A Reply to a Relation, Title page – Dialogue
A REPLIE TO A RELATION, OF THE CONFERENCE BETWEEN WILLIAM LAUDE and Mr. FISHER the Jesuite.
By a Witnesse of JESUS CHRIST.
JOB 38.2.
Who is this, that darkeneth Councell by words without knowledge?
1 KINGS 18.21.
How long halt you between two opinions? If the LORD be GOD follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.
CANT. 2.15.
Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes that spoyle the Vines: for our Vines have tender Grapes.
IMPRINTED, Anno MDCXL.
A SAD AND SERIOVS CONSULTATION OF A DISCONSOLAE MOTHER (CHRISTS VIRGIN-Spouse) with twelve of her Children about her, whose names are Faith, Hope, Charity, Zeale, Humility, Prudence, Piety, Patience, Iustice, Mercy, Verity, Prayer: whose severall judgements the Mother requireth in a doubtfull case.
MOTHER.
MY Deare Children, how doth the very sight of you revive my dolefull spirits, almost drowned in the *Rev. 1….Dragons flood? You are to me as that ‡vers. 1.twelve-starred Crowne upon my head. But to the purpose, for which I have called you together: (though indeed you are never asunder, nor absent from me) and it is this: You have taken notice of a notorious Booke lately published by the Prime Prelate of England, which he calls a Relation of a Conference &c. And how to that Relation a Sonne of mine (no lesse known to you all, then assisted by you in the worke) hath made here a Reply, and presented it to me. But now how to improve and dispose of it for the best, is the doubt. The Relator (the Prelate) ingageth the King in it by two bonds; the one of Patronage, the other of Command; as if the King had first commanded it to be published, and now did give it Patronage and protection: which if true, it puts me in a straight, what to doe with this Reply. For who so fit to take notice of it, yea and to give it Protection too, if both the matter and the consequence of it (being of so high a nature) be well and wisely weighed? It hath much perplexed me. Now therefore give me your best advice. And first,
Faith what sayst thou?
Faith.
Deare Mother, put away from you all such perplexed thoughts. 'Tis true, If we looke on worldly meanes with a carnall eye, we are all in a straight. But this is our safety. 'Tis well the world hath never an object to allure our confidence to pitch upon it. And best of all, when all the world is banded against us, and our Christ. Is not he alone sufficient to cope with them? Doth he not *Psal. 2.laugh at their proud, but vaine attempts, which are no lesse against him, then against us? Is not the Cause then his? And are not we his? And is not ‡Rom. 8.32he for us? Who then shall be against us? What though Principalities and Powers, and Spirituall wickednesses in high places, be, with all the power and pollicie of the world, with all the craft and cruelty of the Dragon and Devill armed against us? why, still Christ is for us. That's sufficient. Therefore there be moe with us, then against us. We are a little flock against a world of Wolves and Foxes, Lyons and Beares: but we have a watchfull and powerfull Shepheard, whose Legions of mighty Angels those heavenly Hosts, doe pitch their tents round about us. We are his Paradise on earth, which he defends continually with his Cherubims flaming sword, that proud Apostates cannot so invade us, as to take one Tree of life from us. Let the wild Beasts then rage, and warre upon us: let the Aegyptian troopes pursue us, as with open mouth to devuore us: but stand we still and see the salvation of the LORD. He that led his people through the Sea, never wants power to deliver his, when in most desperate straights. Mother, Cheare up. Not a haire of your head shall perish. The faithfull and True hath said it. As for outward meanes, if we have them we use them, as Gods ordinances ▪ if we have them not, nay, if all be against us, yet our Faith in GOD is the same, and ever greater, stronger and nobler, without and against meanes, then with them. And much more is our GOD the same, and his glory most shineth, where outward meanes are either least helpfull, or most opposite. My resolution then is this: The Reply in my judgement is very necessary to be published, and withall (as most pertinent and important) to be presented to the King. But whether he will read it or no, leave that to GOD. We shall neither loose our labour, nor reward. For great is the Truth, and shall prevaile, what ever opposition Men or Devils make against it. And in this Reply the true Faith is defended against the Prelates false and counterfeit Faith. I have said.
Mother.
Well, Hope, what sayst thou?
Hope.
Deare Mother, I am of the same mind and spirit with my Sister Faith. By all meanes cast away all anxious and perplexed thoughts, and be of good comfort: though our Shippe be shrewdly weather-beaten, and shaken, yet Christ is at the sterne. And I have already cast *Heb. 6.19Anchor in the Havens mouth, on a firme ground within the Veile. When Noahs Arke floated over the toppes of the highest Mountaines in that dreadfull Deluge, when the world was a Sea: what Pilot safely guided and steered its course, that it should rest upon the Mount Ararat? Even the same Pilot we have, to conduct us through these Floods to the Haven where we would be. Let the Reply for truth against falsehood be published, under Christs Patronage and protection: that's sufficient. As for Men, the lesse we hope in them, the lesse we feare them. And while we doe our duty with the one hand, we lay hold on the Crowne with the other. I have sayd.
Mother.
Charity, what sayst thou?
Charity.
Deare Mother, as my Sister Hope is the Anchor both sure and stedfast, So I am the three-fold Cable not easily broken: and therefore be of good comfort. For ‡Cant.Love not all the floods can drowne it. Now for the Relation, were those many passages in it (noted by the Replyer) some common slips of ignorance, or humane frailty, I would cast my large mantle over them: but being of a high nature, and full of impiety against GOD and CHRITT, and the Holy Ghost, and the holy Scriptures, and against your holy Spouse-ship, and against Faith, and against Charity, and so against all true Religion: yea proceeding also from a Prime Prelate pretending great learning and knowledge, and professing such singular eminencie and dexterity of wit and judgement, as being the onelyonly able Champion of the Church of England, to defend the truth against a Jesuite, and all this under the faire white veile of hypocrisie, onelyonly his Black-moores skin too grosly appearing in his malignant practises in persecuting the Truth, and in those malicious and impious passages in his Booke, so as he is left altogether naked of all plea of ignorance: therefore I hold it fit, that his hypocrisie should be unmasqued, his bold falcities confuted, his insollencie suppressed, his impiety rebuked, and the Truth maintained against him before all the world: and therefore that the Reply be published. And if it shall be thought fit to be dedicated to the King, I wish that mine own hand might present it. For (to say no more) how highly doth the Cause concerne the King and his Kingdome, did he but truely know it? And how he should come to know it, but this way, I know not. And I hope his Majestie will not refuse it at Charities hand. I have said.
Mother.
Zeale, what sayst thou?
Zeale.
Deare Mother, can we see our God so highly dishonoured, our Christ so belyed, his Spirit so despised, his Word so disparaged, his Worship so depraved, his Saints so destroyed, his true Spouse unchurched, and excommunicated out of the Creed, and a false Church, fasle Faith, false Religion, false Gods set up in Christs Throne to be Judges in matters of Faith, and proud men to usurpe over the Consciences and Soules of his people, and the like: and are we not to set a worke all the irons in the fire that may be, to arme us against such an all-daring Philistin, who dare so desperately defie the Hosts of the living God? And blessed be our God, who hath raised up and inabled such a Replyer; and blessed be the Replyer, who ever he be, that takes up Davids sting and stone to throw at that Gyant-like Mushrumme. And were there an hundred such Replyes, let them all be published, and all be presented to the King, to the confusion of all Babell-builders, or Ierecho's rebuilders. And if men will willfully close their eyes, and stop their eares against the Truth, at their perill be it. I have sayd.
Mother.
Humility, what sayst thou?
Humility.
Deare Mother, I humbly pray, that the Reply be published; and if my Sister Charity doe present it to the King, all my ambition is to waight upon her as her hand-maid, to beare up the Traine of her manyfold sin-covering Mantle. This is all I can doe, or say.
Mother.
Prudence, what sayst thou?
Prudence.
Deare Mother, although I accord with all that my Sisters have here said, yet seeing it pleaseth you to impose this taske upon me, I shall give you a faithfull and just account, what I further conceive to be not altogether unworthy our serious consideration, about the dedicating and presenting the Reply to the King.
First, we all know what reward others have had for the like service, and that of fresh memory ▪ as a Minister, appealing from the Prelates, to the King for a just and equall hearing of his Cause, which was about the discharge of his Ministry in Preaching: was delivered over to the Censure of a Court, wherein his maine Adversary sate a Judge, and the Censure was accordingly so terrible, as no age can parallell.
And, Secondly, the same Adversary that was the Prime instigator to inflict the said Censure, continues still in the same power and favour in Court, so as if my Sister Charity her selfe, together with Humility, should present the Reply, I know not what security she can have from the like Censure of being both Schismaticall and Seditious, because she thus appeares against a most notorious Adversary of CHRIST and his Word, but such, whose power and favour in Court, can so farre prevaile to the abusing of the sweet and unsuspicious nature of Princes, as to make them beleeve that they cannot possibly be misled by such a Leader, although the Prelate himselfe confesse, that Worth once misled, proves of all other the greatest Misleader; and the Replyer hath detected and proved him the most notorious blind Leader, that ever sate in Canterbury Chaire.
And, Thirdly, who sees not the maine worke, that so many arrowes of persecution against Gods Ministers and people, and so the Gospell it selfe (as appeares too palpably by the Prelates usuall practises) doe ayme at? As, namely, the rooting out of the Gospell, and the erecting of all Popish Superstition and Idolatry, and so the bringing in of Atheisme and Infidelity, with Antichristian Tyranny, and all to reduce England to a Reconciliation with Rome, as also the Relation it selfe doth unblushingly discover. And the Merchants doe tell us from abroad, how the Priests and Fryers can tell them (upon occasion of the Scots first standing out) that this course was by the Prelaticall Faction reaching as farre as Rome, resolved on before yesterday.
And, Fourthly, when we looke upon the hideous outrages of the Prelates, against which no complaint can take place, nor find better successe, then as when a man casts stones upward, which fall down againe upon his own head: doth it not argue the Estate of things to be desperate, and at the height, when such men as the Prelates are mounted on a throne of iniquity, framing mischiefe as by a Law? But yet,
Lastly, (notwithstanding all this) when I consider, how mercifully God hath heard the earnest prayers of his people, in moving the Kings heart to such an accord with Scotland, as of late (although those bitter Roots, which GOD never planted, and which po…son the very ground they goe on (the Prelates I meane, so fast are they rooted in the earth) are left still unplucked up) and that the Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the Rivers of waters, and that if he were once rightly possessed of the State of things, wherein he hath been by the Prelates extreamly abused, and his State exposed to the wrath of heaven, we should be in good hope of Reformation: so as what lawfull meanes may be most likely and probable to conduce hereunto, is worth the putting in practise, though full of hazzard; saving that the same GOD, who mightily and mercifully moved the Kings heart so farre to yeeld to his Scottish Subjects, as to enjoy in a good measure (the Prelates onley excepted) their liberty of Conscience: can also perswade him to doe as much, and more, for his Subjects, Christs people, in England. And therefore my conclusion is: I am so farre from Sacrificing to humane discretion, or carnall reason, in this point, that I could be content to accompany my Sisters, Charity, and Humility, in presenting the Reply, resolving with Hester, And if I perish, I perish. And this is all I have to say for the present.
Mother.
Piety, what sayst thou?
Piety.
Deare Mother, I owe a duty, as to GOD principally, and in the first place, so to the King Gods vicegerent, in the second place: and therefore what may conduce to the happinesse and well-fare of the King in this kind, I would for it hazzard all. And I am for the pubilshing and presenting of the Reply to the King, in hope he may possibly read and understand the true State of things, being of such high importance, as in the world there cannot be a greater. And if this be not done, things going on as they have done, there wilbe no longer abiding for us in this place. I have said.
Mother.
Patience, what saist thou?
Patience.
Deare Mother, what your selfe and my loving Sisters here do, or shall resolve of, my office is to prepare my backe to beare whatsoever the malignity and iniquity of the Times shall lay upon me▪ which I am most willing to undergoe for his sake, who suffered death, that we might live. And never had I more imployment to exercise me in any age.
Mother.
Iustice, what sayst thou?
Iustice.
Deare Mother, I hold it both just and necessary that the Reply be published; both for the beating down of the insolencie of the Relator, and the raysing up of the drooping spirits of Gods people, and the setling them in the Truth. As for presenting it to the King, though I be not against it, yet for my part I have engaged my selfe in an Appeale to the High and Right…ous Iudge of all the world for Iustice in this Cause, where I shall be sure to have it. So as I resolve not to descend to any inferiour Court, and there too, where the like Cause (inferiour to none for pure innocencie) and that also upon Appeale, so foulely miscarried. So as I am altogether taken up in waiting for an Answer from my Righteous Iudge, wherein I shall desire my Sister Patience to lend me so much of her vertue, as may preserve my Attendance from fainting.
Mother.
Mercy, what sayst thou?
Mercy.
Deare Mother, I am ingaged with my Sister Iustice in the same Petition to the throne of Iustice and Mercy, that the Righteous Iudge will for his mercy sake to his people give righteous judgement between them, and the Relator; for else they, and the Cause must fall to ground. And this course I stick unto; not that I dissent from my other Sisters, but what your selfe and they shall resolve on in this case, my Petition with my Sister Iustice may stand in no small stead, when GOD shall be pleased to move the Kings heart to vindicate the Cause of Christ, and of his innocent people, from the unjust and unmercifull dealing of the Relator: against whom I stand a dayly Petitioner, with my Sister Iustice, not departing from the Court-gate of heaven, till we have a full Answer.
Mother.
Verity, what sayst thou?
Verity.
Deare Mother, I would willingly accompany my other Sisters to the Court in presenting the Reply to the King, but that there, I am better known then trusted. So as I could never yet have any good successe there. Insomuch as I have made my selfe (as they have made me) altogether a stranger at Court, because my naked simplicity can no way suit with the garbe of the Court-fashion, which can turn themselvs into all formes, but mine, which is unchangeable. Yet if my Sister Hope could lend me her habit, I durst adventure with my Sisters once more within the Court-gates, in hope the Courtiers would not reject me, as not knowing me to be Verity. And should they by my language descry me, yet seeing me in Hopes habit, they might perhaps turn Truths Disciples in hope of some gaine or preferment, so much affiance they have in hopes. But (alas!) their hope is nothing a Kin to my Sister Hope; for her object are things spirituall and eternall; but theirs onelyonly temporall. And besides, the Relator hath forced his Pack with such a deale of trumpery, and painted stuffe, gilded over with the glittering Titles of Truth, and Peace, and Piety, and Devotion, and the Church, and the like, that these his faire polished Bristow-stones are preferred by his Court-Disciples before the true and precious Diamonds, because presented in their ragged, or russet Coat, so as these prove not merchantable there, where otherwise even Truth it selfe is bought and sold. And therefore it shalbe sufficient, that my Sisters, so many as goe, weare me (as alwayes) as a Jewell in their bosomes; so I shall not be taken notice of; and the fewer they appeare, the better, least the Prelate conjure them down for a sort of Factious Spirits, as he did those THREE of late in the Starre-Chamber. I have said.
Mother.
Prayer, what sayst thou?
Prayer.
Deare Mother, and all my deare Sisters here present, come I pray you, and kneele down here, and assist me by joyning in earnest supplication to our GOD, that he would direct and lead us in that way, which in this businesse may most conduce to the advancement of the Cause of Christ, and the honour of the King.
Prayer.
O Lord God Almighty, Who shall not feare thee, thou King of Saints? Great and marvelous are thy works; just and true are thy wayes. Thou art the great King over all the Earth, the righteous Iudge of all the world, the GOD that hearest Prayer, and helpest thy People, when they cry unto thee, and judgest their cause when thou seest their strength is gone. But how long, LORD, Holy and True! when wilt thou arise, and have mercy upon Sion? Is not now the time, the set time come ? Is it not now a day of rebuke and blasphemy ? Are not the children brought to the birth, and there is none, to deliver ? How long shall thy people cry, and thou answerest not ? How long shall the enemy roare, and thou regardest not ? How long shall he blaspheme thy Name ? For ever ? Why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosome ? Art not thou our King of old, working Salvation in the midst of the Earth ? Didst not thou divide the Sea for thy People to passe through ? And art not thou the same GOD of Israel still ? Or is thine arme shortened, that it cannot save ? And dost thou not remember this, how the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and blasphemed thy Name ? And wilt thou deliver the soule of thy Turtle Dove unto the Beast ? Wilt thou forget the Congregation of thy poore for ever ? Remember thy Covenant O Lord, for we are thy People, and thou art our GOD. Other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us: but by thee onelyonly will we make mention of thy Name. And yet dost thou not see, the darke places of the Earth full of the habitations of Cruelty ? O let not the oppressed returne ashamed. The poore and needy cry unto thee, they trust in thee, they waight for thee, that they may praise thy Name. Arise therfore, O GOD, plead thine own Cause, remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily. Forget not the voyce of thine enemies; the tumult of those that rise up against thee, increaseth continually. And now behold here spread before thee, a Book of Reproaches and Blaspemies against thy Majesty, and against thy Sonne Iesus Christ, and against thy Holy Spirit, and against thy Holy Word, and against thy Holy Ministers, and against thy Holy People, and against thy Holy and Pure Worship, yea, and against the Kings Sacred Majesty, whom thou hast set over thy People to governe them according to Truth and Equity, under whose Patronage and Authority, notwithstanding, the Relator is bold to shrowd this his Book with all the Blasphemies and Falsities therein contained; So as hereby, not onelyonly the exterpation of all true Faith and Religion in the Land is threatned, but consequently the utter ruine and extermination of the Nation it selfe hastened, already fitted as dry fewell for thy wrath, by this Incendiary. For behold Lord what havock is made in the Land? What superstitions in will-worship? what oppression of the Gospell? what persecution of thy Ministers? what effusion of their innocent blood? What dispersion of their poore families? What prophanation of thy holy Sabbaths ? What erection and adoration of Antichristian Altars and Images ? What suspension of the doctrines of Grace and Salvation ? What usurped Tyrannicall Domination over thy Ministers and People ? What imposition of the intollerable yoake of Ceremonies upon their necks, bringing them againe under Antichristian bondage, whom Christ by the shedding of his precious blood hath made free ? And what urging and pressing with furious rage reaching up to heaven, the observation of all humane Ordinances, while, yea and whereby thy divine Ordinances are cast out ? And what wilt thou now doe to thy great Name ? Thou hast of late by terrible signes from heaven, as it were by sound of Trumpet, summoned the whole Land, threatning to destroy it. Surely the provocations are great, were not thy Patience greater. But thou expectest Repentance, with Reformation of all these abominations. But little appearance as yet, and as little hope, while such Books as this, are Patronized and Authorized. What then Lord ? Wilt thou therfore proceed to judge the whole Land for these things ? Surely the whole Land is defiled, and so the cause were just. But yet remember Lord, that thou hast a remnant yet left therein, that have not bowed the knee to Baal. And consider withall, that they are a Faction principally of some few persons, as the Prelates, that have caused such confusions in the Land. And wilt thou destroy the righteous with the wicked farre be that from thee. Shall not the Iudge of all the world doe right ? And even now do not thy People lift up strong cryes unto thee against their Aegyptian Taskemasters, and Babylonian Lords ? And behold Lord what a desperate Leader this Faction hath got (even as Iudas was to the Rowt) the Primate and Metropolitan of all England (those Antichristian Titles he so much vaunteth of) who because he walkes in Factious and lawlesse by-wayes, therefore hath this Fox for his better defence gotten upon him the Lyons skin, pretending the King for the Author and Patron of all his practises. Now the Foundations being thus cast down, what can the Righteous doe ? But thou art in the holy Temple. Thy Throne is in heaven, wherein and whence thou swayest all Scepters here below. Thou art the King of Kings, and in whose band the Kings heart is, as the rivers of waters, turning it which way it pleaseth thee. And thou hast of late mercifully turned his heart to grant to his Scottish People their ancient Christian liberty, both by freeing them from Ceremonies, and from the High Commissions, thereby cutting shorter at least the Hornes of the Beast, in the exercise of Prelaticall Tyranny. Now ô Lord be pleased to perfect this thy worke, both in Scotland and England, and throughout all Christendome, by causing the Kings of the Earth (that formerly were as hornes to the Beast, and had given their power unto him) to hate the Whore and strippe her naked, and that by throwing down the Hierarchy, the maine Pillar of the Antichristian Throne, which is advanced above and against the glorious Kingdome and Throne of our Lord Iesus Christ. And for this cause, ô Lord, open the Kings eyes clearely to see the notorious hypocrisie of his Prelate, who under a Colour of Peace and Truth, goes about to overthrow all true Peace and Truth in his Kingdome. Let him see, ô Lord, how dangerous it is to maintaine or countenance an Antichristian Faction within his Kingdome. Let him see, how naked his Kingdome lyes at this time, exposed to all the stormes of heaven, through so many crying Sins, and desperate iniquities, which the whole Land groaneth under, ready to sinke to the bottome of hell. Let him see, and be rowsed up to a more watchfull Care, and diligent attention upon the grave and waighty affaires of a King, and especially not to commit the Care of Religion to Romish Prelates, which are no members of the true Church of Iesus Christ. And withall, ô Lord, quicken the Kings heart with a Coale from thine Altar, even with the zeale of the Spirit of Iesus Christ, to enter into a present strict examination of the State of Religion, as it now stands in his Kingdome. And because thou hast in mercy stirred up, and strengthened a Servant of thine, to discover to the King not onelyonly the great dishonour his Name sustaineth, but the great danger his Kingdome incurreth, while such intollerable things are suffered, as thy Servant hath in his Reply laid open: Now, ô Lord, let it be thy pleasure to bring this worke to a full perfection by the publishing of it, that so both the King and his People by taking knowledge thereof may come to see what a miserable condition they are brought into by one blinde guide, and bold Prelate. And let thy Spirit ô Lord awaken and quicken the minds of the Lords and Nobles of the King and State, to consider what a base vassalage all those are brought under, who suffer themselves to be made slaves to serve the lawlesse lusts of one domineering Primate: and at length wisely to foresee the mischiefes, which the Altering of Religion to the worse, and reducing all back againe to Rome, may and will certainly bring upon the Land, and upon themselves too, if not the more speedily prevented by a sound and serious thorow Reformation. Make the great ones of the world, ô Lord, sensible, that there is a judgement to come, and that there is a terrible GOD above them, that shall call them to a strict reckoning for all those ungodly practises, wherein themselves have either been Agents, or Instruments, either Principalls, or Accessories, as in oppressing thy Word and Truth, in persecuting thy faithfull Ministers, and the like. And Lord stirre up all thy people to fervent and continuall Prayer, and strengthen them therein to persevere and watch, untill an Answer come forth from thy Throne to all their Petitions, and Supplications, which from day to day they have and do and shall present unto thee. Oh, let not our God be angry with his people, that pray unto him with unfained hearts and lips; nor let their enemies Say, Where is now their GOD? But Lord stirre up thy strength and come and helpe us. Put the wicked in feare, O Lord, that they may know themselves to be but men. And shew some token upon thy servants for good, that they which hate us, may see it, and be ashamed, because thou Lord hast holpen us, and comforted us. And let the Atheisticall Scornfull world see, that it is not in vain to serve God, and to call upon him, and to wait for him. And now Lord avenge the Cause of Iesus Christ against Antichrist: and break down Antichrists throne, and exalt Christs Throne, that himselfe alone may sit, and rule, and raigne over his People, and the show… of that King may be heard among them. And for us thy poore handmaids here humbly suppliant before thee, let thy holy Spirit, direct, lead, and assist us in the way, which may be most acceptable to thy Majesty and profitable for thy People, and comfortable to us all in our distressed estate. And shew unto thy Servants what thou wouldst have us to doe in this difficult businesse about the presenting of this Reply to the King, which with our selves and all thine we humbly commend to thy grace and blessing through Iesus Christ, to whom with thee ô Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory now and ever, Amen.
Mother.
Now my deare Children, I will tell you what resolution GOD hath put into my heart, upon the very close of this Prayer: namely, that we addresse our selves to the King with this Reply, together with an humble Petition. And because all of us perhaps would be too many, let as many of you as are willing to attend me, goe with me to the King: the rest, let them goe and be humble suiters at the Throne of Grace, that our GOD would give us to find Grace in the eyes of the King, so as hearkening to our Petition, he may doe accordingly. Such therefore of you as are willing to accompany me, stand on this side: and the rest, stand on that side. Well, I see you are equally divided: Six with me, and Six for me. With me, Charity, Humilty, Prudence, Piety, Patience, and Verity: For me, Faith, Hope, Zeale, Iustice, Mercy, Prayer. Now my Gracious Children, be strong and of a good courage. Our Cause is good, and GOD is for us; and though our enemies be great, yet they shall not prevaile against us.