Apology for All Non-Subscribers, Apology
A BRIEF APOLOGIE For all NON-SƲBSCRIBERS, AND LOOKING-GLASSE FOR ALL Apoſtate perjured Preſcribers & Subſcribers OF THE New Engagement, Wherein they may clearly behold their Preſidents, Sin, Horrour, Puniſhment.
LONDON, 1649.
A BRIEF APOLOGIE For all NON-SUBSRIBERS, &c.
HE that being often reproved, hardneth his neck, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed, and that without remedy, Prov. 29.11. How often the Preſcribers and Subſcribers of the New Engagement, againſt their manifold former Oaths, Vows, Proteſtations, Covenants and Engagements to the contrary, have been admoniſhed both in Preſs and Pulpit of the impiety, danger and deſtructiveneſs of this their Apostacie and Perfidiouſneſs both to God and Man, without any fruits of Reformation or Repentance of this their execrable wickedneſs, is well known to their own ſelf-condemning conſciences and the world: Let them therefore now in this ſmall Looking-glaſs, behold both their Preſidents, Sin, Horrour of conſcience and their Puniſhments for the ſame, which if duely pondered, may through Gods mercy bring them to ſincere Repentance, or elſe create a tormenting hell within their Conſciences here, and plunge them into everlasting Hell-tormentings hereafter to their juſt deſtruction, who would receive no admonition in due ſeaſon.
The Preſidents they follow in Preſcribing and Subſcribing this Oath and Engagement, and very fatal and dangerous, even the very worſt of our Engliſh Rebels and Traytors in former Ages.*Jo. Stow his Survey of London, p. 88, 89, &c. Hollinſhed, Speed & Stow in 4 and 5 of R. 2. In the fourth yeer of King Richard the ſecond, Walter Tyler, Jack Straw, and their rebellious rout of the Peaſantry, made a great Inſurrection and Rebellion againſt the King and his Counſel; and marching up to London in a numerous body, by the favour of the meaner ſort of Citizens, who confederated with them, entred both the City and Tower, beheaded the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, with divers others, affronted, commanded and inſulted over the King and Nobles at their pleaſures, as the onelyonly Kings of England; tendring the King very high and inſolent Propoſitions to ſigne, and notwithſtanding his preſent condeſcention to them, conſpired to ſeize upon his Perſon, and keep him alive amongst them for a time, that people might the more boldly repair to them, and think whatever they did was done by the Kings authority, till they had gotten power enough, that they needed not to fear any force which ſhould be made againſt them; And then they reſolved to ſtay all the Nobles that might give any counſel, or make any reſiſtance againſt them, together with all Lawyers, with the Knights of S. Johns and the Rhodes: And laſtly, they would have killed the King himſelf, with all men of poſſeſſions, Biſhops, Canons, Parſons of Churches, and Monks, except Friers Mendicants; and have burnt and plundered the City of London it ſelf, and then have created Wat Tyler King in Kent, and others of the Chief leading Rebels Kings in other Counties. And to engage all men in this Confederacie with them, they tendered an Oath to them, (ſomewhat better then this New Oath and Engagement) viz. That they ſhould keep Allegeance to King Richard and TO THE COMMONS, and that they ſhould accept of no King that was named John; and that they ſhould be ready to aſſiſt them whenever they were called; and that they ſhould agree to no Tax to be levied or granted in the Kingdom, except a Fifteen. Which Oath they enforced all they met to take; and thoſe that were not ſworn to them, they took off both their Hoods and Heads. But after they had thus played Rex. and Lorded it over King, Nobles, Gentry, Country and City a little ſpace, Wat Tyler their new King and General (who made this vaunt, that before four days came to an end, all the Laws of England ſhould proceed from his mouth) was ſtruck off his horſe by William Walworth Lord Maior of London, and ſlain in Smithfield, in the view of his Commons, and his head ſet upon London-bridge; and by the aſſiſtance of the Lord Maior, and about a thouſand loyal Citizens, in whoſe hearts the Law of the King was ingrafted, the King was reſcued f om their power and butchery, and the Rebels ſubdued, who threw down their weapons, fell to the ground and craved pardon; their principal Leaders and deſigned Kings taken and executed in all places, and their heads and parts hanged up for monuments to deter others; their confederates all diſperſed, impriſoned, and put to great fines and ranſoms to redeem their lives and liberties. And ſo their new Kingdom and Republike quickly ended in a fatal Tragedie. The King, for the Lord Maiors and Citizens good ſervice, in perpetual memory of all of this their Loyalty, Knighted the Maior, and added the Dagger to the Cities Arms; which the preſent Lord Maior, Aldermen and packed Common-Councel-men may do well to conſider, for fear they alter the Dagger into an Ax or Halter for the future: and the Preſcribers of this new Oath and Engagement (who tread in theſe rebellious Traytors ſteps, and proſecute their very deſignes and Engagement) may do well in time to remember their ſad Story, leſt they arrive at their fatal ends, to their temporal and eternal ruine. The like deſigne and project in effect was afterwards hatched and ſet on foot by Jack Cade and his rebellious rout, under pretence to reform Laws and Government; who were all ſcattered, came to the like Tragical ends, and for ever branded by an Act of Parliament, 31 H. 6. c. 1. for wicked Rebels and Traitors to poſterity.
In the Month*Fox Acts and Monum. 1640. Vol. 2. p. 665. to 677. of July, 1549, in the third yeer of King Edward the ſixth, as the Commons of Devonſhire and Cornwal raiſed an Inſurrection againſt the King and his Councel in the Weſt, ſo the Commons in York-ſhire at the ſame time raiſed a Rebellion in the North, principally out of their traiterous hearts, grudging at the Kings honourable proceedings in reforming Religion; and truſting to a blinde Prophecy wherewith they were ſeduced, which themſelves thought ſhould ſhortly come to paſs, by reaſon of the Rebellions then on foot in Norfolk and Devonſhire; the tenour of Prophecie, and purpoſe of which Traytors together, was, THAT THERE SHOULD NO KING RAIGN IN ENGLAND;Nota. THAT THE NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN SHOULD BE DESTROYED, AND THE REALM SHOULD BE RULED BY FOUR GOVERNOURS TO BE ELECTED and APPOINTED BY THE COMMONS HOLDING A PARLIAMENT IN COMMOTION, (without King or Lords) to begin at the South and North Seas of England, &c. Whereupon, to execute this their deſigne, and erect this their new Government and Parliament without King and Lords, (the very project now on foot, and ſcope of this new Oath and Engagement) they reſolved to ſeize and murther ſuch Nobles and Gentlemen of Eſtate in their Houſes and Counties, and in executing the Kings Commiſſions, as were favourers of the Kings proceedings, and likely to reſiſt them. Hereupon, the King ſent his gracious Pardon and perſwaſions to them, to reduce them by all fair means to obedience; informing them, that He was their rightful King, Liege Lord and Soveraign King of England, not by age, but BY GODS ORDINANCE, BEING ORDAINED THEIR KING AND PRINCE BY ALMIGHTY GOD, poſſeſſing his Crown BY BLOOD AND DESCENT FROM HIS ROYAL FATHER KING HENRY THE EIGHTH. You are Our Subjects, becauſe We be your King; and rule we will, becauſe God hath willed. It is as great a fault in Ʋs, not to rule, as in a Subject not to obey. If it be conſidered, they which move this matter (of his Non-age) if they durſt utter themſelves, would deny Our Kingdom. But Our good Subjects know their Prince, and will increaſe, not diminiſh his Honour; enlarge, not abate his Power; knowledge, not defer his Kingdom to certain yeers: all is one, to ſpeak againſt our Crown, and to deny our Kingdom, as to require that our Laws may be broken until one and twenty yeers, &c. Dare then any of you, with the name of a Subject, ſtand againſt an Act of Parliament, a Law of the Whole Realm? What is Our Power, if Laws ſhould be thus neglected? Yea, WHAT IS YOUR SURETY, IF LAWS BE NOT KEPT? Herein indeed reſteth Our Honour, herein ſtandeth our Kingdom, herein do all Kings knowledge us a King: And ſhall any of you dare breathe or think againſt our Honour, our Kingdom or Crown? &c. But neither the Pardon nor Reaſon prevailing, theſe obſtinate Rebels were at laſt twice or thrice vanquiſhed and utterly routed by a ſmall number of the Kings Forces, many thouſands of them ſlain, others taken priſoners and executed, and the reſt ſcattered, ſo that they could never make head again, by the avenging hand and juſt judgement of God. And ſo their expected new Ʋtopian Republicke and Parliament of Commons, without King and Lords, came ſoon to ruine, before it received any eſtabliſhment. Let our New Moulders of our Engliſh Republike, and promoters of the New Engagement, to ſet up a Republike and Parliament without King and Lords for the future, conſider this ill ſucceſs of this deſigne heretofore with fear and trembling, leſt it prove their very caſe in concluſion.
King,*Fox Acts & Monum. Vol. 3. p. 13, 14, 15, 16, &c. Hollinſhed, Speed & Stow, in 1 Mariae. Edward the ſixth lying on his death-bed, and perceiving his Siſter Queen Mary to be an obſtinate Papiſt, like to ſubvert that Religion and Reformation which he had eſtabliſhed, did by advice of his Councel, and learned Lawyers, by his laſt Will and Teſtament, endeavour to diſinherit her of the Crown, appointing the Lady Jane to ſucceed him: and to eſtabliſh her Title thereto, cauſed all his Privie Councel, moſt of the chief Nobility, the Maior and City of London, and all the Judges (exept Judge Hales of Kent, who refuſed the ſubſcription, and chief Lawyers of the Realm) to ſubſcribe thereto, againſt the expreſs Statute of 35 H. 8 c. 1. (to which they and the whole Kingdom had ſworn) taking the Oath for the ſucceſſion of the Crown therein preſcribed. Hereupon, after King Edwards deceaſe, they all proclaimed Jane Queen, and rejected Mary, againſt whom they ſent the Duke of Northumberland with an Army; who departing from London, the Lords of the Councel perceiving the generality of the people to adhere to Queen Mary, and that ſhe began to gather a conſiderable ſtrength, and moſt of the common people, and ſome of the Lords ſtanding for her, thereupon they preſently turned their ſong, proclaimed Mary eldeſt daughter to King Henry, Queen, according to the Act of Parliament, and deſerted Jane, to whoſe Title they had ſubſcribed: whereupon the Duke of Northumberland, the Duke of Suffolk, Sir John Gates, (three of the Subſcribers) together with the Lord Gilford, Lord Gray, Sir Thomas Wyat, and ſundry others were ſuddenly apprehended, condemned and executed as Traytors, together with the new Queen Jane; who all confeſſed their deaths and condemnation to be juſt, and that they deſerved to die for theſe their Treaſons; wiſhing all others to beware by their examples, and timely to ſubmit to and obey Queen Mary without murmuring or rebelling againſt her, as good Subjects ought to do. This was the Tragick end of thoſe Subſcribers and Engagers to diſinherite this Queen of her Birthright, and ſet up another againſt the Law, and their Oathes of Allegeance. Which our preſent Subſcribers and Engagers may do well to ruminate upon, their caſe being far worſe and more treaſonable againſt the King, then theirs againſt Queen Mary, having King Edwards laſt Will, with all the Kings Councel, moſt Nobles, Judges, Lawyers, and the Citizens of Londons Subſcriptions thereto in King Edwards life-time, to countenance them herein; all which theſe recant, againſt his clear Title by the Statute of 1 Jac. cap. 1, 2.
But theſe Examples perchance may extend onelyonly to ſuch who have been, or hereafter ſhall appear in Arms againſt the preſent King, to diſinherit him of his Crown and Monarchy; or to the chief Contrivers and Promoters of the New Engagement. I ſhall therefore remember all meer Subſcribers of it, through baſe fear, cowardice, covetouſneſs, or other unworthy ends, againſt their former Oathes of Supremacie, Allegeance, Judges, Juſtices, Sheriffs, Officers, Clerks, and the like, their Proteſtation, Vow, and Solemn League and Covenant, of three memorable Examples of bare Subſcribers onelyonly againſt their Judgements and Conſcience, meerly to ſave their lives, when in moſt certain and apparent danger; the conſideration whereof may make their ſouls and joynts to quake and tremble, and put them into Belſhazzars trembling agony.
The firſt is that of M.*Fox Acts and Monum. Vol. 2. p. 265, 271, 272 Latimers 7 and 8 Sermons Tho. Bilney, a pious and famous Martyr in King Henry the 8 's Raign; who being condemned for Hereſie by ſome Popiſh Prelates, was induced to abjure, and ſubſcribe his hand to a renounciation of thoſe Truths of God which he formerly profeſſed, and for maintenance whereof he was condemned to be burnt. But no ſooner was he releaſed, but he was ſo extremely troubled and tormented in conſcience for neer two yeers ſpace after, that his friends were afraid to let him be alone by himſelf, and fain to be with him day and night, to comfort him as they could; but no comfort would ſerve. As for the comfortable places of Scripture, to bring them unto him, it was as though a man ſhould run him thorow the heart with a ſword. He was in ſuch an anguiſh, that nothing did him good, neither eating nor drinking, nor any other communication of Gods Word; for he thought that all the whole Scriptures were againſt him, and ſounded to his condemnation. At laſt by Gods grace, and good counſel, coming to ſome quietneſs of conſcience, he fully reſolved to give over his life for the confeſſion of that Faith which he had formerly abjured and ſubſcribed againſt: and thereupon preaching and maintaining it publikely, was apprehended, burnt, and undauntedly ſealed it with his blood, to make amends for his former cowardly and unworthy ſubſcription, having no peace of conſcience till then.
The ſecond is that of*Fox Acts & Monum. Vol. 2. p. 297, 299, 300 301. James Bainham a Lawyer of the middle Temple, who being impriſoned, perſecuted, whipped, ſtocked, chained, wracked, and cruelly tormented by Sir Thomas Moor, then Lord Chancellour, for his profeſſion of Religion, and ready to be condemned and burnt for an Heretick, was at laſt, after many denials, for fear of death, and to preſerve his life, perſwaded to abjure the articles and opinions charged againſt him, and ſubſcribe to their abjuration under his hand. And having done his Penance, was ſet at liberty. But within one month after, he exceedingly bewailed this his ſubſcription and abjuration, and was never quiet in his minde and conſcience, until he had uttered his fall to all his acquaintance, and asked God and the world for giveneſs before all the Congregation, (in thoſe days in Bowe-lane:) And immediately the next Sunday after, he came to S. Auſtins Church with the New Teſtament in his hand in Engliſh, and The obedience of a Chriſtian man, in his boſom, and ſtood up there before the people in his Pew, there declaring openly with weeping tears, that he had denied God; and prayed all the people to forgive him, and to beware of his weakneſs, and not to do as he did; for (ſaid he) if I ſhould not return again to the Truth (having the New Teſtament in his hand) this Word of God would damn me both body and ſoul at the day of Judgement. And then he prayed every body rather to die by and by, then to do as he did: FOR HE WOULD NOT FEEL SUCH AN HELL AGAIN AS HE DID FEEL, FOR ALL THE WORLDS GOOD. After which he had no quiet, till he writ likewiſe certain Letters to the Biſhop his brother, and others, to juſtifie the Truths he had renounced under his hands, and ſuffered for them at the Stake, to which he was ſoon after condemned: where being in the midſt of the flames round about him, and having his legs and arms half burnt and conſumed, he ſpake thus with a loud voice: O ye Papiſts, behold, ye look for Miracles, and here now ye may ſee a Miracle: for in this fire I feel no more pain, then if I were in a bed of down; but it is to me as a bed of roſes. So that he who felt ſuch an horrour and hell in conſcience before, for ſubſcribing againſt the Truth and his Conſcience even whiles he was at large, felt no pain nor torment at all in his body in the midſt of the flames, when chained to the Stake, and half burnt to aſhes, and had then a very heaven in his Soul and Conſcience. An admirable preſident both of Gods juſtice towards cowardly Subſcribers, and comfortable aſſiſtance of conſtant Martyrs and Adherers to the Truth, and their primitive Engagements.
The third is the memorable example of*Fox Acts & Monum. Vol.3. p.666 to 677. Archbiſhop Cranmer, who ſubſcribed to Queen Maries diſinheriting, againſt his Oath firſt; and after that, being condemned to be burnt for an Heretick, upon the ſollicitation of ſome Friers and others, who aſſured him, that if he recanted his former Tenents againſt the Papiſts, he ſhould not onelyonly ſave his life, of which elſe there was no hopes, but likewiſe be reſtored to the Queens favour and his former honours, was induced to ſubſcribe ſuch a Recantation as they tendered him, (to the great ſcandal of Religion, and triumph of the Papiſts) and after that, to write and ſubſcribe two Copies thereof, with his own hand. For which Subſcription, he was ſo grieved and tormented in Conſcience, that the image and ſhape of perfect ſorrow appeared in his countenance, and ſometimes he lifted up his hands to heaven for pardon, and ſometimes let them fall down to earth for ſhame and anguiſh; the tears in the mean time guſhing out from his eyes ſo abundantly, trickling down his aged cheeks, that men never ſaw ſo many tears in any childe, as burſt out in him, which moved all mens hearts to commiſeration. When he came to ſpeak to the people, he exorted them, That next under God they ſhould obey their King and Queen willingly and gladly, without murmuring or grudging, not for fear of them onelyonly, but much more for the fear of God; knowing that they be Gods Miniſters, appointed by God to rule and govern them; and therefore Whoſoever reſiſteth them, reſiſteth the Ordinance of God. Then he told them ſeveral times, that there was one Great thing and offence he had committed, which did moſt of all vex and trouble him at that time, and did trouble his conſcience much more then any thing he ever did or ſaid in all his life; and that was, his ſetting his hand to a writing contrary to the truth, which I (ſaid he) here now renounce and refuſe, as things written with my hand contrary to the truth, which I thought in mine heart, and written for fear of death, and to ſave my life, if it might be: and that is, all ſuch Bills and Papers which I have written or ſigned with my hand ſince my degradation. And foraſmuch as my hand offended, writing contrary to my heart, my hand ſhall firſt be puniſhed therefore, it ſhall be firſt burned. Whereupon, the fire being kindled, and coming neer him, ſtretching forth his arm, he put his right hand into the flame; which he held ſo ſtedfaſt and immoveable therein, (ſave onelyonly that he wiped his face therewith) that all men might ſee his hand quite burnt before his body was touched: taking this exemplary revenge and puniſhment upon it, for his ſcandalous Subſcription.
Let every Miniſter, Lawyer, and other conſcientious Engliſh-man then, that hath any fear of God, or remainders of Conſcience left within him, which out of fear, covetouſneſs, or any ſordid unchriſtian ends whatſoever, (when neither his life nor liberty lay at ſtake, as theſe Martyrs did) hath perfidiouſly, traiterouſly, and unchriſtianly ſubſcribed this New Engagement and Oath, with the ſelf-ſame hand which he hath formerly lifted up to the moſt high God, in the Publike Congregation, or in the Parliament-Houſe, or open Court in Weſtminſter-Hall, when he took the Solemn League and Covenant; and wherewith he publikely ſubſcribed the ſame, and likewiſe ſwore the Oathes of Supremacie, Allegiance, Fealty, Homage, or any other Oathes diametrically contrary to them, to wit, To bear Faith and true Allegiance to the King, HIS HEIRS AND SUCCESSORS, AND HIM AND THEM, WITH ALL THE ROYALTIES AND PRIVILEDGES ANNEXED OR UNITED TO THE IMPERIAL CROWN OF THIS REALM, &c. TO ASSIST, MAINTAIN AND DEFEND WITH THEIR LIVES AND ESTATES, AGAINST ALL PERSONS WHATSOEVER; And to procure THEIR PROFIT, &c. holding it all the time he ſwore upon the Bible or Evangeliſts; and to preſerve the Rights and Priviledges of both Houſes of Parliament, and zealouſly and conſtantly to perſevere therein all the days of his life, and not to be withdrawn from the ſame by any perſwaſion, combination, fear or terrour whatſoever, &c. as they ſhould anſwer the contrary at the Great day of Judgement before the ſearcher of all hearts, &c. ſadly and ſeriouſly conſider of theſe doleful Examples, and with what face or conſcience he can henceforth lift up his perjured hands to God in Prayer, or look any conſcientious Covenanter in the face, till he hath with horrour of conſcience, and whole rivers of tears, ſighs and groans of ſpirit, and publike abjuration and recantation of this his Perjury, Treachery, weakneſs and wickedneſs, and renounced, bewailed, and abjured this his New ungodly Subſcription: And then he will either imitate theſe eminent Martyrs in their horrours of conſcience, contrition, compunction, confeſſion and abjuration of this their Subſcription, and ſuffering manfully (if there be occaſion) for their Oathes, Vows, Covenant, Proteſtation, and Engagements; or elſe fall into abſolute deſperation of any pardon or remiſſion from God and man, and with Judas and Abithophel (two Arch-traitors) hang and execute themſelves, for this their abominable Treachery, Perjury to God, the King, Parliament and Kingdom. Which conſideration and Preſidents, may be a ſufficient Apologie and Satisfaction, to juſtifie and excuſe all Non-ſubſcribers of this Engagement, againſt all imperious Preſcribers and Inforcers thereof, (eſpecially if pretenders to Piety and Liberty of Conſcience in ſo eminent a degree, as the chief Contrivers thereof pretend themſelves) and exempt them from all injurious Penalties, Forfeitures or Loſſes menaced for their Non-ſubſcription, before all the Tribunals of heaven and earth; which cannot but give ſentence of abſolution in their behalf, ſince God himſelf expreſly and peremptorily commands them, Levit. 19.12. Ye ſhall not ſwear by my Name falſly, neither ſhalt thou prophane the Name of thy God: I am the LORD; and denounceth many ſevere Judgements againſt breakers of Oathes and Covenants thorowout theaNeh. 5.12, 13. Jer. 34.6. to 20. Ezek. 17.11. to 32. Zech. 5.1. to 5. Mal. 3.3. Old andbRom. 1.29, 30, 31. 1 Tim. 1.10. 2 Tim. 3.3, 4. New Teſtament.
A Corollary to the Premiſes.
UNto all theſe ancient and moſt memorable Examples of Gods apparent diſpleaſure, and Conſciences fearful workings againſt all ungodly actings and engagements againſt lawful Authority, and former righteous and religious Vows, Oathes, and Covenants, might here moſt pertinently be added three or four more remarkable and moſt freſh Examples of Gods juſt indignation, and Conſciences affrightings, fallen out very lately among us, in theſe our moſt diſloyal, apoſtarizing days, upon the perju ious taking and ſubſcribing to this preſent new Engagement: As namely, of a Scholar in Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge, a Miniſter in Eſſex, and a Cirizen of Whitington-Colledge in London. But there is one more lately fallen out among us, which ſhall be inſtar multorum, in ſtead of many other, as coming up more clearly and cloſely to this our preſent occaſion. And, O that ſuch a ſad and ſorrowful ſtory had never been told in Gath, nor publiſhed in the ſtreets of Askalon! But Divine providence having ſo ordered, that it is ſo publikely and notoriouſly known; we cannot but make this publike uſe of it, for juſt terrour and affrightment of all ſuch like offenders, whereof both City and Country at this time, too rankly abound among us. Now the ſad relation or ſtory is this. One M. Tho. Hoyle, late Lo. Maior of York, and one of the moſt unhappie Members of the Juncto of Weſtminſter, who having been in all the former part of his life lookt upon and known to have been a moſt eminent profeſſor of Religion, and of an unblameable life and converſation. But ſince his being a Member of the Houſe of Commons, having been made Maſter of Sir Peter Oſborns Office, a place of much credit and profit, and a Committee of the Kings Revenue, (fat morſels, to ſtifle and choak Conſcience) when the Houſe was purged by the power of the Army, this Gentleman abiding ſtill in the Houſe with the reſt of the Juncto, and acting all along with them, was liſted in the number of thoſe that were to be Judges of the Kings life or death; but (as it is certainly reported) was not preſent at the Kings Condemnation. But, afterward, when the Juncto enacted the taking, and themſelves alſo took this New Engagement, he not onelyonly conſented in it, but (though againſt the dictate of his conſcience, as he had often profeſſed to divers, upon ſeveral occaſions thereunto) himſelf alſo took it, and ſubſcribed to it: wherefore, after this thus taking of the Engagement, being (as it too apparently was manifeſted in him) greatly troubled in conſcience about it, he formerly (I mean, before this enſuing fatal act was effected) had attempted to have deſtroyed himſelf; but failing thereof, upon the 30 of Jan. laſt, 1649. about the fore-part of that afternoon, being in his houſe at Weſtminſter, and watching and obtaining an opportunity of being retired from all company, in his chamber, having provided a Cord in his pocket, he moſt wofully hanged himſelf therewith. Of which his moſt lamentable and deſperate ſelf-Murther, although divers do give various cenſures, eſpecially the Malignant or Royal party, principally becauſe he was liſted one of the Judges of the King, and this his woful ſelf-ruine fell out on the very ſame day twelvemonth, and neer upon the very time of that day whereon the King was put to death, (which I cannot but acknowledge was very remarkable;) yet the firſt and ſafeſt uſe thereof which godly Chriſtians ought to make, may be Caution to every one of us, ſeriouſly to conſider what the Apoſtle Paul ſays, 1 Cor. 10.12. Let him that thinks he ſtands, take heed leſt he fall. Secondly, let, O let thoſe moſt ungodly ſelf-ſeeking Preſcribers of this perjurious Engagement, look unto it, and be terrified by it, whom in a moſt ſpecial manner it moſt neerly concerns. Yea, in the third place, let all thoſe falfe-hearted, poſted, perjured Divines, which have ſo ſinfully ſubſcribed this Engagement, lay this lamentable example cloſe to their hearts; eſpecially thoſe two unworthy, low-ſpirited, yet buſie Champions for the Engagement, (though, God be thanked, with very ill ſucceſs, both to the Scribler and Licenſer) M. John Dury, and M. Joſeph Caryl, who have ſo ſtrugled to bring others into the ſame condemnation with themſelves. And in the fourth and laſt place, let all Conſcience-muffled and perfidious Malignants or Royalliſts alſo lay this moſt woful example very cloſe to their ſouls and conſciences; who, notwithſtanding they moſt falſly pretend themſelves to be the loyalleſt and moſt loving Subjects to our late deceaſed King and his Poſterity, and ſuch faſt friends to Monarchy and Kingly Government; yet have moſt diſloyally and and perfidiouſly taken this Engagement, and that upon a moſt wicked and baſe Maxime of theirs, lately taken up among them, that, He is a fool that will not take it, and he is a knave that will not break it. Thus, like Atheiſts indeed, either believing there is no God to puniſh their perjury, or elſe that they have God at command, to repent when they pleaſe. But let them ſee and know, (as here by this moſt woful Example is moſt evident) how ſeverely and wrathfully the Lord will, ſooner or later, be avenged on all Perjurers and Covenant-breakers: And, let them therefore, (as that even Prophetical Author of The Arraignment of the Engagement, lately publiſhed, did religiouſly adviſe all Preſcribers and Subſcribers of the Engagement, in the cloſure of that his ſaid Treatiſe; a paſſage moſt remarkable, eſpecially conſidering this moſt ſad example; which fell out ſo immediately after it, and which therefore cannot be too often inculcated and repeated;) Let them all (I ſay) either, with Peter, after he had abjured his Lord and Maſter with an oath, go forth, preſently, and weep bitterly; or elſe, with treacherous Judas, who betrayed his Lord and Maſter, to gratifie the High-prieſts, go forth, deſpairing, and hang themſelves, to avoid the ſhame of the world, and intolerable anguiſh of their tormanting Conſciences.
Optimum eſt alienâ f…ui inſaniâ.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Prynne, Apology for All Non-Subscribers (1650)