God in the Mount, Treatise · Floating text 1 – Floating text 7

God in the Mount · Treatise · Floating text 1 – Floating text 7

p. 20The Oath.

I, A. B. do ſwear, that I approve the doctrine and diſcipline, or government eſtabliſhed in the Church of England, as containing all things neceſſarie to ſalvation; and that I will not endeavour, by my ſelf or any other, directly or indirectly to bring in any Popiſh doctrine, p. 21contrary to that which is ſo eſtabliſhed: nor will I ever give my conſent to alter the government of this Church by Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Deans, Arch-deacons, &c. as it ſtands now eſtabliſhed, and as by right it ought to ſtand, nor yet ever to ſubject it to the uſurpations and ſuperstition of the See of Rome. And all theſe things I do plainly and ſincerely acknowledge and ſwear, according to the plain and common ſenſe and underſtanding of the ſame words, without any equivocation or mentall evaſion or ſecret reſervation whatſoever. And this I do heartily, willingly and truly upon the faith of a Chriſtian. So help me God in Jeſus Chriſt.

Puniſhments on thoſe that refuſed to take it.Which Oath, whoſoever refuſed to take muſt be moſt ſeverely puniſhed with ſuſpenſions, deprivations, and excommunications, or forced by other vexations to flie out of the Land, that ſo the Kingdom being cleared of theſe ſquemiſh and nice-conſcienced fellows, (as they call and count tender conſcienc'd men) a fairer and wider way might be made for the advancing of that grand…ſigne, namely, the Reconciliation of our Engliſh Church to the Church of Rome.

Now, here (me thinks) I cannot pretermit to let the Reader ſee and take notice, how properly this plot of theirs may be parallel'd with that of Pharaoh againſt the Iſraelites in Egypt, who Exod. 1. 9, 10.Exod 1:9Exod 1:10though kept-under with great and grievous thraldom and moſt heavie burthens; yet grew to ſuch a numerous multitude, that Pharaoh, being afraid of their number and ſtill-increaſing ſtrength, Pharaohs ſpeech to his Nobles.ſpake thus to his Lords and Counſellours. Come-on, my Lords, let us deal wiſely, and endeavour timely to cure this growing Gangrene, let's keep the children of Iſrael under with vehement vexations, and deſtroy all their male children in their birth, leſt they grow too ſtrong for us, and either forcibly get from us, or joyn in battell with our enemies againſt us: But God croſſed this his craft and Pharaohs policie proved meer follie.crueltie, and made this very plot of theirs the ground-work of the greateſt harm even to their whole land, by Moſes preſervation, whom God uſed as the main inſtrument of the Egyptians deſtruction. Thus, even thus, I ſay, it fared with our Prelates and Pontificians, who, by reaſon of our Scottiſh br…threns expulſion of their pernicious Prelates out of Scotland, not unjuſtly fearing that the Engliſh Puritans would endeavour the like ſupplantation of their Engliſh hierarchie, by the Scots example; Come, p. 22The Arch-Prelate of Canterbury his ſpeech to his Pontificians in the Synod.therefore (ſaies the Archbiſhop of Canterbury to his Pontifician crew) let us now deal wiſely, leſt too late we repent it, let us cur… the courage of that encreaſing Puritanicall-ſect which ſo hates our apoſtolicall-Prelacie, let us vex and perplex them with the heavie and hard loads of cer…monies, ſuperſtitious innovations and new-eaſt Canons with an &c. Oath (right muddie▪bricks, ſtraw and ſtable of Romiſh Egypt) which, I hope ſhall prove the very Quinteſſence of all our former plots and projects, and the onelyonly way to fix our ſelves faſt, and rivet our ſelves ſo firmly into the apoſ…olicall chair of this Kingdom (by ſwearing the Puritans, both Clergie and Laicks to our Eccleſiaſticall iuriſdiction) as that no power either of Prince or Parliament ſhall ever be able to ſet us, hereafter, beſide the ſadle. But, ſee, I pray, how the Lords overpowring wiſdom and goodneſſe defeated their ſo high-built hopes, croſt this their deep craft, and made this Oath and book of Canons the ground of their greateſt overthrow. So that all that ſee with the right-eye of a true underſtanding, may juſtly ſay with Jethro, Exod. 18. 11.Exod 18:11Moſes father in law. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all (Romes idoll-) gods, for, in the (very) thing wherein they deal… proudly, the Lord was above them. For, after this, their courage began to quail (for this preſent Parliament was reſolved on, ſhortly after thoſe Canons and Oath were made) their proiects proſpered not, all their deviſ…s were on the declining hand, Gods vindicative indignation continually proſecuting them to their ſhame and (I hope) to the utter ruine of their moſt inſolent and unſufferable Antichriſtian tyrannie, as the ſequill ſhall manifeſtly make clear, in the deſcription of our deliverances, whereunto I mainly addreſſe my thoughts and intention. Now Large taxations laid on the Clergie tow…d the war.for the yet more abſolute furthering of their moſt p…ſtiferous proiects, they (in that Synod) laid great taxations on the whole Cl…rgie, as namely, 6. Subſidies, beſides a bountifull contribution to forward the intended war againſt Scotland, to which, they all (of the pontifician and ſcandalous rout eſpecially) ſhewed themſelves, generally, very free and affectionate, and which war, ſome of them, in their mad and hair-braind zeal, were not aſham'd Bellum Epiſcopale. Praiers againſt the Scots as againſt rebels.to ſtile and entitle, the Biſhops War; yea, a ſolemn prayer was compoſed and enjoyned by the Biſhops, to be uſed in all Churches, calling the Scots Rebels in it, thus, as much as in them lay, to embrew both Nations in blood, and to make the wrath and p. 23furie between them irreconcilible. And here, now, the Reader The Souldiers marching forward to York.muſt be pleaſed to take notice, that the Armie was now going forward for York; and therefore we may (here) not unfitly obſerve (as a firſt demonſtration of Gods beginning to croſſe & countercheck their malevolent machinations) how the ſouldiers, which were preſſed and now paſſing forward to York, did moſt Turn rude-Reformers.ſtrangely and uncontroulably turn rude-reformers, as they marched through the Countreys, forcibly intruding and getting into Churches, and there, irreſiſtibly, pulling-down altar-rails, turning altars into Communion-Table poſtures, making enquirie, in the Towns where they came, how the Miniſters carried themſelves in their paſtorall charges: if godly and diligent Preachers, they reverendly and reſpectively uſed them; but, if Romes Minions (I mean Arminians) ſuperſtitious lazie drones, rotten-hearted Baals prieſts, or covetous pluraliſts, where-ere they came and found ſuch, they vexed, derided, and moſt contemptuouſly uſed them, utterly diſdaining alſo and refuſing to Non omnin… laudo, admirer tamen.be ordered or commanded by popiſh-Leaders. Now although I do not, I may not juſtifie theſe their miſ-carriages, yet, who can denie a ſpeciall hand of divine providence taking moſt high diſpleaſure and juſt offence againſt our Prelates and Pontificians former violent and furious practiſes, and beginning thus at the very firſt on-ſet in this their great deſigne, to blaſt their bloodie intentions. And, certainly, if prudent Deborah did curſe Meros, Iudg. 5. 23. 31.Judg 5:23Judg 5:31iuſtly, and the inhabitants thereof, with bitter curſes, becauſe they went not out to help the Lord againſt the mightie: What bitter curſes, think we, then ſhall fall upon thoſe who moſt affectionately afforded ſtrong aid to mightie and moſt malicious Popiſh enemies, againſt the Lord and his dear ſaints and ſervants? Even ſo, O Lord, (as ſhe goes on) let all thine enemies periſh, but let thoſe that love thee, be as the bright and glorious ſun when he goeth forth in his reſplendent might. But, to go forward. At this time alſo The Papiſts did enjoy almoſt a full toleration. Sir Francis Windibank their great friend. A Popes Nuncio.the Popiſh faction enjoyed ſuch exemptions and exceptions againſt the penall Laws of the Land, as amounted very neer to a full toleration of their religion; Beſides many other favours and Court-encouragements. They had a Secretarie of State, Sir Francis Windibank a powerfull ag…nt for the expediting of all the Papiſts deſires; a Popes Nuncio. reſiding here to act and govern them according to Romes influences, and to mediate for them, p. 24Great libertie to the Papiſts.with the concurrence of forrein Popiſh Princes. By this Nuncio's authority, the Papiſts of all ſorts, Nobilitie, Gentrie and Clergie A Popiſh private Parliament in England.were convocated after the manner of a private Parliament, new Popiſh juriſdiction erected of Romiſh Archbiſhops, taxes leavied, a new government of State contrived independant to ours; yea contrarie to ours both in intereſt and affection, ſecretly corrupting the ignorant or negligent profeſſors of our religion, and cloſely combining and uniting themſelves againſt ſuch as were ſound profeſſours, and in this poſture onelyonly watching and waiting for an Divers notable private contrivements of the Popiſh partie for the full perfecting of the plot.opportunity by force to deſtroy thoſe whom by fear or fraud they were hopeleſſe to ſeduce. For the full effecting whereof, they were ſtrongly ſtrengthened with all kind of war-like ammunition, encouraged by Popiſh prayers weekly enjoyned by their Nuncio; and ſuch power had they then procured at Court, that ſecretly a Commiſſion was iſſued out, intended for ſome great Ones of the Popiſh profeſſion both for leavying and martiall command See here, by all theſe particulars if England was not bought and ſold to deſtruction.of Souldiers according to thoſe private inſtructions. His Majeſties treaſure alſo was extremely exhauſted and conſumed, his revenews anticipated, his Servants and Officers compelled to lend him great ſummes of money, multitudes tyred with attendance on the Councill-Table for refuſall of illegall payments, priſons were filled with their commitments, and many Sheriffes ſummoned into the Star-chamber, and ſome impriſoned for not being quick enough in leavying the Ship-money, and generally all the people, over the whole Kingdom, languiſhed twixt grief and fear of the iſſue of theſe ſtrong and ſtrange ſnares and entanglements, no viſible ſigne, nor hope of humane help being left us, but in dolour and deſperation.

England brought into a Mount of Straits.And was not England, now, brought into a Mount of ſtraits indeed? Could hell it ſelf or the fierceſt fiends and furies the rein have hatcht a more horrid and hideous contrivement, and that under a colourable pretence of law and right, forſooth, and royallprerogative? Were not theſe like to prove rare Common-wealthſmen and Stateſ-men, who, as the Prophet David complains, (and as toucht before) would eſtabliſh and ſet up wickedneſſe by Pſal. 94. 20. Jer. 16. 16. Gen. 10. 8, 9. Nimrod a mighty hunter.Ps 94:20Jer 16:16Gen 10:8Gen 10:9a Law? Yea, theſe were truly, Thoſe many fiſhers, which the Lord threatens to ſend againſt his ſinning people to fiſh them, and many hunters to hunt them. Yea, I ſay, thoſe moſt nefarious Nimrods, thoſe mightie hunters, even moſt audaciouſly before the Lord, who, p. 25to raiſe-up and erect this their Babel of confuſion, hunted not beaſts, but the beſt of men, not for recreation, but for rapine and the utter ruine of true Religion. Wherefore, now at laſt, the Lord our great Jehovah, whoſe eyes run to and fro, through-out the 2 Chron. 16. 9.2 Chr 16:9whole earth, to ſhew himſelf ſtrong in the behalf of them whoſe heart is perfect toward him; hearing the groanes and crying prayers of his poor afflicted people, to whoſe throne of grace and merciemercy they now made their onelyonly earneſt addreſſes and preſſing approaches; who, I ſay, being a God hearing prayers, pardoning ſins and a preſent Pſal. 65. 2. Nehem 9. 17. Pſal. 46. 1. Luk 8. 48. Exod. 14. 13. Deut. 3…. 35, 36.Ps 65:2Neh 9:17Ps 46:1Luke 8:48Exod 14:13Deut 3:35Deut 3:36help in greateſt ſtraits and diſtreſſes, gives them a gracious return, bids them be of good comfort, and fearleſſe, yea bids them ſtand ſtill and ſee the ſalvation of the Lord, which he will ſhew them. For, to me (ſaith the Lord) belongeth vengeance and recompence; your enemies foot ſhall ſlip, in due time▪ for the day of their calamitie is at hand, and the the things that ſhall come upon them do make haſte. For the Lord will judge his own people, and repent himſelf for his ſervants Admirable comfort in deepeſt diſtreſſe. Mr▪ Cala. Faſt-Ser.iniuries, when he ſeeth that their power is gone, and there is none elſe to help. I am therefore graciouſly reſolved (ſaies our God) to make England a School of mercies, and to ſet it in the higheſt form thereof, yea and to make it the captain of the School, and thereby intend to ſet him one-leſſon to get by heart, even a leſſon of true gratitude The introduction to the now ſubſequent Parliamentarie-mercies.and holy obedience, for the mercies which now I intend to ſhew and beſtow upon it. Such mercies indeed (good Reader) as thou ſhalt now ſee, and (to thy ſouls admiration and comfortable contemplation) behold, that had I as many tongues, hands and p…ns, as I have hairs on my head, and exquiſite dexteritie fitly to manage and make uſe of them all, they would not ſuffice to ſet out the praiſes of our good God for them, being indeed ſuch A mightie and ſtrange overture of things for the better.mercies, as none but God himſelf could (miraculouſly) conſer upon us, by ſuch a mightie and admirably ſtrange overture and turn of things, which God now began to work by this Parliament, and all for the better, yea more and more admirable mercies to us within theſe two yeers than hath been beſtowed on others in many ages. Which now by Gods gracious aſſiſtance, I ſhall abundantly make moſt clear and conſpicuous, to the high honour and glory of God, and the unſpeakable conſolation and ioy of his ſaints and holy ones.The Nobility begins to be ſenſible of our ſorrows.

For, now, behold, the Lord began to open the eyes and to touch the hearts of our Nobles, now at York, with the King, and p. 26to make them wearie of their too-long ſilence and patience (if I may ſo call it and to lay to heart the Kingdoms great diſtractions and deep diſtempers, to be thereupon impatient of any longer delayes, and very ſenſible of the dutie and truſt which belongs to them; ſome, therefore, of the moſt eminent of them adventured to petition the King (who being, now, at York, had there advanced The Kings royall Standard ſet up at York. The Peers do petition the King. The Scots alſo were vexed as well as we▪his royall Standard, and gathered thither the cream of the whole Kingdom) yea and at ſuch a time too, when as ill Counſellours were ſo powerfull and prevalent with his Majeſtie, that they had reaſon to expect more hazard to themſelves, than fair and facile redreſſes of thoſe palpable and publike evils for which they then interceded. At which time, alſo, of this Kingdoms deadly burning-fever or violently ſhaking-ague of inteſtine miſeries and oppr ſſions, the Scots having been long time reſtrained in their trades, impoveriſhed by loſſe of many of their ſhips and goods, bereaved of all poſſibilitie of ſatisfying his Majeſtie by any naked Supplication, wherein they had been long time tired, and even quite wearied-out, being as frequently as fruitleſly denied their deſires, and now at laſt (to ſhut-up quite all doors of hope from them an armie marching to the gates of their Kingdom to force They enter our Kingdom with a ſtrong Armie.them to ſlaviſh ſubiection and obedience. They, hereupon, reſolving to ſtand on their moſt juſt defence, and with their ſwords (ſince words would not prevail) to make their own paſſage, for audience, to the King; with a ſtrong armie (as their last remedy) of Saints rather than Souldiers entred the Kingdom, and without The Scots at New-caſtle.any hoſtile act or ſpoil in the countrey, as they paſſed ſave onelyonly (being affronted by ſome of the Kings armie) to force their paſſage over the Tyne at Newburn, neer Newcaſtle, and had a fair opportunitie to preſſe on further upon the Kings armie, out that dutie and reverence to his Majeſtie, and brotherly love and true Chriſtian affection to our Engliſh Nation (according to the The intention of the Scots Army… printed and publiſhed in private.tenour of a moſt excellent Declaration, printed and diſperſed over the Kingdom, immediately upon their entring the Realm, intituled, The Scots mind and intention with their Armie; which gave great ſatisfaction therein) made them ſtay there, piouſly and patiently, as loving friends, not foes, voluntarily to wait and ſupplicate again to his Majeſtie at York, for iuſtice in their innocent cauſe againſt their wicked enemies: Whereby the King had the better leaſure to entertain better Counſell, according to p. 27thoſe Noble Peers Petition alſo, fore-mentioned, wherein the The King entertains good counſell, at York. Sept. 24▪ 1640.Lord our God ſo bleſſed him, that he ſummoned a great Councell of Peers▪ then at York, to meet together with him, on Sept. 24, 1640. The Scots hereupon, the firſt day of the great Councill preſented another moſt humble petition to his Majeſtie, whereupon a treatie was appointed at Rippon, in which, things A treatie at Rippon.were ſo wiſely and worthily agitated by the Commiſſioners on both ſides, and in all that interim, a ſweet ceſſation of Arms A ceſſation of Armes agreed.agreed upon, that at laſt, it was reſolved that the full concluſion of all differences between is and the Scots ſhould be referred to the wiſdom and care of a Parliament declared to begin, A fifth Parliament called, & to begin, Novem▪ 3. 1640.Novemb. 3^d, then next enſuing, as the ſole means (under heaven) to cure all theſe foreſaid maladies, and to recover the Kingdom of its heart▪ſick diſeaſes and (otherwiſe incurable) mortall wounds, and to ſettle the State of things (which (otherwiſe) ſeemed inſuperable) into a right frame and poſture. For, as hath been abundantly manifeſted, all things were ſo out of joynt, the King and whole Kingdom brought to ſuch exigents and precipitating ſad and bad iſſues, that had not God thus timouſly ſtruck in, and thus neceſſitated this Parliament, England (undoubtedly) R…dis indigeſtaque moles.had been made, long ere this, a confuſed Chaos of confuſion, a gaſtly Golgotha, and a moſt foule field of Blood, and poſteritie might have ſighi…gly ſobd▪out (not ſung) of it. Ah, England, England, once call'd Albion, for thy white rocks, now too juſtly mayeſt be call'd Olbion, for thy black deformitie of deſtruction and deſolation! O London, famous London, Englands (once) glorious Seges ubi Tr… j… fuit.Troynovant, now become a deſolate wilderneſſe, the plowma…s fallow-plains or vaſt fields of corn; or, as the Prophet Jeremie, by his Jeruſalem▪ might moſt properly have painted thee out alſo, as in the 1▪ of his Lamentations. But, now, behold, thy God is come unto thee, is now ſeen, yea, now, I ſay, if God in the Mount.ever in the Mount of Mercies for thy admirable deliverance from this moſt profound abyſs of deepeſt danger, in this mightie merciemercy of th… Lord to thee but new-now poor gaſping-England, in that the Engliſh and Scottiſh-armies ſhould lie ſo neer each other in a martiall manner, and yet ſeem Both to ſhake hands together, ſhould onelyonly look one another in the face, and not embrue their hands in the blood of each other, but ſit ſtill, reſt together in peace, and at length part (as they did) like good friends. p. 28O who can forbear, but in a tranſcendent rapture of ioy and gratitude, break-out, with holy David, and ſay, or rather cheerfully Pſal. 68. 34. 32. Pſal. 46. 9.Ps 68:34Ps 68:32Ps 46:9ſing; Aſcribe unto the Lord worſhip and honour, aſcribe unto the Lord the glory of his name. Sing unto God ye Kingdoms of the earth, O ſing praiſes unto our God. Who maketh wars to ceaſe unto the end of the earth, who breaks the bowe, and cuts the ſpear in ſunder, and Pſal. 68. 19.Ps 68:19burns the chariots in the fire. Who daily loadeth us with his benefits, Iob 5. 13. Pſal. 94. 11. Iſa. 29. 14.Job 5:13Ps 94:11Isa 29:14and is the onelyonly God of our ſalvation. Who infatuates the wiſdom of the wiſe and prudent, and makes the counſels of Princes to come to nought. But, now, to proceed where I left; A Parliament was (I ſay) appointed to begin, Novem. the third, a Parliament ſaid I? (ſtrange word) what? a Parliament? why, who durſt (once) A Parliament.be ſo bold, as onelyonly to whiſper his deſires of a Parliament? who (once) durſt mutter, much leſſe utter-out ſuch a word, A Parliament in England, again? Yet, thus it was, yea and thus timely too yea and ſuch a Parliament too, as this Kingdom never ſaw …he like, for length and ſtrength of goodneſſe, for Church and State; to Gods due glorie and everlaſting praiſe be it ſpoken. Certainly (then) if ever, now was our God gloriouſly ſeen in the Mount of Merci s for Englands greateſt good and hoped happineſſe.

But now ſee again▪ (as I premiſed at the beginning) the ſerpentine-ſeed, Satans agents, muſt be ſtill working and plotting againſt all the ſpringing hopes and budding comforts of Gods people, if it were poſſible to blaſt them in the bloſſomes. For, A plot to ſpoil the Parliamentnow, ſince they ſaw to their ſecret ſorrow, a Parliament muſt needs be, & this omen alſo unavoidable, all their crafty pates were contriving and caſting about how to ſtifle this conception of comfort in the very wombe. For, the malignant partie ſpying well that they could not (as I ſaid) put off the Parliament, they therefore cunningly and cloſely endeavour by their Courtly agents to have ſuch Members of it choſen in every Corporation, City, and Shire as might onelyonly advance their miſchievous Machinations The Kings & Queensletters.and baſe deſignes in Parliament. They, therefore, procure the Kings and Queens Letters to Counties and Shires, get Earls, Lords, Knights and Gentlemen ride up and down to help them.both Earls, Lords, Knights and Gentlemen to ride in perſon and rove up and down to all parts and places of the Kingdom to make parties for them in choice of ſuch as they ſhould nominate. Yet, ſee again, on the other ſide how the Lord counter-plotted and infatuated all their craft, care, and induſtrie therein; for, notwithſtanding p. 29all their coſt and coyl, all their running and riding, God, God counterplots and croſſes them.I ſay, fruſtrated their impious expectation, in moſt places. The Lord, who holds the hearts of all men in his hands, cauſed the willing people from all parts, ſpontaneouſly to flock and aſſemble together like ſuch unheard of numerous ſwarmes of bees of all requiſite ſorts and qualities, with moſt unbended courage and Parliamentary Worthies choſen.irrefragable reſolutions to chuſe-out and ſelect, ſuch pious, prudent and every way accompliſht Worthies for this high and honourable work, as are moſt hopefull, by Gods gracious ſupport and aſſiſtance to ſtrike the ſtroke of a moſt bleſſed and long looked for, yea longed-for happie Reformation; yea, I ſay, making up ſuch a bleſſed A bleſſed Colledge of Phyſicians.Colledge of Phiſicians, as are likely (by Gods benediction on them and protection over them) to cure the (elſe) almoſt cureleſſe maladies and infirmities of Church and State, which were readie to ſink into the inevitable gulf of wo and wretchedneſſe, and to drink the laſt draft of deadly destruction.

O, who can paſſe-by ſuch a remarkable paſſage of Gods admirable providence, ſurpaſſing admiration in this ſpeciall piece of comfort to us! yea, I may juſtly ſay, this maſter-peece of the whole enſuing frame of all our ſucceeding parliamentarie-rejoycings? and not cry-out with moſt emphaticall cheerfulneſſe, with holy Moſes, Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is Exod. 15. 11.Exod 15:11like unto thee? glorious in holineſſe, fearfull in praiſes, doing wonders. Pſal 89. 5, 6, 7, 8.Ps 89:5Ps 89:6Ps 89:7Ps 89:8And with the ſweet Pſalmograph, holy David, The heavens ſhall praiſe thy wonders, O Lord, thy faithfulneſſe, alſo, in the aſſembly of Saints. For, who in heaven can be compared to the Lord? Who, among the ſons of the mightie can be likened to our God? Now, at the first ſitting and meeting of this bleſſed Parliament, though all oppoſitions ſeemed to vaniſh, the fore-mentioned miſchiefs of the Divers difficulties at the firſt beginning of this Parliament.malignant partie being ſo evident (which their accurſed counſels and co-operations produced) that no man durſt ſtand-up to defend them: yet, the whole work it ſelf afforded difficulty enough, if you caſt your eyes on theſe particulars. Firſt, the multiplied evils and long-rooted corruptions of 16. yeers growth, 1at leaſt, by cuſtome and authority of the concurrent intereſt of many powerfull delinquents who were, now, to be brought to 2judgement and reformation. Secondly, the Kings houſhold was to be provided for; for, they had brought him to that want that he could not ſupply his meer ordinarie and neceſſarie expenſes p. 303without the aſſiſtance of his people. Thirdly, two armies were then to be paid, which amounted very neer to 80 thouſand pounds a monethmonth, and yet the people over the Kingdom muſt be tenderly charged, having been formerly miſerably exhausted 4with many burthenſome projects. Fourthly, the contra…ieties they met with, in all theſe, were very incompatible, which yet in a great meaſure they calmly reconciled; theſe difficulties therefore, ſeemed to be invincible, yet by Gods good providence, and theſe moſt renowned Worthies indefatigable care and diligence, Six Subſidies granted. Pole-money.they comfortably over▪came them At the beginning of the Parliament, ſix Subſidies were freely granted, together with the paſſing of a Bill of Pole-money, for ſpeedie ſupply of preſent occaſions, which could not amount to leſſe than 600000. l. beſides The mountanous diſpatch of great affairs, of the Parliament at the firſt.the ſaid ſix Subſidies. Yea, theſe prudent patriots contracted that great arrere-of charges due to our faithfull brethren of Scotland, to 220 thouſand pounds. And notwithſtanding all theſe moſt urgent and inevitable charges and preſſing occaſions▪ the Lord ſo bleſſed the proceedings of this precious Parliament, that the kingdom is for the preſent, and will be much more for the future, by Gods merciemercy, a great gainer by all thoſe charges, as will evidently appear by the ſubſequent cloud of witneſſes, the many remarkable parliamentarie mercies, which our great Jehovah hath graciouſly ſtrewed into our happie laps and boſomes by them. And To ſtop the mouthes of ſlanderers.this is here the rathe toucht and mentioned to ſtop the mouthes of thoſe repining envious elves of ingratitude, who notwithſtanding theſe ſo conſpicuous, and egregious reſtimonies of theſe ever to be honoured Worthies moſt impregnable pains and induſtrie, yet would fain faſten their fangs of calumnie and detraction on their moſt honourable actions and proceedings, which even their inf…rnall black-mouth'd mother Envie her ſelf, cannot but (though contrarie to her nature) moſt juſtly commend. As, firſt, that uncouth and (till of late) unheard of heavie taxation of Ship-money aboliſhed. Coat and Conduct taken away.Ship-money, by this Parliament aboliſhed, which drained from the Kingdome above 200 thouſand pounds a yeer. Coat and Conduct-money taken away from unjuſtly troubling the Subject, which in many countreys amounted to little leſſe than Ship-money. Sope.That ſcouring project of New-ſope alſo overthrown which brought an hundreth thouſand pounds a yeer into private Wine.proiectors purſes. That ſoaking plot alſo on Wine, which p. 31amounted to above three hundred thouſand pound. And that of Leather, which rightly computed could not chuſe but exceed Leather.both thoſe former, put together, this is alſo annihilated. Yea, that unſeaſonable (and indeed unreaſonable) patent for Salt puld out of their enhanſing hands, which could not but Salt▪ Many other Monopolies ſuppreſſed,countervail in value, that of Leather Beſides many other Stateſtarving Monopolies, whereof ſome (as hath been ſeen in thoſe fore-mentioned) prejudiced the Kingdom above a Million of money yeerly; all quite ſuppreſt by this renowned Parliament, which formerly, like ſo many greedily gaping graves or unſatiable horſleaches were continually crying-out, Give, Give, and reſtleſly ſucking-out the vitall ſpirits of the State, and pitifully debilitating, thereby, the nerves and ligaments of the whole Commonwealth.

The root of all the former evils pluckt up, viz. Arbitrary government.But, that which was far more worth than all thoſe fore-ſaid great benefits, which, indeed was the very root and rice of all thoſe and ſuch like taxations and vexations, is alſo, by power of this Parliament, quite taken away, viz. the Arbitrarie power pretended to be in his Maieſtie to tax his ſubiects, and charge their estates at his pleaſure, without conſent of his Parliament, which great and grievous yoke which extremely wrung our wronged necks, for the preſent, and would have done much more for the future, to our posteritie) is now by this happie Parliament declared by Both-Houſ s to be againſt Law, and is alſo ratified by an Act of Parliament. And was not Elohim our God God in the Mount.all-ſufficient, moſt gloriouſly ſeen here in the Mount for our large deliverance, from ſuch and ſo many pinching ſtraits and deep diſtreſſes as we were all brought▪ yea plunged into, as have been formerly moſt evidently and undeniably ſhewn? And, therefore, have we great cauſe, with that ſweet ſinger of Iſrael to elevate his praiſes, herein, and to ſay, I will magnifie thee, O my Pſal. 145. 1, 2, 3.Ps 145:1Ps 145:2Ps 145:3God and my King, and will bleſſe thy Name for ever and ever. Yea every day will I bleſſe thee, and praiſe thy Name for ever and ever. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praiſed, and his greatneſſe is altogether unſearchable.

Yea, and that which is very remarkable, and no leſſe extraordinarie comfortable to Gods children; How did the Lord (before this Parliament began, and hitherto ever ſince) ſtir-up and enflame the fire of ſupplicating faith or faithfull ſupplication and p. 32A ſpirit of prayer and humiliation ſtird up in the hearts of Gods people in private. Rich returns of our prayers. Our enemies plots proved their owngreateſt plagues. Iudg. 13. 23.Judg 13:23fervent zeal in private humiliation to ſeek the Lord in the face of Chriſt for merciemercy and reconcilement to our poor Land and Nation, ſo as the like was never ſeen in this Kingdom before. And, O, what faith-confirming and heart-cheering rich returns of prayers hath the Lord our good God caſt into our bleſſed boſomes, in both granting us the very things (yea and much more than) our hearts deſired; and croſſing ours and the Churches enemies both Papiſts and Prelates in their plots which we feared, yea and ſtill making their own deſperate deviſes to lite heavieſt on their own heads, and their own impious inventions occaſions to make them ſtill ſit-down by weeping-croſſe, and bear the greateſt damage and condigne detriment in themſelves. Whence we may very well Againſt the falſe fears and faithleſſe faintings in Gods people.conclude with Manoahs wife, Sampſons mother, againſt all falſe and faithleſſe fears and jealouſies (whereunto I perceive, even Gods own dear people are too-much addicted) That if the Lord were pleaſed or had a purpoſe to kill (or deſtroy) us, he would not have received an oblation or ſacrifice from us, neither would have ſhewed us all theſe things, nor would (as at this time) have done all theſe great things and much more yet following for us; But if God had had no delight in us, but purpoſed to deſtroy us, and to deliver-up our Land and lives into Papiſts hands, and to make a prey of us and ours to them, he would not (ſurely) have ſuffered us or given us hearts to ſeek him in prayer and importunate petitions, and yet at laſt, have fruſtrated all our hopes and expectations: But contrariwiſe when God intended to deſtroy the children of Iſrael for their high provocations of the Lords irreconcilable wrath, he Ier. 7. 16.Jer 7:16flatly forbad the Prophet to pray for them: whereas on the other ſide, I ſay, our gracious God hath freely poured on us the ſpirit of grace and ſupplication; hath not onelyonly received ſacrifices from our (though ſinfull) hands, but in Chriſt Jeſus (his ever prevailing Acts 12. 20.Acts 12:20Blaſtus, nay rather ever moſt meritorious bleſſed Son) hath ſmelt a ſweet ſavour in our ſacrifices, as hath been alreadie in part imparted to us, and made clearly obvious to our eyes and underſtanding, and comes now moſt copiouſly to be farther moſt fully demonſtrated to us.

And, here, me thinks, tis not improper or impertinent to put A Fleet of Spaniſh-ſhips at Sea.the Reader in mind of one remarkable merciemercy of the Lord unto us, which though it be not (I confeſſe) on all parts abſolutely concluded on; yet for my part, I confidently beleeve (theſe p. 33plotting times and weightie circumſtances conſidered and put together) I may juſtly enroll it in one of the chief places and number of our moſt famous parliamentarie deliverances, though I ſay it was and hath been covered and couched under fair machi…ilian vizards of other intentions▪ when they ſaw God had miraculouſly croſſed and defeated their former ſtrong expectation. For (unqueſtionably) the Popiſh and malignant partie had deeply perſwaded (if not aſſured) themſelves that long ere this (eſpecially about the time of this plot now to be mentioned) their deſperate projects ſhould have been brought to a high pitch, and that ere this time we and Scotland ſhould have been deeply engaged in bloodie broils, and been pell-mell together by the ears in the Northern parts of the Kingdom. The ſly Fox of Spain therefore, muſt The Spaniard is apt to watch and catch advantage….needs watch advantages on our home-bred and imbred diſtractions and uncivill-civill wars, thus to purchaſe to himſelf the long lookt-for ſpoils and moſt precious prey of three fair Crowns, at once; To which purpoſe, upon traiterous inſtigation and intelligence too, no doubt, from ſome of his penſioners in the Court of England▪ he had made readie and ſet forth to Sea, a mightie Fleet of ſhips, a ſecond great armado, well fraught and furniſhed with men and ammunition, and other inſtruments of wrath and furie for our certain perdition and deſigned deſtruction. Thus unſuſpected and unexpected, they had ſmoothly and ſilently made their way into our narrow Seas, and lay hovering within ſight The Spaniſh fleet on our Narrow-Seas, in ſight of Dover.of Dover, fearleſſe (it ſeem'd) of leaſt reſiſtance from us, if not hopefull of ample aſſiſtance to land their forces, and make our Land feel the furie of Spaines conquering arm. But, behold, as thus they lay about our coaſts, and we (as it were) lay fast a ſleep in this great danger, the God of our Engliſh-Iſrael, who never ſlumbers nor ſleeps in the protection of his people, had his ever moſt vigilant and wakefull eye over us, even then, I ſay, when we were moſt ſupine and careleſſe or fearleſſe of any imminent diſaſter ſo neer us, the Lord our God fought for us, yet without us, ſtopt this (otherwiſe) over-flowing inundation of miſerie and deſtruction, croſt and cruſht their rotten-egge of windie hopes, by The Hollanders meet with them.ſending our honeſt old neighbours of Holland to confront them, though with but a very ſmall Fleet (at the firſt) which afterward quickly encreaſed, under the conduct and command of their heroicall and moſt magnanimous Admirall Martin p. 34Martin Tromp Admirall of the Fleet.Tromp, whoſe honour and high renown, the trump of Fame ſhall moſt worthily ſound out to poſteritie, and crown his temples with never withering-wreathes of laurell-branches, who had no ſooner eſpied them, but moſt fiercely and furiouſly he ſet upon their whole formidable Spaniſh Fleet, gave them ſuch battering broad ſides, and ſuch Canon-thundring and powder-roaring ſalutations as quickly puld down their ſo late ſo lofty Spaniſh pride, and maugre all their eſpani…lized bravadoes, the utmoſt ſtrength of their ſtrongeſt veſſels was ſo batter'd and bruiſ'd, their falſly The Spaniſh fleet beaten and deſtroyed.ſuppoſ'd impenitrable ribs and big-ſwoln bellies ſo peir…'t and peſtred, that they quickly queld their courage, fir'd, ſunk and took many of their greateſt ſhips, and diſſipated and ſcatter'd the reſt from our coaſts, few of them eſcaping the heroick Hollanders martiall violence, to our great (though unſenſible yet unſpeakable) comfort and ſecurity, we our ſelves not having ſtrook one ſtreak in our own defence, nay tis well if we did not yeeld the Spaniards ſupplie of powder and other neceſſaries (that time) to our own deſtruction, had not God thus ſtrangely and ſtrongly withſtood it. Say, then (O England) did not Jehovah, our great Lord and God moſt apparently appear, now, in the Mount for thy mightie deliverance? did he not make good his word and promiſe Iſa. 54. 17.Isa 54:17by his holy Prophet. That no weapon forged againſt thee ſhall proſper, and every tongue that riſeth againſt thee in judgement thou ſhalt condemne. Certainly, if ever, at this time was this propheſie moſt exactly made good to England, and to our faithfull No weapon can be forged nor tongue raiſed againſt England and Scotland.brethren of Scotland. For, what ſharp and death-wounding weapons have been forged againſt us, both abroad and at home? what ſlanderous tongues, have riſen up in judgement, yea in moſt falſe iudgement againſt both us and them, calling and counting Gods beloved ones among us factious and ſeditious, and among our honeſt brethren of Scotland, traitors and rebels, as hath been formerly touched; but now we have ſeen, to the high honour of God and ioy of our hearts, that none of their weapons have proſper'd againſt us; yea their ſlanderous tongues, which ſo falſely iudged us and our beloved brethren, we have condemned to the clear eyes of all men, that wilfully look not a ſquint on all iuſt things.

For, hath not this our moſt noble and renowned Parliament, together with the Kings full content and conſent therein, proclaimed p. 35our brethren of Scotland, the Kings moſt faithfull and A Pacification and bleſſed union between the three kingdoms, by Act of Parliament.loyall Subiects? Confirmed a fair and full Pacification and union of firm love and mutuall defence, twixt us and them and the Kingdom of Ireland with an Act of oblivion of all miſtakes and miſconceits on either ſide: all theſe, I ſay, ratified by a bleſſed Act of Parliament? Yea, and that which adds no ſmall luſtre to it, that it hath hereby freed us from civill-wars, which of all warres are moſt uncivill, from inteſtine wars, wars that would have eaten-out our own bowels; from wars, I ſay, of Chriſtians with Chriſtians, yea of Proteſtants with Proteſtants, which of all wars could not but have been moſt fell and fatall. O who, then, can ſee theſe things, theſe miracles of mercies, without deep admiration and holy adoration of our great God? Who can forbear to break-out into cordiall praiſes, to raiſe-up trophies of everlaſting fame and honour to our great and glorious Lord and King? Who can chuſe but ingenuouſly acknowledge with holy David, That we got not theſe good things into our poſſeſſion by Pſal. 44 34.Ps 44:34our own ſword, neither did our own arm ſave us: But thy right hand, O Lord, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, becauſe thou hadſt a love unto us. Thou art our King, O command deliverance, ſtill, to thy poor worm Jacob. For, through thee alone ſhall we pull-down our enemies, through thy Name onelyonly ſhall we tread them under that riſe up againſt us. T… thou O God that riſeſt up in judgement Pſal. 76. 9, 10.Ps 76:9Ps 76:10to ſave all thy weak-ones on earth, turning the rage and furie of man into thy praiſe, and making the remainder of their wrath to obey thee.

Good men made Officers of State. The Scaligers of our ruſtie times.A moſt remarkable merciemercy was it alſo, that the Lord put into the hearts of the renowned Scaligers of our corrupted times, for the better purifying not onelyonly of the conduit-pipes of Juſtice, to begin (as about this time) to put pious and noble Peers into places of honour, truſt and power, that thus the ſtern of government may be the more happily ſteered with uprightneſſe and impartialitie. To which purpoſe (as a main help thereto) they have moſt happily taken away that State-ſtaggering Star-Chamber-Court; The Star-Chamber-Court, Preſident, & Councell of the North, &c. diſſolved.diſſolved and diſſipated into ſmoke▪ the cruſhing-Courts of the Preſident and Councell of the North▪ and limited and co fined the unlimited bounds of buſineſſes at the Councell-Table; but alſo to ſcoure the muddie and even ſtinking channels of wrong and oppreſſion, by eaſing the Common-wealth of thoſe living-grievances p. 36thereof (a great advantage to the peace and tranquility of the State) I mean thoſe evill Counſellers and Officers of State, who had been principall actors of all our foreſaid miſcries and miſchiefs; making thereby (as it were) a plaſter to heal the deadly wounds of Church and State, and moſt hopefully to recover the almoſt incureable diſeaſes of the Kingdom, by a plaiſter, I ſay, of The Earl of Straford beheaded.the blood of that inſulting arch-traitor, the Earl of Straford, who as he had well-nigh ſtabd the State to the heart by his deep and moſt dangerous plots both abroad and at home: So the ſtroak of Juſtice retaliated with blood his moſt bold and bloodie deſignes maugre all his ſlyeſt ſhufflings and crafty jeerings of the Law to have eluded it, and thereby hoping to have prevented the ſaid juſt vengeance on him.

And here by the way, I deſire the Reader to take notice of …ex …alionis.Gods moſt equall and upright wayes and dealings, with wicked, ungodly, and blood-thirſtie men, how exactly he repayes the bloody An Engliſh-Haman.plots and purpoſes of all proud and ambitious Hamans in their own coyn; as, here, is moſt perſpicuouſly ſeen in this our Engliſh-Haman, who in his heart had vow'd the wrack▪ and ruine of all Gods faithfull ones in England, Scotland and Ireland, at the leaſt. But we have happily ſeen this proud Haman, the firſt that felt the due ſtroke of justice, to the honour of God, and the terrour of all ſuch daring traytors. And as for the reſt of that rabble, I may Pſal. 62. 3.Ps 62:3here take-up that of the holy Prophet David, How long will ye imagine miſchief againſt men, ye ſhall be ſlain all the pack of you; for, as a bowing or tottering-wall ſhall ye be, and as a rotten fence. 2 Sam. 20. 12.2 Sam 20:12Tremble, therefore, at this, all ye perfidious conſpiring Sh…ba's, and fear in time ſuch juſt retaliation. Certainly, There is none like unto thee, O Lord, thou art great, and thy Name is great in Ier. 10. 6, 7.Jer 10:6Jer 10:7might. Who would not fear thee, O King of Nations, for, to thee it doth, indeed, appertain (to do justice, and take revenge) for as much as among all the wiſe men of the world, and in all their Kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

Iudge Bartlet & other Iudges and Biſhops impeached of high treaſon and impriſoned Much content among men, upon the Earls beheading. The Archprelate of Canterbury impeached of high treaſon, and impriſoned.Now, this Remora thus happily (though very hardly) removed, this clinging-clyver (I mean the foreſaid Earl of Straford) which was ready to over-top and choak the good corn of the Kingdom, thus bleſſedly eradicated; together with the impeachment and impriſonment of Judge Bartlet and divers other Judges and Biſhops, twas moſt ſtrange to ſay and ſee what a ſudden p. 37and generall ſerenitie and calmneſſe from late former fears and affrights ſhon upon the hearts and minds of moſt men a long time after, even all over the Kingdom. Eſpecially, alſo, when that Lamb-skin'd Woolf the Arch-prelate of Canterbury, who had ſo long and ſo craftily and cruelly woorry…d Chriſts innocent lambs, was alſo impeached of high treaſon, and thereupon forthwith, put into ſafe cuſtodie under the Black-rod, and afterward lockt-up faſt in the Tower of London, for his ſuture ſafe forthcoming, and thus all his former huge and hyperbolicall puffe of ayrie honour and falſe windie reputation among his clawing Pontificians, now at laſt tumbled into the duſt, yea beſmeard with the Q Elizabeths ſaying, touching Popiſh Biſhops, in her dayes of deliverance.dirt of due diſgrace, contempt, and ignominie. O then twas m…rry with harmleſſe lambs when ravening wolves were ſhut up f…ſt, and lambs at libertie. As it is recorded to be the ſpeech of that bleſſed Queen Elizabeth of ever-rareſt memorie, upon the Lords delivering her from all her uniuſt, great troubles, by the happie deceaſe of her fierie-Siſter, Queen Marie, when the Romiſh bloodie Biſhops of her time were clapt-up into priſon, in her ſtead, and ſhe delivered from their divill…ſh thraldom.

Yea, then, I ſay, the former thick-clouds and foggi…-miſts of manifold fears began to be cleared, and the fair ſunſhine of The malignant partie, now began to fear.chearfull hopes to ariſe in the hearts of Gods people: and contrariwiſe, a ſtoniſhment and fear began to ſurpriſe the ſpirits of traiterous proiectors, eſpecially at Court. For, much about theſe times, or not long before and after alſo, Sir John Finch, Secretarie Sir Ioh. Finch, Secretary Windibank, &c. flie away for fear.Windibank, Mr. Jermin, and ſince of late alſo, the bold and waſpiſh young Lord Digbie, in the depth of the guilt of their conſciences, being impeached alſo of high treaſon, truſting more to their heels celerity, than their hearts ſinceritie, which, it ſeems, was none at all, poſted away in private like moſt unworthie fugitives, being thus ſpued-out (as I may ſay) of their own native countrey like nauſeous clods on the ſtomach of the State, which could not be at any eaſe or content till it had by ſome means diſgorged them. Or rather, as it is reported of that hatefull vermine Rats and Mice, who by inſtinct of nature, obſerving an old barn or rotten-houſe ready to fall or be puld-down, A fit ſimile of Rats and Mice in an old houſe or barn.they skip and ſcud and creep away, apace, to ſome more remote and ſecure place, thus to ſave themſelves from that (otherwiſe) inevitable deſtruction: So, I ſay, did this traiterous vermine of p. 38our Kingdom, thoſe devouring rats of rapine and mice of miſchief, who would have gnawn and eaten into the bowels of Religion to the ruine of Church and State, finding the rotten-houſe of their long-plotted miſchiefs readie to fall on their own heads, to their unavoidable deſtruction, thought it now h…gh time to skip and ſcud and run away for their lives, and to get themſelves far enough beyond Sea, out of the reach of Justice ſtrong and longreaching A double benefit came to the Kingdom hereby.arm at home. By which means, namely, juſtice, thus cone on ſome of them, and the ſaid ſtroke of justice, thus terrifying and affrighting others away out of the Kingdom; the Church and State are like, by Gods merciemercy, to reap this double benefit, to wit, eaſe and freedom from fears for the preſent time, and alſo moſt hopefull long preſervation for the time to come.

And was not here a rare parliamentarie merciemercy indeed, to the Cateline a… traitor to old Rome.Kingdom? to be rid (any way) of ſuch Catelines of their Countrey? And ought we not to be as thankfull to our God for his privative, as poſitive favours toward us, as well for the abſence of We ought to be as thankful for privative, as poſitive mercies.evill things, as the preſent poſſeſſion of good things, as well to ſee Gods enemies flie before us, as to ſee his faithfull ſervants and dear ſaints returning-home unto us? Yes doubtleſſe; and to triumph in their terrour, and to laugh and reioyce when their fear comes upon them, yea, when it comes upon them like a fierce armedman. Prov. 6. 11. Pſal. 92. 7.Prov 6:11Ps 92:7For, ſo ſaies Solomon and the kingly Prophet David▪ When the wicked ſpring as the graſſe, and when all the workers of iniquitie do flouriſh, it is that they may be deſtroyed for ever. Yea, ſayes he alſo, Pſal. 73. 18, 19.Ps 73:18Ps 73:19Certainly thou, O Lord, didſt ſet them in ſlipperie places, and thou caſtedſt them down into deſtruction. O, how ſuddenly do they fall into deſolation, and are utterly conſumed with fear and terrour! And Pſal. 58. 10, 11.Ps 58:10Ps 58:11then, he ſweetly concludes fully to our purpoſe. The righteous ſhall reioyce when he ſeeth the vengeance, he ſhall waſh his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man ſhall ſay, verily there is a reward for the righteous, verily it is God that iudgeth the earth.

Now, whereas for theſe many yeers, heretofore, the diſcontinuance and unhappie diſſolution of Parliaments hath (moſt like the want of ſoveraign healing-ſalv…s to dangerous ſores) occaſioned extreme preiudice by long f…ſtering and p…ſtering enormities in Church and State, and mightily encouraged the audacious and A Trienniall Parliament▪moſt ungracious workers of iniquitie through ſtrong hopes (thereby) of impunity: Our good God hath by this bleſſed p. 39Parliament provided a cordiall preſervative and ſoveraign antidote againſt ſuch future peſtilentiall diſeaſes and mortiferous growing gangrenes, namely, in that our renowned Worthies have by a firm Act of Parliament, ſetled a Trienniall-Parliament, to be for the time to come duely called among us. And yet farther; ſince the frequent and abrupt diſſolution of Parliaments hath alſo been no ſmall ſupportation to the wicked intentions of traiterous active ſpirits among us: It hath pleaſed the Lord to put into the hearts of the King and Parliament with an unanimous conſent The moſt bleſſed continuation of this preſent Parliament.to paſſe a Bill for the moſt happie and bleſſed continuation of this preſent Parliament, ſo as that it ſhall neither be diſſolved nor adiourned without the conſent of both Houſes. Which two Laws well and ſeriouſly conſidered, (eſpecially the laſt of the The excellent benefit of theſe 2. laſt Laws▪two, the incomparable happineſſe whereof I am not able to relate for the preſent, but time to come may) may juſtly be thought more advantageous to the Kingdom than all the former, becauſe they ſecure a full operation of preſent remedie, like a conſtant courſe of wholſome phyſick to a very crazie bodie full of encreaſing and growing infirmities, affording, I ſay, a perpetuall ſpring of remedies to Church and Common-wealths future growing griefs and maladies. And, becauſe (according to that old adagie) a A three-fold cord is not eaſily broken.threefold knot is not eaſily untied, or a three-fold cord, not eaſily broken; the more ſtrongly to corroborate all our hopes and enſuing comfort…, and to make them as conſtant as cordiall; ſee, how, yet farther it pleaſed the Lord our good God to enlarge his hand of bountie and benignitie toward us, to leave no means unaſſayed that might conduce to a perfect cure; and therefore, I ſay, how he put into the hearts of our ever to be honoured Worthies in Parliament, Both Church and State ſick at the very heart. The Church ſick of a quotidian-ague of Popery. The State of a Conſumption by oppreſſive taxations.both Peers and Commons, ſeriouſly to conſider how ſick at the very heart the Commonwealth was, both Church and State; Religion panting by many fearfull fainting-fits of a ſtrong and violent Quotidian-Ague of Poperie, Arminianiſme, and many Popiſh, apiſh innovations, mightily tending to idolatry, and ſuperſtition; and the State brought into a deep conſumption, almoſt hopeleſſe of remedie, by reaſon of thoſe many and miſchievous taxations and impoſitions moſt unjuſtly preſſing and oppreſſing its ſtrength and abilities, as hath been moſt abundantly ſet forth and ſhewn in our preceding deſcriptions of them. Therefore, I ſay, on judicious adviſe and premeditation of the condition of Both, p. 40our moſt noble Colledge of expert Phyſitians, (by Gods good providence) timely thought on an Aurum-potabile, a precious potion, A Proteſtationa ſelect electuari to recover its almoſt irrecoverable health and ſtrength, a moſt pious and prudent Proteſtation, to be taken (next to the heart) all over the Kingdom to revi… their formerly fainting ſpirits, like pure Aqua-vitae, or moſt ſoveraign ſtomack-water to help us all againſt the future chilling and killing qualms of Poperie and Oppreſſion.

The Proteſtation.

Wedneſday, May, 5. 1641.I, A. B. do in the preſence of almightie God, vow and proteſt to maintain and defend, as far as lawfully I may, with my life, power, and eſtate▪ the true reformed Proteſtant Religion, expreſſed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, againſt all Popery and Popiſh innovations within this Realm, contrary to the ſame doctrine; and according to the dutie of my allegiance, his Majesties royall perſon, honour and eſtate; As alſo the power and priviledges of Parliament; the lawfull rights and liberties of the Subiect, and every perſon that maketh this Proteſtation▪ in whatſoever he ſhall do in the lawfull purſuance of the ſame. And to my power, and as far as lawfully I may, I will oppoſe, and by all good wayes and means endeavour to bring to condign puniſhment, all ſuch as ſhall either by force, practiſe, counſels, plots, conſpiracies, or otherwiſe, do any thing to the contrary of any thing in this preſent Protestation contained. And further, that I ſhall in all iust and honourable waies endeavour to preſerve the union and peace between the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and neither for hope, fear, or other reſpect, ſhall relirquiſh this promiſe, vow and Protestation.

A Proteſtation, I ſay, moſt worthie to be taken by all honeſthearted Engliſh Proteſtants, over the whole Kingdom; a Proteſtation, Who they be that refuſe to take the Proteſtation.which I dare be bold to ſay and juſtifie, none but hard'ned impious Papists, profane atheisticall Libertines, or groſſely ignorant aſſes, and carnall earth-worms onelyonly▪ can dare to be ſo graceleſſe or elſe ſhameleſſe, either directly to refuſe or ſo much as diſſemblingly to defer or neglect on any colour of pretence whatſoever. And that ye may ſee the ſubſtance of what I ſay, herein, ratified by the Worthies of our Parliament, I thought fit to give you here their own Vote thereon.

Friday, July, 30. 1641.Reſolved on the Queſtion.

That this Houſe doth conceive that the Proteſtation made by them p. 41is fit to be taken by every perſon that is well affected in Religion, and to the good of the Commonwealth; and therefore doth declare, that what perſon ſoever ſhall not take the Proteſtation is unfit to bear office in the Church or Commonwealth.

Now then (good Reader) put all theſe laſt recited admirable mercies together, and tell me whether thou doſt not moſt evidently ſee, and mayeſt not moſt freely and faithfully ſay that our God in the Mount of Mercies.great Jehovah hath moſt bleſſedly brought us out of the Mount of many mightie ſtraits and been ſeen for our most happie deliverance from them all in the Mount of mercies? And ſeeing theſe ſo great and gracious mercies to ſo ſinfull and ſo undeſerving a Nation and provoking people as we are, ſo ungratefull, ſo unfruitfull; O who can forbear to break-forth in holy exultation to the high exaltation, by praiſes▪ of our good God, and with the pious Prophet David, that ſugred ſinger of Iſrael, ſay and ſing with Pſal. 18. 1, 2, 3. and 31, 19, 23.Ps 18:1Ps 18:2Ps 18:3Ps 31:19Ps 31:23the … llifluous melodie of a moſt gratefull heart, I will love thee, O Lord, my ſtrength, the Lord is my ſtonie-rock▪ my fortreſſe and my deli… rer, my God, my ſtrength in whom I will truſt; my buckler, the horn of my ſalvation, and my high towre. O how great is thy goodneſſe, O Lord, which thou bast laid-up for them that fear thee, and which thou hast laid-out and wrought for them that truſt in thee, even before the ſons of men. O, therefore, love the Lord all ye his Saints, for the Lord preſerveth the faithfull, and plenteouſly rewardeth the proud doer, Yea, I ſay▪ wait on the Lord (therefore) and be of a good Pſal. 27. 14.Ps 27:14courage and he ſhall ſtrengthen thy heart, wait, I ſay, on the Lord.

Thus have we ſeen what wonders God hath wrought for us, in the Commonwealth; he pleaſed now therefore to lengthen-out and lend me thy Chriſtian patience, and I ſhall now alſo ſhew thee how the Lord hath been as gloriouſly ſeen (if not much more) in the Mount of parliamentarie-mercies to his poor afflicted Parliamentarie mercies to the Church of God.and affrighted Church among us; which yet, the Reader muſt be pleaſed to take notice, were intermixedly performed together with the moſt and first of thoſe fore-mentioned in the Commonwealth, onelyonly I have ranckt them together for mine own better and more methodicall handling of them.

About the beginning of this bleſſed Parliament, the Lord put into the hearts of our grave and godly parliamentarie Senators to act their firſt pious parts about reformation of Religion by p. 42a moſt diligent inquiſition and ſearch after oppreſſions and oppreſſours of the Church of God, and by their parliamentarie power to break and knock off the puſhing horns of thoſe fat buls of **Prelates and Pontificians.Baſhan, wherewith they had fiercely and furiouſly, yea and as it were even frantickly puſht at and almoſt goard to death the people of God: and firſt, upon the petitions of Mrs. Baſtwick and Mrs. Burton, the pious, but (then) moſt diſconſolate and too untimely widowed-wives of their thrice noble and heroick husbands, as alſo a petition exhibited in the behalf of moſt precious Mr. Prinne, that incomparable and rare pair-royall of moſt worthy witneſſes Ier. 38. 7. Dr. Baſtwick, Mr. Burton, Mr. Prinne, freed from priſon. Dr. Laighton alſo, M. Smart, Mr Walker, Mr. Foxely, Mr. Lilborn, & many others ſet a▪ liberty.Jer 38:7of Gods truth; the pious Parliament, like noble Ebed-melech, redeemed thoſe juſt Jeremies of the Lord out of their (otherwiſe) perpetually captivating moſt remote and deſolate dungeons▪ to the great joy and comfort of Gods dear Saints; together with religious Dr. Laighton, a long and lamentable Sufferer for the great cauſe of Religion; as alſo, reverend and religious Mr. Smart, Mr. Walker, Mr. Foxley, and that undaunted picus young gentleman Mr. John Lilborn, and many others, all of them, immediately ſet at libertie on the exhibiting of their petitions to the Parliament, who had moſt of them been moſt unjuſtly and moſt injuriouſly clapt up in cloſe impriſonment, ſome of them fast fetter'd in irons, all of them moſt grievouſly abuſed (by our fathers (forſooth) of the Church, as they will be moſt falſely termed) eſpecially thoſe three former moſt renowned ſuffering-worthies, whom theſe perſecuting Prelates had even moſt barbarouſly, as it were, buried alive in moſt remote and remorſeleſſe (as they entended it) impriſonment from ſight, much leſſe ſociety of any friends, yea utterly debarring their wives from coming to them, clean contrary to the Laws of God and Man; This, I ſay (to their everlaſting ſhame and infamie) being Iſa. 29. 20, 21.Isa 29:20Isa 29:21perpetrated by thoſe right terrible-Ones (indeed) mentioned by the Prophet Yea, thoſe proud ſcorners, who watched for iniquitie, to make a man an offender for a word, and laid ſnares for any that durſt reprove in the gate, and turned aſide the iuſt for a thing of nought. But, whom now the Lord our God hath conſumed and brought to nought, and by their own pernicious and craftie counſels, hath juſtly cut-off, and left in their own ſnare, which they had prepared for others, juſt according to that of wiſe Prov. 11. 8.Prov 11:8King Solomon, The righteous is delivered out of troubles, and the p. 43wicked cometh in his ſtead. The Lord having moſt reſplendently cleared the honour and integritie of all thoſe his honourable ſuffering heroes, reſtoring them to comfort, credit, and high reputation, ever ſince their (as it were, princely and triumphant) return to London, and moſt ſumptuous entertainment to all Gods people, being brought home like three conquering Ceſars on horſback. Even ſo as that we may ſay, and moſt juſtly declare before them, as king Ahaſueros cauſed to be proclaimed before good Mordecai, when he ſo highly honoured him in the very Heſth. 6. 11.ſight and preſence of wicked Haman; Thus ſhall it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour. As it is moſt worthily and punctually related, at large, in their own moſt famous hiſtorie of all their magnanimous ſufferings and even Princelike reſtauration and return from their captivity to former freedom, penned Mr. Prinnes moſt excellent Hiſtory of all thoſe three famous-ſufferers.by pious Mr Prinne himſelf, my ever much honoured and moſt precious friend. And did not the Lord, here moſt ſtrongly and ſtrangely ſhew himſelf in the Mount for the redemption of all theſe his beloved Iſaac's from their unparalell'd thraldom, and threatned utter ruine, and cauſe his wrath to lay hold on thoſe Gen. 22. 13.Gen 22:13Romiſh-Rams who were entangled in the buſhes of their Biſhoplyabuſes to Gods children, and ſo (by his admirable wiſe providence) to make them a prey to his juſt indignation inſtead of his innocent and tenderly affected Iſaac's his beloved lambs? As hereafter in its proper place we ſhall have more full and fit occaſion yet farther to make manifeſt to the eyes and underſtanding of all wiſe and impartiall Judges. We may therefore ſing and ſay with holy David: Be glad in the Lord, therefore, O ye righteous, who thus Pſal. 32. 11. & 3. 1, 3▪ 4.Ps 32:11Ps 3:1Ps 3:3Ps 3:4taſte and trie his great love and truth unto you, and ſhout for ioy all ye …hat are upright in heart. Reioyce, I ſay, in the Lord, O ye righteous, for, praiſes are comely, for the godly. Sing a new ſong to the Lord, yea ſing cheerfully and skilfully with a loud noiſe; for the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done in truth.

Paarliamenta… …rdiners▪Then alſo did our wiſe parliamentarie Gardiners ſtub and grub up thoſe noyſome trees and ſhamefull ſhrubs, whoſe ſpreading ſpight and unprofitable power did mightily overtop, and furiouſly infest the happie harveſt and fair and full crop and encreaſe of Gods bleſſedly fruitfull Orchard-trees, fruitfull I ſay, in holineſſe of life, and painfull and profitable adminiſtration of the Word and Ordinances in their power and purity. For, about this time, alſo, p. 44State-Engineers.our expert State-Engineers, our Worthies in Parliament did moſt prudently countermine, and by their parliamentarie power blowup The Prelates ill-legall Synod nullified.the out-works and Babel-batteries and miſchievous-mounts of our Prelaticall Canoneers, making their ſpureous Synod to be utterly illegall; turning the mouthes of their accurſed Canons, on themſelves, making them (indeed) truly paper-Canons which could neither rend us, nor roar againſt us, but flaſh in their own Their accurſed Canons damned.faces, and ſpoil themſelves; damming them up, or rather damning them, as moſt Antichriſtian and illegall, by an unanimous Vote in Parliament. And as for that monstrous Et-Caetera-Oath, that Their monſtrous Et caetera-Oath alſo condemned.hideous and prodigious Hydra, that bottomleſſe abyſſe, I ſay, and deep-devouring whirl-pool of Romiſh craft and ſubtiltie which ſhould have ſupt and ſwallowed-up into its wide-yawning iaws both Church and Common-wealth, this they alſo happily ſtifled in the Embrio of it, ere it could come to its birth, much leſſe any of its intended Romiſh deſtroying growth and maturitie. Then thoſe moſt prudent Senators for the better purifying of the Churches channels and Conduit-pipes of the Goſpel of grace, and, (by Gods bleſſing) to cauſe them to iſſue forth more wholeſome and pure ſtreams for Gods people to drink of; diſcovered and diſcountenanced too, a ſtinking heap of atheiſtical and Romane-rubbiſh, Scandalous prieſts diſcovered and diſcountenanced.a rotten-rabble of ſcandalous priests and ſpurious baſtard-ſons of Beliall, who by their affected ignorance and lazieneſſ…, their falſe▪ doctrines and idolatrous and ſuperstitious practiſes in Gods worſhip, as alſo by their moſt abhominable evill lives and converſation 1 Sam▪ 2. 17.1 Sam 2:17had, like Hophni and Phincas made the Lords Ordinances to be even abborred by the people, who to their hearts unexpreſſible grief having continually complained of their groſſe miſdemeanours to thoſe who would be counted the grave pi…lars (forſooth) of the Church, but were, indeed, but Rom…s rotten-posts in thus fostering ſuch fostering henbane of the Church, their functions infamie and the fouleſt ſtains of that holy calling; yet could find no redreſſe of thoſe evils; but contrariwiſe, ſcoffs and jeers and more hard encreaſed preſſures heaped on them (juſt like the children of Iſrael in their ſlaviſh brick▪kils) yea and ſometimes puniſhed for complaining; Till, now, thoſe our moſt pious and prudent Reformers voted againſt them as moſt unfit to abide in the Miniſterie. Yea, then thoſe our parliamentarie Worthies, the better to help forward the moſt bleſſed work of p. 45Church-reformation, unanimouſly voted againſt and diſcountenanced Non-reſidents and Pluraliſts voted againſt.all our too-rich and lazie Non-reſidents and ſoul-pining, if not ſoul-plaguing Pluralists, thoſe ſpirituall Polygamiſts, who (were the law of man as firmly exact and ſtrict for ſpirituall as it is for carnall Polygamie, or having two wives) we all know what their danger and juſt demerit ſhould be. With theſe alſo have they moſt worthily voted down, a ſweatleſſe ſwarm of droaniſh Deans & Prebends voted down.Deans and unprofitable Prebends, and ſuch like Clergie-traſh, who lay lurking in the Bec-hives of the Church, and lurching-away the ſweet honey from the laborious Bees, painfull Preachers, yea infesting and moleſting them with their waſpiſh-ſtings of Antichriſtian tyrannie (juſt like the mustie Munches and lazie-Abbeylubbers of Rome, in times paſt, and which baſe and blockiſh condition, they (certainly) longed and laboured (ſecretly) to ſet up again, but I truſt their eyes and heart too, ſhall fail them ere they effect it) untill they had quite driven them out of their honeycombes, and kill'd or ſtarv'd-up them and theirs by priſons or exile; all theſe, I ſay, were by thoſe our bleſſed Maſter-builders in Parliament by their unanimous ſuffrages not onelyonly voted againſt as a ſuperfluous and unprofitable burthen on Gods Church, but Godly Paſtort and Lecturers ſet up again with the peoples conſent.thereby alſo a way was made plain, and wide-doores were ſet open for a bleſſed reſtauration and replantation of moſt faithfull and painfull Paſtours, and laborious Lecturers, choſen and ſet up with the peoples conſent and good liking, and not to have dumbdogs or ſoul-robbers and theeves which came not in at the doore, but through the windows of the Church, violently obtruded on them, whereby the Goſpel begins to thrive and flouriſh again, Iſa. 1. 27.Isa 1:27and Sions young-converts to be graciouſly growing up among us, in the true judgement and knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus; whereas, formerly the Prelates and Pontificians durſt ſcoffe, fleer, and jeer familiarly at thoſe faithfull and painfull Lecturers, and moſt atheistically ask in deriſion, What kind of creatures thoſe Lecturers were, and moſt impiouſly and audaciouſly (even in the preſence of the great God of heaven) vow to **Which very words the Arch-prelate of Ganterbury ſpake moſt proudly to a godly Paſtour my worthy friend.worm them out …re they had done with them. But our good God gave theſe curst cows (or rather wilde buls of Baſhan) ſhort horns, and though they had gone-on in a great meaſure, and done much miſchief therein, yet they could not do the hurt which their hearts aymed at, ever bleſſed and praiſed be our good God for it. And now good p. 46Reader reflect thine eyes and review theſe rare mercies, and tell me then, was not Englands God, herein, alſo ſeen in the Mount of Mercies, by this ſo ſtrange an overture and alteration of Our Candleſticks almoſt loſt, and ſtinking-ſnuffs ſetting-up.things interpoſed between ſuch eminent and imminent danger of utter loſſe of our bright and burning Candlesticks of the Goſpel, and fear of ſtinking ſnuffs of ignorance, errour and atheisticall profaneneſſe to be ſet up in their places, and little or no hope (at leaſt it… humane apprehenſion) of help by leſſe than ſuch miracles of mercies as God himſelf hath in theſe our happie dayes wrought and poured-down upon us, and ſuch indeed as none but a God could procure for us. O how ſweetly and ſuddenly hath God Pſal. 126. 1.Ps 126:1turned our Captivitie into admirable freedom and libertie. And who can conſider theſe things without ſerious and deep admiration? and who can call them to remembrance without heart-raviſhing ioy and delight? yea who can chuſe but acknowledge in his moſt gratefull heart the great praiſes of the Lord? and with holy David, that harmonious chanter and muſicall inchanter of Iſrael, confeſſe Gods infinite free favour and love to England in Pſal. 32. 7.Ps 32:7thus encompaſſing and begirting us about with ſweet ſongs of ſuch deliverances.

But yet here's not all, for our bleſſed parliamentarie Worthies have alſo given us great hope (by Gods goodneſſe) of timely Oxford and Cambridge hopefull to be purged.purging alſo the two famous Fountains of our Kingdom, Oxford and Cambridge from the much myre and mud of Romiſh innovations, which, ſetling there alſo hath made their ſtreams ſtink of Poperie; yea, I ſay, great hopes of happily healing the (once moſt clear-ſighted, but now and of long time) blear-eyes of our Nation, grown mightie ſore with Romiſh-redneſſe, by drinking in too much of the wine-lees of poyſoning Popiſh fopperies; in ſo much that Truths clear ſighted Servants eyes began to be mightily offended by but looking on them; and not without cauſe, for, Matth. 6. 23.Matt 6:23as our Saviour himſelf ſaies; If the eyes be evill, the whole bodie will be full of darkneſſe; and, if the light that is in a kingdom (and eſpecially which is to give light to a whole kingdom) be darkneſſe, O how great is that darkneſſe! and ſuch truly began to be our Kingdoms condition; but now we have, I ſay, great hopes, by Gods gracious aſſistance, that our Parliament will ſeaſonably provide a ſoveraign Collyrium or eye-ſalve, ſome well-distilled eyebright of Reformation to purifie the ſight of theſe two, once moſt p. 47glorious lights in the whole Chriſtian world.

Yea, theſe our noble Nehemiahs, and grave and gracious Ezra's have taken moſt pious pains to ſee Gods Sabbaths more ſincerely ſanctified than of late they have been, and the profane ſoil Sabbath-dayes better ſanctified.of trauelling Carriers, Taverns, Ale-houſes, and Tobacco-ſhops, and other looſe and irreligious Shop-keepers (who heretofore mightily polluted that day) moſt ſweetly ſwept away any cleanſed. A work of great concernment and high eſteem for the glorie The due praiſe of the true ſanctification of the Sabbath.of the Lord, than which, I am certain, a greater, a better cannot be undertaken, as being the very prop and promoter of all true Religion, and without the entire and ſincere ſanctification whereof all true religion would quickly decay, and be utterly loſt; yea, I ſay, a Nation-upholding Chriſtian dutie of richeſt valuation, as having more precious promiſes annexed to it than any other I know of in the whole book of God, and which hath more ennobled our Realm and made our Kingdom more illuſtrious (God alone who hath ſo graciouſly upheld it among us, have all the praiſe and glorie of it, and we onelyonly the comfort) than all our reformed Neighbours about us; yea ſuch a bleſſed and holy duty as hath cauſed more mercies to fall, yea flow, upon our Engliſh-Nation than ever did on any people of the Chriſtian world. Yet our moſt iniurious Prelates, together with their profane Pontificks have moſt ſhameleſly ſtriven to viciate and defile this our Sabbaths precious honour (the main readie and road-way to have brought the curſe of God upon us▪ and utterly to have ruinated our whole Kingdom) by whoſe means it began in King James his dayes to A profane book for ſports on the Lords day.receive a deep died ſtain by that moſt wicked and accurſed book of tolerating vain ſports and profane recreations, forſooth, on the Lords day, which, ſince hath been avowed and advanced more highly by them, than, at the first; but now, ſince, in our preſent Soveraignes time more pertinaciouſly preſſed and perniciouſly enforced on Gods dear Saints and ſervants in the miniſterie than formerly it had been, whoſe tender-conſciences could not Moſt violently preſſed by the Prelates on Gods people.endure it, and who (being in their moſt just zeal for the Lords high honour therein, and ſincere love to true Religion tranſported above all fears and frowns) were moſt egregiouſly abuſed, vexed and puniſhed for refuſing to admit and read the ſaid wicked-book in their Churches: untill it moſt graciouſly pleaſed our good God by the bleſſed Parliament to prevent the moſt miſchievous p. 48growth of this unexpreſſible abomination of our ſo holy Fathers of the Church together with the rotten rable of Pontifick-Arminians, Romes Minions indeed, by a particular Order from the Houſe of Commons in Parliament for the more ſtrict ſanctification of that day, which I have hereunto annexed.

The Order of the Houſe of Commons for the due ſanctication of the Sabbath or Lords day, April, 10^th. 1641.

IT is this day ordered by the Houſe of Commons that the Aldermen and Citizens that ſerve for the Citie of London, ſhall intimate to the Lord Maior, from this Hou e that the Statutes for the due obſerving of the Sabbath be put in execution. And it is further ordered, that the like intimation from this Houſe be made to the Juſtices of Peace in all the Counties of England and Wales. And the Knights of the Shire of the ſeverall Counties are to take care that copies of this order be accordingly ſent to the Justices of Peace in the ſeverall Counties.

Printing-Preſſes ſet open again. The Sabbaths honour thereby vindicate… ▪ God in the Mount.And alſo by ſetting our Printing-Preſſes open whereby a happie way was laid open again for Gods learned and loyall Servants by their pious pens and elaborate labours to vindicate the Sabbaths moſt glorious lustre to the honour of godlineſſe and purity of Religi n. And was not the Lord, herein, alſo, ſeen in the Mount of Mercies for Englands preſervation from the guilt of ſuch a wrath provoking ſin, of ſuch a Land-ſcourging r… as this might have proved to out Kingdom▪ had it ſo continued, as by the Pſal. 47, 6, 7, 8.Ps 47:6Ps 47:7Ps 47:8helliſh zeal of out Prelates it was intended▪ Sing praiſes, therefore, O England, ſing praiſes unto God, O ſing praiſes, ſing praiſes to our glorious King. For, God is the King of all the earth, ſing praiſes, therefore, O England, to thy God with understanding. Thy God, O England, reigns over the whole world, and ſits gloriouſly triumphing on the throne of his holineſſe.

Gods worſhip in the Church, better ordered.Yet, here's not all, for, our ever to be honoured heroick Parliamentarie▪ Worthies have added to that former pious pains o… theirs, this their godly care alſo, namely, to … and purifie the holy worſhip of our God from the filthie l…s and dregs of Popiſh From Romiſh Ceremonies.Ceremonies, whereby the tender …onſciences or godly Miniſters are not ſo tyed to Romiſh trumper… of vestures▪ and gestures, p. 49crouchings and cringings, and Jeſu-worſhippings, and a multitude of ſuch like mimicall actions in Gods worſhip and ſervice, as formerly they had been moſt tyrannically preſſed and enforced to. Crucifixes and Popiſh▪pictures in Churches dimoliſhed.Yea, all Images, Crucifixes, and any pictures or repreſentations of any of the perſons of the Trinity, or of the Virgin Mary, quite dimoliſhed and extirpated out of Gods houſe; All corporall Jeſu-worſhip, I ſay, and altar-adoration (ſure and infallible ſignes of Popiſh ignorance, and of the Romiſh-Strumpets outward-paintings, but inward rottenneſſe, what ever fair (yet falſe) pretences fooliſh men and women would, like Jeroboam for his golden calves-worſhip, All Jeſu-worſhip prohibited, and all altar-rails dimoliſhed.impiouſly put upon them) moſt piouſly prohibited, and Altar-rails pull'd-down, and Communion-Tables ſet in their proper postures; yea all high-ſteps and aſcents to their Altars (clean **Exod. 20▪ 26.Exod 20:26contrary to Gods preſcript word) by degrees commanded to be levelled; burthens and conſcience-grievances, which neither we nor our fore-fathers that truly loved the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and were tenderly-affected to his pure worſhip, could poſſibly bear: But now they are moſt happily taken from our tyred necks, and almoſt broken-backs, as by an Order of Parliament may and doth moſt comfortably appear, which for the precious excellency and rare memory thereof, I have thought good here to inſert, exactly and verbatim as it came from the Parliament, to the everlasting glorie of our great and good God, the honour of our Worthies in Parliament, and the unexpreſſibly joy and conſolation of all Gods people that peruſe it.

An Order from the Parliament againſt divers Popiſh Innovations. Dated, Sept. 8. 1641. being Wedneſday.

VVHereas divers Innovations in or about the worſhip of God have been lately practiſed in this Kingdom, by enjoyning ſome things and prohibiting others without warrant of Law, to the great grievance and diſcontent of his Majesties Subiects; for the ſuppreſſing of ſuch Innovations, and for preſervation of the publike peace, it is this day ordered by the Commons in Parliament aſſembled, that the Church-wardens of every Pariſh and Chappell reſpectively, do forthwith remove the Communion-Table from the East end of the Church, Chappell, or Chancell, into ſome other convenient place; and that they take away the Rails, and levell the Chancels, as heretofore p. 50they were, before the late innovations. That all crucifixes, ſcandalous pictures of any one or more perſons of the Trinitie, and all Images of the Virgin Mary ſhall be taken away and aboliſhed, and that all tapers, candleſticks and baſons be removed from the Communion-Table. That all corporall bowing at the Name (Jeſus) or toward the East end of the Church, Chappell, or Chancell, or toward the Communion-Table be henceforth forborn: That the Orders aforeſaid be obſerved in all the ſeverall Cathedrall Churches of this Kingdom, and all the Collegiate Churches or Chappels in the two Ʋniverſities, or any other part of the Kingdom, and in the Temple-Church, and the Chappels of the other Innes of Court by the Deans of the ſaid Cathedrals, by the Vice-chancellours of the ſaid Ʋniverſities, and by the Heads and Governors of the ſeverall Colledges and Halls aforeſaid, and by the Benchers and Readers in the ſaid Innes of Court reſpectively. That the Lords day be duely obſerved and ſanctified all dancing and other ſports, either before or after Divine Service be forborn and reſtrained, and that the preaching of Gods Word be permitted in the afternoon in the ſeverall Churches and Chappels of this Kingdom, and that Preachers and Ministers be encouraged thereunto. That the Vice-chancellors of the Ʋniverſities, Heads and Governours of Colledges, all Parſons, Vicars, and Church-warden▪ do make certificates of the performance of theſe Orders: and if the ſame ſhall not be obſerved in any the places afore-mentioned, upon complaint thereof made to the two next Juſtices of Peace, Major, or Head-officers of Cities or Towns Corporate. It is ordered that the ſaid Juſtices, Major, or other Head-officers reſpectively, ſhall examine the truth of all ſuch complaints, and certifie by whoſe default the ſame are committed. All which Certificates are to be delivered in Parliament before the thirtieth of Octob. next. Reſolv'd upon the Question▪ That this Order now read ſhall be an Order of it ſelf, without any addition for the preſent and that it ſhall be printed and publiſhed.

Nay, here's not all yet, for, our God whoſe hands are ſtill open to repleniſh and ſatisfie our ſouls with ioy and gladneſſe▪ yea Libertie to hear the Word without controlment.(now) to nouriſh and cheriſh our formerly ſad hearts with the failings of his over-flowing favours, hath taken from us our accuſtomed terrours and restraints of free libertie to hear the ſweet ſound of Aarons b…ls eſpecially on the Lords▪dayes. As is more fully ſeen and aſſiſted by a bleſſed Order from the Parliament to our unexpreſſible comfort, which Order I have thought fit to be here inſerted.

p. 51Die Mercurii, Sept. 8. 1641.

IT is this day ordered by the Houſe of Commons, now aſſembled in Parliament; That it ſhall be lawfull for the Pariſhioners of any Pariſh within the Kingdom of England and Wales, to ſet up a Lecture, and to maintain an orthodox Miniſter, at their own charge, to preach every Lords-day, where there is no preaching, and to preach one day in the week, where there is no weekly Lecture.

He. Elſyn. Cler. Dom. Com.

Whereby no man (now) is enforced to ſtay at his own Church where there is no preaching to promote the honour of the day, and to feed hungrie ſouls with that heavenly manna, whereof (the Lord knows) many thouſand ſouls in citie and countrey ſtood in The miſerie of mens ſouls by Prelates ſoulcrueltie.need, and (had our Prelates ſtood in the heighth of their quondam pride and crueltie) they muſt not have ſtir'd out of their own Pariſhes to ſeek it elſewhere, but their ſouls muſt have ſtarved and died for lack of it, or elſe have been poyſoned▪ with baſe Arminian ſtuffe and dregs of Poperie, thereby to ſuffocate and choak A notable peice of Prelaticall tyrannies now, bleſſedly aboliſhed.their poore ſouls and ſpirituall underſtanding, and to make them (like themſelves) fit fuell for the increaſe of the flames of hell; Such▪ I ſay, was their ſoul-killing crueltie and tyrannie. For why, in thoſe dayes of the ruffe of their pride, they had familiarly and moſt eaſily (yet with Romiſh craft and ſubtiltie) under a pretence (forſooth) of too-abſtruſe and profound and dangerous points not The Kings Declaration before the book of Articles.fit to be handled in pulpits by ordinarie Preachers, but by their grave Biſhops, Doctors▪ Deans▪ and ſuch-like rare ſeraphicall rhetoritians, Schoolmen, and maſters of (high-Commiſſion) Sentences, nor in all Churches, but in Cathedrals (forſooth) and that not at all times, but at Eaſter, and Whitſuntide; and ſuch like ſolemn Feſtivals, under theſe pretences. I ſay, they had by their exorbitant Eccleſiaſticall power and juriſdiction, eaſily, but impiouſly prohibited The High-Commiſſion Court moſt bleſſedly put down.all pure and powerfull preaching on deep points of o…l-ſaving-grace, as free juſtification by faith▪ predeſtination, certainty of ſalvation, finall perſeverance▪ and ſuch like; diſcountenancing▪ yea puniſhing all thoſe that thus preached or oppoſed their Popiſh-Arminian Doctrines, and advancing and preferring none but their own Arminian faction, rotten-hearted Prete…ſes▪ apt to be p. 52A fit deſcription of the Arminian rabble.turn'd with every wind of falſe-doctrine, meer temporizers, altar …ringers▪ fellows onelyonly fit to make Romiſh-jades to carry Popiſh-packs to Lambeth Fair, and ſoul-cruſhing burthens on their baſebacks, and mercenarie ſhoulders. But, now, ſee (I ſay) (O, to heavens eternall praiſe and glorie be it ſpoken, and to our unſpeakable Romes caterpillers blown away.comfort) how our good God, by his bleſſed Parliament hath freed our Pulpits, Churches, and our conſciences too from the ſoul-devouring corruptions of theſe Clergie-caterpillars, no better than Romiſh-locuſts who are moſt bleſſedly blown away with the Eaſtern-wind of Gods vindicative indignation againſt them. And inſtead of theſe that did ſo beſmear, deface and defile Truths moſt amiable countenance and ſacred beautie, the Lords Perſecuted Paſtors return home.gracious out-caſts (who had formerly been checkt and chid, and churliſhly forced out of the Kingdom (by our Prelates pride and inſolencie (more worth than thouſands of their Pontifick train) and conſtrained to expoſe their lives, their wives, children, and eſtates, to all the miſeries which Sea and Land could threaten or bring upon them, are now moſt happily call'd home again. O iniurious holy Fathers, thus unworthily to uſe, thus irreligiouſly to abuſe Gods ſo precious iewels, and to prize their beggarly Popiſh ceremonies before ſuch holy Saints of God, who ſhined ſo illuſtriouſly both in their lives and learning. By which ſo bleſſed change and overture for the beſt, Truth durſt now ſhew her fair face in every pulpit, and ſpeak plainly and home, and needed not (as formerly) to be ſhrouded under ſecret ſhelters, or creep into corners for fear of pernicious perſecutours: yet thus it was, …ea thus it familiarly was practiſed by our Prelates (to their indelible ſhame and infamie be it ſpoken) witneſſe their hideous High-Commiſſion-Court, a Court of everlasting illſavour, which, indeed I may fitlier call a Spightfull rather than a Spirituall Court: which at the firſt (as a reverend and eminent divine well notes) was ordained▪ like the dogs in Romes capitoll, The High-Commiſſion-Court moſt bleſſedly put down.to fright and ſcare away Romiſh Jeſuiticall theeves and enemies of the Church; but hath all along, for the moſt pa…t ſorely bitten and barked againſt honeſt men onelyonly (eſpecially in theſe our later dayes) and driven them from the Church. A Court, I ſay, which made no ſcruple familiarly to ſlay both the ſouls and bodies of Gods moſt dear and precious ſervants, not onelyonly in thoſe hot Marian-flam…ng dayes, but even in theſe our more modern times, wherein our Prelates and their pragmaticall Pontifician Sycophants p. 53did ſo crake & brag of their ſoft & ſmooth fatherly-government of the Church, O how many ſoules and bodies hath that accurſed Court ſhut up in dark dungeons▪ or els made poor waveringmindes A brief deſcription of the High-Commiſſion-Courtturn Apoſtates for fear of their Harpeian-pawes to cruſh and ſqueez them out of their meanes and livelyhoods, to the utter undoing of them and theirs. The wickedneſs of which Court may more fully, yea more foully appear by our taking notice of the limmes and members of it, who from the very head to the foot of them, are a pack of irreligious, profane, and moſt looſe-lived The members of the High-Commiſſion-Court duely delineated.nominall Protestants at large, yea, generally, atheiſticall ſcoffers at ſinceritie in Religion and the power of godlineſs, which indeed was a paradox & meer mysterie to them, & w^ch they never were nor would be acquainted with. Certainly, all that rightly know them & know, how, piouſly to diſcern and to judge between light and darkneſs, can truely teſtifie with me this truth, that it is exceeding difficult (if not impoſſible) to finde one among them all that is truely and cordially pious, even the best of them aſcending onelyonly to the happineſs of a meer civill-honeſt man, (in my beſt obſervation of them for theſe fortie or fiftie years) and what their happineſs therein is, (if it aſcend no higher) our bleſſed Saviour Chriſt himſelf will to their little comfort tell them namely, that Mat. 5. 20.Matt 5:20if their righteouſneſs exceed not the righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, they ſhall never enter into the Kingdome of heaven. But, now, bleſſed, for ever bleſſed and praiſed be our juſt and glorious God, this wicked Court, together with that other illegitimate The Ex Officio Oath damned.and ſpurious off-ſpring of our Lordly Prelates, I mean, their Oath Ex Officio▪ an elder bratt of the other Babyloniſh-brood, and no leſſe replete with accurſed Conſcience-torturing Snares than the other, to break the backes of mens and womens eſtates, conſciences, and earthly comforts, by racking the very Soules and wracking the bodies, by impriſonments, of both Sexes that were conſciencious, and would not obey their wicked injunctions. And in no ſmall meaſure alſo was this Court and Oath, together with their perjurious and vile Viſitation-Articles, a moſt miſerable vexation to poor Church-Wardens all over the Kingdome, who Church-Wardēs freed from their viſitation vexations.by theſe netts were entangled, and by their moſt unjuſt … and unlawfull injunctions were made a prey to their p rnicious practiſes, and thereby alſo made forges and a…vills for the Prelates to hammer all their torturing taxations on Gods peoples p. 54Conſciences. But, now, I ſay, both this wicked Court and thoſe their baſtard-bratts are (by Gods good providence and great merciemercy) condemned to return to their Stygian-Patrons, from whom they had their firſt rice and Originall. And, O, I could wiſh, with all my heart, that (in …ternam rei infamiam) That-Sentence were ſet on this Court, or that roome of Lambeth-Houſe where it was conſtantly kept, which is mentioned in the prophecie of Dan. 2. 5. & 3 2….Dan 2:5Dan 3:2Daniel, namely, that it might be made a jakes or dunghill, with this inſcription engraven in Marble with fair capitall letters. **The High-Commiſſion-Courts deſerved deſtin…e, being the vote of a reverend holy Miniſter of this Kingdome. See beer the extreame malice and rage of the Prelates. The Starr-Chamber Court voted down▪ and the Councill-Table limited & reſtrained.This jakes was, once, the High-Commiſſion-Court. So hatefull and hurtfull, I ſay, was that Court and its accurſed effects to Gods people in this Kingdome, eſpecially being back… and …oulſterd-up with the irreſistible wrongs and unavoidable oppreſſive cenſures of the Star-Chamber, whether godly men and women of all ranks and conditions that diſobeyed the High-Commiſſions unlawfull Commands, were turned over when their own Eccleſiaſticall Power was not prevalent enough to puniſh and plague them ſo deeply as their malice and miſchief aymed at: Yea and the all-overtopping power of the Councill-Table was no ſmall aſſailant of the ſubjects and aſſiſtant to the Prelates wicked Deſignes; but, that tyrannizing Starr-Chamber Court is by our prudent Parliamentary Worthies voted down (as hath been formerly touched) to the unſpeakable comfort and freedome of the Kings beſt and moſt loyall Subjects; and the immoderate and exceſſive power of the Councell-Table is by the wiſdome of our moſt Worthy Senators ſo ordered and reſtrained, that we may well hope (by Gods merciemercy) ſuch things as were heert…fore frequently done to the intolerable prejudice of the Subjects libertie, will appear amongſt us in future times but onelyonly in Stories, to give us and our poſteritie more juſt occaſion to bleſs our God for his Majeſties goodn ſs, and for the faithfull and indefatigable endeavours of this preſent Parliament.

Now, then, put all theſe laſt fore-mentioned Parliamentary-Mercies together into one account, and then tell me whether Thoſe laſt great mercies ſummed up together.they do not ariſe to a mightie … and deep debt of …erlaſtingly obliging gratitude to our ſo bountifull and …p…n-handed & enlargedhearted a God to us ſo und ſerving, and rather wrath-provoking a people, in thus conferring ſuch … ſuch incomparable free kindneſſes on England ſuch a ſinfull naug… …ie Nation? Yea, tell mee (good Reader) on ſerious reco…ction and recogitation of p. 55theſe moſt bounteous bl ſſings, whether the Lord Jehovah hath not been ſeen moſt conſpicuouſly to England above all Nations round about it, On the Mount of matchleſs Mercies (to the ineffable God in the Mount.joy and rejoycing of our Soules) in the deepeſt gulfes of our ſtinging-Staites. Whether our God hath not with admirable patience, Iſa. 30. 18, 19, 20.Isa 30:18Isa 30:19Isa 30:20goodnes, and favour, waited on us that he might be gracious unto us, and exalted himſelf that he might have merciemercy upon us: for the Lord is a God of judgement, O bleſſed are all they that wiſely wait for him. For, his people ſhall dwell in Sion at Jeruſalem and ſhall weep no more. For, he will be very gracious unto them at the voice of their cry, and when he ſhall hear it, he will anſwer them. And though the Lord give them the bread of adverſarie (for a ſeaſon) and the water of affliction, yet ſhall not their Teachers be removed into a corner any more, but their eyes ſhall ſee their Teachers again. Thus, O even thus hath our gracious God directly dealt with us, thus hath our Engliſh-Iſraels Sh…aph…rd of his late poor deſpiſed ſtock kept a carefull watch over us, who had been els made the Prelates perpetuall-Aſſes England like to have been Romes perpetuall Aſs. Pſal 7…. 19, 20 23, 24.Ps 7:19Ps 7:20to bear all their Romiſh and ſlaviſh burthens. Wherefore with holy David, we may juſtly and ingenuouſly acknowledge; Thy righteouſnes, O God, is very high, who haſt done great things for us, O God who is like unto thee? Thou who haſt ſhown us great and ſore troubles, yet haſt quickned us again and brought us up from the depth of the grave. Our lips ſhall greatly rejoyce when we ſing unto thee, and our hearts and ſoules which …hou haſt redeemed. Our tongues ſhall talk of thy righteouſneſs all the day long; for they are confounded and brought unto ſhame which moſt ſeditiouſly and ſcelerouſly ought our deſtruction. And thus have we all moſt perſpicuouſly …een and obſerved how gracious and propitious the Lord hath been to his late moſt tottering Church▪ croſſing her … …n all their deepeſt deſignes & moſt ſublime imaginations, leaving them ſtill in the lurch and loſs when they ſeemed to ſwell with higheſt conc…ipts of cruell and accurſed conqueſts over their harmleſs brethren, letting them ſee (if they wilfully blind not their eyes) their big-ſwoln tympanie of unſufferable pride and arrogancie to be turned A tympanie of pride An … fatuus o… ſelfdeceit.into a flaſhie ignis fatuus of ſelf-deceiving ſubtiltie; and changing all their vaporous▪puffs of groſs impiety into folly and madneſs

But, now let us proceed to enlarge our moſt ſerious obſervations on what remains ſtill in a moſt admirable meaſure heerin, and p. 56let us yet farther ſee and conſider, how the Lord who is neverweary of well-doing▪ nay who takes delight and great pleaſure to pleaſure his freely beloved Ones with his plenteous benefits; Of Gen. 27▪ 38.Gen 27:38whom we cannot ſay as Eſau to his Father Iſaac; Haſt thou but God is an unexhauſted Spring of merciesone bleſſing, my Father? but a God who the more he gives the more he hath to give, being indeed, an unexhauſtible ſpring and never to be dryed but ever-overflowing fountain of all goodnes whatſoever. But, withall, take this note by the way with thee, good Reader, that as before, ſo now eſpecially in theſe enſuing remarkable mercies thou ſhalt ſee the rage and malice of the malignant partie, marveilouſly interpoſing their wicked plotts to croſs and utterly to fruſtrate, as much as in them lay, all the wayes and means of Gods intended, yea and miraculouſly performed mercies to us, but yet all their plotts and deſperate deſignes by Gods good providence, were ſtill ſtrangely thwarted and timely diſcovered and diſappointed, to our comfort and their ſhame and helpleſs vexation. Let us now then, I ſay, goe-on to ſee how our glorious Lord and King perſiſts to make us (of our ſelves, I confeſſe, and in reſpect of our Capernaum-like means of grace ſo unimproved, the moſt▪ infull and undeſerving Nation under heaven) the moſt beloved and Compelling of the Subject to take the Order of Knighthood, aboliſhed. Stannary-Courts and Clerkes of Markets rectified. Parkes and Forreſts alſo rightly ordered. Prieſts and Ieſuites baniſhed. Sommerſett-Houſe, that cage of unclean birds cleanſed.happieſt Nation in the world. See therefore how our renowned Parliamentary-Worthies freed the Kingdome from that former illegall compelling of the Subject to receive the order of Knighthood againſt their will; from the encroachments and oppreſſion of the Stannary-Courts and Extortions by Clerkes of Markets, from vile vexations alſo by Parkes and Forreſts, which were now by a Law reduced into their right bounds and limits. Yea how they moved and prevailed with the King to ſet forth his Proclamation for baniſhing all the Romiſh Prieſts and Jeſuites out of the Kingdome on pain of death upon their after-apprehenſion in the Land: Together with an Act of Parliament for diſarming of all Popiſh-Recuſants over the whole Kingdome, to the great comfort and ſecuritie of Gods people, who before were in continuall feare of their miſchievous inſurrections, as being well acquainted with their rebellious Spirits on all advantages▪ it alſo being a Principle of their Religion, for the advancement of the Catholick-Cauſe, not to keep any plighted faith with Heretickes; for ſuch they account all that are not of their Romiſh (not faith, but) faction. Yea that cage of moſt unclean birds, Sommerſet-Houſe, I mean, in the Strand, cleanſed in good meaſure of thoſe Egyptian croaking Froggs, the Filthy Capuchin-Fryers and Priests, who lay lurking there too long, like ſo many muzled Wolves and Tygers: all theſe or the moſt of them baniſhed and tranſported over-Sea from us: And the Queen-Mother of France, (the more to free our hearts The Queen-Mother of France alſo ſent away.from feares and diſcontents) happily alſo tranſported beyond Sea from us. About which time alſo to ſettle our hearts with yet more ſolid comfort, and the more firmly to conſolidate our future hoped happines, it pleaſed the Lord to put into the hearts of our moſt noble Parliamentary Patriots, to unite and knit all the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland, in-a moſt firme A moſt happie union between all the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland. An act alſo of oblivion therunto annexed. Both Armies in the North diſbanded.League and Conjunction of perpetuall love and amitie, and of mutuall defence againſt all malignant Adverſaries either domeſtick or forrein: and to confirm all this by a particular act of Parliament, ratified by a full conſent of the King and both Houſes, together with an act of abſolute oblivion of all exceptions and differences whatſoever formerly intervening twixt Prince and people. Upon which both Armies of Engliſh and Scottiſh Souldiers were ſhortly after moſt happily & peaceably diſmiſſed and disbanded, to the high hononr of our wonder-working God, and the unexpreſſible joy and comfort of both Nations, thus moſt lovingly and ſweetly ſhaking hands of true friendſhip at their peaceable departure.

And for the farther confirmation of this our happines and due retribution of praiſe and glory to the Lord our God the authour of it, there was an Ordinance of Parliament for a day of publick and ſolemn thankeſgiving for this peace ſo happily concluded between England and Scotland, which for the glorie of God and honour of our King and Worthies in Parliament, I have thought fit here to inſert verbatîm as it was publiſhed.

An Ordinance of Parliament for a day of publick thankſgiving for the peace concluded between England and Scotland.

Auguſt the 27. 1641.VVHereas it hath pleaſed almightie God to give a happie cloſe to the treatie of peace, between the two Nations of England and Scotland, by his wiſe providence defeating the evill hopes of the ſubtill adverſaries of both Kingdomes; for which great mercy, it was by the Kings most excellent Majestie, the Lords and Commons in this preſent Parliament enacted, that there ſhould be a publick thanksgiving p. 58in all the Pariſh-Churches of his Majesties Dominions: It is now ordered and declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, that the time for the celebration of that publick thanks to almightie God for ſo great and publick a bleſſing, ſhall be on tueſday the 7^th of Sept. by prayers, reading and preaching of the Word in all Churches and Chappels of this Kingdome, whereof we require a carefull and due obſervance; that we may joyne in giving thanks, as we partake of the bleſſing with our brethren of Scotland, who have deſigned the ſame day for that dutie.

According to the act of this preſent Parliament, for confirmation of the Treatie of Pacification between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland, whereas it was deſired by the Commiſſioners of Scotland, Our brethren of Scotland atteſted to be loyall & faithfull Subjects.that the loyaltie and faithfulneſs of his Majesties Subjects might be made known at the time of the publick thanksgiving in all places, and particularly in all Pariſh-Churches of his Majeſties Dominions: Which request was graciouſly condeſcended unto by his Majeſtie, and confirmed by the ſaid Act. It is now ordered and commanded by both Houſes of Parliament, that the ſame be effectually done in all Pariſh-Churches throughout this Kingdome upon tueſday the 7^th day of Sept. What ſaid our Arminian foulmouth'd Prieſts to this.next coming, at the time of the publick thanksgiving by the ſeverall and reſpective Miniſters of each Pariſh-Church, or by their Curates, who are heerby required to reade this preſent Order in the Church.

God in the Mount.And was not the Lord moſt gloriouſly heer ſeen in the Mount of admirable merciemercy and deliverance to England and Scotland after ſuch a marveilous manner as never any Nation could produce the like parallell of gracious providence? And may we not therefore with holy David▪ Iſraels ſweet ſinger confeſs we have found the Pſal. 9. 9, 10.Ps 9:9Ps 9:10Lord (according to his word) a ſure defence for the oppreſſed, even a refuge in time of trouble. And therefore they that know thy name will put their truſt in thee, for thou Lord haſt not forſaken them that Pſal. 68. 20.Ps 68:20have ſeriouſly ſought thee. Yea, he that is our God is the God of ſalvation, and unto this God and mightie Lord belong the iſſues from death▪ Heer alſo ere I have done with this merciemercy, let me deſire the Reader to take notice of the admirable wiſdome and juſtice of God in thus clearing the innocencie and integritie of his children▪ O, what bitter aſperſions did the Prelates, Arminians, and malignant partie caſt on our brethren of Scotland at the firſt, nothing but traytors and rebells could be heard out of their ſlanderous p. 59mouths: But, now ſee, I ſay, how Gods wiſdome and justice ordered Thoſe ſlanderous tongues of wicked Prieſts forced to give themſelves the lye in their Pulpits. I…. 5. 16. Pſal. 63. 11.Ps 63:11it, that even thoſe tongues that had ſo taunted them▪ yea and in their pulpits too, ſhould now be forced even in the face of their Congregations to give themſelves the lye. That of Job being heerin moſt clearly ratified▪ that The poore hath hope and iniquitie ſtoppeth her mouth: and that alſo of the holy Prophet David, which is full to our purpoſe, That the King and all good men ſhall exceedingly rejoyce and glorie in God; but the mouth of them that ſpeake lyes ſhall be ſtopped. And now alſo, let me tell thee, courteous Reader, (to make theſe mercies yet more glorious to the praiſe of our God) that in the interim that thoſe two Armies lay ſo together in the North, the peſtilent Spirits of the Malignant partie lay not ſtill, but were moſt maliciouſly working by their agents and inſtruments (the Popiſh Lords and pernicious Prelates being alſo maine ſticklers in all theſe miſchievous deſignes) to diſaffect A notable deſign of the Popiſh Lords and Prelates with the Engliſh Armie in the North.and diſcontent his Majeſties Armie by ſcandalous and moſt falſe accuſations and imputations on the Parliament, thus to engage it for the maintenance of their moſt wicked deſignes of keeping-up the Biſhops in their votes & Lordly honours and functions, and by force to compell the Parliament to order limit and diſpoſe their parliamentarie proceedings in ſuch a manner as might best concurre with the intentions of their dangerous and potent faction. Now this plot of bringing the Engliſh - Armie from the North Southward to London againſt the Parliament for the cauſes aforeſaid, having been particularly enquired into and examined both by that noble and vertuous Gentleman M^r Fynes and Sir Philip Stapleton, with others, they made report thereof to the Houſe of Commons about June 17. 1641. That they found, that for the advancing of the ſaid plott, the Earl of Strafford had attempted The Earle of Straford attempted his eſcape out of the Tower.his eſcape out of the Tower, and to effect it the better, had promiſed that worthy Gentleman Sir William Belfore, then Leifetenant of the Towre 20000 li. and to marry his Sonne to his Daughter, and to make it one of the greateſt Matches in the Kingdome; but Sir Williams loyaltie was ſuch as not to be corrupted by ſuch baſe bribes. That Captain Billingſl…y was invited by Sir John Suckling, (a ſuckling, indeed, in honeſtie, but not Sir Iohn Suckling a partie in this plott.in treacherie,) to have employment in this pernicious project; and that one Captain Chidley brought down many inſtructions to the Armie. That Colonell Goring ſhould have been Leivetenant-generall p. 60The Prince alſo and the Earl of Newcaſtle were to advance the work. The French alſo were to aſſiſt in it. The hot zeale of our holy Biſhops to work our deſtructionof the ſaid Armie, and that the Prince and the Lord of Newcaſtle were to meet them in Nottinghamſhire with a thouſand Horſe; all which Propoſitions came from M^r Jermine and were diſperſed and made known by Serjeant Major Wallis and Captain Chidley. The ſaid Wallis having confeſſed alſo that the French would aſſiſt them in this their Deſign; and that our holy (or rather hollow-hearted) Clergie of England, whereof the reverend (forſooth) Biſhops were the ringleaders, would at their own charge ſet forth and maintain a thouſand horſe; farr more than ever they yet proffered (by a thouſand) to aſſiſt againſt the barbarous and bloudy Popiſh Rebells of Ireland: To the addition of their everlaſting ſhame and ignominie be it ſpoken. Maſter Iermines Letter intercepted.Finally, that an intercepted Letter of M^r Jermines to M^r Mountague imported, that they expected the Earl of Straford with them in the North (but bleſſed be the Lord, their wicked hope was fruſtrated as aforeſaid) and that for the better completing Portſmouth alſo attempted to be got into their hands.of theſe their moſt accurſed deſignes, Jermine much endeavoured to get Portſmouth into their hands (as one M^r Bland confeſſed) but could not compaſs it. Theſe and ſuch like plotted deſignes, for the ends afore-mentioned, being farther diſcovered and witneſſed by ſeverall depoſitions of diverſe examinates, as the Reader may more fully ſee in the late Remonſtrance of Ireland, publiſhed by authoritie of the Parliament. But when this miſcheivous asſigne and attempt of theirs, thus to bring on that Armie againſt the Parliament and Citie of London (which they well knew was all along a main and ſtrong fast friend to the Parliament) had been by Gods great merciemercy timely diſcovered, and thereby utterly fruſtrated and prevented, they preſently undertook and attempted Another deſign with the Scottiſh Armie alſo againſt the Parliament & Citie of London.another deſign of the ſame damnable nature, with this addition to it, namely, to make the Scottiſh Armie neutrall, and ſo to ſit ſtill and let them alone whilſt the Engliſh Armie (which they had laboured to corrupt and invenome againſt the Parliament and Citie of London by falſe and ſlanderous ſuggestions) ſhould execute their malice to the ſubverſion of our Religion, and the diſſolution of our long happie government. Thus, I ſay, did they plott and continually practiſe to diſturb our peace and to deſtroy all the Kings Dominions: And for that cauſe had employed moſt induſtriouſly their Emiſſares and agents in them all for the promoting of theſe their devilliſh deſignes. But by Gods infinite merciemercy, p. 61and the vigilancie of ſuch as were honeſt and well-affected to religion, Both deſignes timely diſcovered and diſappointed.to peace, and the proſperity of the Parliament, they were all, I ſay, ſtill (timely) diſcovered and defeated, before they could be ripe enough for execution among us in England and Scotland. OnelyOnly in Ireland which was farther-off, and full of Papists, Jeſuites and Priests, they had time to mould and prepare their wicked work, and had brought it to much pernicious perfection. For, not long after, the moſt bold and bloodie rebellion in Ireland The moſt bloodie and barbarous rebellion in Ireland diſcovered. The great danger of the utter loſſe of Ireland.brake-out there, which had it not been timely revealed and prevented by Gods great merciemercy and good providence in the preſervation of the Caſtle of Dublin, but the very Eave before it ſhould have been taken by the rebels; the whole Kingdom had been fully poſſeſſed by them, the government of it totally ſubverted, the true Religion had been quite extirpated and rooted out, and all the Proteſtants whom the conſcience of their dutie to God, their King and countrey would not have permitted to joyn with them, had been utterly deſtroyed, as in a moſt lamentable manner very many thouſands of them (poore ſouls) have alreadie been, as is moſt fully and fearfully to be ſeen (to the terrour and amazement of all Chriſtian hearts that read the ſame) both in The Iriſh-Remonſtrance & Irelands Tears.that Treatiſe, entituled, Irelands-Tears, and the Iriſh-Remonſtrance. And, indeed, they have, therby, kindled ſuch a fire, there, and blown it into ſuch an over-ſpreading flame, as nothing but Gods extraordinarie bleſſing upon the wiſdom and endeavours of this State will be able to quench it. And certainly had not God in his great merciemercy to our Land and Nation diſcovered and confounded their firſt deſigne, for the grand-plot of all on England and Scotland, we all in England had certainly been the England mainly intended to have been the prologue of Irelands miſeries.prologue to this wofull tragedie in Ireland, and had by this time (and before them) been the moſt deplorable ſpectacle of lamentation and wo, ruine and confuſion to all Europe that ever the Sun beheld. And therefore here, me thinks, we may moſt fitly take up that of holy David, with a little inverſion of the words to our ſelves. If the Lord had not been on our ſide, now may England Pſal. 124. 1, 2, 3, 4. &c.Ps 124:1Ps 124:2Ps 124:3Ps 124:4ſay (and that moſt justly) if the Lord had not been on our ſide, when men roſe up againſt us; Then had they ſwallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us. Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the proud waves and raging billows had gone over our ſouls. But bleſſed, O, for ever bleſſed be God, that hath not given us over p. 62as a prey to their devouring teeth.

Now about this time, it pleaſed the Lord to permit the malignant Sir Wil. Belfore put out of his Lieutenantſhip of the Tower.partie ſo far to prevail with the King, (and among them the Lord Cottington, a Popiſh Lord, and ſtrongly ſuſpected to be one of the prime projecting heads of that faction) that Sir William Belfore, a worthy and noble gentleman then Lieftenant of the Tower of London was diſplaced from that office of ſo great truſt, The Lord Cottington made Conſtable of the Tower.and the ſaid Lord Cottington made Conſtable of the Tower, who preſently kept a great pudder in the Tower, placing and diſplacing things therein, planting Ord…nance on the wals thereof, with their mouths toward the Citie, entertaining Souldiers to guard and keep it of very ill-condition, and ſuſpected for Poperie; all theſe to the great terrour and amazement of the vigilant Citizens of London, who had ſtill extraordinarie jealous eyes on him and all his actions and carriages, and thereupon complain'd and petitioned the Parliament againſt him, and his demeanour in the Tower, and the Parliament moved the King moſt inſtantly about it; who on their long and urgent importunitie at laſt ſo far prevailed with Cottington diſplaced.his Majeſtie, that he put the Lord Cottington from being Conſtable of the Tower, and choſe-in one Collonel Lunsford to be Col. Lunsford made Leiftenant of the Tower.Leiftenant thereof; a man of an ill name and condition of life, and whom I my ſelf knew a priſoner in Newgate, not very long before, for a great abuſe offered by him to Sir Thomas Pelham, now a worthie Knight of Suſſex, and at which time of his impriſonment, there, it was generally and credibly reported, that upon an abuſe done by him alſo to one of the Officers of Newgate (who had been his very good friend in the time of his impriſonment) he brake priſon, or ſtole away, and left the poore Clerk of Newgate in great diſtreſſe and danger thereby; and a man, indeed, moſt iustly excepted againſt by our grave parliamentarie Senators, as moſt unfit to have ſuch a truſt and power entruſted to him, eſpecially in times of ſuch great and conſtant fears and diſtractions of the State and City of London. Whereupon, this man alſo was much and long petitioned againſt, both by the Citizens of London, to the Parliament, and by the Parliament to the King, to have him remov'd, and a man of known Lunsford alſo diſplaced.and approved integritie, on whom they might ſafely confide, to be choſen into the place, and to have the ſafe cuſtodie thereof committed to him. Whoſe removeall was alſo, at length with p. 63much adoe condeſcended unto, by his Maisſtio, and the ſaid Collonel Lunsford put out, the King putting in one Sir John Byron, Sir Iohn Byron made Leiftenant of the Tower.a gentleman though of no ſuch ill-ſavour of life as the former, yet not anſwerable to the deſires of our prudent Worthies in Parliament, whoſe wiſdom and circumſpection fore-ſaw that to be amiſſe in the choice, likewiſe, which much diſcontented them; and Petitioned againſt.enforced them to petition his Maieſtie for his removeall alſo, as it was the joynt deſire likewiſe of Citie and Countrey. Here therefore we may now ſee the great goodneſſe of our God, in thus wiſely diſpoſing and ordering things; that though the malignant partie ſeemed ſo far to prevail, and get advantages againſt Gods people, yet even in theſe alſo the Lord ſtill croſt them and their devilliſh▪deſignes, and regarded the deſires, and cleared the fears of his ſervants for his own Names ſake. Much about which time, a moſt impious and malicious-hearted fellow audaciouſly ſent a letter to the Parliament, directed and endorſed to that ever moſt A Plague-ſore plaſture ſent in a letter unto Mr. Pim.highly honoured Member of the Houſe of Commons, Mr. Pim, a moſt pious patriot of his countrey, and in it a filthie freſh plaſter taken from a plague-ſore, expreſſing in the letter what it was, and why twas ſent, namely, in hope, that the very ſudden ſight and thought on it (he being, then▪ in the Parliament Houſe) might and would damp and dead his heart with fear, and ſo have infected the worthie gentleman to death, with it. A copie of which letter I have thought fit here to inſert, that the Reader may ſee the odiouſneſſe of it and this action more fully.

The copie of the Letter ſent to Mr. Pim, in the Parliament Houſe, with a filthy plague-ſore plaſture in it.

MAſter Pim, do not think that a guard of men can protect you, if you perſiſt in your traiterous courſes, and wicked deſignes. I have ſent a paper-meſſenger to you, and if this do not touch your heart, a Dagger ſhall, ſo ſoon as I am recovered of my plague-ſore. In the mean time, you may be forborn, becauſe no better man may be indangered for you.

Repent Traitour.

Which letter was delivered, I ſay, as Mr. Pim went into the Parliament. But contrary to the wicked intention of the maſter p. 64and meſſage, God (whoſe will all his creatures obey, to Dan 3.Dan 3ſave or ſlay, as he pleaſeth, as was remarkably evident, in that fiery fornace ſeven times hotter than ordinarily, yet not able ſo much as to ſinge the hair or clothes of that pair royall of God-adoring Hebrews caſt thereinto) preſerved this Noble Gentleman from the intended evill thereof. For, this undaunted and conſcience-unſpotted couragious Worthie (like that magnanimous Romane Camillus a renowned Romane Captain, Plutarch in his Lives.Camillus of whom Plutarch in his Lives, makes mention, who whiles he was delivering his Embaſſage to the heathen Prince to whom he was ſent by the Senators of Rome, and with whom the Romans, that time, waged war, this Princes Nobles had ſuddenly and unknown to Camillus, ſet a mightie Elephant cloſe behind his back, and made it ſuddenly and extremly to roar, therby thinking to have ſtartled and frighted this famous Romane, but he was nothing moved therewith, but went-on ſmoothly and undauntedly with his Embaſſage, to the wonder and amazement of this Prince and his Nobles, who were mightily taken with the Mr. Pims moſt undaunted ſpirit againſt the plaſture.unbended reſolution of this couragious Romane) ſo, I ſay, this piouſly valourous-hearted gentleman, Mr Pim, was nothing at all diſ-heartned or diſtempered at the ſight of the plaiſture, nor with the wicked threats which that atheiſticall wretch ſent beſides in the letter to ſtab him with his Dagger if that plaſture failed, God Mr. Pims due praiſe.having hitherto preſerved him (and I truſt ſo will) a moſt loyall ſubject to his Soveraign, and a moſt prudent and painfull promoter An objection anſwered.of the beſt good in Church and Common-wealth. And although it may, peradventure, be objected, that this was but a private or particular paſſage, and therefore not ſo pertinent to our purpoſe: yet conſidering the eminencie of the perſon, and his employments and uſe in Parliament for the publike good, and the tranſcendent malice and envie of that malignant perſon whoever he was, ayming at a publike miſchief therein, I could not conceive it impertinent to the preſent occaſion, but very worthy our The Citizens of London petition both Houſes of Parliament.obſervation and gratification to God for it. Much about this time alſo it pleaſed the Lord to put into the hearts of the worthy Citizens of London, to take into their ſerious conſideration the great retarding and delaying of the weightie affairs of the Kingdom, and the unhappie protraction of puniſhing Delinquents, together with the uncomfortable reluctancies and diſunion between both the Houſes, and all this by reaſon of an ill-affected p. 65potent and pernicious deſtructive partie, eſpecially in the Houſe of Lords, by Prelates and Popiſh-Lords, ſtriving and contriving to hinder or quite make void all good Votes among them, and to advance all evill. Therefore, I ſay, the moſt and beſt-affected and pious-hearted Citizens of London unanimouſly petitioned Both Houſes of Parliament touching thoſe and ſuch like ſerious and important matters, being, I ſay, moſt of them, men of the The Citizens moſt grave & ſubſtantiall delivery of their Petition.beſt note and qualitie of the whole Citie both for piety and ability. Who went with their Petition to the Parliament, in a moſt grave and ſubſtantiall equipage, in fiftie or ſixtie Coaches at the leaſt, and were there moſt graciouſly and gratefully entertained both by the Lords and Commons, and received a moſt cordiall The gracious anſwer to their Petition.and comfortable anſwer to their Petitions; which act of theirs (they being the ſamplar and pattern even of the whole Kingdom, and upon whom the eyes of the whole Land were caſt, to be by them encouraged and directed) begat ſuch an honeſt and happie emulation in all the Counties of the Kingdom, as by Gods great merciemercy produced moſt bleſſed effects to us all, as ſhall be more particularly and punctually declared in its proper place.

Not long after alſo, the honeſt Apprentiſes of the ſaid Citie of London being very ſenſible of their Maſters ſufferings by The Apprentiſes of London do likewiſe petition.thoſe diſtractions in the Common-wealth, and the generall decay of trading, and thereby alſo of their own preſent and future great diſcouragements in their hope of comfortable ſubſiſtence and livelyhood when they were to be free-men of the Citie, if theſe inconveniences continued: They alſo hereupon took the courage and reſolution to exhibite their Petition to the Parliament for ſpeedy and timely redreſſe of theſe encroaching and growing evils. Which act of theirs was ſo modeſtly and orderly managed by them, that the Parliament received their petition moſt courteouſly, and returned them a very fair and favourable anſwer, in brief, for the preſent, with promiſe of a more full and ſatisfactorie anſwer in convenient time. After whom alſo, the Porters of London, The Porters of London alſo do petition the Parliamentpinched with extreme povertie by reaſon of the decay of trading, were thereby neceſſitated, and by Gods providence thouſands of them ſtirred up and ſtimulated to petition the Parliament for ſpeedie redreſſe of their preſent preſſures, whoſe Petition alſo was very lovingly received by the Parliament, and they received a well-pleaſing replie for the preſent. Now what an admirable p. 66and rare effect theſe Petitions produced, to adde moſt juſtly to this catalogue of our parliamentarie mercies, this ſubſequent paſſage ſhall clearly demonſtrate to the godly Reader, The Apprentiſes of London go again to the Parliament for an anſwer to their▪ Petition.viz. Not long after a certain convenient number of Apprentiſes being very modeſt in carriage, and well-ſpoken young men, went very civilly and peaceably to Weſtminſter to the Parliament for a further ſatisfactorie anſwer to their Petition, as was promiſed to them. But it pleaſed the Lord it ſo fell out, that that deſperate and furious, Collonel Lunsford, and very many ruffian-like fellows with him, being at that time in Weſtminſter-hall, and there walking up and down, at laſt took occaſion by uncivill and provoking Are greatly affronted.words to the ſaid Apprentiſes and Citizens at that time alſo walking there, to make a great diſturbance and hubbub among them, and from mocking and jeering of them, and quarreling The Biſhops the cauſe of the quarrell.about Biſhops (whom the Apprentiſes and Citizens had, indeed, petitioned againſt in all their Petitions) threatning thoſe that durſt once ſpeak againſt their reverend Biſhops, at laſt they drew▪out their ſwords▪ and the ſaid Collonel Lunsford and his quarrelling comrades flew in the faces of the Citizens, and furiouſly beat them out of Weſtminſter-hall before them, being Citizens abuſed at Whitehall by Courtiers there.all unweaponed, and coming onelyonly in a fair and unoffenſive manner (as aforeſaid) to receive an anſwer to their petition; and as they departed home from Weſtminſter by Whitehall, they were there again moſt groſly abuſed and beaten by the Courtiers, and ſuch like, ſo that divers of them were ſorely wounded, and ſome 1641.thereby killed by them. Whereupon, the next day (theſe things falling-out about Newyeers-tyde, or in Christmaſ-holydayes) very many Citizens and apprentiſes went again to Weſtminſter armed, and better prepared than the day before, for ſuch affronts, if any were offered to them. But now ſee how it pleaſed the Lord it ſhould come to paſſe, ſome of the Apprentiſes A great diſturbance and hubbub at Weſtm. Abbey the next day.and Citizens were again affronted about Westminſter-Abbey, and a great noiſe and hubbub fell out thereabouts, otherſome of them watched (as it ſeems by the ſequell) the Biſhops coming to the Parliament, who conſidering the great noiſe and diſquiet which was by land all about Westminster, durſt not come to the Parliament that way for fear of the Apprentiſes, and therefore intended to have come to the Parliament by water in barges; but the apprentiſes watched them that way alſo, and as they p. 67thought to have come to land were ſo pelted with ſtones, and The Biſhops are frighted from the Parliament by apprentiſes by land & water.frighted at the ſight of ſuch a company of them, that they durſt not land, but were rowed back and went away to their places. Now, ſee herein, good Reader, a moſt notable over-powering impreſſion of divine providence on this buſineſſe, and learn hence ſo much wiſdom as not to deſpiſe ſeeming contemptible things and ſmall beginnings, as I have formerly touched on a like occaſion. Theſe lordly and loftie Prelates, (among whom, and a The moſt remarkableevent of that affront to the Biſhops.prime one too, it ſeemed, was that ſupercilious Arch-prelate of York, Biſhop Williams) took foul ſcorn and high indignation at this affront by Boyes and prentiſes, thus to be debarred from the Parliament, eſpecially fearing leſt any thing might paſſe in the Houſe againſt them, touching their lordly dignities by their abſence, on which they had great cauſe to keep continuall jealouseyes and vigilant watch, they now ſtanding on very tickliſh terms The Biſhops juſt fears and jealouſies of theirdownfall.with the State, and being ſo perpetually and univerſally petitioned againſt from all parts of the Kingdom, as a prime branch of the malignant partie, and ſpeciall perturbers of all good for Church or Common-wealth; therefore, I ſay, being ve xt to the heart, and deeply ſtung with diſcontent, they vowed revenge: and thereupon gathered together into their ſecret Conclave full fraught with Stygian-rancour and rage, and aſſiſted, no doubt, with ſome Jeſuiticall influence of Romiſh ſpirits, they contrived and contracted The Biſhops do petition the King & Peers touching their grievances.a peice of miſchief or miſchievous petition to the King and Houſe of Peers, which they wholly intended againſt the happy and ſucceſſefull proceedings of the Parliament, but our good God diverted it to their own further ruine and destruction. Now that you may ſee their own act and deed attested and avouched under their own hands, I have thought fit here to inſert it, verbatim, as they themſelves penned and exhibited it to the King.

To the Kings moſt excellent Majeſty, and the Lords and Peers now aſſembled in Parliament.

The humble Petition and Proteſtation of all the Biſhops and Prelates now called by His Majesties Writs to attend the Parliament and preſent about London and Weſtminſter for that Service.

THat whereas the Petitioners are called-up by ſeverall and reſpective Writs, and under great penalties to attend the Parliament, p. 68and have a clear and indubitable right to vote in Bils, and other matters whatſoever debateable in Parliament, by the ancient cuſtomes, Laws and Statutes of this Realm, and ought to be protected by your Majestie, quietly to attend and proſecute that great Service. They The Biſhops Petition and Proteſtation to the King and Peers.humbly remonſtrate and protest before God, your Majeſtie, and the noble Lords and Peers now aſſembled in Parliament, that as they have an indubitate right to ſit and vote in the Houſe of the Lords; ſo are they, if they may be protected from force and violence, moſt ready and willing to perform their duties accordingly. And that they do abhominate all actions or opinions tending to Poperie, and the maintenance thereof; as alſo all propenſion and inclination to any malignant partie, or any other ſide or partie whatſoever to the which their own reaſons and conſcience ſhall not move them to adhere. But, whereas they have been at ſeverall times violently menaced, affronted and aſſaulted by multitudes of people in their coming to perform their ſervices in that Honourable Houſe, and lately chaſed away and put in danger of their lives, and can find no redreſſe or protection, upon ſundrie complaints made to both Houſes in theſe particulars. They likewiſe humbly protest before your Majestie, and the noble Houſe of Peers, that ſaving unto themſelves all their rights and intereſts of ſitting and voting in that Houſe at other times, they dare not ſit or vote in the Houſe of Peers untill your Majeſtie ſhall further ſecure them from all affronts, indignities and dangers in the premiſes. Laſtly, whereas their fears are not built upon phantaſies and conceits, but upon ſuch grounds and objects as may well terrifie men of good reſolutions, and much conſtancie. They do in all dutie and humilitie proteſt before your Majestie and the Peers of that moſt honorable Houſe of Parliament, againſt all Laws, Orders, Votes, reſolutions, and determinations, as in themſelves null, and of none effect, which in their abſence, ſince the 27^th. of this instant monethmonth of December, 1641. have already paſſed; as likewiſe againſt all ſuch as ſhall hereafter paſſe in that moſt honorable Houſe, during the time of this their forced and violent abſence from the ſaid moſt honorable Houſe; not denying, but if their abſenting of themſelves were wilfull and voluntarie, that moſt honourable Houſe might proceed in all their premiſes, their abſence or this proteſtation notwithſtanding. And humbly beſeeching your moſt excellent Majeſtie to command the Clerk of that Houſe of Peers to enter this their petition and proteſtation among his Records.

They will ever pray to God to bleſſe, &c. Jo. Eborac. Tho. Dureſme. Rob. Co. Lich. Joſ. Norw. Jo. Aſa. Guli. Ba. & Wells. Geo. Heref. Rob. Oxon. Ma. Ely. Godfr. Glouc. Jo. Peterburg. Morris Landaff.

This petition and proteſtation being thus exhibited to his Majeſtie, the King was pleaſed to ſend it immediately to the Houſe of Peers, who having ſeen and peruſed it, were forthwith highly offended with it, and ſo ſent it immediately to the Houſe of Commons; whereupon both Houſes met in the painted Chamber, at a Twelve Biſhops impeached of high treaſon, and impriſoned in the Tower.Conference there, and after it, accuſed thoſe 12. Biſhops of high treaſon, for endeavouring to ſubvert the fundamentall Laws of the Realm, and the very being of Parliaments; whereupon they were by the Lords ſequeſtred from the Parliament, and impriſoned, ten of them in the Tower, and (for their age ſake) two of them committed to cuſtodie to the Black-Rod. Thus was the Parliament moſt happily freed of 12. of them at one clap: And thus, I ſay (ever bleſſed be the Lord our God for it) that which the Parliament long deſired, and the well-affected people over the whole Kingdom ſo long and ſo unanimouſly petitioned for Quod nequit ingenium D…us fecit.(even the extirpation of the Biſhops out of the Parliament) but could not well tell how to accompliſh it, God hath made themſelves agents and actors of to their own juſt ſhame and ſorrow, but to the high content and rejoycing of all Gods faithfull children and ſervants. And, certainly, if ever, here was a moſt viſible print of Gods over-powring providence croſſing theſe Prelates craft, paying them in their own coyn, and moſt clearly manifeſting Job 41. 34.Job 41:34himſelf to behold all the high things of the earth, and that he onelyonly is King over all the children of pride.

And yet (give me leave, good Reader, to give thee this one note by the way, of no ſmall conſequence and concernment, touching theſe our preſent Prelates of England) notwithſtanding all Mark this note well.the moſt evident and undeniable manifeſtations of Gods arrows of wrath and high diſpleaſure ſhot againſt them all, partly for 1Craft and crueltie.their craft and crueltie exerciſed againſt Gods faithfull-ones, and partly for the Laodicean-temporizing coldneſſe and ſecurity even of the very beſt and moſt moderate of them all, without exception 2Laodicean ſecuritie. Iudges 5.Judg 5of any one, who have rather choſen (like the accurſed, yea bitterly accurſed rulers of Meros) to lie ſtill, to ſleep in a whole skin, enjoy quietly their fat Biſhopricks, and lordly dignities and eaſe p. 70O how far ſhort came all our beſt Biſhops of noble Q. Heſter in her zeal and courage for God and his Saints!therein, than with noble and renowned Queen Hester, who, in the cauſe of her afflicted people the Jews, reſolved (in a far more certain danger, every way, than they could have been liable to) to hazard her life and honours, with an, If I periſh, I periſh, (ah ſhame, unexpreſſible ſhame to them all, that a weak-woman ſhould out-ſtrip them all in a maſculine heroick ſpirit for her religion and people) than like her, I ſay, to expoſe their rich revenews, much leſſe their very lives as ſhe did hers (tell me, I ſay, of one among them all, that did thus) to danger or loſſe, to adventure the ſafeguard and welfare of the Church and children of God, which they ſaw daily ſo overtop't by rank over-growing poperie and atheiſme. Which lazineſſe and coldneſſe of theirs, though they ſleightly paſſe it over as a ſmall ſin or no ſin at all; yet Chriſt himſelf our bleſſed Saviour tells them, they are no leſſe than down▪right Antichriſts, even flat and falſe enemies of the Lord Chriſt, as is clear, (Matth. 12. 30.) by our Saviours own words. He that is not with me, is againſt me. Which being ſo, let them all (even the best and moſt moderate among them) take heed of 1 Cor. 16▪ 22.1 Cor 16:22that fearfull ſentence of the Apoſtle. If any man love not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let him be Anathema Maran-atha. Even, accurſed with a moſt bitter curſe. And how can theſe Prelates ſay, truly, that they love the Lord Chriſt, when they either ſo palpably perſecute him in his beloved members, or at leaſt, egregiouſly ſlight and diſreſpect him, in ſuffering his holy cauſe and faithfull ſervants to be ſo diſcountenanced and trampled upon, as they have been theſe many yeers, eſpecially of late. And yet, I ſay, in all this ſo dangerous Here is the pith of the note, which In deſire thee to mark.and double-guilt and deep-die of groſſe impietie in them (which indeed is the note I aym at, and is the wonder and admiration, mixt with grief of my ſoul, to ſee and conſider) that even the very best of them hath not to this very day given us the leaſt print or expreſſion of true repentance and godly remorſe of The great impenitencie of our Prelates.ſoul and ſpirit, for theſe ſo great and grievous ſins of theirs of crueltie and ſecurity, or careleſneſſe of Gods people and their religion; but even the beſt of them ſtill, I ſay, ſuffering the Goſpel of grace and truth to ſink or ſwim, what car'd they, ſo they may be quiet, and be thought great Clerks, rare diſputants againſt Popery in words and writings onelyonly (yet oft jugling with us therein too) and the wiſe and moderate men (forſooth) of the world. Yea, I ſay, ſo far are ſome of them from cordiall remorſe and penitencie for p. 71thoſe accurſed abhominations aforeſaid, that **Bp. Hall (a moſt fierce, but fruitleſſe ſtickler for Dioceſan Epiſcopacie) in a book of his lately printed and publiſhed in his own defence. 2 Kin. 9. 22. Bp Halls Peace of Rome.2 Kgs 9:22one of their moſt moderate, wiſe men of peace, ſince his being in priſon in the Tower, hath not been aſham'd with his accuſtomed rhetorically-glorious and ſmoothly painted phraſes to daub over his great-guilt of conſcience, eſpecially in point of ſecurity and careleſneſſe of Gods truth forementioned by me. O theſe men of peace (forſooth) how have they forgotten even hypocriticall Jehu's aſſeveration, What peace, ſo long as the whoredoms of that Romiſh Jezebel are ſo many and ſo miſchievous amongst us? Yea I ſay again to him in particular, he ſhould have had no peace with Rome, as well as he wrote of, the no peace of Rome. But thus, I ſay, theſe our holy Fathers of our Church▪ forſooth, theſe our lordly Prelates, who with Biſhop White, muſt be counted Princes too, have carried themſelves in Two Scottiſh Biſhops renounced their Biſhopricks, as an Antichriſtian function.thoſe their great evils; The Lord in merciemercy timely take from them their ſuch a heart of ſtone, and give them a heart of fleſh, and clear the eyes of their underſtanding ſo wilfully blinded, that they may with thoſe two honeſt ſelf-denying and humble-hearted Biſhops in Scotland, (**In his defence of Epiſcopacie.whom Biſhop Hall ſcoft and jeer'd at for it) with ſelf-denying ſhame and ſorrow repent their horrible impietie to God and his Church, and abhor ſuch a princely p…mpous function (never of Chriſts inſtitution) as (even inevitably, for ought I can yet ſee to the contrary) occaſions ſuch faction and defection Ezra 6. 11, 12.Ezra 6:11Ezra 6:12from ſincerity and truth. Which, if they labour not timely and truly to expreſſe, they muſt pardon me if I beleeve it were most just with our God, if he ſhould raiſe up againſt them in their impenitencie, ſuch a juſt judge as godly Ezra records, even that heathen yet (ſurely) honeſt-hearted King Darius to have been, in that noble and renowned ſentence of his, whoſe words are theſe. I have made a Decree, that whoſoever ſhall alter this word (namely of re-erecting and building-up again the old **O how much more precious are the living temples of the holy-Ghoſt, which, our Prelates have been ſo far from building up, that the worſt of them have laboured to pull down and deſtroy, the very beſt of them have lazily and careleſly ſuffered to be deſtroyed.materiall-Temple at Jeruſalem) let timber be pull'd down from his houſe, and being ſet up as a jibbet) let him be hanged thereon; and let his houſe be made a dunghill (or jakes) for this. See here▪ for This, onelyonly for This. What This? Why onelyonly for daring ſo much as to alter the Kings honeſt reſolution, as aforeſaid. But he goes on in the 12. verſe. And the God that hath cauſed his name to dwell there, deſtroy all Kings and people (note this emphaticall expreſſion of this honest King) that ſhall put to their hand to alter or deſtroy this Houſe of God (ah ſhame to our guilty Prelates herein) which is at Jeruſalem; p. 72of the Houſe of Commons, wherein you ſhall find the true and genuine deſcription of it to the full, which is this.