establish that great Schisme of their own Popery And thus we find the Roman-Catholicks the Anabaptists the Presbyterians Quakers Independents and Popishly inclined Church-men all link'd together in as fast a Bond of Friendship as faith and truth by Vows and Promises can tye them together in furthering the Declaration and Design of Establishing Liberty of Conscience upon the Basis of Heresie and Schism and finally to introduce Popery Now after this Foundation laid wherever any of these Six sorts of Papish Pillar-men got in to be a Mayor of a Corporation thence immediately followed an Address from that Corporation to the same effect as each Sect had afore Addressed But hitherto His Majesty had transgressed no Laws excepting that he had admitted Popish Officers into the Army and into other Places of Trust for which He pleaded Necessity However the Parliament then in force not approving thereof was Dissolved after two Adjournments and ten Prorogations in effectual was finally Dissolved July 2d 1687. Notwithstanding Necessity had no Law that putting in of Popish Officers in all Places of Trust was to be born with On February 12th 1686 the Earl of Clarendon being Removed the Earl of Tyrconnel was settled Lord Lieutenant of Ireland And on March 11th Henry Lord Arundel of Wardour a Papist was made Lord Privy Seal About the same time or before the Earl of Rochester Uncle to the King 's two Daughters for standing firm to the Protestant Religion according to the Church of England was removed out of Place from being Lord Treasurer and the Place put into Commissioners hands Popishly inclined And the Earl of Sunderland a Papist was made Lord President of the Council On February 8th the Lord Castlemain His Majesties Ambassador to the Pope had Audience But after the Addresses once began to come in thick then the King ventur'd to receive a Publick Ambassador from the Pope with all the Honours and Ceremonies usually observed on the like Occasion This was done at Windsor on July 5th 1687. And on November 11th Father Petre the King's Confessor and Clerk of the Closet was Sworn of His Majesties Privy-Council and took his Place at the Board And on November 17th was published a Book called An Agreement between the Church of England and Church of Rome Evinced from the Concertation of some of her Sons with their Brethren the Dissenters Such was the Fruit of the Addresses made by the Sir Pillars of Popery On December 11th His Majesty being encouraged by the abundance of Addresses began to view the List of His Justices of the Peace in all the Counties and of the Deputy Lieutenants and to turn out of Place all such as would not be for His Declaration of Liberty of Conscience and for taking off the Penal Laws and Test Whence great numbers in all Counties were turned out and Phanaticks Papists and popishly inclined Persons came into Place And about the same time or soon after all Corporations were Regulated by absolute Power and all Men adhering to the Law were turned out and Phanaticks Papists and popishly inclined Persons were put in place And hence it came to pass that all the Corporations in London became Regulated and filled with Hereticks and Schismaticks whence followed infinite Addresses from all these New Corporations and from all the New Model'd Companies After this it was that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners had been put in power and had begun to execute great power of Oppression over many of His Majesties Consciencious Subjects The Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of London beloved of most Men for his Fatherly care of the Church against all Law and Reason had been Suspended And on December 10th The President and Fellows of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford against all Law and Conscience were decreed and pronounced uncapable of being admitted into any Ecclesiastical Dignity These by force appointed by the Commissioners contrary to all Rules of Law had been turned out of their Freeholds on the 30th of November before On January the 23d was published The King 's right of Indulgence in Spiritual Matters with the Equity thereof Asserted By a Person of Honour About this time Commissioners were appointed and made Enquiry after all Monies received for Fines in the case of Seditious Meetings called Conventicles March the 1st was published a Book called The Legality of the Court held by His Majesties Commissioners Defended And also A Defence of the Doctrine and holy Rites of the Roman Catholick Church Against Dr. Burnet's Mystery of Iniquity Unveiled Unto such an height of Popery was the Kingdom ascended and all by means of the Sir Pillars of Addressers for alas the Popish Interest of it self was pitifully inconsiderable But by the union and conjunction of these Sir Pillars it began to look formidably And the King presuming upon the strength of the Pillars was meerly drawn in and encouraged beyond all His hope at His Coronation when he first promised and then Swore to defend and maintain the Laws of the Land Whence it may be safely maintained that wherein soever His Majesty hath acted against Law as is now generally alledged contrary to his Oaths and Promises although the Breach was really His own proper act yet the greatest blame thereof lyes at their Doors who by pleading Conscience to do the greatest Wickedness drew him in to comply with them and by promising to stand by and assist hiw to the last Breath encouraged him to do what otherwise in all likelyhood He never had intended For when it was declared by His Majesty on April the 27th 1688 what was His Majesties further will and pleasure concerning His Declaration of Indulgence He said expresly We are encouraged by multitudes of Addresses and by many other Assuances we receive from Our Subjects of all Perswasions as Testimonies of their Satisfaction and Duty to see it preserved without Distinction And in the same Declaration he further saith In pursuance of this we have been forced to make many Changet both of Civil and Military Officers throughout our Dominions c. Whence it fully appears that what by means of the Addresses and by means of private Assurances from the Parties Addressing before the Addresses came forth His Majesty was unhappily drawn in to do all those things which are counted ill ever since his Reign For as may be well observed many Addresses do boast of a Confederacy with His Majesty as to the substance matter of their Addresses from before the time of His Majesties coming to the Crown Hence followed the Orders issued forth directed unto the Arch bishops Bishops and the Clergy to read the King's Declaration in all their Provinces Dioecesses and Churches therein Which thing they humbly conceiving to be a matter against the known Laws of the Land and not fit to be done so many of them as were then in London did humbly Petition His Majesty to be excused from such reading and shewed their Reasons in their Petition But this Petition being judged Scandalous the Arch-bishop
Published on the same day April the 30th 1687. The Humble and Thankful Address of the King's Subjects commonly called Quakers in and about the City of London And these also glory in it that they were of Cabinet Council with the King acknowledging that They were privy to the design of the Declaration for Liberty long before it came forth and with great joy declare Their Thanks that they have such a King of such a Principle promising Him always to approve themselves His faithful and loving Subjects And on May the 25th came forth The Humble and grateful Acknowledgment of the peaceable Subjects called Quakers in this Kingdom from their usual Yearly Meeting in London the 19th day of the Third Month Vulgarly called May 1687. Bespeaking in all things as the former in the name of the Quakers all over England On June the 18th came forth The grateful Acknowledgement of the People called Quakers of Scotland Proclaiming God's wonderful Providence who made the King's retiring into their Country give an happy turn to His Affairs to the Defeating the Designs of His Enemies acknowledging His great Kindnesses to them for favouring them in 1679. And so proceeding in Hyperbolical Thankfulness they conclude with promises of Obedience On August the 18th much after the same rate was brought in from the Quakers of the West of Scotland And on August the 26th came the like from the Quakers of Ireland Transmitted to the King by the Earl of Tyrconnel the Lord Deputy there On September the 29th the King being in His Progress the Hearty welcome and humble Salutation of the peaceable Subjects called Quakers of Wales and the North West of England Bespeaking in their Canting way their welcome of him into those Parts their joy of Him and promises of Obedience And so also came in the Humble Congratulation of the peaceable Subjects of Bristol called Quakers bespeaking much as the rest These Quakers generally an Ignorant sort of People of uncertain Principles of Religion and without any orderly Confession of Faith have broached many old Haeresies and as is apparent have many hidden Papists among them and are thought to be much Popishly inclined and many of them appear as it were Paganish and seem as if inspired with Diabolical Delusions and Enthusiasms and are a dangerous sort of Haereticks pretending to be perfect in Righteousness full of the Light of the Spirit do much debase if not deny the use of God's holy Ordinances pretending to be above them And therefore plainly appearing to be a People void of all Conscience damnable Haereticks And yet these also under pretence of Liberty of Conscience must have Liberty to sow their Tares of Haeresies all over the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland and boast themselves as the great Confidents of King James the Second And among the rest of the Pillars of Popery Voted for the Old Members in London and were of the number of those Upbraiders of the New Members That they would bring in King James again After that of the Quakers on the same day April the 30th 1687. came forth the Humble Address of the Loyal Subjects of the Congregational Perswasion otherwise called Independants in and about the City of London Acknowledging His Majesties Declaration a Transcendent and Unparallel'd favour promising their constant Endeavour to answer His Majesties just Expectations from them that is to choose Members of Parliament for His Majesties Interest Approving themselves in Inclination as well as Duty His Majesties most Loyal Subjects These were the chief and prime actors in the Murther of King Charles the First as the Principal designers in the whole Tragedy And yet now to see to are as Zealous to make amends for all their Regicide by a most firm Affection and Diligence to maintain His Son in all His Popish Designs as from their own Profession is most plainly signified On May the 14th the Gratulatory Address of the People of the Congregational Perswasion of the City of Norwich was presented to His Majesty Acknowledging Him Placed on the Throne of this Realm by the most High God as Natural Legal and Rightful King it seems notwithstanding His being a Zealous Papist and violently Transgressing against the known Laws of the Land yet in the whole course of his Reign a Wise and Merciful King Also acknowledging that they are for Monarchy as the only An cient Legal and Rightful Government of this Nation It is to be remembred that these were the late Oliverians who turned out the Rump to set up the Protector That His Majesty hath taken care as a Common Father for the good of all his People Wherefore they shall adhere unto him as their King with all Loyalty Fidelity and hearty Service to their power On May the 17th was Published the Address of the Independents and Anabaptists together of which already said in the Anabaptist Address for Gloucester Now these Independents either spake truth from their Hearts or Dissembled If the last Then who shall believe them hereafter If the first Then they are still in their Hearts for the bringing in of King James again And if so why then upbraided they the New Members of London lately Nominated that they would bring him in But will they say they are Changed yet must they go for Impostors and false Villains for King James kept fair with them to the last however he Opprest the Church-men But what can we expect from the Sons of Murtherers They smell of the Bloud of the Father they are false to the Son and cannot be true to the Grand-child And it 's to be fear'd in the end will be found false to their own Souls On May the 28th came forth the Joynt Address of the Independents and Anabaptists of Bristol which has been mentioned before in the Addresses of Anabaptists And on June the 11th appeared another Address of the Loyal Subjects of the Congregational Perswasion dwelling in Ipswich Eury St. Edmunds c. in Suffolk Acknowledging King James to be their Covering Cherub under whose refreshing Shadow they promise themselves Rest Promising truly to subserve therefore the Interest of His Majesties Power and Greatness Which in plain terms was as much as to say The Advance of the Popish Religion At the same time also was Published the Humble Address of the Most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects of the Congregational Perswasion of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk Acknowledging Praising promising and Praying as their Fellows before them On July the 4th became Publick the Humble Address of the Loyal Subjects of the Congregational Perswasion of Bidford in Devonshire And another August the 2d of the same of the Norfolkshire-men And another September the 1st of the Presbyterian and Congregational Nonconformists of Macclesfeild in Cheshire And another September the 29th of the Congregational Perswasion of the Counties of North Wales and Shrewsbury And October the 17th another of the same together with the Presbyterians and Anabaptists of Pembroke Caermarthen Cardigan and Swansey in Glamorganshire And November
A Brief HISTORY OF THE Rise Growth Reign Supports and sodain fatal Foyl of POPERY during the three Years and an half of JAMES the SECOND King of England Scotland France and Ireland Together with a Description of the Six Popish Pillars THE Anabaptists Presbyterians Quakers Independants Roman-Catholicks Popish Church-men The perpetual Addressers of the King The Second Edition Prov. XXIV ver 21. My Son Fear thou the Lord and the King And meddle not with them that are given to Change LONDON Printed for the Author And are to be Sold by most Booksellers in London and Westminster 1690. AN HISTORY OF THE Rise Growth Reign Supports and sodain fatal Foyl of POPERY c. RAiling Accusation was such a thing as Michael the Arch-Angel durst not use against the Devil Jud. 9. But when Men speak Evil in such cases by surmise only of things which they know not and that of Dignities ver 10. 8. Then woe unto Them saith the Apostle for that they are in the way of Cain and are greedily running after the error of Balaam for reward and are threatned that They shall perish in the gainsaying of Korah ver 11. These are spots in our feasts Now in all National and Publick Affairs it is the Duty of all good Christians to perform all Offices and acts of duty with utmost Charity as They tender the wellfare of the common good of Their Country wherein They inhabit But of all such National Affairs none call louder for acts of pure Charity than the Election of grave and wise Magistrates and Councellors who are to sit at the Helm in order to manage the great Councils of a whole Kingdom Wherefore to hear of Schisms and Factions in such cases savors exceedingly of the spirit and temper of Cain who slew his Brother and why But because his own works were evil and his Brothers good Joh. 3.12 Was it any wrong to the City of London that it had yet More men of Reputation to stand as Candidates to be Elected Members of Parliament to serve for that most famous and Metropolitan City of the Kingdom and that over and above and besides what had served immediately before Surely no but rather it is for the glory of that Noble City that it hath such variety of Choice But was it so that the Reputation and fame of the wisdom and vertue of the New Members did make the loudest noise above the Old Ones yet why should this breed so much the more envy What needed Malitious Lies to be strown into the Vulgar Ears in order to suppress the noise of Vertue and Honour Or what needed the Clamours of Anabaptists Presbyterians Quakers and Congregational-Men that cry'd down the choice by such Men as They said would bring in King James again to Reign over us That Popery is one of the greatest Annoyances that can befall this Kingdom and the bitterest Pill that can be prescribed for the Subjects here to take is a Doctrine past Dispute And to be an Instrument to introduce such Members of Parliament as shall purposely endeavour to set up such a Prince as certainly will Establish Popery in all that ever He can do savors neither of Charity towards this Church or Kingdom of England nor of Piety towards God What King James hath done is too well known And we cannot say but the Sin of the People hath justly deserved all that hath befallen us and not only so but also the whole of all those fears upon us that they should have come to pass even as we feared And what the wrath of God because of our Sins hath yet behind to throw upon us God knows And we may justly dread However it becomes not us to speak evil of Kings especially so nearly Related unto such by whose means we have received good things Leaving therefore that wickedness to be acted only by the wicked and devilish Railers let us only for the good of this Church and Kingdom make a strict inquiry out of the Publick and Weekly Gazettes who and what They were who were the greatest promoters of all these Evil things for the sake of which we cry out so much against King James On February the 6th 1684. King Charles the II. Died. And on the same day was Proclaimed James the II. as His only Brother and Heir And afterwards King James the Second having confirmed all Officers in Place as were before came into the Privy-Council Chamber and spake saying to this effect as follows That He would follow His Brothers Example in Clemency and Tenderness to His People That He would endeavour to preserve the Government both in Church and State as then it was by Law Established That He would always take care to Defend and Support the Church of England That He would never invade any Man's Property That He would go as far as any Man in preserving the Defence of this Nation in all its just Rights and Liberties This Speech by the King's Command was made Publick How He hath kept His Royal Word God knows it becometh not me to say On February the 11th came in the first Address from Portsmouth Garrison and the Society of Lincolns Inn Congratulating His Majesties Accession to the Throne and promising Obedience And henceforwards came in more February the 4th from Ipswich The East India Company Merchants of the Levant The Bishop and Clergy of London The Inner-Temple Middle-Temple London Grays-Inn Portsmouth Corporation Wells in Somersetshire Westminster c. And on the same day was King Charles the Second Buried Privately at Westminster in the Evening Henceforward followed Addresses from all Counties and most of the Great Towns all over England Scotland and Ireland and from most Parts of His Majesties Dominions And Ambassadors from all the Neighbouring Kingdoms and States did Congratulate On April the 23d 1685. King James the Second with Mary His Queen were both Crowned at Westminster with great Pomp and State at what time His Majesty took His Oath to do all things according to what he had afore promised on the day he came first to be King Now presently after His Majesty came to the Crown He began to shew Himself a Papist and openly went to Mass at His Palace at St. James's Notwithstanding which infinite numbers of Addresses of Congratulation were continually coming in unto His Coronation and after On the 23d of April also met the Parliament called in Scotland Which being Met did greatly Congratulate His Majesties Accession to the Throne with promises of much Obedience And this Parliament made an Act to confirm and secure the Protestant Religion as it was then Established by Arch-bishops and Bishops and did promise in a Letter to the King to do their best to Extirpate Fanatacism as in those days They counted and called the Presbyterian Government On May the 23d the English Parliament Met at Westminster At what time His Majesty renewed His Promises made at His first coming to the Crown viz. To maintain the Church of England and
repent of His Princely favours to them in vain bestowed Or else they have hereby declared themselves a company of meer empty flattering Sycophants promising that which they never intended And now was it true as is said in the Address then are they themselves the Men bound to bring in King James against all sense of the Opinion of His most Excellent Majesty King William in His Declaration expressed and of the late Parliament in declaring the Government of the Kingdom by King James to be Forfeited by reason of Mis-government Or if otherwise they say what they never intended Then is no Credit to be given to any thing they say their Tongues are no Slander the Anabaptists in and about London are a Profligate People of the Sperm of John of Leydon and Knipperdoling a company of branded Hypocrites never to be believed or trusted They pretend to have an absolute Confidence in King James as to His tender care of the Peace and quiet of His Subjects they pretend to strive against all Dissenters with Emulation to do more for Him than all of them They pretend to be bound to Wish Pray and Fight and to do all that may be done that His Majesty and the Prince of Wales His Son and His Government may be Blessed And so by consequence they must hold that all opposers ought to be Accursed And yet these Men cry'd out against the late choosers of New Members That they would bring in King James again On May the 10th was presented to the King The most Humble Address of the Anabaptists in Leicester-shire Wherein these also acknowledge as the former Their Thankfulness for the King's Declaration and promising most faithfully and ambitiously to Serve Him with their Obedience and Loyalty in all ways to ihe best of His Advantage Praying for Him and His Posterity And on May the 14th came in more of the same from Exeter in the same County On May the 17th was Presented the Humble Address of the Independents and Anabaptists of Gloucester-shire Magnifying His Majesties Wisdom and Clemency with Hyperbolical Language stiling Him the Rightful Father of His Dominions Praying Him there may be a Total Abolishment of the Poenal Statutes concerning Religion and promising Him Exemplary Loyalty and concluding with Long Live and Reign King James the Just. On May the 21st was Presented The Humble Address of the Anabaptists of Stafford Derby and Nottingham shires promising Their utmost Loyalty to Him even unto the making of Him Great throughout all the World And at the same time came forth another Address of the Anabaptists of Che-shire Shrop-shire and Stafford-shire stiling His Majesty A Prince by Heaven designed for the highest Pattern of Royal Goodness and true Policy and promising to serve Him with such ready Obedience and stedfast Loyalty to the utmost of their Capacity in their Station as it shall not be possible for any other Subjects to exceed On May the 28th was presented to His Majesty the Humble Address of the Anabaptists of the City of Bristol acknowledging promising and wishing much after the manner as those before On June the 18th was Presented the Humble Address of the Anabaptists of Kent acknowledging promising and wishing like their preceeding Brethren acknowledging the King though a Zealous Papist yet the most tender and affectionate Prince that ever sway'd the Scepter of His Empire out-doing all expectation and desert of His Subjects promising Submission to Him under God and that unfeignedly in all things commanded them by Him Praying that God may grant Him whatsoever may be needful for His then present and future Happiness On June the 29th was Presented to His Majesty the Humble Address of the Anabaptists of Middlesex Hertford Bucks Oxon Warwick Northampton Lincoln Huntington Bedford Cambridge Essex Kent Surry Sussex Southampton and Dorset-shires Confirming with very Hyperbolical Compliments all things afore promised and owned by the rest of Their preceding Brethren And after all these was presented yet one more Humble Address of the Anabaptists of Oxford Abbington and Wantage with the same Flatteries and Warranties as their Fellows They had once afore Addressed in that of the Counties of Oxon and Berks But it seems these Anabaptisto-Papists could not rest so without a peculiar application so proud it seems they were of their Interest in a Popish Prince And by all these Addresses it appears plainly that not only the most part if not all the Anabaptists in and about London but all over England have voluntarily and freely engaged themselves unto their utmost to aid and assist King James in taking off the Test and all Poenal Laws and by consequence to open the ancient Floud gates of Stoppage and to let in an Inundation of Popery to over-run and drown not only the Church of England but also the whole Kingdom with an overflow of Popish Oppressions Now true it is that Liberty of Conscience is a matter not reasonably of any Power to be denied unto any of its Subjects and cannot be spoken against But Liberty of Schism is quite another thing and such as Holy Writ utterly Abhors It is the will of God that all Christians be of one mind Eph. 4.1 2 3 4 5 6. 1 Cor. 1.10 And we know what an heinous thing it was esteemed by St. Paul That there were Divisions in the Church the Members dividing and separating into Parties ver 11 12 c. And these things both Magistrates and Ministers ought to remedy to the best of their skill And in Old times they were always esteemed good Kings who punished Innovations in Religion and that with Severity And the Apostles in the New Testament were as urgent to the same purpose to reject all Hereticks Tit. 3.10.2 Joh. ver 9 10 11. and 3 Joh. ver 9 10. Such Paul accurseth Gal. 1.8 And wisheth such Perverters who trouble the Church that they might be cut off Gal. 5.12 Consider we therefore that the Anabaptists being a pernicious sort of People dangerous both to Church and State wherever they have crept into Power As was manifest at Amsterdam and after at Munster in Germany and since in England in times of the late Rebellion And are a Sect that do hold Dectrines destructive to the Peace of Church and State denying the Power of the Civil Magistrate in many things and do maintain a Church against a Church and Altar against Altar in the same Church and set up Lay Preachers and maintain Re-baptizing All which Doctrines being by the General Councils in purest Primitive times Forbidden and Accursed and declared to be Schismatical and Haeretical cannot be called matters of Conscience no more than Theft and Fornication can be so called Against Re baptizing see Can. 4. Apost and Can. Prim. Carthag confirmed by the Can. Secund. Concil Oecumen Constant. against Lay-Preachers and setting up Altar against Altar see Can. 16 and 17. Concil Millev and all the first six General Councils Now whatsoever is Condemned by any of the Six or at least Four first General
Councils cannot be maintained as matter of Conscience it being plain matter of Schism And all Schism is by the Magistrate to be punished equally with Murther and Adultery and therefore not to be Tolerated And yet we see how friendly these Haereticks and Schismaticks the Anabaptists and Papists do Hug each other no Hand and Glove did ever better fit one the other It was six Weeks after the Anabaptists e'er any other Sect advanced the poor Men of the West only excepted who being Pardoned their Lives had just cause to be thankful But Thousands of their Fellows had not that opportunity And yet on April the 30th the Presbyterians Quakers and Independents came in altogether of a Cluster Whereof the Presbyterians marched in the Front whose Humble Address was presented to His Majesty by the name of Several Ministers of the Gospel in and about the City of London commonly called Presbyterians Who Acknowledging with great joy His Majesties Royal bounty and Christian judgment and Fatherly inclination to Them and Their just security under His Protection And promising with a constant Emulation that They will strive to be most forward and faithful in Their Allegiance to His Person and Crown do wish and pray He may enjoy a long Reign over Them The Anabaptists were forward in their Promises but these appear as it were their Rivals striving to outdo them At the same time also was Presented the Humble Address of Their Brethren and Kinsfolks of Westminster Who the Place and stile considered do evidence these Anonymous Addressers to have been Mr. Alsop and his Flock who presenting the Addrese spake as follows Oh that we had but Windows in our Hearts that Your Majesty might see our Loyalty Bespeaking themselves much to the same purpose with the London Presbyters but in a more gilded Stile and Hyperbolick Language do promise high both by Prayers and Endeavours to contrive a most blessed Union between the King and His Papists on the one hand and Themselves on the other Which things seriously weighed read but their Promises and Subscriptions and then who will be judge let him speak but plain truth and so tell who are in earnest those Men whatever they give out who are for the bringing in again of King James the Second and a Popish Government Or if not then say at least what pitiful Flatterers have been those London Presbyterians Ministers of the Gospel and Loyal Subjects of Westminster but Men of a Punick Faith no more to be believed than the Impostor Mahomet who by his Golden Promises drew in a third part of the World to be his Proselytes in expectation of his coming at a Thousand years end to give them the Rule all over the World But his day being long since come and gone the good Man forgetting his Word fell fast asleep and his Faith became transmigrated into a very Lie And such was the Faith of these doubty Presbyterians unto King James when he stood most in need of them On May the 14th was presented The Humble Thanks of several Subjects of Exon and the County of Devon Nonconformists Acknowledging His Majesty Their free Gracious and wonderful Deliverer Declaring that They had no hand in the Rebellion of 85. And that they do heartily hate that and all Rebellion upon any pretence whatsoever That they are thankful for the Liberty given by the Declaration of Indulgence the 4th of April 1687. And do promise all due Obedience and pray for God's greatest Blessings on His Majesty Now all other Addressers were wont to say in their Addresses what Perswasion they were of Only the Presbyterians as if ashamed to appear plainly courting Popery in many of their first Addresses concealed their name of Presbyterian But by the name Noncon almost proper to that Sect alone and by the Stile we humbly conceive what these Addressers were the Brethren of Mr. Knox and Buchanan and lineally Descended from that Generation of the Assembly of 48 who held King Charles the First while the Independents and Anabaptists cut off His Head And yet loe how demurely they can wipe their Mouths like the Whore in the Proverbs Ch. 30.20 saying they have done no hurt and how much they abhor Rebellion upon any pretence whatsoever while at the same time it is the known Principle of those of that Perswasion That their Kings may be Excommunicated called to account and Condemned and Executed See Buch. de jure Regni c. On May the 21st was presented The Humble Address of the Nonconforming Loyal Subjects of New-Castle upon Tyne Acknowledging wonderful Thanks for His Majesties Indulgence stiling him a Peaceably disposed Prince and promising cheerful and dutiful Obedience to Him and to serve Him at their utmost Hazard On May the 25th was presented The Humble Address of the Dissenting Subjects of Taunton in Somerset-shire Acknowledging His Majesties Indulgence to be a greater Obligation to them to Duty and Allegiance than all the Oaths Tests and Subscriptions that could have been Imposed Promising His Majesty shall never repent of those Favours to them And wishing and praying that all the Blessings of Heaven may for ever Crown His Sacred Majesty On May the 28th was presented The Hamble Address of the Presbyterians of Bristol proclaiming their Acquaintance with His Majesty of Old and before He came to the Crown and how in those days He had promised His intentions of Indulgence to them Declaring that they question not in the least His resolution to preserve this their Happiness with the injoyments of their Properties according to the assurances of His Declaration since they knew it to proceed from a mature Judgment and a Principle rooted in His Majesty And promising to out-do all Men of their Capacity in all such things which have a tendency towards the promoting the Peace and Prosperity of His Majesties Reign And praying for Him with imploring words that His Majesties self and Family viz. The Prince of Wales may abound with the best of Blessings Loe we what a Discovery is here confessed out of this Address of a Confoederacy between the Papists and Presbyterians of long standing in order to promote the King's Declaration of Indulgence for Liberty of Conscience or rather of the common Schisms that both those Sects are guilty of But who will think that these Presbyterians of Bristol were the only Men of such Confoederacy without their Brethren of London And if not then let any reasonable Man be judge who they are that are for the bringing in again of King James and not only so but are obliged by promise so to do and have no ways to disengage themselves unto him left but by proclaiming themselves the greatest Impostors in nature the loudest Liars and veriest Vilains living For it is manifest to all the Kingdom that how much soever in King James's time the Properties were Invaded of the Church of England men yet those of the Presbyterians Anabaptists Quakers Independents Roman-Catholicks and Popish-Churchmen were never stirred On June the
4th was presented The Humble Address of the Presbyterians of Norwich In all acknowledgments Declarations and Promises striving to overdo their Brethren of Bristol concluding and heartily crying with one Voice Let the King live for ever whence say we with Admiration Oh what a great King James man was this Presbyterian or else he was as great an Impostor On Jame the 7th was presented The Humble Address of the Loyal Subjects of Teverton in Devon-shire that is the Dissenters or Presbyterians there in all things concurring with their Brethren of Norwich only in variety of new Language somewhat different On June the 11th was presented The Humble Address of several Benchers and Barristers of the Middle-Temple Giving Thanks for the Gracious Declaration for Toleration and asserting His Majesties Royal Prerogative and wishing him a long happy and glorious Reign But what were these Lawyers Not Quakers nor Anabaptists sure Presbyterians they might be and perhaps some Papists We have only hinted the matter of Fact And rarely can be found any Divided Party without some Lawyers among them especially where a Cause is Thriving On June the 14th was presented The Humble Address of the Subjects of Plymouth Nonconformists or Presbyterians wherein appears a concurrence with their Brethren in all Acknowledgments Promises and Wishes and words only in different Language At the same time was presented The Humble Address of many Thousand Citizens of Coventry Much to the same purpose with those of Plymouth At the same time also was presented The Humble Address of the Merchants and considerable Traders of Exon. These also Noncons or Presbyterians Giving great Thanks for the Declaration of Indulgence did unanimously declare as the Resolution of one Man that when ever His Majesties Occasions should require it That the utmost drop of their Bloud and expence of their Fortunes should be at His Majesties dispose and concluded Wishing and Imploring God Almighty that so Wise Pious and Just a Monarch may be a long Ruler and Conservator in Peace and Happiness of the Kingdoms and Dominions belonging to His Imperial Crown At the same time also much to the same purpose was presented the Humble Address of the Protestant Dissenting Subjects of Berwick upon Tweed And of the Loyal Dissenting Subjects of Marlborough in Wiltshire On June the 20th the Humble Address of the Presbyterian Ministers and their Congregations in and about Dublin in Ireland was presented to King James being Transmitted to Him by the Lord Deputy the Earl of Tyrconnel a fierce Papist and against the Law put in place without taking the Test. Notwithstanding these pretended Protestants called Presbyterians in order to Support their sinful Schism of Factious Conventions by maintaining Altar against Altar against the Good Canons of the Holy General Councils did shamefully comply with the most designing Papists against all Laws of God and man to trample under foot both Law and Religion Flattering the King's Majesty like their Fellows in England with their Hyperbolick thanks for His Suppressing the good Laws of the Kingdom and promising to stand by Him with encouragements past room for fear in His Royal Breast And yet loe how much it is since come to pass that through the Treachery of these Promises His Flattered and Deluded Majesty hath been utterly overwhelmed with endless Fears and desperate Hopes On June the 25th was presented the Humble Address of several Dissenting Ministers that is Presbyterians of the West part of Somerset-shire proclaiming His Majesties transcendent Goodness and wishing him the Choicest of all Blessings in Heaven and Earth that is never to be interrupted in His Reign by His Highness the Prince of Orange or any other Mortal breathing but that His Reign may be long and Prosperous and to be had in remembrance to all Generations c. On July the 1st was presented the Humble and Thankful Address of the most Loyal Subjects that is the Presbyterians of Kings-bridge in Devonshire Thanking and Promising like their Fellows And on July the 9th was presented another of the fame from the Loyal Subjects Nonconforming Presbyterians in and about York And another of the same from those of Malden Cogshal Chelmsford Braintree Witham and Halsted in Essex This was stuffed with very much of affected Language Acknowledging Miraculous Providences preserving His Majesty by Sea and Land as it were on purpose to suppress and stifle the good Laws of this Kingdom Which act agreeing with these Mens Lusts though against the Wisdom and Sense of the whole Kingdom met in Parliament these do stile to do great Services designed of the Almighty to be done by Him And this they stile the most Melodious Harp to Charm all evil Spirits that many other Princes had no skill to use c. Which Passages whether they savor more of affected Nonsense or of a sort of Blasphemous Flattery by calling Good Evil or Evil Good I leave to the Readers Censure On July the 12th was presented The Humble Address of the Loyal Subjects or Presbyterians of Wellingborough Kettering Rothwell Wellford and Creaton in Northampton-shire Promising Admiring Flattering c. as the rest But especially magnifying His Majesties Royal word though he was a Papist and promising to men by Papists reputed Hereticks as the Laws of the Medes and Persians unalterable On July the 17th were presented three Presbyterian Addresses whereof one from South Molton and another from Ashburton in Devonshire and a third from the Shire Town of Northampton Promising after the old rate excepting that that from Northampton kept more within compass of Moderation than any which had gone before On July the 23d came in the Humble Address of the Loyal Subjects otherwise Presbyterians of the Province of Munster in Ireland Transmitted by the Earl of Tyrconnel And another from the County of Essex Both full of Flatteries as before On July the 26th was presented from the Noncon Ministers of Lanca-shire the like Flattering Address to His Majesty And on the 30th of the same came in another of the Noncons of the Wapentake of Loynsdale in the same County also stufft with the like Flatteries And on August the 2d came in the like from the Presbyterians of Colchester Promising to answer His Majesties transcendent Grace toward them with as constant Obedience towards Him Wishing and Praying for all the Divine Beatitudes of God to be poured on His Majesty and Royal Family On August the 9th was presented the Humble Address of all the Presbyterian Ministers in Scotland Promising to become Loyal Subjects yea though against all their Practices and Principles to the contrary the King being at the same time a known Papist On August the 13th came in the Address of the Protestant Dissenters of Plymouth Acknowledging and Promising much after the rate of those of Essex Mart Towns And another at the same time from Sheffeild in York-shire not without its Flatteries Another Aug. 18th of the same Stamp from Cockermouth in Cumberland And another at the same time from Leathward in the same County
But that of the Dissenting Merchants and Trades-men in and about London exceeded at the same time exceeded for Flattery and Blasphemy comparing King James a known Popish Prince to Moses and our Poenal Laws to the Yoak Slavery and Bondage of Aegypt and worse than that And that of the Dutiful and Obedient Subjects of Chichester comparing the King's Act of Indulgence with the greatest acts of Wisdom and extolling it unto the Skies And that of the Freemen of Bath August the 22d Acknowledging the Kings undoubted Prerogative by His Gracious Declaration to stifle the force of Law which they call consistent with true Piety were notoriously Flattering On August the 25th was presented the conceited Humble Address of the Dissenting Protestants of Romsey Ringwood Fordingbridge and Christ-Church in Hant-shire fond and full of Flattery On August the 29th was brought forth the Address of Worcester Presbyterian Ministers and of the Master-Builders and other Artificers about London And of the Protestant Dissenters about Shrewsbury And of the Peaceable Dissenters of Namptwich Wem and Whit-church in Shrop-shire And of the Protestant Dissenters of Oswestree in the same County All bespeaking the Common Language of their Fellows September the 1st came forth the Addresses of the Dissenters of Chester Of the Loving Subjects called Presbyterians of Macclesfeild And September the 8th of the Loyal Subjects the Stroudwater Clothiers in Gloucester-shire And of the Free-men of the Borough of Banbury and of the Inhabitants of Dorchester And September the 12th of the Protestant Dissenters of Oxford-shire And on September the 15th of the Presbyterian Ministers of Derby and Nottingham-Shires All full of Flattery and promising dutiful Obedience On September the 22d came out the Address of the Presbyterian Ministers of Edenburg and Canongate starting this New Doctrine that there is no inconsistency betwixt true Loyalty and Presbyterian Principles c. And yet time hath since shewn the quite contrary from the same Ministers On September the 29th the thankful Address of the Protestant Dissenters of Salisbury the Devizes Cane Chippenham Westbury Warmister Throw-bridge and Bradford in Wiltshire All speaking after the same Canting way of flattery The The Humble Address of the Electors of Ladgeshal in Wiltshire at the same time promised always to choose such Members as should be Faithful and Serviceable to the Crown that is unto the Popish Interest the King being a known Papist At the same time also the Addresses of the Loyal Subjects of Andover Whit-church and Clotford bespeak the old Language of Flattery And that of the Subjects of Cirencester in Gloucester-shire coming forth at the same time promising to choose such Members as shall comply with His Majesty in putting down Poenal Laws and by consequence promote Popery Also at the same time the Address of the Noncons of Reading Abbington and Newbury And another of the Presbyterians of Nottingham Also October the 6th the Address of the Loyal Subjects the Combers Weavers and other Labourers of Taunton in Somerset-shire Also October the 17th of the Presbyterian Ministers and their Congregation in East Somerset-shire Bath Shipton Froom Bruton Wincaunton Milburn Frary Inscomb And another from the truly Loyal Subjects of Honiton in Devon-shire Also another from the Loyal Subjects of Pembrook Carmarthen Cardigan and the Town of Swanzey in Glamorgan-shire Presbyterian Ministers Independents and Anabaptists with their Congregations Also another of the Dutiful Subjects the Noncons of Kingston upon Thames Also another from the Dutiful Dissenting Subjects of Cambridge Also another from the Presbyterian Subjects of Hull and of two numerous Congregations there Also another from Weobly in Hereford shire Also another from the the Loyal and Faithful Subjects of Portsmouth All promising Mountains of Obedience and extolling His Indulgence whereof those of Hull and Weobly do much exceed On October the 24th followed the Addresses of the Presbyterians of King's Lynne and of the Noncon Ministers of Dorset-shire And on November the 3d. the Impatient but most Loyal Subjects the Free holders and others of Chard in Somerset-shire On November the 14th the Presbyterians of Maidstone On November the 21st the Dissenting Subjects of Lewes in Sussex and the Protestant Dissenting Subjects of Canterbury in Kent And of the Obedient Dissenters of Tenterden Cranbrok and Staplehurst in Kent On December the 1st the Ministers of the Gospel in New-England and the Loyal Inhahabitants of Hertford did bring forth their several Addresses of Thanks and promises of Obedience and all possible good Wishes Whereof those of Hertford promised to choose Members for Parliament as should be acceptable to His Majesty and supporters of His Prerogative On December the 15th several Ministers Dissenters of Leicester-shire were the last which presented their Flattering Address unto His Majesty King James the Second Now these Presbyterians are a new Sect of Schismaticks Introduced by Mr. John Calvin at Geneva from whence they have spread their Doctrines into Germany and France and into Scotland and also into England And are so called from the Parity of their Clergy being all Presbyters without any Bishops or Superintendants among them And are a People generally affecting Government by a Common-wealth and hating Monarchy in the State as well as in the Church And as appears by their Writings and Practices they hold with Papists and Jesuits that Kings may be Excommunicated and Deposed and in case of a Corrupt Prince they hold Rebellion to be no Crime Buchanan de jure Regni and the practices of the late Wars of the Parliament 1641. against their King Charles the First The first who attempted to introduce this Presbyterian Schism was Aerius who was therefore Branded by the Church for a Schismatick But being nipp'd in the Bud in those days he had no Disciples Howbeit this Presbyterianism is a Rent from the Church opposing all the Six first General Councils which do forbid any Presbyter in contempt of his Bishop to gather any separate Congregation of his own Can. Apost xxxii Nicaeni Concil Can. 16. Arelatens Concil Can. 19. Gangren Concil Can. 6. Antiochen Concil Can. 5. Carthaginens Concil ii Can. 11. And forbid any Bishop to be Ordained without three Bishops and any Presbyter or Deacon to be Ordained without one Bishop present Nicaeni Concil ii Can 4. Can. 6. Can. Apost 1 2 7. Ant. Concil Can. 9. The Canons of these General Councils of the Holy Primitive times are the Bonds of the Church which whosoever breaks is a Schismatick And there can be no pretence of Conscience to justifie Schism but the Magistrate ought to punish it And though Liberty of Conscience ought to be allowed yet no Liberty of Schism And though in case the Magistrate shall dispense with the punishment of Schism and we know not under God who shall call him to account for such Neglect Yet is it a sin which God will certainly Punish and therefore woe be unto those Flatterers who in such Cases do call Evil Good and Good Evil Next after that of the Presbyterian Ministers was
and Bishops of St. Asaph Ely Chichester Bath and Wells Peterborough and Bristol were Summoned before the Lords of the Council and after Appearance were committed to the Tower June 8th but Bailed out came to their Tryal and were Acquitted unto the great joy of the People though to the great Grief of all Addressers During these times were strict enquiries made after all Ministers who refused to read the King's Declaration in their Churches by the Lords Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Affairs but the Chancellors in most parts delaying the Returns farther time was given But e'er the day appointed came no a new face of Affairs happen'd About these times also came in new Addresses thick and three-fold congratulating for the Birth of the Prince of Wales But in these Addresses the several Pillars of Popery appeared not distinctly as before But in all Corporations Grand Juries and meetings of Justices which at that time were fo far Purged as most of them were either Papists or Popishly inclined or Anabaptists Presbyterians Quakers or Independents All which promoting the Design Addresses innumerable ceased not until the King himself Addressed beyond Sea But at length news arrived of His Highness the Prince of Orange preparing as if he would Invade England whence King James being immediately smitten with a sudden astonishment sent for His Pillars about him the Presbyterian Ministers the Independents the Anabaptists the Quakers the Roman-Catholicks and the Popishly inclined who all protested that they believed the Prince of Wales to be undoubtedly his Son And one Dr. Bates being Spokesman for the Presbyterians spake with great confidence how much they were bound to believe His word and so said they all and promised to assist him to the utmost Also many or most of those Ministers Presbyterian or Independent who had fled into Holland for shelter because of the Duke of Monmouth's or the Earl of Argyle's Insurrections wherein they had been concerned had returned home and laid themselves at the King's Foot and were admitted to kiss his Hand and were esteemed White Boys Some also of the Gentlemen returned and became great Sticklers of King James but the preparations from Holland damp'd all For King James Drooping in Spirit all His Pillars could not keep up His Heart For on the last or September the Bishop of London was restored to his Dioecess On October the 2d came forth the general Pardon and the Charter was restored to the City On the 5th the Ecclesiastical Commission was Dissolved And on the 12th the Bishop of Winchester had a Commission to restore the Rights of Magdalen Colledge Oxford Whence followed the restitution and Fellows On the 17th all Rights were restored to the Corporations Hence all the Pillars of Popery beginning to reel and totter on November the 5th His Highness the Prince of Orange Landed But after some face of Resistance for some time appearing at Salisbury on November the 26th His Majesty returned to London from Salisbury The 11th of December he privately withdrew from White-hall On the 12th the Lord Chancellor was Taken and carried to the Tower On December the 16th King James returned to White-hall and on the next Morning went quite off And His Highness the Prince of Orange came to St. James's And thus fell flat all the Sir Pillars of Popery May it please God that Truth may flourish and that Popery appear no more But God's Will be done Let all good Men do their Duty and then Blessed shall be the Dead who Die in the Lord and their Works shall follow them