Apology for All Non-Subscribers 2, Corollary
A Corollary to the Premises.
UNto all these ancient and most memorable Examples of Gods apparent displeasure, and Consciences fearful workings against all ungodly actings and engagements against lawful Authority, and former righteous and religious Vows, Oathes, and Covenants, might here most pertinently be added three or four more remarkable and most fresh Examples of Gods just indignation, and Consciences affrightings, fallen out very lately among us, in these our most disloyal, apostatizing days, upon the perju…ious taking and subscribing to this present new Engagement: As namely, of a Scholar in Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge, a Minister in Essex, and a Citizen of Whitington-Colledge in London. But t…ere is one more lately fallen out among us, which shall be instar multorum, in stead of many other, as coming up more clearly and closely to this our present occ… sion. And, O that such a sad and sorrowful story had never been told in Gath, nor published in the streets of Askalon! But Divine providence having so ordered, that it is so publikely and notoriously known; we cannot but make this publike use of it, for just terrour and affrigh…ment of all such like offenders, whereof both City and Country, at this time, too rankly abound among us. Now the sad relation or story is this. One M. Tho. Hoyle, late Lo. Maior of York, and one of the most unhappie Members of the Juncto of Westminster, who having been in all the former p…rt of his life lookt upon and known to have been a most eminent professor of Religion, and of an unblameable life and conversation. But since his being a Member of the House of Commons, having been made Master of Sir Peter Osborns Office, a place of much credit and profit, and a Committee of the Kings Revenue, (fat morsels, to stifle and …hoak Cons…ience) when the House was purged by the power of the Army, this Gentleman abiding still in the House with the rest of the Juncto, and acting …ll along with them, was listed in the number of those that …ere to be Judges of the Kings life or death; but (as it is …ertainly reported) was not present at the Kings Condem…tion. But, afterward, when the Juncto enacted the taking, …nd themselves also took this New Engagement, he not one…y consented in it, bu… (though against the dictate of his con…ience, as he had often professed to divers, upon several oc…sions thereunto) himself also took it, and subscribed to it: …herefore, after this thus taking of the Engagement, being …as it too apparently was manifested in him) greatly troubled …n conscience about it, he formerly (I mean, before this ensu…ng fatal act was effected) had attempted to have destroyed …imself; but failing thereof, upon the 30 of Ian. last, 1649. …bout the fore-part of that afternoon, being in his house …t W…stminster, and watching and obtaining an opportunity of being retired from all company, in his chamber, having provided a Cord in his pocket, he most wofully hanged him…elf therewith. Of which his most lamentable and despe…te self-Murther, although divers do give various censures, especially the Malignant or Royal party, principally because he was listed one of the Judges of the King, and this his woful self-ruine fell out on the very same day twelve month, and neer upon the very time of that day whereon the King was put to death, (which I cannot but acknowledge was very remarkable;) yet the first and safest use the…eof which godly Christians ought to make, may be Caution to every one of us, seriously to consider what the Apostle Paul says, 1 Cor. 10.12. Let him that think… he stands, take heed lest he fall. Secondly, let, O let those most ungodly self-seeking Prescribers of this perjurious Engagement, look unto it, and be terrified by it, whom in a most special manner it most neerly concerns. Yea… in the third place, let all those false-hearted, posted, perjured Divines, which have so sinfully subscribed this Engagement, lay this lamentable example close to their hearts; especially those two unworthy, low-spirited, yet busie Champions for the Engagement, (though, God be thanked, with very ill success, both to the Scribler and Licenser) M. Iohn Dury, and M. Ioseph Caryl, who have so strugled to bring others into the same condemnation with themselves. And in the fourth and last place, let all Conscience-muffled and perfidious Malignants or Royallists also lay this most woful example very close to their souls and consciences; who, notwithstanding they most falsly pretend …hemselves to be the loyallest and most loving Subjects to our late deceased King and his Posterity, and such fast friends to Monarchy and Kingly Government; yet have most disloyally and and perfidiously taken this Engagement, and that upon a most wicked and base Maxime of theirs, lately taken up among them, that, He is a fool that will not take it, and he is a knave that will not bre…k it. Thus, like Atheists indeed, either believing there is no God to punish their perjury, or else that they have God at command, to repent when they please. But let them see and know, (as here by this most woful Example is most evident) how severely and wrathfully the Lord will, sooner or later, be avenged on all Perjurers and Covenant-breakers: And, let them therefore, (as that even Prophetical Author of The Arraignm…t of the Engagement, lately published, did religiously advise all Prescribers and Subscribers of the Engagement, in the closure of that his said Treatise; a passage most remarkable, especially considering this most sad example, which fell out so immediately after it, and which therefore cannot be too often inculcated and repeated;) Let them all (I say) either, with Pet…r, after he had abjured his Lord and Master with an oath, go forth, presently, and weep bitterly; or else, with treacherous Iudas, who betrayed his Lord and Master, to gratifie the High-priests, go forth, despairing, and hang themselves, to avoid the shame of the world, and intolerable anguish of their torm…nting Consciences.
Optimum est alienâ f…ui insaniâ.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Prynne, Apology for All Non-Subscribers 2 (1649)