IT hath been truely observed in the revolutions of the World, that those Persons who have been realy the most profess'd Enemies to all Religion, themselves have been for supplanting its true Professors, and for hindring its further growth and entertainment with other men; and this is little to be wondred at, that they who are only guided by the principles of Atheism should push forward Irreligion; and endeavour to undermine all opposers of it: But for men who pretend to the height and purity of Religion, at the same time to strike the greatest blow against it by their practises, is such a rank piece of Hypocrisy as never any but this age could pre­tend to Parallel.

Indeed 'tis too too common with the Pope and his cunning E­missariss, to consult the Interest of the Triple Diadem above the Crowns, and make the Laws of Religion no further usefull and obliging then they are subservient to the designs and Policies of his State-Engineers; 'tis no news to hear him quarrelling with the greatest Emperours and Princes, and thundring out his severest Bulls and Anathema's against them, if they will not tamely submit to his Usurpations and Encroachments: To de­pose Kings, and absolve Subjects from their Allegiance, to pro­mote Sedition, and cause Insurrections, to set Kingdoms in Flames, and draw People into Arms; this is a meritorious piece of service amongst Jesuites.

[Page 8] But then for True Protestants to quarrel at the Pope for his Bloodiness and cruelty, and yet write after his Copy in the same Charactars of Blood, to afright People out of their senses with the hideous noise and amusement of Popish Massacres and Conflagrations, and yet at the same time privately to ferment the Nation into Rebellion, and to prepare Presbyterian Blunder­busses to doe the same bloody Execution with Popish Knives and Daggers; I say, to make a mighty splutter and huge outcry against Popery, and yet at the same time to take the very same Popish measures of Ruine and Destruction: This is a new way of supplanting and beating down Popery, which was never known in the World, till the Saints of the last Edition Chalk'd out the ready way for it, and prov'd by such practises as these, That their only means to become the best Christians was first to commence the most flagitious and bloody Villians.

And that this was not true either in Theory or Practise, it were well for them that have of late been Styled publickly, not only the briskest and tightest part of the Nations Friends, but even the very Anti-Papal Guardians and Saviours of it: but (alass) these are the Demure and Sober party amongst us, who have sow'd together the Fig-Leaves of Sanctimonious pre­tences to cover the most Horrid and Execrable Impietys, and under Holy Samuel's Prophetick Mantle have fobb'd of all their Satanical delusions amongst the Multitude.

These are they, who under a design of destroying all those whom they are pleased to call Baals Priests, have approved themselves zealous for those of Jeroboam, and by the most poi­sonous Libells that were ever hatch'd by a brood of Sanguinary Conspirators, have been promoting the true interest and wellfair of the Nation: These are the men who with lift up Eyes and sanctified Lips; call God a Thousand times to witness the Integrity of their Hearts, and the Loyalty of their Intentions, whilst upon pain and perill of another Meroz-Course, they were secretly calling out the People to the help of the Lord; to the help of the Lord against the Mighty: Nay, whilst they were solemnly protesting with the most bitter Asceverations, both [Page 9] in their Pamphlets and Discourses against all Protestant-Plotts, and Associations against the Government, they were even at that time more eager and hott upon the Sent of it.

Thus whilst they were wheadling us into a good Opinion of their Actions, they were then at work with the most Hellish Contrivances, and the Saints in the Conventicle prou'd Devils in the Caball. For King and People were there appointed as Sheep for the Slaughter, and Church and State both design'd a Sacrifice to their Cruelty and Revenge: And what Malice so implacable, what Rage so inexorable as Fanatick Rage? Nunc Cinna pius Cinna & Sylla, Marius and Catiline were men of Mercy to these, Maugre all their Republican Principles and Massacres at Rome; and even Turks and Infidels, had these mens villanys succeeded, would have abhorr'd their very memories as the prodigies of Humane Nature, and a shame to all Mankind.

But God who sets bounds to the Tempestuous Waves of the Sea, and saith,Hither shall ye go and no further, hath put a Hook into the Nostrils of ourRepublican Leviathan's, and hath as yet stopp'd them in their Career by discovering their Con­spiracy;and though the Wicked plotteth against the Just, and gnasheth upon him with his Teeth, yet God,who sitteth in the Hea­vens, shall Laugh him to Scorn, for he seeth that his day is Coming.

The Greek word in the Septuagint [...] which we translate plotteth is more significantly rendred by the Latins, Contra jus & fas superstitiose observat, which implies an illegal and unlawful, or any overcurious and even superstitious obser­ving and taking notice of, and misconstruing the Actions of another to his detriment and prejudice, a prying so far into them as to be able to Obviate and Countermine them, and hin­der them from pursuing those ends to which they were direct­ed: So that the malicious design of the wicked against the just, which David seems to decipher, is this, That he is still making it his business privately to do the Righteous Man the greatest mischief, by misrepresenting his Actions to the Publick, by taking such malici­ous [Page 10] Courses and Methods against him as may render his life very Dangerous and Ʋneasy.

And from the Words thus explain'd, I shall branch out my Discourse into three Heads.

1 First, To shew you that it hath ever been the fate of all Vir­tuous and good Men to be Exposed to the malitious Plots and Contrivance of wicked Miscreants.

2 Secondly, I shall consider from what Grounds and Causes such Plots and Contrivances doe most usually proceed.

3 And Thirdly, I shall deduce such practical conclusions as may bee sufficient to deterr men from such vile and infamous practises.

1 First, For good and virtuous men to be exposed to the Mali­tious Plots and Contrivances of those that are wicked hath ever been an hard fate which hath attended them in the World: 'Tis no new thing for Religion to meet with opposition from such Persons whose passions and interests are inconsistent with it; Christian Religion, wee know, is the most Rational and Excellent Institution that can be imagined; it lays a great re­straint upon the passions, and bridles all irregular and disorder­ly affections, it limits mens unbounded and extravigant desires, and puts them off from all base and unworthy projects and pur­suits, it teacheth them to be just and honest, simple and open, candied and upright in all their Actions, and would have them to be as innocent as Doves, though it allows them likewise the wisdom of Serpents; and where these are not the visible effects of its Holy Doctrine and Precepts, it meets with a very strange Reception and Entertainment in the World.

For where men once give up themselves to the conduct of their passions, and indulge themselves entirely in all the com­mon prejudice of Humanity, where they Sacrifice to their inter­est as the greatest of all Deitys, and measure all Religion by complying with such a party, or adhering to such a faction, or espousing such an interest; if Religion do in such cases exert its vigour and zeal to beat down such palpable Irregularitys amongst such People, it shall be sure to be censured and dealt [Page 11] withall as an enemy, because it is resolved so fairly to tell them the Truth.

And hence arise evil thoughts, and false surmizes, and wrangling debates, and perverse disputings by men of corrupt minds, who turn Faith into Faction, and Religion into Rebellion, and all Government must bee Abolish'd that is not of their Mold and all Humane Appointments Abrogated that are not stamp'd with their Mark; and if Governours will not be huff'd out of their Authority by their demands, then all their Actions must be immediately misrepresented to the Croud, and the People must be forthwith harangu'd into mutiny and sedition, and Plots and Arms must be the last refuge of the Saints to set up Christ's Kingdom in opposition to Caesars.

That these have been the proceedings for some years in this Kingdom, I think none so great a Recluse to be ignorant of at this day; for who ever more persecuted by seditious Boute­feus then our most Gracious King? What ever more harast'd by Factious Spirits then our Apostolical Church? Was not our Sovereigns Restauration very wonderfull and Miraculous, and hath not God attested his care and protection over him ever since that time by such a series of Deliverances, as might con­vince his Enemies (one would think) that he is above the reach of their malice, and the very darling and favourite of Heaven it self? And yet for all this, have they not taken all advantages to stuff the Pillow of his Crown with Thorns, and to make the Throne totter, and become uneasie to his Majesty? Did not an ungratefull Absalom endeavour to steal away the Hearts of his People from him, whilst a false and trecharous Achitophel did form and marshall them into Clubbs and partys against him? Did not the railing Shimeis and bawling Rabshakah's of the party endeavour to blast his reputation with his Subjects, whilst the canting Sheba's by blowing the Trumpet of sedition did Alarum them all into another Holy Warr? And whilst they were con­juring up such Hurricanes against the King, was not the Church to be involv'd in the same general calamity, and both his and the Churches Friends doom'd to the same portion of sufferings, [Page 12] under which for so many years together they had once so found­ly smarted?

Alass, these tender-hearted and purely conscientious Persons, could by no means away with the harmless Rites of the Church, but were preparing their Swallows again for its goods and reve­nues, and though one poor small Ceremony might by no means go down for fear of choaking them, yet a Bishoprick would cer­tainly have been a very pleasant morsell for a break-fast, for Church-lands never yet came within their motion of Sacrilege; and though decimating and sequesting and plundring was out of fashion, it had been a Trade which prov'd formerly so benefici­all to the Saints, that they began to grow bigg with hope of renewing the Monopoly.

In fine Dagon must down, for Kingly Power grew burthen­som, and the Lords were become useless, and the Bishops dan­gerous, and we had nothing left amongst us but through pac'd Judges, and Evil Counsellours, and Flattering Divines, buisy and designing Papists and French Councills; and since the Ministers of State were inexcuseable, and deserved all the fury (as one of the Hellish Plate Re­divivus.Agents speaks) which must one time or other be let lose upon them; now was the time for the True Protestant Flails and other new Instruments of Torture to flye about their Bones, and take Vengeance of Gods, because their reputed Enemies.

Psal. 24. v. 5, 6, 7. But Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us over as a Prey unto their Teeth, Our soul is escaped as a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowler, the Snare is broken, and we are delivered, and our help standeth yet in the Name of the Lord, who hath made Heaven and Earth.

2 And so from the Plott it self, I shall proceed to the second thing, and consider the grounds and Original of this and all other Plotts and Conspiracies in the World; which I shall resolve into three general Causes.

1 And first they are occasioned by spreading dangerous Positions and Seditious Principles amongst the Multitude: For when the People are taught that they are the Supream Power, and all civil [Page 13] Authority is derived originally from them, that there is a mu­tual compact between a Prince and his Subjects, and that if he perform not his Duty they are dischar ged from theirs; why, 'tis only giving out that the Prince hath forfeited his Trust, and is accountable for the breach of that power with which he was Entrusted; and then the next thing by course follows to de­pose or Murder him, and he falls justly too by the Sword for those, which they call, his Crimes and Misdemeanours.

Again, what greater Encouragement can possibly be given to conspire against a Government, and contrive its utter Subver­sion, then when men are told publickly that self preservation is such a fundamental Law of Nature as superseeds the Obligation of all others which stand in competition with it, and that it is Lawfull for their own defence, and the defence of their Religi­on to enter into what Leagues, Covenants, or Associations they please, even against the will and consent of the Supream Ma­gistrate? And can there be any higher incentive to Rebellion in the world, then to Preach amongst the Rabble, that the Doctrine of the Gospel concerning patient suffering of inju­ries is not incompatible with taking up Arms against our Go­vernment, and that Resistance of Superiours is a thing very law­full, where our Rights and Liberties are invaded by them?

Nay once more, when Rebellion grows prosperous, and Con­spiracies are Crown'd with success, when Victory flyes to the sides of Oppressours, and Kings are led in triumph for a specta­cle to the Multitude, tell the People but then, as it was taught them in the late Warrs, that Possession and Strength give a right to Govern, and success in a cause or enterprize proclaim it to be lawfull and just, and to pursue it is to comply with the will of God, because it is to follow the conduct of his Provi­dence; and I defye any better method to instigate them afresh then this will prove, for it pusheth them forward upon new attempts, and it makes them so daring and desperate in that Cause, which they believe God himself hath own'd so provi­dentially, that they will Caball and Plott, and Mutiny and Fight against all who shall oppose them in their Resolves and [Page 14] Designs, being still flush'd with hopes of a glorious success; and tha t God will never desert that People or that cause, for which once he did so signally interpose his mighty Providence.

Thus where men have once suck'd in such dangerous princi­ples as these, they scruple not to act according to those Princi­ples, and they must needs prove very pernitious in order to the undermining the Peace and prosperity of that State where they are entertain'd, because they are the very bane of all Obedience and Loyalty, and transform men into such horrid monsters of Anarchy and Rebellion, as are unfit to live in any Christian Com­munity, being like the Plague that poisons all places with their infectious Contagion; as wee have felt by too woefull experi­ence in these three flourishing Kingdoms.

2 Secondly, nothing doth more occasion mischieveous Plotts and Conspiracies then needless fears and jealousies about Reli­gion and Government: till but the People in plausible cant, that the King is setting up for Tyranny and Arbitrary Government, and that he is resolved to Sacrifice all their lives and liberties to his unbounded ambition and avarice; though above twenty years experience doth fully attest the contrary (a Reign where Law and Justice were never stretch'd unless to mercy, and in­dulgence; a Reign where too easie forgiveness, and receiving his pardon'd Enemies the warm ungratefull snakes too near into the bosom of Majesty, and too high into his trust and honours has been the only fault in his Throne) yet this imaginary Levi­athan of arbitrary power shall raise such panick fears, that those very shadows and Chimaera's like so many Igens fatui shall mislead deluded ignorance into distraction and rebellion, whilst the great Knaves trail the Carrion, and the little Fools hunt after, as one Phraseth it wittily to this purpose.

Again let it be but given out though with all the incoheren­cys and absurditys imaginable that the Pope is advancing with his Holy Banners into this Kingdom, and is resolv'd to make a reprizal of all his lost ground amongst us; tell them that the Bishops are Pensioners to his Holyness, and are resolv'd to open both their Churches and Treasuries to readmit his Sacred Train; [Page 15] 'tis not all these mens Protestations, or Tests, discourses, writ­ings and Sermons can be able to undisguise the deluded rabble, or gain them any reverence from these their profess'd Enemies; but they must be hollowed out of the World with the common crye of the multitude, Away with these fellows it is not fit that they should live: thus Christ must suffer by the decree of the Phari­sees, least Heathen Rome prevail, and the Romans come and take away both their place and Nation, though the very death of Christ brought in the Romans to destroy them; and the Church of England must be voted down by our Pharisaical Dissenters, least that proving an inlet to Popery the modern Romanists by that means take an occasion to root them out; when indeed the case is plain, that if ever they should again prevail to the sub­version of our Establish'd Church, Rome would pay them quick­ly in the very same coine, and they but hasten their own Ruine, by the contrivance of ours.

Let not then any foolish fears or jealousys, that are conjured up, affright us out of our Loyalty and Obedience to our Go­vernours, for those are only the State-Tools of Hot-spurd Bigots and Incendiars, and are always used as Boys doe Vizors to fright every body but themselves that wear them: And though there is not the least shadow or appearance for such surmizes, and all is rank Forgery which they scatter amongst the Multi­tude; yet because they know the Temper of most English men, that they fear nothing which they see, but all things that they hear, which if unpleasing, and ungrateful doe presently set them a kicking and madding against the Government; they grati­fie their foolish humours in this affair, and after they have must­ered up a whole legion of publick Grievances in the Nation, they magnifie these very Annusances with such artifices of Facti­on, that the People are induced to believe these imaginary Castles and Scare-Crows to be real and substantial Truths, and so run into confusion and an opposition of that Government, which were it not for these men they would quietly acquiesce in, and think it the greatest happiness to live quietly under, withall Obedience and Submission.

[Page 16] 3 But a third thing which makes men associate in Leagnes, and Plotts, and Conspiracys, is an uneasiness under Government, and an itching desire after new changes and Alterations: Though after all the mighty heats and debates amongst Politicians Mo­narchies have at last been Voted for the best of Governments, and one Tyrant (if so it happen) more tolerable then thirty at Athens, or a greater number in England; Yet so besotted are some Bigors to Common-wealth principles and practises that a Solomon upon the Throne shall be made impeaceable at their tribunal, and they who perhaps Alphonsus like could have con­triv'd the World better, had they been admitted Privy-Coun­sellors with God Almighty at the Creation, no doubt are so opinionative as throughly to be perswaded that they can Go­vern the World better too then Gods Vice-gerents who are at the Helm, might their measures be taken in the administration of Government.

But what are the measures which these men of Policy pro­pose? Why, if the Prerogative was but little more paired, and Church-government new modell'd, and squar'd more exactly to the Presbyterian cut, you should perhaps have these Mens witts leave off working for a while, till the next Moon caus'd a new Fermentation in the Brain; and when their Lunacy did return, new projects must be set on Foot, and down goes Presbytery as too severe and Tyrannical, and a Jus divinum must be enstamp'd with a Nemine Contradicent upon Independency; till at length the Moon changeth again, and then it being thought too much to Monopolize true Christianity to any one particular sect of Men, at last comes out a Toleration, and like Noahs Ark takes in all clean and unclean Creatures within the Pale of the Church, till our Heresies grow as numerous as the very Letters of our Creeds, and the Church it self become realy, what Ju­lian once falsly traduced it to be, a Sanctuary for all the great­est Villanies, and most horrid Diabolical illusions in the World.

And these are the true Fruits and mischiefs of unnecessary changes in Government, which should make us utterly detest [Page 17] all Abettours of them, and to dread the very thoughts of any further Reformation, until they could all agree upon a better then is establish'd: For 'tis the duty of Reformers to provide themselves of a sure remedy before they take notice of the wound, and that Chyrurgeon deserves to be punish'd who first opens the sick Mans Vein and then runs for things to close it: And they that would bleed the Kingdom in the Basilick Vein, (as in their own Phrase to their eternal infamy hath been once done allready,) and would heal the distempers of the Nation without having better remedies at hand, which are more ne­cessary and expedient then at present are applied, is such an impracticable way to cure it, as none but State-Quacks, and Bloody Empiricks would pretend to, and are therefore to be punished as such unskillful miscreants whose proper work is not to cure but to ruine that Kingdom.

And now having Briefly acquainted you how farr the malice of wicked Men prompts them forward to commit the greatest outrages by their cursed Plotts and Conspiracies; and what is the source of all such Devilish Machinations; it will be requisite in the third place to deduce from thence such practical conclu­sions as may be sufficient to deterr men from such vile and in­famous practises against either Church or State.

In order to which I desire it may be considered,

1 First, that nothing is more detestable in the sight of God, then such evil projects and treacherous designments against Go­vernours: All obedience to Man is for the sake of God, and they who by any contumelious Act vilifie their Superiours, reproach God himself who gave them their Authority: Prov. 8. v. 15. If by God Kings Reign, and Princes do decree Justice, to wound their Persons is to stabb God in Effigy, nor can their Honour be Eclips'd without lessening Gods too: He that quarrels with his Prince quarrels with God who hath bestow'd upon him all his Regalia of Kingly power, and he that endeavours to under­mine or betray his Sovereign out of any selfish principle, or se­cular interest and design, was our Blessed Saviour now upon Earth, would Judas like venture his Soul to betray him too, [Page 18] was he but sure to come to a good Market for him.

Hence the Gyants of old who warr'd against Jupieter are a very true Emblem of all Seditions Rebels; for to raise commo­tions against Kings is to wage Warr with Heaven, whose Vice-Gerents they are, and what greater affront can be given? what more open violance offered to the King of Kings? To be still carping and repining at all Publick administration of affairs is to question Gods wisdom in the choyce of his own Mi­nisters, and in plain Terms to tell him, that he is much to blame in bestowing Crowns upon Fools or wicked men: But methinks what Luther said concerning Philip Melancthon who was more disquieted in his thoughts then he needed to have been concerning the confused state of things in his days, Mo­nendus est Philippus desinut esse Rector Mundi, is very applicable to our purpose at this present time: Every hot-brain'd Fana­tick is duly to be admonished that he would cease to take upon him the Government of the World, as if he knew how to dis­pose of it to a better Lieutenancy then the Almighty; and con­sequently that the Brethren would once be perswaded to leave all their Mutinuss and Seditious Practises, their raillery, and detraction, their Plotts and Associations against Kings and all that are in Authority, because God looks upon it as a contempt and a defiance given to himself, and therefore doth assure them, 1 Sam. 15. v. 23. Rom. 13. v. 2. that as Rebellion is as the sin of Witch-craft. So they that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation.

Again God is pleased to declare his utter distast and abhor­rence of all such practises by the Providential discoveries he so frequently makes of the greatest conspiracies in the World: And indeed there is no greater argument for the Providence of God against the rankest Atheists living, that he doth continu­ally take cognizance of all affairs of Sublunary beings; nor is there any surer Testimony of Gods mercy and loving-kindness to the Sons of Men, then the great care he hath taken for the preservation of his People, and the wonderfull deliverances which in all ages of the World he hath wrought for the Church, maugre all the powerfull and Politick attempts of Men or De­vils [Page 19] to undermine and destroy it.

And if upon this account God owns any cause by making it successful, which I shew'd you before it was the Doctrine of Fanaticks, what may they judge of our cause now, by the suc­cess and happiness of the late discovery? For if this argument be true, the Gates and Turrets of the City, who now groan under the Heads and Quarters of the late Executed Rebells, will Proclaim to all the World the gratious Success on our side, and that God hath visibly espous'd our Cause against those Antimo­narchicall and Anti-Episcopall Zealots who did oppose it?

2, Secondly, nothing is more inconsistent with the design of true Religion, and the doctrine of Christianity then such vile Plotts and Conspiracies, which make resistance against Supe­riours a thing Lawful; and consequently that can be no true Church were such Practises are allow'd of or countenanc'd by the chiefest members: Now that these things have been ever justified by the Fanatick Fraternity is as demonstrable as to shew you where they have been look'd upon as Antichristian, and I defye any one to point me out the time where ever they were yet publickly disown'd by a joynt concurrence of all their Sanctified Tribes.

Read over, if you can think it worth your while to puddle in so much filth and impiety, some of the Books or Sermons of Calamy or Baxter, Owen or Goodwyn, Jenkyns or Marshal, and of diverse others who were the Heads and the very Oracles of both the Sectarian parties, and you will find the greatest Vil­lanies countenanc'd, the horrid'st Blasphemies vented, the deepest Treasons encouraged, and the most execrable mur­der of the late King himself justified in their Pulpitts and Presses, which have been the accursed Fountains of all our deplorable calamities: Or if you please to take an infallible Antidote against them all, read over the Dissenters sayings, publish'd on this very account by the true Heroick Atlas of our establish'd Church, and you will meet there with such a Farrago of wicked principles and opinions flowing all immediately from the same sink of Fanaticism, as indeed is no where else to be [Page 20] met withall but in Hell it self: For what false and horrid Sto­ries do they there tell God Almighty of the King and the Church, as the same Incomparable Author observes, and then what Blasphemous Commissions, in the Name of the High God, do they sham upon their Congregations? They tell the people on the one hand that it is the will of God to have Kings put to death, Altars profan'd, Temples demolish'd; whilst they treat the dreadfull Majesty of Heaven on the other hand as if he himself was to come in for a share in the next Crown or Church-lands that fell: They bless God for successes, and pray for blessings that carry damnation along with them, im­puting the motions of Hell to the very breathings of the Holy Ghost.

Now all these things were not done privately in a Corner, or shrouded up closely in the shades of darkness, but were publish'd boldly and openly in the face of the Sun, as doctrines fit to be propagated and espoused by all true Christians; nor were these the particular sentiments only of some private men, but the approv'd opinions of all their principal Teachers, some of which were Assembly-men, urged with all the Zeal, and inculcated to their People with all the vigour imaginable, and some of these Persons are alive at this very day, and we find them Men of the same Kidneys still, for they have not yet retracted any of these Seditious principles, nor recanted for their dangerous opinions and tenents, nor given the State any reasonable satisfaction to believe that they are sorry for what they have done, nor declared any visible reluctan­cy or regret for all their former misdemeanours, repen­tance in a Fanatick being as great a Miracle as conversion in a Jew.

Now 'tis impossible that Men who are poison'd with such Unchristian sentiments as these can ever be Members of a Church truly Christian: And I never read of any Rebells that were Canoniz'd for Saints by those who did believe themselves to be the best and Truest Protestants, till Mr. Bax­ter first placed them in his Saints Everlasting Rest; for Christia­anity [Page 21] truely primitive, never own'd any such principles or Per­sons in the World, but lays down other Maxims of another stamp and nature; it commands us Love and Peace, Unity and Obedience, and abhorrs all Schisms and Factions and Dissensions as Plagues and Fire-brands; it obligeth us to be subject to the higher powers and to obey for conscience sake, and to submit our selves to froward and cruel as well as to mild and Gentle Governours; it allows us not, though surrounded with Storms of persecution, to take our measures of obedience from our strength or our numbers, for the primitive Christians were more in number and greater in power then their Persecutors, and yet nunquam conjuratio erupit, faith the Father, there never was any uprour or hur­ly-burly amongst them, but in reverence to their Master and his example, Interimi se a paucioribus quam interimere patie­bantur, they rather suffered themselves to be kill'd by a smal­ler number then themselves are: And St. Cyprian cryes out, Nemo nostrum quando apprehenditur reluctatur, quamvis nimius & copiosus noster populus; none of us when we are apprehended strive or endeavour to revenge your unjust violence, all­though our People are very many and more numerous then you are; and Tertullian gives the reason, Occidi licet occi­dere non licet; God hath made it Lawfull for us to suffer our selves to be kill'd, but not Lawfull for us to kill.

And indeed the doctrine of Resistance was never taught in the Christian School, till the Pope and his Jesuites layd down plainly the Text, and our True Protestant Scotch and English new upstart Theologico-politici began to lick up the Venom, and were pleas'd to raise their Holy comments upon it; and it was quite beaten out of countenance, till of late an Apo­state Julian, allmost as bad as Julian whose life he writes, did endeavour again to bring it into reputation with the Mobile: Sure I am that the whole life of our Saviour was a confu­tation of such vile Practises, his rebuking St. Peter for rashly St. Mat. 25. 52.using the Sword, was a plain discountenancing such unevangeli­cal principles, the sufferings of all the Apostles and primitive [Page 22] Martyrs are a sufficient comment upon the doctrine of our Saviour in this particular, and in short Erasmus was much in the right when he lays down this for one of the greatest of Truths, Nulla haeresis perniciosior, &c. No heresy is more pernitious then this doctrine of Resistance, the whole Stream of Apostolical Men running quite counter to it, both in their principles and practises.

So that till men learn to be more peaceable and quiet, more submissive and obedient, less mutinous and refractory, less cen­sorious and seditious, till they leave off pleading conscience, for not doing that which a Gospel-conscience tells them they are obliged to do, and never take up Arms, raise any insur­rections, or confederate in any private leagues or associations against their Governours; let them list themselves in what Congregations, and Church themselves in what Assemblies, and pretend to what measures of Saintshipp they please, I darr assure them (if the Gospel be true) that they are not yet en­roll'd in the Catalogue of Gods true Saints, who never as yet held up one hand in adoration to God Almighty, and with the other rebell'd against and endeavoured to murder his A­nointed.

3 Thirdly, nothing is more destructive to the peace and wellfare of all humane Society, then such damnable Plotts and Conspiracies against Government: With what pleasure do men enjoy all the Fruits of their labour, and live with the greatest satisfaction under their Vines and their Figg-trees, where these common Incendiaries do not set Kingdoms in Flames? On the other side where these get the upper hand, what Massacres and Murders, what Blood and Rapine, what Ravages and Sacrilege do immediatly ensue? No respect then to Persons, no reverence to Gray Hairs, no tenderness for Children, no piety for Infants, no compassion to the most lovely and charming Flowers of beautifull youth it self. The Streets shall be fill'd with the dreadfull Spectacle of mangled Carcasses, and the Skyes rent in sunder with the bitter cryes and Ejaculations of poor Widows and Orphans, whose dearest [Page 23] Relations have falln Sacrifices to revenge and cruelty; the Rivers shall be Dyed with Purple Gore, and the Air be­come infected with the contagion of the slain; the most stately Cities shall be disrob'd of all their glory, and the ve­ry Woods and Mountains of the Countrey shall want caves and receptacles for wandring Exiles and Pilgrims: Nobility is then no barr against oppression, and Birth and Family do but at that time make the condition more deplorable; nor will Sacred places meet with better usage then any other, and will prove but very weak Asylum's and insignificant San­ctuaries to those that have been employed therein; 'tis no news then to behold the abomination of desolation standing in the most holy place, and the House of Prayer made in the most literal sense a Den of Thieves; and it will be less mat­ter of wonder for a fat Benefice to become a crime and wit­ness too against its Incumbent, and he to be voted unorthodox, that is worth the plundring.

That this is all Romance or but barely speculation I wish our late unhappy times did not fully contradict, but (alass) we then so dearly experienc'd the mischiefs of Sedition, and what direfull consequences ensued when the Rebels were in the Saddle, that the least apprehension of such dismal revo­lutions may reasonably affect as at the greatest dread and hor­rour, and the burnt Child may justly fear the Fire a second time.

4 Fourthly, All Plotters are to be reckoned the very worst sort of sinners, they are the wicked with an Emphasis, [...] by way of Eminency: Hence the sins of re­bellion and stubborness are by God himself rank'd in the same File, with those horrid and crying sins of Witch-craft and Idolatry; Nay, they are rather the worse of the two, because they who are guilty of them feldom or never blush for that guilt, and have any inward Checks or remorse of conscience for the commission of such crimes; they can swear without perjury, because an Oath obligeth not in the Imposers sense [Page 24] but in the Takers; they can Rebell without Treason, because Kings being only the Peoples Creatures, 'tis law­ful to unmake what themselves Created; and they can Kill without Murder, because what the Word cannot, the Sword may lawfully do: For there is such a strange kind of bewitching infatuation in Rebellion, that it many times so far imposeth upon their Reason as to make them be­lieve themselves innocent, when they are Devils Incarnate, or hellish Agents walking in humane shapes: This was ve­ry evident in the Regicides that suffered for the Barberous Murder of that Glorious Martyr Charles the first, their eyes were so blinded even to the very last, that they could not see their Errour, but justified what they had done with so much boldness and pertinacity, as if they had seen a Vision of Christ holding forth to them a Crown of Glory for their perseverance in their Villany: and the Scotch Rebells were so far from being sorry for their Crimes, that they cry up that Rising for a very meritorious Act, and Canonize the chief Ring-leaders at Pentland-Hills for Martyrs: And it is to be heartily wish'd that they who lately suffered for their too apparent Treasons had died with a deeper sense of them then they are apprehended to have done.

Again, Rebellion and Disobedience are much the worse sins, because (as it hath been truely observed by a Reverend and Learned Dr. Pierce.Divine) they are Luciferian Crimes, sins which can never attend men to Heaven, having brought down the An­gels of Heaven to Hell: There are some sort of sins, such as Drunkenness and Whoredom (however Damning) that the Devil cannot possible commit; but Envy, and Malice, Shism and Sacrilege, Hypocricy and Rebellion and Intoxicating Pride are peculiar to him, and they are the Devils sins so properly, that they are properly called Devilish in men or Christians where ever found: And as these of all sins are the most diabolicall, so they are the most damning, which is very evident from the terrible emphasis and force St. Peter puts [Page 25] upon the Word [...] 2 Pet. 2. 9. saying of them, who despise Government, that they are chiefly or more especially reserv'd by the Lord unto the day of Judgment to be punish'd: And certainly then it will be to great a hazard for a Christian to be so fool-hardy as to venture his immortal Soul in the point of Resistance upon the bare assurance of Mr. Bridges or any of his Frye, that St. Pauls [...] Rom. 13. 2. signifies only a Temporal Mulet, and not Eternal damnation without Repentance.

Let none then who know themselves guilty of these dam­ning sins value themselves a rush the more because they can boast with the proud Luke 18. v. 11▪ Pharisee, I am no Extortioner, Adulterer, Drunkard, or the like▪; for as Rebellion is a sin of the highest magnitude, which erases all the common no­tice of Duty and Loyalty, and even humanity too out of the mind, so it hurries a Man down to Hell seared and hardned in his Villany, where no doubt the preeminence of the hottest place is reserv'd for those who die in that condi­tion without repentance.

5 Fifthly, since all such seditious Practises are so abomin­able to God, so pernitious to Church and State, and the Abettours of them are of all men the most Vile, Wicked, and Diabolical, let this be a means to perswade you cor­dially and sincerely to abjure and avoid all such Horrid principles and projectors: Now in order to this it will be requisite to take notice who these Plotters are, at this time, and by what Eminent Characters they are signaliz'd to the World.

And here we shall find Gebal and Ammon, and Amalek with the uncircumcis'd Philistines, all in a confederacy against the establish'd Government; Presbyterians and Inde­pendents, Ana-Baptists, and Fifth Monarchy Men, all joyning issues to make the King Glorious, that is in their sense a Martyr as his Father was; as if the Royal Ghost was still [Page 26] Haunting their Conventicles, and no Blood could still pro­pitiate him but that of his own Son: Those who are off as different Interests as opinions all engage in this, and those whose affections are as much alienated from one an­other (singly considered) as from us, all agree upon this account in an unjarring Harmony: Herod and Pontius Pilate are made Friends that Christ may suffer, and those who are the most bitter and implaceable Enemies to one an­other (when time serves) in their Principles, Doctrine and Government; all unite in a league against their common Enemies King and Church.

And ought not such Men to be avoided with the great­est horrour and detestation? Or shall these any longer find favour from us, who desire only to be so kind as to cut our Throats out of courtesy? Oh, let us not only shun them as we would do Fire or Plague, or Wild or Rave­nous Beasts, but let us pray too against theirwickedness, as HolyDavid did in the like case.Psal. 83. y. 9,—18. Do unto them as unto the Midianites:as to Sisera,as to Jabinat the brook of Kison:Which perished at En-dor:They became as Dung for the Earth. Make their Nobles like Oreb,and like Zeeb:Yea all their Princes as Zebahand Zalmunna:Who said, let us take to our selves the House of God in possession. O my God, make them like a Wheel: As the Stubble before the Wind. As the Fire burneth a Wood: And as the Flame setteth the Mountains on Fire: So persecute them with thy Tempest; and make them afraid with thy Storm. Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek thy Name, O LORD. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever: Yea let them be put to shame and perish; That men may know that thou, whose Name alone is JEHOVAH:art the most high over all the Earth.

But if some will not do this, because they do not ima­gine things so bad as they are represented, and will still brazen it out against a True Protestant Plott, though the Treason is as apparent as if it had been wrote with a [Page 27] Sun-beam; should an Angle come now from Heaven, and attest the truth of these things, they would believe him too, to be only some misguided Tory Apparition; and it is to be feared, that those who give themselves over to such invincible scruples and obstinacy, have either a hand in these proceedings or hearts that wish well to them; and so nothing will be able to work in them better things, till publick Justice brings them to open and Condigne Punishment.

6 But in the last place let me reminde you to adhere im­moveably to that Church which remonstrats against, and utterly abhors all Rebellious Principles and Practises: Now what Church that is, is Conspicious to all the World by that indelible mark of Loyalty which is her proper badge and honour; I mean that truly Primitive and Apostolical Church, the Church of England as now Established; which never yet bestowed the Kings supremacy on the Pope, nor huff'd him out of his power to bestow it upon the Peo­ple: It by no means can allow an entrenchment upon prerogative, and it as much desires that property should be secured by all honest and lawfull means: It sues for mercy of the Prince, but it would not have the Subject abuse it to ill purposes; and though it doth allow them a liberty in a regular way to do that which they judge to be best for themselves, yet it by no means gives them leave to tell their Prince what he must do, or to thrust themselves in as spyes upon, or judges over his Actions: In fine it enjoyns us to obey him in all things that are lawful and honest, and if he commands us other­wise, it permits us not to Rebell, but bids us patiently suffer for what we cannot freely comply with.

This is the avow'd doctrine of over Church (for which her fame may be justly celebrated our all the Christian World) in which let us all with one consent resolve to live and dye; for where can we be taught better, or in what Communion [Page 28] can we hope sooner to gain Heaven then in this, whose prin­ciples are so sound, whose doctrine so pure, whose Rites and Ceremonies are so few and decent, and whose practises are all so agreeable to the first and purest ages of Christianity. Which if once seriously considered would not only confirm us in this Faith, and make us firm to our Church, but per­swade others too to enter again into the bosom of it, who have so perfidiously without any just grounds revolted from it.

For why should they any longer suffer themselves to be deluded, and why should they not suspect that there may possibly be some corruptions in their Churches as well as any in ours? Now that there are both in principle and practise amongst them I have undeniably demonstrated, and would they but themselves weigh both sides impartially, and without prejudice lay things to Heart, they would be judges against themselves and embrace our Communion: For what corrup­tions can be greater then those that proceed from rebellious principles and Treasonable practises, which their Churches still do most certainly maintain, and never did yet by any publick Assembly or Remonstrance disclaim or openly re­nounce: and why then should any be so scrupulous to hold Communion with our Church for fear of some imaginary cor­ruptions, and yet cleave to such Churches as are visibly more corrupt?

Return then, O Shulamite, return, and if there be any straglers now amongst us, let me earnestly begg of them to return to this our fold, that we may be all but one Flock under one Sheepherd Christ Jesus: For 'tis now high time for men to see their errours, and if such Treasons and Conspiracies as these, will not satisfie their consciences that those who are the Leaders and Abettours of them are false Teachers, and Wolves in Sheeps-cloathing; Heaven it self cannot work such mens conversion.

But we heartily entreat you for the Kings safety, whose [Page 29] life you all pretend so highly to value, and yet can never be secure, whilst you so nicely distinguish betwixt his Per­son and his Authority; for the Interest of these Kingdoms, in whose wellfare must needs consist your happiness, and yet your mutual Feers and Animosities do dayly lessen and undermine; and for the peace and comfort of your own souls, and that Faith and conscience, which you lay so great a claim to, and yet so constantly Shipwrack by your obsti­nate Schifm and Separation, to believe these things to be really true▪ and to become at last sensible that by em­bracing these Loyal principles which our Church teacheth you, you will be certainly in the fairest way to promote your best and chiefest Interest, that is, to do well and pros­per here, and to attain far greater degrees of felicity here­after; whereas all other Seditious Tenents expose men to certain unavoidable dangers, penalties, and misfortunes in this life; and hazard their eternal Salvation in that which is to come.

I shall conclude all with that ofMoses, Deut. 30. 19.I call Heaven and Earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you Life and Death, Blessing and Cursing, therefore chuse Life that both thou and thy Seed may Live.