The Craft and Cruelty of the Churchs Adversaries, Sermon

The Craft and Cruelty of the Churchs Adversaries · Sermon

p. 1A SERMON Preached to the Honourable Houſe of Commons now aſſembled in PARLIAMENT. Novemb. the fifth, 1642.

NEHEMIAH. 4.11.

And our adverſaries ſaid, they ſhall not know nor ſee till wee come in the midſt among them and ſlay them and cauſe the worke to ceaſe,

The Introduction.THis chapter gives you a veiw of the various diſcouragements, which that gracious man Nehemiah met in that glorious work of repayring Jeruſalem, and reſtoring the lapſed State of Church and commonwealth. Diſcouragements you ſhall behold in this chapter breaking in upon him like waves of the Sea, while he ſtands as a rock unbroken, unſhaken in the midſt of all. Like Iobs Meſſengers: before the firſt be diſpatched, there appears a ſecond before that be anſwered, a third like Ezekiels propheſie, miſcheife,Ezek. 7.Ezek 7 upon miſcheife and rumour upon rumour,

In the firſt verſe, you have the adverſaries rage. p. 2When Sanballat heard that we built the wall, hee was wroth, and tooke great indignation. In the ſecond you have this rage venting it ſelfe in foame, in ſcoffs, and ſarcaſmes caſt upon Nehemiah his brethren, and their undertaking. What do thoſe feeble Jewes? will they fortifie themſelves? will they ſacrifice? will they make an end in a day &c and Tobias ſaid, even that which they build, if a fox go up hee ſhall breake downe their ſtone wall.

But this is the cooleſt of their rage, the heat of it reaches unto blood, ſo you find verſe the 7. and 8. When Sanballat and Tobiah, and the Arabians. &c. heard that the walles of Jeruſalem were made up, they conſpired all of them together to come to ſight againſt Jeruſalem and to hinder it; Withall the people at the ſame time begin to murmur, verſe the tenth: And Judah ſaid the ſtrength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbiſh, ſo that we are not able to build the wall. And this (as it is probable) gives incouragement to the adverſaries to antidate their triumph and glory, as if the Jewes had beene their requeſt, their prey already. And our adverſaries ſaid, &c.

Diviſion of the Text.In which words you may pleaſe to obſerve: Firſt, a ſtrong combination againſt the church of God. And our adverſaries ſaid. Secondly, a wicked deſigne they were combined in. To cauſe the work to ceaſe, this is firſt in their thoughts, though laſt in their words. Thirdly, a bloody meanes propounded, and agreed on for the accompliſhing of that deſign; and that is ſlaughter. Slay them, and cauſe the worke to ceaſe. Laſty, a ſubtile way projected for the effecting of that ſlaughter; we will come upon them ſecretly, ſuddenly, they ſhall p. 3neither know, nor ſee, till we are in the midſt of them, & ſlay them, and cauſe the worke to ceaſe. I intend not to proſecute the particulars of the text, but to give you the ſum of the whole in one obſervation. The Doctrine.The great deſigne of the enemies of the church, is by craft or cruelty, or both, to hinder any worke that tends to the eſtabliſhment, or promoting of the churches good.

All the viſible enemies of the church of God, are but the Emiſſaries of Satan his agents: and therefore they obſerve his(a)(a)Epheſ. 6.11. foreign.Eph 6:11 methods, his rules of art in their attempts upon the church. Now as Satan himſelf, ſometimes oppoſes the church by force, and then he isbbIſaia 27.16. His allegoricis appellationibus figuratur ſublimitas omnis tam ſpiritualis quam corporalis, quae adverſus deum ſe extolleret vi fraude vel utroque ſimul. Iuni: ad locum. Eſai. 34.16.Isa 34:16 a piercing Serpent, and ſometimes circumvents the church by craft, and then hee is a crooked ſerpent, vel rectus venit, vel tortuoſus, vel leonem agit et ſaevit, vel draconem agit & fallit. So doe his auxilliaries thoſe that fight under his colours againſt the churches peace and good, craft and cruelty are their chiefe engines of miſchiefe: and not one, but both they uſe, that as the ſcripture ſpeaks of thoſe birds of prey and deſolation, none of them ſhall want their mate. And as ſome write of the Aſp, he never wanders alone without his companion with him ſo the craft of the enemies of the church, is never but accompanied with cruelty, and their cruelty ſeldome without craft, and both bent to hinder any worke that tendes to the eſtabliſhment and promoting of the churches good.

Proved by Exemplification.To give you ocular proofe of the crueltyes wherby the enemies of the church have from time to time indeavoured to cauſe the worke to ceaſe, would be the buſineſſe, not of a ſermon, but of a volume, and yet eaſily done, had we but time, becauſe their cruelty p. 4ever appeares in its owne likeneſſe, in the ſhape of one of thoſe beaſts that Daniel ſaw in his viſion, that had three ribs in the mouth of it, and they ſayd unto it, ariſe, devoure much fleſh. Dan. 7.5.Dan 7:5You may trace the monſter foot by foot, from Abel unto this preſent in ſteps of blood. The perſecutions of the Jewiſh church under Pharoah. Nebuchadnezar, Antiochus, and of the chriſtian church vnderunder the heathen, and after them the Arrian Emperors and Biſhops: ſince them vnderunder Antichriſt, on the one ſide, and the Turk on the other, are ſo knowne, I need not mention them: but this they all declare, that the indeavoures of the adverſaries, have alwayes bin by cruelty to cauſe the worke to ceaſe. And indeed if wee conſider thoſe floods and ſeas of blood, which in the ſucceſſive perſecutions of the church have beene exhauſted, wee may wonder the church is not quite extinct, ſave onelyonly the bloud of Martyres, extra venas, is not cruor, but ſemen, and by the irradiation of the ſunn of righteouſneſſe, becomes miraculouſly fruitfull to the producing of a new ſucceſſion of Saints.

But to trace the adverſaries of the church in their craft,ttSecondly of the oraft of headverſaries which are ſeverall. Prov. 30.19.Prov 30:19 hic labor, hoc opus: they are ſerpentina ſoboles the ſeed of the ſerpent; and as the way of the ſerpent upon a rocke is unknowable, ſo are their wayes of undermining the church: yet as farre as either in hiſtory or ſcripture I may, I ſhall trace them, and give you a breife veiw of the ſeverall arts and crafts, whereby the adverſaries of the church have ſought to hinder their proceedings, and cauſe the work to ceaſe.

Firſt.The firſt deſign that ever was againſt the Church of which we reade in Scripture is that of Pharaoh and his Councellors Exod. the firſt; Come let us deale p. 5wiſely with them, and what is the reſult of this conſultation? not to deny them preſently the liberty of their Religion we take away, but by burdening and oppreſſing them in their liberties and eſtates to breake their hearts and imbaſe their ſpirits, that they ſhould have no heart to minde Religion or any thing, becauſe of their great anguiſh and affliction. a deſigne that hath bin practiſed againſt the church of God many a time. Thus the Perſian Tyrant thought to have ſubdued the ſpirit of Hormiſdus that noble chriſtian. He would not kill him but enthrall him: Turne him out of his poſſeſſions, throw him from his honour, give his wealth, diguitie, wife, to the baſeſt of his ſlaves, Turne him naked our of dores to keepe Mules in the Wilderneſſe, by this meanes thinking to choke and ſmother that holy fire God had enkindled in his heart.

And this is the art of the great Turke at this day though he pretend to let the Chriſtians in Greece and thoſe countries under him enjoy their lives and their religion, yet ſo heavy is his yoake upon them, that they have little joy of their lives, and for the moſt part as little care of their religion ſcarce any thing more than the name of Chriſt generally to be found among them.

Second.The ſecond art whereby the adverſaries of the church have ſought to prejudice it, hath beene by procuring matches, and mixtures of ſome of the members of the church and ſome of their owne that were Idolaters. This was the art of Balaam, when hee ſaw hee could no otherwiſe faſten a curſe upon the Iſrael of God, he gave the King of Moab councell to enſnare the men of Iſrael with the daughters of Moab, p. 6whereby they were drawne not onelyonly to corporall, but to ſpirituall adultery. The hiſtory of this, you have Num. 25, 1, 2, 3. The people began to commit whoredome with the daughters of Moah, and the people did eat of their ſacrifices, and bowed downe to their gods, and Iſrael joyned himſelfe to Baal-Peor. And that this was the plot of Balaam is cleare, Numbers 31.16. Theſe cauſed the children of Iſrael through the councell of Balaam, to commit treſpafle againſt the Lord, It was Balams councell this, and wicked councell it was. This mixing with unbelievers hath bin ever looked upon as a thing of dangerous conſequence to the Church of God which is the reaſon that Nehemiah was in ſuch a heat of indignation againſt the people for this thing. Nehe, 13.25, 26. ver. I contended with them▪ and curſed them, and ſmote certaine of them, and plucked off their haire and made them ſwear by God, ſaying, you ſhall not give your daughters to their Sonnes nor take their daughters unto your ſonnes, did not Salomon King of Iſrael ſin by theſe thinge? yet among many Nations there was no King like him who was beloved of his God, Nevertheleſſe even him did outlandiſh women cauſe to ſin.

Great dangers the Church of God is expoſed unto by this deſigne. Firſt, of being corrupted by this meanes, and drawne from the true Religion which is the very reaſon why God forbad ſuch marriages in the old law. Deut. 7.4. For they will turne away thy ſonnes from following me that they may ſerve other Gods ſo will the anger of the Lord be kindled againſt you and deſroy thee ſuddainely. And ſad experience of this ſad effect and conſequent of marrying with Idolaters, and thoſe that are enemies to the Church, The p. 7Church of God hath had not only in Salomon, whoſe heart his jd…rous wives turned away from God and ſo capti…ted that he did publiquely tolerate their idolarour worſhip, 1 Kings 11.4, When Salomon was cold his wives turned away his heart after other Gods, and verſ. 7. Then did Salomon build an high place for Chemoſh the abomination of Moah and for Moloch the abomination of Ammon, and likewiſe did he for all his ſtrange wives and ſacrificed to their Gods. Nor onelyonly in Iehoram the Son of Jehoſaphat, the reaſon of whoſe deflection from the practice of his father, and the principles of his education unto Idolatry is rendered by the holy ghoſt this, for the daughter of Ahab was hie wife, 2 King. 8.18. Nor onelyonly in other of the Kings of Iſrael and Judah, but even in chriſtian Kings and Princes, when they have matched though not with Pagans and Heathens but with ſuch as have profeſſed the chriſtian Religion, onelyonly not in purity. Valens the Emperour was at firſt a true Orthodox Profeſſor, but being married to an Arrian Lady ſhe ſoone inſnared him with her flatteries and captivated him to the ſame hereſie with her ſelfe, and he proved a moſt bloudy perſecutor of the true Orthodox Church.Theod. 4.11

Or ſecondly, If there be ſuch eſtabliſhment of heart in the truth that the unbeliever dares not attempt to draw the believing yoak-fellow from the true Religion, or attempts it but in vaine. This inconvenience yet followes thereupon, that the unbeliever will as much as they can, viis et modis, promote the falſe Religion and ſubvert the true.

The Church of God had experience of this in Juſtinian the Emperour,Evagr. 4.10. whoſe wife Theodora addicted p. 8to the hereſie of Eutyches, did no leſſe foſter, encourage promote and reward the teachers & maintainers of that hereſie than the Emperor did the true orthodox profeſſors yea prevailed ſo farr with her husband as to make Severus, a chief leader of the Eutychian faction Biſhop of Conſtantinople.

Thirdly, By this meanes not only the preſent age but poſterity is indammaged. For put caſe the unbelieving party doth ſurvice, there is danger leaſt the children (ſpecially if young) ſhould by the authority of an Idolatrous father or rhe perſwaſion of an Idolatrous mother to be drawn away from the true Religion. An inſtance of this we have in Valentinian the younger, whoſe father dying and leaving him in the tutelage of Juſtina his mother who was an Arrian (though all the time of her husbands life ſhee had concealed ir,Socr. 5.2. Theod. 5.13.14. Sozom. 7.13. knowing her husbands zeale for the Orthodox Religion) ſhe taking the advantage of her huſbands death, and the tender and flexible age of her ſon to advance the Arrian faction eaſily corrupted him, that he was ſcarſe warme in his throne but he falls a perſecuting the true Religion. Theſe and many other inconveniences have bin obſerved to attend ſuch kinde of mixtures betweene the Church and their adverſaries, which the adverſaries are not ignorant of, and that is the reaſon ſometimes they are ſo willing to offer their daughters in marriage to the members of the church,1 Sam. 18.21.1 Sam 18:21 but it is onelyonly as Saul gave Michal unto David that ſhe might be a ſnare unto him.

Third.The third Art whereby the adverſaries of the church have endeavoured the ruine and over throw of Religon is by covering their intent to alter religion with a pretence of publick emollument, So Jeroboam to cover his Idolatrous projects, pretends the peoples p. 9eaſe, It is too much for you to goe up to Jeruſalem, 1 King. 12.28. a great journey, a great charge, you may ſerve God nearer and better cheape at Dan and Bethell, as if he meant not to alter Religion, but only to let them have it with more eaſe and bettex accommodation. Like that of ſome of late time: For people to heare two Sermons a day, it is too much, one well heard and remembred is enough: For young folke to be kept from ſports on the Lords Day, it is too much, It is too much for you to goe up worſhip at Ieruſalem. The like pretence was ſometimes uſed to Theodoſius, juſtly called Great, who having aboliſhed in Egypt their Heatheniſh ſacrifices, and forbid their Idolatrous worſhip, upon paine of conſiſcation and death; the people fearing the omiſſion of their accuſtomed ſuperſtitions, would make the River Nilus (whom they honoured as a God) keep in his ſtreames, and not water their land as in former yeares, began to mutinie, and things tended to ſedition: whereupon the Preſident ofthe Countrey, wrote to the Emperour, beſeeching him for once to pleaſe the people, by conniving at their Idolatry. To whom he anſwered; It is better to continue faithfull and conſtant unto God, foreign Soz. 7.20.then to preferre the overflowing of Nilus, and the fruitfullneſſe of the earth before piety and godlineſſe. Nay I had rather Nilus ſhould never flow, then to have it raiſed by ſacrifices and inchantments. A brave reſolution, and becomming a true Chriſtian Prince. Let people be pleaſed or diſpleaſed, come loſſe, come gaine, let truth and godlineſſe be maintained.

A fourth fraud or art whereby they endeavour to ſupplant the Church, is, By counterfeiting p. 10a friendly compliance with the Church of God, as if they meant to help and farther the buſineſſes thereof, when in truth, they intend nothing but to overthrow and hinder all. So the Adverſaries, Eſra. 4. When the people of God were about rebuilding the Temple, the Adverſaries came and offered to joyne with them. verſ. the ſecond. Let us build with you, for we ſeek your God as you doe. When they intended nothing more then to betray them. This was the great art of the Adverſaries in the Apoſtles dayes, when many falſe bretheren joyned themſelves to the Church, Galat. 2.Gal 2meerely to ſpy out their liberty: and many falſe Apostles that ſeemed to preach Chriſt with abundance of zeale and forwardneſſe, but it was only that they might withdraw Diſciples from the true Doctrine and Apostles of the Lord Ieſus, and fill the Church with rents and ſchiſmes, as they did the Church of Corinth. Thus the Arrians would often counterfeit themſelves Orthodox men, and mingle themſelves with Orthodox profeſſers, that they might with leſſe ſuſpition, ſp…ead the poiſon of their errors. That good Prince Conſtantine the Great, was much abuſed by that Generation in this kind, his great admirer Euſchius, confeſſeth he retained neare him. foreign.Euſeb. de vita Conſtantin. 4.54. Sceleratos Nebulenes qui ſimulaverunt Religionem Chriſteanam. Specially one potorious one, who had bin Chaptain to the Emperours Siſter and by her dying, was commended to the Emperour, and received into his Family, and though all the time of Conſtantine the great, he kept his poiſon hid; yet no ſooner was he dead, but he began to play his pranks. Firſt inveigling the chiefe Gentlemen of the Emperours p. 11bed chamber, then ſome of the reſt, after theſe the Empreſse, and ſoon after the Emperour himſelfe; winning them all to the Arrian hereſy: who if in Conſtantines time he had not complyed with the Orthodox party, he had never had the acceſſe to Conſtantine, and ſo never this opporrunity of ſpreading that hereſie. This is a trick not unuſuall with Rome, I have heard that the Jeſuites have a practiſe of running over to the Lutheran Church, I find a paſſage in Frantrius, that may give ſome credit unto this. Oracula Sacra. 129. p. 842.pretending to be converts, and to build with them, but it is only to keep up that bitter contention that is between the Calvinists and the Lutherans, the virulency whereof, is much fomented by theſe r…negado Ieſuits.

The firſt way is. To ingratiate themſelves to Kings and Princes, with much officiouſneſſe and pretended care of their profit and honour, that ſo being potent with the Potentates of the earth, they may have the more power to doe the Church a miſchiefe. So the Adverſaries of the Iews pretended, that in duty and conſcience, they could doe no leſſe then complaine of the Iewes to King Artaxerſes, Ezra 4.14. Now becauſe we have maintenance from the Kings pallace, and it was not meet for us to ſee the King diſhonoured, we have ſent and certified the King. Wretches that cared no more for the Kings honour then a ſtraw, only pretend this, that they might the more eaſily draw out the Kings power, for the ſuppreſſing of the Church: So Haman, Eſth. 3.8. ſeemed to mind only the Kings profit, when his mind is only ſet upon the Iewes deſtruction. It is not for the Kings profit to ſuffer them. So the Iewes themſelves in proſecuting and murdering the Lord Christ, pretend nothing but loyalty and reſpect to Caeſar. We have no p. 12King but Caeſar. And if thou let this man go, thou art not Caeſars friend. So that Arrian Prieſt, of whom I was even now ſpeaking, that corrupted Conſtantius, the ſonne of the great Conſtantine, inſinuated himſelfe firſt into the favour of that young Prince by his officiouſneſſe,foreign. Soz 8.1. in carrying his Fathers will to him, and the advantage that he made of his favour, was to corrupt and poyſon him. It hath alwayes bin obſerved, that the greateſt Heretikes, have bin the greateſt Courtiers. The Arrians in their age, and of them the Ieſuites learned it, and of the Ieſuits the Arminians. All of them have made it their maſter-piece, to inſinuate themſelves into the favour of Princes, and then make bold with their power, for the oppreſſing of the truth.

A ſixt ſtratagem of theirs is, To charge the Truth and Profeſſours of it with falſe accuſations, thereby to render them odious, either to Princes or people. So the Goſpell of Chriſt was called hereſie, Paul a peſtilent fellow, and a mover of Sedition. So Ezra 4. The King is told, if the Iewes rebuild the wall, they will pay no tole nor tribute.…ozom 2 24. …heod 1.…0. …ocrat. 1.21. Athan Ep. ad …olit vitam …gintes …ozom. 2.8. So the Primitive Chriſtians, had horrible unnameable crimes, laid to their charges. Thus the Arrians charged Athanaſias with Adultery, Murther, Witch-craft. Thus the Iewes of Perſia, in the time of Sapores, accuſed Simeon Biſhop of Sileucia, foreign, as a friend of the Romane Emperours, and one that gave intelligence to them of the Perſian affaires, which was the occaſion, not only of the death of Simeon, but of a generall perſecution againſt the whole Church. Thus deale the Jeſuites with the Proteſtants. And thus the Adverſaries p. 13of the power of godlineſſe, charge it with Hereſie, Faction, Rebellion,Willets Pillars of Papiſtry. Ger. Con Cath. l. 1 p. 2. c. …9. and all that will make it odious, either to Prince or people.

The 7^h. way is, By procuring and enacting Lawes, whereby they may either inſnare the conſciences or the lives of the people of God unawares. Such as that was Daniel 6.7. when they come and tell the King, All the Preſidents of the Kingdome, the Governours and Princet, Councellours and Captaines, have conſulted together to ſtabliſh a royall Statute. That whoever ſhall aske any Petition of God or man, ſave of thee ô King, for thirty dayes, ſhall be caſt into the Lyons Den. Darius was newly aſcended upon the Throne, and his Princes ſeemed to have ſtudied nothing, but the increaſing of his power and might, they pretend it will much adde to his magnificence, and ſtrike a greater awe into the hearts of his new conquered Subjects, if ſuch a Law as this be made. Now when all the Preſidents, and Councellours and Governours ſhall commend a thing to the King, as the unanimous reſult of all their councels, and deſire ſuch a Law to be made for the Kings Majeſty and Honour, it is eaſily obtained, though their deſigne was by this Law to enſnare the people of God, either to wound their conſciences, by making them ſin, in neglecting that duty of worſhip they owed to God, or elſe to cut off their lives in the purſuance of that worſhip. The King could not find this out, nor it may bee moſt of the common ſort of the Jewes: but Daniel did, and reſolved rather to tranſgreſſe the Lawes of the King, then the Law of God, rather to be caſt into the Den of Lyons, then to carry about a Lyon in his boſome, even an inraged conſcience. So Iulian that p. 14ſubtill enemy of the Church of God, inſnared the poore Chriſtians unawares, for calling his Souldiers to appeare before him, that they might receive their pay,Theod. 3.…5, 16 he cauſed an Altar with fire upon it to be ſet by, and a Table of Incenſe, and commanded every ſouldier, as he came to receive his money, to caſt ſome Incenſe into the fire upon the Altar, which ſome of his Chriſtian ſouldiers underſtanding to be an implicite and interpretative Idolatry, refuſed to doe, and would rather looſe their pay: others not knowing the depth and myſtery of this i…iquity, ſuſpecting no hurt, did it, and ſo defiled their conſciences; which filled them afterwards with ſuch extreme griefe and horrour, when they came to the knowledge of it, as they did offer to expiate their ſinne with their blood. Had Darius knowne, that the intent of his Princes, in that which they called their Royall Law, had been to intrap the life of Daniel, he would never have ſigned it. Had the Chriſtians knowne, that the intent of Iulian, in commanding them to ſprinkle ſome Incenſe upon the burning Altar, had been to make them deny the Faith, they would never have done it. But this is the craft of the Adverſaries, to procure and enact Lawes, that may looke one way, and ſtrike another, that may ſeeme to be for Majeſty, or Honour, or Decency; but are indeed for the inſnaring and ſupplanting of the Church of God.

Another way is, By ſecret conſpiracies and treacherous combinations againſt the Church, to undermine and ruine it. So here Nehem. 4.7, 8. The Arabians and the Ammonites and the Aſhdodites, conſpire all of them together, to come and fight againſt Jeruſalem. So Pſa. 83.3. They take crafty counſell p. 15againſt thy people, and conſpire againſt thy hidden ones, they have conſulted together with one conſent, they are confederate againſt thee: Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, &c. So Act. 23.12, 13. Certaine of the Iewes banded themſelves together, and bound themſelves under a curſe, ſaying, that they would neither eat nor drinke, till they had killed Paul. Such was the Str…tagem of our Adverſaries, the deliverance from which, we celebrate this day, a conſpiracy of men, that had bound themſelves by a curſe to deſtroy us, and had not only ſaid, but ſworne. The Doctrin proved by Reaſon. 1. Drawn from the Adverſaries 1. Hatred of the Church.Wee will come upon them, and they ſhal neither know nor ſee, til we are in the midſt of them and ſlay them, and cauſe the worke to ceaſe. Their deſigne was by craft and cruelty, to diſturbe and deſtroy the Churches peace.

And truth is, in Reaſon we can looke for no other, if we conſider the innate diſpoſition of the enemies of the Church.

Firſt, in regard of that implacable hatred the Adverſaries beare unto the Church. It is a true ſaying, Odia Religionum ſunt acerbiſsima, aaImmortale odium & nunquam ſanabile bellum. Ardet ad-huc combos. & Tentyra ſummus utrin que . Inde ſuror v…lgo quod Numina vicinorum. Odit uter que tocus, cum ſolos credat habendos Eſſe Deos quos ipſe colit. Juve. Sat. 15. Omnis Contentio quae Dei cauſâ ſuſcipitur ſtabilis ſutura eſt & diuturna. Druſ. Apotheg.Hatred grounded in differences of Religion, are the moſt bitter and uncapable of Reconciliation. And it is a true obſervation of ſomebbD. Day upon. 1 Cor. 16.9.1 Cor 16:9, that the nearer any are unto a conjunction in matters of Religion, and yet ſome difference retained, the deeper is the hatred; as he obſerves a Iew hates a Chriſtian worſe then he doth a Pagan or a Turke; a Papiſt hates a Proteſtant worſe then he doth a Iew; and a Formaliſt hates a Puritan worſe then he doth a Papiſt. No ſuch hatred under Heaven (ſaith he) as that between a Formaliſt and a Puritan. Now Truth being one, the true Religion one, and this p. 16the poſſeſsion and profeſſion of the true Church, this inrageth all the world againſt it, Pagans, Iewes, Turks, Papists, Formaliſts; that as they every one Idolize their owne Religion and opinion, and ſeeke to ſuppreſſe each other, ſo they all combine, to ſuppreſſe the true Religion, to keepe that from flouriſhing, from ſhining forth in it's originall beauty and glory.

And then ſecondly are full of craft.2 Craft. The ſeed of the Serpent, for ſo God cals them, Gen. 3.15. thereby letting…us know, That as the Serpent was moae ſubtill then any beaſt of the field, Geneſ. 3.1. So the Adverſaries of the Church are more ſubtile then all the men of the world, whereas the Church of God, they are the Seed of Iacob, Pſal. 22.23.**Gen. 25.27.Gen 25:27 He was a plaine man, Sine fraude & fuco, and ſo are his Seed, Prudentiam habent, fraudulentiam horrent, but their Adverſaries they are full ofaaPſal 83.3. Io… 15.35. Pſal. 10.7. Pſal. 119.110.Ps 83Ps 10:7Ps 119:110 craft, therfore ſometimes in Scripture called FoxesbbCant. 2.15. Luk 13.12.3. Cruelty.Song 2:15Luke 13:12Luke 13:3.

3. And as full of cuelty as craft, therefore in Scripture proclaimed bloudy as well asccPſal. 55.23.Ps 55:23 deceitfull men. And in that reſpect compared toddPſal. 22.12, 13, 16, 21.Ps 22:12Ps 22:13Ps 22:16Ps 22:21 Lyons, Bulls, Doggs, Vnicornes, eeMat. 10.16. Act. 20.19.Matt 10:16Acts 20:19Wolves. The Churches enemies are men of cruell bloudy diſpoſitions, ſuch as was Francis the firſt of France, whoſe rage againſt the truth of God, and the Reformation in Luthers time, was ſo bloudy, that he did in a ſolemne aſſembly proteſt. If he knew any part of his body infected with that contagion (of Lutheraniſme) hee would preſently teare it from him, Si quam ſui Corporis partem iſtâ Contagione ſciret infectam revulſurum illico nelongiùs ſerperet. Sleid. com. lib. 9.that it might ſpread no further. p. 17Or that of the Germain Count Felix of Wartenburge, A memorable thing fell cut, anno 1550. Divers Noblemen being at Supper together, & threatning hotrible things againſt the Profeſſours of our Religion, among the reſt Count Felix of Wartenburge a great Warriour, and that had bin in place of command under Maximilian the Emperour, ſaid he hep…d ere he died to ride up to the ſpurrs in the bloud of the Lutherans; but being ſmitten by God, that very night, he fell a bleeding in that violent manner, that his blood choaked him and he dyed. Flac. Illyr. So let all thine enemies periſh ô Lord, and give them blood to drinke, for they are worthy.Who, he ſaid, h…ped ere he dyed, to ride up to the ſpurrs in the bloud of the Lutherans. Theſe are the diſpoſitions of them all,**Prov. 27.29.Prov 27:29 for as face anſwers to face in water, ſo the heart of man to the heart of man. Now looke upon the Adverſaries of the Church thus, as full of innate craft, cruelty, malignity againſt the Church of God and the true Religion, and what can you expect, but that they ſhould by all deceitfull, bloudy wayes, hinder and oppoſe any worke that tends to the ſtabliſhment and promoving of the Churches good.

But if you adde to this,aaReaſon drawne from the power of Satan in the hearts of the Adverſaries. the mighty power that Satan hath in the hearts of the Churches enemies, to every one of whom it may be applyed, which Peter ſaid to Ananias, Satan hath filled thy heart, yea Satan hath not onelyonly filled them, but as the Holy Ghoſt in one word tels us,Epheſ. 2.2. foreign. Ioh. 6.44.Eph 2:2John 6:44 is continually active and mighty in them. And againe tels us, they are as ſpontaneouſly ſubject to his power and motions. That native malignity, craft, cruelty, that is inherent in the Churches Adverſaries is principle enough to carry them on in deſignes againſt the Churches good, though Satan ſhould never incite them; and that power and energy of Satan in them, is enough to carry them in that way, though there were no ſuch naturall diſpoſition. But when both meet, a ſtrong propenſion of nature in themſelves, and a mighty energeticall power of Satan p. 18over them, needs muſt they with moſt impetuous violence be carried on by any craft or cruelty, 3. Reaſon from Gods permitting this. 1. For his people. Tryall.no matter what or how to hinder all that tends to the Churches good. They having an act…vity of their owne that way, and Satan who is mighty in them, acting them that way too.

True it is, God could reſtraine the rage of his Churches Adverſaries, bind downe the malignity of their natures (though he leave it in them) with a band of braſſe or iron, as the ſtump of that tree in Nebuchadnezars viſion, and retund even the Devills owne malice. But it pleaſeth the wiſedome of God to give ſcope thus to the malice of Satan and his inſtruments, and that both, in reference to his people, and to himſelfe.

To his people. Firſt, for their tryall, the reaſon the Apoſtle gives, why the Lord permits hereſies in his Church, may let us ſee why the Lord ſuffers other oppoſition againſt his Church, 1 Cor. 11.19.aaVt qui probati ſunt & haereſoes fermento ſe non in ecerunt manifeſti fiant in Nobis. Profi…iant in cognitio…e, cluceant in confeſſione, o len luntque ſidem ſuam, conſtantian veritatem opera, ut glorificetur Pater noſter qui in coelis eſt. Cram. Haereſiolog. There muſt be alſo hereſies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifeſt among you bbCum Eccleſia pace & con…ordiâ fruitur, nec afflictione extrinſe…ùs aut diſsenſione intrinſecùs laborat, qui Chriſti ſunt non agnoſcuntur, vix que ſeipſos invicem dignoſcunt quia prosperitatis tempore facile eſt Deo …ervire Camer in Joh. 6.John 6. Who will not owne the Churches cauſe, when it proſpers, meets with no oppoſition?ccIoſeph. Antiq. l. 11. c. 8. 2 For his peoples exerciſe. The Samaritans were wont to challenge kindred of the Iewes, when the ſtate of the Iewes flouriſhed, but when it was afflicted then diſclaimed them. Many will imbarke themſelves in the Churches cauſe in a calme, that with the Souldiers in the Acts will fly out of the Ship in a ſtorme. Therefore that his owne which are approved may be manifeſted, God ſuffers Satan and his inſtruments to oppoſe, to uſe all their craft and cruelty to hinder his Churches good.

And not onelyonly that his people may be tryed, but p. 19alſo exerciſed in ſwiſdome, faith, patience, courage. When there was deliberation at Rome about the demoliſhing of Carthage **Sinenda eſt Carthago ut ejus metu diſciplina à majoribus tradita jam Laba, cens reſt ituatur. Appian de bellis puntcis., let it ſtand ſaith Scipio, leaſt the people of Rome ſhould want an occaſion or object whereon to exerciſe their valour. God could ſoone annihilate his Churches enemies; but let them live, ſaith God, let them doe their worſt, they ſhall but be for the exerciſe of my peoples wiſdome, faith, zeale, conſtancy, courage and whole panoplie of grace.

3. For the further illuſtration of his owne Glory.And yet God hath a further end in permitting this, then his peoples exerciſe and tryall, and that is, The illuſtration of his owne glory, by the crafty and cruel attempts of the Churches enemies, that the glory of his wiſdome and power in the preſervation and proſperity of his Church might be the more illuſtrious. Archimedes had never been ſo famous, if the City where he dwelt had not been ſo long ſo violently beſieged, and a long time preſerved onelyonly by his meanes. If the Church of God, the city of the habitation of his holineſſe, ſhould not often be ſurrounded with enemies, beſieged with difficulties and oppoſitions, the wiſdome and power of God, in preſerving and proſpering his Church, would never be ſo glorious, therefore the Lord ſuffers the Adverſaries of his Church to deſigne and indeavour by craft or cruelty, or both, to hinder any worke that tends to the Churches good, gives them leave to plot and conſpire againſt his Church, and lets them ſay. They ſhal not know nor ſee, til wee are in the midſt of them, &c.

The Doctrine applyed. 1 By way of Commemoration.And now if ever Text were verbum diei, as the vulgar Latine reades it, or verbum ſuper p. 20rotas, as ſome others: Surely this Truth, this Text is ſuch. Every word of this Text is a Wheele of that triumphant Chariot,Pro. 25 11. foreign Mercer.Prov 25:11 in which our Church and State this day glories over a deſigne of our Adverſaries againſt us, fraught with all the ſubtilty and cruelty, that hell it ſelfe was able to infuſe into it, This day thirty ſeven yeares, was this Scripture fulfilled in England.

This day thirty ſeven yeares, the King then ſitting upon the Throne, had ſummoned the Peeres and Commons of this Kingdome to an Aſſembly of Parliament. The intent of that meeting (as was hoped by Gods people, and feared by their enemies) was to ſurround Ieruſalem, and the Temple, with walls and bulwarkes, to ſecure the Church, the true Religion and worſhip of God, with needfull, healthfull Lawes: this was the worke intended. Wherefore ſhould a Parliament meet, but for that worke? and our Adverſaries ſaid, they ſhall not know, neither ſee till we are in the midſt of them and ſlay them, and cauſe the worke to ceaſe.

And our Adverſaris.Our Adverſaries: Who are they? Conſider and then judge. Who are they that (when time was) filled their loathſome Priſons with the bodies of our fore-Fathers? Made our land drunk with the bloud of Martyrs? In the ſpace of leſſe then 4. yeares ſacrificed the lives**Balthaz. Hol. in Chron. & Oſiand. Cen. 16 Hiſtor. Eccleſ. Anno 1555. of 800. Innocents unto their Idols? And ever ſince God hath put a ſtop to thoſe bloudy outrages have travailed with nothing but Englands deſtruction now theſe Foureſcore yeares? Who are they that have made ſo many deſparate stabbes at the p. 21breaſts of our Prineces? ſo many deadly blowes at the heart of the State? given life and vigour to ſo many inſurrections and rebellions in the bowells of the Kingdome? Are they not the Papiſts? It is eaſie then to point out theſe Adverſaries. The Papiſts: they are our Adverſaries, ſo they have beene, ſo they are, ſo they will be, as long as Chriſt is ours, his Goſpell ours, the Reformed Religion ours. Sooner ſhall a man finde honey and balme in the neſts of Aſpes, and the Dennes of Dragons, then wee true friendſhip and peace with Papiſts.Said. Sooner ſhall Eaſt and Weſt meete and kiſſe, the Arke and Dagon, Hieruſalem and Babylon, Christ and Belial ceaſe to be Adverſe, then they ceaſe to be our Adverſaries. Theſe were, theſe are our Adverſaries.

And our Adverſsaries ſaid. Theſe our Adverſaries had had many a ſaying to us, they had ſaid in eighty eight,aaPſal 83 4.Ps 83:4 Come and let us cut them off from being a Nation, that the name of England may be no more in remembrance. They had ſaid, as Moab bb2 Kin. 3.2….2 Kgs 3:2Up Rome, to the ſpoyle, preſuming the victory was theirs before the fight. And when that Saying was diſappointed, yet they ſaid there was a day a comming which ſhould pay for all, that was the day of Queen Elizabeths death, concerning which their Balams propheſied,ccParſons anſ. to the libell of Eng Iuſt. p. 176 181. That by the uncertainty of the next heire the Kingdome was in a deſpeat caſe, in the greateſt miſery that ever it was, ſince or before the Conqueſt, and farre worſe then any Countrye in Chriſtendome ddCujus ſepulchrum velut totius Regni voraginem & naufrrgium, tanquam ſub oculis contemplemini:—Ingentes moles tempeſtatum & conturbationum, cruentorum imbrium conglomeratas nubes veſtris impendere cervicibus deſpicietis. Ʋndiquaque Anglia in praedam expetitur & expectatur. Weſton de triplici hominis, officio: in perorat ad Academ.That Clouds of blood hung over England, which waited but her diſſolution for their diſſolving, that upon her death England would be a common prey, and her tombe p. 22would be Englands grave. This our Adverſaries ſaid then, and from theſe ſayings, iſſued all that prodigious variety of murderous complotments againſt the ſacred perſon of that ever honoured Queen, The miracle of her Sex, the glory of her Age, the aſtoniſhment of the World. But the ſilver line of her pretious life being hid in the hollow of Gods hand from all their deſperate aſſaſſinates, ſhe full of yeares, and more full of honour, went to the grave in peace: and God who fruſtrates the tokens of the Lyars, Iſa. 44.25.Isa 44:25and makes Diviners mad, contrary to the hopes and confidences of our Adverſaries, brought in a peacefull King, and eſtabliſhed his Throne in peace.

What Say our Adverſaries now? are they not ſo aſhamed and confounded in their former diſappointments, as they can open their mouths no more? No, they are ſaying ſtill, the malice of our Adverſaries is as uncapable of diſheartning, as Balaam was in his attempts of curſing Iſrael. Let God appeare never ſo often againſt them, let the Angell of God ſtand with a drawn Sword in his hand, they will on, yet again our Adverſaries ſaid, &c.

What Pharaoh ſaid to his Servants, that our Adverſaries ſaid one to another,Exod. 1.Exod 1 Come let us deale wiſely, our former projects againſt this people, have bin too ſhallow and open, our preparations in 88. proclaimed our intentions, and made them fruſtrate, the treaſons of Parry, Lopez, Sanders, &c. were common, ordinary and poore attempts, now for ſome rare ſtratagem, ſome depth of darknes, ſome mystery of unheard of treachery, that may be acted by unſeene inſtruments, they ſhall neither know nor ſee, till wee are in the middeſt among them. And what was this, but the Pouder-Treaſon. p. 23Looke upon the cunning projecting and carrying on that Treaſon, you will heare our Adverſaries ſaying. They ſhall neither know nor ſee till we are in the midst of them. And looke upon their bloudy intent in it. And it was to ſlay and cauſe the worke to ccaſe

They ſhall not know.Firſt for the crafty projecting and managing the plot, becauſe they will make ſure, we ſhall know nothing…, none ſhall be admitted to conſultation about the thing, but thoſe that will by Vowes and Oathes, and Sacraments, and all that is Sacred, binde themſelves more then once,aaS^r. Edward Cooke his Speech at the arraignement of Garnet. neitheir directly nor indirectly, neither plainly nor by circumſtance to diſcover the plot. Hence it was that in two yeares ſpace (for ſo long was this Treaſon forming) not the leaſt inckling of it came to any of our eares, our Adverſaries had ſworne, They ſhall not know, and if ever they were true to their Oathes it was here. They ſhall not know.

Nor ſee. Therefore all their worke lyes under ground, Nor ſee.and is diſpatched in the night, when deepe ſleepe falls upon men: If either the darkneſſe of the night, or the depth of the earth can hide it, wee ſhall not ſee. And how did God for a while ſeeme to ſmile upon their project, and to facillitate their worke, when providence offered the conveniency of a Celler to them, whereas they thought they muſt have digged a Vault by ſtrength of hand, to lay their Pouder in. How did God ſeeme to have caſt this Kingdome and Citty into a dead-ſleepe, that 36. barrells of gun-powder ſhould be conveyed into a Celler ſo neare the Parliament-Houſe, and a Parliament ſo neare and p. 24none have the leaſt ſuſpition of Treaſon. Could this have bin if God had not ſtupefied Men. God himſelfe ſeemed to take their part, and they who not many yeares before had ſworne God was turned Lutheran, In 88.began to hope, God was turned Catholick againe. God ſeemed to have conſpired with them, and to ſay, They ſhall not know nor ſee. &c.

In the midſt of them. Till we are in the midſt of them. Joh. 20.19.John 20:19How? As Ieſus in the midſt of his Diſciples, ſaying, peace be unto you. No. But as the Enemies were in the midſt of the Congregation.Pſal. 74.4.Ps 74:4 O GOD thy Enemies roare in the midſt of thy Congregation. They made account to have come into the midſt of them with ſuch roaring as would have aſtoniſhed the Heavens, and made the Earth tremble. In the midſt of them, as the Daughter of Herodias was foreign,Mat. 14.6.Matt 14:6 only to ſuck bloud, to ſlay them, that is the end why they would be in the midct of them. And our Adverſaries ſaid, they ſhall not know nor ſee, till we are in the midſt of them and ſlay them.

Slay them. Slay them.Whom? The whole Aſsembly of Parliament, and therein to quench the light, and extinguiſh the glory of the Engliſh Nation. Never any Treaſon before this ſo deſtructive. Others were but petty Treaſons compared with this. This was the maſter-peice of all the pollicy of Rome and Hell. Vnleſſe it were the Treaſon of Satan againſt the ſtate of Man in Paradiſe, to blow up all Man-kind in Adam, the repreſentative of it at once, no Treaſon like to this. This was ſecond unto that, of which they ſay, as he ſometimes of Goliahs ſword, None to that, None to that, p. 25wherin the flowre of our Gentry, our whole Nobillity, the Princes of the bloud, the Lords annointed, the Royall ſeede were all devoted to one ſtroake of deſtruction. And our Adverſaries ſaid they ſhal not know nor ſee, til wee are in the midſt of them and ſlay them.

Slay them. Aye ſuch Inſtruments of cruelty had they prepared for this ſlaughter, as no one of that Aſſembly could have fled from the fury of, had they the wings of Eagles, nor reſiſted the force of, had their fleſh bin as braſse, or their ſtrength as ſtones, or their bodies armed with the ſcales of the Leviathan. They were not Swords, nor Piſtols, nor poiſons, the ordinary weapons of Romes warre-fare, but Inſtruments more inevitably killing. 36. Barrells of gun-powder, enough to have blowne to duſt, the ſtrongeſt Fort in Chriſtendome. Theſe were the Instruments of their cruelty, ſuch as were never found in the habitations of Simeon and Levi. With theſe they intended to come in the midſt of them and ſlay them. And that with ſuch a ſlaughter, as was never heard before. Shew me in any Hiſtory a preſident of the like ſlaughter as was intended here. Wicked Abimelech ſlew upon one ſtone threeſcore and tenne of Gideons ſonnes, yet one eſcaped: Ietham had his life ſaved. Bloudy Saul cauſed Fourſcore and five of the Priests of the Lord to be ſlayne in one day, yet Abiathar the Sonne of the high Prieſt had his life given him for a prey. Ambitious Athaliah ſought to deſtroy all the Kings ſeede, yet Ioaſh the Kings Sonne was preſerved. In the Maſsacre of France, above threeſcore p. 26thouſand ſlaine, yet ſome eſcaped even of thoſe that were appointed to the ſlaughter. But heere Oh mercileſse cruelty, not one man that had eſcaped, neither King, nor Prince, nor Lord, nor any of that Honourable Aſſembly, though all of them, as Zeba ſaid of the brethren of Gideon, were men cach one reſembling the Sonne of a King, yet they had all periſhed together, in a moment, not one eſcaping. The Devil dealt more mercifully then thus with Iob when hee ſlew his Sonnes and Servants, hee ſtill left one alive to carry the tydings, but heere all dye or none. And that in ſuch a crafty ſly way, as they ſhall never know who hurt them. They ſhal not know nor ſee. Nay the craft of our Adverſaries extended ſo farre, as to provide, not onelyonly to hide themſelves from the ſight of them, whom they intended thus to cut off,See a letter of M. W. Perkins to M. Vicars before his Poëm on the 5. of Novem. but from the reſt of the Nation. You know the wayes they had taken to caſt the Odium of that horrid Treaſon on the true Proteſtants, under the name of Puritans, if God had not in mercy delivered us from that conſpiracy, we had borne not onelyonly the miſery, but the infamy of it.

And cauſe the worke to ceaſeAnd our Adverſaries ſaid, They ſhall not know nor ſee till wee are in the midſt of them, and ſlay them, and cauſe the worke to ceaſe. It is the worke they were about, that is the cauſe of all their rage and malice: They were about to make Lawes for ſetling true Religion, and repreſſing Popery. And as Pilat came upon the Galileans, when they were ſacrificing, and mingled their bloud with their Sacrifices. And as p. 27the Adverſaries heare made account to come upon Nehemiah and his builders, and temper their morter with their blouds, ſo did ours plot to come upon our Law makers, they ſhall write no Lawes, but in their owne blouds.

And Oh Lord, if this plot had taken, What a**That which P. Valderama fables concerning Ignatius his Lodgings, indeed would have bin true of theſe buil…ings. Cum pri…um propoſuit apud ſe militarem vitam abdicare, Do nus in quâ tum ſ…t …ota contren u…t, par…etes ejus concuſsa ſuerant, lig…a omnta & trabes concre…uerunt Quemad…dum accidit cum in Mont… aliquo Sulp…u eo …neum os a…eritur & Flammae exinde erumpere i…cipiunt, fic, &c mille Terrores, mille Pavores, mille edium inceudia conſequu…a fuerint. Nu us un qu…n Aetea out ign…us mons paria ſecit. Veſuvius, what an Etna had this place bin? What an Aceldama, what a Golgotha had this Land bin? What a Chaos had this Church and State bin? how had our Lawes, Liberties, Religion bin ſwallowed up in that Fiery gulph, and buried in thoſe aſhes. How would that man of ſinne, that ſonne of perdition have ſatiated his thirſt of blood in the archivements of this Day, and have looked upon thoſe piles of mangled, diſmembred bodies, and that horrid face of death, ſuch as was never ſeene before, with as much content as Haniball did upon a pit full of the bloud of Men, when he cryes out, O formoſum ſpectaculum. Or Valeſus the Aſian Proconſul, when trampling over the carcaſſes of 300. Men whom hee had ſlaine, he cryed out O rem regiam. Or that Queene who when ſhee ſaw ſome of her Proteſtant ſubjects lying dead and ſtripped upon the Earth, cryed our. The goodlieſt tapeſtry that ever ſhee beheld. Many goodly bloudy ſights hath Antichrist glutted his cruell mind with. The Funerall piles of England in Queen Maries p. 28dayes. The Maſſacre of France. The warres of Germany. The butcheries of Ireland. Goodly ſights in the eyes of Antichriſt. But to have ſeene a whole Parliament, and therein the peace and Religion of a whole Kingdome, blowne up in a moment! Thuarus writes that the Pope cauſed the Maſſacre of Paris to bee painted in his Pallace, ſurely had this Plot ſucceeded it ſhould have been**For though the plot ſucceeded not, yet F. Garnet had the honour to have his picture ſet among the reit of Romes Saints, in the Ieſuites Church at Rome. Voluiſſe ſat eſt. Gir. 1. Apol. contra Ieſuitas. portraied in his Holineſſe Chappell or Oratory.

And how came it to paſſe, that it ſucceeded not. Was there any thing wanting either in the wills or endeavours of our Adverſaries. No, our Adverſaries ſaid, They ſhall not know nor ſee, till wee are in the midſt of them and ſlay them. Nor did we till that very night, that Morning the fatall blow ſhould have been given. And then it was not any State vigilancy or prudence, but meerely divine providence that brought to light this worke of darkeneſſe. The particular acts of which providence, I need not inſtance, you know the Story, and all that know it will acknowledge, That if ever the arme of GOD were revealed in any deliverance, it was in this; onelyonly that by all which hath beene ſpoken, our hearts may bee raiſed to the higher ſtraine of thankfullneſſe, Let me as I have ſet before you the ſubtilty and cruelty of our adverſaries in the invention of this Treaſon, preſent unto you the mercy of God in the prevention of it.

O how freely did God deliver us from the bloudy intendment of our Adverſaries. Many Deliverances hath God wrought for our Selves, p. 29for other Churches, for his Church in former times, but was there ever any ſo free as this?Eſth. 4.16.Esth 4:16 God delivered his Church, from the bloudy conſpiracie of Haman. A worke of aſtoniſhing power and mercy. But what Prayers, what Teares, what Faſtings and Wreſtlings did it coſt Eſther and Mordecai, and the whole Church, ere they could obtaine that Deliverance? It was a gracious Deliverance, GOD wrought for his Infantile Church, in reſcuing Peter from the hands of Herod, but it was wrought by aboundant importunity, unceſſant Prayer. Act. 12.5.Acts 12:5Prayer was made without ceaſing of the Church unto GOD for him. But this Deliverance came not upon the wings of our prayers, but Gods free mercy, wee knew not our danger, and therefore could not make Deliverance the ſubject of our Prayers. Maſſes were ſaid in Rome, for the good ſucceſſe of the Catholicke deſigne, but no Prayers in England for our Deliverance from their Treaſon, and yet wee delivered, admirable Mercy! A people to be delivered by their God, before they ſeeke Deliverance.

2. And delivered ſo fully. You know the Plot was laid for a full deſtruction, to cut off every Perſon in that Honourable Aſſembly: to blow them all up, teare them all in peeces, and in and with them the whole Nation. But ſee how fully God prevented their miſchievous deſigne. That not a limbe of any one of them was ſhaken, not one bone broken. The Deliverance was like that of the three Children in the fiery fornace. There was not ſo much as a haire of their head ſindged, neither did the fire ſo much as take hold upon any of their p. 30Garments, neither was there ſo much as the ſent thereof upon them. Like that of Hieruſalem, from the fury of Senacherib, who comming up againſt the Church full of pride and rage, intending nothing, but to breake in peeces and deſtroy: ſaith GOD, He ſhall not come up againſt this City, nor ſhoot an arrow there. So ſaid the LORD to our Adverſaries. You ſhall not come up againſt this Aſſembly, nor fire one corne of Powder, nor ſhed one droppe of bloud there, where they intended to have filled all with bloud and fire, O admirable Deliverance: Hath GOD delivered Germany thus. Is Ireland thus delivered, O England, England! The aſhes of Germany, The bloud of Ireland, proclaime thy Deliverance this day, glorious in the fulneſſe of it.

3. And not onelyonly in the fulneſse of our Deliverance, but in the confuſion of our enemies, whom God tooke this day in their owne Pits and ſnares. And the plot they had laid to blow us up, did recoyle and blow up themſelves. God turned it to their owne deſtruction. That which they had deſigned for the advantage of their Catholike cauſe and Religion (a good cauſe and a good Religion, that muſt bee advanced by ſuch ſinfull, devilliſh wayes) hath been the greateſt diſadvantage to their cauſe: All the ſtreames of Tyber will never waſh off that blot of juſt infamy which this Treaſon hath faſtned on them, till Babylon ſinke like a Mil ſtone into the bottome of the Sea, it will never be waſhed off, This was the Lords doning: This turning the Wheele upon our Adverſaries, this bringing their miſchiefe upon their own p. 31heads, it was the Lords doings, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

But now as that great King, Eſther 7. When he read in the records of the Chronicles, that Mordecai had diſcovered a Treaſon againſt the King, preſently enquired, What honour and dignity had been done to Mordecai for this. So do you. You have ſeene this day a briefe record of that which deſerves a larger Chronicle. You have ſeene how the God of Heaven prevented and diſappointed a Treaſon as darke and cruell as Hell, intended againſt the whole State and Kingdome. Now your parts it is (Honourable and Beloved) who repreſentatively are the whole Nation, your parts it is to enquire, what honour, what dignity hath been done to God for this.

True it is the Parliament then aſſembled, whoſe the Deliverance more immediately was, did ordaine this Anniverſary, which wee celebrate this Day. But beſides this, what honour, what dignity hath been done to God. What hath been done for the advancement of his Glory, the propagation of his Goſpell, the repreſſing of Popery from that Deliverance unto this Day. Doe you in your conſciences thinke, that the bare keeping this deliverance inmemory, or an acknowledging of it in our aſſemblies, as at this day, is ſufficient retribution of dignity and honour to our great deliverer. Did not Hezekiah doe as much as this; did not hee indite a Song in the praiſe of that God, that had delivered him from the ſentence of death. You have it Iſa. 38. to. yet is it not ſaid, 2 Chron. 32.25. But Hezekiah returned not unto the LORD, according to the benefit p. 32done unto him. Hezekiah returned praiſe unto the Lord, even a Pſalme of praiſe. But Hezekiah returned not unto the Lord, according to the benefit done unto him: Therefore was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Ieruſalem. May it not be ſaid ſo of England for all our Anniverſaries, our Sermons and Songs of praiſe, But England hath not returned unto the Lord, according to the benefits done unto them. Quid verba andiam, facta cum videam. Care I, ſaith God, for the flattering praiſes of England, when I ſee the curſed practiſes of England! Have not my purest Truthes been adulterated in England, and Romes groſſeſt errours entertained in England, and that even ſince this Deliverance? Have not my pureſt Ordinances beene polluted in England, and Romes groſſeſt ſuperſtitions practiſed in England? Have not Maſſes beene openly celebrated with a greater confluence of multitudes to them, then to Sermons and Sacraments? Have they not publiſhed edictes againſt the Sanctification of my Day, Deut. 32.6.Deut 32:6but none againſt the Idolatry of the Maſſe? Have they not without Law, againſt Law perſecuted my Miniſters, my Servants, impriſoning them, compelling them to voluntary exile, while they have neglected to put in execution their owne Lawes againſt Romiſh Prieſts and Ieſuites▪ Doe you thus requite the Lord, O fooliſh Nation and unwiſe? Did I deliver you this Day from Romiſh cruelties, that you ſhould deliver up your ſelves to Romiſh Superſtitions and Idolatry? Is this to returne to the LORD, according to the benefits hee hath done?

p. 33Ariſe, ariſe yee Princes of the tribes of England, yee members of the honour able houſes of Parliament act ſomething this day, worthy of your ſelves, worthy of this day, worthy of this deliverance, worthy of your great deliverer. God (I perſwade my ſelf) hath reſerved unto you the glory of returning unto him according to this dayes mercy. You have begun to do more for the repreſsing of Popery, for the reforming of the Church in doctrine, worſhip, diſcipline, then your forefathers have done ever ſince the firſt hand was put to the work of reformation. Go on in the name of the Lord, in the power of his might, in the multitudes of his ſtrength: Go on to root out, not only Popery but all that is Popiſh. Let this day adde ſomething towards the perfection of that work. Some ſuch thing I ſuppoſe was in the hearts of the honourable Houſes when they made choice of this particular day for the aſſembly of Divines to meet on. Why to meet this day, if not to deliberate and adviſe ſomething that might tend to the farther honour of the Authour of this dayes deliverance and the farther confuſion of the Authour of this dayes treaſon, the Romiſh Religion? Wel, that aſſembly by the ſaid diſtempers of theſe bleeding times is yet ſuſpended. I beſeech you make this the work of yours: and when you returne to your Parliament Houſe again let the firſt queſtion put to vote this day be Davids Quid retribuam? pſalm. 116. What ſhall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me? Let this be the queſtion, and the God of wiſdome and grace direct you in your Reſolves.

And what ever God ſhall reveale to make most for his glory, his Churches peace and good, the union of the Kingdomes, the extirpation of Popery let that be the p. 34Crowning Act of this day. Scripio Africanus being accuſed before the Tribunes of the people and the day of his triall falling upon the ſame monethmonth and day in which be had ſome yeares before wonne a great victory over Hanniball in Affrick. Iiv 8. c 40.VponUpon his firſt appearance addreſſes himſelf to the people in this wiſe. Hoc die, Quirites, cum Annibale faeliciter pugnatum eſt &c. This day Gentlemen did I fight with Hanniball in Affrick with good ſucceſſe: therefore leaving Law ſuites I paſſe directly to the Capitoll to ſalute the Gods and give them thankes. Hoc die Quirites. This day, Knightes and Gentlemen, God himſelf fought for you againſt Rome, ô do not think it enough that you have come to ſalute God in his Temple this morning and give him praiſe; but when you returne to your Parliament-Houſe againe letting all other buſineſſes ſleep a while, in the firſt place Reſolve this queſtion Quid retribuam? What ſhall I render to the Lord for all his benefits?

Application ſecond by way of Information.And this I would the rather excite you to (Honourable and beloved in our Lord becauſe, due thankfulneſſe for former deliverances is a happie meanes to procure new. God is never weary of delivering a people that ſtudyes thankfulneſſe. And hath not England, hath not the Parliament need of the arme of God to be ſtretched out againe for their deliverance. For have we now no adverſaries? or have our adverſaries changed their natures, put of their wo…ed craft and cruelty forgott their ould note to ſay, They ſhall not know nor ſee till we are in the middest of them and ſlay them and cauſe the work to ceaſe? No certainely. Sooner ſhall the Leopard change his ſports or the Ethiopian his skin then our adverſaries change their ſcrafty bloudy diſpoſitions p. 35or ceaſe to plot ruine againſt us, till they have utterly ruined themſelves by their owne plots. Have our adverſaries thinke you bin ſleeping ever ſince this powder treaſon? You that have bin now theſe two yeares wraſtling with them, you know what their Molitions have bin and in your ſeverall Remonſtrances have made them known: yet give me leave to informe the reſt of our brethren a little of them.

Our adverſaries in Ireland have bin plotting their preſent rebellion theſe ſeaventeen yeares as ſome have depoſed.See the Fri…ſh Remonſtrance Theſe ſeaventeen yeares they have bin making fireworks and laying traines for the kindling of that combuſtion which now devoures that miſerable Kingdome. And what have our adverſaries bin doing here the meane while, Think you, nothing? Whence then proceeded thoſe long intermiſsions of Parliaments that we began to feare our Parliaments would prove like thoſe Roman ſolemnities: Ludi ſeculares. Alexan. Gen. Dier. li. 6. c. 18Quos nemo mortalium vidit unquam nec viſurus eſt. Which no man lived to ſee twice being held but once in a hundred yeares.

Whence came the immature diſſolutions of ſo many Parliaments? but from the plots of theſe our adverſaries? He that knowes not where the ſtrength of England lies, may learn of Englands enemies. For as the Philiſtins when they knew that Samſons ſtrength lay in his haire plotted to cut off that and then they eaſily bound him, put out his eyes and made him grinde in their mill. So our adverſaries knowing our ſtrength to lye in our Parliaments have bin ever plotting to cut off them. One Parliament they attempted to blow up with powder but many a Parliament they have blown up without powder that ſo our Parliaments being intermitted, interrupted they might at once lay bandes upon us, p. 36and put out our eyes that we ſhould not ſee our owne bondage, lay us in our Lawes and liberties and we ſhould neither know nor ſee.

Eſth. 7.4.Esth 7:4And if only in our Lawes and liberties, If as Eſther ſaid, We had only bin ſold for bondmen and bondwomen the miſcheif had bin more tollerable. But had not our adverſaries plotred to ſlay us as the two witneſſes were ſlaine in the Revelation? To ſlay us by taking the word of truth and life from us? Did they not ſay, we will come upon them and they ſhall neither know nor ſee tell we are in the middeſt of them and cauſe that work to ceaſe.

I know there are many in the Nation (and may be ſome here) that cannot yet be perſwaded there was ever any deſign for the alteration of Religion amongſt us. Such I beſeech in the ſpirit of meekneſſe to lend me a patient and unprejudiced eare. I ſtand not hear to declaime againſt any perſons or rankes of men: but to ſpeak the words of truth and ſoberneſſe. I know that I ſtand this day not only before a great Court but before a greater God to whom I muſt give account for what I now ſpeak.

Contzen. Politic. li. 2. cap. 18. Layes a plott for the altering of Religion in a Proteſtant Kingdome: which is Laid downe in certaine rules.Adam Contzen, A Jeſuite of Mentz in his ſecond booke of Politickes the Eighteenth Chapter, hath drawne a plot for the cheating of a people of the true Religion by ſleight of hand and the ſerving in of Popery againe upon them by art of legerdemaine, that they ſhall neither know nor ſee. The method of this (which certainely is one of Satans Methods) he layes downe in certaine rules. Be pleaſed but to obſerve how exactly the late times have moved according to thoſe Rules and then judge of their deſignes.

His firſt rule.His firſt rule is this. To proceed as Muſicians doe in tuning p. 37their inſtruments: Who ſtraine their ſtrings with agentle hand and ſet them up by little and little. Or as Phyſitians doe in curing diſeaſes who abate noxious humors by degrees and pauſes. This rule was obſerved both for the deſtructive and adſtructive way. For the deſtruction of the true Religion, and the advancing of the falſe they had learned this wiſdome to proceed by degrees and pauſes. And first for the deſtruction of the true Religion. To ſuſpend all the Orthodoxe preathers in the land at once would have made too great a noiſe therefore proceed by degrees. And firſt ſuſpend all Lecturers which will not constantly practiſe the ceremonies. Then after a little pauſe, Clap downe all Lecturers as an order of Vagrants not to be toller ated in the Church. When that is done: Forbid all Paſtors and Incumbents preaching in their owne pariſh Churches upon weeke dayes. Next inhibit preaching upon the Lords Day in the After noone under pretence of advancing Catechiſing by that meanes: and yet with in a little while after forbidding all Catecheticall expoſition, tying men to the bare words of the Primmer Catechiſine: As ſoone after they forbad all praying but in the words of the Canon. Now what can any ingenuous man thinke the deſigne of all this was; But to rob us of preaching and praying, and thereby of the Goſpell and true Religion wholly in concluſion? Only to doe it by degrees for feare of noiſe and tumult, to doe it ſo as we ſhould neither know nor ſee.

And for the adſtructive way. The rebuilding of Rome among us did they not proceed by the me ſteppes?

Firſt, Urging the conſtant and full practiſe of the old Ceremonies beyond the intention either of Law of p. 38or Canon. Then bringing in an Idolatrous fardell of new pop ſhiſuperſtitions without warrant either of Law or Canon but their owne paper injunctions; forcing their obſervance upon Ministers and people: but by pauſes and degrees.

Firſt, the Table muſt be railed in; ſoone after ſet in an Altar poſture.

Then thirdly, All muſt be compelled to come and kneele before it or not receave the Sacrament.

Then it muſt becried up as the Sanctum Sanctorum; the place of Gods chiefe reſidence upon earth; the Seate and Throne of God Almighty. And there upon, Fifthly, All mens faces in prayer muſt be turned towards that. Men may, yea muſt ſay ſome, adore and bow before it, &c.

What could the intent of all this be? but after the Altar to bring in the ſacrifice, and with their wooden worſhip the breaden God. Only to doe it by degrees that wee ſhould not know nor ſee. So in doctrine. Firſt, bring in Arminian doctrines, then the popiſh will eaſily follow. Let the Serpent but winde in his head, he will ſoone worke in his whole body. Let Arminianiſine but obtaine countenance and licence in the kingdome; Our Pulpits, Schooles, Preſſes, will ſoone bee filled with popiſh doctrins: witneſſe the publiſhing of ſo many points of popery one after another, ſpecially thoſe two. That the Pope is not Antichriſt. And that the Church of Rome is a true viſible Church. Alta ſic ſurgunt maenia Romoa. Thus (according to the rule of their Maſter Ieſuite) they ſeeke to re establiſh Rome by degrees. They ſaid, they ſhall not know nor ſee.

His ſecond Rule.His ſecond Rule is this. To preſse the examples and practiſes of ſome as a good means to draw on the reſt. And p. 39was not this familiar with them? to dazle the eyes of the meaner and leſſe judicious people of the kingdome, with the practices of great perſons. If any begun to tartle or be troubled at the matter what was their preſent anſwer? My Lord Biſhop doth thus and thus: and my Lords Grace of Canterbury doth thus and thus. The Knights of the most noble order of the Garter bow. Verſus Altare,A C. Speech in the Starre-Chamber, p 47 towards the Altar at their inſtallement, His Majesties Chappell is thus and thus adorned. By theſe & the like pretences caſting a miſt before the peoples eyes that ſome did not, others durſt not ſee any thing tending towards the altering of Religion. Our adverſaries ſaid they ſhall neither know nor ſee.

His third Rule.His third Rule is this. That arch Heretickes and ſuch as are teachers of Hereſie must be baniſhed the Common wealth, at once if it may ſafely bee done, but if not by degrees. It is eaſie to know who are the Ieſuites, Arch-Heretickes, the moſt active, orthodoxe Proteſtants. For the rooting out of ſuch the Ieſuite preſcribes a method of twelve or thirteene ſteppes.Cout. Pol. lib. 2…. c. 18. §. 6. For which (though well worth the relating) I referre you to his book, leaſt this diſcourſe ſhould ſwell to much. Only in ſumme. Let me ſhew you how their operation hath beene according to this Rule. The Arch-Heretickes and Teachers of hereſie in England have beene counted the Puritan Preachers, though they teach nothing but conſonant to Scripture and the publike Doctrine of the Church, yet they are the teachers of hereſie: and being too many to root out … once, it muſt be done by degrees, that it may effected with more eaſe and leſſe noiſe, and therefore,

First, eaſt all thoſe out of the miniſtery, that will p. 40not be punctuall and full conformiſts to the old Ceremonies. Next (becauſe there were a company of conformable Puritans as themſelves ſtiled them) they procure an edict for recreations upon the Lords Day and this muſt be publiſhed by Miniſters: that ſuch as could ſtand under the ceremonies (though groaning for the burden) might fall and be broken in pe…ces under this. And yet becauſe ſome men ſuſpected of Puritaniſme might have a latitude here bey ond their brethren; They have a third engine …nd that is injoyning new Ceremonies and adorations, that if any could ſwallow the book yet they might diſcover & caſt them out by ſtraining here. To this they adde a fourth. Prayers and Proclamations to be read againſt our brethren the Scotts. And their laſt and greateſt engine which was like the powder plot againſt the godly miniſtery of the nation to blow up the reliques of them at once was the oath for Epiſcopacie. By theſe ſucceſsive ſtratagems they made account utterly to extirpate thoſe Arch-Hereticks.

As it was ſomtimes ſaid to Elijah, 1 King. 19.1 Kgs 19Him that eſcapeth the ſword of Hazael, ſhall Iehu ſlay-and him that eſcapeth the ſword of Iehu ſhall Eliſha ſlay. So had they ſaid. Him that eſcapeth the dint of the Ceremonies ſhal the book of ſports ſlay, and him that eſcapeth the book of ſports ſhall the new injunctions ſlay: and him that eſcapeth the new injunctions ſhall the proclamations ſlay, and him that eſcapeth the proclamations, ſhal the oath ſlay. And this by degrees and pauſes that they ſhall neither know nor ſee till we ſlay them and cauſe the work to ceaſe.

His fourth Rule.The fourth rule is this. That thoſe which are adverſaries to the true Religion (which with him is Popery) be put by their dignities, places & offices. I think none here p. 41is ſuch a ſtranger in England but from his own knowledg can wi…neſſe this. The beſtowing of all offices, the collating of benefices, the election of Maſters, and fellowes of Colledges in both Vniverſities, who had the over-ruling hand in them all, the power of mandamus, but Canterbury and his faction? And whom were they conferred upon Vſually? Men infamous for andaaSo Leontius Biſhop of Antioch a diſſembling concealed Arrian was obſerved to diſreſpect all Orthodox men and preferr no one in the Church but ſuch as enclined to Arrianiſme: foreign &c. Theod. 2 24. Quis enim non facilè Pruitanos in Anglia redig… in Or …inem ſi Epiſco…or m approbationem ab tis ex. torqueat, Contz vbiſupra paragrap. 9 impudent in Arminian and Popiſh opinions. Proteſted Arminianiſme and bold faced Popery the only ſpeedy unerring way to Church preferment.

5His fifth rule is. To make the Proteſtant Religion odious, by laying load upon ſuch tenents as are moſt ſubject to harſheſt conſtructions. In this our adverſaries have not bin ſparing. Quot plaustra convitiorum have they poured out upon ſome doctrines of our Religion ſpecialy the points of grace? The pulpits of Italy and Rome never ſpitt more gall and venome againſt the doctrines of Election, free grace, juſtification by faith, perſeverance, &c. nor never ſweat more to exaggerate the ſeeming abſurdities, which carnall men would draw from them then ſome of ours have done.

6His ſixth rule is. To foment the quarells that are among the Proteſtants and ſtrengthen that party that is neareſt compliance with Rome. And here, the wretch hath the unhappines to preſcribe one thing as the proper meanes of Englands cure. For who (ſaith he) might not eaſily reduce the Puritans of England into order (you know what the Ieſuits reducing into order is) if he could extort from them an approbation of the Biſhops? And had they not attempted and almoſt effected this? They had made us their ſlaves before and were they not about to make us ſwear we would be ſo for ever? Certainly though nothing but Epiſcopacy floated in p. 42the ſurface of that …ath, yet Popery was in the foreign, in the &c. of it o… reducing the Puritans of England into order, ſenſu Pontificio.

His ſeventh rule.His ſeventh is this. That all private Conventiles and publick meetings muſt be forbidden. For private Conventicles you all know, that to meet together to pray or to conferre (which with them was a Conventicle) was Peccatum irremiſsible. A man might at a better rate almoſt anſwer any thing then ſuch a meeting.

For publick meetings. The ancient laudable exerciſing of prophecying (I mean not in that ſence the word is lately taken for private ſpirits to interpret Scripture, but prophecying by men in office peculiarly gifted and called to that work) theſe are baniſhed. The publick and moſt frequentod lectures blasted. Publick fastes by conſent of Miniſters (which had of long time bin uſed in many parts of the Kingdome) were become piacular. A ſermon at next Church, the forbidden fruit, when they had none at home or worſe then non. Our adverſaries have bin but too diligent to ſuppreſſ not only private Cōventicles but publick Aſſembl.

His eighth rule.The eighth meanes is. By ſeverity of Lawes and puniſhments to compell the obstinate unto duty and yet the rigour of the Law muſt be ſlowly drawn out and not against all, but only ſuch as be moſt dangerous. Now what ſeverity, not only Ad ſummum jus to the higheſt apex of the Law but even Supra jus beyond the extent and rigour of the Law, hath bin uſed to ſuch as stood in the way of their great deſigne, let the walles of their high Commiſsion ſpeak. Our Chronicles report, That when our forefathers demolliſhed the Abbies they found in their walles and vaultes and pondes heapes of ſculles and bones, the monuments of their p. 43Smoothered crueltyes. I doubt not but the aboliſhers of that high Commiſsion have found as manifeſt evidence of their cruell practiſes: heapes of the bloud of innocents, whoſe skin hath bin flead from of them and their bones broken and they and their families chopped in pieces as fleſh for the cauldron. Micah. 3.Mic 3And this fruit they reaped of their ſeverity managed with this art which the Ieſuit promiſed.Ita que reformatio quae provectos non ad juvat, aetatem tamen puenlem Catholicam reddet. That though compulſory Reformation could do no good upon old ſtanders yet it would render the younger ſort Catholicks.

His ninth rule.The ninth meanes and (as he ſaith) of all the reſt most effectuall is. That ſuch as are in authority do religiouſly practiſe and maintaine integrity of life and purity of manners. The reformation of Religion (that is the introducing of Popery into a reformed Church) will go on very ſlowly and prove very difficult unleſſe the Prelats and Doctors ſhall outſhine the whole Common wealth not only in innocency but in reputation and fame of integrity.

And certainly this rule they had conned (ſome of them) Ad amuſsim or elſe they could never have obtained ſo farre upon the heart of our Soveraign as to leave the diſpoſing of all Church affaires wholly unto them. **The Arts of Diſſembling Heretikes have for the moſt part been Excellently skilled in & Sometimes a good Prince hath been overreached by it. Quem ubi vident conſtanter Religioni adhaerentem non adeò temerari ſunt, ut directè calūnientur & traducant apud cum Orthodoxam Religionem: ſed occaſiones commodas accipiunt, quibus deplorent turbatam pacem Eceleſiae, hortantur Prineipem ad eam reſtituendam, id facilè eſſe dicūt, auferatur modo Contentionis ſtudium: quod diſſidium non ſit in rebus Magni Monumenti, ſed exigui Pondexis &c. Vedell. de Prud. vet. Eccleſ. l. 2. c. 5. See the Ep. Ded. of the relation of the Conference between a Ieſuit & W. L. fol. penult.Sir 50:2If they had not in his eye, demeaned themſelves as the only Saints upon earth, as incarnate Angels, men wholly compoſed of devotion to God, compaſſion to his Church, greif for the rents and breaches of it, zeale for the peace and good of it: what but this ſhould p. 44prevaile with our ſoveraign to abandon this Church into the hands of that faction, I know not. But undoubtedly it ſtands not with reaſon. That a Proteſtant Prince ſhould knowingly and willingly give way to the re-eſtabliſhing of the Popiſh Religion & therein Ipſo facto, diveſt himſelf of his ſupremacy and lay his head at the Popes feet for him to kick of the Crown from his Royall brow with a ſpurne of his diſdainfull foot at pleaſure. But why the Biſhops (ſpecially ſuch of them have bin obſerved to wiſh well to Popery Abincunabulis) ſhould contrive and carry on ſuch a plot ſome reaſon may appeare. For could th y once have obtained this; That Popery ſhould have triumphed over the reformed Religion. The Miter would ſoon have trampled upon the Crown. Haec enim eſt veritas, ſaith Bellarm. aaHaerc enim eſt v…tas quicquid i…trocuxe…t conſue…o, Epiſcop…s eſt Pater & Paſtor & Doctotam Princip…s quam reliqu… populi. Et ſe, cundum haec Nom… PRINCEPS, SVBDITVS eſſe DEBET ſuo EPISCOPO & NON EPISCOPVS PRINCIPI: Bellarm, de officio Principis Chriſt. l. 1. c 5.This is the truth what ever cuſtome hath introduced that the Biſhop is the father and paſtor and Doctor as well of the Prince as of the reſt of the people. And according unto theſe appellations the Prince ought to be ſubject to his Biſhop and not the Biſhop to his Prince. Vnuſquiſque ſaithbbVnuſqu ſque Rex ſubditus eſt ſuo Epiſcopo in Soiritualibus niſa à Pontifice eximatur. Suarez defenſ. fid. l. 3. cap. 17. ſec. 18. Suarez. Every King is ſubject to his Biſhop in ſpiritualibus unleſſe he be exempted by the Pope. A brave world this had bin for the Prelacy and the whole Clergy too. To have bin exempted from the power of Lawes and civilly dicature. ccLeges non obligant Clenicos ex vi Iuriſdictionis Laicae nec POSSƲNT Reges obligare Clericos Legibus illis peculiariter impoſitis Id. l. 4. c. … ſec. 16.17.Leges non obligant, ſaith Suarez again. The law doth not binde the Clergy by vertue of any Laick juriſdiction neither can Kings binde the Clergy by p. 45laying any ſpeciall Law upon them: and againe,ddPeſona Eccleſiastic… gaaudent immanit…te ſi…e privi egio fort n… ſolum in Criminibus Eccleſiasticis ſed civilibus. Id. ea. 15. Sect. 1. Eccleſiaſticall perſons are priviledged in Court, not onelyonly in caſe of eccleſiasticall but of civill crimes. An immunity which a corrupt Clergy would be glad of.

And therefore though there can be no reaſon conceived why a Prince profeſſing the Proteſtant Religion ſhould decline to Popery: Yet you ſee there is reaſon why a proud Prelacy and a corrupt Clergie ſhould under-hand indeavour to bring it in: and you ſee the method and wayes whereby they may compaſſe their deſignes and neither Prince nor people know nor ſee. Theſe were their pract ſes for many late yeares you all know, let any ingenous ſpirit judge of their intentions. I have onelyonly let you ſee from whoſe quiver they have drawne their ſhaftes; judge by that of the marke whereat they aymed. You have ſeene whoſe heifer it is they plowed with; judge by that of the ſeed they would have ſowne. If they never knew that a Ieſuite had delivered theſe Rules for the altering of Religion in a Chriſtian ſtate, they were very unhappie in complying ſo exactly with them when they did not know them. And what can wee thinke but that they were acted by the ſame Genius or the ſame Angelus informans, that the Ieſuite was, when he penned them. But if they did know (as i… is moſt probable they did) that theſe were the rules, this the art delivered by a Ieſuite for the ſubverting the true reformed Religion, and the introduction of popery againe and yet did knowingly and de induſtria conforme to them and made proofe of them, what can wee thinke was their intention but to alter our Religion. They had ſaid they ſhall not know nor ſee, till we are in the midſt of them and cauſe that worke to ceaſe.

p. 46But bleſſed bee the Lord who hath not given us up as a prey unto their teeth.

Bleſſed bee the Lord, that by the hand of this Parliament hath fruſtrated that plot. (We all hope) for ever.

Information of ſome preſent practiſes of the adverſaries.But did I ſay for ever? May we hope it? What? are our adverſaries all deſtroyed? or have they left of plotting? Neither; And yet I hope we may ſay, for ever. This great plot of altering Religion, prevented for ever. As for our adverſaries verily, if ever the did ſtraine their Witts to exceed themſelves in plotting miſchiefe, it hath been ſince this Parliament. Such a ſuccenturiation there hath beene of plotts that wee may ſay of them as ſhe of Gad. A Troope commeth. Many of them indeed have proved abortive, miſcarried before they came to a growth capable of full diſcovery and ſo are more eaſily denied then proved. Beſides ſome ridiculous things have beene ſent forth into the publicke of purpoſe to outface the truth and ſully the glory of our deliverances from many and reall dangers, which poſſibly may be the reaſon why ſome men are ſo incredulous, they can ſee no adverſaries, they apprehend no dangers, the Parliament needs no guard; there is no neceſsity of ſettling the MILITIA of the Kingdome. If there bee any ſuch here and you bee men of reaſon hearken alittle.

Firſt, Doe you not thinke, there are as many Papiſts in England now, as there were at the time of the powder Treaſon? I know not how there ſhould bee fewer but more; unleſſe the preaching of popiſh doctrines, p. 47complying with popiſh ceremonies, ſetting up publike Maſſes, tolerating a convent of Friers, relaxing the Lawes againſt popiſh Prieſts, bee a meanes to convert papiſts, there cannot be fewer then was at the time of the powder treaſon.

Secondly, Conſider whether the papiſts have any better doctrines, d ſpoſitions, principles now then they had then. Their faith was then faction; their Religion, Rebellion, in the judgement of the State who ſpake as they found. Have they ſince changed their faith, altered their Religion, that our State ſhould alter their judgement of them? Doe they not yet hold it, as lawfull, as meritorious to promove the Catholicke cauſe Vi vel fraude, by violence or treaſon, now as they did then? Have they retracted that doctine of theirs.aaReges et principes non Romano-Catholici poſſunt de jure occidi etiam à privatâ perſona & illud factum est gener…ſu…, cum virtute conjunctum & heroicum. Compa…n d…m cum maximis & ſum…a Laude dignis factis eſſe, Sanctiſſimum, humaniſſimum, digniſſimum, la…datiſsimum, commendatiſsimum, &c. Es qui in vitam talium Regum es principium conjuram, eſſe animoſos machinato res fortititudinem Eorum eſſe pluſquam humanam, ſupplicia eorum non niſi vera martyria appellanda qui fint aliquand… praemium accepturi in vi…â aeternâ: Francis: de Veron. Conſtant. in Apol: Part. 1. Cap. 7. That Kings & Princes which are not Roman Catholicks may be lawfully killed by any private perſon, And that the killing of them is a generous, vertuous, heroick exploit? To bee compared with the greatest and moſt praiſe worthy actions? A most holy, worthy, commendable, praiſe-full work? Thoſe that conſpire against the life of ſuch Kings and Princes are magnanimous perſons. Their courage is more than humane, heroick, divine. Their puniſhments are true martyrdome, they ſhall receave reward in the kingdom of Heaven?

p. 48Have they yet revoked that aſſertion? bbNeceſſarium quocunque caſu Religionem confirmari etiam …orte Regum. Id. pat. 2 c 12 &. 15.It is neceſſary in any caſe that Religion be maintained even with the death of Kings. Or that of the Ieſuite ccNon paſſe ab a…iq… fi…ri ullū mag…s meritorium opus quam ſi Regem interfi…eret Anton. Arnold. in Ora: contra Ieſutias.Varadius to Barerius. That there could not be a more meritorious work, then for him to kill the King. Do they not to this day honour Garnet that Arch powder Traitour as a Saint? have not theiraaCo…nel: a Lapid. in Apocal: cap. 7. ver. 3. Late Writers crowned him with freſh Encomiasticks? And hath not our State reaſon to have a watchfull and prudent jealouſie over men informed with ſuch deſperate principles and thus incouraged to all bloudy deſignes? ſpecially ſuch of them as are Ieſuites and Seminaries of whom we may truely ſay as Amilcar did of his ſonnes, Hee bred them,bbPlutarch. Tanquam leoninos catulos in pernitiem Romani imperij; ccSe quam primū poſſet hoſtem fore populo Rom capitalem Liv: li. 21 c. 1. Appian: de bellis Hiſp:as Lions Whelpes for the deſtruction of the Roman Empire. So doe they breed their Novices, As Lions whelpes for the deſtruction of the Engliſh Church and Kingdome. And as Hannibal when hee was but nine yeares old, ſwore upon the Altar of their Gods that as ſoone as hee was able hee would bee a deadly enemy to the people of Rome: So do they in effect ſweare as much againſt us. ddAd defendendū & retinendum papatum Rom: contra omnem …ominē adjutor ero: Haereticos, Schismaticos & qui alicut ex Dominis noſtris ſucceſſoribus p…aedictis Rebel…es fuerint perſequar & impugna …o Szeged: ſpeculum Pontificum.I will helpe to defend and maintaine the Roman papacy againſt every man: Heretickes and Schiſmaticks, And all ſuch as ſhall rebell againſt our Lord the Pope and all his ſucceſſors, I will perſecute and oppoſe. The whole fry of them are Conjurati hoſtes Eccleſiae & Reipublica They declared themſelves ſo in their powder treaſon: and as long as they retaine their old Religion, they cannot but retaine their old diſpoſition.

Thirdly, there being papiſts among us now as there was at the time of the powder Treaſon. They p. 49being infected with as bloudy doctrines, and principles, now as then.

Conſider Thirdly, Whether they may not pretend to themſelves as juſt cauſes to put them upon all bloudie and deſperate deſignes now, as then they did. Were they croſſed in their expectations of a tolleration of their Religion then? Their expectations were raiſed higher now. They hoped for a revolting to their Religion, and are croſſed in that. Did they feare the State would make ſome further proviſion for the ſuppreſsing of popery then? And did they not feare the State would make ſome farther proviſion for the utter extirpation of it now? Were they ſo inraged then? Surely they are madde and deſperate now. Were their thoughts ſo full of bloud then? Sure they are full of hell now. And of a truth, if there had not beene one plot nor one treaſon diſcovered all this Parliament time: yet good reaſon why the Parliament ſhould upon theſe conſiderations arm the Kingdom for its defence. (And the whole Nation is bound to them for their care herein) to prevent our adverſaries, leaſt they ſhould ſay. Wee will come upon them and they ſhall neither know nor ſee till wee are in the midſt of them, and ſlay them and cauſe the worke to ceaſe.

But what need theſe Ambages? when the bloudy monſters of Ireland ſpeake out and tell all the world, the warre they have kindled, is againſt the puritan Parliament of England. So that ex profeſse there hath been treaſon againſt this Parliament, and our adverſaries have ſaid (varying the words of the Text a little,) Wee will come upon them, though they know and ſee it, and ſlay them, and cauſe the worke to ceaſe.

And, ô that Ireland had beene guilty alone! p. 42That England, England had not beene conſcious of ſuch treacherous practiſes. But it is to too apparent now. That even in England, in the midst of us, in our hoſomes have beene the moſt dangerous, and deſperate practiſes againſt our peace and Religion that ever yet were knowne. Let me not ſeeme to detract from the glory of that great deliverance, if I ſay, they doe exceed the powder Treaſon. Thoſe traitors layed their traines and fire workes in the bowels of the earth: Theſe have layd theirs (which every true loyall heart … leeds to think of) in the boſome of our Soveraigne. They covered their treaſon with earth: Theſe with Heaven: with pretences of defending the Proteſtant profeſsion, the prerogative of the King, the Lawes and liberties of the Land, whereby they have not only captivated many of the injudicious mul…de; but even the Throne it ſelfe.Lamen. 4 20. The breath of our noſtrils, the Anointed of the Lord is taken in their pitts; Of whom we ſaid, under his ſhadow we ſhall live. Their pretences have ſo farre prevailed with our Soveraigne. That he confides more in a popiſh partie then in a protestant Parliament. Ezekiel 19.4.Ezek 19:4This is a lamentation, and must be for a lamentation. They now pretend to be all for the King, the King; Iohn 19.15.John 19:15as much as the Iewes for Caſar. Wee have no King but Caeſar: no King but Caeſar. As if Caeſar had had no ſuch loyall Subjects in the world as the Iewes were: but when they had ſerved themſelves of Caeſar and abuſed his power to the murdering of Chriſt, they ſoone diſcovered themſelves: and Caeſar had no ſuch deſperate rebels, and implacable enemies upon earth as they were. So the Papiſts and their faction cry out, The prerogative, the King, and Caeſar: as if the King had no ſuch ſubjects and friends upon earth as they are. p. 43But marke my words. If ever they can ſerve themſelves of His Majeſtie: and by the abuſe of his power have their wills, to murder Christ in His members and root out the Goſpell and the profeſſors of it (which Lord in mercy preſerve His Majeſty from) but if they once obtaine but this. If they doe not prove the moſt deadly and deſperate enemies His Majeſtie ever had, let mee dye the death of a falſe Prophet.

The ſearcher of hearts knowes (Oh that our Soveraigne knew as well) how the hearts of all His loyall Proteſtant ſubjects bleed within them for the ſoule of our Soveraigne. To ſee his confidence removed from his true Proteſtant ſubjects, whom hee can only confide in, and whom Catholicke Princes truſt rather then thoſe of their owne Religion. To ſee, I ſay, his confidences withdrawne from …em, and leaning upon a company of popiſh, blou… …es, whom no proteſtant prince but himſe… … …urſt truſt. Lord give thy judgements to the …ing … Doth not His Majeſtie know that with the p…p… … proteſtants are Heretickes: and with Hereticke KINGS and Princes they take a ſhort courſe, have a quicke way of diſpatch? Doth not His Majeſtie know, or will none of his great Divines informe him, That …he Catholicke Doctors aaReges & principes poſſunt de jure etiam a prvatâ perſond occidi: Francis. de Veron ubi ſupra:hold it lawfull for any pr…vate perſon to kill a Hereticke King? Yea and th… though he bee not ſentenced, excommunitated, or depoſed by the Pope, if his hereſie be notorious ſaithbbCajetan, 22 ae. q. 4.2.2. Cajetan? Or if he beddAndreas Eudaemon. Apol. pro Garnetto. c. 10. p. 276. Et Mariana de Rege & Regis inſtitutione Lib. 1. c. 6.7, 8. pag. 58.60.63.67. Fas est ſubditis Reges & Principes quibu… viri graves haereſeos Crimē impegerint …uavis Ratione è medio tollere. publikely defamed for an Hereticke; or ſo reputed by grave and judicious men? Nay, that it is not onelyonly lawfull, buteeObligati ſunt ſubduia… principes haereticos depell a…os & hujuſmodi principes ſuos non tantuns le…time poſſunt detu…bare ſed etiam ad hoc praecepto Divino & vincu… …ctil ſimo … extrem… A…ma… peri…o …enen u…. Creſwell in Philopat. … 2 Num. 160.162. neceſſary: not onelyonly that they may doe it but they are bound to doe it. And that by the command of God upon perill of their ſoules. And p. 52this is not a ffVniverſa Theologorum Schola tenet, & est certum ac de fide Quem cunque Principem Christianum ſi a …o…ano Catholi … Religione … ſe…e deſtex… & a…es …oca… voh…e it ex…e sia…m …b … po…ſta…e & Digatate ex ipſa vi juris Di…ai & huma ni: …oc que & a…te Omnem ſenten…iam Pontificis. Et ſuld tos quoſcunque Liberos eſſe aboumi Iuramenti obligatione quoad de Obed entia praeſti tiſſens poſſeque & debere bujusundi hominem tanquam Apoſta tam ex dominatis eijcere …e alios inficjan. Creſw. Num. 137 Non eſt propria Ieſui…arum ſed Totius Eccleſia (& quiden. ab aniqu…ſſi… is Temporibus) conſcaſion… …cepta noſtra Doctrina eſt. Eudaem. Apol. cap. 3.private opinion, but the opinion of all their Divines, ana of their whole Church, if we may believe themſelves. Nay it is not only lawfull and neceſſary: but ifggPendet Chri…ianum Reg…um a Pontifice in hoc ut poſſit non …um conſulere aut conſentire ut Regnum Regem ſibi pernitie. ſum deponat ſed …t… praeciper… & …ogere ut id facias. Suares: defens: fid: Lib. 6. cap 4. …ct. 17. people ſhould be loth to offer violence to their PRINCE the Pope may command and compell them to it.

When the Papiſts ſhall as publikely and unanimouſly d…ſclaime this Doctrine, as they have proclaimed it, And the Parl…ament broach ſuch doct i…es and the protestants drinke them in. Then let His Majestie flye from his Parliament and proteſtant ſubjects to ſecure his life and Crowne among the Papiſts. But in the meane time, O what a piece of Arch Treaſon was it! By ſowing contention betweene His Majeſtie and Parliament to draw His Majeſty to betray Himſelfe into the hands of a generation, that in Conſcience think they may kill him when they pleaſe.

Nay are taught. That in conſcience they are bound to kill him, if he pleaſe not them in Matters of Religion and may with a Nodd from Rome be commanded to kill him. Oh what an inextricable labyrinth, have theſe wretches brought our Prince into, by perſwading him, The intentions of his Parliament are againſt his Dignity and prerogative? The Lord rebuke them that ſo perſwade him: Yea the Lord rebuke thee Satan. But what better ſuggeſtions can breath from them that are Parl…ament adverſaries from generation to generation. This is it that hath moved his Majeſtie to caſt himſelf into the armes of Papiſts: Where he is as ſafe as a p. 53lambe in the middeſt of wolves. Suppoſe that party (pretending his prerogative and thereby ſeducing a great part of the Kingdome to aſſiſt them.) Suppoſe they prevaile.

What a condition is his Majeſty in? Either he is in danger of loſing his Religion, and being reconciled to Rome, Or if not, of loſing his life and forfeiting his Crown from himſelf and his posterity. Nay poſſibly he may lofe all, though he ſhould abandon Religion and be reconciled to Rome. For ſo Simanca determines.hhSi Reges autal… Principes Chriſtian… facti ſunt Haeretici protinus ſubjecti & vaſalli ab eorum Dominio liberantur, Nec jus hoc recuperabunt quamvis. poſte à reconciliantur Eccleſiae & propter haereſin non ſolum Rex regno privatur, ſed etiam ejus filii à regni ſucceſſionne pelluntur. Simanca de Occult. tit. 42. ſee. 2 If Kings or other Chriſtian Princes be turned Heretikes the…r ſubjects are preſently freed from their Dominion, neither ſhall they recover their right againe though they be afterwards reconciled to the Church. And as a King looſeth his kingdome by Hereſy ſo his children loſe their right of ſucceſsion. And to look no farther then Henry the fourth of France. Did his being reconciled to Rome, ſecure either his life or Crown? Lord give thy judgments to the King. Lord give thy judgments to the King.

I but no fear of this. The Papiſts have taken the oathes of ſupremacy and allegeance. And what are we the better? An oath upon the conſcience of a Papiſt is like a collar upon an Apesneck: that he will ſlip on for his Masters pleaſure, and ſlip off againe for his owne. Hear but how Paſcenius ſcoffes King Iames for the invention of that oath and you will ſee his ſonn hath little cauſe to truſt them for all their taking it.aaVide in tantâ aſtutiâ, quanta ſit ſimplicitas. Iuramentum tot circumſtantiis connexuiſſe exiſtimabat, ut ſalvâ conſcientiâ, nullâ ratione a quoquam diſſolui poſſit. Sed videre non potuit ſi Pontifex juramentum diſſolverit, omnesejus Nexus ſive de fidelitate Regi praeſtandâ ſive de diſpenſatione pariter non admittendâ pariter diſſolutos fore. Imò ali…d dicam admirabilius. Iuramentum ſi iniuſtum apertè declaretur Neminem obligat. Sed ipſo facto nullum eſt. Regis vero juramentum iniuſtum eſſe ab ipſo Eccleſiae Paſtore ſufficienjer declaratum eſt. He p. 54ſaith he, Vide in tantâ aſtutiā quanta ſit ſimplicitas Iuramentum tot circumſtantiis connexuiſle exiſtimabat vt ſalvâ conſcientiâ nulla ratione à quo quam diſſoluipoſſet, ſed vidore non potuit ei Ponti ex luramentum diſſoluerit omnes eius Nexus ſive de fidelitate Regi praeſtanda ſive de diſpenſatione pariter non admittenda pariter diſſolutos fore &c. Vides igitur jam in fumum abiiſſe illius obligationem, ut vinculum quod à Sapientibus ferreum putabatur minus ſit quam ſtramincum Paſcenius in Reſp. ad Epiſc. monit. Iacobi Regis. 2 Sam. 16.21.2 Sam 16:21how ſimple they are, in all their craft: he thought he had compoſed an oath with ſo many particular circumſtances, that it could not with a ſafe conſcience be diſpenſed with: but he could not ſee that if the Pope looſed the oath, all the knots of it whither concerning allcageance to the King, or not ſuffering the oath to be diſpenſed with, they are all untied. Yea that which is more admirable. If the oath be publickly declared to be unjuſt, it bindes none, but ipſo facto is made void. Now the Pope hath ſufficiently declared this oath of the Kings to be unjuſt; ſo that the obligation of it vaniſhes into ſmoake and that bond, which thoſe wiſe men thought to be as ſtrong as braſſe is leſſe then a ſtraw. And now what Faith can his Majeſty give to or what Confidence can his Majeſty have in the oath of theſe men?

And yet as if it were not enough. To withdraw the heart of our Soveraign from confiding in his ſubjects, The venome of this treaſon reaches farther. And as Achitophel knowing that if Abſalon were reconciled to his Father againe, it would be his destruction, put Abſalon upon ſuch a buſineſſe as he knew was a ſcarec capable of reconciliation. So this curſed faction knowing that upon union between his Majeſtie and Parliament followes their deſerved ruine: have councelled yea even compelled his Majestie to that, which (if any thing) might make the breach between his Majeſtie and his ſubjects incurable. Oh that vaſt effuſion of Engliſh bloud which hath bin already not only in Ireland but in England! The ſunne hath not ſeen ſo many carkaſſes of Engliſh men lying upon their native ſoile in many hundred yeares. The Lord ſee and avenge it upon them that are the originall cauſe of this bloud-ſheading. The violence that is done to me and p. 55my fleſh be upon thee, ô Papacy, ſhall the Inhabitante of Ireland ſay. And my bloud upon thee, ô Prelacy, ſhall England ſay That That's the Helena for whoſe ſake all theſe warres are. For the defence of the Prelacy the Scotck warre was commenced (though P crogative and Monarchy was pretended) and for the ſame we may conceive the warre of England is purſued. We may ſay to that faction as Ioah did to David. 2. Sam 19.6.2 Sam 19:6Thou regardeſt neither Prince nor ſervants for this day I perceave that if Abſalon had lived and all we had dyed, it had pleaſ… thee well. They regard neither Prince nor people for we may eaſily perceave; that if England and Scotland imbrue themſelves in one anothers blouds; or England tear out its owne bowells, though all we dye ſo the Hierarchy ſurvive, they would be well pleaſen. Shall they eſcape by their iniquity? thou Lord in tey diſpleaſure ſhalt cast them down.

As for our Soveraign. Thou ô God in whoſe hands the hearts of Kings are, free his heart from the councells and ingagements of miſcheivous men and men of bloud. Give him a true underſtanding of and a due confidence in the loyall affections of his Proteſtant ſubjects. Bring him back among us rather in the prayers and tears then in the blouds of his people.

And you my brethren ſo many as have any ſparke of loyalty in your breaſtes and I hope you are all full of it, deſire and ſeeke the ſame thing, yee of this City: Yee of the honorable Nation of the Scots be not yee the last to bring the King back to his houſe. 2. Sam. 19.11.12.2 Sam 19:112 Sam 19:12Yee are his brethren, yee are his bone, and his fleſh, why ſhould yee be the laſt in bringing the King back to his houſe againe? even to his houſe of Parliament? Aſſuredly if his Majeſties life were bound up in one haire of his head, as p. 56Niſus was, Cui ſplē didus Oſtro, Inter ho noratos medio de vertice canos crinis inhaerebat magni fiducia Regni. Ovid. Metam. Application the third by way of Exhortation firſt to the Parliamenthe might be more ſecure there then he can be among Papiſts and Cavaliers if every haire of his head were a life.

I come to a few words of Exhortation. Firſt To you the Members of the honorable Houſe of Parliament. Secondly, To you the reſt of my brethren. Firſt for you honourable and beloved. This text, this truth tells you what you muſt look to meet with. God hath opened to you a great doore of opportunity for the promoving of his Churches good but their are many adverſaries. God hath called you together to a great work: but you muſt look our adverſaries will do their utmoſt either by craft or cruelty to cauſe the work to ceaſe. That which our Saviour ſpake to his Diſciples to confirme their hearts againſt the perſecutions of their adverſaries. The ſame ſay I to you to ſteel your hearts againſt the oppoſitions of your adverſaries. Matth. 5.Matt 5So ſaith our Saviour perſecuted they the Prophets that were before you. The ſame ſay I to you. So maligned they the Parliaments that were before you. So ſlandered they the Parliaments that were before you. So plotted they againſt the Parliaments that were before you. So ſaid they of them. We will come upon them and they ſhall neither know nor ſee till we are in the middeſt of them, and ſlay them and cauſe the work to ceaſe. Therefore be you in nothing terrified of your adverſaries.

Durate & voſmetrebus ſervate ſecundis.

Bear up againſt their oppoſitions. After ages ſhall keep thankeſgiving dayes for your deliverance, as you now do for the deliverance of your forefathers. You have the rememberance of that great deliverance as an p. 57incouragement to your hearts this day. Druſ. Apopht….Qui cuſtodivit Patres, custodiet etiam filios. Deliverances paſt are the pledges of future deliverances. And this advantage you have above your forefathers. That whereas they neither knew their danger nor ſought deli verance, yet were they delivered. You ſee your danger, flee to God by prayers, tears, faſtings for deliverance: You have the pray…rs, and tears of all the Churches and Saints of Chriſt poaſting inceſſantly to Heaven upon the ſame Embaſſage and can you faile of deliverance? Remember againe the goodneſſe and greatneſſe of your cauſe, and what Luther ſaid to Melancthon. When upon that oppoſition, which the German reformation mett with all, he was much troubled a and diſquieted in his ſpirit,Cum effet Melancthon animo admodum anxio non tam ſui quam ipſius exitus & poſteritatis causâ: Lutherus mo…et, vt quia non hominum ſed omnipotentis Dei ſit hoc negotium omni depoſirâ ſollicitudine totam molem in illum reiiciat. Cur, inquit, te Cruci as? ſi Filium ſuum Deus pro nobis impendit, quid trepidamus? quid metuimus? quid angimur & triſtamur? an Satanas eſt illo potentior? Cur mundum â Chirſto debellatum reformidamus? Si malam cauſam defendimus: cur non mutamus propoſitum, ſi-piam atque jaſtam cur Dei promiſſis non confidimus? praeter vitam certè nihil nobis Satanas etipere poteſt; at vivit tamen & in ſempiternum regnat Chriſtus ſub cujus tu…elâ veritas eſt. Peccatores quidem ſumus non uno modo ſed tamen Chriſtus idcircò non eſt mend …x cujus cauſam agimus. Fremant Reges atque populi quantum volent', qui caelos inhabitat, deridebit cos. Cauſam hanc Deus abſque concilio noſtro gubernavit ad hoc uſque tempus & protexit, is quoque ad optatum ſinem tandem perducet. Sleid com. l. 7. not for his own ſake out for the works ſake and the iſſue of it, and poſterityes ſake, Luther gives him councell. That ſeeing the buſineſſe was not mans but Almighty Gods. Laying aſide all care he would caſt the whole weight of it upon him. Why (ſaith he) do you vex your ſelf? If God have beſtowed his Sonne upon us, why are we afraid? what tremble we at? why are we diſtracted ſadded? Is Satan stronger then he? Why feare we the world which Chriſt hath conquered? If we defend an evill cauſe, why do we not change our purpoſe? If the cauſe be holy and juſt, why do we not trust Gods promiſes? Certainly there is nothing beſide our lives that Sathan can ſnatch from us: and though we dye, Chriſt lives and reignes for ever, under p. 58whoſe tuition the truth is. We are indeed ſinners more wayes th…n one, but our ſinnes ſhall never make Chriſt (whoſe cauſe we are ingaged in) a lier. Let the Kings of the earth and the people rage as much as they will: he that ſits in heaven ſhall laugh them to ſcorn. God hath hitherto ruled and defended this cauſe without our councells he alſowill bring it to the deſired end. May not all this be applied unto you? but ſpecially this laſt clauſe? God without your councells, above your councells by naked and immediate providences hath carried on his work in your hands hitherto: and he will give it the deſired, prayed for iſſue: you may be confident of it.

Only: as your cauſe is good, ſo ſee that your wayes be good. Remembring what the holy ghoſt ſaith; Proverb. 16.7. When a mans wayes pleaſe God he maketh his very enemies to be at peace with him. Let your perſonall wayes. Your publick wayes. What you act as men. What you act as Parliament men, pleaſe God: and reape the fruit of it in peace with or triumph over all your enemies. For your perſonall wayes, your converſations as men. Oh, me thinkes, if any of you when you came to this Aſſembly were of vaine converſations (as other men are.) Yet ſo many prayers, ſo many ſermons, ſo many Faſt-dayes, ſo many dangers, ſo many deliverances, ſuch variety of admirable, aſtoniſhing providences, as you have known: ſhould have prevailed with your hearts to abandon all, and become eminently gracious, exact in all your wayes. But if not. If there be yet any ſinne found upon any of you. If any of you be conſcious that any of his wayes: though never ſo ſecret, be diſpleaſing unto God: Let me in the feare of God and in the bowells of our Lord Ieſus beſeech you. As you deſire ſucceſſe either to your councells, or armes. As you tender the p. 59good of your native country (which I know is deare unto you, why elſe ſhould you put your lives in your hands to do it ſervice?) Oh breake off your ſinnes by repentance: why ſhould men of brave and honourable ſpirits, ſtaine and diminiſh their glory by any one ſinne? That as it was ſaid of Naaman he was a mighty man of vaiour: but a leper. So of any of you. He is a prudent man, abrave ſpeaker, but — a profound statiſt: a worthy patriott but — Oh let there be no But, For Gods ſake, be you all as the Sunne, without one ſpott. Why ſhould a man denude himſelf of the protection of the Almighty for one ſinn? It was ſaid of Achilles that he was. Styge armatus. Fulgent. Myth.But he that repents of his ſinns that believes in Chriſt whoſe wayes pleaſe God is Caelo, Chriſto, Deo, armatus: armed with heaven, with Chriſt, with God. Would any at ſuch a time as this, in ſuch a ſervice as yours be without this armour? Oh let your wayes pleaſe God, and you ſhall not neede feare your adverſaries.

And as your perſonall wayes: So your publick wayes. The things that you tranſact as publick perſons: let them be exact. Walke and work by rule. Appelles being asked why he uſed ſuch exact care in limning pictures made this anſwer: Pingo aeternitati: I limne for eternity. The things that you have now to do, are not only for the preſent but future ages. Your actions will live in the memory of men, as long as men ſhall live upon earth. You work for eternity: Therefore be exact: work by rule, by line and plummet. Let all your aimes be pure and good. Fix your eye upon Gods glory. **Druſ. Apopth.Quicquid agas, propter Deum agas. Let that be your motto which was his. Propter te Domine: propter te. Aime at God in all. And walke with God in all. See the p. 60pillar … fire go ng before you.

… …orant, That your taking up of armes is … of d…ſpute. Now no time for that. … …ay. It is no more then other of the … of Chriſt n…v…b…n driven to before, you, the … to▪ French, the high and low Dutch Churches. … Germany when the Proteſtant Princes and States were tre…t…g about a defenſive league aaIn con…aiue adhibin fuer… non lure nſul imo… …ed Th…o… … qu… qu…: Lu h… au…m … do… … ſtratu …on …ſ reuſten…um & ext…bat e us h…d reliberlus (um utem in h…c deliber tione per…t… …uris doce r…nt Legibus eſſe perm…ſſum reſiſtere nonnunquam, & nune in eum caſum de quo inter-l…a …eges me…tionem f… c…n… rem eſſe deductam: Luti erus iogen…ē profice… ſ… hoc neſciviſſ. Et qu…a Leges Politicas Evā geliam a…m. pugnet ant aboleat: deinoe quoni…m tempore t…m cubio & f…rmidoloſo multa poſſunt accidere …ta ut non modo …us ipſ…m …ed conſcien…ae vis ae …eceſſitas arma nobis porrigat defenſionis cuisa faedus poſſe…niri dicit. ſive Caeſar ipſe ſive quis alius fortè bellum eius Nomine faciat. Sle…d. l. ….not only Lawyers but D…vines were called to give their councell in the thing. Luther who had always taught, That the Magiſtrate ought not to be reſiſted, and in the times of the Anabaptiſticall tumults, had written a book to that purpoſe. Being one in the Conſultation, and hearing the lawyers declare. That it was permitted by the fundamextall Lawes; ſometimes to reſiſt: and that now matters were brought to that very ſtate of which the Lawes made mention. Luther did ingenuouſly profeſſe that he knew not ſo much before. And becauſe the Goſpell doth not impugn nor aboliſh nationall Lawes. And becauſe in ſuch a time as that was, uncertain, and full of feare, many things might fall out ſo as not only Lawe but conſcience and neceſsity might put armes into their hands: Therefore he did conclude. They might lawfully enter into a league of defence whether Caelat himſelf, or any other in his name ſhould make warr upon them. And preſently publiſhed a book: therein admoniſhing all men that they ſhould not yeild obedience to the Magiſtrats commanding them unto that warr againſt the league.

I know many in the Land charge the preachers of the Kingdome, and thoſe that have petitioned you ſo often for reformation in doctrine, worſhip and diſcipline as the kindlers and formenters of this unnaturall warre. But O Lord if we have done this▪ if there be ſuch iniquitie p. 61in our hands, then let the enemy perſecute our ſoule and take i…let them tread down our life upon the earth, and lay our honour in the duſt. We have not deſired this wofull d…y O Lord thou knoweſt it, our deſire was to have obtained the eſtabliſhment of religion in purity & peace w…thout blond, ô Lord thou knowest it. Quod ſi non aliter.—

But if the ſinnes of England bee ſuch, and the ingagements of our adverſaries to their ſuperſtitious wayes be ſuch. That there is no other way to have popery caſt out, the Church reformed the Goſpell aſſured to us and our poſterity then this. Hac mercede placent. The will of the Lord be done. Goe you on undauntedly in that bleſſed worke of reformation. Thinke you heare Chriſt ſpeaking to you as Caeſar did to his Ferrie-man in a ſtorme. Perge contra Tempeſtatem forti Animo Caeſarem fers & fortunam Caeſaris. Beare up cou agiouſly againſt the ſtorme you carry Caeſar and Caeſars fortune. Thinke you heare Chriſt ſo ſaying unto you.

Pergite contra Tempeſtatem forti Animo Chriſtum fertis & fortunam, Eccleſiam, gloriam Chriſti. Beare up couragiouſly againſt the ſtorme; you carry Chriſt with you, and the Church the fortune, the glory of Chriſt. If the Tempeſts and flouds of the ungodly riſe againſt you, remember you have not only the ſighes and teares of Gods people for you, but Chriſt imbarked with you, who is able to rebuke the ſtormes and command a calme. You are a Parliament of prayers and teares, if ever any: and as Amb. ſaid to Auſtins Mother. Non poteſt perire tantarum lachrimarum filius. A Child of ſo many prayers and teares cannot miſcarry.

And yet as you are to be couragious, ſo to be cautelous. As to bee confident, ſo vigilant: To have a p. 62watchfull eye over, and a prudent care to ſuppreſſe your adverſaries. Herodot: in Terpſi…h. c. 1 9….Darius the Perſian being inraged againſt the Athenians by a treachery of theirs, layed this injunction upon one of his ſervants, that alwayes as hee ſate at meate he ſhould thrice cry, Here memento Athenienſium. You need no ſuch Monitor. This fifth of November, in its yearely revolution cries loud in your yeares. Domini memento te papiſtarum. Not ſo much to inrage you againſt their perſons, as againſt their Religion. Not to ſay as he did there. ô Iupiter, &c Lord grant that I may be revenged upon the Athenians. Not to ſtudy revenge upon the Papiſts, ſo much as upon popery, not to ſuppreſſe the Papiſts, ſo much as to ſuppreſſe popery, if the one could be done without the other. What need there is of this, let a Divine that had ſearched into the bowels of popery tell you.aaDoctor Iohn white in his Sermon at Pau's Croſſe. Dicretum fuit in Conciltis Toletanis ut quiſquis ſuccedentium Temporum Regni ſortiretur apicem, non ante conſcenderet Reg…am ſedem quā inter Caetera Sacramento polliceretur Nullum fe non Catholicum permiſſurum in ſuo Regno degere, ſed armis haereticos perſequeretur Ribadeneira l. 1. de Principe chriſtiano: c. 2… Papiſtry (ſaith he) can neither ſtand with peace, nor piety. The State therefore that would have theſe things, hath juſt cauſe to ſuppreſſe it.

But what courſe is to be taken for the ſuppreſſing of it? Shall wee take that courſe for the ſuppreſsing of popery which ſome of theirs preſcribe for the ſuppreſſing of the truth. Decretum fuit in conſiliis Toletanis, &c. They made decrees in ſome of their counſels. That every King before he bee inſtalled ſhould, ſweare among other things. That hee would permit no man to live in his Kingdom, that is not a Roman Catholick, but will purſue all Hereticks with the ſword. I know it is diſputed among Divines. Whether it be lawfull to uſe compulſory meanes in matters of Religion. And no leſſe among Politicians whither it would bee ſucceſſefull. I ſhall neither take upon mee to determine thoſe diſputes. Nor direct the wiſdome of the great councell of the kingdome p. 63in a courſe for ſuppreſſing popery. Only in briefe the meanes to be uſed to this end are, either ſacred, or civill: Acts of Religion, or of State.

For religious meanes, I conceive that as the re-eſtabliſhment of Popery in Queen Maries dayes was an Act of State and of the whole Kingdome aſſembled in Parliament: ſo if the State, the Parliament now aſſembled would pleaſe to indict ſome Day or dayes of ſolemne, Nationall, profeſſed humiliation, for that ſinne of the Nation, (which as farre as I could ever learne, was never yet done) it might bee a happie meanes to expiate that ſinne, and to purge the Land from that bloud of Martyrs, which it yet groanes under, and would bleſſedly prepare the heart of the Nation for a more thorow perfect Reformation. We obſerve it in particular perſons that if they ſlide out of profane and ſinfull wayes, into wayes of more retiredneſſe without any evidence of a ſincere and proportionable Humiliation: That Reformation ſeldome proves laſting or ſaving. I know not why the ſame may not bee verified in Nationall Reformations. And among other things which poſſibly might bee cauſes why the wrath of the Lord was not removed from Hieruſalem, notwithſtanding Joſiah's ſo glorious Reformation, this may bee one becauſe the Land was never humbled for the Idolatries or Bloudſheds of Manaſſes, but looked upon the reformation as ſufficient without humiliation which verily hath been Englands courſe to this day: we have bleſſed our ſelves in a kinde of Reformation: But never tooke to heart the Idolatrous and bloudy Lawes enacted by our forefathers to bee humbled for them.

Next to this as a ſecond meanes for the ſuppreſſing p. 64of Popery, I would ſubjoy ne the caſting out from among us of all appearances of Popery; every that lookes like Rome, every thing of which the Papiſts may ſay, this you borrowed from us. True it is the Iſraelites by Gods expreſſe commandement, borrowed of the Aegyptians, Iewels of ſilver, and Iewels of Gold, but when they imployed thoſe Egyptian Iewels to Egyptian worſhip, and turned their Egyptian gold into an Egyptian God, you know what followed. I condemne not every thing received from Rome as ſimply evill: But certainely as long as the Papiſts ſee any ſuch things among us in our publike worſhip. They will but ſcorne us, and our Religion as imperfect, and unable to furniſh us in the ſervice of our God without being beholding unto them.

The third Meanes is; To ridd the Church of ſcandalous Ministers, that, what by their corrupt doctrine, what by their abominable lives, have exceedingly hardned the Papiſts againſt our Religion and ſtrengthened them in their owne.

Fourthly, By complying as neare as poſsible may be with other reformed Churches in all things. The reſolution you have put on for uniting with the Church of Scotland is one of the bleſsed'st things for the utter ſubverſion of popery that hath beene ſince the firſt reformation.

And laſtly, Plant a faithfull, painefull, powerfull, Miniſtery through the Kingdome. And give maintenance and incouragement anſwerable. But O Lord, in ſuch a corrupt State of Clergie and Univerſities, where ſhall we finde faithfull men to plant the Nation with? The harvest is great the labourers few, O pray p. 65yee the Lord of the Vineyard to ſend forth labourers into his harveſt. To give the word, that great may be the multitude of them that preach it.

As for Civill meanes of rooting out Popery, I ſhall wholly leave them to the Councell of the State.

Only one thing more let me adde, which I cannot without ſinne forbeare.

If ever you would root popery out of Engl…nd, with the uttermost of your vigour proſecute the affaires of Ireland. If Popery prevaile to the ſuppreſſing of the true Religion there: Doe not thinke you can prevaile to ſuppreſſe popery here. I know your Domeſticke affaires are great, your occaſions of expences vaſt; yet I remember what the Historian ſaith of the Roman State. There was nothing did more evidence the greatneſſe of their ſpirits, then that at ſuch a time, as Hanniball was even Ad portus. Their treafure exhauſted by long Warres, Their Armies routed diverſe times, The State at the loweſt ebbe that ever it was in: Yet even then; when a mighty Warre lay upon their backes, They did not remit the care of any affaires, though never ſo remote from them. And nothing did more make Hannibal deſpaire of taking Rome; Then that he heard, ſupplies of Souldiers were ſent out of the Citie into Spaine, even then, … 22. c. 3….when he with his whole army lay before their walles. I know not whither any thing would more pleaſe God or procure a bleſsing upon your affaires at home, I am ſure ſcarce any thing would m…e dant your adverſaries at home and abroad, then to ſee you at ſuch a time as this, ſending ſupplies into Ireland.

And you my brethren the reſt of you that ſtand before p. 64Exhortati… the peopl…duplicate page p. 65duplicate page p. 66the Lord this day. Withdraw not your aſsiſtance from the honourable Houſes of Parliament, in that or any other worke ſo juſt, Honourable and pious. You ſee they meete with oppoſition from their adverſaries: impoſſible it is, it ſhould be otherwiſe. Oh let them not meete with diſcouragment from their friends, from their brethren. No queſtion it was worſe to Nehemiah to heare Iudah ſay. The ſtrength of the bearers of burdens is decaied and there is ſo much rubbiſh, wee cannot build the wall: Then it was to heare the adverſaries ſay. We will come upon them and they ſhall neither know nor ſee till we are in the midst of them and play them, and cauſe the worke to ceaſe. That which the adverſaries ſaid was no more then he looked for. But this of Iudah was unexpected. O let not London ſay, let not England ſay. The ſtrength of the bearers of burdens is decaied. The expences of the Iriſh warre and of the Engliſh affaires are ſuch a burden, wee can beare no longer, our ſtrength is decaied: wee cannot build the wall: the worke must ceaſe. I know your burdens this way have been great, and in this City farre greater then in other places of the Kingdom, and are like to continue ſtill. For though I hope it is not in the purpoſes of God to deſtroy England, nor to deſtroy London, yet I have thought ſometimes: The purpoſe and intent of God hath beene to humble, and attenuate London, and England. For Englands long continued peace, had abundantly increaſed Englands wealth, and the abundant creaſed of Englands wealth had proportionably increaſed Englands pride. The age before us knew not that exceſſe of bravery in clothes and utenſils that we were growne unto. And the generation growing up, was like to exceed us in both. God ſaw us labour p. 67ſo dangerouſly of a plethory as his wiſdome and love judged it needfull to abate and exhauſt our fulneſſe at leaſt ſo much as is ſuper fluous, and not matter of ſubſiſtence, but matter of pride unto us: which if we can willingly and chearefully reſigne up to the diſpoſall of God we may poſſibly thereby obtaine and ſecure our lives, Lawes, Religion, the things that are, or ſhould be deareſt to us. But if we hugge our wealth, when God would have us let it goe, Take heed we loſe not that, and all the reſt. Me thinkes I reade it in the footſteppes of God towards England. God hath ſaid. I will abate the wealth and pride of England. Me thinkes the ſucceſsion of theſe three warres within theſe few yeares (which comes not without the ſpeciall providence of that God who ruleth in the kingdomes of men) the expences of all which muſt lye upon England, ſpeaks it. That the purpoſe of God is to abate the pride and wealth of England. And me thinkes we ſhould ſay as Mephiboſheth did, 2 Sam. 19.30. Yea let him take all for as much as my Lord the King is returned againe in peace to his owne houſe: might we but ſee our Soveraigne Lord the King brought in peace againe to his owne houſe, and to His Houſes of Parliament. Might we but ſee the King of Kings upon his holy hill of Zion. Chriſt in his beauty, on his Throne. The Church reformed, truth and peace eſtabliſhed: let him take all.

I perſwade my ſelfe every honeſt heart that is loyall to God, to the King, to the publicke weale would willingly ſpeake it and ſeale it, did not our adverſaries by their crafty inſinuations indeavour to divide as much between the Parliament and people as they have done betweene the King and Parliament. That would p. 68faine perſwade the people of this Nation, with the Ape in the emblem to cut in under the arme of the tree whereon they ſit and plunge themſelves into a gulph and ſea of miſery.

To this purpoſe as they have tolde his Majestie, ſo now they tell the people. That the Parliament will alter Religion. A charge like that of Rabſhakeh againſt Hezekiah and as true. When he would perſwade the people God, would not helpe them: becauſe Hezekiah had altered Religion. Iſaias 36.7. If thou ſay to me we truſt in the Lord our God; is it not he whoſe Altars & high places Hezekiah hath taken away & ſayd to Iudah and Ieruſalem you ſhall worſhip before this altar? Truth is. This is all the alteration of Religion the Parliament hath made. They have taken away the high places and Altars: that they have done & intended to proceed to command all worſhip to be according to the rule of Gods word. To ſay to England, you ſhall worſhip according to this rule. And this is he great crime of altering Religion. My brethren be not deceived.…e…tio Perſe…riva. o…ruptiva. As in naturall ſo in civill and morall things there is a double alteration. There is a perfective alteration. And there is a corruptive alteration. To alter Religion ſo as to corrupt Religion, was the plot and work of the Popiſh Prelats and their faction. To alter their alterations, to antiquate their innovations, to reduce Religion, to its pure originall perfection (which cannot be done without alteration of ſome thing introduced) that was the purpoſe and work of the Parliament, and for this it is our adverſaries crie against them. They will alter Religion.

I but then the Parliament will alter the government of the Kingdome. Yes. Juſt like as they altered Religion. As in Religion ſuch alterations as tend Ad perfectionem p. 69are not to be condemned: So likewiſe in Polity and civill government. Plato tells us, That in all Commonwealths upon juſt grounds there ought to be ſome changes. And that Statesmen therein muſt beehave themſelves like ski…f…l Muſicians, Qui artem Muſices non mutant, ſed Muſices modum.

But they do things without his Majesties conſent. I that is our greif and our adverſaries triumph. That our adverſaries have ſo farre prevailed upon the heart of our ſoveraign as to perſwade him to with draw first his preſence, then his aſſent from the great Councell of his Kingdome. And thereby force them, Either to do things without the conſent of our ſoveraign, Or elſe, do nothing, but ſit still, and expect their owne, & the Kingdomes ruine And in ſuch a caſe is it ſo high acrime to determine things, neceſſary for the ſafety of King and Kingdome, without conſent of his Majeſtie when it cannot be obtained? I have read that the Perſian Monarches were wont to call the Peers, and Preſidents of their Provinces to Councell; but giving them no freedome nor liberty of Councell. For every one of them had … plate, or tile of gold▪ to ſtand upon in the Councell houſe and if he gave councell that the King thought well of,Kecker Polit. the plate of gold was given him for a reward: but if he delivered any thing contrary to the Kings minde, Valer. Maxim. l. 9. c. 5.Flagris caedebatur And one writes that Xerxes in his expedition againſt Greece called his Princes together, and ſpake to them to this purpoſe. Leaſt, ſaith he, I ſhould ſeeme to follow only my owne Councell, I have aſſembled you, and now do you remember; that it becomes you rather to obey, then adviſe. Our adverſaries would faine have it ſo with the Peers and Parliament of England: and have a long p. 70time bin labouring to perſwade his Majeſtie it ought ſo to be, and would make the like impreſsion upon the people now. But you my brethren beware of their inſinuations and know. That they that devide between his Majeſtie and Parliament or between Parliament and people are the greateſt enemies of King, people, and Parliament. This is the firſt time that ever loyalty to the King was ſet in oppoſition to fidelity to the Parliament. The firſt time that ever it was thought poſsible to draw the Engliſh Nation to deſert their Parliament under the notion of adhering to their King. Oh let not this age beare the date of ſuch infamy. Did ever Parliament do more for the Lawes, and liberties of the Nation with more danger and detriment to themſelves: And will you when they have need of you leave them: well here is our comfort: God hath not left, God will not leave his cauſe, 1. Kings 8.57.58.59.60.1 Kgs 8:571 Kgs 8:581 Kgs 8:591 Kgs 8:60his work, his people. 1. Kings 8. The Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us nor forſake us; that he may encline our hearts unto him to walke in all his wayes and to keep his commandements and his Statutes and his Iudgements: He, even he maintaine the cauſe of his ſervants and of his people Iſraël at all times as the Matter ſhall require that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is none elſe.

FINIS.

End of the text · Matthew Newcomen, The Craft and Cruelty of the Churchs Adversaries (1643)