another They carry with them fierce Bulls such as the Poet doth mention Vulcanum naribus afflant and breathe or speak nothing but in the fiery accents of desolation of which temper the Jesuitick Spirit seems to be which deceives the Nations with the Cup of Errour setting out Truths in a painted and meretricious Bravery nay blending them with humane inventions teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men And there can be no greater Sacriledge in the World than to put our own Image upon the Ordinances of Christ 1. Our Lord and Saviour hath commanded us to read the holy Scripture Joh. 5.39 and the Holy Ghost blesseth them that delight therein Psal 1. But the Roman Church forbids the reading thereof to the Laity in the vulgar Tongue * Haeresin â—sse si quis dicit necessarium esse ut Scripturae in vulgares linguas convertantur Sander Visib Monar lib. 7. Credo institutum hoc à Diabolo esse inventum Peres de Trad. part 1. assert 3. pag. 47. which if they should be permitted the perusal of would easily discover their new Articles of Faith to be erroneous their Image-worship to be Idolatry and their not erring Bishop to be a grand Deceiver Pope Clement VIII in the Index of prohibited Books says That the Bible published in vulgar Tongues ought not to be read and retained no not so much as a Compendium or History of it And Bellarmine says That it is not necessary to Salvation to believe that there are any Scriptures at all written This is to blot out the Canonical Scripture and give us Apocrypha in the room of it to make the Divine Oracles to speak to the patronizing of their own interest and would suborn God for a Witness to their Errours As Caligula dealt with Jupiters Statue taking off the head of it and placing his own in its stead So they substitute the devices of their own Brain in the place of Gods Word putting that most excellent Candle under a bushel to make the Decretals of the Pope as authentick as holy Writ and wholly rely on the Dictates of the Priest setting more by an old Tradition than a Divine Precept Thus these insolent Usurpers who seek not so much to oppress the bodies as exercise their Tyranny over the Souls of men and pitifully inthral them to everlasting servitude As the wicked Shepherds of Midian would drive their Neighbours flocks from the watering Troughs and the Philistims would stop the Patriarchs Wells So the Emissaries of Rome use all Arts to keep the people from the use of the Scriptures the Wells of Salvation hindering them from instruction It is a great glory to the Church of England that the Bible * The difference between Pope Sixtus the Fifth and Clement the Eighth the one commanding one Bible only to be used the other another under their Curses whereby the Romish Partisans are involved into a miserable necessity being constrained not to read any or be liable to the Anathema of Pope Clement if they use Sixtus's Bible or of Sixtus if they use Clement's which was shut up in an unknown Tongue from the generality is now in our own Mother-tongue and Language of the Kingdom And what S. Chrysostome spake of old concerning the British Islands is verified at this day every where a man may hear the people discoursing of the Scriptures strangers indeed in speech yet of the Houshold of Faith in tongue Barbarians but in conversation drawing nearer unto Saints for the Christian Laity in the Britannick Church which is not permitted in the Roman walk in the most clear Light of the Gospel and drink their fill of the pure streams of the water of Life in Scripture * It is a weighty Saying of Tertullian Adoro pl nitâ—dinem Scripturarum for all Scripture was given by Divine Inspiration 2 Tim 3.16 and profitable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for redargution 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for correction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for instruction that the man of God may be perfected unto all good works And we all have not only liberty by Proclamation to enjoy it but several Acts of Parliament to confirm our use of it Religion and Liturgy God grant that which is so great a mercy and happiness to us we make it not our misery by turning the cause of our thanksgiving into murmuring repining and dissatisfaction for if ever Times were under cross and unluckly Aspects if ever there were a publick Spirit of Phrensie and mischief in the World certainly this Lot is fallen upon ours in contending for Mint and Cummin disagreeing in the lesser ‖ Disunanimity and disuniformity are a breaking not only of the King 's but of God's and the Churches peace It causeth distraction hinders devotion and indisposeth men unto Religion and clouds the understanding in the disquisition of Truth and consequently hinders that blessed light which clarifies the Soul of man and predisposeth it unto the brightness of eternal felicity only when they all agree in the substance and in the greater as matters of Faith and Articles of Belief viz. to believe in the Father Son and Holy Ghost one Divinity of equal Majesty in the holy Trinity It were to be heartily wish'd that in matters that truly concern so much the glory of God the honour peace and welfare of the Church and Commonweal that all prejudicate Opinions varnish'd with plausible errour through pride and ambition might be laid aside and in the zeal of affection not forget our Duty and the Unity that should be among Christians 2. Christ administred to his Disciples both Species of the Sacrament of Eucharist and his Command stands in Sacred Record Mat. 26.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 drink ye all of this Mark 14.23 and they all drank of it saith the Canon of Scripture Christ ordains it but the Church of Rome forbids it as if they were wiser than our Saviour setting their mouths against Heaven and correcting his holy and divine Institution For in the Council of Constance * Et similiter quod licèt in primitiva Ecclesia hujusmodi Sacramentum reciperetur à fidelibus sub utraque specie tamen haec consuetudo ad evitandum aliqua pericula scandala est rationabiliter introducta quod à conficientibus sub utraque specie Laicis tantummodo sub una specie suscipiatur c. Const Sess 13. they alter'd the Testamental Legacy and Ordinance of Christ himself in taking away from the Laicks the Chalice of the Sacrament the holy Symbol of Christs Blood stiled by the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Cup of Blessing for the Eucharistical Elements are not Theories or empty Signs but Seals to confirm and Instruments to exhibit Christ with all the benefits of his Passion and blessings of Heaven unto every believing Christian therefore the Romish Church does great injury to Christendom in her half Communion the deprivation of the Chalice Quomodo
RELIGION AND LOYALTY MAINTAINED Against all Modern Opposers IN A TREATISE ON The 29th of May 1681. being Trinity-Sunday and Anniversary Day of His Majesties happy Birth and King and Kingdoms Restauration By HENRY ANDERSON M.A. Vicar of Kingsumborne in Hampshire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fear God Honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 LONDON Printed by J. M. for Will. Abington near the Wonder-Tavern in Ludgate-street and Will. Clark Book-seller in Winchester 1684. TO THE High and Mighty MONARCH CHARLES II. By the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith Most Dread Soveraign AMongst the multitude of Sacrifices which daily offer themselves to your Sacred Majesty of the richer sort if this mean Oblation of a Turtle find your Royal Aspect speaks only the Grandeur and Heroick Greatness of England's Monarch who darts the diffusive beams of your Goodness throughout your Realms on your Liege People by your auspicious and most gentle Government being cherish'd by the gracious Rays of Soveraign Power as the obscure parts of the Earth are by the radiations of the Sun These happy Influences like the Dew of Hermon descend upon all that are not guilty of Disloyalty and trample not on Regal Power in abstracting their Allegiance for such are no longer Subjects but Rebels that despise Dominions and speak evil of Dignities contemning the bright and splendid Crown of Soveraignty Sacred and Divine is Royal Majesty as it is a reflection of that above and it is the Glory thereof to protect things Sacred therefore it looks so high and prefixes so mighty a Name which can give a sufficient value to things in themselves both mean and worthless however imperfect your favour is able to supply and give it life if the production be not unworthy you Royal Patronage yet it is not improper to lay it at the feet of Majesty because the Holy Trinity that Theological Mystery is the Article of our Creed and it can't take a more rever'd Sanctuary for its safety than the Defender of the Faith whose prudent and Princely Conduct crowns all our Felicities with a calm Tranquillity in Church and State therefore let us serve the Lord our God and Charles our King whom he hath raised up unto us Long long may you flourish with a Crown of Glory on your head and a Scepter of Triumph in your hand bathing your feet in the blood of your Enemies and live to be as you are the delight and glory of your People and we trust under your shadow being not only to Moses a Protection but to all the Tribe of Levi that wait at the Altar and the great Argosie the Ship Royal of the Church would have dash'd against the rocks and been swallowed up by the quick Sands or by the malignity of cross and contrary Winds of a pretended Religious Crew who delight in Blood and Treason unless your Sacred Majesty who as a Guardian Angel that sits at the Stern by some propitious gales from Heaven had guided and conducted her to the fair Havens of Peace As Protection so it humbly craves Acceptance because goodness is the honour of Greatness and that Persian Monarch was not more famous for accepting a little water from the hand of a loving Subject than your Sacred Majesty is renown'd through Britain's Orb for your gracious Clemency to all and particularly to the Offerings of the Sons of Aaron though this Piece blushes at the confidence of its Dedication as not worthy the approach of Royal Presence or Majesty's judicious Eye being like the straw and brick of Egypt very inconsiderable in regard of the polishing carving and Cedar-work of the Temple performed by a Bezaleel and Aholiab that can curiously work in Gold yet I contribute my Mite and cast my little into the Treasury but with such humility presented as speaks Loyalty and not presumption shewing the World in all expressions of a grateful mind and emanations of the greatest affection where Duty binds me to pay the Fealty and Homage of my Obedience Celebrating the Memory of this Day * May 29. with ebullitions of Joy and Satisfaction as it carries the propitious Star of Royal Birth with a Constellation of Blessings to the Kingdom in a happy and peaceable Restauration Almighty Goodness setled us on our old Basis and by a Miracle of Providence restored to us our Prince Religion and Government for which Mercy we magnifie the Glorious and Eternal Trinity humbly beseeching the Father Son and Holy Ghost to continue to your Regal Majesty a long and prosperous Reign over us with an affluence of Health and Wealth Triumphs and Conquests here and when you shall put off the Glories of a Temporal Soveraignty and lay down your mortal Diadem you may exchange it for an immortal Crown eternal in the Heavens being incircled with the Rays of Glory and Happiness in a Life that never pays Tribute to Death So prays Your Majesty's most humble obedient and Loyal Subject Henry Anderson THE HOLY TRINITY ASSERTED AND MONARCHY MAINTAINED Against all disloyal Opponents in a Treatise on the 29th of May 1681. being Trinity-Sunday and Anniversary Day of His Majesties happy Birth and King and Kingdoms Restauration Psal 73. vers 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee COntentment is the universal Center to which all the thoughts actions and contrivances of Men tend the point to which they are all directed is satisfaction This is the great spring to all the various motions of Mankind and however distant and contrary their ways and courses their inclinations and constitutions are yet here they all meet and concenter in this one reconciling object Contentment and satisfaction is that which the Learned seeks to obtain in his industrious quest after Knowledge This Jewel the Merchant seeks in his dangerous Voyages the ambitious in his passionate pursuit of Honour the covetous in his unwearied heaping up of Treasure the wanton in his pleasing Charms of Beauty the Conquerour in his earnest desires of Victory and the Politician in his deep Designs But alas the misery of Man is That he would find that in the variety of the Creatures which is no where to be found but in the unity of the Creator the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost For absolute content dwells not here below It is not in Granaries fill'd with plenty in ambitious Haman's state and grandeur in Samson's lovely Dalilah's in Nebuchadnezzar's Rule over the World it must arise from no other spring but God the Holy Trinity alone who is the only Principal of Being and Fountain of true content And King David draws a right line to the immoveable Center and directs the Soul to the true Zenith of happiness God himself Whom have I Heaven but thee God alone is the purest Truth the chiefest Good and final End of intelligent Beings which speaks the excellency of Christianity in reference to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or sublimity
a perfum'd breath and richness of Language as if they were made with the first Adam speak of the Dictates of the Patriarchs and Testimonies of the Prophets but in vain do any boast they are descended from Abraham since he is not a Jew who is one outward in the flesh bur inward in the Spirit as our Saviour told the Pharisees vaunting of Antiquity Joh. 8. except they did the works of Abraham and abide in the Truth Truth then is the Child of Time and as there is Antiquity of Time so also of Truth and Doctrine And so long as the Romish Church continued in the profession and practice of Apostolical purity i. e. of Faith and Doctrine which was once given to the Saints all other Christian Churches held Communion with her for the Church of Rome did not anciently in former Ages hold all these Doctrines which now she owns The ancient Church of Rome was but a Member of the Catholick Church of God of which Jesus Christ was Head But the now Roman Church does at this day what S. Augustine * De Vnit Eccles cap. 6. told to the Donatists inclose the Catholick Church within their own circuits and usurps it wholly to her self of which the Pope is Head And the Papacy will have their Pope by reason of the Kingdom of Christ to be the Head and King of the Church in ordine ad Spiritualia and consequently the Supreme Civil Power over the Monarchs of the Earth in ordine ad Temporalia to be the Head and King of the Church Such a Church was never in Rome for many hundred years after our Saviour no Bishop ‖ Gregory Bishop of Rome Ego fidenter dico quia quisquis se universalem Sacerdotem vocat vel vocari desiderat in elatione sâ—â Antichristum praecurrit Pope Pelagius distinct 99. Vniversalis autem nec etiam Romanus Pontifex appelletur Cyril Patriarch of Constantinople 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did assume Christs Title to be the Head of the Church till Boniface the Third who not contenting himself with his Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical and fulness of Spiritual Power but his towring Ambition aspires yet higher and with much contention obtained of the Rebel Phocas about the year 604. who murder'd Maurice the Emperour the Title of Universal The Pope looking for Primacy on Earth is very unlike his heavenly Master whose Vicar he pretends to be Christ paid Tribute unto Caesar Luke 20.25 but the Pope that Prevaricator of the Apostolick See exacts it from them and Caesar pays unto him Our Saviour wash'd his Disciples feet but the Bishop of Rome in these days with imaginary Supremacy causes the greatest Princes and mightiest Emperors do him Homage and swear Allegiance * Clement the Fifth call'd a Council at Vienna An. 1311. in which it was ordained and decreed That the Emperour his Lord should give his Oath of Allegiance to the Pope for being not content with his Primacy abused Religion into Policy and casting off all moderation the Pope devoured the Emperour Thus the Head of the Church degenerated into a Monster and in reaching at Temporal Soveraignty he broke the Spiritual Unity contrary to the Divine Authority and Majesty of the Scripture Let every Soul be subject to the higher powers Rom. 13. and to the King as Supreme 1 Pet. 2.13 As Heathen Rome under the Emperours Domitian and others would be adored as Gods though never so impious so Rome Christian falls under the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Apostle Sitting in the Temple of God as God 2 Thess 2.4 and exalting himself above all that is called God * Zacharias Papa ex authoritate Sancti Petri Apostoli mandat populo Francorum ut Pepinus qui potestate Regiâ utebatur etiam nominis dignitate frueretur Ita Hildericus ultimus Merovingorum qui Francis imperabat depositus est in monasterio missus est Marian. Scot. Hist lib. 3. Lambertus Danaeus in his Response to Bellarmine the great Master of Controversie contending that Childerick was lawfully deposed by Pope Zacharias Can Zachary saith he have Authority in France being a Stranger Can he depose the publick Magistrate being but a private person though he were Bishop of Rome or transfer that Principality to Pepin that he hath no Right unto and commit so many Sacriledges and Impieties stealing from Childerick and giving to Pepin another mans Right Authorizing Subjects to violate their Oaths which they had sworn to their King Transposing Kingdoms from one man to another whereas it doth only belong to God to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdoms Thou mayest see Bellarmine how many outrages this thy Zachary hath committed Resp Danae ad Bellar. lib. 2. cap. 17. pag. 316. in a superlative Greatness and that not of order and precedency only as to Ecclesiastical Regency stretching his Diocese over all Bishops and Churches in the Christian World but of absolute Authority claiming universal Jurisdiction in a Monarchiâ—al Superintendency or Regality over all Christendom with a Power to depose Kings and dispose of Crowns and Kingdoms for the benefit of the Church is a Title only of Usurpation without any ground of Scripture or Antiquity First Christ was no Temporal Monarch but an Eternal King to rescue us from the thraldom of sin the sorcery of the flesh and the Curse of the Law Christ was no earthly King and left no Regal Power to S. Peter therefore the Pope can have no Civil Power or Temporal Dominion as the Vicegerent of Christ and consequently overturns and destroys the Doctrine of Supremacy The Lawgiver himself even Ipse Ille that bare rule in Heaven the incarnate and crucified Messias Joh. 12.36 saith My Kingdom is not of this World Whereas that Sect of Politicians the Romanists turns the Kingdom of Christ into outward Pomp and Bravery and they to have the Managery and Government of it as if the now See of Rome should be known to be the most Christian Bishop not in having with Christ no Temporalties but an absolute Soveraignty to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdoms which is nothing less than a strange Usurpation for the Son of God did never impose such a hard duty and condition to Kings that were to become Christians as to forsake their Imperial Crowns and Diadems except in their hearts and affections and in comparison of the Kingdom of God O Eternal Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Light of Truth inspire the Universal Church with the Spirit of Truth Unity and Concord and grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the Truth of thy holy Word and live in unity and godly love Secondly View it in relation to the Apostles who were the Patriarchs of the Church And the Evangelists make special mention of their Names as those to whom we owe great honour and veneration being conversant with Christ and daily instructed by him who continued with him unto his Passion and Crucifixion and after his Resurrection
look for a Church triumphant here below What scandalous and irreligious Libels of factious Brains have been exposed to the publick view of all Athenian Gazers What indiscreet and Satyrical Pamphlets have been dispersed by a malevolent Party to incite a dislike and hatred of the Government in Church and State For Sions sake then I cannot hold my peace but deplore the decay of Religion by the want of Union and Loyalty and the defect of the practice of this ancient and heavenly Duty of Unanimity amongst us Our Saviour left to his Church the Legacy of Peace Joh. 14.27 it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Farewel gift or as S. Basil calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a largess dropt from a higher World worth the keeping therefore let us in our several stations endeavour the unity of the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the bond of peace beating down all animosities study of Parties and obstinacy in Opinions which breeds disaffection and this humor grows impetuous * Animi inflammati ebulliunt ad certamen marching like Jehu the Son of Nimshi furiously till it flames into open contention giving to the restless Emissaries * Whatever the pretensions of Rome are to love and concord among themselves yet their want of unity appears in their different Opinions Schisms cruel Wars and in the contests between their Popes and Acts of their Councils contradicting one another Bishop Hall in his Tract of Rome sets down 300 differences of Opinions maintained in the Popish Church recited by Bellarmine himself the Arch-pillar of the Roman Synagogue The many Schisms in the Church of Rome may be easily conjectured when there were several Popes at the same time one fought against another and the greatest Conquerour wore the Triple Crown The people were wofully divided and many thousands of Christians were slain in those bloody Battels between Pope Vrban and Pope Clement This Schism continued almost fifty years one resident at Rome another at Avignon The want of concord and unity in the See of Rome is also demonstrable in their cruel Wars between the Popes and Emperours called Bellum Pontificum whereby all Europe at one time or another has been divided by Feuds and Factions And the Popes not only thundred out their Excommunications against the Emperours but also perswading their own Subjects to levy War against them as if Christ had ordained his Sacraments not to be Seals of Grace and helps of our Faith but hooks to catch Kingdoms and rods to scourge such Potentates as would not or could not procure the Popes favour and consequently has embroiled the Christian World in discord and dissention in great and cruel Wars It is a thankless work in the sight of God to improve his Worship by the dint of the Sword and to found his Church as Romulus did Rome in blood No such Sacrifices no such Ambages of cruelty can be acceptable to the God of mercy and Prince of peace and pity The bitter contention and envy of one Pope to another speaks their privation or want of unity one disannulling all the Acts of another as Pope Stephen VI. abrogated all the Decrees of his Predecessor Formosus and so of many others The like appears in their Councils contradicting one another the Council of Basil decreed for the Council against the Pope and the Council of Lateran under Leo X. decreed for the Pope against the Council The Council of Toledo did prohibit the Worship of Images the second Council of Nice commands it And so our Adversaries of Rome who boast of intire Unity may see their own vanity of the Church of Rome and growing Sectaries great advantage and to Satan no small occasion to laugh and triumph It were well for us if we would see or suspect the policy of the Devil or his Agents who envy our happiness and take advantage either of our judgments depraved or Natures corrupted to make us their instruments to break our blessed unity in Church or State And so while we are contending for shadows we may be deprived of the substance and be brought into irrecoverable confusion therefore let brotherly love and unity be maintained in the World standing fast in one Spirit with one mind for the Faith of the Gospel * It is one evidence of the Truth of the Christian Religion that Christ hath carried it on by means contemptible against all oppositions imaginable Who could have thought that a few illiterate Fishermen that had neither skill in Grammar or knowledge in Rhetorick should carry on the Truth in a Majestick simplicity The Princes of the Earth being not only non-assistants but all the great Monarchs of the World opposing Christianity in the infancy thereof whilst it was in the cradle Acts 4.26 27. King Herod's enraged jealousie burned so fiercely that it sucked up the blood of all the male-infants within the Coasts of Bethlehem And had not an heavenly inspiration diverted the Eastern 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the intended way of their return their blood also should have run among the ingredients and made up the dose to allay the fury of an angry Prince Add unto this those fierce persecutions continuing in their height and heat with a rage reaching up to Heaven for the space of three hundred years no storms could blow out the light of this Sun clouds might cover it but never extinguish it because the Gospel is from God the World cannot overthrow it Acts 5.39 whereas all those Religions which the Romans Greeks and all the Gentiles went a gadding after before the advent of our Saviour are all come to nothing and the rest risen since shall shortly be destroyed with the brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 therefore stand fast in an united conformity striving together for the Faith of the Gospel as Members of one Body under one Head Jesus Christ Which leads me to the second general as the alliance of humane Nature so the bands of a spiritual Consanguinity engages us to holy concord Gal. 3.28 We are all one in Christ Jesus Christ taught all alike to call God Father in the Lords Prayer All have the same filial Prerogatives Gal. 4.26 Jerusalem above is the Mother of us all All as one mans children have the same food provided them like Aristotle's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are brought up with the same milk 1 Pet. 2.2 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as S. Peter calls it of the Word For all Christians are Children of the same heavenly Father Mal 2.10 regenerated to the same lively hope Rom. 8.17 coheirs of the same heavenly Inheritance redeemed by a Saviour that breathed out nothing but Love Isa 63 9. Joh. 15 13. sanctified and sealed by a Spirit of Unity It is a Truth in the fourth of the Acts there were many bodies and but one Soul I wish unanimity may so combine * The language of Constantine to his Synod of Bishops has been
our charity and unity but can't discern those greater lines of Duty Subjection and Loyalty And as the Scribes and Pharisees of old cry'd up every where The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord so we have many such now a-days who are seemingly great Champions for the Church and take great care of the Duties of the first Table and yet can freely indulge themselves in the violation of the second proving annoyances to the State by seditious Insurrections though the Christian Religion doth firmly oblige men to peace obedience and due submission unto Secular Governours there are many persons that owne that Name and yet entertain Positions wholly inconsistent with the Precepts of that Religion and the safety of Princes and their Kingdoms swallowing REBELLION * There was a time which is a precaution to posterity when men pretended a Call from God to do the work of the Devil viz. rebelling and then murdering the best of Kings erecting him a Scaffold for a Throne and for a Diadem of Gold gave him a Crown of Thorns and instead of a glorious Prince made him a glorious Martyr without regret which opens the floud-gates of impiety and lets in upon us a Chaos of Anarchy Libertinism and popular Confusion bringing a kind of present damnation on the World They that are Authors or Abetters of Sedition saith S. Chrysostome can neither avoid shame on Earth nor escape eternal Damnation Though God the great Judge do sometimes permit Rebels in his Justice to prevail against Kings for the contempt of the Law of the highest and neglect of their own duty the reward of Rebellion shall be no better than the recompence of Satan who is the Instrument of the Lords wrath for the punishment of all disobedience The Kings Power is from God and for any private person or any Club of Subjects to wrest it out is a double Usurpation First They invade Gods Soveraignty Rom. 12.19 who saith Vengeance is mine Secondly The Princes Prerogative whose Office is to protect and punish to defend the innocent and correct the Spirit of Contumacy and Rebellion relieve the oppressed and support the vertuous rewards to Merit as well as punishment to Sin and Vice are dispensed A terrour to evil doers 1 Pet. 2.14 saith the Text and praise to them that do well Therefore honour the King Secondly As the goodness of Heaven shines in the preservation of our Royal Soveraign from the Usurpation of cruel Enemies at home so likewise Divine Providence hath guarded him from Foreign Attempts of unreasonable men abroad and made the Plots and Conspiracies of these worse than Heathens of none effect and deliver'd our King and our Princes our Nobles and the Heads of our Tribes the Governours of our Church and Judges of our Land nay the whole Commons of this Realm from a fearful destruction that would have swallowed them up For when the Ax is laid to the root of the Tree to cut off Soveraignty and destroy the Lord 's Anointed the rest of the people who are the Branches must expect lopping The restless Emissaries of the Church of Rome whether Priests Jesuits or Colledge of Cardinals give daily proof of their inveterate malice against the King the Government and Protestant Religion thinking that new Massacres are the most effectual course to stop the cry of the old and that the readiest way to silence their Adversaries is to make them instances of the Truth of the Accusation If the great God of Heaven who refrains the Spirits of men that delight in Blood had not been gracious to our King and Kingdom you had not this Day been Auditors nor I Speaker of this Theme but all of us miserable Spectators of the contrary And the Pope's Triple Crown would have been set with many red Roses of great Triumphs in a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nothing less than utter extirpation of us and Memorial from under Heaven The Rivers of Rome may seem to run smooth their Sea is Blood the extracted Spirits of things work more forcibly than concrete Bodies take heed of an Elixir an Extraction of Malice sublimated spiritualized into a Religion The cruel Massacres of Primitive Christians * If we reflect on ancient times and look back to the course of the World in general in the first Monarchy we find a fiery Furnace in the second a Den of Lions in the third the madness and fury of Antiochus when to believe in one God was to be put on the Rack and to abhor Idolatry involved the Votary in cruel Tortures In the fourth Monarchy the ten Persecutions more bloody and grievous than all that went before for not to sacrifice to Idols and to offer Incense to Heathen Gods was cause enough to be torn in pieces by wild Beasts and be exposed to all manner of terrible Torments when bloody Tumults affrighted Christ's Members and chased them from their Devotions when the Priest became the Sacrifice and his Books in disdain were made a Burnt-offering will teach us the price of our own happiness and the slaughter of our Forefathers may upbraid our unthankfulness with the benefits of our peace 'T were good that we their surviving Off-spring would learn to make use of their happy Martyrdom In their crimson steps we may trace the way to our Saviour's Cross and read in the living memory of their Torments the sad Tragedy of his Sufferings The World at this day is well mended with us we know not the meaning of Rack or Faggot of Sword and Gridiron the Instruments of Romish Cruelty Let three Kingdoms therefore bow themselves as the heart of one man and praise God for his mercy unto his Servants under the Protection of our gracious and religious King Charles Heaven hath preserved our Church from ruine and confusion from the spreadings and prevailings of Errours Heresies and Schisms Superstition and Idolatry which strive to oppress us and to eclipse the truth and purity of Doctrine which is our Churche's Glory and so much offends the Eyes of Rome and makes them clip wash and new-coyn the Gold of the Sanctuary Lastly As Divine Providence and Goodness did this Day bring into the World our gracious Soveraign and hath hitherto preserv'd him from all Enemies Domestick and Foreign So the same special grace and favour of God did this Day bring home and restore to us our King a Prince of so much Clemency and Mercy that he is inferiour to none that sways a Scepter or sits upon a Throne His Restauration was wonderful without any Effusion of Blood The Voice of War is changed into Proclamations of Peace the Clattering of Swords and Spears is turned into the sweet Melody of Harps and the harsh Tones of Death into a Psalm of Thanksgiving O Lord thou art become gracious unto thy Land and hast turn'd away the Captivity of Jacob Praise therefore waits on thee in Zion and unto thee shall the Vow be perform'd in Jerusalem We celebrate the Memory of this thy Mercy in restoring our King and with him the free Profession of true Religion and Worship What doth God require now both from Prince and People but the acknowledgment of his favour He that will not glorifie God as the Father of Mercies in the rigour of Justice God may glorifie himself in his eternal ruine If we prove not the Heralds of his Glory Examples shall we be of his just indignation All tasting Mercy all should be thankful and though all have not Frankincense yet every one mâ—y have Praise Let us praise God for his miraculous preservation of our King and Kingdom Church and People and let it sound so â—oud this day as it may reach Heavens gates and meet with Hallelujahs which the bright Morning-Stars in their Orbs pay to their Creator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Angels Liturgy is singing of Hymns of Glory And shall not the Militant Church say We praise thee O God our Souls do magnifie the Lord The Stork pays Tribute of her young the Trees of their fruits the Earth of her flowers and shall we be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without natural affection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without God in the world not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 return blessing and praise to the Divine Majesty for his infinite Blessing unto us We praise God in his Sanctuary and in the Firmament of his Power for his mighty Acts and according to his excellent Greatness Praise him with the Sound of the Trumpet with Psaltery and Harp with stringed Instruments and Organs shew your selves joyful before the Lord the King Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Let us now direct our Prayers and Supplications to the Glorious and Eternal Trinity that all Blessings Divine and Humane Spiritual and Temporal like the precious Oyntment of Aaron's may be pour'd out on the Head of ouâ— Royal Soveraign length of days on hiâ— right hand on his left Riches and Honour that his Reign may be glorious and his Regal Vertues after this Life crowned with immortal Glory And we with the residue of God's holy Church may rise to that incomprehensible endless Felicity where the Blessings of the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity will gloriously shine upon our Souls for evermore Which God of his infinite Mercy vouchsafe unto us for the Mercies of his Eternal Son our blessed Saviour To whom with the Father and Holy Ghost three Persons one God be ascribed as most due is all Honour Glory Power Praise Might Majesty and Dominion the residue of our lives and for ever Amen FINIS ERRATA Pag. 56. line 13. for then read there p. 62. l. 10. fo Reershaba r. Beersheba p. 74. l. 16. for fair this read this fair