Romes Cruelty and Apostasy, Title page – Dedication
ROMES Cruelty & Apoſtacie: DECLARED IN A SERMON Preached on the fifth of November, 1644. Before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS. BY Anthony Burgeſs, Paſtour of Sutton Coldfield; A Member of the Aſſembly.
LONDON, Printed by George Miller for Tho. Vnderhill at the Signe of the Bible in Woodſtreet. 1645.
TO THE HONOVRABLE Houſe of COMMONS Aſſembled in Parliament.
Worthy Patriots,
THe Church of God under her troubles is neither to become (with the Poets Niobe) a ſenſeleſs ſtone, deſpiſing the affliction of God; nor yet with (their Hecuba) a mad dog, raging through impatiencie at Gods Providence towards her; For whether God exerciſeth her with outward perſecutions, it is (as Auſtin ſaid) to try her patience; or with hereſies and errours, it is to prove her ſapience and wiſdome. And this may ſatisfie us, that Gods love and care for his Church, and truth, is greater then ours can be; and the loſſe of his glory is dearer to him, then the loſſe of our temporall comforts can be to us. It is true, as God to demonstrate the divine authority of the Scriptures, uſeth not ſuch arguments, that agree with a proud and carnall wit, but ſuch as are agreeable to the holineſſe and majesty of the things contained therein; ſo alſo God in his Providence towards his Church goeth not in ſuch a way which our hearts would expect, but in that which is moſt beſeeming his love, wiſdom, & power; & this hath made thoſe, who have much appeared for God, to ſay (as Tully, when Pompey had the worſe by Caeſar, whoſe cauſe he judged the better) In divinis magna eſt caligo, Gods Preſence is ſometimes in a great cloud. Be not therefore diſmayed (honourable Senators) notwithſtanding the many oppoſitions in the way of this your begun Reformation, and think not to be quiet, as long as the popiſh adverſary can work; For as Auſtin obſerved of the Romans (while Pagans) among the many Temples they built to ſeverall Goddeſses, there was one alſo built to Quies, to whom notwithſtanding they never ſacrificed, becauſe of their delight in war. The ſame may be applyed to Rome, now Antichristian, who delights to make her ſelfe drunke in the bloud of the Saints. But God hath frustrated her many plots, and expectations, of which this Fifth day of November is a famous memoriall. The Lord ſo proſper you in your work, that neither fraud, or force may destroy it.
Your humble Servant in Chriſt Jeſus, Anthony Burgeſs.