Londons Resurrection, Discourse 29
DISCOURSE XXIX.
That if the dread and terrour of the Popiſh party, which is upon the people were taken off, the building of the City would thereby be much incouraged.
PApiſts muſt not be knockt on the head becauſe the people are afraid of them, neither ought their eſtates therefore to be confiſcated, or themſelves generally confined, much leſs for that only reaſon, ſhould they all be exiled from their Native Country. Some of them I believe would do others no hurt if they could; all ſhould, and may be diſabled from any ſuch thing if they would: This may be done, and yet they not be undone.
Certain it is, that Papiſts at this day are a very center of jealouſie, in and upon whom the fears of all Engliſh Proteſtants, of what perſwaſion ſoever, do meet: Is it becauſe the bloud that was ſhed in the Marian daies doth ſtill cry aloud in the ears of men as well as of Heaven? or is it becauſe the Invaſion attempted upon England in Eighty Eight is not yet forgotten? or is it becauſe the Pariſian Maſſacre will not out of mens minds? or is it becauſe the moſt helliſh Powder Plot (upon the accompt of which we celebrate each fifth of November) doth ſtill ſtick in mens ſtomacks? or is it long of that moſt devilliſh Tragedy which was acted by the Papiſts in Ireland upon the Innocent Proteſtants, within leſs than thirty years paſt, cauſing the ſtreets to ſwim with their bloud? or is it becauſe London was lately ſo ſuddenly and ſtrangely burnt, and Papiſts known to inſult and triumph when it was done, beſides other ſuſpitious paſſages of theirs relating thereunto, as namely their predictions concerning it, &c. or is it all of theſe put together that do make Papiſts ſo formidable to Proteſtants in England?
Some rather than be thought to fear where no fear is, would be ready to give many more reaſons of the fear that is in them, to every one that ſhould ask them why they are ſo much afraid of Papiſts. Firſt, their hatred to Proteſtants by the forementioned inſtances appeareth to be great, and implacable; then they would tell you, that many Families of that Religion in England are very conſiderable for their eſtates, parts, and otherwiſe. Nextly, that they are great pretenders unto having highly merited (as from God, ſo from men) above others, if not to works of Supererrogation, which is as if they challenged it as their due to be uppermoſt. How politick, how vigilant, and how reſtleſs a people they are, all men know, how they compaſs Sea and Land to carry on their deſigns! The men of their Religion ſeem to have a particular ſpite at England, and an ambition to ſubdue it to themſelves, rather than any other Nation; as he ſaid, Fight neither againſt great nor ſmall, but, &c. ſo they ſeem to ſay, but againſt England.
We ſhould not fear them (ſay they) but that we know what Religion France and Spain are of, and can have no aſſurance that they will not, one time or other, crave aid (at leaſtwiſe of ſo near a Neighbour as one of them is) rather than fail of their deſigns: What ſhould hinder them from ſo doing, who profeſs to the world that they do owe more homage to a forreign Prince (viz. the Pope) than to their own, and that the Pope is Supreme Head over all temporal Princes, and conſequently can ſuperſede the Laws of any other Prince, and give away their Crowns and Scepters when and to whom he pleaſeth? If then the Pope ſhall command them to joyn with, or invite in a Forreign Prince againſt their own Sovereign, according to that principle, it is but their duty to do it. Now who can but fear a people of ſo deſperate, ſubverting principles?
Be ſecure of Papiſts (ſay ſome) we never can, for no cords can be thought of wherewith to bind them faſt: Their oaths are not to be regarded, ſeeing it is their principle, that no faith is to be kept with Hereticks, and ſuch they count Proteſtants. They are ſo great aſſertors of the doctrine of Equivocation, and ſo great Maſters in the practiſe thereof, that give them what oath you will, they make what they pleaſe of it in their mental reſervations, they put in and put out what they liſt, and interpret every thing to their own ſenſe, and having ſo done, what is any body the nearer (viz. to ſafety and ſecurity) for any oath they take? Come the worſt to the worſt they hold, that the Pope hath a power of diſpenſing with oaths, either that men may take thoſe oaths which before-hand they reſolve not to keep, at leaſtwiſe that he can pardon them (and will do it) if they break the oaths that they have taken.
It were endleſs to rehearſe all the reaſons men give why they are afraid of the Popiſh party: who knows not (ſay they) that all things are lawful in their account, which make for the intereſt and promotion of holy Church (as they call it?) the ſtamp of ſo good an intention put upon the worſt of actions, be it lying, perjury, murther, rebellion, devaſtation of whole Countries, is (according to them) able to make what had otherwiſe been damnable, to become meritorious: He that ſhall aſſaſſinate a King in zeal for their Religion, may be canonized for a Saint. O Religion, ever to be dreaded by thoſe that are not of it, as being reſolved to propagate it ſelf every where, both by ſecret plots, and open violence, by fire and ſword, by fraud and force, per fas & nefas: By hook and by crook (as they ſay) as if none were worthy to live but they that would imbrace a Religion ſo falſe and ridiculous (ſo far as it is it ſelf) as nothing can be more.
Methinks I am tired with hearing ſo many reaſons alledged for one and the ſame thing, a thing ſo generally believed, viz. that there is juſt ground to be afraid of Papiſts, and of their deſigns, but would I liſten to more, ſome would further tell me, that the great Agitators for Popery, Jeſuites, and ſuch like, do inſinuate themſelves into all parts of Chriſtendome; firſt trouble the waters of every State, and then fiſh in them, make Proſelites up and down, undermine the Councels of Proteſtant Princes, that thoſe Pioneers are alwayes working under ground, and indanger all Kingdoms where they come: Alſo, that there are multitudes of them here, and there, in ſeveral diſguizes, the effects of whoſe pernicious attempts we may yearly, if not daily expect.
That Papiſts are ſtill too hard for thoſe ſevere Laws that are in being againſt them, ſo that they (or moſt of them) come not under the laſh thereof, from monethmonth to monethmonth, and year to year, whilſt the Laws made againſt others do find them out continually, and puniſh their ſmaller tranſgreſſions; I ſay, that they eſcape the Ordeal of Laws, whilſt others ever and anon do burn their feet upon the hot plow-ſhares which are laid for them, doth much encreaſe the fears of men concerning them.
Now they that have a fear and dread of Papiſts upon them, having all this to ſay, (and yet having not ſaid all) do think it hard meaſure to be taxed with childiſhneſs, cowardize, and effeminacy, for entertaining a jealouſie of Popiſh deſigns, and cannot be otherwiſe perſwaded by any verbal arguments.
Nevertheleſs, I am deceived if there be not a way to relieve Proteſtants againſt all their fears of Papiſts, and yet not to deprive Papiſts either of their lives, or eſtates, or liberties, or Native Soil, or any thing elſe which by Law or birth they have a right to, nor yet alwayes, and in all caſes, to execute upon all, and every of them, the full rigour of thoſe Laws which are at this day in force againſt them.
Who but themſelves will be offended, if it be in the firſt place propounded, that the Popiſh party throughout England ſhould be generally diſarmed? that is, deprived of all weapons, horſes, arms, ammunition, &c. which they have, or may have by them, more than is juſt ſufficient for the defence of their reſpective families, againſt the breaking in of Thieves and Robbers. A Maſſacre committed by Proteſtants upon Papiſts was never heard of, and therefore they need not fear it, nor can reaſonably deſire to abound with arms, in order to the prevention of it: If men have arms enough for their own ſecurity, what ſhould they do with more to ſcare, if not indanger others? How greatly would the fears of men be allayed, if but that one thing were done? Ireland that Aceldama, that field of bloud, can tell us how unfit Papiſts are to be intruſted with arms.
I wiſh if thoſe rumors be falſe, that great and unuſual numbers of forreign Papiſts have lately come for England, I ſay if they be falſe, that the people might be generally aſſured and convinced they are ſo; but if they be true, (which is more than I can ſay they are) that ſome due bounds may be ſet to ſo raging a Sea, leaſt a deluge of fears and ſuſp… tions, if not of miſery and deſtruction alſo, ſhould from thence overwhelm us.
It hath been complained of in and to the Parliament, ſince London was in the duſt, that many Papiſts in ſeveral parts of England have behaved themſelves very inſolently (as one of their eloquent mouths hath told us in a Speech of his extant in print) that certainly would and did ſtrike terrour into the people; nor can thoſe terrours be taken off, unleſs that inſolency of theirs be corrected, for which there need no better curb and cure, than the ſtrict execution of the ſevereſt Laws that are in being againſt men of that Religion, I do not mean, or wiſh upon all of them (for I underſtand not the juſtice of puniſhing all that are of ſuch a way for the faults that are committed but by ſome of them) but upon as many as have, or ſhall be found guilty of ſuch amuſing inſolency, either in words or deeds: It is fit ſome Corroſive ſhould be applied to ſuch proud fleſh, but not laid upon that fleſh which is not proud, though of the ſame body: The ſummum jus, or utmoſt rigour of the Laws made againſt Papiſts, would be no injury to them that terrifie others by their inſolency, what ever it might be to the reſt, as in ſome caſes it would not be harſh to take the full forfeiture of a Bond, though it would be ſo in ſome others. If the Hugonites in France ſhould behave themſelves inſolently (which they never dare to do, being not of the Religion of the Country) we know what would follow. A reſtraint upon the inſolencies of Papiſts, would be no ſmall reſtraint upon the fears of Proteſtants.
I wiſh as little power as may be in the hands of Papiſts, for that experience tells us, if perſons ſo accounted (though not certainly known to be ſuch) be choſen to any place or places of conſiderable truſt, it preſently openeth the peoples mouths, and fills them as full of fears as they can hold. Power is a kind of armour, and men may be armed with power as formidably, as with iron weapons. We read of certain beaſts, Dan. 7.12. They had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged. There is not a quiet Papiſt in England, but I wiſh his life might be ſpared, yea, and his lawful way of livelihood; that if a man of an eſtate, he might enjoy it, his Religion notwithſtanding, if a Tradeſman, he might be free to buy, and ſell, and merchandize, as well as other men; and if he may do ſo, to be deprived or debarred of power and arms, will be but an eaſie ſuffering (if it be any at all) and I am ſure much more for a publick good, men to their private damage: no reaſon they ſhould be elected to power, who would be an incouragement to evil doers, and a terror to them that do …ell: one way for people to have dominion over their fears, is for Papiſts in a Kingdome, whoſe King, and Laws are proteſtant, to have no dominion over the people.
Yet I am really for it, that ſetting aſide power, and Armes, they ſhould injoy every thing elſe ſo …ong as they are peaceable, for to ſtrip them of their …ſtates and livelihoods, or lawful wayes of ſub…ting, meerely for their religion ſake, were unjuſt, …umane, and the way to make them deſperate. Starving, or almoſt ſtarving of perſons and fami…es, is next to cutting of throats, and therefore God forbid that Papiſts themſelves ſhould be ſo ſerved: let them have power to do good to themſelves, but none to do hurt to others, then may Papiſts live happily, and Proteſtants ſecurely.
The manifeſtation of much zeal to hinder the growth of Popery it ſelf, would be one good way …o ſecure the minds of men, againſt the fear, and …read of Papiſts.
It would take off the chariot wheels of popery, or make it drive on heavily, if firſt of all, Miniſters, and other learned men, were excited and incouraged to write and preach againſt the moſt conſiderable, and dangerous tenets of the Papiſts, ſpa…ing their perſons, whilſt they oppoſe their errors, and ſo not contending againſt love, though they contend earneſtly for the Faith. One I have heard of (a perſon of worth and learning far above the rate of his years) who was put upon this work by ſome in great authority, and hath diſcharged it excellently well, and brought forth an Elephant (for ſo I call his book for the ſize of it) in leſs than halfe the time that Elephants are ſaid to go with their young. There are alſo two other pregnant Divines (no old men neither) who have each of them given us an iliad in a nutſhel, a maſs of Divinity and reaſon againſt popiſh doctrines within a ſmall compaſs, who as I am told have from perſons of eminency received many thanks for the ſame, and very good incouragement. Were there many more that could come up to the firſt three, as champions againſt popery, and were they in all parts of England put upon it and quickned, we might hope that popery would dwindle amongſt us every day till at laſt it come to nothing.
Whoſoever ſhall ſet himſelf to oppoſe the growth and ſpreading of popery in England, will much promote this deſign, by ſuppreſſing, or preventing all ſuch books in our native tongue, as have lately come forth, or are coming forth in favour of that Religion. Thoſe of more ancient date are ſo much diſperſed already, that there can be no recalling them, and beſides that, men will hardly read them more than they have done, whereas a new book for the novelty ſake, and in expectation of ſome new thing that hath not been ſaid before, will have many readers. Popiſh arguments are not ſo weighty but that we dare let ſchollars peruſe them, and therefore I have ſaid nothing of the ſuppreſſion of thoſe popiſh books which are in the latine tongue, but only in the Engliſh, leſt comon, and ignorant people ſhould thereby be ſeduced. Now Papiſts of all men ought not to quarrel with us, if we deny the common people the uſe of their books, in their mother tongue, as being unſafe for them, ſith they withhold the book of God, the holy ſcriptures from the Laity under pretence of their being in danger to wreſt the ſame to their own deſtruction. If truth can hurt men what will not errour do? A heedful ſuppreſſion of all Novel Engliſh popiſh books, would be greatly to the ſuppreſſion of all popular fears, as with reſpect to Papiſts.
We have ſevere Laws (if I miſtake not) againſt thoſe perſons who compaſs ſea and land to make people Proſelytes to the Romiſh religion, making them thereby two-fold more the children of hell than themſelves, at leaſtwiſe in this reſpect, that they perſwade them to believe thoſe groſs errours, which they have more wit than to believe themſelves, ſo binding heavy burthens upon others which they themſelves will not touch with the leaſt of their fingers. I think the law is wont to accuſe: and indict them, as for ſeducing the Kings Subjects from their Allegiance, which to do is a great crime, but do they not alſo ſeduce men from their Allegiance to the King of Kings? Theſe are a ſeed of evil doers, and muſt be look't a ter: Ants do bite the corn which they carry to their mole-hils to the end it may not ſprout again, ſo far forth, I wiſh them bitten. It is too much that they take upon them to make a God or Idol of Wafers, let them not make fools, or which is worſe, Idolaters of men. Let them not by their meats (or poiſons rather) deſtroy thoſe for whom Chriſt died. As long as Papiſts have liberty for themſelves, and their families, they have little reaſon to complain, if they have no liberty to make other families ſuch as themſelves. If ſeducing Jeſuits be narrowly watcht and puniſhed, both the fear of Papiſts, and popery it ſelf will be much diminiſhed.
What a buzzing is there in the ears of people concerning ſome preachers (no profeſſed Papiſts neither) who ſeem to affect the language of Aſhdod, and to the great amuſement of people, make their pulpits eccno to Rome ever and anon. Who ſpeak ſometimes at ſuch a rate, as if they had a Pope in their belly, or had a mind to appear as popiſhly affected as they durſt. The laſhers out of popery, are the men who have all along fomented the Jealouſies of the people, and made them fear they ſhould be over-run with Papiſts, as the ſluggards ground is ſaid to be with weeds. If ſuch men were taught either to preach more honeſtly and orthodoxly, or elſe for ever hereafter made to hold their peace, the juſtice done them might greatly abate the peoples fears, as their hetorodoximony have inflamed them.
Whilſt Papiſts play leaſt in ſight, I mean whilſt the exerciſe of their Religion is very obſcure and private, ſo long that proverb is made good What the eye ſeeth not the heart rueth not, but if it ſhould chance to ſhew its head in publick; if it came forth like a bridegroom, out of his chamber deckt and trimmed, to take the eyes of its beholders, if it come forth with its luſcious muſick, tempting the people to dance after it; then will the mouths of mens fears, and complaints alſo, be wide opened, then will they ſuſpect it will bear down all before it. Sith then their Religion is impure, and the people extremely jealous of them, and it, let them with the Adulterer ſeek the twilight, yea the black and dark night. Let them ſteal their waters (if they will have any) and eat their bread in ſecreſie, ſo it may be as ſweet to them, and not ſo bitter, and vexatious to others; ſo ſhall they not need to fear others, neither will others be afraid of them.
Laſtly, if there ſhall appear a forwardneſs in thoſe whom it concerns, to make as much as can be made of all hints, and intimations given them of danger impending from the deſigns of Papiſts, I ſay if all ſuch informations, ſhall from time to time …eſifted to the very bran, and the very bottom of them dived into (that they may diſpair of ever carrying any deſign undiſcovered, and hid under ſlight pretences) thereby will the hearts of men be greatly ſecured againſt the fears of Papiſts, being …o dealt with as the Pſalmiſt prayes that wicked men might be, when he ſaith, Pſ. 10.15. Search out his wickedneſs till thou find none, i. e. no more. The more …ealouſy magiſtrates do, or ſhall expreſs of Papiſts, the leſs will the people be afraid of them. When Magiſtrates are awake and watchful, people will venture to lye down and ſleep.
The fifth of November Plot had certainly taken effect, if King James had not been poſſeſſed with a great jealouſie of Papiſts and their deſigns, which led him to ſuch an interpretation of that letter whereby he found it out; as others did not give, nor himſelf would otherwiſe have given: ſo that fear and ſuſpicion are (as we ſee) good keyes to open the cabinet counſels of Papiſts; and but for them we had been loſt long ere this.
I deceive my ſelf if I have not now treated of one of the moſt ſingular expedients whereby to incourage the Engliſh nation to any worthy undertaking, and particularly, that of rebuilding the City, viz. by ſecuring the minds of men againſt that fear, and dread of Papiſts, and of their deſigns (which is ſo generally upon them) that being once done, (as I have propounded the beſt, and moſt moderate ways that I know for the doing of it) men will go forward with their work, like giants refreſhed with wine, mighty to run their race.