The Depths of Satan Discovered, Title page – To the reader
THE Depths of Satan DISCOVERED: OR, The Jeſuits laſt Deſign to Ruine RELIGION. BEING, Some Obſervations upon a Pamphlet, called, The Swords Abuſe Aſſerted: By JOHN VERNON.
Preſented to the Conſideration Of the
Armie.
Citie.
Kingdome.
By PHILOPATRIUS PHILALETHES.
REV. 2.24.
To as many as have not this Doctrine, and which have not knowne the Depths of Satan.
2 PET. 2.18, 19.
For when they ſpeake great ſwelling Words of Vanitie, they allu…e through the Luſts of the fleſh, &c. Thoſe that were cl…a…e eſ…aped from them who live in Errour. While they promiſe them Libertie, they themſelves are the ſervants of Corruption.
London, Printed for John Wright, at the Kings Head in the Old-Bayley. 1649.
To the truely Chriſtian Reader.
IT is very well knowne, to every underſtanding Chriſtian, that there are two maine Pillar… of a Reformed State, the two great Ordin…nces of God. Magiſtracie and Miniſtrie: And its as eaſily obſeruable, that many there are, (whether ignorantly, or intentially) who are, Sampſon▪ like, laying hold of thoſe two Pillars, though they pull downe therewith, the houſe of the Kingdome and Church, upon their owne and others heads. How much the latter, (the Miniſtrie) hath beene undermind in all times, eſpecially within theſe laſt dozen yeares, there's no obſerving Chriſtian but hath taken notice. What Innovaſions and ſubſcriptions, have beene Impoſed upon godly and faithfull Miniſters, by the Prelates, to drive them from their Stations, and out of the Kingdome, who doth not yet remember? Within theſe laſt ſeven yeares the ſame Deſigne hath beene carryed on, bu… in another dreſſe. The great ſeſuiticall Project (for they lye behind the Curtaine, and Act it) hath beene to make the Miniſters (whom they could not corrupt) and Miniſtrie, vile and contemptible, which hath proceeded to a very high degree. The … to effect it hath beene this: Firſt, To poure out upon them whole Dungcarts of the vileſt Reproaches in Pamphlets, that ever Chriſtian eare heard, thereby to expoſe them to the ſcorne of the people, and ſo to nullifie the Succeſſe of their Miniſtrie. Secondly, To cry downe their Office, either as Antichriſtian, or none, Setting up Preachers of the baſiſt of the people, (as Jeroboam made Prieſts) admiring and adoring them above the moſt Learned, Faithfull, able Min… ſters of the G ſpell; from whom, as Inſtruments under G d, they re…ved the knowledge and grace they have, (if they have any) yet now contemne them (which true grace cannot doe) as the dirt under their feet. Thirdly, To cry downe Learning, Arts, Ʋniverſities, as uſeleſſe; pretending to new Revelations, which are the m…er deluſions of Satan. Fourthly, The laſt, but not leaſt deſtructive, to cry downe their ſetled Maintenance by Tithes▪ and leave them to the cold and comfortleſſe-Charitie of the people, which will ſtarve them out that are in, and keepe others from entring in. (This alone will doe it) if the reſt faile.
For the former (the Magiſtracie) it hath beene the long policie of Antichriſt; to perſwade the world, that the Chriſtian Magiſtrate, hath nothing at all to doe in matters of Religion, that ſo he might uſurpe that power into his owne hands. This damnable Doctrine, deſtructive to Religion, to State and Church, hath long beene contended againſt by all the Reformed Churches, and their Learned Champions.
And little could wee expect, that any men, that pretend to Reformation, ſhould herein have complyed with them. But our feare and jealouſie is, they are acted and agitated, either by ſtrong deluſions of Satan, or by the ſubtile Inſinuations of diſguiſed Jeſuites, who have now at laſt tranſfrom'd themſelves into Angels of Light, in ſtead of their former fierce heat. It's knowne to all the world, that the Proteſtant Religion in England is ſetled by Parliamentarie Power, and Lawes by them eſtabliſhed: And whilſt that ſtands in its faithfulneſſe and vigour, Poperie is not like to enter here. Many wayes have beene attempted, either to corrupt it, or breake it, in former and later times; but, bleſſed be God, all in vaine. But now of late, there is at once a double deſigne upon it; to breake the Being of it, and the Authoritie of it in matters of Religion, together, or if not both, the latter. And this is the deſigne of the Pamphlet, entituled, The Swords abuſe aſſerted. Whither this Gentleman, the Author of it, or any in the Army, have ſuch Intentions, I dare not ſay; but the Poſitions, lately offered to the world, doe clearely ponderate that way. This I find to be his Principle, deſtructive enough, which …he aſſerts, pag. 15. That Chriſtians and Heathens in Civill Affaires, are alike ſubjected to the Civill Sword, but neither ſubject in Religious cauſes; and there can be no Reſtraint, where there muſt be no Superioritie; than which, no Jeſuite could have ſpoken worſe. This he obſcurely hinted in his Title Page, but kept it for a Reſerve, till he had baffled his Readers eyes with ſome appearance of reaſons againſt Reſtraint, which is but one part of the Magiſtrates power. Wee ſhall weigh what he ſayes, and cleare up to the Reader, The Depths of Satan vailed therein.