In the firſt general Obſervation we are to conſider 1. Who they are that are ſo malicious as to envy the peace of Sion, and ſo ſedulous and diligent in contriving her Deſtruction.

2. How frequent they are in their Attempts.

3. By what ways and means they indeavour to bring their wicked and pernicious deſigns to paſs.

And this I ſhall ſhow in the Phraſe and Language of my Text.

1. The Enemies of Sion are many. Their multitude renders them formidable: Illos defendit Numerus junctaeque Umbone Phalanges.

2. Many a time do they renew their Aſſaults; Like importunate Beggars one or two denials will not ſhake them off; one or two, or twenty diſappointments do not diſhearten or cauſe them to deſiſt from their interprize: This but whets their anger and inventions: Animos a vulnere ſumunt: Like Antaeus they ſeem to receive vigour from their very falls. This ſhows their Obſtinacy and inveteracy.

3. They have many ways to execute their Fury and to bring their hidden purpoſes to perfection. The Sword and the Mattock. open Force, and hidden Treachery: I might put in the Pen likewiſe none of the leaſt invenom'd Weapons they make uſe of to accompliſh their wicked deſigns: Beſides a thouſand little Arts they have to delude the Vulgar, and to hold ſilly ignorant people Captive this ſhows their Cunning. They do as Balaam did, at the requeſt of Balak; Num. 23.13 if they cannot curſe Iſrael from one Hill, they will try another, and another after that, to ſee if at length ſome one lucky hit may render their Faſcinations and Enchantments proſperous and ſucceſsful.

1. The Enemies of the Church are many; Too many for me to ſpeak to within the compaſs allotted for this Exerciſe; too many for the poor Church by her own ſtrength to encounter, but not too many for her Almighty Patron and invincible Champion to deliver her from: For though all the Legions of Darkneſs ſhould combine in one againſt her, and call in all their Auxiliaries to their aſſiſtance, all thoſe who for the Virulency of their Principles, and the maliciouſneſs of their practice, may be ſtil'd Devils incarnate, yet ſhould they be as chaffe before the wind, and the Angel of the Lord ſcattering them, as the fire burneth the Wood, and the flame conſumeth the Mountains, ſo ſhall God perſecute them with his Tempeſt and make them afraid with his Storm. Though they come about her like Bees yet ſhall they be extinct as the fire amongſt Thorns, ſo ſuddenly ſhall they vaniſh and be no more. Though the Red Dragon open his mouth wide to devour her and her offspring, yet God will prepare a place-in the Wilderneſs for them to retire unto: And though he follow her thither, yet he ſhall give her the wings of an Eagle that ſhe may fly away and be at reſt: and though the Serpent caſt whole Floods of Water out of his mouth to overwhelm her, yet the Earth ſhall preſerve her, by receiving them into her large and vaſt Treaſury As the Air before, ſo the Earth now, yea even all Elements ſhall by the direction and command of their Superior Agent, contribute to her ſecurity, and preſervation. The Enemies of Sion are many: She may well ſay as David did in her perſon, All nations have compaſſed me about, they have conſulted together with one conſent, and are confederate againſt me; the Tabernacles of Edom, and the Iſhmaelites of Moab, and the Hagaerens, thoſe indeed who to our great trouble, (and the greater, becauſe aſſiſted by one who calls himſelf the moſt Chriſtian King,) have overſpread a conſiderable part of the once Chriſtian Empire; Though the late proſperous ſucceſſes of the Churches Arms make us to hope, that notwithſtanding thoſe indirect and unchriſtian practices, their late Half Moon is haſtily declining to its utmoſt Waine. Gebal alſo and Ammon, and Amalek, the Philiſtines with the inhabitants of Tyre, Aſſur, alſo is joyned with them and have holpen the Children of Lot. The Enemies of Sion you ſee are many: The Vineyard which God hath planted for himſelf with his own right hand is infeſted, and troubled with many Adverſaries that envy her Felicity, and endeavour her utter extirpation. There are wild Boares that break down her Hedges, and would lay her open, and make her common to the Beaſts of the Wide, and unmanured Wilderneſs: And there are little Foxes that creep through them and crop her tender Budds: There are Sacrilegious Caterpillars that devour her faireſt Cluſters, her beſt and richeſt poſſeſſions: And there are Teredines little Creatures that worm themſelves into the body of the Vine, and corrupt it, and others that gnaw at the very Root thinking to kill, and deſtroy it.

I ſhall paſſe by her Forreign Adverſaries, Atheiſts, and Infidells who deny the very Principles and firſt Grounds of our moſt excellent Religion, whoſe Eyes the God of this World hath ſo blinded that they cannot ſee the wonders of Gods Law: and come to ſome of her domeſtick and homebred Foes, thoſe that eat of her Bread and drink of her Cup, that partake of the ſame Ordinances, Communicate of the ſame Sacraments, that acknowledge the ſame faith, and yet either out of Pride or Ignorance, Folly or Conrempt lift up their heel againſt her.

1. Some of thoſe many Enemies of Sion that moleſt and diſturb her are thoſe who joyning with her in her outward worſhip, in the obſervation of her excellent Diſcipline, and the belief of her ſound and Orthodox Doctrine, do notwithſtanding to their own ſhame, and the Churches prejudice depart from her in their practice, and manner of outward converſation: whoſe lives are no ways anſwerable to that moſt holy Religion which they profeſs. Qui aliud, aiunt, aliud vivunt. That ſpeak the words of Simon Peter, and live the life of Simon Magnus. And truly theſe are none of the leaſt Enemies that the Church of Chriſt hath; for there are no wounds like the wounds of a Friend, they ſtrike deepeſt and are moſt unkindly reſented. Such as theſe give advantage to the Gainſayers of the Truth, and make them ſpeak evil of that moſt innocent Goſpel that is firſt pure, and then peaceable. Methinks I hear our bleſſed Saviour ſaying to the ſinning Chriſtian that lives indirect oppoſition to thoſe divine Precepts which he left to be the Rule and Guide of our Actions, ſomething not unlike what the chaſt and dying Arria ſaid to her beloved Paetus.

The Wounds that the malicious and bloodthirſty Jews made in my Hands my Feet do not trouble me being they were given me for thy ſake do procure an Attonement for thee: but they are thoſe which thou my Friend and Companion whom I loved as my ſelf, thoſe which thou who art a part of me, a Member of my Body giveſt me with thy Blaſphemies, with thy Oaths and Execrations, thoſe are the Wounds that ſtabb me to the heart, that crucifie me afreſh, that put me anew to open ſhame. Pitty it is that thoſe who are right as to their underſtanding ſhould be perverſe in their Wills, and irregular in their Affections: That thoſe who are ſo far inlightned in their minds ſhould mix Heaven with Earth, light with Darkneſs, for what Fellowſhip or Communion is there between them. Oh! if there be any ſuch here, let me beſeech them by the Mercies of God, by the Bowels of Chriſt Jeſus, not to Eclipſe the Light of their Profeſſion, by the dull interpoſition of their carnal and Earthly deſires.

2. Another ſort of the Enemies of the Church, which do her and themſelves no ſmall prejudice, are thoſe who by oppoſing her Doctrine, and ſeparating from her Communion upon ſlight and frivolous pretences, do what in them lyes to looſe thoſe Bands and Ligaments of Order that preſerve her within the Terms and Limits of one entire Body and Society. What Opinion this ſort of People, who out of an over nice and Curious Tenderneſs run from one extreme ſometimes to another have, I know not; but this I think, that no rational unprejudiced perſon can altogether excuſe them from giving Offence, and Scandal to the Catholick Church of Chriſt, whereof they either are or ought to be Members. If Laceration, if Diſtortion, if Mutilation bring pain, deformity and imperfection along with them, then ſure I am that thoſe who tear one Member from another, who divide the continuity of Chriſts Myſtical Body, and cut off diverſe from the whole, muſt needs not only ſpoyle the Beauty and Comlineſs of her who is the faireſt of ten Thouſand, but alſo bring torment and vexation, pains and diſeaſes to the great and univerſal Congregation of the Faithful. Theſe unneceſſary, I may ſay scandalous Diviſions, are as the Rickets which hinder the growth of the Church, that impair her ſtrength, and make her Limbs knotty and diſproportioned.

3. The third, laſt, and moſt dangerous ſort of thoſe who afflict Sion, and ſeek her utter ruine and deſtruction that I ſhall mention, are thoſe who either out of Ignorance, or ſecular Carnal ſelf Intereſt, or both, corrupt her Doctrine, and either propoſe new, and unwarrantable Articles of Belief for the Terms of their Communion, and as the neceſſary conditions of Salvation, or elſe detain part of that which is neceſſary to be aſſented to, and practiced; from the knowledge of thoſe who are ſubject to their Authority, and Miniſterial Juriſdiction. Theſe deliver the Inventions of Men inſtead of the Oracles of God, and impoſe uncertain Traditions inſtead of Divine Truths upon the overcredulous and eaſily ſeduced Multitude: God hath commanded the Governors and Stewards of his Church to prepare wholſome Pottage for the Sons of the Prophets; but they who have long, (though upon falſe grounds) pretended to be folely authorized, and commiſſionated for that Employment have gathered wild Gourds, venomous Colloquintidu inſtead of favory favory Herbs, ſo that we are forced to cry out that there is Death in the Pot, there is no ſafety in eating and drinking with them after a Religious manner, no Communicating with them in in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper without danger of infection, till ſome Flour, which was Eliſha's cure of the Deadly Pottage, be acknowleged to be in their Hoſt; which they (for Reaſons beſt know to themſelves) will not allow of. They have ſo poyſon'd and Corrupted the pure Streams of Gods Word, which ſhould make glad the Church, which is the City of our God, that he that continueth to drink his fill of thoſe putrified Waters without a ſpecial Antidote dyeth. Nay the Jeſuits ſome of the greateſt Empoyſoners, and Sorcerers have turn'd them, as once the River Nilo was, into blood; that is by their falſe comments and miſinterpretations of the Sacred Writ they have extracted bloody and cruel Principles out of it. And by vertue of that unlimited, and uncontroulable Authority they would falſly fetch from thence, aſſume to themſelves a power (which they have but too often uſed) of Dethroming Kings and Princes: and by diſſolving the bands of Allegiance, expoſe them to the rage and fury of their own Subjects; impudently denouncing the fatal Sentences of Deprivation and Deſtruction againſt thoſe Soveraign and Anomted Heads, whoſe Authority is in thoſe Sacred Volumus moſt plainly aſſerted; and their Perſons moſt expreſſly protected. To paſs by that rabble of Hereticks that aroſe in the Primitive Times, (for the good Man had no ſooner Sowne his Wheat but the evil one ſcatter'd his tares amongſt it) the Church of Rome as infamous now for her Apoſtacy, as ſhe was once Famous for her Faith, hath willfully incurr'd the ſevere penalty mentioned by St. John in the Revelations, adding to and diminiſhing from the expreſs word of God; nay ſome of her Communion have been ſo impudent as not only to corrupt ſeveral places of the Holy Scriptures, but even to Abaſe the value of that which they have left untainted and untoucht, Preferring their Canon Law, before the law of God, preferring the arbitray conſtitutions of St. Peters pretended Succeſſor to the undoubted and Divinely inſpired writings of St. Paul: one inſtance of which I ſhall mention out of their own Decretalls: where it is ſaid, Secundam accipere uxorem Secundum Apoſtoli praeceptum licitum eſt, Secundum vero veritatis rationem verè Fornicatio. That is as much as to ſay, that according to the word of God in St Pauls Epiſtles Second Marriages are lawfull, but according to the word of God, as they would have it in their Canon Law written 1200 years after, 'tis plain Fornication. St. Paul gives a command to Timothy to keep ſafe that committed to his Charge, to preſerve the Talent of Catholick Faith delivered to him unbroken and uncorupt, neither perverted or crak't in it's order by Schiſmaticks, nor tainted in it's Doctrine by Haereticks: but it ſeemes the Pope who ſo frequently and ſo eaſily, (though it may be not ſo cheaply) diſpenſed with others, hath given himſelf a Diſpenſation from this Golden Rule: makeing ſuch an unequall Exchange with us, as Diomedes in Homer made with Glaucas for his Armour, braſs for Gold: giveing us brazen, impudent, counterfiet Traditions, for the Golden Armour of Gods word which admitts of noe Droſs, no Alloye.

2. As the Enemies of the Church are many, ſo are their Aſſaults frequent, their induſtry unwearied, and their malice ſtill ragoing, though continually unſucceſsfull. Like Couragious Gamſters, two or three unlucky Games cannot, diſhearten them, nay the more they looſe, the eagerer they are thinking though in vain, that ſome one fortunate hit may make them amends for their former diſappointments, and anſwer their ſo often deluded expectations. It was a great comfort to Iſrael that though Siſera had nine hundred Chariots of Iron, and a vaſt Army with which he haraſt and oppreſt them for twenty years, that yet one overthrow given him by Deborah ſecured them from all ſuch hoſtile Invaſions for a long time after: But here it is as with the Hydra, out off one head and two ſprings up in the place of it: Though divers of the heads of the adverſaries of Sion have been fixt on Poles for their Treachery and Rebellion, to be a terror and warning to others to avoyd the ſame indirect Courſes, leaſt they meet with the ſame fatall end, yet there have been alwayes other Heads of the ſame Mould, and Figure, and are ſtill buſily plotting, and contriveing the downfall, and ruine of this poor Church of England, forſaken of thoſe who ſhould be her Friends, and expoſed to thoſe adverſaries whoſe Deſignes is to Swallow both. And no wonder it is that theſe fiery Exhalations continue burning in their Malice for ſo many Ages together, ſeeing they have a plentifull Supply of unctuous, and Sulphureous matter from Hell it ſelf which maintains the flames of Diſſention which like the Funerall pile of the two irreconcileable Brothers, Eteoches, and Polmices whoſe Enmity laſted longer then their breath, divide themſelves, as alſo the more vehement fire of Perſecution.

The Enemies of Sion are moved by a reſtleſs Spirit, even by him who is ever in action going too and fro about the Earth: and his chief buſineſs and deſigne is to diſturb the Peace of Sion and to hinder the wellfare of Jeruſalem; to pull down the old Temple of the Lord and to erect a new Chappel for his own Worſhip. From the infancy of Religion he began to perſecute the holy Seed nor will he leave off to malign their happineſs, and to create them trouble till this world be no more, and till they arrive at that unchangeable State of reſt, and Security, which he being bound with his confederates in everlaſting chains of darkneſs ſhall have no power though his perverſe will ſhall ſtill be the ſame, to deſturb or moleſt. he ſeduced Eve in Paradice from the duty She owed to her Lord and Husband, and drew both of them from their Allegiance to their Supream Head and Maſter: and thereby made them inſtrumentall to their own and our Miſery: He inſtigated Cain to Sacrifice his innocent Brother, indeavouring thereby to deſtroy the Church in the firſt Marter and Confeſſor of it. Endleſs would it be, and indeed needleſs to run through the many oppoſitions that the choſen People of God met with by his ſly, and cunning inſinuations before their ſettlement in the promis'd Land: needleſs I ſay it would be to rehearſe the ſeverall hardſhips they underwent, in a Congregation of reformed Proteſtants to whom the free uſe of the Sacred Hiſtory of the Bible is allowed in their own tongue, wherein the ſeveral particulars relateing thereunto are contained. Were I indeed to Preach to an Aſſembly of Lay Papiſts, and had occaſion to make uſe of any part of the Sacred writ, to give a demonſtration of Gods care of his People under their moſt cruel and ſevere Taskmaſters, then it would be neceſſary to make a full, and perfect recitall of all the circumſtances belonging to ſuch a deliverance; and that becauſe their cunning and mercileſs Spiritual Guides as they call them, look up the Records of Eternal Truth from them, and keep them in ignorance of thoſe wonderfull works of God which he hath done for his choſen Seed: it being in ſome of the Catholick Countryes as they are Stiled, a crime within the compaſs of the Inquiſtion for any laick to have a Bible in the Vulgar tongue in his cuſtody: but to you it is given to know thoſe truths that concern your everlaſting Salvation; and if it be not your own or your Parents faults you may be able to underſtand the whole Series, and method of Gods Mercies to his Church from the beginning of the world till the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt; Happy are you if you know how to make a right uſe of this great Priviledge to your own advantage: I ſhall therefore be very brief, and that rather to refreſh your Memories, then to inform your underſtandings. I ſhall not ſtand to reckon up the ſeveral Depravations, Schiſmes, and perſecutions that hapened to the Children of Iſrael under the ſeveral Diſpenſations of the Old Law untill the comeing of our Saviour in the fleſh: and then at the Entrance of the Captain of our Salvation on the great, and charitable work of our Redemption, Satan renews his Aſſaults, doubles his files, and again ſeeks to ſtrangle Chriſtianity in the very Cradle. He incites Herod to lay in wait for him, and what he could not accompliſh by his Agents he attempts to perform in his own Perſon, after this he expoſes him to the malice of the Scribes and Phariſes, and at laſt when he thought his deſigne finiſht, he was vanquiſht by the Croſs, and the Death of Jeſus prov'd the life of his Church: who knows not what Enemies, how powerfull, and how cruel the firſt Propagators of the Chriſtian Religion met with from his bloody Inſtruments in the firſt Ages, and Centuries of the Church? how they were thrown to wild Beaſts, devoted to the flames, Broyl'd upon Gridireons, pounded in Mortars, and put to all the Torments that Mans malicious wit could invent, or his power execute: Afterwards when the Goſpel of Grace, and Peace, had by its own inocent Arts and ireſiſtable Charmes, (the Divine Spirit working along with them) ſpread it ſelf over a great part of the world, but then by degrees (as the beſt things here below are ſubiect to coruption) became tainted with Errors, and overcaſt with Ignorance, and ſuperſtition, when a few (as moſt great things have ſmall beginnings) to whom a light from above ſhined through the groſſe and thick Miſt, being ſenſible of their Errors, and willing to Forſake them, and to bring others likewiſe out of them, Endeavoured to reforme thoſe dangerous, and damnable Corruptions which had (dureing that General ſtate of darkneſs) crept into the Church; what oppoſition? what contradction? what Perſicution? did thoſe firſt Reformers, and Aſſertors of the true Antient Catholick and Apoſtolick-Faith meet with from thoſe whom either incorrigible Obſtinacy cauſed to perſevere in their ignorance; or whom carnall Intereſt obliged to act contrary to thoſe Principles of light, and Knowledge where with they were informed. I might run this from the beginning of our own Reformation down to theſe very days, and ſhow you how the ſeveral Enemies of the Church have been ſtill hammering and beating out Plots, and makeing Fetters from time to time to Shackle us again, and to reduce us to our former Slavery. No ſooner had we through Gods providence eſcaped from the land of Darkneſs but the Egyptians as loth to looſe ſo ſweet and profitable a pray purſued us, uſeing all Arts, and means both force, and cunning, both threatings, and temptations to bring us back to our old houſe of Bondage: But this will more properly belong to the third head: which was this.

3. As the Enemies of Sion are many, and their Aſſaults frequent, ſo they have many ways to accompliſh, and bring about their Pernitious deſignes. They know that the ſame Stratagems in Warr are ſeldom twice us'd with good ſucceſs: and therefore they vary their Arts, and change their Habits according to the times they live in, and the Perſons with whom they have to deal. I might ſhow you here what little and yet deſtructive Arts ſome of the Enemies of our Church breed amongſt our ſelves (doubtleſs deriveing their ſmall bye Streames from the corrupt and infected Fountain of Rome) uſe to under mine her Foundations, and by diſſolveing her Order endeavouring to ſubvert her very Conſtitution. But ſeeing the ſolemnity of this day, the happy day of our Deliverance from one of the moſt horid Plots that ever was contriv'd againſt our Religion, and juſt upon the Brinke of Execution, ſeems to Point to me to direct my Diſcourſe to that Party who were the cruel Inſtruments, and Abettors of that helliſh Conſpiracy, I ſhall wave thoſe leſſor Diſturbers of our peace, and come to that open, and profeſſed Enemy of our Religion as by Law Eſtabliſht amongſt us: Following the method that Gregory Nazianzone does in his firſt Invective againſt Julian, who would not medle, as he tells us in the beginning of his Declamation, with Sehon King of the Amorites, nor with Og King of Baſan, ſmall inconſiderable Princes; and who only endamag'd a little part of the Church Iſrael: but that he would direct his Arrows againſt that great Proud Spirit, that Dragon, that Apoſtate, that common Enemy, and diſturber of Mankind. we will at preſent paſs by thoſe who do not Practice what they profeſs, though they are a great Diſhonour to our Church; we will ſlip over in ſilence thoſe who though in moſt Points they acknowledge her Doctrine, doe yet without any real grounds diſſent from her Diſcipline, though this be an unknown injury and diſcredit to her, and as great an unhappineſs to themſelves, and come to this great Monſter this red Dragon, red with the blood of the Saints, to this ungratefull Backſlider of Rome who brings a diſreputation on that once Famous Place where the Apoſtles of the Gentiles, and the great Miniſter of the Circumciſion Preacht up that pure and ſincere word of Truth, which is their at this time, and hath been for ſome ages ſo abominable adulterated, and corrupted: Chriſt gave St. Peter the Keys and commanded him to lay aſide his Sword, but his pretended Succeſſor hath beaten them into two Swords a Temporall, and a Spiritual, with both which he Tyranizeth over the Kings and Princes of the Earth, witneſs thoſe Emperors he hath Excommunicated with the one, that ſo he might the ſooner, and eaſier diſpatch them with the other.

Should I recite the ſeveral Murders, and Maſſacres that the feirce Propugnators of the Romiſh intereſt have committed, that deluge of the blood of the Saints which they have ſpilt and the cruel and Barbarous torments they have expoſed them to, my Sermon muſt become a Martyrology, and theſe few Papers ſwell into a Volume: all Hiſtory that runs parallel with their Epoche abounds with inſtances of their cruelty and violence: Neither are their own writers ſhye in relateing the great Slaughters they, have made, and the many out rages they have committed for the propagation of their Religion, and the rooteing this peſtilent Northeren Hereſie of ours as they call it out of the world: glorying in their Villanies when Growned with Victory and triumph, but diſowning them when Abortive and unſucceſsfull. And if this barefaced, and open way of proceeding will not ſerve their turns; if plain force will not prevaile, then in the next place they have recourſe to hidden Arts, and ſecret Treachery: what they cannot compaſs in the open field, they endeavour to effect by Ambuſh, by drawing thoſe lives they aime at into a ſnare under the pretence of a Treaty for accommodation: witneſs John Huſſe, and Hierome of Prague both betray'd by the Emperours Letters of ſafe conduct into their Enemies hands, and then Sacrificed to their Zealous fury: ſo unſafe is it to put any confidence in them whoſe Sacred Principle it is not to keep their promiſe with them whom they are pleas'd to brand with the title of Haereticks. But more eſpecially for ever be remembred the barbarous, and inhumane Maſſacre at Paris whither the chief of the Proteſtant party were decoy'd under the pretence of an accord, and there miſerably Butcher'd. Sometimes they work under ground ſhowing themſelves thereby the Children of darkneſs, they conceal their intentions the better to bring them to perfection: We ought to bleſs God dayly for the many Seaſonable Deliverances He hath at all times afforded us from the many Treacherous Deſignes which that reſtleſs party have contrived againſt the Perſons of our Princes, and the Body of our Religion: but more particularly we have, as we ought, this Morning offer'd up the unbloudie Sacrifice of our Praiſe and thanksgiveing in the name and the ſence of our Church to our gratious and mercifull Preſerver for the timely and happy diſcovery of that Powder Plot which was hatcht in Hell, wrought in darkneſs, and ſhould have been this Day executed in Clouds, and Pillars of Smoke: A Smoke like that which aroſe out of the bottomleſs pit, like the ſmoke of a Furnace; a ſmoke which would have Eclips'd our Sun and Moone; our King, and Prince: that would, have darkned the Stars of the firſt Magnitude our Nobles; as likewiſe the leſſer Conſtellations, the lower houſe of Parliament: and which is more, and which, had been worſe (though all was bad enough) a Smoke which had quite put out the Glorious Light of the Goſpell, the very Eye, and Sight of this our moſt excellently Reformed Religion: and a ſmoke at laſt which like that aſcending from the infernal Pit, would have brought whole ſwarmes of Locuſts, and Caterpillers, of Monks, and Fryers, of Prieſts and Jeſuits, which would have devoured all that had been green, and pleaſant, all that had been pure, and wholſome in this our fruitful Land, through this fire (for their is no ſmoke but hath ſome fire) they intended to have Sacrificed our Conſciences to the Moloch of Rome; that cruell Idol that kills ſooneſt thoſe whome it embraces cloſeſt.

I need not give you a Reſation of that wicked and pernicious deſigne; their late Practiſes, and contrivances to overturn the Foundation of our Religion hath ſufficiently revived the memory of their ancient deteſtable conſpiracies, and of this unparalleld one among the reſt; ſo that now almoſt every Child is made acquainted with it, and the Fathers ſhall teach their Children as the Pſalmiſt ſays upon the like occaſion, Pſal 78, 4.5.6.7. that their Poſterity may know it, and the Children that are yet unborn, to the intent that when they came up they might ſhew their Childdren the ſome &c. and therefore I ſhall paſs on to ſomething elſe. Theſe ways they have to offend their Enemies, other ways they have to gain Friends and to obtain Proſelytes, one way is by ſpeaking them fair with large Promiſſes of Indulgence and Preferment: how many hath the hope of Liberty to do what they pleaſe upon eaſy termes of Abſolution Seduced from the Truth, and caus'd them to make Shipwrack of their Fayth? And as they have this way to gain them ſo they have another to retaine them: falſe ſignes, lyeing wonders, and counterfiet Miracles: for certainly as the deluſions of the Egyptian Sorcerers were in ſome meaſure a cauſe why Pharouh was more perverſe, and his heart more hardned againſt the Children of Iſrael, ſo the ſtrong opinion that the vulgar have of the reality of thoſe ſignes and wonders that are pretended to be wrought amongſt them is a great reaſon of the continuation of their Spirituall Captivity. Theſe wayes and ſeveral, others they have to promote their cauſe, and make their worſe then Egyptian Sorceryes to prevaile but to no purpoſe, for there is one in Heaven that laughs them to ſcorne; for as Balaam when Divinely inſpired ſaid: Num. 23.23. Surely there is no Enchantment againſt Jacob; neither is their any Divination againſt Iſrael: according to this time ſhall it be ſayd of Jacob, and of Iſrael, what hath God wrought? which makes good the next General I am to ſpeak to which muſt be acceptable to all good men.

The Fruſtration of their deſigne: or the ill ſucceſs which they meet with, that ſtrive to oppoſe the Truth by violence, or detain it in ungodlineſs by fraud: yet have they not prevailed againſt me.

Many are the inventions of the wicked, many their Plots and Stratagems, many their devices, and ſubtle Machinations, but the Counſel of the Lord that ſhall ſtand! As Satan and his Inſtruments are reſtleſs Perſecutors of the Saints; ſo is God a ſure reſcuer, and Preſerver of them: Though the red Dragon call together all his infernall Legions; Rev. 22.7. all the Principalities, and Powers of darkneſs, all the numerous hoſt of the bottomleſs Pit; yet the victory ſhall remain with Michael: for indeed it is Imper congreſſus, a very unequall Match? for although the Devil in Scripture be ſtiled the ſtrong one, yet hath he to deal with a ſtronger then himſelfe, with one who can when he pleaſes reſtrain his fury, and dispoſſeſſe him of all the advantageous Holds he hath gotten) and diſappoint him and his Agents of their moſt forward and pregnant hopes even upon the Edge, and point of their accompliſhment. As the Enemies of Sion have many wayes, and many meanes to afflict her, ſo God hath many ways, and many means to protect and defend her. I cannot ſhow all the ways, and Methods which our Almighty Preſerver makes uſe of to ſave and deliver his Choſen, becauſe many of the Paths of his ſecret Providence are unknown to us, and paſt finding out: neither can I inſiſt long upon thoſe ſeveral wayes, that are diſcovered to us in holy writ, which his divine wiſdom uſes for their continuall Preſervation: I ſhall inſtance in the two moſt comprehenſive Methods I can think of and be as brief in them as I can.

1. The ſpeciall Providence of God is wonderfully ſhown in the ſingular Protection of his Servants from thoſe dangers that ariſe from neceſſary cauſes, from ſuch as act from their naturall inclinations, or at leaſt ways without much premeditation or deſigne.