and violent and at length his pride and insolency gowing intolerable to the very Roman Catholiques of the Kingdom a self-division fell amongst the confederate Roman Catholiques themselves which grew into so hot a flame that after the factions bickerings of some parties the turbulent Nuntio withdrew and entring aboard his Frigot fled to Rome to give an account to his scarlet Masters of his bloody endeavours and ill success in Insula Santorum as Ireland was termed But the Serpent left the dreggs of his venom and poyson behind him which hath broken forth into the continuation of most barbarous and unheard-of cruelties perpetrated and acted by a company of ambitious ignorant false traiterous Popish Prelats and Clergy who have waded as deep in treason Blood and Vâ—llany as their besotted brains and stupid and seared Consciences could devise and prosecute These false dull wretches having minds onely set on mischief nourished the seeds of their rebellious enterprizes with rapine murder and bloud and being neither persons of honor or worth nor regarding their Faith or Oaths to God or Man and being destitute of courage and valour art wisdom and policy to acquire their unlawfull and foul ends they continue onely famous and notorious for their impieties as having seduced many ignorant people to become Murderers Rebels and Traytors and have wilfully delivered up themselvs and their own Countrey to ruin and desolation to wretched and endless miseries where the English Sword is not likely to be put up untill the Irish Woods are dressed and their traiterous Bogs dryed and drained to obedience power of lawful Soveraignty This fire was more violent and raging in Ireland when the Popish Clergy and confederated Romanists hoped by force and power of spiritual fulminations and Martial terror of fire and sword to remove all English claims and interest in that Countrey and in a moment to devour and swallow up all the English Colonies and Plantations But the Roman Agents walked in England and Scotland in more obscure and secret paths having dark-lanthorns in their hands screwing on their advantages with pretended arguments of piety whispering their refin'd Counsels with oyly flattery and insinuation pleading with plausible fallacious demonstrations the certainty of the Popes infallibility as if undoubtedly S. Peters Successor and so his sanctity head of the Catholique and Universal Church because he was Patriarch of that of Rome But these common topicks are not arguments used to any but those who have wide swallowes and strong digestions They apply other Pills finely gilded to weaker tempers and steal into their opinions and fancies by gentle degrees and applications and rather than not to prevail they will get uâ— and walk on Presbyterian stilts ride on the shoulders of the severest Opiniators Sectaries and Humorists and mimically preach and pray whine and sigh whisper and rail and baul changing into any notes and tunes to make others skipp and dance after their Roman pipe on this score they look one way and row another encountring contrary winds and waves to get to the steps and stairs of their expectation And they conceive their business highly advanced their progress great and their gain not a little if they can but seduce and delude credulous Novelists to a dislike of that Religion wherein they were first baptiz'd and seasoned in and if they come so far as to shake the foundation or to cause any to stagger or totter from their first Principles they conclude their own work half done With such fallacies as these have the Roman Foxes cloathed in Lambs-skins devoured many harmless flocks in England Scotland and Ireland having found out the way by railings and popular scandals to smite and wound the vigilant Shepheards and then to disperse and scatter the poor Sheep in which amazement and strange dispersion many have run into Atheism or desperate impieties some have fallen into a Indifferency and a fit of cold Newtrality and others cunningly ferch'd over have stagger'd and tumbled into the gins and snares of besotting Popery who now revolted have the opinion and names of learned Clerks or hopefull Saints But if the List and Legend of the warping Revolters be well examined and their aims and ends impartially scanned it is very apparent the Apostates of this kind are either strangely benummed in doting and besotted ignorance or most unworthily transported with the hopes of gain pleasure or power in another Church which is full of error danger darkness and superstition But that neither the ignorance of some nor curiosity of others nor the peevishness and protervity of many nor the avarice and ambition of most may prove prevalent examples to seduce and invite any more to follow their dangerous courses it will not be time ill-spent to read the new Legend of these later times set out by Mr. William Birchley and to view and character the vertiginous Temporizers whom either the breath of Persecution hath driven and afrighted or private interest of plenty preferment and Pensions or ease and safety in a a strange Countrey or at home hath tempted to run to Rome and to quit and forsake their Mother Truth and sound Religion CHAP. XXXI A Discourse that cannot but be unpleasant and very unwelwelcome to the capritious Revolters but when the aims are only to vindicate abused Truth and to preserve the grace of perseverance in the profession of it the Apostates must not judge the rules of Charity violated if their lives and interests be more narrowly ript up who have so maliciously and venemously fallen off from Truth and so irreparably scandalized and reproched their Persecuted brethren and for private ends so desperatly hazarded their own Salvation CHAP. XXXII LEt an old Chevalier a Batchelor-Knight lead the way Sir Toby Matthews who was the disobedient Son of a most learned S. Toby Matthews and most reverend Archbishop his Father This Metaphysical Alchymistical Traveller long since found out an easier way by adulation and Court-flattery to get and gain than by plain dealing and that the streets of Rome were more smoothly paved for his purpose than those of the City of York or the Kingdom of England and that the Policy and Maximes of that Church of Rome afforded greater helps and advantages to thrive cunningly than that of England According to the rules of greatest possibilities this Rook builds his nest and frames his designs and finding his hopes in a more thriving expectation by his Inclinations and Resolutions to Rome he quitted suddenly his mother-Mother-Truth and was easily tempted to rail at his own worthy Father as an old Dotard or ignorant Heretick or a perverse Schismatick And having taken the boldness once to dishonour such a venerable and neer Relation he cares not how maliciously he spits at and abuses all others who would not admire his pretences to knowledge and experience or not rashly submit and comply with his new opinions and temporizing profession And as he hath no language but gall and vinegar for those who sided not
last Sermon than a Pulpit The news of his Execution was as welcom to Rome as Edinburgh the difference is not very much in guilt or malice when the Iesuits invisibly whet the Edge and the Presbyters visibly lift up the Ax Qui non cam praemiis Periculorâ—i quam ipsis periculis laeti pro certis olim partis nova ambigua ancipitia malunt Tacitus Impetitos animos impellunt nocturnis colloquiis aut flexo in vesperam die dilap sis melioribus deterrimum quemque Congreganres lâ—serunt querelas ambiguos sermones de principe quaeque alia turbamenta vulgi Tacitus and give the stroke The one party came in as a violent Inundation and overswelling torrent bearing all before it with a factious Covenant and shew of Godliness The other party steals like a Thief in the Night swells their streams by insensible degrees insinuates their Roman Principles by whispers and private insusurrations and so gains many Proselitâ—s The Covenant was a bait for vulgar and more gross capacities but the Romish lines are made of finer twist and the nets are laid to catch and ensnare the most considerable Fortunes and best Capacities Now that the fruitful Vine may be delivered as well from the Iesuitical Foxes as he Presbyterian Wild Bores I have sent this caution to my own Countrey whereon I shall where ever wait with my best Affections and wish her Peace Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine cunctos ducit Ovid. that I may be encouraged to leave Travels and return to my Native * Soil The Epistle to the most Catholick and best Reformed Christian Reader STartle not at this Examination of the Moderator and his Legend it is not a temptation to lead you in but a caveat to keep you out of the pits of error and superstition Lactantius told the world long since * Lib. 5. Instit c. 8. Ideo mala omnia rebus humanis ingravescere quia Deus mundi hujus effector gubernator derelictus est quia susceptae sunt contra quam fas est impiae rellâ—giones That therefore all evills and mischiefes fall on humane affaires because the great Creator of the world was so little honoured and so much neglected and false opinions and ungodly Religions so much imbraced and received and if ever any age did overflow with an inundation of wickedness folly these later times seem overwhelm'd drown'd almost without all hopes of recovery wherein * Philo Jud. ad Canin Sua cuique videtur optima quae non ratione sed affectu dijudicetur singulis every one is drawn away with the phancy of his own soul and useth such a Religion as agreeth with his own affection choice without any grounds of sound reason or solid truth On this sea of distraction and troubles many have been shipt straÌ„gely tossed and hurried some as wandering travellers have stoln away with curiosity to see some other Countries others as covetous MerchaÌ„ts * Per mare panperiem fugiens per sana par ignes Horat. have run any hazard for the hopes of gain the Prince of Darkness puts on the form of an Angel of Light roareth as a Lion playeth as a Lamb and when he cannot make a Judas if he can get leave he will make a Job if he cannot with his lies destroy he will if possible disgrace or disturb truth But that you may knit faster this girdle about your loyns and neither have your house which is founded on a rock shaken * Nulla animae possessio sine patientia St. Cyprian nor your perseverance questioned nor your patience tired I have set down the lives interests and doctrines of some slippery Saints and pretenders to piety before your eys to this end that as the calamities of your own Country teach you to be more Religious wise the better to avoyd future evils so the apostacy and impiety of some revolters may not prevail to seduce you to their * Superstitio error insanus est amandos timet quos colit violaet Senec. Epist 124. superstitious errors dangerous examples the examination of Mr. Birchleys Legend and these Characters touch none but such as have started aside and have violated and broken their oathes vows promises with God man if their deviations from truth can serve to keep us more right in the way to heaven and their revolting preserve and fix us in greater constancy of Gods true Religion it is all that is desired by An impartiall honorer of truth D.Y. A Legend of Revolters to ROME 1. SIr Toby Matthews 2. Mr. Walt. Montacure 3. M. Doctor Goft 4. M. Doctor Vane 5. M. Hugh Cressie 6. M. Dr. Tho. Baily 7. M. Rich. Crawshaw 8. M. Wil. Rowlands 9. M. Simonet 10. S. Kenelm Digby 11. S. Francis Dodington 12. M. Doctor Hart 13. M. Doctor Johnson 14. M. N. Read 15. M. Rich. Millesent 16. M. Tho. Normington 17. M. Bsaikston 18. M. Eaton 19. M. Jackson 20. M. Cooper 21. M. John Crighton 22. M. And. Yongston 23. M. Hugh Ross 24. M. Tho. Johnston 25. M. William Simple 26. M. Winter Graunt 27. S. William Davenant 28. M. Joynor 29. M. Temple 30. Major Carter 31. Capt. Thomas Cook 32. M. Glue Baliol. Oâ—s 33. M. Rich. Nicchols â—â—terhouse Cambridge 34. M. Edw. Barker Caius College Cambridge 35. M. Osburn 36. Cap. John Gileard 37. Lady Marchioness of Worecter 38. Lady Marchioness of Clanrickard 39. Countess of Denbigh 40. Lady Killamechie 41. Mrs. Bridget Fielding 42. Mrs. Cross 43. Mrs. Marsh 44. Mr. Endimion Porter 45. Col. Marsh 46. Lord Cottington 47. S. Marm. Langoale 48. S. Theophilus Gelby 49. The Lord Andiver 50. The Lord Goring 51. M. Charls Goring 52. M. Will. Crofts 53. Sir Richard Lee of Shropshire c. It fama per Orbem Ezek. 2.6 Be not afraid of them neither be afraid of their words though briers and thorns be with thee and thou doest dwell among Scorpions be not afraid of their words nor be dismayed at their looks Psal 18.13 The wild boar out of the wood doth root it up and the wild beasts of the field devour it Presbyter opugnat Iesuitae Roma Genevae Ut pedibus jaceant omnia strata suis Dum viperae lacerant venerandae viscera matris Papa feras auro fraude cruore domat Legenda lignea Together with an Examination of Mr Birchleys Moderator c. CHAP. I. IN these later distracted times many monstrous births have crept into the world and great swarms of Hereticks * Omnes vel insipientissimi haeretici audacias figm niorum suorum quac maxime exhorret sensus humanus hac occasione evangelicae sententiae colorare conentur S. Aug. Tom. 97. in S. Joh. and Sectaries together with horrid Blasphemers Atheists and Apostates from Truth and sound Religion like Egyptian Plagues have pestered and infected Christian Kingdoms and Countreys the black designs of these evill dayes have prospered too successfully And Policie and
to authority and laws and then quarrelling at the oaths and laws made by the supreme and present authority Amongst other stories he brings in the names of Sir Henry Beddingfield Mr. Bodenham and Mr. Gefford as Gentlemen who never bore arms since the wars began but whether this be done with their Consent Honor or Advantage let them judge whom it may concern And as for the argument of the Papists more heavy afflictions than others in the common calamity of the late Civil Wars it is a piece rather of Mr. Birchleys inclination to his party than any reall truth CHAP. XVII THe next tract is a Quaere or Question started 1 Quest Whether Papists be guilty of Idolatry in the worshipping of Angels Saints and Pictures And then follows another Question 2 Quest. Whether Papists be guilty of Idolatry in the Eucharist And Mr. Birchley concludes the first Part of his Moderator Whether Papists are consistent with Civil Government 3 Quest 1 These three Questions being very ample and Polemical Arguments are fitter for large Volumes than petty Manuels and rather require the subtilties of the best Casuists and Schoolmen than the raw Resolutiâ—ns of any single and private spirit A learned grave judicious determination in the Chair or rather a sound and discerning judgment of an University after great reading solemn disputations and free discussions of the severall points were more fit to satisfy the World in these particulars than any one interested Party which very Theses have occasion'd so many studious years and so many Folio's and works of learned men The arguments of this Epitome like curtal'd narrow shreds wil scarce shew what the cloth or stuff was and therefore if the judicious Reader have his stomach opened by Mr. Birchleys arguments he may doe well to have it nourished and so closed with the great satisfaction he may find in the severall Controversies Tracts of Bishop Jewell against M. Harding in the Bish Whites works â—nd the late Lord Archbishop of Canterburyes discourse against the Jesuit and in Doctor Whitaker against Cardinal Bellarmin or in King James his Book De Iure Iuramenti fidelitatis against Bellarmin with many hundred others both English German and French Divines who have writvoluminously in these points But that the three Questions may not pass without their Answers though briefly returned 1 Resp It is evident as to the first Quaere That although the blessed Angels had a more familiar community with men and had a more visible conversation with them as 't is granted in the History of the Old Testament and that holy men of Old presented some venerable honor and worship to them as heavenly Spirits and Guardians and Messengers sent with some excellent news from God Yet at the comming of our Saviour in his Incarnation in the Flesh we doe not read in the holy Gospel of such exact circumstances of honor and worship to the holy Angels by any outward adoration but rather a cessation in that kind all honor and worship and glory being reserved and united for the Person of our blessed Saviour In this condition we find Zecharias the Priest and Father of Saint Iohn the Baptist Luke 1.10 11. And there appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the Altar of Incense And when Zecharias saw him he was troubled and fear fell upon him It was even thus with the blessed Virgin Mary who seeing the Angel and hearing the Salutation when she saw him she was troubled at his saying Luke 1.29.30 Thus the good Shepheards abiding in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks by night And lo the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid In these three Relations there is onely mention of trouble and fear And Saint Paul as confirming this holy apprehension Convocates the heavenly Angels to a mutual Adoraâ—ion and Communion in worship with Men in the celebration of our Saviours Nativity When he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith and let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1.6 And finding the Colâ—ssians inclin'd or deceived into a worshiping of Angels without any command if not against the word of God the Apostle gives them a double caution Beware lest any man spoyl you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men Col. 2.8 and the Apostle ingeminates the Caution at the 18. verse Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels intruding into those things which he hath not seen vainly pust up by his fleshly mind The resolution in this case is yet more clear in Saint Iohns deportment towards the blessed Angel who when he fell at his feet to worship him he said unto him See thou doe it not I am thy fellow Servant and of thy bâ—ethren that have the testimony of Iesus worship God Rev. 19.10 And the cevout Apostle upon another occasion making a tender of his adoration to the heavenly creature received a second Command I fell downe before the feet of the Angel Revel which shewed me these things and he saith unto me see thou do it not for I am thy fellow Servant and of thy brethren the Prophets and of them which keep the sayings of this book worship God This is an expression if well observed of near and familiar communion such as the Patriarchs and Prophets before the comming of Christ received not the Angels acknowledging men their fellow Servants and giving direction not to adore them but to worship God It is most true that Christians are to believe the protection of Angels the Devil denyes it not Mat. 4.6 Psal 91.11 And the consolations of Angels in great agonies and afflictions Luke 22.43 and the help and ministration of Angels * Mat. 18.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 And as they help and comfort us in our lives their friendship and assistance continueth after death in a blessed translation of righteous souls into Abrahams bosom And it came to pass that the beggar dyed and was carried of the Angels into Abrahams bosom for these greater Relations of Protection and high services a venerable estimation and holy commemoration may be due to these blessed Cherubims and Seraphins as the chiefest creatures in highest attendance about the Holy Trinity Isa 6.3 Rev 4.8 and highly rejoycing at the conversion of Sinners Luke 15.10 and the Communion with the Saints I beheld and lo after this a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations And all the Angels of God stood about the throne and worshipped God Revelat. 7.9 10 11. So then in all this discourse there is no restraint of a venerable deportment in the Angels presence nor a thankfull valuation of their high assistance and services anywise inhibited but
and disturbing the change is onely this from a cunning sharking Scotish Presbyter he is transform'd into the shape of a more impudent sawcy Secular Popish Priest in which capacity he rails as much at the Church of England though with much ignorance envy and falseness as he did when he was acting the part of a proud piert lascivious Presbyter And this is another such like Roman pillar who is likely to prove as great a Saint on that side the sea as he was to have been in the Kirk of Scotland CHAP. XL. THese great Impostors like cunning Juglers have deluded many Some as Children are easily puft up and enticed with every triviall blast of new doctrines and much taken with Babies toyes and trifles and sometimes those of elder Age grow doted and deluded It hath faln out thus with many wanderers of these times who afrighted out of their Religion and perhaps out of England wiâ—h the terror and effects of a Civil War have found out new faces new fancies and new resolutions at home and in other Countries where for better assurance of gaining ease or the hopes of plenty and safety they have parted with substances for shadows and truth for errors vaing loriously concluding into the bargain that they should get the names and reputations of good Roman Catholiques The greater numbers of these Converts and Revolters might yet follow Men and Women subjects more soft and easie and therefore more fit to be tamper'd withall as more thirsty after new fashions and so more capable of alterations and the dress a la mode But a decyphering of them and their interests might seem a work too tart and bitter therefore charity spares their characters And it is lesser wonder to see smaller Shrubs scorched and burnt up with weaker flames when seeming Oaks and Cedars so suddenly fall and tumble down overturn'd with the gusts and winds of a Civil War CHAP. XLI THe strokes of Afflictions are very sharp trying the very hearts and reins and as they engrave glorious marks and characters in religious Martyrs and patient Confessors who are well grounded in the faith so their smart lashes afright and drive away to any desperat mutation the light and giddy humors of unsetled minds This is a common experience in the History of the sacred Book of God where Iudas was as certainly affrighted with the news of our Saviours passion and therefore fear'd his own troubles and Persecution as tempted with the price of blood and the thirty pieces of silver that reward of iniquity Fear and Covetousness are very ill Commanders and lead on many ugly followers their company is infectious the design sinful and the end very damnable These two capital betrayers of worth and honesty fear of further loss and hopes of future gain inclin'd Iscariot not onely to forsake but to betray his Master and not only to fall from but to fall on Innocency it self There are some other Vipers which attend these horrid Monsters as Envy and Malice at others both parts and fortunes Ignorance and thereby a dull uncharitable measuring of others though of great abilities by the narrow scantless and short cubit of their own imperfect and ruder judgments Rashness and impatience cruelty and detraction keep the timorous alwayes company and it is most true oderunt quos metuunt men ever hate though without cause whom they fear It is no wonder then if timorous afrighted spirits forsake and fly from a Profession and Religion which may for the maintenance of its truth render the Pofessors either more miserable or less secure in their Plenty and Content It was even thus in the College of Christs own Apostles which was dissolved and they scattered when the great Shepheard of our souls was arraigned condemned and crucifyed One betrayd him but all forsook him and fled Mark 14 50. But except one Traytor who desperately dispatched and hanged himself Mat. 27.5 all the other holy Apostles speedily recovered themselves from fear and cowardise St Peter though afar off yet still followed his Master and though he sate without Mat. 26.96 yet even there was he within the Palace and when driven thence he went out into the Porch though he denied shamefully his Lord with his mouth yet he manfully defended him with his hand when he dared to smite off one of the High Priests servants ears The glorious company of the Apostles whose souls seemed to have been in deliquio almost quite melted for sorrow of Christs Passion quickly revived at the noise of his resurrection from the Grave and those who shew'd themselvs than men when Christ was crucifyed did put on the courage of Angels when they understood he was risen from the dead recoÌ„pencing the failing of their flesh with the great fortitude of their minds and the few minutes of fear with their whole age of better resolutions boldly professing that Truth which they followed to the Crosse and at last sealing with their blood what they preached with their tongues and published to all Nation CHAP. XLII THe many Demasses of this age who like frosted leaves have faln from that Tree that nourished theÌ„ with the juyce of truth surely have not beleeved this doctrine or not followed these examples but rather in these times of sharper trials like those dissemblers who pretended to be Christs disciples as neither willing though it were to save their souls in the ark of Gods Church to indure hard language nor hard labour much lesse to suffer the losse of their plenty â—ase coÌ„tent or safety St. John records the infamous Apostacy Iohn 6.66 From that time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him Thus have too many disobedient children forsaken their Mother and as infected with the falling sicknesse of the times have in their distempers frothed out the vâ—nome of their disease The constitution of these lapsed Revolters is not much unlike the ignoble temper of Aratus Sicyonus in Polibius Lib. 6. Qui ad Civilia omnia mirificè vafer appositus trepidabat in bellicis nec exequi aut facere cor aut corpus ei firma Aratus was of an excellent wit very subtil and crafty and very active and prompt in Civil affairs but if call'd to Martial counsels or the businesse of War the Coward and Pultron trembled having neither a heart nor a body for such heroick enterprises but as that Historian goeth on hic autem ipse si quando in Aperto acie dimicare vellet segnis in Consiliis timidus in Aggressionibus nec aspectu quidem aut vultu pugnam tolerans If the great Politico were concern'd in a battel or a fight he proved flat and dull in his advice timorous and fearfull at the Re'encounter and durst neither see nor be seen in an Army ready to engage an Enemy CHAP. XLIII THus many verbal champions who in calm and serene days and more Civil times seemed to love truth impartially and for her own sake are fallen flat and tumbled into those
very like the Natural body wherein if the heart be once pierced or wounded the vitals quickly faint and the nervs and ligaments are infeebled the Body though for the present supported with some Politique crutches and patcht and painted with some Artificial obumbrations and delusions cannot strongly march or move any way nor stand nor endure to any long continuation For although such a Soveraignty and Government like Nebuchadnezzars Image seem bright and excellâ—nâ— and thereby deceive and delude vulgar eyes yet the whole Frame erected on so weak a foundation must quickly totter and fall For what though the head be composed of Gold the most refined Machiavels and Jesuitical wiâ—s the brest and arms of Silver the treasure and wealth of many Kingdoms and Countries the belly and things of Brasse a vast Magazin of Arms together with heaps of Morter-pieces Cannon Powder Ball and Bullet and all other exquisit torments and Engins of war the legs of Iron stout Atmies of resolute officers and Souldiers and they ready to charge with their musquets pikes and swords yet because the feet of the great Image were part of Iron part of clay it quickly fell so the Prophet tells the story Then was the Iron the Clay the Brass and the Gold broken in pieces together and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors and the wind carryed them away that no place was found for them Daniel 2.35 There was a stone made without hands the corner stone which the builders refused the Rock of salvation as King David calls him My Rock my Fortress and my Deliverance 2 Sam. 22.2 This stone smote the Image on the feet which were part of Iron and part of clay brake in pieces cruelty and earthly affections and became a great mountain and filled the whole earth Dan. 2.34 35. The plots and stratagems of men though the deepest politicians are but like the Spiders lines and webbs which are rent in twain with the weakest straw or the smallest sprig and it is evident that crutches though they help to support the body in its motion yet they are held up theÌ„selves by the weak hands of the impotent commanders of them or else they fall but true Religion is not only baculum viatorium the beggers Crutch but Columna veritatis tâ—e Rillar of truth which without all staggering supports the Christians Faith and most surely fixeth and coroborateth Crowns and Scepters in their Sovereign power Thus the Prophet counselled a great King ready to be destroyed They shall drive thee from men and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the sield and they shall wet thee with the Dew of Heaven until thou know that the most high ruleth in the Kingdom of men Wherefore O King let my counsel be acceptable unto thee and break off thy sias by righteousness and thy iniquities by shewing mercy unto the Poor if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity Daniel 4.25 26 27. The some Prophet was as free with Belshazzar King Nebuchadnezzars Son taxing him faithfully with the crying sins of Pride Cruelty * Cum diis pugnant sacrilegi Curt. lib. 7. and Sacrilege But when his heart was lifted up and his mend hardened in Pride he was deposed from his Kingly Throne And thou his Son hast not humbled thine heart though thou knewest all this but hast lifted up thy self against the Lord of heaven and they have brought the Vessels of his house before thee and thou and thy Lords thy Wives and thy Concubines have drunk wine in them thy Kingdom is numbred divided and finished Dan. 5.23 CHAP. LIX BUt most men as they are easiest taught by what they see before their eyes so they are sooner led by the lewdest examples than the best rules and if sins in fashion grow commendable and get Patrons Rom. 1.32 how many followers shal success and prosperity though in wickednesse quickly gather hence it is that numbers and multitudes prevail more with many judgements mistaken than truth it self and if it be but vogue that the vulgar may have but a little share of profit in that which is to be ruin'd they are well pleased to hearken to Catilines motions and for a poor portion and pittance of expectation and of that which can neither make them rich secure or happy if obtained the captivated crowds are inraged and deluded to lift up some politique Tribunes to more Popular height and power though to no other use or end though not discern'd but as the wanton swelling waves mount up a well rigg'd Ship more securely to ride over them And when the Storm begins to rise and the Wind and Tyde turn towards an alteration then some subtle and unquiet spirits greedy if possible that they and their interest should guide and govern the World strictly observe the nick of time strike fire instantly and if they find the courteous tindar receive a spark they blow the coal non aliter quam scintilla flatu levi adjuta ignem suam explicat * Seneca Epist 95. gently at first to light their sulphurous Match and then if the light serve not for their own end the desperate Agents as though they would anticipate the day of judgment wilfully set all that is not for their turn on combustion and fire In working of such effects the Puritan and the Papist have been most severely active resolving to submit and refer all Christian Power to the Presbyterian Assembly and Consistory or to the Papal Conclave most parts of Europe have tasted too much of the bitternesse of these two fiery spirits as Poland Germany France Italy the Netherlands and England Scotland and Ireland besides other famous Cantons and Corners of the Christian world And as if the anâ—ient lesson of the Primitive Christians were quite forgot and praeces lachrimae prayers and tears were laid aside The Pulpits and Conventicles have been loudly filled with the bloody noise of Arma viri ferte arma as though Gods service were rather to be done in a tempestuous whirlwind lightening and a crack of thunder than in a sweet peacefull and gentle voice or as if those who pretended to be Ministers of the Gospel and had onely Commission to shake off the dust of their shooâ—s where the Gospel was refused had authority to shake all in pieces and in displeasure might become as barbarous as the Cyclopes and Gyants of old quibus ludo joco sanguis humanus who never started at the effusion of Christian blood CHAP. LX. IT agreeth with the Rules and Practice of some Statesmen non solum tolerasse sed induxisse sectas diversas not only to tolerat but to innovate new Sects new Opinions new Religions wher they intend to found or inlarge or continue their Authoritie and so to ingraft various fruits on severall arms and branches of the same Tree which might florish and have their feeding from the same root The similitude is sounder than the substance of this Parallel Fruits and leaves that
Interest the great Diana which most men adore and worship have chased Innocency Honour and Religion out of most mens brests The Projectors have used the Serpents tongue to flatter and insinuate and his tail to poyson and sting both making one Circle to compass and besiege the credulous deceived multitudes and so in the end to subject all Power to their own humor and obedience drawn by degrees first within the lines of Fraud and then of Usurpation and Cruelty * Tantum Relligio potuit suadere malerum Virg. Aenaeid The Church of Rome hath been most Cunningly Active in this desperate work and from her inveterate malice to the Church of England and her Reformation in the Reign of King Edward the sixth hath either marched furiously with her bloody colours of Persecution Fire and Faggot Imprisonment or Banishment as in the Reign of Queen Mary or secretly practiz'd mischief and ruine to all who had shaken off her superstitious yoke and imbraced the Antient Primitive innocency and doctrine and practice of the Holy Apostles hating the professors of Gods true Religion not so much for their wiser choice of better things but because they had acquitted themselves from the intolerable vassalage of the Romish Authority and Usurpation and withdrawn themselves from that blind obedience which they had too long payed to the See of Rome which is not dainty of any dispensations either in doctrine or practice of Religion Provided alwayes that her Annates Tenths First-fruits Peter pence and all pretended rights and profits may be continued and solvent and a Soveraigntie acknowledged to her as the great Mistress and Queen of all the world To consummate the hopes and attain the height of these ambitious aspirings what art what craft what plots have not been used When in Queen Maries dayes the Pope by special Letters sollicited the Queen to endeavour to recover not only the publique practice of the Mass and Romish Religion but likewise proposed to the Queen and her Chancellor a restauration of all Church-lands Seigniories Dignities and Revenues and that all Orders of Popish Abbots Priors Monks Fryars and all Orders of Regulars formerly planted in England and Pastoral Seculars to be speedily reinvested and repossessed But this motion before 't was started by the Lord Chancellor in Parliament met with a private debate in a Cabinet Counsell and Consultation where the Lord of Bedford being then present was so venemously stung that he burst soddainly into great passion and choler breaking his chaplet of beads from his girdle and flinging them into the fire and he sware deeply to boot that he valued more his sweet Abbey of Wooburn than any fatherly Counsell or Commands that could come from Rome Bedford parting away in such a high snuff and passionate indignation the Queen and her Lord Chancellor were able to guess at the tempers and inclinations of other Subjects and therefore concluded it greater Policy to smother and conceal than to publish and prosecute a motion that would prove so generally distastfull CHAP. II. THese Great hopes of Restauration of Lands and Revenues being over and suspended if not extinguished The designs were laid how to vex and torment those who professed the Religion Reformed in King Edward the sixt his Reign and there was no want of Invention to create sharp Lawes loud Proclamations cruell Edicts and violent Resolutions to raise bitter and bloudy Persecutions Death and Martyrdom grew suddenly very familiar and was the common high way wherein many Reverend Prelates and pious Clergymen walked whose patience and holy examples many thousands religious and devout people followed enduring rather the loss of life Liberty and of all things than of faith and a good Conscience Imprisonment then was accounted but as a more secluse Retirement more fit for Christian tears and prayers Banishment was looked on as a more tolerable Burden being so much the lighter because born amongst Strangers in a farre Countrey and the Afflictions were the more easie because the Sufferers were permitted to live as good Confessors and though in a sad condition thereby were able to breath out and testifie the truth and justifie their innocent Cause both at home and abroad This storm being over after 5 or 6 years Queen Elizabeth succeeded to the Crown in whose prosperous Reign what malice and mischief was contrived and acted by the Roman underminers what scandals against the Queen her Person her Honor her Government her Authority All Histories of those times describe very plentifully All those malicious damps and vapors rose from the venome of the Jesuites and Romish vipers and their Confederates They did breath and spit the same loathsome Poyson on K. James whose Golden pen hath left a treasure to after-Ages of his great Abilities and Learning the dint and impression of his skilfull strokes lyes heavy on the memory of Cardinal Peroon and Cardinal Belarmine and many others of that black Society who have been worsted and confuâ—ed by the most powerful arguments of his Reasons and Learning Collected out of undoubted Antiquities Councils Fathers Histories and unquestionable Authorities And when the Jesuites could not distemper his Majesties Remonstrances nor Replyes with most unmannerly scandalous Language nor interrupt his Pen with monstrous lies nor convince him with their slight and cunning Answers and Objections they drove on their designes with a Powder-plot which timely and providently discovered and prevented the Contrivers and Actors had the reward of Traitors in England though Recorded and honoured as Martyrs at Rome And the Countenancers of that black conspiracy are accounted by all rational men and good Christians no otherwise than as Leopards and Blackmoores whose sports and ugliness can never be washed and wiped away CHAP. III. THese Spiders have twisted their Webbs made their Circumferences and drawn their Lines throughout the Reign of the late King Charles and then like high-towring Eagles soaring aloft they hoped more confidently to build their houses sublime and stately They judged the Advantage great if the foundation not sure because of a toleration of the Roman Religion in the Queens Chappel and Court under which privilege much mischief might be hatched and contrived and some part acted to the disturbance of the Peace Vnity and Vniformity of the Church of England And yet all sober-minded men may be easily satisfyed and perswaded that the Inconveniences which rose from that toleration neither thrive from the connivency much less encouragement or contrivance of his Majesty who then reigned who gave his Queen and her Ghostly fathers the Priests and the Roman Catholiques of her Majesties family leave to enjoy the Roman Reliligion according to the Articles of Mariage agreed on betwixt the two Crowns of England and France and if it be ugly and most unhandsome in a Gentleman it were more ignoble and sordid in a King to break his word It cannot be denyed but in the first 14 yeares of the late Kings Reign the Romish Engineers had more calm opportunities to frame
unclean labyrinths whence their forefathers were delivered by a great Providence that they and their children might worship God with more Truth and Devotion and lesse error vassalage and superstition It is almost an act of Mercy not to take notice but to passe by rather those many other Roman Proselites who have in these later times revolted from their Religion and that Church wherein they were incorporated baptized and confirmed It is S. Iudes counsel in his Epistle ver 22. And of some have compassion making a difference and others save with fear absterrentes illos sanctâ severitate revocantes terrifying them with their present danger and so if possible recovering them with holy severities The Apostle proceeds with tender bowels ver 23. Pulling them out of the fire hating even the Garment spotted with the flesh It is even this divine consideration that perswadeth not to lay open the humors opinions lives interests and designs of the other Revolters lest their wayes and works discovered the Parties concern'd may grow more desperate as to themselves or more odious and scandalous to all who are not flatterers to their Apostacy The common wings whereon too many have fled away like the unkind Raven from the Ark are Fear and Covetousnesse which shapelesse Monsters under the shadows of security and plenty have bewiâ—ched some to a choice of new interests which if ripped up and sifted to the bottom it is to be feared too much chaff and tares would be found in the late Roman Professors conversations but it is better to leave theÌ„ to the examination of themselves that dealing impartially with their own hearts they may return to that truth from which they have after so many Oaths Vows Protestations Amens and holy Communion in the Sacraments parted so weakly or so wilfully CHAP. XLIV BUt although many deluded Persons are spared out of pity or the hopes of a Recovery from whence they are lost yet no fins ought to be conceal'd or smother'd that infatuate and deceive to wretched Apostacy It is an old rule jubet peccare qui non vetat that he is at least an Abettor that is not a Rebuker of fin And Philo taxed Flaccus sitting President at a Council in Alexandria when Agrippa was abused and scorn'd and no notice taken nor so much as a check 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That he that did not at least rebuke if not correct an offence or sin did in some measure permit and tolerate if not command the Sin Cassiodore goeth neerer in the example of Theodahadus a King who aiming at the Reformation of his Subjects errors concluded A Domesticis inchoare * Cassiodor lib. 10. var. Epist. 5. volumus disciplinam ut reliquos pudeat errare quando nostris Cognoscimur excedendi licentiam non Praebere To begin his disciplin with those first of his own Family that Strangers might be the more ashamed to commit those offences which were so severely punished in his own Domesticks all liberty of excesse being utterly restrained CHAP. XLV THese Examples and Rules direct as agreeing with Christian Religion That it is not only tolerable but just and necessary to rebuke their Sinnes whose Persons are to be honoured or pityed otherwise what is a politique silence or a smooth flattery but a Postern-door or a fair Bridge to convey sooner souls in great danger to Hell it self Therefore that the Patient may recover if possible before the disease grow incurable it may be proper to lay open and discover the malignity of that poyson which if not prevented or master'd by Antidotes may irreparably destroy those who are infected therewith And whiles those nine * S. Toby Matthews Mr. Mountacute Dr. Goff Dr. Vane Dr. Baily Mr. Cressie Master Clawshaw Mr. Rowlands Mr. Simonet Active Ring-leaders are lookt on by all men as pernicious and dangerous Examples as having forfeited their Faith and Oaths to all things that might speak them either religious or moral It may not be unseasonable to have compassion on some others whom the Moderator hath presented to the world either at large or in his c. And whiles a self guilt condemns them for their dangerous new choice perhaps they may recover as some others †Mr. Hen. Cary M. Patrick Cary. have don to that Antient way that according to primitive examples may more securely lead them out of their errors and put them in a direct path towards Paradise Impartiall glances on sin are wholesom though not pleasant and a wise man or a good Christian takes it well when his disease is found out but much more when a remedy overtakes it or strives to keep it company CHAP. XLVI IT is not long since * 12 years De Negotiis Civilibus si quid statuitur nemo putat esse violandum praeceptum de Kellâ—gione calcabitur Amb. ad Valen. a visible Uniformity was backt and supported with a great Authority then the Presbyter and the Jesuit were chain'd up into more obscure Conventicles or darker Circles but when they once got loose they suddenly grew fierce and violent and like Watermen having got Oars to tug with they plyed at any stairs to get a Passenger The giddy multitudes perceiving a gap open to change thirsted and gaped * Humanum Genus est avidum nimis auricularum Lucret. Est mens nostra vaga novitate rerum laetissima Sene. Quis autem finis si semel carceres hos aperis ad innovandum Ibid. wide for an Alteration and the cunning Artists observing the Crisis for best advaÌ„tage made the raging waves to roar they made the Peoples ears and their fingers itch for Reformation The design was specious and had a shew of godlinesse the words Religion and Reformation are excelent terms and carry with them a silver sound in the peoples ears Thus a preâ—ence of Justice and a Religious Vow to be paid at Hebron 2 Sam. 15.11 drew away many hundreds in their simplicity but they knew not any thing Quòd saepiùs olim * Relligio peperit scelerosa Lacret atque impia facta Thus oft in Antient times Religion patronized horrid crimes CHAP. XLVII BUt though many innocent soules were drawn away in their simplicity yet others heightened the troubles and confusions which promised to foster and nourish their hopes and ends and were not only Passive but vigorous and Active in their new designs and aims Sunt quibus ingenium votum inclarescendi perturbarâ— On this score the Jesuits proceeded and wrought with double diligence resolv'd according to that great * Cardinal Richlieu Politicians Maxim That Angliam turbare to raise Tumults and to thrust England into commotions was the readiest way to their businesse It is true indeed many thousands simple ones were drawn aside but other Volunteers quickly shrunk on their own accord from their love to impartial truth and their first Principles and some gave themselves over to swallow a Covenant and so though lost ventured to travell in