A Complete and Compendious Church History, Chapter 33

A Complete and Compendious Church History · Chapter 33

p. 461The Devils 3d. Deſign againſt the Church, in Proteſtants: Defeated by God.

CHAP. XXXIII.

THe Devils 3d. particular Deſign, (being the 3d. part of the laſt Plot) was againſt the Proteſtants, in, and after Luther. This Book having already ſwell'd into a greater Bulk then at firſt Intended, (almoſt above a portable Pocket-Book) I muſt Referr my Reader to the Morient (or Dying) Period of Antichriſt, in my Diſcovery of Antichriſt, pag. 81. to pag. 110. and Confine my ſelf by Conſtraint) to point out onelyonly the moſt Eminent Remarks of Divine Providence which hath Preſerv'd the Church in thoſe Two laſt Centuries, to wit, the Fifteen and the Sixteen p. 462Hundred Y. of Chriſt, becauſe it would require a Diſtinct Volum to Speak Diſtinctly of every Paſſage and Providence therein.

The (1ſt.) Remark, was, The Harveſt of the Earth, yea, and of Heaven too, was fully Ripe, when God Rais'd up Luther to put in his ſharp Sicle (1.) that of Earth, the Kingdom of the Beaſt was ſo Debauch'd in that Day; as if Earth had been turned into Hell, inſomuch as Geffery Chaucer (that learned Poet in the 14th. Century) doth notably Scourge the Romiſh-Church for Degenerating ſo notoriouſly both in Doctrine and Diſcipline, both in Faith and Manners: (2.) that of Heaven; the Kingdome of Chriſt had then a whole Harveſt of Souls (Choſen of God) to be effectually called, otherwiſe ſuch a poor Fryar (as Luther was) could never have gone through ſo great a Work againſt ſo Great and General Oppoſition with ſuch Great Succeſs.

The (2d.) Famous Remark, was, that Luther ſhould be ſent to Rome, as Meſſenger of his Covent, for Deciding ſome Controverſies therein, (about the Monks Priviledges) before the Pope, in the Y. 1510. where beholding the Baſe and Abominable Manners of the Roman Clergy, of the Pope, and of his Pallace, he Returned from Rome with Utmoſt Deteſtation both of it, and of its Religion, crying out often, Away with it, Away with it, and ſaying to his Friends, He would not have been without that p. 463Journey to Rome for a 1000 Florens's. Thus God by this Providence Unhing'd him of his Romiſh Religion, and prepar'd him thereby for a Great Reformation.

The (3) Remark, was, Pope Leo the 10th. through his Luxury wanted Money to beſtow a Dowry on his Siſter (Magdalen,) and ſo did his Cardinal, to pay for his New-Pall, both thoſe Summs muſt be raiſed by Indulgences ſent into Germany: Tecelius (a Dominican Fryar) brings them to be ſold, ſaying, His Commiſſion was ſo large from the Pope, that if a Man had Defloured the Bleſſed Virgin, he could Pardon the Sin for Money; yea, he could Pardon all Sins to come, as well as any that were paſt; Indeed much what alike. Luther's Godly Zeal takes Fire at thoſe Popiſh-Cheats, Inveighs againſt the Popes Pardons that his Huckſter had brought, He crys down (after) the Popes Supremacy, and all his Popiſh Traſh, ſo Works (in God) a Wonderful Reformation.

The (4th.) Eminent Remark, was, that God ſhould provide ſuch a Protector (as Frederick, the Duke of Saxony) to preſerve poor perſecuted Luther out of the Hands of Pope Leo the 10th. and of the Emperor Charles the 5th. (whom the Pope provok'd againſt him) ſometimes in his Patmos, (as he call'd Wartenburg-Caſtle) and ſometimes Diſputing with Cardinal Caietan, and with thoſe Devils in the Court at Worms, yet was he kept ſecure by Gods good p. 464Providence, till he had Fulfill'd his Miniſtry, and Finiſh'd the Work his Father gave him to do, Living to the Age of Sixty-Three, then Dyed in his Climacterical Year, Bequeathing his Deteſtation of Popery to his Friends and Followers, with this Verſe,

Peſtis eram Vivus, Moriens ero Mors tua, Papa.

In Engliſh I Living, ſtop'd Romes Breath,

In Engliſh And Dead, will be Romes Death.

The (5th.) Marvelous Remark, was, That not One of thoſe Three Angels, (forementioned) to wit, Waldus, Wickliff, and Luther, ſhould Dye a Violent Death; Conſidering the Rage of Rome and Hell againſt them all, That They ſhould all Three Dye quietly in their Beds in the midſt of their mortal Enemies, to whom they all Three were ſo miſchievous, was little below a Miracle: Well, therefore are they Named More than Men, even Angels, Rev. 14. 6, 8, 9. Bloody Rome may Murder Men, but cannot Angels. Now when the Lord raiſed up Luther (the 3d. Angel) to thruſt in his ſharp Sickle into the Harveſt of Reformation, Revel. 14. 14, 15. and began to Reap Rome, which was now ready Ripe to have the Seaven Vials of Gods Indignation powred down upon her for the Wine of her Fornication, wherewith ſhe had made ſo many Nations Drunk; then Rome Raged with her Red Letter, being prompted thereto by the Red Dragon; inſomuch that the Pope p. 465Roars againſt him as an Heretick with his Bull, the Emperour (ſtirr'd up by the Pope) Wars againſt him as a Rebell with his Army, and King Henry the 8th. of England, Writes againſt him with his Pen, for which the Pope Dignifyed him with [Defender of the Faith,] a Title which K. James better Deſerved for Writing againſt the Pope. Luther's Caſe (having all the World, the many as well as the Mighty, againſt him) ſeem'd now Deſperate, ſo that Cranzius ſaid to him [Go into thy Cell, and cry,] Miſerere Mei, for thou art an Ʋndone Man: Yet Behold! His Work being of God, he Weathers out the Point, Spreads the Goſpel into many Lands, and comes ſafe to Shore, and Dyes in peace, (as before) after he had exceeded the 12 Labours of Hercules, (as Beza ſaith of him.)

Rome tam'd the World, the Pope tam'd Rome ſo great,

Rome Rul'd by Power, the Pope by deep Deceit:

But how more large than theirs was Luther's Fame?

Who with one Pen both Pope and Rome doth Tame;

Go Fictious Greece, go tell Alcides then,

His Club is Nothing to Great Luther's Pen.

Obſerve again the Foot-ſteps of Providence following Luther. The 1ſt. Remark, is, the Miraculous Increaſe of the Goſpel, after this 3d: Angel, Revel. 14. 9. we Read of another Angel, v. 17. and of another Angel, v. 18. and of Seven Angels too, Revel. 15. 1. ſuch as Melancton, Zuinglius, Zanchy, Beza, Marlorat, &c: p. 466and above all, Calvin, who at Twenty-Five Y. Old, Writ his Inſtitutions, (to Mall Rome withall) of which Book this High Encomium is given.

Praeter Apoſtolic as poſt Chriſti tempora Chartas,

Huic peperere Libro Saecula nulla parem.

Since Chriſt and the Apoſtles time, no ſuch Book was ever Writ, as Paulus Meliſſus long ſince Sang: In a Word, at that time the Lord Rais'd a whole Army of braye Heroick and Angelical Men, or Angels, (as Melchior Adamus, and Illyricus, largely Demonſtrate) at leaſt preparing to powr out the Seven Vials (being the ſeveral parts of the Seventh Trumpet,) for the Fall of Babylon, Revel. 14. 8. and 15. 1. for in the 2d. Angel's time Babylon began to Fall, and ſome Countries did fall off from Rome, but when the 3d. Angel came, and with him an Army of many other Angels, then was the Temple (to wit, the Church of Rome) filled with Smoak, Revel. 15. 8. The Temple (wherein the Man of Sin is ſaid to ſit, 2 Theſſ. 2. 4.) is not now filled with a Cloud, as Solomons Temple was, 1 Kin. 8. 10. 2 Chron. 5. 13. and as Moſes Tabernacle was, Exod. 40. 34. but with Smoak, (which accompanies Conſuming Fire that God is to Babylon, Hebr. 12. laſt, Revel. 14. 11. Pſal. 18. 8. and 74. 1.) Denoting how the Church of Rome ſhall be filled with Darkneſs and Confuſion, and conſequently with the p. 467Wrath of God. The 2d. Memorable Remark, is, the prodigious Progreſs of the Gospel, which came firſt from Jeruſalem by the Apoſtles, and ſo may well be called the Jeruſalem-Artichoke, a Plant that Over-runs the Ground whereſoever it is planted. So was the Goſpel carryed as on Angels Wings wonderfully over all the World at firſt by the Apoſtles, and now again by the late Reformers, as by thoſe Three Angels aforeſaid, Waldus, Wickliff, and Luther: our Wickliff Wrote more than Two Hundred Volums againſt the Pope before Luther was Born; and Q. Ann, Wife to our Richard the 2d. and Siſter to Wenceſlaus K. of Bohemia, by living here became acquainted with the Gospel, yea, many Bohemian Courtiers comming to the Engliſh Court, convey'd Wickliff's Books into Bohemia, whereby a Good Foundation was layd for a future Reformation. After this John Hus and Jerom of Prague did ſo notably Propagate the Truth in that Kingdom, that in the Y. 1451. the Church of Chriſt at Conſtantinople Congratulates the Happy Beginnings in the Ʋniverſity of Prague, and Exhorts them to perſeverance in perſecution, which the raging Romaniſts ſoon rais'd againſt them; though Q. Sophia (who favour'd them) had by her Mediation with the King procur'd a free Exerciſe of their Religion throughout the Realm; and though the Popiſh Perſecutors could ſay no more of them than this, [In their Lives they are Modeſt, in their p. 468Love one to another Fervent, and in their Speeches True, but their Religion is ſtark Naught,] ſaith Jacobus Leilenſtemus the Dominican: and why is it ſo Naughty? Reinerius (another of their perſecutors) ſhall tell you, [1. Becauſe of ſo long Standing. 2. becauſe ſo far Spread. and 3. for their appearance of Purity, &c.] Alſted. Chronol. pag. 375. and Jacob. Revius de Vit. Pont. pag. 151. This Paved the way for the Great Work of Luther in Germany, begun Y. 1517. which was Wonderfully carry'd on (even in a little time) through all Germany, and ſome Forreign Countries, as it were upon Angels Wings, though by weak means, yea, by caſual and croſs means, (as here by Henry the 8ths Scruple about his Marriage) and afterwards further promoted 1. by Publick and powerful Preaching. 2. by Printing good Books. 3. by Tranſlating the Bible into Vulgar Tongues. 4. by Catechiſing of Youth. 5. by Offering open Diſputations. 6. by Martyrologies, and all this was done againſt the Powers of a moſt potent and politick Adverſary. ☞ This was ſuch a Miracle of Mercy, as the former Age Deſpaired of, the preſent Age Admireth, and the future Following Age ſhall be ſtruck with Aſtoniſhment at. The 3d. Marvelous Remark, was, the Strange Removal of Remora's, or Impediments; God was much ſeen in [Removendo prohibentia] Rouling away the great Stones that lay in the way of the paſſage and progreſs of Reformation: as (1ſt.) p. 469when all Mens minds (as it were) ſtood upon their Tip-toes, gazing to ſee the Iſſue of Pope Leo's Rage, and of Luther's Courage: This Leo the 10th. Throws his Thunderbolts at Luthers Head; Brave Luther Braves it out, bravely proteſting [Quò Magis Ille furit, eò Amplius procedo,] the more Mad the Pope is in his outragious Pelting me with his Pot-Guns, the more Couragious I am both to proceed and to prosper: Hereupon he caſts the Popes Bull into the Fire and Burns it, ſaying, [Becauſe thou Troubleſt Chriſt, (the Holy One of God) therefore Eternal Fire ſhall Trouble thee.] Now while the whole World was wondring and waiting what all this would end in, Behold Pope Leo (who would have Thunderſtruck Luther with his (but Imaginary) Thunderbolts) was himſelf Thunderſtruck with a real one by God out of Heaven, He Dyes, and Luther Lives: He Dyes without Comfort, (which Bembus offer'd him out of the Goſpel,) Blaſphemouſly Rejecting it, ſaying, [Apage iſt as Nug as de Chriſto,] Away with thoſe Triffles of Chriſt: Here he was Antichriſt indeed, who had ſaid to this Cardinal Bembus at the Return of thoſe Vaſt Summs rais'd by his Indulgencies, (the occaſion of Luther's Revolt from Rome,) Quantùm nobis profuit haec de Chriſto Fabula, This Fable of the Gospel brings us in much Gain. This Wretch Dyes like a Toad with Earth in his Claw, yet without Hope from (his Fable) the Goſpel, and his Plot (againſt p. 470Luther) Dyes with him, in Y. 1521. the ſame Y. Luther Lives, and goes Reſolvedly to the Court at Worms, (as before) and did much Service to the Church many (even Twenty-Five) Y. after. (2ly.) After the Pope, the Emperour; for good Orders ſake, not ſo much, becauſe Lords Spiritual are placed before Temporal, as becauſe Acceſſorium ſequitur Principale. The Pope was the Principal, (in Obſtructing Reformation) the Emperour was but the Popes Acceſſory: This Emperour Charles the 5th. (by the Popes continual Inſtigations) carry'd an Hard Hand againſt the Proteſtants: As to himſelf and to his own Inclinations, (Candid enough) all Chriſtendom had not a more prudent Prince, yet through Romes Influence upon him, the Church of Chriſt (ſcarce) had a ſorer Enemy: but the ſame power and providence which had removed the great Rub, that great Stumbling-Stone (Pope Leo the Great) gives this Great Emperour 1. a Diverſion, and 2. a Ceſſation from being the Popes Drudge in perſecuting Work: 1. God Diverts him, by his being called into Spain, to Suppreſs Seditions there, and afterwards was ſo taken up in his Wars with the French King, that he had no leiſure to look after Luther. After this, having taken the French King Priſoner, he releas'd him, upon Condition he would joyn with him in rooting out the Proteſtants; but God broke this Deſign, for the French-King returning Home from his Confinement p. 471in Spain, and Conſidering the Conditions of his Releaſe were unequal, he Conſederates with Pope Clement the 7th. and the State of Venice againſt the Emperour, who upon this provocation Aboliſhes the Popes power (though he had call'd Knave firſt) over all Spain, and ſends his Armies againſt him under the Duke of Burbon, who Sacks Rome, Claps up the Pope (with his Cardinals) cloſe Priſoners in the Caſtle of St. Angelo. This Evil Spirit (the Lord ſent betwixt Abimelech and the Houſe of Shechem, or the Romiſh-Church) gave an Opportunity for the Reformed Religion to get Ground, all theſe Providences did fall out rather for the furtherance of the Gospel, Phil. 1. 12. I might Tyre both my Self and my Reader in Relating all thoſe ſtrange Diverſions God gave this Great Prince from his Doing Romes Drudgery, as the Avocation he had by the Great Turks Invading the Skirts of his Empire: How the Project of the Interim (which was a Hodg-podg of the Romiſh and Reformed Religion mingl'd together an Inter-Religion, not unlike our Comprehenſion-Bill, the Devil will Compound when he cannot Conquer) was broken, with all other Popiſh-plots by the Patience and Perſeverance of the Proteſtants at Paſſaw's Pacifical. Tranſaction: Many Intervenient Croſſes took off his Edge: 'tis very Obſervable, This mighty Conquerour (who in Wageing Fifteen Wars, was for the moſt part Succeſsful) never proſper'd p. 472in any Undertaking after he had Impriſon'd the Duke of Saxony, and the Lantgrave of Haſſia, thoſe Two Prime Patriots of the Proteſtants. After all thoſe Diverſions, God brings him 1ſt. to a Voluntary Ceſſation, for being Wearied with the Worlds Ʋnceſſant Troubles, he Diveſts himſelf of his Imperial Authority, and betakes him to the Repoſe of a Monaſtery, where the 2d. Ceſſation (that is Unavoidable) ſeizeth ſoon on him, to wit, Death. The 4th. Eminent Remark, was, in Raiſing up Patriots and Promoters of Religion; God was much ſeen in this, [Applicando Adiutoria,] as after Charles the 5th. God ſends good Ferdinand to Succeed, who quite Spoil'd the Project of the Trent-Councel, [Cum magna Moliuntur,] while they carry'd on their Conſults againſt the Simplicity of Chriſt, with ſuch Infinite Guile and Craft, as that themſelves will even Smile in the Triumphs of their own Wits, (when they hear it but mention'd) as at a Maſter-Stratagem: Inſomuch that it paſſed in France (on which that Councel could never be Impoſed) in manner of a Proverb, that the Synod of Trent had more Authority than that of the Apoſtles, Act. 15. becauſe their own Pleaſure was a Sufficient Ground for their Decrees, without Admitting the Holy Ghoſt; yet this good Emperour, Ferdinand the 1ſt. Granted Liberty of Conſcience to all the Profeſſours of the Auguſtan Confeſſion in Germany, and it was granted to them in p. 473Bohemia alſo for receiving the Lords Supper in both Kinds. This put a Curb upon that Trent-Conventicle, who had now no power to Diſturb any Imperial City upon the Account of Religion; and then Maximilian the 2d. Curb'd them ſtill more, by his Conſtancy to that Tenent [That Mens Conſciences ought not to be Compell'd in Matters of Religion, for that is, (ſaith he) to Invade Heavens-right, &c. And after him God rais'd up Rodulphus the 2d. in Y. 1610. a good Patriot too: And after him Matthias, under whom the Proteſtants kept a Jubilee, in Y. 1617. And not to overlook our own Land in this time; 'tis marvelous to conſider how God Uſed Henry the 8th. as an Inſtrument in this Work, though He had Writ againſt Luther, and though the Reformed Religion (which he ſcornfully call'd The New Sumpſinius) he Envyed, yet the Romiſh Religion [calling it Sarcaſtically, The Old Mumpſimus,] he Despiſed: The Occaſion was the Bone of Contention God caſt betwixt Him and the Pope; Clement the 7th. about the Y. 1528. Deluded him in the Divorce from his Brothers Wife Q. Katherine, his great Stomach not enduring to be croſs'd, Hereupon caſts off the Popes Supremacy; he went ſo far as would ſerve his own Turn, and though he ſtill perſiſted in being a Papiſt himſelf, yet commanded others (under great Penalties) to be no Papiſts; and while by the Six Articles, (that Whip with Six Laſhes) p. 474he on the one ſide of the Hedge Burn'd Proteſtants for Denving the Tranſubſtantiation, &c. yet on the other ſide of the Hedge he Hanged Papiſts for Denying his Supremacy: but God rais'd up his Son Edward the 6th. to purge the Church from Popery, and to ſettle the Reformed Religion: And this Series of Divine Providence towards the Engliſh-Church is very Obſervable, that though Henry the 7th. Courted the Pope, yet Henry the 8th. Ʋnhors'd him, Edward the 6th. Baniſh'd him, and though Q. Mary recall'd him, and with ſome Hot-Waters Reviv'd him; yet brave Q. Elizabeth ſet him packing again, and K. James ſo Stabb'd and Branded him with his Pen, that he could never ſince be permitted to have any publick Countenance, much leſs any firm Settlement in this Land. The 5th. Remark, is, the Marvelous Preſervation of Perſons, Places, and People, from the utmoſt Craft and Cruelty of their Implacable Enemies. (1) Inſtances of Gods Hiding Holy Perſons (as he hid Jeremy and Baruc, thoſe Two Innocent Subjects, from their Enraged Soveraign, Jerem. 36. 26.) from the Hands of thoſe Blood-Hounds that Hunted for their very Lives, are (indeed) Innumerable; even in all Ages God hath provided an Hiding-place for ſome of his Servants in ſome good Mans Houſe or other, or in ſome ſafe Land or other, when the Caſe hath been ſuch, that there hath been no Fence but Flight, no Councel nor Cover but p. 475Concealment to Secure them, as was that Caſe of Jeremy and Baruc's. (2) As to Places, I ſhall Inſtance onelyonly in that of Geneva, which is at this Day but a very ſmall place yet Invironed round about with their Inveterate Adverſaries, as French, Spaniſh, Savoy, Italy, and the Pope; yea, 'tis Barred out from all Aſſiſtance of Neighbours, Cities, Churches; notwithſtanding, by the Mighty Arm of God, 'tis as ſtrangely and ſtrongly Upheld and Defended as Judea (that Land of Promiſe) was, though Surrounded on the North, with Syrians, Aſſyrians, and Babylonians: on the Eaſt, with Moab and Ammon: on the South, with Edom and Aegypt: and on the Weſt with the Philiſtines: (3) As to People, Chriſt preſerv'd a Church (even in the Bloody times of Q. Mary) here in London, Congregating (ſometimes 100, ſometimes 200) to ſerve the Lord in Power and Purity; and an Informer being ſent (as our Martyrologiſt ſaith) to Eſpy out their Liberty, Gal. 2. 4. and to take their Names, as Ezra 5. 4. 10. yet He being among them to Catch, was Catched, and Converted, yea, and cry'd them all Mercy: Beſides, in the beginning of her Reign, almoſt all the Priſons in England were become right Christian-Churches, wherein the Word was Preached, and Sacraments were Adminiſtred; and God had his Remnant Reſerv'd (in Forraign Lands) for Royal Ʋſe to return under Q. Elixabeth, yea, and in other p. 476Nations, (as well as in this) God Reſerved a Remnant for himſelf, even in Spain and Italy, (both which are moſt Rammiſhly Romiſh) there being no fewer than Twenty Thouſand Proteſtants in Cevil the Chief City of Spain, and in Italy (the very Neſt of Antichriſt) there be full four Thouſand profeſſed Proteſtants, according to Sands his Relation. Thus this Lilly among Thorns, Cant. 2. 2. is preſerved by a Miraculous Power, ſo as that it could never be (nor ever ſhall be) cut up by the Sword of Perſecution, nor Burnt down by the Fire of Martyrdom. Behold and Admire the Churches Picture, to wit, a poor Helpleſs Damoſel ſitting in a Wood or Wilderneſs, compaſſed about with Hungry Wolves, Lyons, Leopards, Bores, and Bears, yea, with all ſorts of Bloody Beaſts, and in the midſt of many monſtrous and miſchievous Men, all running upon Her with open Mouth every moment and minute to Worry this Maid: muſt it not be ſaid, that this Virgin is preſerv'd by a Miracle? 'tis the Meſſiah who Reſcue▪ this Maid from all thoſe Monſters. Both Time and Room fail for Inlarging upon the other following Famous Remarks, to wit, The 6th. is the Remarkable Vengeance God hath Executed on all the Churches grand Enemies; not onelyonly Inferiours, as Morgan (the Judge) who Dyed Raving, Twiford the Executioner, who Rotted above Ground, Bonner the Bloody Biſhop, who was Buryed among common p. 477Thieves and Murtherers, as one Hated of God and Man: Steven Gardiner, who Dying, outragiouſly cry'd out He was Damn'd, as well as his Tongue (hanging out all black and ſwoln) could expreſs it, and many more too long to Relate: but alſo on Superiors, as Falix of Wartenburg, Minerius, (the Popes prime Champions,) Charles the 9th. of France, (the Author of the Pariſian Maſſacre) who were all Choaked with their own Blood for Drinking the Blood of Saints: Yea, and our Q. Mary was not onelyonly puniſh'd with Barrenneſs, but alſo with an Ʋntimely Death, for Sacrificeing the Lives of 800 Innocents to her Idols, therefore Q. Maries Reign was one of the ſhorteſt of all the other after the Conqueſt, Bloody ones ſhall not live out half their Days, Pſal. 55. 23. The Churches Motto is, [Nemo me Impunè Laceſſit,] No Man can be her Enemy, and ſcape Scot-free. They may Read their own Deſtiny in that Cup of Trembling, Burdenſome Stone, and Hearth of Fire, mention'd Zech. 12. 2, 3, 6. The 7th. Notable Remark is, The Churches Valour and Victory in all her Sufferings: her Poſie is [Nec Premor, nec Perimor,] Nothing Hurteth or Hindreth me; for ſhe Conquereth, even when Conquered, her Lord Chriſt over came as well by Patience as by Power: Oh what a Spirit of Glory Reſted on the holy Martyrs, 1 Pet. 4. 14. which plainly Tranſported them beyond themſelves, ſo that their Suffering-Work, p. 478was thereby made as Contenting and Delightful to them, as ever their Doing Work had been, or (which is more) their Receiving Wages would be: 'tis Wonderful to Obſerve, How the Valour of the Martyrs, and the Villany of their Tormentors, ſtrove together, till both, exceeding Nature and Belief, did breed Wonder and Aſtoniſhment both in Beholders and Auditors; ſtill Sanguis Martyrum was Semen Eccleſiae, the Church won Ground by every (even the foreſt) Perſecution, while the Lord ſhortly after brought their worſt and greateſt Perſecutors (by ſome Signal Diſeaſe or Diſaſter) to the Terrours of Death, and to the Torments of Hell. The 8th. and laſt Remark, is, The marvelous Deliverances God hath given to his Church, and Diſappointment to her Enemies, in thoſe Two laſt Centuries: as (1.) God Hammer'd Charles the 5th. to this Frame, that when he had Melancton, Pomeran, and other Eminent Preachers in his Hand, he Treated them gently, Jer. 15. 11. and ſent them away, not ſo much as once forbidding them to publiſh their Doctrine of Reformation; yea, and he laid down the Empire in great Diſcontent, (as Diocletian had done before him) Obſerving that the Church could not be Suppreſſed. (2.) The Goſpel having Spread much all over Germany, under thoſe good Emperors, Ferdinand, Maximilian, Rodulphus, and Matthias, until 1619. the Jeſuits Stirrs up Ferdinand the 2d. to change the p. 479Churches long Peace into a Violent Perſecution, which was the more Hightened by the Bohemians Rejecting him, and Electing Frederick Palatine in his place: Now when all the Proteſtant-Princes and People were wearyed, and almoſt worn out in Wars, God ſends them Guſtavus Adolphus to give them (at leaſt) a ſweet Breathing time, and a little Reſt and Reſpite, who over-ran (almoſt) all Germany from the Baltick-Sea to Mentz with his Victorious Army in one Y. and after his Solemn Thanks to God, he reſtores the Reformed Religion. (3.) Though in the Netherlands that bloody butcher Duke De Alva brought the Spaniſh Inquiſition, and the Trent-Council-Execution, about Y. 1570. whereby he made Havock of the Church, like another Breathing Devil, (exceeding all Turks and Pagans in Brutiſh Inhumanity) boaſted he had been the Death of above 18000 perſons, yet at Six Y▪ end God gave him an Avocation from that Work. At length they having ſhaken off the Spaniſh Yoke, notwithſtanding all Ambroſe Spinola's Endeavours to the contrary) are Declared Free-States by Albert Duke of Auſtria, ſince which time God hath had a Numerous Church there unto this Day, maugre the Malice of Men and Devils. (4.) Though the Church hath ſuffer'd Hard things in France, ever ſince Y. 1524. but more eſpecially in that Pariſian Maſſaere upon black Bartholomew-Day, in Y. 1572. which was Introduced p. 480by the moſt Diveliſh Diſſimulation of Friendſhip (Popiſh-like) to draw the Grandee-Proteſtants into the Net: The matter of this Helliſh Plot was manag'd under a Pretence of a Marriage between the Prince of Navar, and the Lady Margaret, Siſter to the French-King; Coligni is highly Courted, and Guiſe (the Proteſtants Deadly Enemy) is Baniſh'd from Court, yea, ſome few Papiſts were Executed for Murthering ſome Proteſtants at Roan) by the Kings ſpecial Order: yet while all this Specious Kindneſs is pretended, a moſt Barbarous Killing and Maſſacre is Intended in this Bloody Charles the 9th's Heart, by whoſe Commiſſion above 30000 were Murther'd in Three Months, ſome ſay 70000. yet God was not Silent at all this prodigious Villany, but comes forth as a Swift Witneſs to take Vengeance upon thoſe Horrid Murtherers: as 1. upon this Bloody King Charles the 9th. in the Flower of his Age (at Y. 24.) God ſtruck him (as before) with ſuch an Erruption of Blood out of divers parts of his Body, inſomuch that he (who had lately Wallowed in the Blood of Proteſtants) was made now to Wallow in his own Blood, and ſo was Choaked. (2.) Upon the Bloody Duke, God paid him home in his own Coin, for as he had got (the Admiral) Coligni, &c. Decoy'd into a Snare by a pretended Courtſhip for their Deſtruction: So Henry the 3d. (who Succeeded Charles the 9th.) did Invite p. 481the Duke of Guiſe and his Brother to a Friendly Conferrence, and there commands his Guard to Kill them, for Curbing him in his Kingſhip. (3.) Ʋpon all the Chief Perſons who had been Imployed in this Bloody Maſſacre at Paris, and other Places, whom Gods Providence drew forth to the Siege of Rochel, where they receiv'd the Reward of all their Wickedneſs, as the Duke D' Aumale and Coſſeins, the Field-Marſhal, (who firſt Entred the Admiral's Lodging,) Three Maſters of the Camp, divers great Lords and Gentlemen, 60 Captains, 60 Lieutenants, 60 Enſigns, 20000 common Souldiers, all Cut off at that Siege, (beſides Gods Judgements on the Duke of Aniou, &c.) whereas the Beſieged Rochellers were miraculouſly relieved by a Shoal of Shell-Fiſh caſt upon their Shore (never before or after ſeen in that Haven) at every Tide, and the Siege was as marvelouſly Raiſed by an Edict of Peace, procured by the Ambaſſadors of Poland; and to this Day God preſerves his Church there in her Being, though he ſuffer her (out of his Ʋnſearchable Wiſdom) to be now much Impaired in her Well-being, notwithſtanding the many Edicts of moſt of the Kings to the contrary. (5.) Such Inſtances might be given in many other Lands where God hath been Teaching all Tyrants the Nature of Chriſts Church, How the more they Spurn againſt it, the more it Flouriſheth, the more Moleſted, p. 482the more Multiplyed: to Name no more but our own Land, 'Tis very Remarkable, that ſince the Royal Laws were Enacted for Eſtabliſhing the Reformed Religion here by K. Edward the 6th. God hath Laughed all the Romiſh Plots (for recovering Ʋs to Popery) to Nothing: 'Tis True, It met with ſome ſhort Repulſe and Repugnancy in Q. Maries Reign, yet God made it therefore but a Short Reign, he Immediately brought her Siſter Q. Elizabeth to the Throne, whoſe Reign was (almoſt) Ten times longer; and wherein it Appeared that the Good Cauſe of Religion had loſt no Credit by Q. Maries ſhort Oppoſition, for preſently the Goſpel was Springing up and Spreading it ſelf to many Lands (beſides our own) in her Day; none of the Popes Nuncio's did ſhe ever ſuffer to ſet Footing in England, which Sped the better for it ever after, ſhe Baniſh'd Popiſh Idolatry, and Reſtor'd the Reformed Religion, for which Pope Pius the 4th. Deſign'd to Excommunicate her, but that was put by, by ſome By-Reſpects; yet Pope Pius the 5th. did it by a Bull, which Deſperate Felton fixed upon the Bp. of Londons Gate, where and for which he was Executed, and the Popes Bull was ſo Baited by Bp. Jewel's Pen, that his Unholy Holineſs Dared not to Reply, yet had he his Ʋnholy Hand in moſt of the Treaſons againſt Her, when he ſaw his Bull proved but a Calf: However, (through the Popes Influence) Innumerable p. 483Plots and Inſurrections were promoted againſt her Perſon and State, (which all ended with the Ruine of the Rebells and Plotters) the greateſt of all was, that Spaniſh Armado (which was ſtiled, Invincible, but proved Vincible, (notwithſtanding the Popes Bleſſing upon it) to little purpoſe, and his Nameing Twelve of his greateſt Ships by the Names of the twelve Apoſtles, to leſs purpoſe, for God fought from Heaven againſt them with a Scattering Storm, (inſomuch as they Blaſphemouſly ſaid, God was turn'd Lutheran,) and the Queens Fire-Ships Fired them, her great Guns Batter'd them ſo, as they were beaten Home with both Shame and Loſs of the better half: in ſhort, for Gods protecting her, for her protecting the Netherlands, for procureing a Settlement to Henry the 4th. of France in his Kingdom, (until he turn'd Romaniſt, and then was ſoon turn'd out of his Life by the Romaniſts,) for quelling the Iriſh Rebells, for Conquering this (ſuppoſed) Ʋnconquerable Armado, &c. She was highly Honoured both by Turk and Pope; the proud Turk Deſired her Amity by his Embaſſadors, and the proud Pope, (Sixtus the 5th.) whom Bellarmin ſagely Cenſures thus at his Death; [Quantum Sapio, quantum Capio, Dominus noſter Papa Deſcendit in Infernum;] Oh ſtrange! how can Holineſs (of his Holineſs) go to Hell: Yet this ſame Pope (as bad as he was) could Commend Q. Elizabeth for an Excellent Governeſs, p. 484yea, ſhe became Renowned throughout the World, as the Glory of her Sex, and the Luſtre of her Land, and a Poet ſtiles her, on Earth the firſt Virgin, (or Chief, as ſhe was a Queen) and in Heaven, the ſecond, next to the Virgin Mary; yea, at Venice ſhe was tearmed St. Elizabeth, whereupon the Lord Carleton (Engliſh-Embaſſador there) ſaid, Although he were a Papiſt, he would never pray to any other Saint but to that St. Elizabeth: Aſſuredly, her Zeal for the Reformed Religion Sainted and Renown'd Her moſt of all. No ſooner was K. James come to the Crown, but the Roman-Conclave Conſult againſt him: Pope Clement the 8th. out of his Clemency had ſucceſs againſt Henry the 4th. of France, and Hopes for the ſame againſt King James, by Interdicting him from the Crown without his Licenſe, but it proved not to be at the Popes Diſpoſal, his Gowty Golls, or Toes, (which Arch-Duke Maximilian could not Cure by Kiſſing them) ſerv'd to carry him off the Stage, after Watſon and Clark (Two Prieſts, the former Deſign'd to be Lord Chancelour, &c. juſt as our preſent Plotters had Diſtributed Honours and Offices,) with others (ſome of good Rank) ſeduced by them, had Complotted againſt this King, knowing his Ability to Maintain the Truth of the Goſpel againſt Popery; but this 1ſt. Plot being Blaſted by the Execution of the Two Prieſts and their Complices. The Conclave Projects p. 485that moſt prodigious Plot of the Gun-Powder Villany; Pope Paul the 5th. Employ'd Garnet the Jeſuit, Catesby, Piercy, Faux, and many other Cronies to Blow up the King and whole State in the Parliament; but this 2d. Plot was Blown up (it ſelf) by a blind Letter, which marvelouſly brought all to light; and though afterwards, this ſame Pope by his Breves, forbad that Allegiance (which the King juſtly requir'd of his Subjects, yet his own Learned Pen did ſo Vindicate his own Ʋndoubted Right, that his Holineſs ſoon Declin'd the Encounter, yea, and God made Uſe of this Kings Pen and Power to Baffle thoſe Two leſſer Games of Socinus and Arminius: How God hath likewiſe Confounded (hitherto) all the Popiſh Plots, both in the Reign of Charles the 1ſt. and of the 2d. (as yet) may be better Remembred (it being yet freſh in the Minds and Memories of many ſtill Living) than can be fully Related. In the Reign of King Charles the 1ſt. the Conclave of Rampant Jeſuits (thoſe Cup-bearers of Romes Wine of Fornication, and Froggs going out to the Kings of the Earth, Revel. 16. 12.) had their Conſult to bring Brittany to Babylon, or thoſe Three Kingdoms into Confuſion, as they had done the Palatinate, Bohemia, and Germany, &c. Hereupon Card. Barbarino diſpatches Cunaeus (the Popes Legat) to London, and joyns with him an Aſſiſtant (one not onelyonly bred up in the Romiſh Church, but preferr'd p. 486in it, and promis'd greater preferment upon his Diligence in the Deſign) to Reduce thoſe Three Realms to Rome; In Order hereto, It was Reſolv'd, that the King, and Arch-Biſhop ſhould both be Cut off for Standing then in the way of that Work. This Cunaeus ſhowing to His Aſſiſtant an Indian Nut ſtuffed full of the ſtrongeſt Poyſon, and Boaſting, they would with that Diſpatch the King, as they had done his Father. The Horrible Nature of this Bloody Plot, God ſet ſo Home upon this Aſſiſtants Conſcience, that he had no Reſt from his Remorſe, until he had reveal'd this Damnable Deſign to (the Q. of Bohemia's Phyſitian) Andreas ab Habernfield, that he might Diſcloſe it to (the Engliſh-Embaſſador at the Hague) Sir William Boſwel, who Informs the Arch-Biſhop of it, and He the King; this was a moſt Admirable Act of Divine Providence, that this Aſſiſtant (ſent from Rome to be a Principal Promoter of this Helliſh Plot) ſhould be Over-ruled by Almighty God, (through his own Remorſe) to become the Prime Diſcoverer, not onelyonly of the Plot it ſelf, but alſo of the Perſons, Places, Time, Method, and Manner thereof, as Dr. Habernfield's Latine Letter doth fully Demonſtrate: Jacula praeviſa minùs feriunt, Darts foreſeen (if warily ſhun'd) are Dintleſs: 'Tis true, Previſion here (not Rightly Improved) was not Prevention, neither of the Kingdoms Miſery, in thoſe late Civil (Uncivil) Wars, nor of the Kings Death, p. 487at which a Grand Jeſuit Triumph'd, ſaying, Now is the Enemy of God, and of his Church faln: yet the Lord preſerv'd his Church in Deſpight of the Devil. Now in the Reign of K. Charles the 2d. that the like Damnable Deſign hath been Hatched by the ſame Heads, Hearts, and Hands, 'tis ſuperſluous to Declare, ſeeing there be about Ten ſeveral Narratives hereof, (even by ſuch as ſhould have been Actors in it) and this ſo confirmed by the Kings many Proclamations, by the Teſtimony of Two ſeveral Parliaments, by the Sentence of ſo many Judges, and by the Execution of ſo many Plotters, &c. The like Miracle of Mercy that made Remorſe to Diſcover the former, hath done no leſs in this latter, and to Diſappoint hitherto the Popes Deſign; though He hath Depos'd the King as an Heretick, ſent Card. Howard to poſſeſs (for him) his Conſiſcate Kingdoms, &c. yet ſtill the Church is Marvelouſly preſerved, yea, Undoubtedly ſhall be ſo, though this Diſcovery (through Male-Adminiſtration) may cauſe the Church to have many Sharp Throws in her Travel, (as in the former) before She can bring forth the Man-Child of Reformation; Alas! the Child is come to the Birth, and there is not Strength to bring forth, 2 Kin. 19. 3. Heavens Hand will Help at a Dead Lift; Where Man ends, there God begins, Pſal. 21. 13. Much more might be Added, were there not a [Noli m… Tangere] in the Caſe: Controverſal Truth p. 488ſeldom goes without a Scratch'd Face: I ſhall Conclude the Hiſtorical part with ſome Memorable Remarks. (1) The Pope (who is the Devils By-blow) was Worthily Thruſt out of England, (as he was alſo out of France and Arragon,) it being ſaid of him, That He was like a Mouſe in the Sachel, or like a Snake in the Boſom. Speed, pag. 622. England had been long his Aſſe. Otto (the Popes Mouſe-catcher) ſo Drained this Land of Money, that he left not ſo much behind him, as he carry'd hence to Rome with him, or ſent thither before him; but at length this Aſſe caſt her Rider, and would no longer bear his Burdens: One would think England (e're this) ſhould be ſo Awakened, and made Wiſer, than ever to become the Popes Aſſe any more. A 2d. Remark is, Thoſe Princes, who have Truſted God with their Lives and Lands, and kept Rome, &c. at Diſtance and Defiance, hath Speeded the Beſt, and Flouriſh'd the moſt, and the longeſt, in their large Dominions. Q. Elizabeth is a pregnant Inſtance hereof, who could never be perſwaded to Favour the Papiſts, (though ſhe was to Disfavour the Puritans) but ſhe ever kept a Vigilant Eye over the former, as being rightly Informed, that they (and not the latter) were the worſt Enemies to Royal Power; and God Wonderfully Preſerv'd this Heroick Lady from all the Romiſh Bulls, Interdicts, Poyſonings, Aſſaſſinations, &c. as before. A 3d. Remark, is, p. 489Such Princes, as Relyed upon their own politick Projects, (in Conniving at, if not Complying with the Romiſh Intereſt) for their perſonal preſervation, have ever fared the Worſt; to omit K. James, who (though not blown up) yet was ſo Shaken (as ſome ſay, How True I know not) with the Powder-Plot, that his (naturally) Timerous Spirit was drawn into ſome Connivences, &c. point-Blank againſt Arch-Bp. Abbot's Advice, and not long after he was taken out of the way, by whoſe Hands God onelyonly knows: But Henry the 4th. of France is a clear Inſtance, who, being bred up a Proteſtant, Turn'd Papiſt upon politick Grounds, and being Diſuaded by a great Duke from re-Admitting the Jeſuits, (which juſtly had been Baniſh'd the Realm) he Angrily Anſwered, [Give me then Security for my Life.] Hereupon he not onelyonly Reſtoreth them, but Demoliſheth the Pillar Erected in Paris as a Standing Monument of their Treaſons againſt their Soveraigns, yea, received them into his Boſome, giving them his Pallace for their Colledge, and (in a publick Speech) ſaying, That they were Timothys in the Houſe, Chryſoſtoms in the Chair, and Auguſtins in the Schools, &c. But what was the Iſſue? Thoſe Timothys proved Judas's, thoſe Chryſoſtoms, Cataline's, and thoſe Auguſtins, Aſſaſſins: one of thoſe Slaughter-Slaves Stabb'd him in the Mouth, another in the Heart: Thus things, Men Fear, come upon p. 490them by truſting their own Politicks more than Gods Providence. Laſtly, Other Nations, that have ſeen ſo little of their Wiles and Wickedneſs, have ſeen enough as not to truſt them, as China it ſelf. God forbid that We who have Felt ſo much, ſhould See ſo little as now to be Cheated with them, eſpecially, after ſuch a Chain of Providence link'd together (on which we may Hang our Hope) for prevention thereof: In a Word, Gods Word is his Will, and his Will is his Work, and neither Man nor Devil can Diſappoint it: The good Lord give ſtill more Evinceing Proofs of his Providence.