The Interest of These United Provinces, Section 2
Sect. 2. Arguments to prove the Hypotheſis, the firſt whereof is from our Religious Concernments; wherein is ſhewn how great a ſupport Religion is to a State, and how greatly it concern us to ſecure our Religion.
HAving now truly related Matter of Fact, and clearly ſtated the Queſtion, I ſhall proceed to prove the ſame, viz. That in caſe of inability to defend our ſelves, it is our Intereſt to be under the Engliſh rather than the French.
Firſt in regard of Religion. Which as it is of cheifeſt concernment, ſo deſerves to have the precedence of all other conſiderations. The very Heathens accounted this their cheif Intereſt, and therefore above all to be ſecured and defended. The Romans ſaying was Pro aris & focis, therein giving Religion, the preference of all their civil concernments. And if we Chriſtians do not, the more is our ſin, and the greater our ſhame. It is ſo well known how the Heathens of old, and Turks of later times have valued their ſeveral falſe Religions; how their firſt Founders, Legiſlators, and Magiſtrates have made Religion, both the Baſis upon which they founded their Kingdoms and Commonwealths, and the cheif Pillars to ſupport them; and how zealous the common people have been for their Superſtitions: That I cannot but wonder that Chriſtians ſhould be ſuch Gallices for the true Religion and Goſpel of Chriſt, and fear that Turks and Heathens will riſe up in judgment againſt us, and condemn us for our indifferency herein. But if examples would either ſway us, or ſhame us, I need not go ſo far for them, our own Anceſtors are abundantly ſufficient. I am ſure (if the Hiſtory of former times deceive me not) Religion was the cheif inducement to them, to begin that hazardous War with Spain. And had ſuch an impreſſion upon them, that they freely ventured their lives and eſtates for this eſpecially; although I know there were many other grievances inſiſted on, to juſtifie that War. Had they thought that their Poſterity ſhould have made ſo light of Religion and Liberty, which coſt them ſo dear (as many we ſee in thoſe places over, who have ſo lightly parted with both in a great meaſure,) I perſwade my ſelf they would never have commenced ſuch a War; but the ſincerer part of them would have fled with their Families abroad, rather then have endured thoſe miſeries at home. Could they now ſtand up out of their Graves, how would they condemn this unfaithful generation! And how will our Children have occaſion to curſe us, for betraying the truſt repoſed in us by our Anceſtors, and ſelling the pretious Truths of Religion at ſo cheape a rate, which they bought ſo deare.
If the true Religion which we profes, be not the Polar Star, by which thoſe that ſit at the Helme ſteere the Ship of the Common-wealth; what can we expect, except we be Atheiſts, and ſhut out God and his ſafeguard, but to ſuffer ſhip-wrack? Nay if this be not the Pearle of price to us all, which we prefer above all worldly pebles, it will be no wonder, if our enimies ſpoile us both of this and them. If any be of another judgement,Serres. in Lewis 11. Buſſieres. Hiſt. Fra. l. 13. §. 9. & 24. Comin. l. 6, c. 7. & 12. Anti-Machiavel, &c. and prefer the Reaſon of State above Religion (although in this caſe they are conjoyned, as I ſhal ſhew hereafter) I wiſh ſuch would oberve from Lewis the 11, who firſt opened the pack of fraudulent polices to the Princes of Europe; what diſmall ends have befallen him, and the Atheiſtical Polititians ſince, thoſe of Italy eſpecially; and what diſappoyntments their deſigns have met withall, and ſee if they have any reaſon to treade in their ſteps. I am jealous (I confeſſe) that the atheiſme and irreligion of the preſent age is great, which makes me larger herein then otherwiſe I ſhould be: yet I hope not ſo great amongſt us, that we ſhould prefer Popiſh ſuperſtition before the true reformed Religion. Belial before Chriſt: If ſo, we are fitter to be our enemies aſſes, to be laden with their trumperies, and laſht at their pleaſure, than to be dealt withall by arguments to convince our Conſciences.
If we duly conſider that true Religion is
1. The Fountaine of all true Piety and Vertue here, and of eternall Felicity hereafter.
2. That which rightly teaches every one their duty, not onelyonly in reference to their particular practiſe, but publique concerns, Magiſtrates how to governe, and people how to obey.
3. That which furniſheth us with the ſtrongeſt Arguments, for mutuall affection and aſſiſtance to one another, courage in dangers, hope in extremities, patience in adverſitie, and perſeverance in our duty. And
4. That which onelyonly can aſſure a people of Gods favour and being propitious to them; and the contempt thereof on the contrary, of his diſpleaſure and malediction; We muſt needs conclude, that the Magiſtrate in the firſt place as Gods Vice-gerent in Governement, and all others in their ſeverall Stations, ought to endeavour above all things by all lawfull means to preſerve, defend, and ſecure the ſame; as they tender the honour of God, the welfare of his Church, the proſperity of the Commonwealth, and their own and Poſterities temporall and eternall happines. I ſhall not need to enlarge theſe things, in regard they are ſo well knowne, and approvedly verified by ſo many examples, out of Sacred and profane Hiſtories: and none that I know have ever had the impudence to deny them in Theſi, though they diſpute in Hypotheſi which is the true Religion. Even Machiavel, as wicked as his writings are in many things;Diſp. de Rep. l. 1. c. 12. yet aſſerts (as a Politician) that true Religion muſt above all things be regarded by thoſe that deſire to preſerve themſelves, and that there is no certius indicium de reip. ruina than the contempt of Religion.
And for fuller conviction let me ad, that tis not onelyonly an acknowledged truth, but that which all ages of the Word have experienced, that Religion is the greateſt bond and tye of humane ſociety, and therefore muſt needs be the maine pillar of ſupport to a State, and the beſt walls of defence to a people. Hoping therefore what is ſaid in the generall to be ſufficient, I ſhall now deſcend to particulars briefly.
And herein it is well known, that the Engliſh and we (I ſpeak of the generality of both Nations, Rulers and people) ſymboliſe; being both of the Reformed Religion. Whereas the French are for the greateſt part Papiſts, to be ſure all in power whether civill or military: it being the practiſe now of France, to imploy none but ſuch in the management of affaires; ſo that if we be either Governed or Garriſoned by the French, we cannot exſpect to be ſo by any, but Papiſts and profeſſed enemies of our Religion.
But ſomething here will be pleaded for the French, and ſomething allſo objected againſt the Engliſh.