A Looking Glass for Malignants, To the reader
To the Reader.
AS it is too frequently and familiarly knowne (benevolent or malevolent Reader, whoever thou art) that to the hearing of Gods Word there come as well eares of ſcorne as eares of corne: So, I make no doubt but this my Looking-Glaſſe ſhall meet eyes of enmity and hearts of rancour, as it ſhall of Amicability and Chriſtian Candor. However, being careleſſe of the malignity of the one, and moſt ſtudious of the benignity of the other, I here invite thee to the view thereof; wherein thou ſhalt ſee repreſented to thine eyes and underſtanding, various, ſerious, and ſeaſonable objects, fit for them both to contemplate, ruminate, and feed upon. Variety, I ſay, of evidences and examples of Gods moſt juſt and immediate indignation againſt and upon the unnaturall, malicious, and even beſtiall Malignants of theſe times (for ſo ſayes the Prophet David, Pſal. 49. 12.That even the moſt honourable of men wanting heavenly wiſdome and underſtanding, are compared to beaſts that periſh. And well were it with them too, were they but as bad as beaſts and had not immortall ſoules, as ſome Mad-braines of late have moſt falſly, fooliſhly, and blaſphemouſly gone about to prove and prate of) who impiouſly fret and fight againſt God and his Cauſe. Together with our ſilly and ſottiſh Newters and uncomfortable Cowards, who timerouſly or treacherouſly deſert and forſake their God in the Parliaments Cauſe, which unqueſtionably is Gods. By all which ſad and ſerious Examples (for, as our old Axiome is, Examples move more, and are more prevalent than Precepts) my maine and onelyonly aime is to endeavour (by Gods aſſiſtance, for the Chriſtian love I beare to their ſoules eſpecially) to ſhew them the errours and evils of their courſes and carriages therein, and (if it be poſſible) to worke and win them to a true and timely retractation for the good of their ſoules and bodies both here and hereafter.
But whereas,Object. it may be, our Malignants will here object, either cut of incredulity, or malignancy, or both, that all theſe fearfull examples here alleaged, are but Chimaera's, and falſe or fictious Bug-bears to ſcare children or fools, and therefore they the leſſe regard them.
All that I will anſwer hereunto is this,Anſw. That I profeſſe (as in the preſence of God) I have uſed all care and diligence to ſearch and be aſſured of the truth of them all, and am able to produce very able and honeſt teſtimonies of them, beſides what I have expreſſed with the Examples themſelves. If therefore our unhappy and hood-winkt Malignants, through their owne flinty obſtinacy, or benummed ignorance and incredulity (whereby etiamſi perſuaſeris, non perſuadebis, Though you make things ever ſo cleare, yet they will not be convinced) will not ſuffer theſe things to worke ſo kindely on their Conſciences as is herein deſired and indeavoured; yet then I am confidently perſwaded (by Gods gracious aſſiſtance) they may produce this threefold iſſue and effect. 1.Firſt, they may be a meanes to confirme and ſtrengthen the faithfull and faſt friends of the Parliament in their godly and wellgrounded reſolution and Chriſtian courage to perſevere therein.2. Secondly, to reduce and reforme ſome (at leaſt) of the more moderate, tender, and fearfull-ſpirited ones.3. And thirdly, they muſt needs ſerve for the greater condemnation of our deſperate Malignants, and to leave them (thereby) utterly inexcuſable, if ſtill they perſiſt in their perverſe and froward obduracie. But what ever be the iſſue, Liberari egomet animam meam. I have, ſo far, diſcharged my duty, and will yet farther unfainedly pray, that the Lord may thereby get ſome glory, though by ſo weake and unworthy an inſtrument, as is
Thine in the Lord, JOHN VICARS.
A LOOKING-GLASSE FOR MALIGNANTS.
THat there hath been in all ages from the beginning of the World,A naturall Antipathy in the wicked againſt the godly. even ever ſince that grand enmity which God put between the Womans and the Serpents ſeed, a naturall Antipathie and inveterate malignity in the wicked of the World againſt the godly, is undeniable and moſt cleare both in ſacred, prophane, and morall Hiſtories. And that this connative malignity in them hath in all places and times broken out into moſt deadly feud and pernicious Perſecutions both by Hand and Tongue, eſpecially, is as cleare and conſpicuouſly apparent to all that have their eyes in their heads and will ſee, or underſtanding in their hearts, and not be wilfully blind and obſtinately hard-hearted.Gods hand againſt Truth-Traducers. And that God alſo, hath evermore moſt evidently and eminently manifeſted his high indignation, and even immediate wrath and diſpleaſure, eſpecially on Tongue-perſecuters of his precious people, and on blaſphemous Traducers and beſmearers of his immaculate Truth, all times and places can produce moſt copious preſidents and moſt ſad examples.
To paſſe by and pretermit all by-paſt preſidents and former fearefull examples of Gods immediate and revengefull hand on ſuch malignant Delinquents in former ages, and extant (I ſay) in ſacred Scriptures and other Hiſtories, and not to inſiſt on that moſt remarkable one in Gods booke, though moſt punctually pertinent to our purpoſe,2 Kings 2. 23, 24. of above forty children ſlaine by two wild Beares immediately upon their mocking the godly Prophet of the Lord, and onelyonly calling him Bald pate in ſcorne and deriſion; juſt as our malignants and their children jeeringly and ſc…ffingly call Gods people now adaies by that fooliſh & non-ſence name of Round-heads. To paſſe by this, I ſay, and all other of ancient or more moderne times, and to come briefly and roundly (ſince they will have it ſo) to our owne times, even ſince the moſt unhappy breaking out of theſe moſt unnaturall and inteſtine bloody broyles within our Kingdom of England; England not empty of examples of Gods wrath againſt Tongue-perſecuters of Truth.wherein God hath not left us empty (in Chriſtian ſorrow be it mentioned) of many moſt evident demonſtrations of his juſtly incenſed indignation againſt the malignant Heart and Tongue-perſecuters of our times (againſt whom I mainely intend this Treatiſe) but hath given us as many and as memorable ſad ſpectacles of his apparent diſpleaſure, in his ſcoffing enemies ruine, ſorrow and ſhame, as ever any former age or Nation ſaw and obſerved; which being ſo freſh and fully knowne among us, even many of us yet ſurviving, they may moſt juſtly ſerve (as I conceive) both as occaſions of griefe and godly ſorrow in Gods Saints to ſee theſe miſerable malignants, who forſooth pretend and boaſt themſelves as brave Proteſtants as the beſt, yet to be ſo Godleſſe and graceleſſe, ſo bitingly and bitterly to flout and affront the Lord Chriſt himſelfe in his holy members, and in his moſt glorious cauſe; and alſo of moſt juſt ſhame and bluſhing at leaſt (if not of heart-breaking and bleeding converſion) in them all to ſee ſo dangerous and deſperately dying conditions of their malicious and malevolent brethren in iniquity; Optimum eſt alienâ ſ…ui iaſaniâ.and thereby either to learne (and indeed it is a ſpeciall piece of wiſdome to learne to be wiſe by other mens miſeries) to feare God and doe no more ſo ſinfully, or elſe moſt certainely and infallibly to feare and looke for like wrath and ruine, ſooner or latter, in one kind or other, if not I ſay prevented by true and timely repentance.
Now in the proſecution of this Treatiſe,A threefold modell of the Mirrour or Looking-glaſſe. and in the framing and forming of this our intended terrour ſtriking Looking glaſſe, I ſhall by Gods aſſiſtance, with all convenient brevity and hiſtoricall fidelity, endeavour to ſhew and ſet forth theſe three things.
Firſt, I ſhall herein repreſent and ſet forth unto the fight of our mole-ey…d Malignants, 1. Gods hand againſt malignants and their cauſe.(if, at leaſt, they will not too peeviſhly and perverſly ſhut up their eyes againſt moſt cleare and radiantly Sunneſhine Truths) Gods moſt evident and eminent hand againſt our malevolent malignants, and their moſt accurſed cauſe; in divers remarkable generall pieces and paſſages of Gods admirable providence, croſſing and curbing their moſt wicked courſes and contrivements againſt God, in our Parliament and their juſt proceedings; and then alſo in ſome particular neerer and cloſer perſonall and peculiar demonſtrations of theſe cleare Truths.
Secondly, I ſhall moſt conſpicuouſly and apparently perſonate and ſhew unto them Gods moſt heavy hand upon malignants, 2. Gods moſt heavy hand upon malignants perſons.in many moſt immediate and fearefully inflicted judgements and perſonall puniſhments, ſuddenly and ſorely laid upon them, even in the very acting of their malignancy; whereby they muſt needs with Pharao's malignant Magicians cry out and confeſſe, Digitus Dei, certainly, this was no leſſe then the very hand of God upon them.
Thirdly and laſtly, I ſhall herein exhibite to the eyes and underſtanding, both of Malignants, 3. A Caveat to Cowardly and faint-hearted Neuters.and alſo of all cold and cowardly Neutrals, and of either falſe or faint-hearted deſerters of the Parliament cauſe, and alſo of all unſetled and unreſolved weake Chriſtians in foure or five moſt memorable, and (as I may ſay) Tragaecomicall examples of Gods juſtice mixt with mercy, in juſtly wounding, yet graciouſly healing the conſciences of ſome ſuch as had either wilfully or weakely deſerted the Parliament, and therein Gods unqueſtionable cauſe, even the worke of a moſt glorious, pure, and pious Reformation of Church and State. And ſo I ſhall ſhut up this our Looking-glaſſe with a briefe hortatory concluſion to all ſorts of men and women both malignant and benevolent or welaffected.
And here now I might in the firſt place, rubbe up our malignants dull memories,1. Gods hand againſt malignants. (and that not impertinently) and rouze up their drouſie eye-lids, and dead hearts, with the review and remembrance of that moſt remarkable and memorable paſſage of Gods providence, how in the beginning of theſe moſt uncivill Civill-warres and commotions among us,1. Gods hand againſt malignants in the ſtrange behaviour of the ſouldiers in the firſt Army into the North againſt the Scots. when by the prevalent power of the malignant Parricides on the Kings part, an Army was firſt raiſed to goe into the North againſt our honeſt and harmleſſe brethren of Scotland, and that the Souldiers then preſſed and provoked to goe forth to fight againſt them, in their march thither-ward (though they themſelves were but prophane fellowes, rude and irreligious young men, and therefore one would have thought, moſt fit inſtruments to promote ſuch an irreligious worke and warre as that was,) how ſtrangely the Lord over ruled their hearts and ordered their ſpirits, making them to divert and turne all the edge of their ſury and diſaffection againſt the Malignant cauſe and quarrell, and upon the malignant and popiſh party themſelves that had ſet them on worke, over-turning their Altars in all Churches and Chappels whereſoever they came and found them breaking in pieces and burning the railes about them, plundering and terretying the ſcandalous Baals-prieſts, and popiſh ſonnes of Belial whereſoever they found any of them; and not onelyonly refuſing to be led and commanded by popiſh Captaines and Commanders, but flying in their faces, and killing and wounding divers of them, Which hand of God againſt them, in the very ſame kind, hath been alſo admirably ſeconded now againe lately in thoſe 800 or 1000 Souldiers brought out of Ireland, 2. Gods-hand againſt malignants, in the Souldiers ſent out of Ireland (ſince the Ceſſation of armes there) to fight againſt the Parliament.ſince that accurſed ceſſation of Armes there, and landed at Bristol; intended for that traiterous parricide Sir Ralph Hopton, to fight againſt our moſt pious Parliament: But, I ſay, how admirably the Lord turned their hearts ſuddenly, from that moſt accurſed cauſe, and how that upon the tender of an oath unto them to fight againſt the Parliament, they utterly refuſed it, flew in the faces of their Commanders, and made them fly away, vowing and proteſting with apparent expreſſions of great indignation, that they would not fight for the popiſh party in England, (as they had not in Ireland) and thereupon joyntly reſolved to force their way (as they moſt faithfully did) from Briſtol (where they were firſt landed) to Bathe, & ſo to Glouceſter, to fight on the Parliaments ſide, under the command of that ever moſt highly to be honoured commander Colonell Maſſie, who gave them moſt free and friendly entertainment.3. Alſo in the Weſterne and Northern parts of the Kingdome, notwithſtanding their ſeeming ſucceſſe there. To which I might here moſt pertinently and pregnantly adde the yet more late defection of very many of their intended party both in the Weſt, to Lime, Poole, and Plimouth, even then when they had beene ready armed for Hoptons ſervice in the South. In the North alſo divers both of the Gentry and Commons who have deſerted New caſtle; and in Wales and Cheſhire alſo (now later, I ſay) of the Engliſh-Iriſh Souldiers, who would by no means fight againſt the Parliament. 4. In many memorable plots alſo admirably diſcovered, and croſſed.Together with the detection and diſcovery of many moſt miſchievous plots and baſe deſignes of treachery moſt admirably and ſtrangely diſcovered, and ſo happily and timely fruſtrated, even by the immediate mercy and good hand of God; as that moſt bloody Plot againſt the Parliament, Jan. 4. 1641. The Plot of the Scots Army at their former coming in among us, to have beene ſent againſt the Parliament and City of London. The late Plot againſt Hull by Sir Iohn Hotham and his ſonne. And the ſeverall moſt dangerous Plots (under pretence of Treaties for peace, forſooth) againſt the moſt renowned and famous City of London, as that dangerous Plot by Waller, Challenor, Tomkins, &c. And that more lately now of Sir Bazil Bro…k, Ʋiolet (or rather Ʋarlet) and hypocriticall Riley; with very many other of theſe kindes almoſt all over the whole Kingdome, all too well knowne, and too tedious here to relate, and which I have moſt fully and particularly related in my Parliamentary Chronicle, intituled, God in the Mount.
Together alſo with the Lords moſt admirable diſcountenancing, yea curſing and blaſting all the wicked deſignes in the Kings party ever ſince that hideous and helliſh ceſſation of Armes in Ireland, with thoſe moſt barbarous bloody and damnable Iriſh Rogues, 5. In Gods moſt juſtly diſcountenancing and making odious even to Malignants themſelves that horrid ceſſation of Armes in Ireland.which was moſt impiouſly plotted by the wicked malignant Councellors on the Kings ſide, for their (falſly) hoped mighty advantage in the advancement of their bloody cauſe; but which hath (by Gods marvellous wiſdome, mercy, and good providence) proved one of the moſt ominous, and eminently odious meanes of the ruinating and overthrowing of their moſt accurſed cauſe and wicked courſes, even their malignants themſelves being judges; and which our good God hath clearly ratified, I ſay againe, by the extreme ill ſucceſſe they have had ever ſince in all their wicked undertakings; and contrariwiſe,6. And their extreme ill ſucceſſe ever ſince. in the great and good ſucceſſe our God hath given to us ever ſince, eſpecially ever ſince our moſt holy and happy entring into a Covenant with our God, and bleſſed League with our honeſt and religious Brethren of Scotland, 7. Our good ſucceſſe ever ſince the Covenant with Scotland.witneſſe our happy victories in Lincolnſhire, York…ſhire, Lime, Poole, Plimouth, Newport-Pannell, Aulton, Grafton-Houſe, Bewley-Houſe, Holts-Houſe, and Arundell-Caſtle, with others; in which places, ſome reckon the Enemy hath loſt (beſides exceeding much Armes and Ammunition, and beſides the brave and rich ſhip taken at Arundell-Caſtle, a moſt admirable providence) betweene three and foure thouſand,8. The admirable breaking out of the Swedes againſt Denmarke. but we may juſtly reckon a farre greater number. Beſides, the admirable providence of God in ſtirring up (beſide the whole Nation of our loyall brethren of Scotland) the whole Kingdome of Swethland, to fall furiouſly and fortunately on the Kingdome of Denmarke, a moſt admirable providentiall piece, mightily to croſſe and curbe our Engliſh Malignants hopes and deſignes againſt us. But to come more particularly and perſonally neere to our intended purpoſe in this firſt branch of our Looking-glaſſe of Gods hand againſt our Malignants; eſpecially, I ſay, becauſe perſonall particularities come neerer and cloſer then generalities. I ſhall here therefore inſtance firſt in the ſtrange hand of God perſonally manifeſted againſt them, in that moſt admirable overture and alteration of the courſe of things to the ſhame and ſorrow of our unluckey Lordly Prelates, to live to ſee their voluptuous princely Palaces (as Wincheſter houſe and Ely houſe) turned into priſons, but eſpecially the ſpacious and ſpecious palace of that Arch-adverſary of Chriſt and his Cauſe among us, that grand Ringleader and accurſed contriver of all theſe our preſent miſchiefes and miſeries (next to our ſinnes) yea, the very head and heart of Clergy and Laick-Malignants (according to their owne Popiſh diſtinction) I meane the Arch-Prelate of Canterbury, on whom it moſt neerly and cloſely fell out by divine providence, ſo (ſtrangely and even admirably) ordering it.9. Gods hand againſt Malignants in Doctor Laighton made maſter Lambeth houſe, now converted from a Palace to a Priſon. Namely, that that honeſt and religious Gentleman, Doctor Laighton, that great and grievous Sufferer for the cauſe of Chriſt, under the cruell tyranny of that foreſaid popiſh Perſecuter, ſhould not onelyonly live to ſee himſelfe delivered out of the ſnare, but his old grand Adverſary himſelfe to come into it in his ſtead; and that the ſaid Arch-Prelate ſhould be faſt lockt up as a traiterous priſoner in the Tower of London, whiles this good Doctor is made Lord and Maſter of the Prelates Palace at Lambeth, and this ſaid pompous or rather popiſh palace, where ſo many precious Saints and ſervants of the Lord had beene moſt wickedly arraigned and condemned to priſon, ſhould now be turned into a priſon, to lock up moſt looſe and prophane Malignants; a moſt ſtrange and admirable hand of God certainly againſt them. Yea, and I might here againe remember them of that moſt remarkable overture of things among us in theſe later times; namely, how it moſt admirably pleaſed the Lord to bring it ſo to paſſe by his all overpowring hand of providence, that the Arch-Prelate of Canterbury being impriſoned in the Tower of London, as an Arch-Traitor to our Church and State; the Parliament ſhould be pleaſed to cauſe the ſaid Arch-Prelates lodgings in the Tower to be ſearched for dangerous & traiterterous Papers, Books, and VVritings, and who muſt be the man fixed on for the performance of this ſervice, but that moſt famous and faithfull,10. Gods hand againſt Malignants in Maſter William Prynnes, (formerly a great ſufferer by the Arch Prelate of Canterbury) being ſent to ſearch the ſaid Arch-Prelates lodging in the Tower. pious and patient Saint and Sufferer for Chriſt and his Cauſe, Maſter William Prynne; who coming into the ſaid Arch-Prelates bed-chamber betimes in the morning, with a guard of Souldiers to ſecure the buſineſſe, and approaching the Prelates bedſide before he was u…, the Prelate asked him, who he was: This precious and ſweet Gentleman anſwered, my name is Prynne; VVhat, ſayes the Prelate, are you he that ſuffered? Yea, ſayes Maſter Prynne, I am he whom you moſt unjuſtly and injuriouſly perſecuted. Juſt as good Joſeph ſaid to his brethren, at the time of his diſcovering and making himſelfe knowne unto them, I am Joſeph whom ye ſold into Egypt. O what a ſtab to the heart ſhould this have bin to this perſecuting Prelate at that word (I am that Prynne whom you cauſed ſo grievo…ſly and ſo unjuſtly to ſuffer) had not his heart bin more hard & ad…mantine then a nether mil-ſtone,Gen. 45. 4. and moſt extremly cauterized, yea, ſtigmatized with the hotteſt iron of moſt deſperate impenitency! and that then Maſter Prynne proceeding to the due execution of the charge and truſt repoſed in him by the Parliament, ſhould (juſtiſſimâ illâ coeleſti Lege-Talionis) moſt juſtly,Juſtiſſima coeleſtis Lex-Talionis. I ſay, ſearch the Pockets of the Prelates wearing clothes, before he would ſuffer him to put them on and riſe out of his bed, directly as he and ſome of his popiſhly affected Confederates had formerly dealt with ſome moſt eminent Members of a Parliam…nt formerly diſſolved, and as he had cauſed Maſter Prynnes owne Chamber and Study, and many others alſo to be often moſt violently broken into and ſearched, to the deeply indangering of their precious lives (which undoubtedly he greedily hunted after) if it might have beene,As was done to reverend Maſter Henry Burtons houſe and ſtudy. but therein (praiſed be the Lord) God gave this curſt Cow (according to the Proverbe) or rather raging fat Bull of Baſhan, ſhort hornes; the Lords good providence and their owne innocence happily preventing this bloody deſigne of theirs. And might not here now this Arch-Prelate on the ſerious conſideration of theſe Premiſes, in juſt remorſe of Conſcience, have cryed out againſt himſelfe (like that heatheniſh King Adonibezeck, Judges 17.had he not had, as I toucht before, a more then heatheniſh, obdurate, and impenitent heart) Thus and thus have I done to others, and now am I thus juſtly ſerved by them; onelyonly with this difference, That I am uſed farre more mercifully then I uſed them.
I might here alſo adde and copiouſly commemorate unto our mole-eyed Malignants Gods admirable providence in ſo ſtrangely ordering and diſpoſing of things by this preſent moſt memorable Parliament; 11. Gods hand againſt the Malignant party in the Trienniall Parliament.not onelyonly to contrive a moſt free and ſpontaneous or voluntary conſent of all the three Eſtates in Parliament to the ſetling of a Trienniall Parliament for the future rectifying of things amiſſe in Church and State, and the more prudent and provident moderation and government of all ſorts of State-affairs; but alſo, I ſay, that both King, Peers, and Commons, even both Houſes of Parliament, with his Majeſty, ſhould ſo admirably and unanimouſly make it indiſſoluble, and (but by the ſword, like Alexanders Gordian knot, which now the Kings Popiſh and Atheiſticall Army is impiouſly, and (I truſt) fruitleſly labouring to do) irrevocable Act, That this preſent Parliament ſhould not bee diſſolved nor broken up,12. And eſpecially in a perpetuated Parliament. but by the joynt and unanimous conſent of both Houſes of Peers and Commons. Which Act of theirs (as it were) perpetuating this Parliament, by (I ſay) a moſt ſtrange providence of God, what a moſt admirable Block it hath laid in all the wicked wayes of that viperous generation of Atheiſts, Papiſts, and Malignants, mightily thwarting, croſſing, and cruſhing their moſt deſperate and deepeſt deſignes? I am not able (I acknowledge) to expreſſe it, and onelyonly Time is able to make it manifeſt, to the glory of God, and wonder-ſtriking aſtoniſhment in the hearts of both Good and Bad.
And though in the laſt, yet not in leaſt place, I might here put our Malignants in remembrance (for they are, as we all ſee, too willing to forget and ſlight both Gods hand againſt them, and his great mercies towards us) how by meanes of this preſent moſt pious Parliament, 13. Gods hand againſt the Malignants cauſe in Church-government and matters of Religion.Gods hand hath beene moſt admirably bent againſt them and their moſt impious Cauſe, both in the expulſion, and (I truſt in the Lord) utter extirpation of that moſt Antichriſtian and tyrannicall Hierarchie of popiſh Prelates (and that moſt eſpecially by their owne proud practiſes and deſperate deſignes even againſt the Parliament it ſelfe, witneſſe their Petition to the King that ſpoiled their ſitting in Parliament) Arminian Doctors, and moſt ſcandalous Prieſts, thoſe ſonnes of Belial, all over the Kingdome: And alſo in their ſteads, the moſt holy and happy reduction and reſtauration of our baniſhed and abuſed, faithfull, painfull, and pious Paſtors, even after Gods owne heart; together thereby with the bleſſed injoyment of pure and powerfull Ordinances, and that in admirable plenty and freedome, as the like was never ſeene in this Kingdome. Beſides, the rare and long deſired and now happily effected ruine and razing downe of popiſh high places among us, never (ſince the firſt Reformation) till now taken away; in defacing and deſtroying popiſh Images, Organs, Croſſes, Crucifixes, and ſuch like abominable and Idolatrous, ſuperſtitious, Popiſh, apiſh Trinkets both in Churches and elſewhere; eſpecially the ruinating of that moſt infamous and moſt abominable Romiſh Monument of idolatry Cheap-ſide Croſſe, in the very heart of London, and burning abundance of thoſe baſe and beggarly Romiſh Reliques, even in the very ſame place where that accurſed Croſſe had with a Whores forehead bin ſo long advanced among us; and (which is the ſum of all our juſt admiration in all forementioned) all theſe things done ſo ſoon, and in ſo ſpeedy a ſpace as within the compaſſe of two or three yeares at the moſt: Moſt admirable demonſtrations (I ſhould thinke) of Gods hand unqueſtionably thus ſeene and ſet againſt them.
And might not then All theſe; yea, any one of theſe premiſed preſidents of Gods moſt immediate hand againſt them, moſt juſtly ſerve to even wreſt open the wilfully ſhut up, and blinded eyes of our Malignants? Sure, me thinkes, they ſhould, ſave that 'tis greatly to be feared they are given up to a reprobate ſenſe, if they ſtill perſiſt in ſuch unheard of, and moſt ſtrangely marbled obſtinacy. But yet ſince they may peradventure in their accuſtomed hardneſſe of heart be little or nothing moved or prickt in Conſcience with theſe ſo pregnant preſidents and cleare demonſtrations of Gods vindicative hand againſt them. Yet, I ſay, we will come yet more cloſe upon them, and give them yet more home and heavy perſonall ſtrokes of Gods juſt wrath and revenging hand, not onelyonly againſt them, 2. Gods hand upon Malignants perſons.but upon them, even, immediately on the very act of their moſt impious and blaſphemous words and wicked miſcarriages to and againſt the ſaints and ſervants of the Lord, making good his owne everlaſting and unperiſhing Word by the Prophet (marke it,Eſay 26. 11. I beſeech you, O all yee moſt deſperately minded and wilfully blinded Malignants, as a word of rouſing errour unto you) Lord, when thy hand is lifted up againſt them, they will not ſee; but they ſhall ſee and be aſhamed for their envy at thy people; A momento for Malignantsyea, the fire (of rage) of thine enemies ſhall divour themſelves.