A Christian Caveat TO ALL Loyal Subjects OR A Looking-Glass Displaying the foul Face of PHANATICISM IN I. The wicked Principles II. Horrid Treasons Cruelties and bloody Practices III. Intollerable Pride IV. Absurd Prayers and Devotions V. Lying Miracles VI. Filthy Impurities OF Phanatical Sectarists Dedicated to the YOUTH of Great Britain for an Antidote against the Poison of Phanaticism Obstructum est Os loquentium iniqua LONDON Printed for Randal Taylor near Sationers Hall 1684. To all Loyal Protestants and Subjects especially the Youth of Great Britain Philanax wisheth Grace Understanding and Perseverance in the Truths of God and a Just Hatred of Phanaticism ABove a Year since came forth a Book call'd A Looking-Glass to Display the fair Face of Popery which is so pitiful a thing so stuff't with prodigious Lies and Absurdities that all understanding Men must needs rather think it to be Contemn'd than Answer'd yet because in the Circumstances we are at present it tends to create Fears and Jealousies in Vulgar Apprehensions of I know not what to raise Disturbances in the Nation against King and Government and it may make some impression on weaker Minds for whom 't is chiefly intended I thought it not amiss to prepare this Antidote against that Poison For I cannot apprehend any thing more advantagious to both your Temporal and Eternal Concerns than to present you with a True Draught of Phanaticism stript of its Disguises which at present not only threatens us but has the confidence to paint and varnish over it self in such pleasing colours as to delude unwary Heads into a fond opinion of its Innocency and fair Proceedings when in truth there 's nothing in the World that so infallibly tends to your Eternal Destruction hereafter and in the mean time to make you perfect Slaves and Vassals to the Cheats and Lusts of a few base and self-designing People here on Earth Though the Author in a Jocose Humour makes his Readers merry with Popish Tricks as he relates them yet Christian Charity invites me not to laugh at but pity Phanaticks poor Souls so misled by Satan's subtilties that under pretence of Piety they ruin Religion and for the good of the Kingdom destroy the Government Here you shall find the Ways of Phanaticks in some sort display'd their Principles detected their Cruelties laid open how they play the Devil for God's sake by murthering Kings enslaving Subjects breaking Oaths combining in rebellious Associations overturning Governments violating the Laws of God and Nature and the Rights of Kingdoms to advance what they call The good Old Cause and that by a godly Vsurpation as the days of Cromwel they might lord it over Prince and People You may here generous Youths and Virgins observe the chief Lineaments of Phanaticism A small Picture of the greatest Monster that ever plagued the World Whom to have drawn at full length would have requir'd Volumes but he 's a sorry Mathematician that by the length of Hercules's Foot cannot guess at the dimensions of his Body The chief Policy of Satan is by Phanaticism to undermine our Holy Faith the ground-work of our Salvation to extirpate Charity the Bond of Perfection the very Life and Soul of Religion 't is a very Plot upon Christianity it self For where the enthusiastical extravagant Fancies of these Zealots prevail all Order is ruin'd where their canting way of Prayer and Preaching is practis'd Christian Religion so full of Gravity and Majesty in her proper Dress is made ridiculous the power of Godliness is destroy'd by their empty Forms and shadows of Piety and for the Fruits of the Spirit which are Love Joy Peace Gal. 5. 22 Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance we have nothing but the Works of the Flesh as Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Contentions Seditions Heresies Envyings Murders c. as we find too true by sad Experience This is the true Draught of Phanaticism which the numerous Broods of Sectarists strive to advance among us though by never so wicked Means as horrid Lies Sham-Plots Subordinations Perjuries Murthers Seditions Insurrections Conspiracies Rebellions Massacres to the utter ruin of King and Kingdom and had taken effect if God of his infinite goodness to this Nation had not discover'd their Hellish Policies We need not have recourse to Foreign Histories the days of Charles the First of famous Memory and of our present most gracious Soveraign are sufficient to teach us what is Phanaticism and what we are to expect from Phanaticks when once they get into the Saddle God of his infinite mercy in his good time make us of one Heart and Mind as St. Luke describes the Primitive Christians That we may not be like Children tossed to and fro with the wind of every Doctrin but being grounded in Faith and rooted in Charity we may live in Peace and Concord and bring forth the Fruits of Everlasting Life Which is the cordial Prayer of Your Servant in Christ Jesus A. P. A Looking-Glass FOR PHANATICISM By way of DIALOGUE BETWEEN TIMOTHY a Phanatick and PHILANAX a True Lover of his King and Country The First Lesson Of Phanatick Principles Timothy HAve you Philanax seen a little Book call'd A Looking-Glass for Popery not long since Printed Philanax Yes Tim I have and read it also but in my poor Judgment it contains for the most part such pitiful railing lying stuff that it rather advances than beats down Popery And I clearly discover the Author to be a seditious Sectarist Tim. How Phil You shall hardly make me believe that for we hate Popery perfectly and all stand for the good of our Country and shall make our King a glorious King if he will be ruled by us Phil. Yes yes as ye made Charles the First the best of Princes 'T is well known how Phanaticks make Kings glorious neither can it be otherwise by their Principles I assure you Tim if you know the Principles of Presbyterians and other Phanaticks in relation to Government you must needs confess That 't is impossible to be a Phanatick and a Loyal Subject both together Have you never seen a Book written by a Doctor of the Church of England call'd A Cavâ—â—t for all Kings Princes and Prelates The Author there demonstrates to all unbiass'd judgments that according to the Principles of the first Fathers of Presbyterian Fury and Phanaticism 't is impossible to be Presbyterians who are the Main-Guard and Principal Leaders of the Phanatick Army and at the same time not to be Rebels against their Soveraign And this he does evidence not only from their prodigious Doctrins in their own Books made publick to the World but also by their bloody Practices and Rebellions in all places where they could make head against their Governours Tim. I am not so good an Historian as to know that But tell me Phil Is it not lawful for Subjects by a Godly Association to raise an Army and fight against their Soveraign for
their Religion and Liberty when he becomes a Tyrant and opposes the Truths of Jesus Christ Phil. How Tim lawful Then farwel Peace and Truth and Liberty and Property and Order and Government and all goodness to make way for Rebellion War and Bloodshed Anarchy and Confusion to Reign among us For those who say this is lawful make themselves likewise Judges to give Sentence when their Soveraign turns Tyrant and persecutes the true Professors of the Gospel But how comes it to pass Tim that you lay such Positions to the Jesuits charge to make them odious as Devils and teach the same horrid Doctrins among your selves and notwithstanding must be reputed Saints Tim. I see Phil you live in ignorance and are not acquainted with the Priviledge of the Saints Know you not that there 's no Law to them that are in Christ Jesus But let that pass Though I askt you the Question about the lawfulness of such Risings to hear what you would say I will not believe the Presbyterians and the rest of the Godly Party maintain such Principles and Doctrins against Kingly Government However let the Jesuits say what they will to clear themselves believe them we will not 't is not for our interest Phil. Neither is it for your interest to own such rebellious Doctrins though undeniably evident from the printed Books of those you call the Godly Party that they maintain such Principles and put them in practice when arm'd with power Tim. I 'l not take your word let me see the Authors Phil. I question not but you have heard of Zuinglius that martial Phanatick hot and furious as well in his Writings as in the Camp Kings says he may be Depos'd by the Votes and Suffrages of the Multitude when they Rule not according to the Law of Christ and 't is a Work well pleasing to God Tom. 1. Art 42 43. And l. 4. p. 868. tells Caesar plainly That they will obey him if he will be Directed by them otherwise they will take a course with him to the purpose Which is the same course should have been taken with our gracious Soveraign by the godly Associates if God had not prevented their Designs Calvin that furious Zealot in his Commentaries upon Daniel Cap. 6. V. 22. tells Kings boldly That they lose all Authority when they rise against God and that men had better spit in their Faces than yield obedience to their Commands when they grow so insolent as to rob God of his right And all this depends upon Calvin's magisterial word he no sooner says so but they cease to be Kings and every proud Presbyterian may spit in their Face And I am sure when once they begin to spit in their Soveraigns Face 't will not be long before they cut off his Head Thus taught Calvin and thus our Phanaticks dealt with Charles the First of pious Memory to make good his Doctrin by their Practice Beza treads in the same steps animating Subjects to rise in Arms against their Soveraign in his Vind. cont Tyran by surprising his Towns and Castles opposing his Forces yea to kill their Kings if they oppose the Truths of Jesus Christ That is if they profess and maintain any Religion but what these Men fancy to be Gospel truths Paraeus a great Zealot in his Comm. upon the 13th of the Romans teaches the same seditious rebellious Doctrin with Gracerus Aretius and Geskenius who were the fatal Firebrands to put the World in Flames about Religion Tim. Hold Phil enough of these But I must tell you these are Foreigners and therefore nothing to us Do the godly Party of our Kingdoms maintain these Principles Phil. Yes doubtless they are something to you if you follow their Doctrins but your Masters in our Kingdoms are as guilty of such horrid Principles as any Foreigners Knox that furious Zealot all Fire and Quicksilver who first began to inflame all Scotland teaches magisteriously That Princes may be Deposed by the People if they prove Tyrants and act against God and his Truth and in such cases all Subjects are free from their Oaths of Allegiance and Obedience l. ad Nob. pop Scotiae And to encourage any desperate Phanatick to murder his Prince in a furious zeal he is not asham'd to say That it were very good that Rewards were publickly appointed by the People for such as kill Tyrants as well as for those who kill ravenous Beasts In Hist Scot. p. 372. No Jesuit is comparable to this Fury Yet Goodman is as bad as he who in his Book of Obedience in Exod. 17. excepts neither King nor Queen nor Emperour but tells the People They must seize upon Princes who would seduce them from God that is their Phanatical Novelties and tarry them away to the Gallows and hang them up Buchanan's zeal is no less fiery and furious for p. 61. de jure Reg. Scot. he tells the People That they are above the King for the good of the Kirk and holy Cause may Arraign him Depose him Execute him and Dispose of the Crown as they please What think you Tim Are not these rare Fellows to make Apostles Can such Men as these be sent from God or have any of the Spirit of Jesus Christ Is it possible for Presbyterians and other Phanaticks while they maintain such Principles and Doctrines to be at the same time Phanaticks and good Subjects Can they at the same time endeavour to Depose and Murder their King and yet be true and faithful to him and his Government Tim. Say your say out and then I 'l tell you what I think on 't Phil. The Presbyterians and other Phanaticks here in England learn'd this Lesson perfectly and followed it exactly In the time of the late horrid Rebellion it was publickly Preach'd by Phanatical Zealots in all places where the Rebels prevail'd to the utter ruin for a time of King and Government And according to the Doctrin of these Bellows of Sedition the House of Commons Voted That the Supreme Power of the Nation was in the People and consequently in them their Representatives Or words to this effect And what sad Consequences ensued thereupon I shall tell you when from these horrid Principles I come to declare their bloody Cruelties And now at present did not the Lord Russel die with this Persuasion That 't is lawful to raise Arms against our Soveraign in the case of Religion And would not Mr. Sydney needs be thought to die a Martyr for this good Old Cause And this is the true reason why they in a manner justifie themselves at their death without any open repentance of the Crimes for which they suffer that those of their Faction whom they leave behind them may still attempt what they could not bring to pass by theirendeavours And hence it proceeds that whatever tends to advance among them the good Old Cause must be sanctified so that Lies Perjuries Sacriledges Treasons Sham-Plots real Conspiracies against King and Government Seditions Rebellions
Murder of their Soveraign Massacres must all be good and lawful to order and advance what they call Religion and the good Cause that they may fish in troubled Waters and lord it over Prince and People Now Tim what think you of these Firebrands who break nothing but Flames and Confusion to Kings and Kingdoms Tim. In verity Phil I did not think so much wickedness could have layn hid imwardly under the outside of so much piety but now I see all is not Gold that glisters and that Phanaticks are dangerous People teaching such Doctrines so destructive of Monarchy I begin to be your Convert and shall for the future look more narrowly into their Actions The Second Lesson Of Phanatical treasons cruelties and bloody practices Timothy I Have well consider'd what you told me about Phanatick Principles against Kingly Government and am amaz'd and confounded at it For I took the Papists only for such Regicides and all the bloody cruelties that have been acted in several places our Preachers tell us have been caus'd by Jesuits and Papists for the Catholick cause Phil. Beleive me Tim you Phanatick Preachers are not to be credited who think all lyes lawful for the good old cause as they call it You see already by most evident testimonies of their own Books their horrid Pinciples against Regall power and I shall make it as clear that their bloody Practices have been answerable to their doctrines the cursed fruit of so bad a tree Tim. Make that good once and I will then confess the Saints have thiir failings as well as others Phil. After Luther began to gather followers in Germany these Phanatiâ—k Principles rais'd such rebellions in those parts against the Emperor that above a hundred thousand were slain in those wars accompanied with such miseries as made Germany an object of pity to all Christian hearts Did not the same prodigious doctrines put Bohemia into a miserable combustion that these new Saints might possess the Earth and Lord it over their Lawful Governours What tragedies did the same principles act in Switzer-land to the overthrow of Government and the ruine of all Order and Religion where they prevailed Did not the furious Calvanists by vertue of the same principles rebel against their Bishop and Prince and make themselves Masters of his Goods and Territories What bloody cruelties prophanations sacriledges murthers treasons rebellions were acted by these headstrong Zealots in France cannot but force tears from those who read the Chronicles of those times And did not the Hollanders with some other Provinces rebel against their Leige Lord and King and possess themselves of his Rights and Dominions annimated by these horrid doctrines Neither can Kings ever expect better where Phanaticks are strong enough to head a party against the Government Tim. I never knew this before But I was told Phil that the Papists and Jesuits were the cause of all those stirs and insurrections Phil. They impose upon you Tim 't is nonsense to say so All those places enjoyed peace and quiet till these Phanaticks arose and became Incendiaries by these wicked doctrines Did not Knox and his fellow Martial Gospellers raise a horrid rebllion against their Lawful Soveraign Queen Mary of Scotland and force her to fly to save her life What think you Are all the tragical cruelties sacriledges murthers blood shed and Miseries attending civil wars to be laid to the charge of the poor innocent Queen or these firebrands I know they talk much of bloody Papists in Ireland but I have been told by those who were actually in the warrs there that the Phanatick Zealots did equalize if not out do them in their butcheries But to come home did not these Presbyterian principles raise the late rebellion here in England against our gracious Soveraign Charles the first and murdâ—r the best of Princes in so barbarous a manner as justly renders them detestable to all Posterity And were not the Phanaticks now again endeavouring by a most horrid and bloody Conspiracy to act the like or worse tragedy to ruine King and Kingdom and make poor England a field of blood to fill all places with massacres horrours and confusions And all this being annimated and set on fire by these principles these wretched principles Insomuch that 't is observ'd by a Protestant Doctor in his Caveat for Princes against Presbyterians Page 93. That in this last Century of years there have been more Princes depos'd and murthrâ—d for their Religon by Protestants of integrity as they call themselves then in all the others since Christs time by the attempts of Roman Catholicks For indeed these cruelties and bloody Conspiracies are the natural fruit of their rebellious Principles but such Papists as have rose in arms against their Sovereign have been taught better things Witness that famous Decree of the Sorbonists whereby they condemn the doctrine of deposing King and absolving their Subjects from their sworn allegiance to be pestilential damnable doctrine and to be abhorred of all men as new false erronious contrary to Scripture giving occasion to schisms derogatory to the Authority of Kings depending on God alone hindring the conversion of Heretical and Infidel Princes destroying the publick peace and tempting subjects from their obedience and animating factions and rebellions against Princes which Sorbon Sentence was approv'd by the whole Ecclesiastical body of France and declared in a publick admonition to the King Dec. 13. 1625. Tim. I do not much value what the Sorbon Doctors say though I cannot quarrell with this decree But I am covinc'd Phil especially by the last instance of the Conspiracy which though the Godly Party endeavour to excuse or deny or extenuate by lyes and forgeries as in the case of the Earl of Essex yet 't is so evident by self-confession and proofs irrefragable that who now denyes it may as well say it is not day when the Sun shines And truly I begin to be weary of their company now I plainly perceive I cannot be a Phanatick and at the same time a good Subject Phil. Pray Tim take notice also that those great pretenders to Religion are grown to that degree of Madness as to take part with the Turk against Christianity For our Mahometans Christians here because they were too far off to assist the enemies of Christ with their hands did as much as they could help them with their tongues by praying for their success against the Christians Tim. Indeed I like it not I see the hatred of Popery has made them almost cease to be Christians The Third Lesson Of Phanatical Pride Philonax LET me tell thee Tim they who judge of Religion by the actions of some particular persons shall never be able to justify any though never so pure and holy in it self For seeing their Religion teaches otherwise why should that be condemn'd for their extravagancies If some Roman-professors have behav'd themselves with pride arrogancy and others of the same Church condemn them for it 't is evident that such