A Vindication of the Sincerity of the Protestant Religion, Preface
Preface.
The Deſigne, Style, and Genius of that Libel. Obſervations upon the Epiſtle and Prefaces.
THe licentiouſneſs of the Preſs hath long ſince beaten me to that patience to let others ſpeak, contenting my ſelf to think; Looking upon the eagerneſs of ſome men to confute all untruths that appear abroad, as a relick of Knight-Errantry, which obliged the Knights to redreſs all the wrongs that were done in the world. But my patience was overcome by the bold and pernicious untruths vented in a Libel, tending to no leſs then the rooting out of Proteſtants out of all States of the world, as Rebels by their very Religion, and the Bane of all Governments. The whole Work is purum putum mendacium, right mettle of untruth in the main ſubſtance. The Title is falſe, for it picks a quarrel with the Presbyterians only, whereas the Book declareth open war to all the Proteſtants under heaven. The pretence falſe; for the Author pretends to undertake that task out of love to the King, whereas he works the Kings ruine by calumnies against his true Subjects, and by maintaining the Jeſuites, the ſworn enemies of his Crown and State. The face he puts on, is falſe many wayes; for he pretends in his Epiſtle and Prefaces to publiſh the Book of a dead man, whereas the uniformity, or rather deformity of the affected broken Style, and Billings-gate language, in the Epiſtle, Prefaces, and body of the Book, ſhews all that falſe coin to have been ſtampt in the ſame baſe Mint. The Author is produced as a Priest of the Church of England; whereas he ſpeaks as a Priest of the Church of Rome. The Publiſher calls himſelf Bellamy, whereas he is a falſe Friend, and a true Enemy, and most like it is, that no ſuch man as he names himſelf, is to be found: For ſuch Vizards are borrowed by theſe children of darkneſs, A wrong Name, A contrary Profeſſion, A dead man that ſpeaks out of his Grave; three Vizards one over another; lyes upon lyes in the Porch; a right Entry into a Shop of Lyes.
But how much falſhood is in the Epiſtle? Was Bellamy or the pretended dead Author well acquainted with that venerable Prelate to whom the Book is dedicated? Did Bellamy ever preſent the Book to his Lordſhip? Did he chuſe him for his Patron, and ſtroak him with deſerved praiſes, to honour him, or to betray him, and make him odious, as a Patron of Popery, and Protector of Jeſuites? And laſtly, the accuſations laid againſt the ſeveral Proteſtants, even theſe that are true, if any be, are they not falſely imputed to the generality of the party? And are not moſt of the alledged paſſages out of their writings maimed, detorted, or plainly forged?
O God of Truth, who loveſt Truth in the inward parts, and lookeſt with piercing judicial eyes into the bottome of crafty projects through all the coverings of hypocriſie; Is thy Truth to be defended with Falſhood? What followſhip hath the ſimplicity of thy Goſpel with this heap of multiplyed Impoſtures? And how can the zeal of Religion put a man that hath ſome ſenſe of Ingenuity, upon ſuch falſe and crooked wayes? Well, I ſee my ſelf engaged to fight with wilde Beaſts, as St Paul did at Epheſus. Let God ariſe, and let his enemies be ſcattered. Let them alſo that hate him, flee before him.
I did not ſee the Book but after the ſecond Edition, eight moneths after its first appearing; And though I had ſeen it before, I would have made no haſte to appear upon the liſts againſt this Adverſary, but expected of the Secular Power a more ſubſtantial, and indeed the right Confutation. But what! the ſmalneſs of the Libel, and the Libeller, kept them hitherto from the Cenſure of Authority: For thoſe that ſtand in high places, can hardly diſcern ſuch ſtrawes below: But we that ſtand below, may look neerer, and ſee poyſon in a ſtraw; and ought to repreſent unto our Superiours the miſchievouſneſs of this ſmall, yet dangerous thing.
Dangerous I ſay, not for the ſtrength of reaſon, nor for the bitterneſs neither; for the very extremity of malice in that Book makes it weak in reaſon, as it is the natural effect of pride and choler to enervate the judgement, and take reaſon off the hooks. But that which makes the Book dangerous, is the unparallell'd boldneſs and preſumptuouſneſs of the attempt. Could we believe, but that we ſee it, that in England, where the Law gives no Toleration to the Romiſh Religion, a Papist durst appear in Print, with his and his Printers name to the Book, to tax not only the Proteſtant Reformers, but the very Reformation of Rebellion and High Treaſon? Put among Luthers crimes, That he preached againſt the Tyrannie and Superiority Pag. 73. & 74.of the Biſhop of Rome, and perſwaded the people not to render him any Obedience. Call the Reformation the New Goſpel, Excuſe Mariana, and juſtifie the Jeſuites, against thoſe that charge them with the Doctrine of King-killing; Cry down Proteſtants, as perſons not to be trusted with any part of the Government of the State, or ſuffered to live in any Commonwealth; Beſtow upon them the most contumelious termes that he could deviſe, Traytors, Diabolical, Cockatrices, Infernal Spirits, are the mildest words that he giveth them.
It is a ſilly colour to his malice to name them alwayesIn his pa, 109. his vizard falls down and he ſaith openly, Theſe rebel doctrines are backt by the generality of thoſe that call themſelves Proteſtants. pag. 71. Proteſtants of Integrity, as if he meant a different ſort from other Proteſtants; whereas under that name he perſecuteth all the Reformed Chriſtians of Europe, following them from Countrey to Countrey. And although he durst not ſo openly rail againſt the Engliſh Reformers, yet can he not abſtain to tax them of Rebellion under Queen Mary, ſaying most falſely, That there was more Rebellions in her poor five years, then in the forty four of Queen Elizabeth; thereby to ſhew, that the Roman Catholicks are the far more loyal ſubjects.
But that which goes beyond all examples of the most ſuperlative impudence, that most virulent Libel againſt the Proteſtants of Integrity, which is the Religion profeſs'd in England, he makes bold to recommend to the Protection of that Eminent and Vertuous Prelate, now our most Reverend Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury, then the ſecond Eccleſiaſtical Perſon of all the Province, and Preſident of the Convocation.
I pray Sir Philopapa (for Philanax Anglicus is too good a Title for you) do you know who you ſpeak to? Do you think what you ſay? Do you remember where you are? In qua tandem Civitate Catilina, arbitraris te vivere? Do you think you are at Rome or Madrid, where you may bring, as you do, all Proteſsants to the Inquiſition? Or do you hope that our loyal Clergie will miſtake you for one of their ſide, becauſe you rail against Knox and Buchanan, and make ſome profeſſion of Obedience, and declame against the late rebellion? And when they know you once for the man you are, do you preſume that you can make them forget what Sovereigne you are ſworn unto, and what power the Pope claims over all Kingdoms, and what particular Title he pretends to England and Ireland?
Certainly Sir Philopapa (for the Pope is the King you love, and whoſe Intereſt you promote among our Kings Subjects) I hope you ſhall finde that your loud cryes at my Lords Grace of Canterbury's door, for the putting down of all Proteſtants of Integrity, will prove as improper and unſeaſonable, as if you proclaimed at the Court gates the Ordinance of the Rebels Parliament for putting down Monarchy; and that you ſhall be helped with ſome perſonal intereſt to increaſe your hatred againſt the Proteſtants of Integrity: for ſuch ſhall you finde the Kings Majeſty, his Council, his Parliament, the pious Fathers of the Church, and the wiſe Judges of the Land. Could you not content your ſelf to enjoy quietly your Sovereigns Clemency and forbearance, but you must defame in Print all that are not of your gang, which are no leſs then the King and the State? From their Juſtice nothing can ſecure you but your obſcurity. But while you take an order that your perſon may lye undiſcovered, I will make bold to diſcover ſome of your Impoſtures: All I cannot, neither is it material; for all that I need to do to provide an antidote againſt your poiſon, is to do two things: The one, to wipe off the aſperſions of Rebellion which you caſt upon the holy Doctrine of the Proteſtant Churches. The other, to bring to the Bar the true Rebels; which will be no recrimination, but aſserting the Pope in his ancient known poſseſſion, of being the grand Patron and Architect of Rebellion of ſubjects against their Sovereignes, and the eſpecial directer of high Treaſon against the Kings of England.
Before I look to the body of his Book, ſomthing must be ſaid of his Epiſtle and Prefaces. His Epiſtle is addreſſed to no leſs then the Right Reverend Father in God, Gilbert Lord Biſhop of London, and Dean of His Majeſties Chappel Royal, ſince deſervedly promoted to the highest Dignity of the Church of England. A great Honour to his Book▪ How far the great Patron which he chuſeth is honoured with that Dedication, and the due praiſes which he payeth unto him, is obvious to any ordinary underſtanding. Praiſe at the best is foreign, but a light gift to a wiſe man. And ſince praiſe Seneca▪ Sit tibi tam turpe laudari a turpibus quam ſi lauderis ob turpia.hath its price from the praiſer, that eminent Prelate is little obliged to this Gentlemans praiſes, who juſtifies in his Book what he is, and what he aimes at. It is praiſing him with a vengeance, to take him for a Protector of his miſchievous attempt.
foreign.
He hath more obliged our▪ late moſt Reverend Archbiſhop Juxon, now a glorious Saint in heaven, whom he hath not ſpared to blame, though he doth not name him, but he points at him with his finger: And then tells My Lord of London, From all theſe vanities, your Lordſhips known Innocency and Piety hath alwayes defended you; ſcientifically inferring, that Innocency and Piety is inconſiſtent with the Character which he had given of that great Prelate. Could this Epiſtles be ſo ſenſeleſs as to expect thanks from a Biſhop of London, for raiſing his commendation upon the diſgrace of his Metropolitan? What needed he to go ſo far out of his ſubject to bring in that malicious exception? For the blame of the one adds nothing to the praiſe of the other. Does he not ſhew his hatred against Proteſtant Prelates, which he could not but expreſs, even when he took one of them for his Patron? And no wonder that a Jeſuite ſhould maligne an Archbiſhop of Canterbury, ſeeing the Jeſuites had no greater enemies then thoſe that ſate in that See. That which he findes amiſs in that rarely accompliſhed Prelate, is commended in him by wiſe men, his laudable curioſity, fit for a great Naturalist, as he was; to keep ſeveral ſorts of Animals about his houſe, as Ariſtotle did before him: Their Nature and Inclinations he would obſerve with a judicious eye, and ſpeak of them pertinently and delightfully. Of theſe Natural Lectures he was pleaſed to make me hearer ſeveral times, and to imploy me to finde him Books of that ſubject. So ſerious were his Recreations, when he would unbend, among thoſe whom he honoured with his Diſcourſes and Table, after his great Imployments about the Government of Church and State.
As that great perſon's known Piety and Innocency cannot be blaſted by ſuch a weak enemy as this Jeſuite, ſo it needs not be defended by ſuch a weak Champion as I am. His admired Vertue ſhines in an Orb elevated far above the reach of the barking of envie; and if he needed the approbation of any under God, he had a Royal Teſtimony, when his late Majeſty, our glorious Saint and Martyr had ſo much confidence in his Piety and Innocency, and together in his Wiſdome and Courage, that of all his Divines he choſe him for his ſecond, when he was to encounter the terrors of a violent and ignominious death: And by the excellent uſe which he made of his godly counſel in the retirement of his last devotions, he ended his combates in a victorious death over all his enemies ſpiritual and temporal, and yeilded his great ſoul unto God with joy and comfort. For one thing this Jeſuite and his confreres had great reaſon to hate that godly Prelate; That after His Majeſty had ſpoken many divine words upon the Scaffold, he put him in minde to make a profeſſion of his Religion; which he did, and profeſsed before God and the world, that he dyed a Proteſtant according to the Religion eſtabliſhed by Law in the Church of England. A profeſſion which gave great diſcontent to the Papists and the Fanaticks, for both wiſh'd that he had dyed a Papist indeed.
It is known with what calmneſs of ſpirit, prudence, and magnanimity, that vertuous Prelate went through the tryals which he was put to after the Kings death; for he was as wiſe as a ſerpent, though as harmleſs as a dove: And among his many Vertues, he was a great Master of two, which ſeldome meet together, a ſingular and Moſes-like meekneſs, and an invincible conſtancy. They that have known him moderating in the Ʋniverſity, and have ſeen him ſince acting in the greateſt buſineſses of the Kingdome, admire the readineſs and ſolidity of his judgement, fitted alike for ſpeculation and action, and in both excellent. His dexterity and patience, overcoming the most difficult affairs. His ſincerity in declaring himſelf without Complements, and his fidelity in keeping his promiſes without wavering, were very remote from the imputation of vanity, which this enemy would faſten upon the reputation of that truly great and good man. I cannot leave, I cannot part from the mention of him, without that reverend and affectionate expreſſion of the Jews when they ſpeak of their vertuous friends departed, foreign Let his memory be bleſſed, for ſo his ſoul is in heaven, for all the good he hath done in earth to ſo many, and to me for one, for to his Graces goodneſs, next to God, I owe the greatest part of my well-being.
To return to our Adverſary; Many things in his Epiſtle and Preface ſhew him to be an Adverſary indeed to the whole Proteſtant party, and a ſworn ſlave to the Court of Rome. But as he takes no pains to prove any thing, but that all Proteſtants are Rebels by their Religion, I will not take the pains to diſprove any thing elſe.
All his Preface is verba & voces; Moralities far from his purpoſe, interlarded with invectives without ground. For who are thoſe that will do no good works for fear of meriting by them? And where are thoſe Proteſtants among whom dulneſs and heavineſs of ſpirit is taken up as a practiſe? A character more befitting Monaſtical devotion. God fetcheth light out of darkneſs; but it is the Devils work to fetch darkneſs out of light. This man labours to do the ſame, Sententias loquitur carnifex. But he goeth untowardly to work: For he pulls his doctrines by the hair to bring them to his uſes. It ſeems the man had made ſome petty declamations when he was a Grammar Scholar, in a broken boyiſh ſtyle, made up of a thouſand ſtollen ſhreds: And now, lest theſe pieces of wit ſhould periſh, he brings them in by head and ſhoulders to decide controverſies in points not controverted. For to his ſilly commendations of devotion and humility, one may ſay as that King to him that would commend Hector in his preſence, Quis vero illas vituperat? What need you ſpeak for theſe Vertues, when no body ſpeaks against them? And what are theſe declamations to the matter in hand?
To give a taſte of his learning in Greek, he tranſlates foreign an eloquent Oration.
He calls St. Auſtin the Oracle of the Latine Church; But he never belonged to it, but to the African.
And for a taſt of his wit and eloquence, barking at the Moon, he ſaith to be the Divinity of Dogs.
This is of the ſame kinde, The bleſſed eyes of Bats they have to mock at the greateſt lights. But if the Bats mockt at the great light, they would outface it, whereas they hide themſelves from it.
One more of theſe impertinencies out of the body of the book. He gives theſe commendations to our latepag. 57. & 58. excellent King, a Prince as wiſe as Apollo, valiant There wanted no more but animo prudens, ut Homerus; as it is upon the Tombe of Richard the 11.as Achilles, vertuous as Socrates, pious as Aeneas, and beautiful as an Amazon. O brave boy! Well declamed for a Scholar of the ſecond Form! See what comes by being bred in the Colledges of the Jeſuites of Flanders; for ſuch a gallant ſtrain of Oratory could never have been learned in the Schools of Weſtminſter or Eaton. Yet me-thinks the first and the last of theſe compariſons, have a reach quite beyond common ſenſe. Will he call holy King Charles a Prince as wiſe as Apollo? It is a fit parallel for Julian the Apoſtate. Had he no better compariſon for that Saint then a Pagan God and a Devil, who by reaſon of the uncertainty of his Oracles, was called foreign crooked and winding: How doth that fit ſuch a pattern of Chriſtian and Royal ingenuity, ſo ſincere in his words, ſo real in his actions? The last parallel is as incongruous as the first, He calls the King as beautiful as an Amazon. Where hath this Antiquary found thoſe viragines the Amazons with their right breast burnt, ſet out as Paragons of beauty? And though they had been ſuch, Is a womans beauty fit to expreſs the majeſtical preſence of a King? How do theſe two compariſons ſuit with the ſubject, and one with another?
Velut aegri ſomnia vanae
Finguntur ſpecies, ut nec pes nec caput uni
Reddatur formae.
This writer affords more occaſions to make ſport with him by his ignorance, but more by his blind choler; then which there is nothing that diſarmeth a man more, and expoſeth him more to be a laughing ſtock. Such another Pierochol and Cacafuego I never met with, His ſtyle is a continual caſting of firebrands, and firing of Granado's to ſcatter among the Proteſtants in all the corners of the world. What would become of the Ship of this Church, if theſe men ruled upon the Deck, and were maſters of the Stern and the Sayls, ſeeing they are ſo ſwaggering now they lye under the Hatches?
Let the Author of the book keep himſelf there for me, and remain unknown. The publiſher will not acknowledge himſelf to be the Father, but only the Godfather; although the Epiſtle, Preface, and Book, look like three brats of one venter. We need not queſtion who is the father, ſince the godfather anſwereth for the childe.
Neither is it more material to ſearch into the occaſion of the writing of the book, which he ſaith to be a Letter from a Proteſtant of integrity, in anſwer to a letter from a perſon of quality. Theſe letters I never ſaw: But if that Proteſtant of integrity will have the Presbyterians conformable to the Church of England in Eccleſiaſticks, as the Epiſtle ſeems to intimate, we are of his minde; neither is any more required of the Presbyterians for the bleſsed work of concord, and for the comfort of their Proteſtant brethren, and their own.
The Title of Philanax Anglicus, whereby the Author makes a profeſſion to love the King, is his paſsport into the patience of the Reader: And he makes of it a Fort, under the ſhelter of which he thinks he may boldly ſhoot upon whom he pleaſeth to take for his mark. But what advantage this lover of the King alloweth to him, is much like the gift of Juglers; his Majeſty may hold it fast, and finde nothing in his hand, as we ſhall ſee afterwards.