiſe is nothing elſe but the exaltation of Excellency, whereby it may be had in reverence and honour. This is that which redounds unto God from the rage of man: not intentionally on mans part, as if he in his rage aymed at it: for ſo, God is not in all his thoughts. Pſal. 10.4. But occaſionally on mans part, and efficaciouſly on Gods, who brings light out of darkneſſe, and good out of evill. His Power and Providence ſo ordereth and diſpoſeth all the malicious machinations, and bloody deſignes of the moſt deſperate men, that they goe away with the ſhame, his people with joy, and himſelfe with the honour. And this he doth not onelyonly by maſtering them in their greateſt rage, and compelling them to acknowledge his power, but alſo by giving ſuch iſſue thereunto, as ſhall produce effects quite contrary to thoſe which they intended. Thus, the rage of Joſephs brethren, in ſelling him to the Iſhmaelites turned to Gods praiſe, As for you, ſaith Ioſeph, Yee thought evill againſt p. 7me, but God meant it unto good. Geneſ. 50.20.

Nor is this ſpoken only in reference to what was already done and paſt, as ſome would ſeeme to inſinuate, who render the Verb [Totheka] in the Preſent tenſe (doth praiſe thee:) but as a Declaration of what God will ever doe, in all time to come, ſo often as the rage of man ſhall iſſue forth. Therefore the beſt Interpreters render it by the future, the rage of man ſhall praiſe thee, making it to be not onelyonly a voice of Thankſgiving, but a concluſion of faith, as before I touched. So have you the firſt Propoſition explained. The Second followeth,

The reſt of the rage] This is the Subject of the later propoſition, which, for ſubſtance, is the ſame with the former,Explication. The reſt of the rage. to witt, the rage of man: Only it is differenced by two Circumſtances, which I muſt alike open.

One of the Circumſtances is, the changing of the number in the Originall.

Before it was [Chameth] rage, in the ſingular number:foreign now it is [Chemoth] rages, in the Plurall; which plainely ſuppoſeth the greatnes, and the varietie of it. The rage of the wicked is not ſmall, nor terminated in one plott, or practice, nor of one kinde: but it is exceeding great, ever working, and multiplying by continuance, ſo as there can be no wicked deſigne ſo barbarous, no plott ſo bloody and Deviliſh, but the rage of Gods enemies makes them ready for it, and mad upon it. If they once miſcarry, yea if they be often diſappointed, they are not diſcouraged, but they will to worke againe and againe, never giving over. If one Plot faile, they are ready with another, and another, of other ſorts. The Devill and their owne hearts make them fertile and bigge with all the inventions of Hell. Juſtly then, doth the Pſalmiſt call them rages, in the Plural. For, they are as Gad, a Troop; yea, you may call their name Legion, they bee ſo manie.

The other circumſtance is, in the word [Sheerith] tranſlated, the reſt, the remnant, the remainder. foreignAnd this gives notice of the abundance of it. Let never ſo much of it breake forth, yet there is ſtill move behinde, that throngs after that p. 8which got out before And, as it is with foule ſtomacks, the beſt that comes up into the Baſon, is but filthy ſtuffe, but that which is behind, and comes laſt, is farre more loathſome and bitter, through the abundance of choller and gall: ſo is it with the rage of wicked men; the beſt is abominable, but that which tarries behind, and would come up in the Rere, is moſt intolerable; that, is the bottome of the ſtomack, the dreggs, the moſt venemous and malignant part of the rage, the letting out hereof would be the deſtruction of Gods people, or ſome way or other diſhonourable to our God. This remnant it is, of which the Pſalmiſt, ſpeaking unto God, ſaith,

Thou ſhalt reſtraine. foreignThou ſhalt restraine] This, in the Hebrew, is expreſſed in one word [Tackgor.] which imports the begirting, or binding of it in on every ſide, that it ſhall by no meanes break out, but ſhall be kept in, as a Dog in a chaine, as a Lion in his Denne, how violent ſoever. The Greek Septuagint, in their Tranſlation, have wittily expreſſed themſelves thus; the reſt of the rage ſhall keep holy day unto thee **foreign.. Their meaning is, that as men, who are to keep an holy day to the Lord, ceaſe from labour, doing no manner of work therein, further than may directly tend to the honour and ſervice of God: ſo the rage of man, further than God may get ſome honour out of it, ſhall keep holy day too, that is, ceaſe from working or acting: it ſhall reſt from labour in regard of breaking out, how reſtleſſe ſo ever it be within, becauſe it cannot get out.

But this is not all. Tremellius, in his Reviſed Tranſlation, ſupplies one word, which makes the ſenſe more complete and comfortable. For, thus Hee; reſiduo aestuum accingis (tuos) Thou doſt begirt thy people with the remainder of the rages. That is, thou doſt not onelyonly keep in the rage of thine enemies that it doe no hurt, but thou makeſt that very rage, which was intended for their deſtruction, to become even as the walls of a Citie, for their defence and protection. The upſhot of all is this; That wicked men ſhall be ſo farre from attaining thoſe ends, which in their rage they drive at, that they ſhall be ſure to meet with a ſtop, where they made themſelves moſt ſure of going on, and be occaſions of promoting p. 9the good of Gods party, which they meant to deſtroy.1 Obſervation

Thus farre the Explication. The Obſervations which I ſhall now recommend unto you from the whole, bee theſe Three.

1.The obſervations. The rage of the wicked againſt God and his people is bottomleſſe and endleſſe.

2. Let the rage of wicked men be what it will, it ſhall onelyonly raiſe that Glory to God, and benefit to his people, which the wicked never intended, and, ever fall ſhort of that iſſue, which they chiefly projected.

3. The experience of Gods over-ruling, and maſtering the rage of man in times paſt, is an undoubted aſſurance of the like, for all time to come.

I begin with the firſt.

The rage of the wicked againſt God and his people is bottomleſſe, and endleſſe. The rage of the wicked appea…es.—This is (as you have ſeene) the ſubject of both Propoſitions contained in this Text; and that, whereof the the Godly have had ſad experience, ever ſince there was a world, and wicked men in it. It were an unthriſty waſte of Time (now,1 In particular inſtances. ſo pretious) to inſiſt upon the rage of Cain againſt Abel; of Eſau, againſt Jacob; of the Egyptians againſt Iſrael; of Saul and his party, againſt David; of Abſolom, againſt his owne Father; of Haman, againſt Mordecay; of the Nobles of Babylon, againſt Daniel; or of Herod, Pilate, and the Jewes, againſtbbPſal. 2.1, 2. Act 4.27, 28.Ps 2:1Ps 2:2Acts 4:27Acts 4:28 Christ himſelfe. What ſhould I tell you of Davids moane,ccPſal. 57.4.Ps 57:4 My ſoule is among Lions, and I lie even among them that are ſet on fire; Or, of his Prayer to beddPſal. 59.2, 3.Ps 59:2Ps 59:3 ſaved from bloody men, that lay in waite for his ſoule; Or, of his complaint ofeePſal. 22.11.Ps 22:11 many ſtrong Bulls of Baſhan, that had beſet him round?

Let the Occaſion of this Text and Pſalme, ſpeake to this Point. The rage of Sennacherib, was firſt bent againſt Hoſhea, King of Iſrael, whom, together with thoſe Ten Tribes, after three yeeres warre, hee took, and carried away Captive. But,2 Kings 18.2 Kgs 18 eight yeeres after (in the Fourteenth of Hezekiah) his wrath brake out againſt good Hezekiah, and the Lord himſelfe: for, up he came, and ſeized into his hands all the frontier Cities of Iudah; whereof Lachiſh was one. To p. 10appeaſe this rage, thither did Hezekiah diſpatch Ambaſſadors, and craved peace; Sennacherib propounded the Conditions and Articles; Hezeki…h accepts, and performes them. But, no ſooner was this done, but Sennacherib ſends Tartan, Rabſaris, and Rabſhakeh from Lachiſh to Hezekiah with a great hoſt againſt Hieruſalem, and with words of blasphemy againſt God himſelfe: inſomuch as nothing was ſo eminent and notable in that expedition, as ff2 King. 19.27.2 Kgs 19:27his rage againſt the Lord. And is it not Saint Pauls owne confeſſion of his rage againſt Chriſtians, before his Converſion;ggAct. 25 11.Acts 25:11 I puniſhed them oft in ever Citie, and compelled them to blaſpheme; and being exceedingly mad againſt them, I perſecuted them even unto ſtrange Cities?

2 In the univerſality of this diſpoſition.Nor is this the Diſpoſition of ſome few only, but even of all the wicked. You ſee the Text is indefinite; it takes all before it. This is common to them all;hhPſal. 37.12.Ps 37:12 the wicked plotteth againſt the juſt, and gnaſheth upon him with his teeth: not in a ſudden paſſion only, but in a conſtant premeditated courſe.iiƲerſ. 32. The wicked watcheth the righteous, and ſeeketh to ſlay him: and that,kkPſal. 17.12. Pſal. 10.8, 9.Ps 17:12Ps 10:8Ps 10:9 Like a Lion that is greedy of prey, and as a young Lion, lurking in ſecret places.

3 Againſt all the Godly.Neither is this the hard hap of ſome few godly men, who through indiſcretion doe adminiſter oyle to the flame of wicked mens wrath; but evenllIſay. 59.15.Isa 59:15 every one that departeth from iniquity, maketh himſelfe a prey. Yea, mm2 Tim 3.12.2 Tim 3:12and all that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, ſhall ſuffer perſecution. And, that not onelyonly from ſtrangers, but **Mic. 7.6.Mic 7:6a mans enemies ſhall be thoſe even of his owne houſe. So was it with David; witneſſe Achiiophel, a Privie Counſellor, and Abſalom thatnn2 Sam. 16.112 Sam 16:11 came forth of his owne bowels. And ſo fared it with Chriſt himſelfe; witneſſe the Traitor Iudas, who wasooJoh. 6.7 1.John 6:7 one of the Twelve.

4 For godlineſſe ſake.Nor is this, or any of this, for any real injuries done them by the godly; but even gratis, and without a cauſe, ppJoh. 15.25.John 15:25except their Godlineſſe.qqPſal. 59.3, 4.Ps 59:3Ps 59:4 The mighty are gathered together againſt me (ſaith David) not for my tranſgreſſion, nor for my ſinne, O Lord: They run, and prepare themſelves without my fault. A thing ſo palpable in Pauls caſe alſo, that he durſt appeale to his very enemies, in the midſt of all their rage againſt him, bee p. 11fore Felix, his Judge.rrAct. 24.10.5. When they rage not outwardly, they rage the more within.Acts 24:10Acts 24:5 Let theſe ſame here ſay, if they have found any evill doing in me.

Indeed they doe not alwayes diſcover, and openly proſecute their inward rancor, becauſe all Times are not for it. And when the times would permit it, yet opportunities to ſuch and ſuch men may be wanting. In which Caſe, malicious Haman, ssEſth. 5.9, 10.Esth 5:9Esth 5:10though fall of indignation againſt Mordecay, can refraine himſelfe, while he ſaw Mordecay countenanced by the Queen, whom he durſt not then to diſpleaſe. But yet, even then their hearts are full of deadly poyſon;ttPſal. 64.6.Ps 64:6 both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart is deep. Then, whatſoever craft or ſubtilty, Counſell or conſpiracie can poſſibly lurke in the moſt fathomleſſe hearts of men, acted by Him who was a murderer from the beginning, doe all meet, and concentrate in them more than at other times, even when the outward face of things extort from them a plauſible behaviour towards the Godly.uuProv. 26.24.Prov 26:24 He that hateth, will (at ſuch a time) diſſemble with his lips, and lay up deceit within him.

And as their rage is bottomleſſe, ſo is it endleſſe, 6 All this, without end, or meaſure.and ſtill on the encreaſing hand. Bray a foole in a morter, yet will not his folly depart from him. How often ſoever wicked men have been in plots and conſpiracies, and ſmarted for them; they wax not weary, nor give over their rage, which is like the Hare, that after once conceiving, admits of another conception, before ſhe be delivered of her former burden. The older, and more frequent they grow in villany, the more fruitfull their hearts in Deviliſh Deſignes and Inventions, tillxxPſal. 5.9.Ps 5:9 their inward parts become nothing elſe, but very wickedneſſe, or wickedneſſes, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh; and, the whole frame of their ſpirits beyyIſay. 57.20.Isa 57:20 like the raging Sea, when it cannot rest, whoſe waters cast up mire and dirt. If any of them ſeem calmer than the reſt, it is not becauſe he is better, but becauſe more ſubtile; not becauſe he hath no minde to doe miſchiefe, but becauſe he is better able to conceale a miſchievous intention, till a better opportunitie. Whence that Counſel;zzPro. 26.25.Prov 26:25 When he speaketh faire, beleeve him not, for there are ſeven abominations in his heart.

Reaſons. This cannot be otherwiſe, for divers Reaſons.

p. 121. It is the naturall bent and frame of wicked mens hearts to be miſchievous. It is their very life.zzPro 4.16.Prov 4:16 They ſleep not except they have done miſchiefe, and, their ſleep is taken away, except they cauſe ſome to fall. 1 It is the nature of wicked men to doe miſchiefe.And in this, friends and foes are all alike to them. Sinne having turned them out of courſe, they turne out of kind; and like a mad Oxe, gore all they meet. If Herod be in his rage,aaMacr…h. li. 2. Saturnal. as good be his ſwine, as his ſonne.

2 The old emnity egges them on.2. The old emnitie put betweene the two Seedes, makes the ſerpentine partie to adventure a breaking, bbGen. 3.15.Gen 3:15yea a cruſhing of their owne heads to peeces, rather than let alone the heele of the womans ſeed, which, with all their rage, they can no more but bruiſe. Therfore wicked men, as once theccEzek. 25.16.Ezek 25:16 Philistims, take all opportunities to take vengeance with a deſpiteful heart, becauſe of the old hatred. And this emnitie is ſo hereditary, that never any Northerne High-landers more inherited the malice of their Anceſtors Feides, than the whole Poſteritie of collapſed Adam, doe, the wrath and rage of their corrupt Progenitors againſt all the Godly.

3 Contrary converſation augments it.3. Contrariety of Converſation augments the hatred.dd1 Joh. 3.12.1 John 3:12 Wherefore did Cain ſlay his brother, but becauſe his owne workes were evill, and his brothers righteous? The wickedeeIſay. 59.15. ſacit ut inſanus habeatur. Tremel.Isa 59:15 account him mad, that departs from iniquitie. Therefore ſay they,ffWiſd. 2.12. & ve…. … 5.Wis 2:12 Let us lie in waite for him, becauſe he is not for our turne, but is cleane contrary to our doings. — Hee is grievous to us to behold, for his life is not like other mens, his wayes are of another faſhion.

4. The honour and happineſſe that God conferres upon his people,4 Their envic a…h happines of the go…ly. is the wicked mans envie, and addes fuell to his rage. If he muſt be miſerable, it madds him at heart to ſee them happy.gg…. 11….10. The wicked ſhall ſee it, and be grieved, he ſhall gnaſh his teeth, and melt away. And this is not the leaſt part of the Devills own quarrell.hh…. 1…. …3. For when the Dragon ſaw that he was caſt (out of heaven) unto the earth, he perſecuted the woman, caſting water after her, out of his mouth, like a flood, and making warre with the remnant of her ſeed, which keep the Commandements of God, and have the testimony of Ieſus Chriſt.

p. 135 The w…ked hate God himſelf. 1 Pſal. 73 9.Ps 73:95. Their rage ſpareth not God himſelfe. Nor was it one Sennacherib, or Pharaoh, but it is the propertie of all the wicked to ſet their mouthes againſt heaven, and to bekkRom. 1.3….Rom 1:3 haters of God. Yea, they firſt hate him, before their hatred falls upon them that be his. If the world hate you, ſaith our Saviour,llIoh. 15 18.John 15:18 Ye know that it hated me, before it hated you. And if it hate him firſt, his followers are ſure to fall under it next, and to pay for all:mmVerſ. 20. If they have perſecuted me, they will alſo perſecute you. As good men beſtow all theirnnPſal. 16.1, 2.Ps 16:1Ps 16:2 goodneſſe upon the Saints, becauſe they cannot extend it unto God himſelfe: ſo wicked men wreake all their teene upon the godly, the image of God (as the Panther, upon the image of a man, when he cannot come at the man himſelfe) becauſe their rage cannot reach the Almightie.

Vſes. You have now the Point. Many fruitfull Ʋſes might be made of it: but I will confine my ſelf unto two or three, moſt pertinent to the preſent Occaſion.

And firſt, Behold this Truth, abundantly fulfilled, this day,1 Behold this in the Gun-powder Treaſon. Nov. 5. 1605. in your eares, through the implacable rage of the Popiſh faction, inventing, contriving, and bringing to the very birth, this day 36. yeeres, the moſt barbarous, execrable, helliſh Treaſon that ever came within the hopes of the moſt ſavage and unnatural Aſſaſſinates, to bring forth, or conceive.He wiſhed that Rome had but one neck, and that he might cut it off at one blow. Caligula indeed wiſhed, but never hoped for ſuch a blow: and his wiſh was, a blow with the ſword, not by springing a mine from Hell. A cruelty, that he never dreamt of. Yet ſuch a Crueltie ſhould have been executed here within a few houres, had not God wonderfully reſtrained the reſt of their rage, when nothing was now wanting but giving fire (which alſo was readie) by the curſed hand of a ſecond**Faux. Mutius Scaevola, who (after his apprehenſion) avowed the fact, repenting of nothing but of not executing the Deſigne, wherof (as he blaſphemouſly ſaid) not God, but the Devill was the diſcoverer.

Indeed I find one Moody, a bloody Villane, ſollicited by L Ausbespine, A French Ambaſſador, of the Guiſian faction,**The plot was to deliver the Q. of Scots then condemned. See the Annalls of the yeere, 1587. to kill our late glorious Deborah, Q. Elizabeth, (An. 1587.) to have propounded the doing of it, by laying Gun-powder under her Chamber, and ſecretly firing it: And this, not above p. 1418.1 Vſe. yeeres, before the Gun-powder Treaſon. But (though that were too bloody, and perhaps the Embrion of this curſed Monſter) that deſerved not to be named (for bloodineſſe) the ſame day with this.

For there, only one Perſon of the Queen was aymed at; here, King, Queen, Prince, all the Nobles, Judges, Knights, Citizens & Burgeſſes of Parliament, had all gone up at one fatall blow. There, only Twenty pound weight of Powder, in a bag or ſack, ſhould have been (but was not) provided, which perhaps might have miſcarried; but here, no leſſe than 36. Barrells were actually laid in, and covered cloſe with 1000. Billets, and 500. Fagots, not only for hiding the Powder, if ſearch ſhould be made; but, for more effectuall operation thereof, when it ſhould have been fired. There, the traiterous Inſtruments of D Ausbespine (hee diſdaining the baſeneſſe of the invention) diſliked the plot, wiſhing rather it might be effected by a man of more courage (in a more generous way) like that of the Prince of Orange, by the Burgundian. But here, Garnet, and Teſmond, Garrard, and Oldcorne (or Hall) the Jeſuites could approve of the Plot, when propounded by Catesby; and for his encouragement in that worke of Darkneſſe,See Stat. of 3. Jac. …. they joyne in the Conſpiracie as deep as any: as appears by the Report of Roger Widdrington **Append. ad ſupplic. §. 12., a ſtrong Papiſt, to Pope Paul the Fifth, beſide other teſtimony.

This therefore was every way Tranſcendent, beyond all the moſt horrid Attempts wherewith any age, or Nation was ever ſtained. A fact that ſpeakes the Actors, and Acceſſories, not men, but Tigers; not Beasts, but Devills. The Hunnes, the Heruli, the Turcilingi (all branded for inhumane Caiteifs in the height) were mild and temperate creatures, in compariſon of theſe. Not the ſableſt Stories, or Tragedies ever preſented ſuch a deſperate Scene. No high flowne Poet could ever reach ſuch a Plot in a fiction. In a word, Ioels nnIoel 2.30.Joel 2:30Day of blood, and fire, and pillars of ſmoake, was unable to match it. Such havock of Royall and Noble Blood, ſuch heapes of daſht braines, ſuch mountaines of mangled bodies, ſuch piles of torne members, ſuch numbers of ghaſtly preys offered up to Death in a moment, p. 15could never have been thought of, much leſſe effected.

This had been, beyond all preſident, inhumane and terrible; but, the diſmall effects that muſt have ſprung from ſuch an Act, had been much more dreadfull. The deſtruction (or forcing the reſidue) of the Royall Stock, the ſubverſion of the Lawes, the ruine of the Kingdome, the utter extinguiſhing of the Light and Glory of all, the true Religion, and Profeſſion of the Goſpel eſtabliſhed among us, and the retroducing of Egyptian darkneſſe, Babyloniſh fornication, and Romiſh Idolatry, like a flood, to the deſtruction of ſoules, as well as bodies, had all followed at the heels of that Infernall Thunder-clap.

Curſed therefore, and for ever curſed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruell. And bleſſed be that God, who hath ſcattered firſt, and divided them into peeces afterwards in this our Iſrael, making them an aſtoniſhment, and an hiſſing, not in Europe alone, and among Chriſtians; but, even in Africke (that wombe of Monſters) where very Turkes and Moores, and all ſorts of Barbarians, that heard of this monſtrous Attempt, ſate downe amazed, their hearts melting and failing within them at the report.

Indeed, if Jeſuites be conſulted, they roundly reſolve it, not only lawfull, but meritorious; So did Garnet, and the reſt before mentioned. What all the world juſtly condemnes as an unjuſt rage, that they cry up as a commendable Zeale Of which more**See the later end of the next Ʋſe. anon. But this is ſo farre from excuſing the fact, that it doth exceedingly aggravate the offence: for it drawes in Heaven, to father their bratts of Hell. Let them but once proclaime us Hereticks and Schiſmaticks, and they may afterwards doe any thing elſe.

For our ſelves, though they brand as Heretical, thoſe Divine Truths profeſſed amongſt us,nnAct. 24.14.Acts 24:14 wee confeſſe (and juſtly glory in it) that according to that way which they call Hereſie, ſo worſhip wee the God of our Fathers, beleeving all things which are written in the Law, the p. 16Prophets, and the Goſpel too. And indeed, with them, this is our fault. And whereas they pronounce us ſchiſmaticall, we have often made good before the world, that wee never ſeparated from the Catholike Church, but onelyonly from the abominations of Babylon, ooRevel. 18.4.Rev 18:4that we might no longer partake of her ſinnes, nor receive of her plagues.

But let them account of themſelves as highly as they pleaſe, and rang us among the rankeſt hereticks that ever were, they be yet to ſeek of a ſufficient warrant for ſuch a Prodigie: ſeeing we have the peremptory judgement of Chriſt himſelf to the contrary, for the everlaſting confutation of all ſuch damnable doctrine, and the eternall confuſion of all the broachers, and abettors of it.

In the Ninth of Luke, ppVerſ. 51.52.we finde Chriſt, in a journey from Galily to Hieruſalem, to keep his laſt Paſſover, and to offer up himſelfe there a Sacrifice for our ſinnes; and being on the way, he ſends before to a village of Samaria, to take up ſome lodging. The Samaritans, for difference from the Jewes in Religion, but chiefly about the Place of worſhip (than which, at that time, a greater Controverſie could not happen) refuſed to entertain him, eſpecially now, that he was going up to that feaſt. And this heightned their offence of inhumanity toward a ſtranger, to an act of impietie againſt Religion; refuſing upon this ground, that he ſtedfastly ſet his face to goe to Hieruſalem, Ʋerſ. 53.and they knew part of his buſineſſe there.

His two Diſciples James and John (who perhaps had been ſent on that errand) in zeal for their Maſter, took fire at this, and preſently put it to the Queſtion;Ver. 54. Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and conſume them, even as Elias did? They not only make the Propoſition, but avouch a Preſident of great authority. Elias qq2 King. 1.2 Kgs 1did ſo upon the old Samaritans; therefore why not wee much more upon theſe? That wrong was but to a ſervant; this to the Son of God himſelfe: And we deſire no other revenge upon theſe, than he took upon thoſe. But what is Reſolved upon the Queſtion, by Chriſt their Maſter? Surely he gives judgement againſt his owne Diſciples, although himſelfe were moſt concerned in p. 17the Cauſe. He will not have it ſo much as attempted, no not upon ſuch impious Samaritans. For he both ſharply rebuked the propounders of ſuch a fiery Motion, ſaying,Ʋerſ. 55. Ye know not of what spirit yee are; and refuted them too, by the end of his comming, which would not conſiſt with that Act of Elias; for the Sonne of man is not come to deſtroy mens lives, Ver. 56.but to ſave them.

Now then, if the Queſtion be at any time put, Whether a Papist may lawfully blow up a Protestant, or otherwiſe destroy him, for difference in Religion, and upon pretence of Hereſie, without Legall Triall? We can not better reſolve it according to the minde of Chriſt, than by that Reſolution, which Himſelfe gave to a Queſtion of his owne Diſciples, to this effect, Whether it be lawfull for a beleeving Jew, yea for Apoſtles, upon wrong done to Chriſt himſelf for difference in Religion, to ſet fire on a Samaritan? Wee ſee, Chriſt is cleerely and reſolutely for the Negative: which is enough to ſecure all Cities and Villages from ſuch a Deſolation, and our Perſons from ſuch a Maſſacre, by any who truely follow Chriſt, while the World ſtandeth.

Let it now be ſuppoſed by Papiſts, that our Religious King, Queene, Parliament, and all Proteſtants, were all out as bad as thoſe wretched Samaritans; and, themſelves as Catholike, as Apoſtles, or as Chriſt himſelfe: yet, by Chriſts Reſolution, Protestants ought to have been no worſe uſed by Papiſts, than the Samaritans by Christ.

Would Chriſt not endure that a contemptible Village of Miſcreants ſhould be deſtroyed, upon ſuch a quarrell; and yet, authoriſe theſe, to deſtroy a whole Kingdome (yea Three Kingdomes upon the matter) with one puffe, upon a farre leſſe occaſion? If he would not permit ſuch a puniſhment from Heaven, upon only Delinquents; would he approve the blowing up of many others, who, in the judgement of the Conſpirators themſelves were eſteemed Innocent? God would not ſo deale with Sodome it ſelfe, when the cry of their ſinnes called for fire from heaven.

But, if now we invert the ſcale, as juſtly we may; The Inſtance will conclude more ſtrongly. If Chriſt would not give p. 18way to the good, to bring fire on the evill; not to Apoſtles, to deſtroy hereticks and Idolaters; 2 Vſe.nay, not ſo much as to pray for fire, even from heaven, althought the Prayer were to be put up by James and John, againſt Samaritans; would he warrant not only a Prayer for, but an execution by fire; not from heaven, but from hell; not by Apoſtles, but by Apoſtats; not upon Hereticks, but upon ſound Profeſſors of his Truth; not by Iames and John, whom he dearly loved, but upon Samaritans, whom all Gods people had cauſe to hate; but, by Samaritans, Prieſts and Jeſuites, Traitors and Rebells (abhorred of God and man) upon Iames & Iohn, very Pillars of the Church, upon the Lords Annointed, & upon the Aſſembly of all the Eſtates of the Kingdom? Sober & Modern Papiſts thēſelves are aſhamed of this, in behalf of thoſe furious Ones, of their own Party, who cannot bluſh. Nay, I appeal from Garnet, to Garnet: from Garnet ſleeping, to Garnet waking: from his ſleeping Conſcience, conſulted to approve it, to his Conſcience awakened, when he was upon the Scaffold, to be executed for it. When the Queſtion was firſt put to him by Catesby, Whether it were lawfull in ſome Caſe, to deſtroy the innocent with the guilty? This GoodaaWiddrington ubi ſupra. Father, ſo ſoone as he apprehended the Conſpirator to be in earneſt, peremptorily reſolved, that, no doubt, it was; if the good comming by it, might make compenſation for the loſſe of their lives. So that with him,bbRom. 3.8.Rom 3:8 Let us doe evill, that good may come thereof, was good Doctrine, though S. Paul diſclaim'd it.

But, when he came to die, Conſcience compelled him to change his note. Then, he confeſſed to a NobleccE. of Manch: to whom Garnet confeſſed, M…rtis ſententiam juſtiſſimè in cum fuiſsè pronunciatam, &c. Lord, yet living, that, for concealing this Treaſon, the ſentence of death was juſt upon him. And being led to the ſide of the ſcaffold, to ſatisfie the people, hee (as**Me in Regem peccaſſe confiteor, quod mihi eſt de…ori, quoad mali conſcius fui, ſcil. in reticendo Et hoc nomine, veniam a Regia. Majeſtate ſupplex pe…o. Machinatio contra Regem & regnum ſanguinolenta erat, quam que ſi pe…acta fuiſſet, ego ipſe in imis ſenſibus & toto animo de…esta…u…s erum. Dole… ſane maxime & peracerbe fe…o, Catholicos tam atrox & immanc facinus ſuſcepiſſe. Ibid. Widdrington reports him) freely ſaid, I confeſſe I have offended againſt the King, which is now my griefe, in that I was guilty of this Treaſon, in concealing of it, for which I humbly crave pardon of his Majeſtie. The Conspiracie againſt the King and Kingdome, was bloody; and had it been executed, I my ſelfe ſhould have abhorr'd it from the ſecrets of my heart, and with all my ſoule. And verily, it is my greatest griefe, and with much bitterneſſe I feele it, that Catholikes p. 19undertooke ſuch a cruell and outragious Villany. And, upon th Gallowes, **Eoſque adhorto: ne ejuſmodi proditionibus & rebellionibus contra Regē ſe …mmeſceant, ibid. inf…a.hee exhorted all Catholikes, that they would never more have hand in ſuch Treaſons and Rebellions againſt their Soveraigne. Thus farre our firſt Ʋſe: the next is this.

Learne hence what to expect, as from all wicked men in general, ſo from all the brood that be Agents and Factors for Rome in particular; whether Lay, or Eccleſiaſtique,rrNever expect better from them. Regular or Secular, to the end of the world. Surely, no better than from the rageing Sea, when it cannot rest. Nothing but rage and wrath, Conſpiracie and crueltie, Treaſon and Rebellion, ſo often as power and opportunitie meet. Whether qqProv. 29.9.Prov 29:9they rage, or laugh, there is no reſt. ssMic. 7.2.3. &c.Mic 7:2Mic 7:3They all lie in wait for blood, they hunt every man his brother with a net, that they may doe evill with both hands earneſtly, the Prince **Witneſſeth Pope, and other his Adherents.asketh, and the Iudge judgeth for reward, and the Great man uttereth his miſchievous deſires: ſo they wrap it up. The beſt of them is a briar, the moſt upright is ſharper than a thorny hedge, &c. Therefore truſt yee not in a friend, put ye no confidence in a guid, keep the doores of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy boſome, if this way addicted.

What then ſhould you liſten to any of their Syrens ſongs, for abrogation, or mitigation of the Lawes made againſt them, for toleration of their Religion, or for truſting of them, as ſome would perſwade? They are no Changelings. Can the Ethiopian change his skinne, or the Leopard his ſpots? ttJer. 13.23.Jer 13:23then may they alſo doe good, that are accuſtomed to doe evill. I urge this the rather at this time, not only becauſe the very Deliverance, which wee this day celebrate, rings loud in your cares, neither to truſt nor tolerate them any longer, and ſtrongly moves for a Ne admittas, againſt them; but, becauſe alſo, even during this very Parliament, you find the old ſpirit of rage and trechery, walking too openly, and boldly among them, and too often preſſing too neere upon you. Let it not move you, that now they are in a Petitioning veine, and ſeem to Petition for ſome indulgence, profeſſing all Loyalty: For juſt ſo they gave out, while they were preparing their materialls for the Gun-powder Treaſon: then they p. 20would Petition for a Toleration of Religion.

Comming they are to manage their Cauſe, and means they have more than ordinary to advance their Party: the more reaſon, you ſhould have a more vigilant eye, and a more active hand over them, to ſecure the King, and the Royall Seed, Religion, your ſelves, and the Kingdomes, againſt all their machinations. The better to quicken this Care in you, I ſhall humbly leave with you theſe Foure Remembrancers. Firſt, That they have never been quiet, but continually contriving of Treaſons, ever ſince the Reformation of Religion. Secondly, That this practice is not from the Lawes made againſt them,**See Diſcourſe of the Powder-Treaſon in K. Iames his Works. but their very Religion it ſelfe leades them unto it. Thirdly, That their Prieſts are bound to infuſe theſe principles of their Religion into them, and to preſſe the uſe of them upon all occaſions. Fourthly, That to induce their Diſciples to ſwallow thoſe Principles, and accordingly to act them when occaſion ſerveth, they propound great rewards and glory to ſuch as ſhall attempt them, and defend and magnifie thoſe who have formerly miſcarried in them. Each of theſe I ſhall now make good unto you in order, with ſome enlargement.

I. They have never reſted from plotting of Treaſon ſince the Reformation.1. They have never been quiet, but alwayes hammering and contriving or ſolliciting and driving on deſperate Plotts and conſpiracies, to deſtroy their Sovereigne, to aboliſh Religion, to ſubvert the Lawes, and to expoſe the Kingdoms to a prey of any forreigne Enemie that would lend them either aide, or countenance, ever ſince the happy Reformation of Religion in the glorious Reigne of Queen Elizabeth, unto this very day.

It is not my purpoſe, nor will it ſuit with the ſhort limits of a Sermon, to make a relation of the Treaſons themſelves, but only to give a ſhort Catalogue of the Chiefe Actors in them, leaving the reſt to Hiſtorians, who have reported them to the World.

I know it goes for current, that the Papiſts of England were quiet enough for the firſt 11. yeeres of Queen Elizabeth, before any Lawes were made againſt them. And indeed, in compariſon of after times, this may be in part admitted p. 21to be true. Howbeit, in thoſe firſt yeeres, many of them went over Sea, and there laid the foundation of future miſchiefes here. There were others at home, that held ſtrict intelligence with thoſe abroad, doing that more ſecretly, which afterwards was more openly purſued, and avowed.

It is true, that while Paul the Fourth, and Pius the Fourth ſate Popes, their unwillingneſſe to make diſturbance here, held our Papiſts in more quiet. Yet when Pius 4. diſpatched a Nuncio to Queene Elizabeth, Paul 4. was Pope when Q. El…z came to the Crown. Pius 4. ſucceeded next, and ſate t…ll the Seventh of her Reigne. Continuat. of Martins hiſtory, at the yeere 1561. out of Cambden their friend.with a kinde meſſage (as he took it;) his Nuncio could not be admitted to enter England, becauſe ſo many, bred up to the Popiſh Religion, laboured to make troubles both at home and abroad. And this happened about the Fourth of her Reigne.

And if you doe but remember, from Whom, the Guiſes then procured the French King to claime the Engliſh Diademe, and ſollicited the Pope to excommunicate the Queen; as did the Count of Foria, at Rome, in behalf of his Maſter, the Catholike King, about the ſame time; and, that divers Engliſh Papiſts had applied themſelves to thoſe Princes; to aſſiſt in reducing the Romiſh Religion here; You will finde they had no great cauſe to boaſt of their loyaltie. Eſpecially, if you conſider that Arthur Pole, and his Brethren had no ſmall party among the Papiſts here at home, to aſſiſt in that horrible Treaſon againſt his Sovereigne, for which hee and others were after arraigned, and condemned.

But when Pius the Fifth, the next Pope, mounted the Chaire, our Romaniſts began to be more active and bold. For when once his turbulent diſpoſition was knowne, the Popiſh Party, by the helpe of Cardinal Alan, firſt obtained a Colledge for Engliſh Seminary Prieſts at Doway, Anno. 1568. which indeed proved the ſeminary of all the Treaſons and Rebellions which after followed. That Colledge was after multiplied into two; one, at Rhemes, ſet up by the Guiſes, the other at Rome, erected by Gregory 13. Anno 1580. after Requeſenius, Governour of the Low Countries under the King of Spaine, had thruſt them out of their firſt Neſt at Doway. And from theſe places were they upon all occaſions ſent hither, to poyſon the Subjects with Principles p. 22of Treaſon, which every yeere produced much trouble and danger.

No ſooner were they warme in their firſt Cells at Doway, but Pius 5. Excommunicated Q. Elizab. at Rome, abſolving all her ſubjects, and curſing all that ſhould longer obey her. An 1569. After which exploit, he ſent over his Bull Declaratory thereof, by Morton, an Engliſh fugitive, who bringing it to Ridolf a Florentine, divers Copies of it were firſt ſecretly ſcattered among our Papiſts, and then the Breve it ſelfe fixed on the Gate of London-Houſe.

By which time, the Prieſts, and other active Factors for Babylon, had wrought farre upon ſundry Nobles and Gentlemen of great place, whom they either found, or could make diſcontented with the preſent Religion, Government, or State of things, or whom they diſcerned to bee ambitiouſly affected, or moſt apt for intelligence with forraign Princes, that either maligned our Religion, envied our Proſperitie, or cunningly endeavored to poſſeſſe themſelves of this Crowne; which have been the deſtruction of many a Noble Spirit, and the ruine of many Ancient Families of this Kingdome.

Among the many Examples of this kind, may be reckoned up the Rebellion of the unhappy Earles of Northumberland and Weſtmerland, and ſundry other their Complices, as the firſt poyſoned fruit of the Popes Bull, in the ſame yeere wherein it was heer ſcattered among the Papiſts. And from the ſaid curſed fountaine, iſſued all thoſe bitter ſtreames of Treaſons of Stukely in Ireland, at the ſame time, of the Stanlies in Darbyſhire, of Iohn Trogmorton, and Brooke, of Sanders and Briſtow, of the Nortons, Barne, and Mather, of Doctor Story, the perſecuting Civilian, of Shirwin, Parſons, Campian and Kirby, and many other Prieſts and Jeſuites, to the number of above 120. of Somervile and his adherents, of Mayne, Nelſon, Tompſon, and the reſt of that Crue, of Payne, and his 50. Reſolutes, hired by the Pope to murder the Queen, of Francis Throgmorton, Paget and Englefeild, of bloody Parry, of ſome inveigled Nobles, p. 23of Babbington, Tichborne, and the reſt of that pack, of the ſame Babington, Charnock and Savage, in a ſecond Deviliſh Deſigne, of Lopez, of Stanly, of Cullen, of York and Williams, of Creſwell (who in his Philopater) and of Parſons (that in his Doleman) fomented that Treaſon of Stanly and the reſt, of Squire, of Garnet, Winter, See Stat of 3 Jac. 2.Jas 2Caresby, Treſham, and others, who in the laſt yeere of Queen Elizabeth, travailed with the King of Spaine, to joyne with the Papiſts in England, to depoſe the Queen, and to extirpate Religion, beſide many moe that never came to light.

Nor did their rage die with that Lady, but ſo ſoone as King James came among us, Watſon and Clerk found a way to inſtill Treaſon into ſundry Nobles and Gentlemen, againſt the King and Prince, before the Coronation. And for a Coronis of all, the Salt-Peter men in the Gunpowder Treaſon (of which I have ſpoken before) can not be forgotten. I ſpare to ſpeake of their continuall Treaſons and Rebellions in Ireland, or of that memorable Deſigne in 88. which however it was attempted by Spaine, yet all men know the faſt tie betweene our Papiſts and the Spaniard, their continuall correſpondencies and combinations with him, and the thundering Bull of Pope Sixtus Quintus, then ſent abroad, for confirmation of the ſeverall Bulls made by his Predeceſſors, Pius 5. and Gregory **He held conſultation with Spaine, to invade England and Ireland both together, An. 1576. His aime was to make his baſe Son, James Boncampagno, (Marques of Ʋineola) King of Ireland. Excellent zeal in a Pope! not to gain ſoules to Chriſt, but a Kingdome for his owne Baſtard.13. againſt Queene Elizabeth, to the end our Papiſts might more cheerfully aſſiſt in that bloody Enterpriſe, and none dare to adhere to her againſt a forreign Enemie.

Nay, let me adde, that even now, while this very Parliament is ſitting, and Papiſts Petitioning**See their printed Petit. in the Dial. betvveen a Parliament man, and a Catholike. for indulgence and libertie, and for taking away the Lawes made againſt them, neither England, Scotland, nor Ireland, have been free from deſperate Conſpiracies and Treaſons, wherein ſundry of their Party have been principall Actors. What ſhould I tell you of the Deſignes upon the Armies in the North, of the Damnable Attempts of our Treacherous Fugitives now abroad, and of the open Rebellion in Ireland: God grant wee heare of no more neere-hand. But yet, theſe may inſtruct you, that if you would have Peace with Rome, p. 24Rome will have no peace with you: and that, to pluck up the hedge of your Lawes, is to lay all waſte; for they will never be quiet, till either by your Care and Wiſdome, you have ſecured them from doing more miſchiefe (which will never be, while their Idolatrie is permitted, although but in ſecret**Your Highnes may aſſure your ſelfe, that the Adverſaries wil not change their Diſpoſition, unleſſe either we were reduced to their blindneſſe, or they drawn to imbrace the Truth with us. Biſhop Carelton, Epiſt. Dedic. to Prince (now King) Charles, before his Book of Thankfull Rememb.) or till they have brought us all under the line of confuſion.

If it be ſaid, that the only Reaſon of their often Conſpiracies at home and abroad, hath been the ſtrictneſſe of the Lawes made againſt them for the faults of a few, whom they condemne as much as wee: and that if thoſe Lawes (now that the occaſions of them ceaſe) were but repealed, they could, and would be as Loyall as any, notwithſtanding their Religion.

I anſwere, that for the Lawes made againſt them, they may thank only themſelves, that have ſo much abuſed Royall Clemencie and Goodneſſe. But what ever the Lawes bee, none have been put to death, ſave only for Treaſon. And even among thoſe that have come within this compaſſe, many have eſcaped with baniſhment. And when the turbulencie of ſome have enforced the State to execute them, yet others too guilty, have been ſpared. For, Queen Elizabeth, ſhortly after the proceedings againſt Campian, and ſome of his fellows,Biſhop Carelton. ſent away 70. Prieſts in a very ſhort time out of England; ſome of which had received, and the reſt had deſerved ſentence of death for Treaſon.

Neither have our Lawes been ſo rigid, nor ſo rigidly executed againſt Papiſts here, as theirs have been againſt Protestants. Nor have Papiſts been expoſed to ſuch Butchery, as is too too frequent where Papiſts domineir. Witneſſe the Spaniſh Inquiſition, wherinto, if any Lutheran be ſecretly conveyed, they put him not to a legall triall, but give him their Marſhall Law. For, as Hoffeus the Jeſuite was wont to bragg, they hold it a good peece of Pietie, inſtantly to commend him to the fire, ut anima ejus in curru igneo ad inferos trahatur, that ſo his ſoule might be forthwith carried to hell in a fiery Chariot; as one**Haſſen Muller. Hiſt Ieſuit. cap. 6. bred among them, reporteth of him.

p. 25Nay, ſundry degrees of Dignitie and honour, have been (in later times, eſpecially) heaped upon divers of them; yea they have been admitted very neere to his Majeſties Sacred Perſon, and truſted with Offices of greateſt honor and truſt in the State. And yet nevertheleſſe, neither any, nor all of theſe favours together, either doe, or can ſecure us of them: and that, for the Reaſon contained in the ſecond Remembrancer, which in the next place followeth.

2. It is not our Lawes, 2 Remembrancer; Their it very Religion teacheth Rebellion, and ſo they drinke in Principles of Treaſon with the Principles of Popery.but ſundry Principles of their very Religion, that makes them diſloyall, and carries them ſtill on upon Treaſons, and Rebellion, and would doe ſo, although the Lawes made againſt them, were all repealed. So that in this ſenſe, our Publike Prayer, appointed for this day, as it was firſt penned and publiſhed; viz. that their faith is Faction, their Religion is Rebellion, &c. was no ſlander, but a juſt Character of their Antichriſtian Profeſſion; and is unjuſtly altered, what ever hath been boldly ſaid, and publiſhed, to juſtifie the alteration.

To make this good, I ſhall not need to ravell into all their Doctrine; but only to give you a liſt of ſuch Principles of theirs, as are obvious in all their writings, and notoriouſly knowne to all the world.

And firſt,Read but any of the Popes Bulls, and you need ſearch no further for proofes hereof. who knows not that with them all Proteſtants are condemned for Hereticks, Princes themſelves not exempted. 2. That no faith is to be held with Hereticks, becauſe Hereticks themſelves are fallen from the Faith; and ſo doe forfeit all Priviledges, wherein keeping of Faith with them, might oblige others, or ſteed them. 3. That Hereticall Princes excommunicated by the Pope, are forthwith deprived, and depoſed of all Princely dignitie and Soveraignty, their ſubjects are diſcharged from all alleigance, and are accurſed, if they further obey them. Witneſſe the Bulls ſent out againſt Queen Elizabeth, by Pius 5. Gregory 13. and Sixtus 5. and the writings of not onelyonly Bellarmine and Suarez, and other Forreigners, but of Alan, Saunders, Parſons, Creſwell, and ſundry other of our Apoſtate Engliſh, who have defended theſe Bulls and Poſitions, even unto death, 4. Our Engliſh Papiſts doe all profeſſe to adhere to the p. 26Pope, as ſupreme in all Spiritualls and Eccleſiasticalls (their owne King having nothing to doe herein, but only in Temporalls;) and, to obey the Pope, before all the world, in things of this nature. 5. They know that the Pope doth profeſſe and publiſh, both by doctrine and practice, that hee hath power to excommunicate the greateſt Potentates, if hereticall; to command all Catholikes in all things, in ordine ad spiritualia, that have any reference to the Catholike Cauſe; that all Catholikes are bound**Bulla Pij 5. An. 1569. The Copy of which Bull you may finde in any of the Annalls, or Chronicles of that time. to obey him (if he command it) under paine of damnation, in oppoſing their Soveraigne, without diſputing his commands; and that he hath power to diſſolve all bonds, covenants, leagues and oathes, as he ſhall finde conducing to the advancement of the Catholike Faith; So that, if he liſt, no bands, humane or Divine, no oathes, never ſo ſolemnly taken ſhall binde Papiſts; for when occaſion ſerves, the Pope can, and will releaſe them from all obligations of God or Conſcience, of Nature and Nations: And they muſt ſubmit unto him without regret. Nor is heer any place left for tergiverſation. For firſt, if they ſhall plead, that theſe have been the private opinions of ſome Jeſuites, and hot-ſpurres, to bring their Religion under hatred and obloquie; they muſt remember, that they may not put the Definitions of Trent, nor the Popes Definitive ſentences e Cathedra, among private Opinions; if they will acknowledge any thing to be Publike, and their Pope infallible, when he decrees from his Chayre, which they dare not denie, without renouncing their Religion, and incurring the crime of hereſie.

If they alledge, ſecondly, as ſome doe, that how ever ſome Treacherous ſpirits have been too blame, and too many Jeſuites have been Incendiaries, as well in their writings as in their practices; yet, the more moderate Catholikes have ever condemned thoſe facts and writings; and that not onelyonly by word, but alſo by Bookes publiſhed to the world: witneſſe Widdringtons Apologie for the Oath of Alleigance, his Defence of his Apologie, his Supplication to Pope Paul the Fifth, his Appendix to that Supplication, &c. Witneſſe alſo Watſons Quodlilets, the Jeſuites Catechiſme, and many p. 27more: and laſtly, witneſſe their Petition to the preſent Parliament, and their Proteſtation annexed, wherein they profeſſe all ready and cheerfull obedience to the King, in all Civill and Temporall affaires; to take the Oath of Alleigance, So they be not bound to ſweare opinions; to diſclaime all forreigne Power, Papall or Princely, that ſhould pretend authoritie to aſſoile them of that Oath, &c.

I muſt briefly anſwere, that albeit they have in words profeſſed a diſlike of Jeſuitical Practices, yet ſtill they hold of the Pope, for the whole frame of their Religion, and vow obedience to all his publike Definitions: and, what theſe be, you have before heard in part. Next, it is true, that Widdrington hath written modeſtly, yet was he faine to purge for it to the Pope; and after all, to goe off with diſgrace. And who knows not, that ſhortly after ſome Seminaries had admired, and extolled to the heavens, the Bull of Pius 5. againſt Queen Elizabeth, and blaſphemouſly perſwaded the world that it was indited by the Holy Ghost, they ſet out a Booke (on purpoſe to lull the Queen and the State aſleep) to admoniſh the Papiſts of England not to practiſe any miſchiefe upon the Queen, for that Catholikes might uſe no other Arms, but teares, prayers, watchings and fastings, againſt their Adverſaries? Yet who is ignorant of the daily conſpiracies that the Papiſts in thoſe times, and during all the reſt of Queene Elizabeths reigne, did deſperately involve themſelves into, to their owne deſtruction?

And what though Watſon and other Secular Prieſts (rather out of emulation and envie, than true Loyaltie) wrote ſome volumes againſt the Ieſuites, when they began to overbeare the Secular Prieſts here in England: yet this was not ſo great an argument of their fidelity, as of their ſpite and ſubtiltie: for we know that even that very Watſon and Clerk (another of his Confederates) was afterwards the deſperate propounder and ring-leader of that foule Treaſon againſt King Iames, and Prince Henry; for which hee and Clerk deſervedly ſuffered the reward of Traytors, in the firſt yeere of King James.

And albeit there be lately caſt among you a Pamphlet, p. 28or Dialogue between a Parliament man and a Roman Catholike; what credit can be given to that which no man avows, no man ever preſented to you? It is, I confeſſe, a cunning piece; but, ſhamefully blending what cannot be anſwered. And it is cunningly publiſhed, perhaps for a dangerous end. If the Parliament thrive, and carry on their buſineſſe, as is deſired; then, this Book ſhall be vouched as a faire profer of the Catholikes, rejected without conſideration. If any diſaſter happen, and that Romaniſts doe chance to get a Day; then, if this Petition and Proteſtation be preſſed upon them, they will boldly aske you, What Catholike did ever avow, or owne it? It is but a Paſquill, they will not be tyed by it.

And againe, Suppoſe they take the Oath, and Proteſtation, mentioned in that Pamphlet; what are we the neerer to ſafetie, when they ſtill muſt hold that the Pope can diſpence with any Oath; and therefore with this, even when they have taken it? For, doe we not ſee them take libertie to doe ſo, with the Popes owne Bulls? Did not Parſons and Campian in the yeere, 1580. (notwithſtanding their ſtrict Oath, to obey the Pope in all things) procure a Diſpenſation to free all Catholikes from obeying the Popes owne Declaratory Bull of Excommunication againſt Queen Elizabeth, till a better opportunitie; when as yet in the meane time, all others ſhould be under the Curſe of it, who did not preſently obey it? Quo teneam nodo? what Oath or Proteſtation then, will hold a Romiſh Catholike in obedience to a Prince, by them accounted hereticall; when, no Decree of the Pope himſelf ſhall hold them, if they finde it not ſeaſonable? When there is no remedy, they will yeeld to any thing: but when they ſee their time, they will doe any thing.

Biſhop Andrews on Nov. 5. 1616. on …ſ…y. 37.3.I ſhall therefore cloſe up this, with a paſſage or two out of two Grave Authors, one a great Biſhop, in a Sermon to King James. Where ſpeaking of the prodigious Doctrine of Bellarmine, in reference to the Primitive Chriſtians, and our moderne Papiſts, and of the reaſon the Cardinall gives, why the Chriſtians of old did not riſe up againſt perſecuting Emperors, Id fuit quia deerant vires; the Biſhop makes this collection, As much as to ſay, if they now in p. 29theſe daies be ſo as they were, carry themſelves quietly, it is quia non ſunt vires: and to hold no longer, than Donec erunt: and then you are like to heare of them, to have them goe againe with ſuch another birth. You ſhall have them as mild, as Gregory the First, when they have no ſtrength; but as fierce as Gregory the Seventh, when they have. And afterwards thus.

See ye not, next under God, whereto to aſcribe our ſafety? Even to non erant vires: there is a point hangs on that For, while that laſts, while ye keep them there, yee ſhall have the Primitive Church of them; have them lie as quiet, as ſtill, as ever did the barrells in the vault, till vires, like fire come to them; and then, off goe they: then nothing but depoſe Kings, diſpoſe of Kingdomes, aſſoile Subjects, arme them againſt their Soveraignes: then, doe they care not what. But, if the Powder take not fire, thou ſhall you ſtraight have Bookes tending to mitigation; then, all quiet againe. Certainly, thus standing, it were beſt to hold them in defectu virium, to provide ut ne ſint: to keepe them at non ſunt vires; till time they be better minded in this point, and wee have good aſſurance of it. For, minded as they are, they want no will, no virus: they tell us, what the matter is; ſtrength they want; they write it, they print it, and ſi adeſſent vires, they would act it in earneſt. Thus Hee.

The other of my Authors having reckoned up a Catalogue of the damnable Doctrines of Popery;Dr. Prideaux, on Nov. 5 on Pſal. 9 19. Num. 8.Ps 9:19Num 8 profeſſeth to have done it to make it appeare to thoſe that would willingly be better perſwaded of their Doctrine, that the Doctrine it ſelfe directly warranteth Treaſon, let the Traitors be what they will, and that none can be an abſolute Papiſt, but (if hee throughly underſtand himſelfe, and live under a Chriſtian Prince, 3 Remembrancer. Popiſh Priests are bound by them, Oath, to inculcate thoſe Principles of Treaſon.that hath renounced the Popes Authoritie) muſt needs, being put unto it, be an abſolute Traitor. And ſo I have done with my ſecond Remembrancer.

Thirdly; My Third is this, that you would pleaſe to Remember that the Education and Profeſſion of all Prieſts and Jeſuites that come over hither under p. 30pretence of adminiſtring Popiſh Service and Sacraments to Romiſh Catholikes, doe binde them to infuſe other principles of Treaſon into their Proſelytes, and to ſtir them up upon alloccaſions to act it. I ſhall not need to trouble you with a Liſt of the Loyaliſts Rules, nor of the Teſtimony of Pope Ʋrbane 8. in his Bull of Canonization of Ignatius Loyola, touching that Societie, that beyond all other Fraternities, they are the Chiefe, and moſt ſtrenuous Propugners of the Popes Authoritie, or rather boundleſſe Tiranny. nor wil I ſtay you with a repertory of the Jeſuites Vows; and how farre that of blindfold obedience, is to be extended. The Secular Prieſts have done this at large,See Wa…ſons Quodlibets, & Ieſuites Catechiſme, tranſlated by the Seculars here. whereby they have concluded the Ieſuites to be Traitors both for Tenets and practice here in England. I ſhall only acquaint you with what even the Seminary Priests themſelves (who are not Ieſuites) are bound unto by the Pope himſelfe, in his Conſtitutions for the ordering of the Engliſh Colledge at Rome, whereof wee gave a touch before. And I ſhall give it you out of Mart. Aspilcueta, Doctor Navarrus, an Author without exception, l. 3. Conſil. & Resp. Concil. 1. de Regular. Romae in Collegio Anglorum eſt Statutum, & Conſtitutio Papalis, ut quicunque illud ingredi voluerit, teneatur jurare ſe, poſt tot annos, pro defenſione fidei Catholica in Angliam profecturum, illamque ibi publicè & privatè praedicaturum. At Rome, in the Colledge of the Engliſh, it is a Statute, and Papall Conſtitution, that whoever will be admitted into that Colledge, he be tyed to ſweare, that after ſo many yeeres, he will travell into England, for defence of the Catholike Faith, and there preach it both in publike and private. Now what that Faith is, you have heard in part, in the former Remembrance; and, how they have defended and preached it here, Tiburne, and ſuch other Pulpits can bear them witneſſe;**Dia. between a Parliament man, and a Catholike. pag. 13. And Prieſts they ſay, they muſt have, while there be any Catholikes in England. Nor can it be unknowne unto you what influence they have into the Papall ſect, of both ſexes here, what power they exerciſe over their Conſciences, what eſteem and honour they p. 31have among them, upon this very reaſon (among other) that theſe Prieſts are in daily hazzard of their lives, to doe them ſervice, which makes them more apt to drink down any poyſonous Poſitions that theſe Seminaries can adminiſter to ignorant Diſciples: and ſo, under pretext of Religion, they can, and doe at their pleaſure, wrap them up in deſperate Treaſons, ere they be aware. And whither can they not leade them by advancing the Popes Authoritie over all, in ordine ad spiritualia, and by continually inculcating in their eares, that all Proteſtants are but a pack of Hereticks, which the Catholikes are ſo to look upon, and proſecute, as the Pope ſhall command, and direct.

To ſay,Dial. between Parl. man, and a Cathol. p. 9. that no Excommunication can deprive any man of his temporall eſtate and goods, at least in Countries where Proteſtants either are the greater part, or permitted in great numbers; is but only to caſt a miſt before weake eyes: for, firſt they know, that where the Pope excommunicates a Prince, he commands the ſubjects to riſe againſt him, as before appeareth; Next, the exception here, of Proteſtant Countries, or numbers, doth cleerly diſcover the Fox in the Lambs-Skin: for this plainly tells us, that the Popes Cenſures cannot take place where Proteſtants be too ſtrong for Papists; and ſo, by this you may diſcover what they will be at, when their Party ſhall ſo much encreaſe, as to be able to maſter the Proteſtants in England; as they begin already to doe in Ireland; which I hope will not be forgotten.

4. My laſt Remembrancer is this,4 Remembrancer. Corrupting mens Conſcienc…s and affections with baytes of reward, and glory, to attempt thoſe Treaſons which their Principles doe egge men on unto. That Prieſts and Jeſuites doe ever corrupt the Judgements of their Followers, and Inſtruments of Aſſaſſination and Treaſon, with poyſonous poſitions, touching the nature of ſuch Facts; and bribe their conſciences with ſtrong baites of Reward, and Glory to all that will undertake the acting of Treaſons and Rebellions, at their inſtigation: which is one of the ſtrongeſt and moſt dangerous Incentives to any new villany, that can be invented. For men that either are ſenſible of Religion, or deſirous of glory, cannot be kept back from p. 32any Attempt, which is pronounced not onelyonly lawfull, but noble and meritorious for advancement of their Religion. Difficultie and danger being then a whetſtone rather than a Diſſuaſive to generous mindes, thirſting after honour by publike ſervice.

It hath ever been their manner to animate, not ſingle Aſſaſſinates alone (as Hall did Somervile, the Pope and the Cardinall de Como did Parry, Ballard did Babington, Creſwell did Stanly, Holt did York and Williams, and Walpoole did Squire;) but even all whom they can draw into any deſperate deſigne of Treaſon, by maintaining that the Act, being againſt Hereticks, is not onelyonly juſtifiable, but commendable and glorious. Now what rewards have been promiſed to Traitors, if they doe the deed, and what glory of Martyrdome they purchaſe in heaven, in caſe they miſcarry, all our Chronicles doe amply ſpeake.

Thus it fell out in the Gunpowder Treaſon. Catesby, and ſome others at firſt had, or at leaſt pretended ſcruples of the Lawfulneſſe of it. Garnet and other their Ghoſtly Fathers being conſulted, pronounce it lawfull, and full of merit, and encourage them in it. Catesby had likewiſe grounded himſelfe upon the Doctrine of Father Creſwell, b.b.In Philopater. §. 2.that a Prince manifeſtly hereticall, falleth from all Princely Power and authoritie, even before any Legall Sentence paſſed by the ſupreme Paſtor againſt him, to both which he added the infallible judgment of Clement. 8. who in two ſeverall Breves, one directed to the Catholike Nobilitie, and Gentry of England, the other to Father Garnet, enjoyned them not to permit any but a Catholike Prince to ſucceed Queene Elizabeth: Hence hee concluded; Hee, who then might lawfully be kept out, may now as lawfully be thruſt out. Pope Clement enjoyned the former, Ergo we may doe the later. And thus, armed with poyſoned Divinitie, Hee and his fellowes reſolved (and indeed, who, ſo Principled, would have ſcrupled) moſt deſperately to goe on with that wickedneſſe, impatient of all letts and delayes.

p. 33Thus other Traitors have found Popiſh Doctors forward to warrant their moſt deſperate Rebellions. So had Oneile firſt, and Tyroen afterwards, the publique Approbation of the Univerſitie of Salamancha in Spaine, before they diſplaied their Rebellious Banners. Yea ſo carefull are the Popiſh Prieſts and Jeſuites, not to ſuffer their ſeduced party to coole in their reſolute intentions of holding on any Rebellious courſe when opportunitie ſerveth, that they are ready to defend and juſtifie the vileſt attempts that have miſ-carried, leſt any of their faction ſhould be diſcouraged by the terrible executions done upon Traitors who have periſhed in and for their Catholique Treaſons.

Hence it is that ſo many great Pens have been imployed to juſtifie the Gun Powder Treaſon, and ſo much honour conferred upon the Arch-Traitor Garnet, after his execution; and ſo much grace done at Rome to Teſmond, and Gerrard that eſcaped the hand of Juſtice here. As for Garnet, Vbi ſupra.even Widdrington complains to Pope Paul the fifth, that (to the great ſcandall of Religion) His Holineſſe had permitted Garnet to be put in the Catalogue of Martyrs, his picture to be worn in Medals, his image to be ſet upon the very Altars in Churches, and his bones worſhipped as holy Reliques, &c. and much ado made about a ſuppoſed ſtramineous Miracle of Garnets face found in a ſtraw, which Widdrington confutes and derides. And well he might, when Garnets own Confeſſion at the Gallows, proclaimed him to be far wide of a Martyr, as before hath been ſhewed. He likewiſe complaineth that Gerrard, another bird of that Neſt, had been ſeen taking of Confeſſions publiquely in S^t. Peters Church in Rome under the Popes Noſe; and that Teſmond (another of the Conſpirators) was made Publique Penitentiary at Rome, and Confeſſor to the Pope himſelf: and all this, after this barbarous Treaſon was diſcovered, and eccho'd over all the world.

Now, what, I ſay, can the meaning of all this be, but ſtill, by impudent bolſtring up of ſuch unnaturall Traytors, p. 34to animate and encourage all Aſſaſinates and bloody Conſpirators to hold on in this Devilliſh Trade of Treaſon, when ſo ever any good ſons of his Holineſſe ſhall be called upon to do him any further Service in the like kind.

Nor is it at all to be heeded that the Papiſts here do condemne it: for, openly they dare do no other, for fear of their necks: but, that in ſecret they cannot abhorre it, is manifeſt by this, that the Pope hath given not onelyonly countenance to it, but laid the foundation of it by thoſe Buls of Clement the eighth, laſt mentioned. They muſt not condemne that, which their Infallible ſupreme Paſtor hath pronounced (not as a private fact, but even) ex Cathedra, out of his judiciary Tribunall to be warrantable and neceſſarie, namely, to keep any man out of the Throne, be his Title what it will, till he take an Oath to advance their pretended Catholique Faith. For, thence Catesby, as you have heard, concluded a Warrant for that deteſtable Treaſon. And from thence all Papiſts in the Kingdome, who attribute any validitie to the Popes Buls, may draw the like encouragement for any Conſpiracie**So did Saunders make uſe of the Bull of Pivs 5. to juſtifie a Treaſon of Stanly and York in the Low Countries, in delivering up of Daventry (a ſtrong Town pertaining to the Ʋnited States) to the king of Spain; becauſe he kept it in the name of Q. Eliz. who had it now as a Cautionary town from the States, and ſhe (as he pretended) was deprived by the Pope of all Soveraigntie, and Dominions, and therefore Stanly did well, and others might do the like with any of the reſt. and Rebellion in any time to come, againſt any Succeſſour of Queen Elizabeth, that doth or ſhall renounce the Pope and Popery, if the Conſpirators finde themſelves ſtrong enough, or ſubtle enough, by ſtabbing, poyſoning, blowing up, or any thing, to diſ-throne their Soveraigne, and to deſtroy all that take part with him, and endeavour to ſupport him. And ſo I have done with my Remembrancers, which I deſired to leave with you. And all that hath been hitherto ſpoken in the large proſecution of this ſecond Vſe, is but to arme you with Reſolution never to give way to any Toleration of Popery, or truſting of Papiſts. But this is not all: for, I muſt briefly adde,

A Third Ʋſe, to exhort you all, not onelyonly not to tolerate p. 35Popery, or to truſt the pertinacious imbracers of it,3. Vſe. but alſo to improve all your wiſedome and power to deſtroy Popery, and to reduce (if poſſible) thoſe many thouſands of poore ſeduced ſouls, that, having not known the depths of Satan, are miſerably hood-winkt by Antichriſt to withſtand the light and their own ſalvation. For, till then, they will never be at an end of their Rage againſt us. And whoſoever withſtands their Idolatrie, if they have power, they will be ſure to ruine him; becauſe Popery, like Pharaohs leane kine, ſeeks to devoure all true Religion that doth oppoſe it, and all that imbrace the the true Religion oppoſite unto it. They may diſſemble, but can never put off their wrath and enmitie againſt thoſe whom they behold as Heretikes, and as men appointed to make fewell for hell; as, by their malicious, Idolatrous, Traiterous Prieſts and blinde Guides, they are taught to judge of us.

It becomes not me to preſcribe You the way how to proceed herein, as You are a civill Body now truſted by the King and Kingdome, with all we have, but our ſouls, and our God. I know there be many excellent Lawes for this purpoſe alreadie made; and oh! that your Wiſedoms could finde out a way to their effectuall execution! But if any thing may be added, for the taking away of their children, and training them up (at the parents coſt, if they have wherewithall) in the nurture and fear of the Lord, that ſo there may not ſtill be new generations of Papiſts; I preſume it would be a Noble and Pious Service, for which the ſouls of many thouſands would for ever bleſſe you, by whoſe means they ſhould be delivered out of the power of that Aegyptian darknes, and tranſlated into the kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt.

But, for our ſelves, as we are Chriſtians, let me exhort you ſtill to look upon all wicked men as having great wrath and rage within them conceived againſt us, and that we look upon our ſelves as not free from their malice and fury for the future, how often ſoever they have attempted againſt us, and been diſappointed by God in p. 36all their wicked attempts. And not onelyonly ſo, but that we carefully exerciſe our ſelves in theſe particulars.

1. Be prudently vigilant over our enemies, watching over themaaMat. 10.17.Matt 10:17 with all circumſpection and prudence; but, no way diffident of ourbbIſa. 7.4. & 9.Isa 7:4Isa 7:9 God.

2. Pray that eitherccPſal. 7.9.Ps 7:9 the wickedneſſe of the wicked may come to an end, or that God wouldddPſal. 10.15.Ps 10:15 breake the arme of the wicked and the evill man, and that he wouldeePſal. 58.6.Ps 58:6 breake their teeth in their mouth. And if this will not do; then, that he would deſtroy them, and make them ſtill to fall by their own counſels.

3. But above all, labour to make our peace with God, and to walk humbly with him. For if the wicked be ſtill out with us, have we not the more cauſe to keep in with God? Beware of going on in any courſe of wickedneſſe, as you love your lives (to ſay nothing of your ſouls,) leſt God let looſe the ſtrong Buls of Baſan, and the young Lions that are greedy of prey, upon you. Yea, beware leſt mans rage and Gods wrath do meet, and both fall upon you at once. Oh how dreadfull muſt that needs be! If Iſrael be once a people of Gods wrath ffIſa. 10.6.Isa 10:6, every baſe, proud idolatrous Aſſirian ſhall tread them down like the mire in the ſtreet. Even Sampſon ſhall fall by the uncircumciſed Philiſtines, whom before he ſlaughtered by heaps. Thus Iſrael found it in Joſhua's time. When they had once ſinned in taking of the accurſed thing, even the accurſed men of Ai ſhall be too good for them,ggJoſh. 7.4.5.Josh 7:4Josh 7:5 three thouſand Iſraelites ſhall not be able to ſtand againſt 36. of the enemies, but flie and be ſmitten before them. But on the other ſide, if we labour to maintain peace with God, if hhPſal. 3.6.Ps 3:6ten thouſands of people beſet us round about, we ſhall not be afraid: no, iiPſal. 46 2.3.Ps 46:2Ps 46:3though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midſt of the ſea; though the waters thereof roare, and be troubled, and the mountains ſhake with the ſwellings thereof. We can never miſcarrie by all the rage of all the enemies in the world, ſo long as we betray not our own ſelves into their hands. For, there is a God that ſets and orders all, as we ſhall ſee in the p. 37next point, to which I now come.2. Obſervation.

2. Let the rage of wicked men be what it will, it ſhall onelyonly raiſe that glory to God, and benefit to his people, which the wicked never intended; and ever fall ſhort of that iſſue which they chiefly projected.

This point hath two branches, which we muſt diſtinctly proſecute.

Branch. 1 The firſt is this, that be the rage (which is permitted to break forth) what it will, The rage that breaks out turns to Gods praiſe.it ſhall onelyonly raiſe that glory to God, and benefit to his people, which was never intended by the wicked.

As for the wicked it is as far from their hearts to intend Gods glory, in their rage, as heaven from hell. If God make themaaIſa. 10.4.Isa 10:4 the rod of his anger againſt a people of his wrath, to do Gods work (not their own,) you ſhall be ſure to finde them like that Aſſirian King, who being ſent by God in ſuch an errand,bbVerſ. 7. He meant not ſo, neither did his heart thinke ſo; but it was in his heart to deſtroy, and to cut off Nations not a few. Howbeit the moſt wiſe and omnipotent God who is alwayes zealous of his own glory and his peoples good, intends himſelf praiſe from every ſpark of fury, and extracts honour out of the leaſt atome of each mans rage, when, or which way ſo ever it break out. And this he doth,

1. By diverting their power,1. By diverting it. and driving it one way when they meant it another. Thus Sennacheribs power was imployed againſtcc2 King. 19.2 Kgs 19 Tirhakah, when all his rage was firſt bent againſt Hezekiah, And what greater praiſe, then thus to haveddProv. 21.1.Prov 21:1 the heart and the power of ſo great a King in his hand, as the rivers of water, to turn it whither ſoever he will?

2.2. By letting it go on till his hand may be clearly ſeen in quelling it. By permitting mans rage ſometimes to proceed ſo far, as all may ſee a neceſſity of a Divine Power to give it a ſtop, and behold an immediate arm of the Almighty in defeating of it. Therefore God permitted Pharaoh to purſue Iſrael, not onelyonly to the banks, but even into the midſt of the Red ſea, that by deſtroying him there,ee…xod. 15.6. the right hand of the Lord might become more glorious in power.

p. 383. By extorting from his enemies an acknowledgement of his power and conqueſt, in the midſt of their rage. 3. By making his enemies confeſſe he is againſt them.So he did, from that Dragon and his hoſt which he ſlew in the Sea, when they cried out,ffExod. 14.24.Exod 14:24 Let us flee from the face of Iſrael, for the Lord fighteth for them againſt the Egyptians. And ſo, from that Atheiſticall Don Pedro, who ſeeing the terrible diſſipation of that Invincible Armado, in 88. profeſſed that now he perceived God was turn'd Lutheran.

4. By more praiſe from his own people,4. But more eſpecially doth God receive honour and praiſe from his own, whom he delivers from the rage of man. Thus did he, from Iſrael, when they ggExod. 14.30.Exod 14:30ſaw the Egyptians dead upon the ſhore. hhPſal. 106.12.Ps 106:12Then beleeved they his words, and ſang his praiſes. Yea then, they proclaimed himiiExod. 15.11.Exod 15:11 fearfull in praiſes doing wonders.

5. By producing effects contrary to the intentions of wicked men.5. In producing effects of mans rage, quite contrarie to thoſe which men intended and expected. If Joſephs brethren will ſell him, his bondage ſhall procure his advancement; yea, and (though they deſerve it not) their preſervation.kkGen. 50.20.Gen 50:20 As for you (ſaith he to them) ye thought evil againſt me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to paſſe as it is this day, to ſave much people alive. If Moſes muſt be caſt out into the mud to ſatisfie Pharaohs crueltie, even Pharaohs daughter ſhall preſerve himllExod. 4, 16.Exod 4:16 to be unto Pharaoh in ſtead of a God, to plague Pharaoh while he lived, and then to be an inſtrument of his deſtruction, by that very element by which Moſes ſhould have periſhed. When the bloody plot of Haman for the deſtruction of all the Jews, drew neer to execution, not onelyonly himſelf and his ten ſons handſelled that very gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai; but even allmmEſth. 9.1.Esth 9:1 the enemies of the Jews who hoped to have power over them, found all turned to the contrary, and that the Jews had rule over them that hated them. If the rod of the wicked light on the backe of the righteous for ſome ſin againſt God, this alſo ſhall turn much to his praiſe: fornnIſa. 27.9.Isa 27:9 by this ſhall the iniquitie of Jacob be purged (to prevent deſtruction intended by the wicked;) and this is all the fruit, to take away ſin, which mans rage p. 39never meant. Yea, if the rage prevail ſo far as to be the death of the righteous; yet even this alſo ſhall turn to his praiſe, by cauſing the death of one righteous man for righteouſneſſe ſake, to be the ſeed of many moe righteous that ſhall riſe up in his roome. Never ſuch an increaſe of ſhining Chriſtians, as when Chriſtianitie is under ſharpeſt perſecutions, And, as for ſuch as looſe their lives for Chriſts ſake, they are ſureooLuk. 9.24.Luke 9:24 to ſave them; that is, for ever to live in glory: ſo that, for themppPhil. 1.21.Phil 1:21 to die is gain; and,qqRom. 8.37.Rom 8:37 in all theſe things they are more then Conquerors through him that loved them.

Thus every way, the rage of man brings honour to God, and good to his people; and that upon theſe grounds.

Reaſon. 1 1. God never put power into the hands of wicked men, but for his own holy ends. Therefore,Wicked mens power is onelyonly for Gods ends. if they uſe that power to rage againſt his ſervants, he muſt and will carrie on his own work, let them intend what they liſt. Now, Gods end in raiſing ſuch men is,rrExod. 9.16.Exod 9:16 to ſhew in them his power, and that his Name may be declared in all the earth. How, but by hisſſExod. 14.17.Exod 14:17 getting honour upon them in the ſtrongeſt purſuit of their rage againſt the godly, as he did upon Pharaoh and all his hoſt, when they would have devoured Iſrael?

Reaſon. 2 2. God cares not a ruſh for the greateſt and proudeſt Sennacheribs in the world that rage againſt his people,God will break the wicked rather than they ſhould hurt the godly. in compariſon of any one poore ſervant of his own oppreſſed by them:**Pſal. 105.14.Ps 105:14 he will ſuffer no man to do them wrong, but will rebuke even Kings for their ſakes that rage againſt them; yea,ssPſal. 2.9.Ps 2:9 break them to pieces like a potters veſſell, **Pſal. 69.14.Ps 69:14and ſcatter them like hay in a whirl-winde, or ſhips in a tempeſt, rather than not make his people gainers by their rage. So he dealt with Pharaoh, Sennacherib, and many moe. This being his peremptorie reſolution, that ttRom. 8.28.Rom 8:28all things ſhall work together for good to them that love him; and therefore, the rage of the wicked, how much ſoever they hate them.God outſhoots them in their own bowe.

Reaſon. 3 3. God delights to out-ſhoot the wicked in their own p. 40Bowe. IfuuPſal 37.14.Ps 37:14 they bend their bowe, to ſlay ſuch as be of upright converſation, he will ſhoot that arrow of their wrath further then ever they intended it, and ſtick it faſt in their own boſomes.**Pſal. 45.5.Ps 45:5 If Pharaoh ſhoot at Iſrael Gods firſt-born, the arrow ſhall fall ſhort; but then, God takes it up, and he ſhoots it into the very heart of Pharaohs wwExod. 4.22, 23.Exod 4:22Exod 4:23firſt-born, and he is ſure to die for it. Thus, if the devill will ſtill animate the rage of Herod, and the people of the Jews to kill Chriſt, that very arrow which gave Chriſt his deaths wound, ſhall be thexxHoſ. 13.14.Hos 13:14 death of death it ſelf, and the deſtruction of the grave, and give the greateſt blow to the devil and his kingdome that ever he received. Little thought Satan when in his rage he proſecuted Chriſt to death, that the death of Chriſt ſhould be the ſaving of a world, the reſcuing of many millions of ſouls out of his power, and the deſtruction of the kingdome of darkneſſe. But ſo home did God ſhoot this ſhaft, out of the bowe of his Croſſe, thatyyHeb 2.14, 15.Heb 2:14Heb 2:15 by death, he destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devill; and delivered them who, through fear of death, were all their life time ſubject unto bondage.

I have now given you the firſt branch of the Point, the other follows, which in effect is this,

Branch. 2 The rage of the wicked ſhall never extend ſo far as to do the work they intended,God makes mans rage fall ſhort of their aime. but ſhall ever fall ſhort of that which they chiefly projected.

It is true that their rage ſometimes goes very far, and doth much miſchief; but never beyond what may ſtand with the honour, truth, and goodneſſe of God, and with his Covenant made to his people. When the enemie begins to make himſelf ſure of his will upon the godly, and to ſay,zzExod. 15.9.Exod 15:9 I will purſue, I will overtake, I will divide the ſpoile; my luſt ſhall be ſatisfied upon them, I will draw my ſword, mine hand ſhall deſtroy them. Then God ſteps in, and ſets their bounds far ſhorter then wicked men promiſed to themſelves, ſaying to them, as to the raging ſea,aaJob 38.11.Job 38:11 Hitherto ſhalt thou come, but no further: and here ſhall thy proud waves be ſtayed. And this he doth many waies.

p. 411. Sometimes by filing off the edge of that roughneſſe and malice that is in them, and conſtraining them to mildneſſe and gentleneſſe, contrary to their very natures,1. By filing off their roughnes and malice. and ſetled reſolutions long before taken up. Thus he reſtrained the rage ofbbGen. 31.22.Gen 31:22 Laban againſt Iacob, ccGen. 32.28.Gen 32:28who ſhortly after alſo, as a Prince prevailed with God, to prevail with Eſau, that had long vowed his death; ſo that at their meeting, the rage and malice of Eſau was tyed up, andddGen. 33.10.Gen 33:10 Iacob ſaw his face as if he had ſeen the face of God, ſo well was Eſau pleaſed with him.

2. Sometimes,2. By giving them work elſewhere. by giving them ſo much work elſewhere, that they have neither leiſure not power to purſue the godly any further. We ſaw itee2 King. 19.8.2 Kgs 19:8 before in Sennacherib: and we may ſee it inff1 King. 22.27, 28.1 Kgs 22:271 Kgs 22:28 Ahab at Ramoth-Gilead, when he intended a further perſecution of Michaiah; as likewiſe in Iulian, **Greg. Naz. Orat. 4. in Iulian.who reſolving to deſtroy all the Chriſtians, found a neceſſity to go firſt againſt the Perſians, by whom he was overthrown; and ſo, diſabled from ſatiſfying his rage upon the others. Thus God often gives Tyrannicall Princes buſineſſe enough abroad, when he findes them ſtudious to deſtroy their beſt Subjects at home.

3.3. By ſpoiling them of the inſtruments of revenge. Sometimes by diſpoiling them of the Inſtruments whereon they relie, asggExod. 14.25.Exod 14:25 he took off the chariot wheels of the Egyptians in their purſuit of Iſrael: either by rending from them a great part of their Dominions; as, fromhh1. King 12.1 Kgs 12 Rehoboam, when he reſolved to go on in his oppreſſion of his petitioning Subjects; or by weakning that ſtrength which remains with them, as he did that of the Aſſirian when he thought none could ſtand before him,iiIſa. 10.16.Isa 10:16 ſending among his fat ones leanneſſe, and under his glory kindling a fire: or by infatuating their counſels makingkkIſa. 19.11.Isa 19:11 the Princes of Zoan fools, and the wiſe Counſellers of a perſecuting Pharaoh to become brutiſh, and cauſing them to fall by their own counſels, asllTheodor. hiſt. li. 3. ca. 20. Iulian before the Perſians, when, in a bravado, he would needs burn his ſhips, to put the more neceſſitie of valour into his Souldiers; or by infatuating themſelves, that they cannot underſtand good p. 42counſel when it is before them (as in Rehoboam caſe**1. Kin. 12.1 Kgs 12) but rather follow that which is directly given for their deſtruction, and to countermine their own plots; as, whenmm2 Sam. 17.7, 8.2 Sam 17:72 Sam 17:8 Abſolon followed the adviſe of Huſhai againſt that of Achitophel, which would have carried his deſigne that Huſhai by his counſell prevented. And indeed this is one of the greateſt misfortunes of a Prince (as a gravennPhil. de Co. min. ll, 5. c. ult. Author ſpeaketh) and a ſad ſymptome of his approaching ruin, when God ſmites him in his wits, as he did Rehoboam, to follow the counſels of thoſe who were brought up with him, and knew how to fit his humour, and to reject the counſels of graver men, who adviſed nothing but for his proſperity, and honour.

4. By arming his creatures againſt them.4. By arming his creatures againſt them to ſuppreſſe their rage; as, he did theooIudg. 15.20.Judg 15:20 ſtars, againſt Siſera; the waters, frogs, lice, flies, hail, locuſts, and other things againſt Pharaoh: and, even an Angel, againſt the host of Sennacherib. Thus God raiſed a mighty winde from heaven againſtppAug. de Civit. Dei. li. 5. ca. 26. Eugenius the Tyrant, that beat his Souldiers weapons out of their hands, when they were to fight againſt the Chriſtians under Theodoſius.

5. By panick fears.5. By panick fears and ſtrange apprehenſions without any ground: as, a meere caſuall dreame qqIudg. 7.13.Judg 7:13of a Midianite frighted an innumerable army, and rendred them unable to ſtand before 300 unarmed men. So the Moabites were overthrowne by occaſion ofrr2. King. 3.22, 23.2 Kgs 3:222 Kgs 3:23 a colour of blood upon the waters cauſed by the Sun, riſing very red in the morning, and ſhining on the waters between the Sun and them.

6. By making them fall one upon another.6. By ſetting the enemies of his people one againſt another. Thus, in that great hoſt of Midian and Amaleck, that came out againſt Iſrael, ssIudg. 7.22.Judg 7:22the Lord ſet every mans ſword against his fellow throughout all the hoſt. And the like we have read in Iehoſhaphats time, whentt2. Chron. 20.22, 23.2 Chr 20:222 Chr 20:23 the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Scir deſtroyed each other.

7. By ſetting them againſt themſelves.7. By turning their own ſwords upon their own breſts. Thus Achitophel, Judas, Pilate, Nero, and others have done.uu2. Sam. 17.2 Sam 17 Achitophel hanged himſelf when his counſell p. 43for the deſtruction of David was rejected.vvMat. 27.5. Tertul. Apolo. cap. 5. Euſeb. li. 2. ca. 7.8.Matt 27:5 Iudas did the like, when he had betrayed his Maſter. Pilate the condemner of Christ, and Nero the perſecuter of Chriſtians, did both fall by their own hands, without effecting what either the one or the other had mainly intended.

8. By diſcovering their cloſeſt plots and counſels before they take effect: and a Treaſon diſcovered is loſt. Thus did he diſcover the plot ofxxEſth. 4.1.Esth 4:1 Haman againſt the Iews; of theyyAct. 23.Acts 23 Iews againſt Paul; And ſo God did ſtrangely open that plot of the Earles in the North, combining with the Pope and Spain againſt Queen Elizabeth, by a ſtranger without the Kingdome; in ſo much as the Pope openly ſaid,zzHieron. Catenae, ubi ſupra. That never any Conſpiracie was more adviſedly begun, nor concealed with more conſtancie and conſent of minds, being not at all opened by any of the conſpirators. Thus doth God provide, that rather then the rage of man ſhall take place, to his diſhonour,**Eccle. 10.20.Eccl 10:20 a bird of the aire ſhall carry the voice, and that which hath wings ſhall tell the matter.

You may take the Reaſons, in a word.

Reaſons. 1. Becauſe Gods power will carry on his own counſels.1. The power of God is ſuch, that whatſoeveraaPro. 19.21.Prov 19:21 devices be found in the hearts of men, yet the counſell of the Lord that ſhall ſtand. Let their rage be what it will; yet, not theirs, but Gods will muſt be done. bbPro. 21.30.Prov 21:30There is no wiſedome, nor underſtanding, nor counſell against the Lord.

2. All wicked men, and devils are in Gods hand:2. All men & devils are in Gods hand. and how furiouſly ſoever they rage, yet they can run but to the end of their chain. They may rage, butccPſal. 2.4.Ps 2:4 God laughs them to ſcorn. The devill himſelf may lay about him, but God holds him in his hand: ſometimesddRom. 16.20.Rom 16:20 bruiſing him, ſometimeseeRvel. 20.2. binding him: but alwayes maſtering and overpowering him, thatffMat. 16.18.Matt 16:18 the gates of hell ſhall not prevail againſt his Church and people.

3. God is engaged by promiſe to his people that keep his wayes,3. Gods promiſe is to beat down all weapons. thatggIſa. 54.17.Isa 54:17 no weapon that is formed againſt them ſhall proſper, and every tongue that ſhall riſe up againſt them ſhall they condemne; and, he pronounceth this to be the heritage of the ſervants of the Lord. Therefore God is bound to p. 44reſtrain all that wrath, 1. Ʋſe of the ſecond Point.which would enervate the faith of his people in ſuch a promiſe, and diſappoint them of performance.

Thus, having given you both branches of the ſecond point, I deſcend to the Vſes.The Vſes.

1. Behold all this fulfilled to our ſelves.And firſt, Behold, all this fulfilled this day, not in our cares onelyonly (as the Treaſon was) but in our eyes too. What the Rage of man upon this day, was, you have alreadie heard. Now ſee how this rage ſo far as it was permitted, did turn to Gods praiſe, and how powerfully he reſtrained the reſt.

Their rage turned to his praiſe.How ſtrongly was their plot laid! how ſecretly, carried! how neer, the execution! how probable, the ſucceſſe! how confident the Inſtruments, of their expected iſſue! How boldly did they vaunt, that they had gotten God himſelf into the Conſpiracie! God and man had conſpired to puniſh the wickedneſſe of that time, ſaid the Author of that Letter which occaſioned the miſcarriage of all, miſtaking the Devill, for God. Yet even then, we ſee how admirably God turned all this rage to his praiſe, by preſerving of thoſe that were appointed to die, and by giving them up as a prey to death who had deſtinated ſo great a ſacrifice to Death of ſo many at once. Inſomuch as the greatneſſe of the danger did not more ſmite the world with a juſt amazement, than the extraordinarineſſe of the deliverance took all men with high admiration.

God permitted it ſo far that all might ſee his hand as clearly in the reſcue, as in the deliverance of Daniel, in the Lions den; and his judgement on the Traitors, as in the deſtruction of Daniels enemies by the ſame creatures that touched not him. One ſpark of fire flying out of the Chimney where they were drying powder to make reſiſtance, firſt brought divers of the principall Conſpirators (by the wounds received from the powder kindled by that ſpark) to acknowledge the juſtice and vengeance of God upon them by powder, At Holbeach in Worceſterſhire.wherewith they intended the deſtruction of ſo many. And afterwards, Catesby and Piercy, the principals in that wickedneſſe, were ſhot to p. 45death by one ſhot of a Musket, and thereby found Gods own hand taking revenge by powder, before the juſtice of man could ſeize upon them. And not onelyonly ſo, but even Faux the appointed Executioner, and Garnet (the Arch-Devil to bleſſe their plot) confeſſed to the praiſe of God as well as the reſt at their execution, the outragious wickedneſſe and odiouſneſſe of that helliſh deſigne.

Nay further, God raiſed up an everlaſting**An Act for keeping of this Day, for ever. Pillar of Thankeſgiving, from that very Parliament which ſhould have been blown up; and produced effects quite contrary to thoſe which the Traytors intended, in preſerving not onelyonly the Perſons, but the Laws, which they meant to deſtroy, and in cauſing moe Lawes to be made againſt them who ſo wickedly provoked the Clemencie of the Prince, and abuſed the lenitie and merciemercy they formerly enjoyed; but, in providing more carefully, ever ſince, for our preſervation.

I need not tell you that, the reſt of the rage is happily reſtrained. Your eyes behold it, and we all ſit under the bleſſing of it unto this day. OnelyOnly take notice, that God did it, not by ordinary meanes.

Not by abating th…ir rage: for Faux, God reſtrained the rest, not in an ordinary,after his apprehenſion, repented nothing more then his not giving the blow; yea the whole crew afterwards brake forth into open Rebellion, till ſome of them were ſlain, and the reſt taken, in the height of their rage. Not by diverting them; for they received not the leaſt interruption, till all was ready for execution. Not by taking off any of their Inſtruments; for, not a man of them was toucht by death, ſickneſſe, or arreſt, till after the very trains were laid to the powder, and all prepared for the firing of it. Not by arming the creatures againſt them: for no creature once troubled them, till they were found out (almoſt too late) to be Troublers of Iſrael. Not by ſmiting them with Panick fears: for they were never ſo high floan (before the diſcovery) with confidence of ſucceſſe, nor more deſperately fearleſſe, after they knew that all was diſcovered. Nor yet, by ſetting them one againſt another: for p. 46(like Simeon and Levi) they held too faſt together,2. Uſe of the ſecond Point. even unto death.

but in an extraordinary manner.But the Lord did it himſelfe, cauſing one of them (who had taken three Oaths to conceale it, and kept touch with his tongue) by a writing to reveile it; verifying that of the Wiſeſt King, that,aaEccl. 10.20.Eccl 10:20 that which hath wings ſhall tell the matter; and, affecting the King with a ſpirit of jealouſie, (who ordinarily offended rather on the other hand) and leading him to an interpretation of the Letter, quite contrary to the common ſenſe. And not onelyonly ſo, but by ſharpning the edg of all mens ſpirits againſt the Traitors, See the Diſcourſe of the Powder Treaſon in King James his Works.in the Countries where they wandred, to kill ſome of them, and to apprehend the reſt, even before any Proclamation could overtake them, and before the people who ſeiſed on them, knew any thing of this particular Treaſon. Thus, He that ſitteth in the Heavens, laught them, their rage, and Counſels, to ſcorne; compelling them, at length, to acknowledge the finger of God in their Diſcovery, and his arme in their moſt deſerved Deſtruction. O wonderfull Providence! O admirable Justice upon them, and Goodnes to his People!

2. Uſe of the ſecond Point. Incitation to thankfulnes.2. How ſhould this put all our hearts into a flame of the higheſt Thankſgiving to Him who hath done for us ſuch wonderfull things! When their Rage had concluded that We and all Poſterity ſhould for ever wallow in aſhes,bbNah. 2.7.Nah 2:7 taber upon our breaſts, and howle like Dragons for that irreparable Deſolation; the God of our Mercies hath prevented them, broken the ſnare, given us an eſcape, and hurl'd them out of the Land of the Living, as out of the midſt of a Sling. Therefore, rejoyce in the Lord, and againe I ſay rejoyce: Rouſe up your ſpirits, call up your hearts, and let all that is within you bleſſe his holy Name. I hope I ſhall not need to ſet before you the Inſtitution of a thankefull man; nor, to ſpend time in directing how to give thankes; On Septem. 7. 1641.that Work being excellently performed at your late Publique Thanksgiving. Rather let me beſtow a few words to incite you to the Duty, becauſe I finde every where more and more backwardneſſe to it, and coldneſſe in it.

p. 47For, however, at firſt, the meltings of moſt mens ſpirits were extraordinary (their affections being ſoone upon the wing,The neceſſitie of ſuch an Incitation. when the firſt newſe of the Deliverance out-ran the report of the Danger.) Yet, by Degrees men have ſo farre cooled, that not onelyonly too many of the ordinary ſort doe wholly neglect this Day; but, not none of the Clergy alſo, who have ſometimes (for their hyre) declaimed vehemently againſt that Treaſon, in the Pulpit, begin in ordinary diſcourſe to jeere this ſolemnitie of ſuch a Deliverance; and, in deriſion, to name it, Saint Gunpowders Day. Papiſts perſwade their Novices that there was never any ſuch thing. Yea, ſome (once ours) have arrived at ſo much giddineſſe, as to pronounce the keeping of this Day to be Will-worſhip; and, the religious enjoyning of it, even by Parliament, to be a trenching on the Libertie left us by Chriſt; as if the binding of our ſelves (as Gods people of old, in their feaſt ofccEsth. 9.27.Esth 9:27 Purim, did) to give publique thanks for an extraordinary Mercy, were a violation of true Chriſtian Libertie. O ſhamefull Ingratitude! O Impudent Ignorance! And how careleſſe the greater part of the better ſort are become in obſerving this Day, is a ſubject more fit for my teares than my tongue, even in this Honorable Aſſembly.

Wherefore, the better to quicken You, to reſtore this Day to its former ſplender,Motives to the Duty. that the Great Work of the Lord done herein, may be for ever more honorable, and glorious, Let Me preſent You with a few Incentives.

1. Remember that,1. None but God could doe it. none but the Almighty himſelfe could poſſibly have wrought ſuch a Deliverance for us.ddPſal. 124.3, 4.Ps 124:3Ps 124:4 If it had not been the Lord who was on our ſide when men roſe up againſt us, they had ſwallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled againſt us. Let this firſt ſettle upon our ſpirits, thateePſal. 118.23, 24.Ps 118:23Ps 118:24 this was the Lords doing, and then it will ſoone be marveilous in our eyes, ſo as Wee cannot but rejoyce, and be glad in it.

2. Think ſeriouſly what manner of perſons wee were,2. He did it for people altogether unworthy of any mercy. for whom he did all this. Are we not a ſinfull, unthankfull, ſtubborne People, as ever taſted of mercy? a ſeed of p. 48evill Doers, that call GodttIer. 3.4.5.Jer 3:4Jer 3:5 Father, and yet doe as evill things as we can? And yet for all this, God hath opened his hand wider, than ever we opened our mouths, and crowned all our yeares and dayes with ſuch loving kindneſſe and mercy, as never any Nation under Heaven received greater, or enjoyed longer. If therefore David, upon the bare promiſe of a mercy, could not but ſit downe before the Lord, as one in an Extaſie, crying out, Who am I O Lord, and what is my Fathers Houſe, that thou haſt brought me hitherto? How much more would our ſpirits be lifted up beyond all expreſſion, to glorifie his Great Name for ſo great a mercy actually conferred, when we conſider who and what we are that doe receive it!

3. The deliverance is extraordinary.3. Look upon the Deliverance it ſelfe as extraordinary. All the ggPſal. 111.2.Ps 111:2Works of the Lord are great: yet, ſome greater than others; But this is no leſſe than the rayſing up of a whole Kingdome from the dead. For, ashhHeb. 11.17.Heb 11:17 Abraham is ſaid to have received his Iſaac from death in a figure, when Iſaac had been bound on the wood, and the hand of his owne Father ſtretched out to kill him; ſo wee, in this Deliverance, received our King, Queen, and Prince that then were, our King that now is, our Parliament, Lawes, Liberties, Lives, and Religion it ſelfe from the dead in a figure, when all theſe were ſo neere to deſtruction that there was ſcarce a ſtep between them and death, and ſuch a ſtep as had been eaſily made, had not the Lord to whom belong the iſſues from death, ſtept in to prevent it.

4. And altogether unexſpected.4. Take this with you too, that this great Deliverance was a mercy altogether unexſpected. (For, who apprehended any danger?) The work was ſo ſtrange, as wee could hardly credit when we ſaw it done. It was with us, as with Zion, **Pſal. 126.1.Ps 126:1When the Lord turned her Captivitie by Cyrus the Perſian; Wee were like men that dreame: we could ſcarce truſt our owne eyes to behold it, or our tongues to proclaime it. Men gazed on each other as people amazed. And when the thing was found to be ſo indeed, oh how our hearts glowed! our affections fired! our hayre ſtood upright! our eyes ſparkled! our joynts trembled! p. 49our ſpirits even failed with us to behold the wonder! And then, oh what might not God, at that time, have had from us! Let him therefore not goe away now with leſſe; ſeeing his Mercy, even that Mercy endures for ever, to our benefit and comfort.

5. Behold the Love of God in it,5. And all this as a fruit of his Love. makes all to be yet more precious to a thankfull ſpirit.iiIſay. 43.4.Isa 43:4 I have Loved thee, therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life, ſaith the Lord. If men, yea, if a whole Nation conſpire againſt thy life, he will redeem thee from that danger with the price of all theirs. Hence it is, even from his Love, that he no ſooner eſpies any enemies out againſt us, but he armes preſently as againſt enemies to himſelfe; and, not onelyonly Layes them at his own feet, but even atkk2 Sam 22.41. Rom. 16.20.2 Sam 22:41Rom 16:20 ours, and gives us to waſh our feet in the bloud of the wicked.

6. Conſider, God hath gotten him honour, 6. God hath gotten him praiſe from the wicked that ſought our deſtruction.and rayſed himſelfe a praiſe out of the very rage of thoſe who ſought our deſtruction, and ſhall he not have it from thoſe who enjoy this miraculous Preſervation? Shall he have it from his enemies, and goe without it from his Servants and Friends? The Lord forbid.

But oh! farre, and for ever farre be ſuch neglect from every of You, who being the Chariots of Iſrael and the Horſemen thereof, ought of all others to triumph in his praiſe for theſe works of his hands. It was a foule Blot to the Elders of Judah, that, after David was freed of the Rebellion of Abſolom they, who were**2 Sam. 19.11, 12.2 Sam 19:112 Sam 19:12 his brethren, his bones and his fleſh, ſhould be laſt in bringing back the King to his Houſe. But much greater would the ſtaine and the ſinne be in You the Elders of our Jſrael, unto whom the Lord himſelfe (upon the ſame grounds that he hath elſewhere ſaid,llPſal. 82.6.Ps 82:6 Yee are Gods,) now ſaith, Yee are my brethren, yee are my bones and my fleſh, ſhould have cauſe to adde, Wherefore then are yee the Laſt to bring the King back? Why are You ſo backward to reſtore unto Him all that honour that ſo many Abſoloms and ſonnes of Rebellion have taken from Him? Well, If you be not firſt, nay if You outſtrip not all others in the Duty of Praiſe for ſo great a p. 50Deliverance from the rage of man, 3. Obſervation.You muſt exſpect no leſſe Wrath to break out from the Lord upon your ſelves and the Kingdome, than befell Hezekiah and all Judah, formm2 Chro. 32.25.2 Chr 32:25 not rendring to the Lord according to a farre leſſe benefit done unto him.

There be divers other excellent Ʋſes of this comfortable Doctrine, but I muſt lay them all by, for haſte to the Laſt Point, which is this;

The third Obſervation.The Experience of Gods over-ruling and maſtering the rage of man in times paſt, is an undoubted aſſurance of the like for all to come.

This Point, ſo clearely grounded on the Text which ſpeaks of future Deliverances built upon former mercies, and ſo ſtrongly bound downe with a confident aſſeveration in the front, that ſurely it ſhall be even ſo, I ſhall paſſe over with a light foot.

Nothing more common in Scripture than to conclude what God will ever doe, from what once he hath done. David, even in his youth, could be confident of this,nn1 Sam. 17.37.1 Sam 17:37 The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the Lyon, and out of the paw of the Beare, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And afterwards, when that unnaturall Rebellion of Abſolom brake out ſo violently as made Hieruſalem too hot for David, 2 Sam. 15.2 Sam 15cauſing him to flee whither he could by the way of the Wildernes; yet even then, after God upon his prayer had ſpoken comfort to him from experience of former deliverances, David growes ſo ſecure, that he that before durſt not ſtay in his owne houſe for danger, profeſſeth now toooPſal. 3.4.Ps 3:4 lie downe and ſleep where he hath not an houſe wherein to put his head; and he that durſt not tarry in Jeruſalem with all the power he could rayſe againſt his ſonne, now profeſſeth in a wild howling deſolate Wildernes,ppVerſ. 5. I will not be afraid of ten thouſands of people that have ſet themſelves against mee round about. Thus, let God doe but any thing for him, and let him alone to live upon that while he lives. If God once lead him through green paſtures; qqPſal. 23.1.Ps 23:1his reſolution mounts high;rrVerſ. 4. Though I walk through the vally of the ſhadow of death, I p. 51will feare no evill; and, he ſoone arrives at this Concluſion,ssVerſ. 6. Surely, goodneſſe and mercy ſhall follow mee all the dayes of my life. Every mercy is an aſſurance of more. Nor was Paul behind David in this divine Art of argumentation. If God raiſe him out of his bed from the dangerous arreſt of a deſperate ſickneſſe, he rayſeth his faith higher than God rayſed his body; firſt, ſetting downe the mercy received,tt2 Cor. 1.10.2 Cor 1:10 Who hath delivered us from ſo great a death, and doth deliver; then inferring hence, in whom we truſt that he will yet deliver. And at another time reporting a gracious reſcue from the rage of Nero, uu2 Tim. 4.17, 18.2 Tim 4:172 Tim 4:18I was delivered from the mouth of the Lyon; he concludes thus, And the Lord ſhall deliver me from every evill work; that is, of evill men conſpiring againſt him before he ſhould have finiſhed his courſe.

A truth ſo conſpicuous in the eyes of the faithfull, that they have pleaded this unto God himſelfe. Moſes, when he ſaw God in ſuch a rage, as to threaten the cutting off of all Iſrael at once, falls to prayer, and pleads with God for a Pardon of courſe, becauſe he had given them many before.wwNum. 14.19.Num 14:19 Pardon, I beſeech thee the iniquitie of this people, according to the greatneſſe of thy mercy, and as thou haſt forgiven them from Aegypt even untill now. Never were the people nearer a dreadfull deſtruction, and yet this one Plea turned God quite about, and draws from him this anſwer,xxVerſ. 20. Lo I have pardoned them according to thy word. So David, in a great danger, when the Philiſtines took him in Gath, uſeth the ſame Plea for deliverance;yyPſal. 56.13.Ps 56:13 Thou haſt delivered my ſoule from death, wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling? Which manner of ſpeaking plainly concludes, that it cannot be otherwiſe.

Nay more. Not onelyonly deliverances given to our ſelves, but to any others from the beginning of the world, is an undoubted argument to aſſure all the people of God of the like iſſue in all their ſtraits and diſtreſſes. When Iſaac was ſo ſtrangely delivered, beyond all exſpectation, the godly preſently made this uſe of it, and it grew to a Proverb, in all exigents;zzGen. 22.14.Gen 22:14 God will be ſeen in the Mount. p. 52When all things are ſo deſperate, that no help can be expected, yet the very delivering of Iſaac on the Mount of Moriah ſhall then aſſure them of a gracious deliverance. And it is Gods own plea to encourage Ioſhua to go on where Moſes left:aaIoſh. 1.5.Josh 1:5 As I was with Moſes, ſo will I be with thee; I will never fail thee nor forſake thee. Which very Text the Apoſtle citeth as a Legacie bequeathed unto all Chriſtians, though not in being till many hundred yeers after Ioſhua was dead; to dehort them from covetouſnes, and to perſwade to contentation of minde by a firm reliance upon God.bbHeb. 13.5.6.Heb 13:5Heb 13:6 Let your converſation be without covetouſneſſe, and be content with ſuch things as ye have: for God hath ſaid, I will never fail thee nor forſake thee; ſo that we may boldly ſay, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man ſhall do unto m…. What was once, and but once ſpoken to one Ioſhua, an extraordinarie perſon, called to an extraordinarie ſervice, wherein he was to encounter extraordinarie difficulties, is made by the Apoſtle as a concluding Argument for all Gods people caſt upon any ſtrait, to claim the like to the end of the world.

Reaſons. Nor will you ſtrange at it, if you conſider the grounds of it. For,

1 From the nature of God.1. God is conſtant and unchangeable in all his proceedings, becauſe he is ſo in his nature. If his people alter not too much, he ſtill keeps one tenor.ccMal. 3.6.Mal 3:6 I am Jehovah, I change not, therefore ye ſons of Iacob are not conſumed. His meaning is, that therefore they ſtill pertake of his ancient mercies formerly ſhewed to Iacob their father, becauſe God is ſo unchangable.

2. From their conſtant intereſt in the Covenant.2. His people once in Covenant have alwayes the ſame intereſt in his wiſedome, power, providence, and goodneſſe, and ſo may ever plead that whereof they or any others have been at any time partakers. Hence the Church, long after David was gathered to his Fathers, thus expoſtulates with God;ddPſal. 89.49.Ps 89:49 Lord, where are thy former loving kindneſſes which thou ſwareſt unto David in truth. As if they ſhould ſay, be they not all ours by being in Covenant with thee, as David was?

p. 533. God never begins a work, but he goes through with it. When he begins he will alſo make an end, in perfecting mercies, as well as in filling up plagues.3. From Gods perfecting what he begins. It is a note of infamie upon a weak man to have it ſaid of him, This man began to build, and was not able to make an end. Therefore Moſes knew what he did, when he pleaded for further mercy to Iſrael on this ground, that it would be ſaid by the enemy,eeDeut 9.28.Deut 9:28 The Lord was not able to bring him into the land which he promiſed them. Therefore Paul was ſo confident in this very thing, that he that hath begun a good work in his people, will alſo finiſh it unto the day of Ieſus Chriſt.

Thus then we ſee clear grounds why one deliverance aſſures many moe. Yet take this truth with this caution.Yet obſerve a Caution. Although God deliver his people all alike, effectivè, yet he doth not alwayes bind himſelf to give unto all his ſervants the ſame deliverance in ſpeciè, and in kind. But when he doth it not in kind, he doth it,

Firſt, in equivalence: either the ſame,1. Deliverance may be in equivalence. or another as good in it ſelf, and better for thee.ff2. Pet. 2.9.2 Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly, for manner, and kind; as well as for the meanes. If life be beſt, he will preſerve thee alive. If death be better, even death ſhall be thy deliverance, and thy greater gain.

2. When God delivers not in kind, 2. If not in kind, yet ſuch as ſatisfieth.yet that deliverance which he doth beſtow, gives full ſatisfaction and perfect content: ſo as other deliverance would not be accepted if it were tendred. Thoſe Primitive Saints that were expoſed to Martyrdome, ggHeb. 11.35.Heb 11:35would not accept of deliverance (that is, of an eſcape with their lives) that they might obtain a better reſurrection.

Theſe things obſerved, it ever holds good that, The experience of Gods ordering and over-ruling the rage of man in times paſt, is an undoubted aſſurance of the like for all time to come.

And this being ſo, I ſhall, in the Ʋſe, obſerve my former method, beginning with a Parallell of this Truth and theſe Times: no truth being ſweeter than that whereof we have largeſt taſte and experience; nor Ʋſe more ſeaſonable, p. 541. Uſe of the laſt Point.than that which comes moſt home to our preſent condition.

That great Deliverance we now celebrate, was not as a dead buſh to ſtop a preſent Gap onelyonly,1. Behold the experience of this upon our ſelves. nor a mercy expiring with that houre and occaſion; but, intended for a living, laſting, breeding MercieMercy that hath been very fertile ever ſince. It was an in-let to further favours, and an earneſt of many moe bleſſings: for which, I appeal to Your own Experience who have duely obſerved Gods dealing with you. Many of You who have now the honour to ſit Members of the High Court of Parliament were unborn, when the Powder Treaſon ſhould have been acted. Yet you cannot ſay, you were born out of due time: for that very Deliverance hath, ſince that, ſet down many a rich merciemercy at all your doores. This very Parliament ſpeaks out this truth to all the world.

The very Calling of it, and the ſitting of it, ſpeaks it. The many Conſpiracies that have been detected, the many Popiſh Deſignes that have been defeated, the many ſnares that have been broken, the many Mountains that have been levell'd, the mighty Nimrods that have been pluckt down, the unſupportable yokes of which our necks have been freed, thoſe whips of Scorpions the back-breaking heart-ſinking Courts which are now broken and diſſolved; the devouring ſword of war brandiſhed in the heart of this Kingdome, that is now put up; thoſe Rights and Liberties which had been led away captive paſt hope of reſcue, that are now reſtored; that Religious, neceſſarie, noble Vow and Covenant for conſervation of Religion, and Proteſtation againſt Popery and Superſtition, into which both Houſes have worthily entred; that frequencie of Parliaments for preventing future inundations of miſerie and bondage, that is now happily ſetled; this bleſſed opportunitie of ſitting in Parliament, at this time, for the more effectuall and timely quelling of that unhappie Rebellion of ſome Papists in Ireland; and the providing for the continuance of this preſent Aſſembly, till all our grievances be heard and relieved, till p. 55thoſe that are complained of as inſtruments of our deſtruction be brought forth to triall,2. Uſe of the laſt Point. till the Church be purged, Reformation perfected, and our Laws, eſtates, Liberties, and Religion be all ſetled and ſecured. Theſe, I ſay, and many moe do all ſpeak and proclaim the manifold, wonderfull, and invaluable mercies that have flowed in upon this unworthy and unthankfull Nation from that admirable defeat of the Gun-powder Treaſon.

WhereforeaaPſal. 107, 2.Ps 107:2 let the redeemed of the Lord, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemie, ſay, that his merciemercy endureth for ever. Yea, let all that fear him, ſay,bbPſal. 68.19.Ps 68:19 Bleſſed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with his benefits, even the God of our ſalvation; and let them put a Selah to it,ccPſal. 102.18.Ps 102:18 for the generation to come, that the people which are yet unborn may praiſe the Lord.

Ʋſe. 2 2. But, what terror and torment ſpeaks this to all wicked men, whether Papiſts, or Atheiſts, that ſpeak,Terror to the wicked. and do ſo exceeding proudly from day to day, as if all were theirs, and that nothing could hinder the ſatisfying of their luſt upon the Goſpel! What ſtone have they left unturned? what plot unattempted? And yet, what Treaſon of the many which they have contrived, hath taken effect? Will they not ſee that, in all their rage and conſpiracies, they doddPſal. 2.1.Ps 2:1 imagine but a vain thing? that they are ſure of a hard bargain of it (like that of a naked bodie)eeAct. 9.Acts 9 to kick againſt the pricks? that it is a deſperate ſervice they daily go upon? Have they not miſcarried, and gone by the worſe all along? and may they not, out of their miſcarriages paſt, as out of an Experimentall Prognoſtication, read their deſtiny for all time to come?

Do they not know that God hath engaged himſelf to his people, thatffIſa. 54.17.Isa 54:17 no weapon that is formed againſt them ſhall proſper? Even Hamans wife (though a heathen) could tell her husband enraged againſt Mordecai, ggEſth. 6.13.Esth 6:13If Mordecai be of the ſeed of the Jews, before whom thou haſt begun to fall, thou ſhalt not prevail againſt him, but ſhalt ſurely fall before him.

I know God ſometimes in anger, gives his people into p. 56the hands of their enemies, to chaſtiſe and humble them. But, mark the iſſue: the tail of the ſtorme ever lights upon the rods of his anger. For, the Lord hath ſaid it,hhIſa. 10.25.Isa 10:25 Yet a little while, and the indignation (againſt the godly) ſhall ceaſe: and mine anger, in their deſtruction: that is, of thoſe whom he imployed to correct them. Yea, which is a deeper cut to a malicious heart, God doth, at laſt, uſually bring his enemies to confuſion even by thoſe poore, deſpiſed, oppreſſed out-caſts of Iſrael, whom the wicked in their rage had reſolved to devoure.iiZach. 12.2.3.Zech 12:2Zech 12:3 Behold, ſaith the Lord, I will make Ieruſalem a cup of trembling, (or of poyſon) unto all people round about, when they ſhall be in the ſiege both againſt Iudah and Ieruſalem. And in that day will I make Ieruſal…m a burdenſome ſtone for all people: all that burden themſelves with it: that is, labour to take it up and throw it out, ſhall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together againſt it.

O that wicked men would yet deſiſt from their conſpiracies againſt the godly, before the Lords wrath be kindled, and they periſh for ever! But, if they will not be inſtructed, I muſt leave with them that which the Lord denounced to the uncureable enemies of his Church heretofore;kkIſa. 8.9, 10Isa 8:9Isa 8:10 Gird your ſelves, and ye ſhall be broken in pieces; yea, gird your ſelves and ye ſhall be broken in pieces. Take counſell together and it ſhall come to nought, ſpeak the word and it ſhall not ſtand, for God is with us.

Ʋſe. 3 3. But O the fathomleſſe conſolation and ſteeling encouragement that this Truth adminiſtreth to all the godly;Comfort to the godly. but more eſpecially to You who are now imployed by God and the King in the great ſervice of the Kingdome! Is it ſo that your ſouls be among Lions, and that you lie among thoſe that are ſet on fire, to plot Treaſons againſt You continually, and boldly to breathe out bloody threatnings, ſo that when you go forth in the morning, you can ſcarce hope to return in the evening in peace? Do but caſt up your accounts and experiments of Gods former Mercies in protecting, directing, preſerving, and delivering of You hitherto, and you need no p. 57other Prognoſtication to foretell what will befall you;3. Uſe of the laſt Point. nor better aſſurance that God will go on and preſerve and cover you, to direct and proſper You (while you depend on him, and walk with him) maugre all the rage, and power, malice, and ſubtiltie of all men and devils all together againſt you.

Nay could it be imagined that you never had experiment of Gods power and goodneſſe in any extraordinary preſervations and deliverances of your ſelves at all: yet, if you do but look abroad upon the many mercies conferred on others, in any age of the world; yea, if you look but upon this very Deliverance given to your Predeceſſours, this will be enough to aſſure you of like protection and preſervation for ever. For every one of Gods ſervants are entitled to all the mercies and glorious works that ever the Lord wrought for any of his people from the beginning of the world. If you doubt hereof, remember what you have already heard from the Apoſtle, who hath put it out of queſtion, in the place before cited, where he voucheth that particular encouragement given to Joſhua, as an undubitable promiſe to all the godly;llHeb. 13.5.6.Heb 13:5Heb 13:6 I will never fail thee nor forſake thee: ſo that we may boldly ſay, the Lord is my help, I will not fear what man ſhall do unto me.

4. Be therefore exhorted hence, 1.The laſt Uſe. Exhortation. to make this uſe of all former mercies. 2. To labour to be capable of this experiment.

1. Make this uſe of all former mercies. 1. Make this Vſe of former mercies.Look on what we finde acted, or written of Gods goodneſſe to his people, not as bare hiſtories of things done, but as Prognoſticks and aſſurances of the like again; as upon Book-caſes adjudged, that may be vouched unto God as Preſidents in this time of trouble and danger. It is the great fault of too many, when they read in Scripture of wonderfull protections and deliverances, they behold them onelyonly to admire the acts done, but not to rowle themſelves, by vertue thereof, upon God, for the like. Howbeit, the Apoſtle tels us,mmRom 15.4.Rom 15:4 Whatſoever was written afore-time, was p. 58written for our learning, The laſt Vſe.that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope: of what, but of this; that, as others before us have been graciouſly born upon wings of merciemercy; even ſo we alſo ſhall, with no leſſe power and tenderneſſe, be carried through all ſtormes and dangers that may ſet upon us in any ſervice or ſuffering for God, beyond all humane helps or hopes of deliverance.

2. Labour to be capable of like mercies.2. Labour to be capeable of further mercies by vertue of thoſe alreadie conferred. Although God be gratiouſly indulgent, yet is he not inconſiderately prodigall of mercies to all that ſcrape acquaintance with him in their troubles. There are ſome to whom God, after many deliverances, ſaith peremptorily,nnJudg. 10.13Judg 10:13 I will deliver you no more: It concerns all, therefore, to make this ſure that they be ſuch who may exſpect further deliverances from the God of their ſalvation. To this purpoſe, three things muſt be done: You muſt beleeve in him, walk with him, and ſtand for him.

1. Beleeve in him.1. Beleeve in him. When Iehoſhaphat and his people, fearing to be ſwallowed up of an huge hoſt that came out againſt them, were by a Prophet aſſured of victory without ſtriking a blow, Iehoſhaphat preſently inculcates this upon his ſubjects,oo2. Chron. 20.20.2 Chr 20:20 Beleeve in the Lord your God, ſo ſhall ye be eſtabliſhed, beleeve his Prophets, ſo ſhall ye proſper.

Faith makes a man even omnipotent.ppMar. 9.23.Mark 9:23 All things are poſſible to him that beleeveth. ItqqDeut. 9.13.Deut 9:13 binds Gods hands when he would deſtroy. It commands his help when his people are in diſtreſſe;rrIſa. 45.11.Isa 45:11 Concerning the work of my hands command ye me. On the other hand, Infidelity doth weaken Omnipotencie it ſelf, in regard of the effects that otherwiſe would be produced. It makes himſſIer. 14.8.Jer 14:8 as a ſtrong man that cannot ſave. When Chriſt did ſo many mighty works in the dayes of his fleſh, no man felt the effect, but ſuch as beleeved.ttMat. 9.29.Matt 9:29 According to your faith be it unto you, ſaid he to the blind men that came to be healed. So it fell out to thoſe of his own countrey;uuMar. 6.5.6.Mark 6:5Mark 6:6 he could there do no mighty worke, ſave that he laid his hands upon a few ſick folks and healed p. 59them: the reaſon is couched in the next words, he marvelled at their unbelief. Which ſhews plainly, that let Gods power be what it will, our neceſſities as great as can be, and his promiſes never ſo firm and punctuall for you, yet,wwIſa. 7.9.Isa 7:9 if you will not beleeve, ſurely ye ſhall not be eſtabliſhed. Therefore beleeve.

2. Walk with God. 2. Walk with God.This was required of Abraham the father of the faithfull, when God promiſed to do ſo much for him and his ſeed,xxGen. 17.1.Gen 17:1 Walk before me and be upright. Whenyy2. Chron. 17.3, 4.2 Chr 17:32 Chr 17:4 Iehoſhaphat walked in the first wayes of his father David, the Lord was with him, and ſtrengthened the kingdome in his hand. AndzzVer. 10. the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdomes round about Iudah, ſo that they made no warre against Iehoſhaphat. Yea, the moſt inveterate enemies of Judah, the Philiſtines, brought him gifts and preſents. Thus God makes his ſervants that walk with him ſo ſure of protection, that they become a terror to thoſe that would be a terror to them.

He that walks with God is ſure to fare as God himſelf doth. Fellow travellers uſe to communicate each to other ſuch things as they have, if any of the company fall into diſtreſſe: ſo the Lord communicates all his power, wiſedome, and goodneſſe to all that walk with him, as they ſtand in need of any, or of all of theſe.**Pſal. 84.11.Ps 84:11 The Lord God is a ſunne and a ſhield, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Yea,aa2. Chron. 16.9.2 Chr 16:9 his eyes run too and fro, throughout the whole earth, to ſhew himſelf ſtrong in behalf of them whoſe heart is perfect towards him.

3. Stand for him, and he will ſtand for you.3. Stand for God. Be zealous for God, and he will put on zeal as a cloak for you. If you will help the Lord againſt the mighty, eſpecially againſt thoſe proud enemies that tread down his ordinances, or imbaſe them with alloyes of their own, you ſhall ſoon finde him ſpeaking to you in your ſtraits and difficulties, as Jehoſhaphat to Ahab, bb2. Chro. 18.3.2 Chr 18:3I am as thou art, and my people as thy people, and we will be with thee in the warre.

p. 60Give me leave, I beſeech You, to ſpeak freely to You; I will doe it humbly too. At Your firſt ſitting downe, You expreſſed many brave and noble reſolutions, of giving Gods buſineſſe the precedency of all other Your Affaires: and Your beginnings promiſed much. Howbeit, I know not how it comes to paſſe, but ſo it is, that Gods Work lies yet undone. Matters of Religion lie a bleeding; all Government and Diſcipline of the Church is laid in her Grave, and all putredinous vermine of bold Schiſmaticks and frantick Sectaries glory in her aſhes; making her fall their own riſing to mount our Pulpits, to offer ſtrange fire, to expell the graveſt, ableſt, and moſt eminent Miniſters in the Kingdome, (if not out of their Pulpits, yet) out of the hearts of their people as a company of weak men, formaliſts, time-ſervers, no Miniſters of Chriſt, but Limbs of Antichriſt, having no calling except from the Devill; and to forſake our Aſſemblies as Babyloniſh and Antichriſtian, ſo as in ſhort time they will not leave us the face of a Church. And yet, no courſe is taken to ſuppreſſe their fury, and to reduce them to order, which (as things now ſtand) will never be, till You put your hands to the Cure. I know your buſineſſes and diverſions have been extraordinary: yet in the midſt of them all, You have found opportunitie to vindicate and ſetle your own Rights and Liberties. Therefore I hope You will finde both time and hearts to conſider what is to be done for that God who hath done ſo much for You beyond all exſpectation.

Farre be it from any among You to ſay, it is not yet a time. Remember how unkindly God took the neglect of his Houſe by the Jewes whom he had reſtored from Captivitie, albeit they forgat not the daily Sacrifice in the due place, and were oppoſed by many potent enemies, (the Kings Great Officers in Judeah) who procured from Artaxerxes Longimanus accEzra 4.21.Ezra 4:21 Decree to ſtay the building of the Lords Houſe; which cauſed a ceſſation of forty-one yeares, evenddVerſ. 23. untill the ſecond of Darius Nothus. In this caſe, much might have been ſaid for laying aſide the p. 61Work; yet becauſe the chiefe of the people did not conſtantly ſolicite the Perſian Monarchs to reverſe that Decree, that the building might goe on; but, followed their own buſines cloſe, built their own houſes and ſeiled them ſumptuouſly, ſowed their fields, and omitted nothing for their own Eſtates and Liberties, God did continually blow upon all, and curſed every bleſſing.

When they marvailed at the matter, He bad Haggai the Prophet to tell them the reaſon, and to perſwade them to reflect upon their own wayes, as the onelyonly cauſe thereof.eeHag. 1.2.Hag 1:2 This people ſay, the time is not come, the time that the Lords Houſe ſhould be built. To this the Lord makes anſwer;ffVerſ. 4. Is it time for You, O yee, to dwell in your ſeiled houſes, and this Houſe lie waſt? Can you finde time for your ſelves, and none for Mee? Should I bleſſe you in purſuit of your own affaires whiles you neglect mine? Nay, Conſider your wayes. See what you have gotten, in the iſſue, by all the Labour you have taken for your ſelves, while you have done nothing to ſet forward the Houſe of your God. Yee have ſowne much and bring in little, yee eate but you have not enough, yee drinke but yee are not filled, &c. Thus it was with them, although an Edict was ſtill in force againſt building of the Temple; becauſe they did not cordially doe their utmoſt, to obtaine the repeale of that Ordinance, but rather made uſe of it to purſue their own buſineſſe with more zeale and induſtry.

And hath not the ſame God begun the ſame courſe againſt us, at this very time? Conſider your wayes. When they who ſolicited the Cauſe of God, humbly prayed that the matters of Religion might be put to ſome iſſue; the disbanding of the Armies, was thought more neceſſary, to put an end to that charge. When that was done, what followed? Was any thing done for God? Surely, You can beſt tell. And what have wee gotten? In ſtead of the former Armies, God hath now laid upon You a buſineſſe of more difficultie, and likely to prove more coſtly and bloudy, by kindling a fire in Ireland, to the unſpeakable p. 62perſecutions, and butcheries of the poore Proteſtant Party there; and, when thoſe flames will be quenched, or how far they may extend, is known only to Him whoſe Cauſe (I feare) is not ſufficiently taken to heart? But this be ſure of, it will never be better; but, more and more occaſion of exhauſting your Eſtates (which You have ſpent ſo much time to ſecure) will be ſtill adminiſtred, ſo long as You ſhall deferre the building of the Lords Houſe, I meane, the ſetling and ſecuring of Religion and Diſcipline. This is that unum neceſſarium which (what ever ſome think) will undoubtedly ſave all: and, without which, all will be loſt at home, as well as abroad.

O therefore let mee be bold in the Name of the Lord (whoſe Servant I am, and whoſe Cauſe I now plead,) to give You the ſame Counſell that God by his ſervant Haggai, gave to the Jewes who ſeemed to approve the Work, but pretended many Lyons to be in the way.ggHag. 1.8.Hag 1:8 Goe up to the Mountaine, and bring wood, and build the Houſe, and I will take pleaſure in it, and I will be glorified, ſaith the Lord. What ever your own thoughts be, lay them aſide to conſider ſeriouſly what God exſpects from You. Try that Courſe, and ſee what a bleſſing will follow; how ſoone, how ſtrangely God will turne all things about, remove all difficulties, and work wonderfully for You and our poore Brethren in Ireland.

This is no Empiricall Doſis, but a Probatum eſt. For mark the iſſue of taking this Counſell, in the Jewes Caſe. Such as beleeved the Prophet, and feared the Lord, laid aſide the hot purſuit of their own affaires, and did as they were commanded. They ſet upon the building of the Lords Houſe. And the next newſe was;hhHag. 1.13.Hag 1:13 Then ſpake Haggai the Lords Meſſenger, the Lords meſſage unto the people; I am with you, ſaith the Lord. That is, now they ſhould find him with them to purpoſe: firſt, in carrying up the building, which (beſide the ſeverall pauſes and interruptions of the Work) had been forty-two yeares,That Houſe was forty-ſix years in building, Ioh. 2.20.John 2:20 at ſeverall times, laboured in, and yet not finiſhed; and had then lain forty-one yeares together, without ſo much as p. 63a ſtone laid in it. Now, it ſhould goe up ſo faſt, that one foure yeares more ſhould perfect the work. For, theyiiEzra 6.15.Ezra 6:15 finiſhed it in the ſixth yeare of Darius Nothus, having ſet upon it in**Hag. 1.15.Hag 1:15 the ſecond of his Reigne, as before is ſhewed.

Nor did God thus proſper them in his own Work only but bleſſed them in all things elſe they took in hand for themſelves. And whereas before, there was nothing but ſidings and factions; ſome**Neh. 6.10. &c. and verſ. 17, 18,Neh 6:10 complying with the Great Officers of the Perſian and Mediſh Emperours that then ruled over them, others oppoſing, and all thwarting one another, and thriving in nothing; afterwards, God did on the ſudden turne the ſtreame, knit them togetherkkNeh. 9.Neh 9 in a Covenant with God, and thereby**Neh. 10.28, 29.Neh 10:28Neh 10:29 unitd them alſo one to another; ſo as, not onelyonly a new face, but a new ſtate of things preſently appeared; and God was as good as his word, not onelyonly in taking pleaſure in his houſe, but in thoſe that built it; For, ſo himſelfe tells them;**Hag. 2.19.Hag 2:19 From this day will I bleſſe you.

This is a memorable Inſtance; and I would to God You would preſident your ſelves, by it, which till You doe, I ſhall never exſpect good of any of your Labours, or Lawes already made for your ſelves: Nor ſhall You ſatisfie the expectations of thoſe that ſent You hither, and put ſo great a Truſt into your hands. Even men who at other times care no more than Gallio for matters of Religion; now that they ſee all mens ſpirits to be up for Religion, they alſo are (in their wayes) zealous to have ſomewhat done in it, and for it, as well as others.

I beſeech You therefore in the Name of that Great God, whom You ſerve, and who hath hitherto bleſt You, and for the peace and proſperitie of this Church and Kingdome, to reſume and purſue your firſt thoughts of ſetting up God and his Ordinances, as becomes You in a Regular way, which I have ever taken to be, by calling to your aſſiſtance a free Synode of Grave Miniſters of this Nation. Not that I take upon me to preſcribe any thing, but humbly to offer it to conſideration onelyonly, that p. 64ſo among the ſeverall wayes and meanes propounded, Your Wiſedomes may ſelect and proſecute what You ſhall finde to be the ſureſt and moſt honorable way to cure the Ulcers of the Time, that daily feſter more and more: That our Church and the Government thereof may be no longer laid waſte, and expoſed to Confuſion, under the plauſible pretence of not forcing mens Conſciences. To put all men into a courſe of Order and Ʋniformity, in Gods way, is not to force the Conſcience; but, to ſet up God in his due place, and to bring all his people into the paths of righteouſneſſe and life.

You ſee how God hath unexpectedly put you into further neceſſity of more ſupplies from the people, for ſuppreſſing the Rebellion in Ireland, and all that foment or countenance ſuch a prodigious Conſpiracie. And you cannot be ignorant of the generall diſcontent at this, that there is yet no more done for Religion, by reforming what is amiſſe, and by ſetling what ſhould be ſo reformed. Would you therefore once go roundly to work in this Great Enterpriſe, and make the people to ſee and be aſſured of what I know you intend, namely, the further Reformation of the many things out of order in our Church and Diſcipline, and the perfecting of that which hath ſo many yeers lain unpoliſhed, You might ſoon command the hearts, and purſes, and lives of all good Chriſtians in the publique ſervice of the King and kingdome, without regreet, or gain-ſaying; and be able to do more in a ſhort time, than otherwiſe you ſhall ever effect while you live.

Look upon David. When this was once ſeriouſly and ſincerely ſetled in his heart, to build God an Houſe, God took it ſo kindly, that though he reſolved to reſerve that Work for Solomon, 2. Sam. 7.2 Sam 7yet he ſent a meſſage to David, that he would build him an houſe, and eſtabliſh both his houſe and kingdome upon him. And not onelyonly ſo; but, when ſo ever David had need of extraordinarie help, God never failed to go out with him whither ſoever he went. And it is very remarkable, that moſt of the Great Victories p. 65which David atchieved, fell to him after his reſolution of building the Temple. For the Text ſaith it expreſly, that,ll2 Sam. 8.1.2 Sam 8:1 After theſe things, David ſmote the Philistines; and after that, the Moabites; then, Hadadazer; and then, the Syrians, and others, none being able to ſtand before him.

And thus would it be with you, when, in zeal for God, you follow his ſteps. What ever the difficulties and diſcouragements be, when Zorobabel fals cloſe to work, what mountain, ſo great and high, that ſhall not become a plain? No plots, no power of hell ſhould prevail againſt you. Do you carry on Gods work, he will be ſure to carrie on yours, and make you the honour and ſtrength of the King and Kingdome in all the Kings Noble deſignes for the good of his Subjects. Thoſe unnaturall Rebels that now rage ſo deſperately, ſhould be but bread for you; and all your enemies ſhould be compelled to lick the duſt of your feet. I ſhall therefore cloſe all with that of the ſame David to Solomon his ſonne, touching the building of the Temple,mm1 Chro. 22.16.1 Chr 22:16 Ariſe, and be doing, and the Lord be with you.

FINIS.

Faults eſcaped in ſome Copies, correct thus. The firſt number ſhews the page; the ſecond, the line.

PAge 1. li. 20. dele and. li. 29. r. (2 Chro. 14.) 2. 2. dele the ſecond and. 4. 9. r. not. 6. 2. r. of clay. 7. 15. r. a little. li. 18. r. Chamath. and in marg. foreign 17. 17. r. our Cities. 20. 2. r. Cunning. 21. 14. r. for. 24. in marg. r. Haſſenmuller. 34. 23. dele the 36. 19. dele not. 49. 1. r. within. and li. 6. r. which makes. pag. 53. 8. r. them. 55. 20. r. Godly.

End of the text · Cornelius Burges, Another Sermon Preached to the House of Commons 5 November 1641 (1641)