A VINDICATION OF THE True Christian RELIGION In Opposition to the Abominations of POPERY IN A SERMON Upon Ezek. 21. 24 25 26 27. Being the Text appointed by the Pope for Master Whitebread one of the Popish Conspirators to preach upon the accomplishing of their Wicked Design for taking away the Life of his Most Sacred Majesty Wherein the King the Church together with his Majesties Laws Constitutions and true Protestant Subjects of England are clearly Justified and the Pope the Church and Popish Faction of Rome are justly charged to be guilty of the like Dreadful Curse in the New as hath been denounc'd against Revolted Israel in the Old Testament By J. Thomas Rect. of S. Nicholas Preached at Cardiffe Before the Bayliffs and Aldermen there Feb. 2. 1678 9. London Printed for Isaac Cleave at the Star next to Serjeants-Inn in Chancery-Lane 1679. Imprimatur W. JANE EZEK XXI 24 25 26 27. 24. Therefore thus saith the Lord because you have made your iniquity to be remembred in that your transgressions be discovered so that in all your doings your sins do appear because I say that ye are come to remembrance ye shall be taken with the hand 25. And thou prophane wicked Prince of Israel whose day is come when iniquity shall have an end 26. Thus saith the Lord God remove the Diadem and take away the Crown this shall not be the same exalt him that is low and abase him that is high 27. I will overturn overturn overturn it and it shall be no more until he comes whose right it is and I will give it him I Thought it not unseasonable being desir'd to explain this Text which as it is credibly reported was intended by the Popish Faction to Consummate and Cloak the horrible malice of their Bloody Conspiracy against the Life of his most Sacred Majesty but conceiv'd it useful and necessary to apply it to whom most properly it appertains as well for the justifying of his Royal Person and Satisfaction of all honest Protestants as also for the Reproof and Conviction of our Adversaries I shall proceed to handle this Text with all humility of mind faithful love to Truth and due regard to the Testimonies of the Holy Scriptures with the sense of the first General Councils and the Doctrine of the Fathers in the first five or six hundred years after Christ whereby you may evidently perceive and be fully satisfied that the King and Church of England who hold the true Apostolick Faith and bind themselves by Mutual Oaths to uphold and maintain the same are not sentenced with the dreadful Curse of God as was denounced against Judah and Jerusalem but that the Antichristian Pope of Rome that Man of Sin now of a long time reveal'd with all his bloody and Idolatrous Train the Ignatian Tribe have their Judgment denounc'd in the New Testament which lingreth not and their Damnation slumbereth not I observe with S. Augustine not the Monk that all Holy Writ is so tempered by the Holy Ghost that quod alibi obscurius alibi clarius explicitur one portion of Scripture explains another and that is acknowledged by all the Orthodox to be the most certain and undoubted Exposition Wherefore that this Text may be rightly understood the Matter therein contained must for it requires it be consulted of in our Bibles in the following particulars I. The Time when this Prophecy was declar'd II. The Causes wherefore this Prophecy was declar'd III. The Event being a dreadful Curse denounced Wherein observe 1. The Authority Thus saith the Lord. 2. The Charge Thou wicked and prophane 3. The Parties Prince and People 4. The Confusion I 'll overturn c. 5. The Duration Until he comes IV. The Promise annex'd Wherein observe 1. The Kingdom of Christ promised He comes 2. His Claim Whose right it is 3. Divine Institution I will give it him Of all these in order by Gods assistance with Inferences from and Application to the whole matter I shall conclude with the uses proper for our selves to make of it And first of the Time when 1. The Time when this Prophecy was made is easily known when we look upon Ezek. 1. 1 2 3. where the Prophet gives the World to understand expresly the Year the Month and the Day the Word of the Lord came unto him Now saith he it came to pass c. in the fourth month in the fifth day of the month which was the fifth year of King Jehoiakin's Captivity the Word of the Lord came unto Ezekiel the Priest in the Land of the Caldeans c. Compare this with 2 Kin. 24. 15 16 17. verses and there you shall find that this King Jehoiakin the King of Judah was carried away to Babylon in the eighth year of his Reign and the King of Babylon made Mattaniah his Fathers Brother King in his stead and changed his name to Zedekiah insomuch that by these places of Scripture it evidently appears that Ezekiel began to prophecy much upon the midst of King Zedekiah's Reign for he reigned eleven years For by that you see that the fifth of Jehoiakin's Captivity must be the fifth of Zedekiah's Reign The Text calls this time Iniquitas Termini by an Enallage for Terminus Iniquitatis when Iniquity shall have an end that is now is the time come that all the revolt and back-slidings of Judah and Jerusalem by Idolatry Blood-shed and Prophaneness is come to remembrance and it shall now end in Zedekiah's days who shall with the people be carried Captive unto Babylon 2. The Causes wherefore this Sentence was denounc'd are twofold the first is the provocations of the people moving and incensing Gods wrath against them and to this relates the first verse of the Text which saith you have made your iniquity to be remembred and in the 23. verse next before the Text it is said But he will call to remembrance the iniquity which according to the Original may be well translated Hereby you call to remembrance that is by this contempt and disdain which you cast upon my Word in the mouth of my Prophet which seemeth to you as a false divination ver 23. you do provoke me to call to remembrance all your wickedness and the iniquity of your forefathers for this obduration of heart against my Messenger and breach of Allegiance to the King of Babylon shews what you are ver 24. So that in all your doings your sins do appear because I say that you are come to remembrance that is by this your hardness of heart and contempt of the Prophets Doctrine you force me saith the Lord to remember your Idolatry Bloodshed Prophaneness and Apostasies in all kinds all which the Prophet sets down in the next Chapter Ezek. 22. 2. The second Cause here mentioned is God provoked and expressed in these words Ye shall be taken with the hand which seems as if it were the Instrumental Cause but indeed the King of Babylon was the Instrumental Cause of their Captivity to
whose hands God delivered them up In the 23. ver it is Ye shall be taken with the hand and in the 11th ver before the Text it is call'd The Hand of the Slayer and in the 9th and 10th verses it is set forth with much fierceness A Sword a Sword is sharpned and also furbished it is furbished to make a sore slaughter by this Sword sharpned and furbished being an evident sign of Gods Wrath is signified that he was incens'd to a very great height of fierceness against them and that appears by the effects and influence it had upon them in the 7th ver Every heart shall melt and all hands shall be feeble and every spirit shall be faint and all knees shall be weak as water Alas alas when the point of Gods Sword is set against the Gates what hearts can endure or hands be strong to deal with it or in any way be able to resist it Thus we see what 's the sad and dreadful cause of mens Confusions even Gods severe anger so highly provok'd with repeated contempts and hardness of heart against his Messengers and Messages sent so sedulously to instruct them and by the Instrumental Cause of this peoples calamity the King of Babylon we also see that it often comes to pass through the anger of the Lord against his own chosen people he maketh use of and stirreth up against them the hands and hearts of Heathen and prophane people 3. The third thing to be considered in the Text is the Event i. e. the Sentence of Destruction denounced wherein we must observe these particulars 1. The Authority of it in ver 20. Thus saith the Lord. What I say and denounce against this Prince I have Gods Warrant for it saith the Prophet and that 's the reason why he omits all terms of honour to this Prince and I think he might have inlarg'd thus and say I know the Commandment of God in the Law concerning Princes Ex. 22. 8. Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Rulers of thy people for by God Kings do reign and Princes do decree Justice And that Solomon had taught saying Curse not the King no not in thy thought for his unsearchable heart is in the hand of the Lord. And Kings are the Lords Anointed ordain'd for our Nursing Fathers and therefore not to be touch'd with any violence But I am commanded by the Hand of God upon me and the Inspiration of his Spirit within me Thus saith the Lord as Saul told Samuel and Elijah told Ahab before this time Kings of Israel so I by the Word of the Lord or the Lord by me and my mouth prophesieth and saith thus against this Prince and People 2. The Charge in this Sentence is observable Thou prophane wicked You shall see these words explain'd in Jer. 52. 1 2 3. where Zedekiah is said to do that which was evil in the sight of the Lord according to all that Jehoiakin had done and Jehoiakin's Charge you will find in Jer. 22. 17. he was tax'd for Idolatry and shedding of Innocent blood by offering up Children unto Moloch for oppression and violence covetousness and prophaning holy things And this was not spoken of him alone but of all the people and of the former Ages since the revolt of Rehoboam and Jeroboam who made Israel to sin in the 4th Chap. of Ezek. 4 5. ver the Prophet was to bear the iniquity of the people for 390 days representing all the years a day for a year down from Jeroboam which time is computed by the Learned to be 390 years to the Captivity under Zedekiah 3. The Parties charged Prince and People the Prince was Zedekiah whose name had been Mattaniah as is shew'd before who now rebels against the King of Babylon that had shew'd kindness and made him King instead of Jehoiakin the People are also concern'd here for when it is said Remove the Diadem and take away the Crown by the Diadem and Crown is meant the Government and Kingdom the whole Nation the Cidarin and Corona are Royal Ornaments and by the signs Synechdochically is meant the things signified amove tolle i. e. Prophecy that the King and People shall be removed and carried captive into Babylon Haec non haec this shall not be the same i. e. this shall remain no more such a glorious Nation 4. The Confusion or Destruction denounced is to be considered which is set forth in several expressions in the Text as first Exalt him that is low that is Jehoiakin who is now low in Captivity at Babylon he shall be exalted which came to pass in the 37th year of his Captivity 2 King 25. 27 28. c. you may read how Evilmerodach King of Babylon lifted up his head and spake kindly unto him and gave him an allowance a daily rate for every day all the days of his life Abase him that is high that is Zedekiah that is high-minded and through the pride of his heart and Gods anger rebelleth against the King of Babylon shall be abased this ungrateful undutiful and disloyal Prince requites the kindness favours and great honours conferr'd upon him by the King of Babylon with Conspiracies Plots and Rebellion 2 Kin. 24. ult therefore abase him cast him off I have rejected him saith the Lord which came to pass you see in 2 Kin. 25. The City was besieged to the eleventh year of King Zedekiah and the City was broken up and all the Men of War fled by night c. and Zedekiah was taken and brought to the King of Babylon to Riblah and he gave Judgment upon him and bound him in Fetters of Brass and slew his Sons before his eyes and put out his own eyes and brought him to Babylon The next words declaring this great Confusion are I will overturn overturn it and it shall be no more that is with repeated Calamities and Judgments will I destroy it with Sword Famine and Pestilence my accustomed and usually sent Judgments I will bring it once twice and the third time to make a full end of it and it shall be no more that is not such a great terrible and glorious people any more This was fulfilled you shall see that Nebuzaradan Captain of the Guard a Servant of the King of Babylon came to Jerusalem and burnt the House of the Lord and the House of the King and all the Houses of Jerusalem and every Great Mans House burnt he with fire and broke the Walls of Jerusalem round about and carried the rest of the people away And although by the Edict of Cyrus they had Laws after the City and the Temple was rebuilt yet all was but slender and unstable as by the History of Nehemiah and Esrah doth appear and since Christ came whom they crucified at Jerusalem by the just Judgment of God upon them they were utterly abolished by Titus Vespasianus and now are become the most distressed and despicable people and Nation in the World 5. The Duration
Now the Use that every true Protestant is to make of this is to render unto God his unfeigned thanks for our most Religious King and Church of England who vow and assert and protest to stick to the true Christian Faith once delivered to the Saints which Faith hath been receiv'd in this Island of Britain 1640. and upwards i. e. ever since the latter years of Tiberius his Reign who died in the 27th year of Christ as Baronius reckons it Joseph of Arimathea and Simon Zelotes were the first Planters here and some say that Paul preached here also King Lucius in the year of Christ 169. was baptized and setled three Primates and Metropolitans one in London another in York and the third in Caerlion in Monmouthshire and ever since we have had successively Archbishops and Bishops in our Church of England whereupon this Church became to be call'd of some Anglicana filia Primogenita Ecclesie Catholica The Reform'd Christian Professors of Christs Faith were call'd Protestants first in Germany when the Doctrine of Christ by the industry of Melancthon Luther and Zuinglius prevail'd so with the Princes and Dukes there that they have unanimously agreed and protested to stick to the Reformation against superstitious Popery to their Lives and Fortunes And this Protestant Religion much upon the same time or shortly after was profess'd and established in England by King Edward the Sixth of blessed memory revived by Queen Elizabeth continued by King James and King Charles the First all of blessed memory and now maintained and defended by our most gracious Soveraign Charles the Second whom we heartily are bound to pray for may he go on and prosper and may his Royal Heart be still in Gods good hand for it to dispose it his own good way May his Royal Person both at his going out and at his coming in be now and evermore as safe Body and Soul as all the holy Angels can make him safe from all pernicious Counsels and from Counsels of falshood and wrong Use 2. To strengthen and establish us in this Religion yea though it be to the hazard and loss of Properties and Liberties Fortunes and Life it self Mat. Fear not him that kills the body but rather fear him that can destroy both body and soul in hell put on your Spiritual Armour fight the good fight of Faith and finish the good Religious course that ye have begun Consider your Case and Quarrel you contend for the Testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 12. 17. Run I say therefore the Race with patience looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of your Faith Did Scipio suffer Death for vindicating the City and Aristides Banishment for his love to Equity and was Demosthenes destroy'd for his care of his Country and shall we sink under the weight of some light afflictions which can endure but a moment for so great a Case 3. And lastly because our Enemies are watchful to take advantage and rejoyce at our miscarriages they are like Ravens and Vultures gathering to and picking at our infirmities and failings Laetetur certe priamus priamoque Creati Therefore ought we to be very cautious in all our ways and circumspect in all our actions Be wise as Serpents and harmless as Doves It is excellently observ'd of Plutarch that such living Creatures as have strong and firm Bodies and Stomacks can devour and digest Serpents and Frogs let us then quitting our selves like men of wholesome Minds strong Faith sound Principles and blameless Practises slight and digest with patience the Scandals and false Accusations of the Serpents Seed the Evil Spirits proceeding out of the Mouth of the Dragon Let us bless them that curse us and pray for them that spightfully use us And to conclude the whole matter of what hath been said as you would escape the imminent danger of the dreadful Curse of God with pernicious Confusions in this and the World to come be watchful and active against the prevailing of Popery which with the utmost rage of Persecution is unavoidably destructive to Prince and Properties Religion and Laws Liberties and Countries Families and Lives yea Souls too if we subscribe to it And as we tender the love and peace of God the integrity of the true Christian Faith profess'd publickly as once delivered to the Saints and the continuance of Pious Government by just Laws and have a due regard for the safety of his Majesty and for the strength and preservation of the Kingdom from Forreign Innovations let us without wavering stick to the Protestant Religion in which we have been bred and born and God out of his abundant Grace grant we may be able with courage and comfort in the Holy Ghost to die in the same in which if we continue through Faith in Christ we shall assuredly find Salvation FINIS Page 15. Line 23. for provoke God safest read provoke God fastest BOOKS Printed and Sold by Isaac Cleave at the Star next to Serjeants-Inn in Chancery-lane THe Church of Rome unmasked or her false Principles briefly detected with some Reasons of so many retaining or returning to Communion with her and the great danger of everlasting destruction that such do run themselves upon Written by a Learned Divine by way of Letter to a Friend in the Country The Book of Rates now used in the Sin-Custom-House of the Church and Court of Rome containing Bulls Dispensations and Pardons for all manner of Villanies and Wickednesses with the several sums of Money to be paid for them To which is added the new Creed of the Church of Rome containing the Articles of their Faith by Anthony Egane B. D. late Confessor of the Kingdom of Ireland but now of the Reformed Religion England's Improvement Revived in a Treatise of all manner of Husbandry and Trade by Land and Sea plainly discovering the several ways of improving all sorts of waste and barren Ground and enriching all Earths with the Natural Quality of all Lands and the several Seeds and Plants which most naturally thrive therein Together with the manner of Planting all sorts of Trees with Directions to make Walks Groves Orchards Gardens Also the way for ordering of Cattel c. By Jo. Smith