A Parish Looking-Glass, Title page
A PARISH LOOKING-GLASSE FOR Perſecutors of Miniſters.
Wherein Such perſecuting People may behold their ugly-faced ſinfull Condition, and the Judgments of God falling on their heads. OR, The Perſecuted Miniſters Apologie.
Publiſhed by Richard Culmer for the Common Good.
Eſpecially, That the Chriſtian Magiſtrate may take more notice of, and be more zealous againſt Perſecutors and Oppreſſors of faithfull Miniſters: which Perſecutors endeavour, firſt, to ruine Miniſters which are weaker in power than Magiſtrates; intending afterwards more eaſily to ruine Magiſtrates alſo, and level all.
AND That people (Sectaries and others) which deſpiſe, mock, revile, ſlander, defraud, oppreſs faithful Miniſters, ſent by the care and wiſdom of the Chriſtian Magiſtrate, may be warned by the Judgements full of horrour, upon ſuch Perſecutors, herein recorded, which God hath ſet forth for example to others.
And publiſhed by him more especially, In Defence of his Father Richard Culmer, Miniſter of Mynſter, in the County of Kent, in the Iſle of Thanet, near Canterbury.
To prevent his ſaid Fathers cauſleſs ruin, which is now endeavoured by thoſe, who (as the enſuing Hiſtory ſhews, after many publick, ſhameleſs, ſavage Perſecutions of him, by word and deed, to the ſhedding of his bloud, only for his actings for God and the preſent State) now go about by ſecret falſe ſuggeſtions, to have him caſt out of his Living; and of their Confidence to prevail againſt him it is boaſted in Canterbury, and elſwhere publickly, which hath cauſed this publick Apology.
Pſal. 7. 13.
God ordaineth his Arrows againſt the Perſecutors.
Matth. 23. 37.
O Hieruſalem, Hieruſalem, thou that killeſt the Prophets, and ſtoneſt them that are ſent unto thee, &c.
1 Cor. 15. 32.
I have fought with beasts at Epheſus, after the manner of men.
2 Cor. 6. 9.
Perſecuted, yet not forſaken.
London, Printed by Abraham Miller, 1657.