till he could raise his passion by which speech he for some time eluded their cruelty but by and by a Messenger coming from the Palace as from the King he was forced to deliver him into the hands of the Guard who were to carry him before the King but they in the way first stabbed Lavardinus with daggers and then threw him over the Mill bridge into the River The same fortune and in the same place ran Claudius Gaudimdus an excellent Mositian in our Age who set the Psalms of David as they were put into verse in the Mother-tongue by Clemens Marot and Theodoret Beza to divers pleasant tunes as they are now sung in the publick and private meetings of the Protestants Briolius a Gentleman who was Tutor to Marquess Conte in his childhood venerable for his grey head being now an old man was likewise slain in the embraces of his Pupil who stretched forth his arms and opposed his own body to the blows Truly lamentable was the spectacle of Franciscus Nâ—mpar Cammoâ—dius who had lodged in that neighbourhood but which fortune sporting after her manner mingled with an event of unexpected joyfulness he with his two sons whom he loved with a paternal affection being taken in bed by the murderers who prosecuted him with his children not through an hatred of his Religion but through hope of gain was slain with one of his sons the other being all bloudy with the bloud that flowed upon him saving himself from their blows as he could at that tender age for he was hardly twelve years old by the interposition of the dead bodies dissembling himself dead he was at last left by them for dead a little after more 〈◊〉 flocking to the house for prey of whom some commended the fact as well done for not only wild beasts but their whelps are altogether to be destroyed others that had more humanity said this might be lawful to be done upon the Father as guilty but the innocent off spring which perhaps would never take the same courses ought to be spared Among those that came toward the evening of that day when as one did highly detest the fact and said God would be the avenger of such impiety the boy stretching his limbs and a little lifting up his head gave signs that he was alive and when he asked him who he was he answered not unadvisedly that he was the Son and Brother of the slain not telling his name concerning which when he was asked again he answered that he would tell his name if he would lead him where he desired and withal asked him that he would take care to conduct him to the King's Armory for he was near of kin to Biron Master of the Ordnance or Artillery nor should he lose his reward for so great a benefit which thing he carefully performed This James Nompar that is his name with great gratitude rewarded the man brought to him by the Divine Providence and afterwards married the Daughter of Biron and is now chief of a Noble Family in Aquitania Godfry Caumont his Unckle being dead and leaving only one Daughter Being raised by the King to great honours of which he carried himself worthy as Colonel of the King's Life-guard and Governour of Bearne he seems to be preserved from that danger by the singular Grace of God that he might by his numerous off spring which he had by his Wife propagate that Family that was reduced to a few and by his virtue add the highest ornament to the honours of his Ancestors The same day were slain these Protestants of great note Loverius thrown out of a window into the high-way Montamarius Montalbertus Roboreus Joachinus Vassorius Cunerius Rupius Cobombarius Velavaurius Gervasius Barberius Francurius Chancellor to the King of Navar Hieronimus Grolotius Governour of Aurleance and Calistus his base Brother who were both inhumanely dragged about the streets and at last cast into the River by the instigation of those who gaped after his office and goods Stephanus Cevalerius Pruneus the King's Treasurer in Poictou a man of great integrity and one that was very solicitous for the good of the Common-weal who had been the principal mover for the building the Stone-bridge of Vienne laid at Eraldi-castrum was by certain cut-throats sent by Stephanus Fergo Petauderius who sought after his Treasurer-ship after the payment of a great sum of mony cruelly murdered and thrown into the River and Patanderius is by the commendation of Monpenserius whose affairs he managed put into his office Also Dionysius Perrotus the Son of Aemilius Senator of Paris a man not less renowned for his integrity than his knowledge in law worthy of such a Father underwent the same fortune 19. Nor did they spare those whom Navar being advised so to do by the King had brought into the Palace for they were by the King's command made to come down from their Masters chambers into the Court-yard and being brought out of the Palace their swords being taken from them they were many of them presently slain at the Gate others were hurried to the slaughter without the Palace Among these were Pardallanius Sammartinus Bursius and Armannus Claromontius Pilius famous for his late valour in defending the Temple of St. John He when he was led out to be butchered standing before the heaps of the slain is said to cry out Is this the King's faith Are these his promises Is this the peace But thou O most great and most good God behold the cause of the oppressed and as a just Judge avenge this perfidy and cruelty and putting off his Coat which was very rich gave it to a certain Gentleman of his acquaintance that stood by Take this from me as a remembrance of my unworthy death which gift he not accepting under that condition whiles Pilius said these things he was thrust into the side with a spear of which wound he fell down and died Leiranus now grievously wounded but escaping out of the hands of the murderers rushing into the Queen of of Navars chamber and hiding himself under her bed was preserved and being carefully commended by Margaret to the King's Physitians was healed Bellonarius formerly Tutor to the King of Navar having a long time lien under the Gout was slain in his bed The King received to his grace Grammontanus Lord of Gascoign Johannes Durforlius Duralius Joachimus Roaldus Gamarius and Buchavarius having promised to be faithful to him and they were worth their word Then the King calls Navar and Conde and tells them that from his youth for many years the publick peace had been disturbed by often renewed wars to the great damage of his affairs but now at last by the grace of God he had entred into such a course as would extirpate all causes of future wars That Coligny the author of these troubles was slain by his command and that the same punishment was taken throughout the City upon those wicked men who were infected with the poison of superstition That
Parliament And now the pertinacious industry of the Workmen had almost beat its way through the middle of the Wall and they seemed not so much to want good minds to the work as time when as the Parliament was put off till the Month of October Then was Despair turned into Joy with certain confidence that they should effect their design and it was observed that whiles they brithly beat upon the Wall there was a noise heard upon the other side of the Wall Thither Fawks is sent to enquire out the cause He brings word back that there was a Cellar under Ground from whence they were removing Cole he beinst lately Dead who had hired that Cellar for his own use Therefore the Conspirators thinking that Cellar more commodious by the help of Piercy let out their other Houses and bring all their Materials hopes into this Such was the opportuneness of the place for it was almost directly under the Royal Throne that so seasonable an accident did make them perswade themselves that God did by a secret Conduct favour their Attempt These things happened about the Feast of Easter The Gun-powder is at their leisure carried into the Cellar from Catesby's House over against the Palace where it had been with great care and diligence brought together First Twenty Barrels are layed in and covered with Billets and Faggots Then the Conspirators being sure of the good event began to consult what was to be done after they had effected their Plot First they consider'd of taking the Prince who about that time they came to understand would not come to the Parliament with his Father contrary to what they concluded in the beginning and against him they plotted destruction as one that was no Friend of theirs and they had found out a way for it The next care was for Supplies of Money concerning which they thought they had sufficiently provided They had also provided that the Peers and Gentry addicted to Popery should as much as might be be exempt from danger Lastly they debated concerning calling in Forreign Princes to their assistance but being doubtful of their faith and secresie they thought fit not to send to them till they had accomplished their design for commonly such Actions are not commended but by their Event They passed their Judgments upon them severally the Spaniards seemed to be more opportune for them but too remote and too slow in raising Forces The French was near but fearful and suspected for the close league he held with the Dutch The most present help was from Flanders from whence they might most commodiously expect Supplies for which Stanly was designed the Captain or Commander Moreover that they might the more easily deceive the world and least by their passing to and fro to those places they should give some cause of Suspition they go their several wayes some into the Countrey some a great way out of the Island waiting for the time appointed for the Execution Fawks went into Flanders that he might acquaint Stanly and Owen with the whole Matter nor did he return into England till the latter end of August Catesby that he might not be idle in the mean time gets Francis Tresham and Everard Digby to his Party agreeing with them for Supply of Money and the former promisd Two thousand pounds of English Money the other Fifteen hundred Piercy that was prodigal at another mans charge promised whatsoever he could scrape together of the Revenues of the E. of Northumberland In the mean time Ten more Barrels of Gun-powder are added to the former and four more greater than the rest upon suspition least by the moistness of the place the former should have been spoiled and again they are all covered over with a great heap of stones and wood And now the time of the Parliaments convening drew on which was again put off till the Nones of November 5 Nov. Therefore the Conspirators did again repeat their consultation and some were appointed who on the same day that the Enterprize was to be Executed should seize upon the Lady Elizabeth the Kings eldest Daughter who was brought up under the Lord Farrington in Warwick-shire under pretence of an Hunting Match which Everard Digby who was privy to the matter had appointed with great preparation at Dunchurch Her they decreed publickly to Proclaim Queen They taking to themselves the Titles of the Assertors of liberty did nothing less at first than profess themselves the Authors the Fact * They purposed when the blow was first given but the success thereof doubtful to father the fact on the Puritans Fuller v. Foulis p. 690. or make any mention of Religion to the People but purposed to hold that in suspense for some time and by a Proclamation published in the Queens name to redress great grievances for the present and feed them with hopes of more for the future till the Faction growing strong either by favour or severity of new Edicts they might draw the People to their Parts and Obedience and the odiousness of their fact so by degrees discovering it self would in time and together with their good success grow off Nor came it in so long time into the minds of any of them how many Innocents all about them how many Infants how many that agreed with them in Religion how many who perhaps had deserved well of them that vast ruine would over-whelm Now all things are ready and the last Scene was going to be Acted when as by the unsearchable Judgment of God one who desired to save another brought destruction both to himself and his Associates There were ten dayes to the Parliament when upon Saturday in the Evening a Letter was brought as from a Friend to the Lord Monteagle but by whom written is uncertain and by whom brought unknown By it he was warned to forbear meeting at the Parliament for the two first dayes of the Session forasmuch as some great and sudden and unsuspected mischief did threaten that Meeting The hand of him that wrote it was unknown and the writing it self purposely so ordered that it could hardly be read No date to the Letter no subscription no inscription put to it and the whole composure of words ambiguous The Lord Monteagle was doubtful what he should do therefore late in the night he goeth to Robert Cecil Earl of Salisbury and chief Secretary to the King and giving him the Letter freely declared to him how he came by it and how little he valued it Cecil did not make much more account of it and yet thought it was not altogether to be neglected and Therefore shewed it to the chief Councellors Charles Howard Chief Admiral of the Seas the Earl of Nottingham to the Earls of Worcester and Northampton The thing being considered of amongst them although at first sight the Letter seemed of no great moment yet they thought that not the slightest discovery ought to be despised especially where the safety of the King was
Confession so much as for government and the averting of imminent evils which he illustrates with this Instance A Malefactor Maleficus confesses that himself or some other hath put Powder or something else under such an entry or groundsel and except it be taken away the house will be burnt the Prince destroyed and as many as go into or out of the City will come to great mischief or hazard and then for some reasons resolves for the Negative contrary to the common sense and opinion of almost all the Doctors as he there acknowledgeth whereof this is one viz. because Pope Clement VIII by his decree had commanded the Superiors of the Regulars to be most diligently cautious that they should not make use of that knowledge of sins which they had by confession for exterior government which shews saith he that the Pope doth most approve that opinion which will have Confessors so to carry themselves as if they had heard nothing at all in confession At length from this Doctrine he draws these Consequences The 1. to this purpose If one Malefactor confessing among the circumstances of his sin discover his partner in it and the other also presently comes and confesses but conceals that sin wherein he was partner with the other the Confessor may not use this knowledge to examine him concerning that sin which his partner hath confessed The 2. is That a Priest may not no not for fear of death threatned him reveal this crime to any one and that in that case he may say that he knows not nor hath heard any thing of such sin because in truth he doth not know nor hath heard it as he is a man or as a member of the Common-wealth but as a Priest Yea he might say that he hath not heard it in Confession or that the accused person hath not confessed this to him if he do but the while think in his mind viz. so that I may reveal it and all these he may confirm upon Oath Nor may the Priest be compelled to reveal it by any one no not by the Pope much less by any other This passage hath so many suspicious circumstances both in it and concurring with it as all together may be equivalent to a full and direct proof of what is said that Del Rio was privy to the contrivuance of this horrible Powder Plot if not himself the Contriver of it 6. For 1. if we consider the Nature of the Instance nothing could have been better fitted to express this plot of blowing up the Prince and People together more agreeing in all particulars by burning a house not firing a City destroying Prince and People King and Parliament not the Prince alone or also with his family and houshold only by powder not by poison assasination or open rebellion by laying it under a house not under a bed as Moody proposed and all this in so unusual and extraordinary a case when instances enow and mischievous enough might have been given of more ordinary and usual designs and when he had other Doctors who write concerning the same question under his consideration who must needs have put other instances into his mind had not this been studied by him and here made use of upon design If any of those Doctors whom he there cites give any such instance he may reasonably be absolved from all suspicion which otherwise will lie very heavy upon him But it may be thought that perhaps he did this in conformity to the subject which he handles Magick and therefore makes his instance of a Witch or Magitian and of Powders and placed under a groundsel or entry But first were there not many other instances of notorious wickednesses more usual or frequently done or reported to be done by such Artists And secondly was ever any such thing done or pretended or reported to have been done by Art Magick We may therefore reasonably suspect that this instance was not devised meerly for conformity to his subject of Magick but rather proposed under that notion and those terms for a blind a little to disguise and hide the design from such as having no thoughts of such enterprises might easily be diverted from any supition of it while yet it might be plain enough to such minds as were sufficiently disposed to practise such projects 7. And 2. if we consider the Case wherein this Instance is given viz. Of Concealing Confessions his Resolution of it and that contrary to the common sense and opinion of almost all the Doctors as he confesseth And lastly his Confirmation of his resolution by the Authority of the then present Pope and directing the practice of it by equivocation this may direct us to his End and Design in divulging both this Instance and in this very case his Doctrine and Resolution that confirmed by the Popes Authority for concealing Confessions viz. By the one to insinuate and intimate the Contrivance and by the other to encourage and promote the Practise and Execution of it by confirming the Confessors in Concealing Confessions and encouraging the others to the more security of not being discovered To which end and purpose also was probably the Treatise of Equivocation which was found in Treshoms lodging V. Foulis pag. 700. then very seasonably written and designed which was seen and allowed by Garnet v. Proceedings I. And this with Del Rio so mutually conspiring in a tendency and subserviency to the same end do confirm the conjecture of the design of both And it seems very consonant to the subtile practises of the Jesuites rather in this sly secret manner underhand to insinuate this project than directly and expresly to have proposed it so that it had been no great wonder if it had been longer before it had been apprehended and put in execution and it is not improbable that Garnet V. Foulis pag. 695 696. Abbot Antilogia cap. 11. who had been ingaged in former Conspiracies and held correspondence in Flanders might long before have knowledge of it though he would seem to have received his first knowledge of it by Creswel from Catesby 8. Again 3. if with the form and composure of this instance we shall compare the mysterious and aenigmatical form and composure of some other things relating to this conspiracy which are now plain enough to be understood the plain explication of those will teach us how to unriddle the mystery of this and direct us how to expound it Such was that form of Prayer which was taught to some of their party some time before the intended execution of this Plot for the prosperity of their Labours and downfal of Heresie in these words alluding to the working in the Mine and blowing up of the House Prosper Lord their pains that labour in thy cause day and night Let Heresie vanish like smoak Let the memory of it perish with a crack like the ruine and fall of a broken house Foulis pag. 698. And that very Letter which was the occasion
the Confederates and all things here being again made ready against the Queen is sent to acquaint the Pope with their preparations which he approving presently sends him to the King of Spain year 1571 promising that if need be himself will go to their Assistance and will pawn All the Goods of the Apostolick See the Chalices Crucifixes and Sacred Vestments Hereupon the Spaniard presently gives express Command that Vitellius with an Army shall Invade England and the Pope prepares his money in the Low-Countries But it pleased God that a messenger coming over with Letters to the Queen of Scots the Spanish Ambassadour Norfolk and others being intercepted the whole business is discovered Norfolk and others committed and all their Preparations and Hopes disappointed Which says Catena the Pope took sadly and the Spaniard condoled who said before Cardinal Alexandrino the Popes Nephew not long before sent to him from the Pope that no Conspiracy was ever more advisedly undertaken nor with greater unanimity and constancy concealed Which in so long time was revealed by none of the confederates and that the forces might easily have been transported from the Low-Countries in the space of twenty four hours which might have suprised the Queen and the City of London restored Religion and setled the Queen of Scots in her Throne especially when as Th. Stucley an English fugitive had taken upon him at the same time with 3000. Spanish Souldiers to reduce all Ireland to the Obedience of Spain and with one or two scouting Ships to fire the English Navy The Duke of Norfolk was brought to his Tryal the 16. of January following and Condemned and the 2. of June after beheaded The Pope in the mean time the first of May being called to his tryal and to give an account for these things before a far other Supreme Throne of Justice year 1572 than what he pretended himself here placed in 27. Before we leave this Pope Pius v. we may take notice of two notable horrid exploits about his time practised in our neighbour Countries The first in Scotland the murther of the Lord Darby King James his father in the first year of his Papacy and the house wherein he was murthered at the same time blown up with Gun-powder in relation to which Thuanus tells us Ad haec Pontificis ut passim jactabatur Caroli Lotaringi Cardinalis Literis incitabantur nam cum per eum a Pontifice petiissent pecuniam ad instaurandam majorum religionem responsum fuerat frustra ipsos conari nisi sublatis iis per quos stabat ne res exitum sortiretur c. lib. 40. ad finem Anni 1566. The other in France that barbarous Massacre at Paris which though not executed till near two moneths after this Popes death yet it is observable that Cicarella notes in his life Ad Regem Galliarum ejusque Ministros optima misit documenta ad eosdem Hereticos Regno illo exturbandos and what these documenta were we may the better guess if we take notice of the temper and employments of this man a most severe austere man who had with so much rigor exercised the business of the Inquisition wherein he was imployed as made many dread his severity when he was chosen Pope And the same Authour notes his irreconciliabile in Hereticos odium though he looks upon it as matter of Commendation But how exceeding mad he was against them condemning and burning even for familiarity with Sectaries or those that were suspected such may be seen at large in the Noble Author de Thou lib. 39. pr. And in both these exploits is observable the Care that was taken to cast the Odium of the fact upon others But to return to our own story 28. After the death of this man the thirteenth of the same moneth was Gregory XIII chosen Pope And although with their late disappointment their party also in England was much broken and disabled for the future the chief heads being taken off yet was it not long before this Pope was also engaged in the same Combination Which was first begun between him and Don John of Austria base brother to the King of Spain year 1576 and by him about that time appointed Governour of the Low-Countries and in pursuance thereof the Pope wrote to the King of Spain But Don John's Exploits were prevented by his own death before ever he could put them in practice 1578. Thu. lib. 65. Camd. hoc An. Yet the like Consultations were soon resumed by the Pope and the King himself and now England and Ireland both are to be invaded together and Th. Stucley whom the Pope had honoured with the Title of Marquess Earl Viscount and Baron of several eminent places in Ireland is to command the forces thither the Pope providing men and the Spainard money But this storm was blown over into Africa where Stucley and part of his men were slain However the next year is sent into Ireland from Spain James Fitz-Morice with some Companies of Souldiers 1579. Thu. lib. 68. and with them from the Pope Nic. Sanders our Author above mentioned with Authority Legatine and a consecrated Banner 1580. Thu. lib. 70. and to them the years after San Joseph with seven hundred Italian and Spanish Souldiers and arms for five thousand more to arm the Irish and some store of money these being but * Bacons Observations the forerunners of a greater Power which by treaty between the King of Spain and the Pope should have followed and the Pope to animate the Irish sends them his Breve with Apostolical Benediction wherein reciting that he had of late years by his Letters exhorted them to the Recovery of their Liberty Ofullenan Hist Cathol Hibern and Defence of it against the Hereticks c. and that they might more cheerfully do it had granted to all such as should be any ways assisting therein a Plenary Pardon and Forgiveness of All their Sins he now grants to all such whom he also exhorts requires and urges in the Lord to indeavour to help against the said hereticks the same Plenary Indulgence and Remission of their Sins which those who fight against the Turk do obtain And to this expedition the Pope promised a Cruciat and 1000000 Aurea But all these with their Irish Confederates the Earl of Desmond his brothers and their party were very happily defeated by the Queens forces at the very instant when divers ships upon the Sea were bringing them more forces and assistance and the Popes Legate Sanders died miserably of hunger and as some say mad upon the ill success of the Rebellion 29. About this time the Seminaries began to swarm and because the Bull of Pius v. had not yet sufficiently produced its intended and expected effect even with a great part of the Papists themselves Sanders p. 372. Camd. p. 180. who seeing the neighbour Popish Princes and Provinces not to abstein from their usual commerce with the Queen continued still in
Agreement in Doctrine with the ancient Church we may hence also conclude whether this Church of Rome hath continued a true and faithful Church of Christ or hath indeed made that defection which was foretold should succeed the dissolution of the Roman Empire as the Christians in all ages have unanimously and universally understood that which should be taken away and become the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth which is expresly said of the mystical Babylon the great City which then reigned over the Kings of the Earth the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints whether there reigneth not that man of sin the son of Perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God above all nominal Gods as Kings and Emperors or that is worshipped or reverenced so that he as God Cum super Imperatorem non sit nisi solus Deus qui fecit Imperatorem dum se Donatus super Imperatorem extollit jam quasi hominum excesserat metas ut se ut Deum non hominem aestimaret c. Optatus l. 3. which with more reason may be said of the Pope sitteth in the Temple the Church of God though adulterous and apostate Church shewing himself that he is a God above all earthly Gods as Kings and Emperors and the immediate Vicar of the true God For the Doctrine of the Primitive and Ancient Church how contrary that is to these Principles and Practices every one may see in the sacred Scriptures and it is almost vulgarly known from the writings of the ancient Christians commonly cited as to obedience to temporal Princes and Magistrates But be this never so evident I know it will be hard to perswade one who hath been trained up in the Popish Principles to believe it Not only the prejudice of Education but more particularly the opinion of the Perseverance and Infallibility of the Church which above all things from their tender years is deeply rooted in their minds will be a great obstacle and stumbling-block in their way But let them take heed that a too particular application of a general promise do not deceive them The Jews had as express promises as any they can pretend and were as zealous as they are now and yet were deceived with lying words saying the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord as they do now the Church the holy Catholick Apostolick Roman Church 12. Here also such Princes as having escaped these corruptions will again subject their necks to the Roman yoak may see what a snare they involve themselves in and what a slavery they must lie under to the Papal Tyranny how dangerous it is to have their peoples minds infected with these Principles and their consciences directed by such Guides And here King James's Defence of the Right of Kings sub fin if there be any truth in that speech of Cardinal Perron That so long as the Kings of France have kept good terms of concord with the Popes they have been the more prosperous and on the contrary when they have jarred with the Holy See they have been infested with boisterous storms and tempests here I say if this be true they may perceive the true reason of it viz. in the one case they were free from the molestation of the Popes and their Emissaries and in the other they were infested by them But how little truth there is in that assertion may partly appear by what hath here been written and is also proved by our late learned King James in his solid confutation of it by instances not only in France but other Countries also And in England who hath been more prosperous and succesful than she who wholly cast off the Pope's authority and would not be courted to so much as to admit his Legate and who more unhappy than they who have too much complyed with them 13. Lastly we must here take notice of that which cannot but administer matter of grief to all true and cordial Christians and that is the scandal of these Principles and Practices the occasion which thereby is given to those who are not well acquainted with the Doctrines and Practices of the ancient genuine Christians nor have well considered the great evidences of the truth and excellence of the Christian Religion to suspect it to be no other than what they apprehend it to be in the lives and actions of such spurious professors of it viz. a meer Imposture with great subtilty and artifice managed for secular ends and the injury which thereby is done to the holy Martyrs when we shall see Rebels seditious Traytors and Parricides honoured and magnified as Martyrs and that not by the vulgar only but by their Popes themselves and Cardinals by their learned Writers in printed Books and Preachers from their Pulpits nay when we shall see Relations in printed Books and representations by printed Cuts and Pictures of most horrible persecutions and martyrdoms pretended to be suffered where in truth was no such matter what a tentation may this give to weak unlearned or prejudiced minds to suspect that the ancient holy Martyrs either suffered not at all or if they did were only such turbulent spirits or poor deluded souls as many of these Nor hath the holy providence of God escaped their prophane abuse by entitling it to such trifles as a prudent Historian would disdain to mention and palpable lyes as may be seen in Sanders Ribadeneira and other such like Writers To which if we add the abuse of miracles by lyes and forgeries we shall find that the gates of Hell that is the counsels have prevailed against these degenerate successors of Peter with a witness Nor could a more effectual means be devised for the subversion of Christianity and all Religion not the very arms of Mahomet and his sect than this mystery of iniquity nor if it be well considered hath the whole World produced any thing which doth better deserve the name of Antichrist And indeed if we consider the present growth of Atheism and Infidelity among us and trace it to its roots and original we shall find it all to be of an Italian Extraction and from thence propagated to France and so to England and other parts Nor shall we find any other reasons for it than what are here mentioned the Italians perceiving better what is acted among themselves than those who are more remote For let the Italian subtilty be what it will I think it is plain that they have made no deeper search into either the secrets of Nature or of Antiquity from one or both of which they must derive their principles if they have others besides what are here mentioned than other Nations have made 63. And now before I conclude I must crave leave to make this address to several sorts of persons distinctly And first to all Christians in general that they will seriously consider whether they be not obliged for the honour and reputation of our holy Profession and
that part to which his peculiar employment engageth him and usually men in great place have of all others least leisure for this particular study 3. But were their judgment never so considerable yet could it not in this case be certainly concluded from their actions For 1. It is agreed by all sorts of men Christians and Heathens and daily experience confirmeth the same that men frequently act contrary to their setled judgment and who may not often truly say Video meliora proboque deteriora sequor Nor is the thing it self more apparent than the reasons of it But I shall not here trace it to its first and original causes but only shew it in its next and immediate causes which are Surprize Impotence and Presumption From Surprize there is certainly no man whose care and caution can always secure him that he may not sometimes through the heat of passion or suddenness of a tentation be * Gal. 6.1 overtaken This we may all observe in our selves and in most we familiarly converse with Nay our very caution it self in many things makes us apt to be surprized by fear and thereupon to do those things we otherwise would not or neglect what we would otherwise do And though there be not a like Impotence in all yet is there more or less in every one whence men often do themselves contrary to what they would advise their children or dearest friends We daily see those who doubt not the directions of their Physitians to be good and necessary to be observed yet frequently overcome to transgress them to the hazard of their health and life it self nay Physitians themselves do the same whereof I could give a late notable instance in one of the most famous of his time Nor are we to think great Statesmen Polititians and learned men more exempt from all impotence than others are It is sufficient that they be well qualified for the places they hold to which their very impotence in some respects may sometime be a special qualification and they who are not easily overcome by one passion or affection may yet be perfectly enslaved to another What is wanting to these two causes is frequently made up by Presumption whether upon God's mercy in general and hope of pardon upon an intended repentance afterward or upon the priviledg of being within the pale of the Church by profession of Christianity or being members of the Catholick Church or zealous for the party they espouse that is as the Prophet saith Trusting in lying words saying The Temple of the Lord Jer. 7.3 The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord a Presumption so powerful heretofore that notwithstanding that reproof and after a notable experience of the vanity of it we find it in our Saviour's days still continued and again reproved by John Baptist Think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father c. Mat. 3.9 And yet after all this as experience sheweth still prevalent in our days and very common among the Romanists and the Disciples of the Jesuites especially their new Proselytes who seem to hope for indulgence in their sinful courses or to expiate the same by their zeal for the Church whereunto great occasion is given by their abominable abuse of Absolution Commutation of Penance Indulgences and complying Conduct 2. These actions may proceed from error in the understanding and ignorance or mistake about some particular Christian Doctrine through an erronious Conscience thinking that to be lawful or a Christian duty which is absolutely unlawful So our Saviour telleth his Disciples that they who should kill them would think they do God service Jo. 16.2 and Saul thought that he ought to persecute the Christians Act. 26.9 and this may be consistent with a firm belief of the Christian Doctrine in general And this I take to be in truth the case of the Romanists and that they are given up to believe a lye through strong delusions wherein they do not more deceive their disciples than they are themselves deceived for do but admit me one or two of their Principles and there is nothing so monstrous in their actions but I think I can easily prove it lawful I had therefore intended to have shewed from what Principles those actions have proceeded that those Principles are mistaken and are no Christian but rather Antichristian Doctrines what hath been the cause occasion and progress of that mistake and lastly that this defection from the Christian Doctrine and Manners hath been foretold by the first Propagators of the Christian Faith in that manner as I think would not only do much to the removing of the scandal but moreover afford no inconsiderable evidence to the truth of Christianity it self but that I see would be too long for this place and time but I am well assured of the truth of what I say and doubt not but ere long it will be made manifest 3. There is one cause more from whence men may act contrary to Christianity and that in the highest degree and yet without the disbelief of the Truth of it in general or of any particular Doctrine of it and that is through desperation the case of some who believe and tremble Ja. 2.19 When men by frequency and long continuance in sin against the light and checks of conscience have sinned themselves into this desperation this is often an occasion to them to a further progress in wickedness even to the height of the most enormous sins though they neither do nor can doubt of the truth of the Christian Religion no more than do the Devils who believe and tremble for there is no sin which is not consistent with a full perswasion of it in such as are once become desperate indeed Even scoffing at and abuse of Religion to evil ends are no certain arguments of unbelief in such as use them There may be and are false Professors of Atheism and Infidelity as well as of Religion it self There is more or less of humane frailty in all Too many sin against knowledg and some thereby sin themselves into despair and then run on into all wickedness against that Belief which they would fain cast off if they could And there are so many causes and occasions of sins besides unbelief that they cannot in reason be attributed to it alone 4. And lastly considering the strange wild fancies which we often see men learned men and otherwise sober men fall into considering the great force prevalence that the will affections have to byass blind and corrupt the judgment considering the power and malice and subtilty that according to the Scriptures the God of this World hath to blind mens minds that they should not believe the Gospel of Truth it is not to be doubted but such there are who do not believe it but then the very same reasons may satisfy us what little credit there is to be given to the opinions of such men without better reason and yet I know and have found by experience that some professors of Infidelity have no better reasons than this they are like men in a panick fear where every one is afraid but none knoweth the cause only he supposeth the rest do and is so much the more afraid by how much the more in number they are whom he supposeth to be in the same passion with himself so many who have no reason at all for their unbelief yet suppose others have and would fain be thought as wise as they This I thought necessary to add as an Antidote against that poison which some might suck from those scandalous Practices and Actions which have been here related FINIS