The First Lesson, Of Phanatick Principles.

HAve you, Philanax, seen a little Book, call'd, A Looking-Glass for Popery, not long since Printed?

Yes, Tim, I have, and read it also; but in my poor Judgment it contains for the most part such pitiful, railing, lying stuff, that it rather advances, than beats down Popery. And I clearly discover the Author to be a seditious Sectarist.

How, Phil? You shall hardly make me believe that; for we hate Popery perfectly, and all stand for the good of our Coun­try, and shall make our King a glorious King, if he will be ruled by us.

Yes, yes, as ye made Charles the First, the best of Princes 'Tis well known how Phanaticks make Kings glo­rious; neither can it be otherwise by their Principles. I assure you, Tim, if you know the Principles of Presbyterians, and other Phanaticks, in relation to Government, you must needs confess, That 'tis impossible to be a Phanatick and a Loyal Sub­ject both together. Have you never seen a Book, written by a Doctor of the Church of England, call'd, A Cav [...]t for all Kings, Princes, and Prelates? The Author there demonstrates, to all unbiass'd judgments, that according to the Principles of the first Fathers of Presbyterian Fury and Phanaticism, 'tis im­possible to be Presbyterians, who are the Main-Guard and Prin­cipal Leaders of the Phanatick Army, and at the same time not to be Rebels against their Soveraign. And this he does evidence, not only from their prodigious Doctrins in their own Books made publick to the World, but also by their bloody Practices and Rebellions in all places where they could make head against their Governours.

I am not so good an Historian as to know that. But tell me, Phil, Is it not lawful for Subjects, by a Godly Association, to raise an Army, and fight against their Soveraign for their Religion and Liberty, when he becomes a Tyrant, and opposes the Truths of Jesus Christ?

How, Tim, lawful? Then farwel Peace, and Truth, and Liberty, and Property, and Order, and Government, and all goodness, to make way for Rebellion, War and Bloodshed, Anarchy and Confusion to Reign among us. For those who say this is lawful, make themselves likewise Judges to give Sen­tence when their Soveraign turns Tyrant and persecutes the true Professors of the Gospel. But how comes it to pass, Tim, that you lay such Positions to the Jesuits charge, to make them odious as Devils, and teach the same horrid [Page 9] Doctrins among your selves, and notwithstanding must be reputed Saints?

I see; Phil, you live in ignorance, and are not ac­quainted with the Priviledge of the Saints. Know you not, that there's no Law to them that are in Christ Jesus? But let that pass. Though I askt you the Question about the lawfulness of such Risings, to hear what you would say; I will not believe the Presbyterians, and the rest of the Godly Party, maintain such Principles and Doctrins against Kingly Government. However, let the Jesuits say what they will to clear themselves, believe them we will not; 'tis not for our interest.

Neither is it for your interest to own such rebellious Doctrins, though undeniably evident from the printed Books of those you call the Godly Party, that they maintain such Principles, and put them in practice when arm'd with power.

I'l not take your word, let me see the Authors.

I question not but you have heard of Zuinglius, that martial Phanatick, hot and furious as well in his Writings, as in the Camp. Kings, says he, may be Depos'd by the Votes and Suffrages of the Multitude, when they Rule not according to the Law of Christ; and 'tis a Work well pleasing to God, Tom. 1. Art. 42, & 43. And l. 4. p. 868. tells Caesar plainly, That they will obey him, if he will be Directed by them; otherwise they will take a course with him to the purpose. Which is the same course should have been taken with our gracious Soveraign by the godly Associates, if God had not prevented their Designs.

Calvin, that furious Zealot in his Commentaries upon Da­niel, Cap. 6. V. 22. tells Kings boldly, That they lose all Au­thority, when they rise against God, and that men had better spit in their Faces, than yield obedience to their Commands, when they grow so insolent, as to rob God of his right. And all this depends upon Calvin's magisterial word; he no sooner says so, but they cease to be Kings, and every proud Presbyterian may spit in their Face. And I am sure when once they begin to spit in their Soveraigns Face, 'twill not be long before they cut off his Head. Thus taught Calvin, and thus our Phanaticks dealt with [Page 10] Charles the First of pious Memory, to make good his Doctrin by their Practice.

Beza treads in the same steps, animating Subjects to rise in Arms against their Soveraign, in his Vind. cont: Tyran. by sur­prising his Towns and Castles, opposing his Forces; yea, to kill their Kings, if they oppose the Truths of Jesus Christ: That is, if they profess and maintain any Religion, but what these Men fancy to be Gospel truths.

Paraeus, a great Zealot in his Comm. upon the 13th of the Romans, teaches the same seditious, rebellious Doctrin, with Gracerus, Aretius, and Geskenius, who were the fatal Firebrands to put the World in Flames about Religion.

Hold, Phil, enough of these. But I must tell you, these are Foreigners, and therefore nothing to us. Do the godly Party of our Kingdoms maintain these Principles?

Yes, doubtless, they are something to you, if you fol­low their Doctrins; but your Masters in our Kingdoms are as guilty of such horrid Principles as any Foreigners.

Knox, that furious Zealot, all Fire and Quicksilver, who first began to inflame all Scotland, teaches magisteriously, That Princes may be Deposed by the People, if they prove Tyrants, and act against God and his Truth; and in such cases, all Sub­jects are free from their Oaths of Allegiance and Obedience, l. ad Nob. & pop. Scotiae. And to encourage any desperate Phanatick to murder his Prince in a furious zeal, he is not asham'd to say, That it were very good, that Rewards were pub­lickly appointed by the People for such as kill Tyrants, as well as for those who kill ravenous Beasts; In Hist. Scot. p. 372. No Jesuit is comparable to this Fury.

Yet Goodman is as bad as he, who in his Book of Obedience, in Exod. 17. excepts neither King, nor Queen, nor Emperour, but tells the People, They must seize upon Princes, who would se­duce them from God, that is, their Phanatical Novelties, and tarry them away to the Gallows, and hang them up.

Buchanan's zeal is no less fiery and furious; for p. 61. de jure Reg. Scot. he tells the People, That they are above the [Page 11] King, for the good of the Kirk and holy Cause, may Arraign him, Depose him, Execute him, and Dispose of the Crown as they please. What think you, Tim? Are not these rare Fellows to make Apostles? Can such Men as these be sent from God, or have any of the Spirit of Jesus Christ? Is it possible for Presbyterians and other Phanaticks, while they maintain such Principles and Doctrines, to be at the same time Phanaticks and good Subjects? Can they at the same time endeavour to Depose and Murder their King, and yet be true and faithful to him and his Govern­ment?

Say your say out, and then I'l tell you what I think on't.

The Presbyterians and other Phanaticks here in Eng­land learn'd this Lesson perfectly, and followed it exactly. In the time of the late horrid Rebellion, it was publickly Preach'd by Phanatical Zealots in all places where the Rebels prevail'd, to the utter ruin for a time of King and Government. And according to the Doctrin of these Bellows of Sedition, the House of Commons Voted, That the Supreme Power of the Na­tion was in the People, and consequently in them their Representa­tives: Or words to this effect. And what sad Consequences ensued thereupon, I shall tell you when from these horrid Principles I come to declare their bloody Cruelties.

And now at present, did not the Lord Russel die with this Persuasion, That 'tis lawful to raise Arms against our Soveraign in the case of Religion? And would not Mr. Sydney needs be thought to die a Martyr for this good Old Cause? And this is the true reason, why they in a manner justifie themselves at their death, without any open repentance of the Crimes for which they suffer; that those of their Faction, whom they leave behind them, may still attempt what they could not bring to pass by theirendeavours.

And hence it proceeds, that whatever tends to advance among them the good Old Cause, must be sanctified; so that Lies, Perjuries, Sacriledges, Treasons, Sham-Plots, real Conspiracies against King and Government, Seditions, Rebellions, Murder of their Soveraign, Massacres, must all be good and lawful to [Page 12] order and advance what they call Religion and the good Cause, that they may fish in troubled Waters, and lord it over Prince and People. Now, Tim, what think you of these Firebrands, who break nothing but Flames and Confusion to Kings and Kingdoms.

In verity Phil, I did not think so much wickedness could have layn hid imwardly under the outside of so much piety; but now I see all is not Gold that glisters, and that Phanaticks are dange­rous People, teaching such Doctrines so destructive of Monarchy. I begin to be your Convert, and shall for the future look more narrowly into their Actions.

The Second Lesson. Of Phanatical treasons, cruelties and bloody practices.

I Have well consider'd what you told me about Phanatick Principles against Kingly Government, and am amaz'd and confounded at it. For I took the Pa­pists only for such Regicides; and all the bloody cru­elties that have been acted in several places, our Preachers tell us have been caus'd by Jesuits and Papists for the Catholick cause.

Beleive me Tim, you Phanatick Preachers are not to be credited, who think all lyes lawful for the good old cause as they call it. You see already by most evident testimonies of their own Books, their horrid Pinciples against Regall power: and I shall make it as clear, that their bloody Practices have been answerable to their doctrines, the cursed fruit of so bad a tree.

Make that good once; and I will then confess the Saints have thiir failings, as well as others.

After Luther began to gather followers in Germany; these Phanati [...]k Principles rais'd such rebellions in those parts [Page 13] against the Emperor, that above a hundred thousand were slain in those wars; accompanied with such miseries as made Germany an object of pity to all Christian hearts. Did not the same prodigious doctrines put Bohemia into a miserable com­bustion, that these new Saints might possess the Earth, and Lord it over their Lawful Governours? What tragedies did the same principles act in Switzer-land, to the overthrow of Government, and the ruine of all Order and Religion where they prevailed? Did not the furious Calvanists by vertue of the same principles rebel against their Bishop and Prince and make themselves Masters of his Goods and Territories? What bloody cruelties, prophanations, sacriledges, murthers, trea­sons, rebellions were acted by these headstrong. Zealots in France, cannot but force tears from those who read the Chro­nicles of those times. And did not the Hollanders with some other Provinces rebel against their Leige Lord and King, and possess themselves of his Rights and Dominions, annimated by these horrid doctrines? Neither can Kings ever expect better where Phanaticks are strong enough to head a party against the Government.

I never knew this before. But I was told Phil, that the Papists and Jesuits were the cause of all those stirs and insur­rections.

They impose upon you. Tim, 'tis nonsense to say so. All those places enjoyed peace and quiet, till these Phanaticks arose, and became Incendiaries by these wicked doctrines. Did not Knox and his fellow Martial Gospellers raise a horrid rebllion against their Lawful Soveraign Queen Mary of Scot­land, and force her to fly to save her▪ life? What think you? Are all the tragical cruelties, sacriledges, murthers, blood shed, and Miseries attending civil wars to be laid to the charge of the poor innocent Queen, or these firebrands? I know they talk much of bloody Papists in Ireland, but I have been told by those who were actually in the warrs there, that the Phanatick Zealots did equalize if not out do them in their butcheries.

But to come home, did not these Presbyterian principles [Page 14] raise the late rebellion here in England against our gracious Soveraign Charles the first, and murd [...]r the best of Princes in so barbarous a manner, as justly renders them detestable to all Posterity; And were not the Phanaticks now again endeavour­ing by a most horrid and bloody Conspiracy to act the like or worse tragedy, to ruine King and Kingdom, and make poor England a field of blood, to fill all places with massacres, hor­rours and confusions? And all this, being annimated and set on fire by these principles, these wretched principles. In­somuch that 'tis observ'd by a Protestant Doctor in his Caveat for Princes against Presbyterians, Page 93. That in this last Century of years, there have been more Princes depos'd and murthr [...]d for their Religon by Protestants of integrity, as they call themselves, then in all the others since Christs time, by the attempts of Roman Catholicks. For indeed these cruelties and bloody Conspiracies are the natural fruit of their rebellious Principles but such Papists as have rose in arms against their Sovereign, have been taught better things. Witness that famous Decree of the Sorbonists, whereby they condemn the doctrine of deposing King, and absolving their Subjects from their sworn allegiance, to be pestilential, damnable doctrine, and to be abhorred of all men, as new, false, erronious, contrary to Scripture, giving occasion to schisms, derogatory to the Autho­rity of Kings depending on God alone, hindring the conversion of Heretical and Infidel Princes, destroying the publick peace, and tempting subjects from their obedience, and animating factions and rebellions against Princes which Sorbon Sentence was approv'd by the whole Ecclesiastical body of France, and declared in a publick admonition to the King, Dec. 13. 1625.

I do not much value what the Sorbon Doctors say, though I cannot quarrell with this decree But I am covinc'd Phil, especially by the last instance of the Conspiracy; which though the Godly Party endeavour to excuse, or deny, or extenuate by lyes and for­geries, as in the case of the Earl of Essex; yet 'tis so evident by self-confession, and proofs irrefragable, that who now denyes it, may as well say it is not day when the Sun shines. And truly I [Page 15] begin to be weary of their company, now I plainly perceive, I can­not be a Phanatick and at the same time a good Subject.

Pray Tim, take notice also that those great pretenders to Religion are grown to that degree of Madness, as to take part with the Turk against Christianity. For our Mahometans Christians here, because they were too far off to assist the ene­mies of Christ with their hands, did as much as they could help them with their tongues, by praying for their success against the Christians.

Indeed I like it not, I see the hatred of Popery has made them almost cease to be Christians.

The Third Lesson. Of Phanatical Pride.

LET me tell thee Tim, they who judge of Religion by the actions of some particular persons shall never be able to justify any though never so pure and holy in it self. For seeing their Religion teaches otherwise, why should that be condemn'd for their ex­travagancies? If some Roman-professors have behav'd them­selves with pride arrogancy, and others of the same Church condemn them for it, 'tis evident that such pride is not the fruit of their faith, but the fault of those men, and they must answer for't. But the most intollerable pride of some Phana­ticks, of the first magnitude and highest elevation among them, which I shall mention, was approved by their followers and therefore may justly be imputed to them.

I cannot say but you speak reason go on in your discourse.

Did you never hear Tim, of John of Leyden, that famous Phanatick? This monster of mankind at length arriv'd to that height of blasphemous pride and insufferable arrogan­cy, [Page 16] that he took upon him to be Jesus Christ himself and true Saviour of the World; and sent abroad from Munster, where he had got by pious artif [...]ces and rebellious principles the tem­poral power into his hands, his twelve Apostles to preach his new Gospel unto the World; and his crew of followers did main­tain him in this pro [...]igious pride and blasphemy till at length divine vengeance fell heavy on his and their accursed heads, to terrifie others from such antichristian Blasphemies.

But to come home to our selves. In the time of the long Parliament, who by no mean pride made themselves Kings by by destroying Monarchy, was not one James Naylor, for his wonderful seeming Sanctity, cry'd up for the Saviour of the World by the Phanatick Rabble, and set upon an Ass to ride in triumph on Palm-Sunday, as our blessed Saviour did to Jerusa­lem, they using to him the same acclamations, and he glorying in their Blasphemies? Can any Pride be comparable to this? Lucifer's ambition was to be but like to God, ero similis altissi­mo; but these Men, or rather antichristian Monsters, must be no less than Jesus Christ and God himself. 'Tis true, this blasphe­mous Naylor was afterwards punish't for this prodigious pride, but his Followers call'd it a Persecution. However, let not Phanaticks rail so simply against Popish Pride, till they themselves afford some Examples of Humility.

I know, Tim, you are no small Scripturist, read the third Chapter of the second Epistle to Timothy, and you will find a perfect description of these men, For are not they boasters of their own ways and holiness, prond above measure, blasphemers, disobedient, traitors, heady, high minded, having a form of godliness, and deny­ing the power thereof? Can this be denied of them? And there­fore I say to thee, Tim, what St. Paul there says to us all, From such turn away.

I think your counsel's good. For 'tis time to turn from those whom I see now endeavour to overturn the Christian World with Pride and Blasphemies.

The Fourth Lesson. Of Phanatical Prayers and Devotions.

ARE not those strange devotions Phil, which the Papists use, related in the Protestant Looking-Glass?

Yes truely Tim, strange and rediculous enough, as there related, if any Papists be so silly as to use them. But take my word for't, if the adversaries of the Church of Rome had no better arguments to confute her devo­tions, they will not be thought the worse of by rational men. However if some Papists may be guilty of rediculous devo­tions, I am sure Phanaticks of all men have no reason to lay it to their charge, who too often disgrace this principle part of Christian-worship by their extempore effusions in their publick meetings. What think you of this Presbyterian Cant, among other such stuff, by a Scotch Minister before Sermon? Lord maintain thine own Cause, gu'd Lord maintain our holy Cove­nant; Lord, let the Covenant and the Common Prayer Book wrastle, gu'd Lord wrastle, wrastle I say Lord, and I am sure the Covenant will throw the Common Prayer book upon his back. Is not this pittiful, rediculous Stuff to be made use of in the place of Publick Worship? One might fill a book with such canting stuff in Presbyterian prayers and preach­ing.

But if you come to Phanaticks of a higher elevation, who discover Gospel-verities by a mysterious light which is unin­telligible, what a Rapsody have you of fine words in them­selves which signify nothing as they jumble them together in their nonsensical devotions? What strange disorders and confusions are they guilty of by their pretending to the [Page 18] Spirit and Light within, fathering their lyes on the Father of Lights, with horrid Blasphemies? And I have been told by those who have been present at the Meetings of some Phanaticks, that they have seen such absurd Impieties and Abominations, as are not once to be named among Chri­stians. And yet all these will needs be Saints, and being strongly deluded by Satan, think all the World in a Error be­sides themselves. If I should descend to Particulars there would be no end.

I have enough of them, and am resolv'd to be no longer deluded by them.

Let me also tell thee, Tim, That what the Protestant Looking-glass speaks of Popish Pardons and Penances, &c. is such jeering, scurrilous stuff, fill'd with such abominable Lies and unchristian Censures, that if the Author had any sense of Christianity, he would blush to abuse the World with such Railaries. I am not one who will Patronize ridiculous Pe­nances; but this I am sure of, that a Religion which enjoyns Penances for Crimes committed, is more agreeable to the Pra­ctice of primitive Christians, than that which has none at all, and laughs at such Devotions.

For my part, I shall not trouble my self to know what the Primitive Christians did. I am for the Purity of the Gospel, which holy Scripture declares unto us.

The Fifth Lesson, Of Phanatical Miracles.

IT is evident from Sacred Writ, That the Christian Faith was confirm'd by innumerable Miracles from Heaven, that both Jews and Gentiles might by such Divine Attestations believe in Jesus Christ and save their Souls. The Acts of the Apostles declare this sufficiently without dispute. And that in after ages God did work many Miracles in his Church for the manifestation of Truth, and conversion of Unbelievers, cannot be denied by rational men. Now if besides such as cannot rationally be doubted of in unquestionable Records, some foolish, wicked men, have coun­terfeited Miracles for politick ends; their faults are not to be imputed to the Church of Rome, who severely punishes such Impostors.

Methinks, Phil, you incline too much to the Romish side. Though your Discourse has brought me to dislike Phanaticism, yet I hate Popery as much as ever.

And I love any one who is a Loyal Subject to his So­veraign. My aim, Tim, is to make you a good Subject; which Phanaticks neither are, nor can be by their Principles. But pr'ythee, Tim, if all Miracles are ceas'd in the Christian Church, and must no longer attest to supernatural Truths, why did Calvin so endeavour, by a counterfeited Miracle, to confirm his Doctrin?

Why, you jest, Phil, did he so?

'Tis a well known story, related of him by good Authors; That compacting with a Zealous Sister, and her Husband, he was to counterfeit himself dead, and the Wife to come running out, crying in the Streets, That her [Page 20] Husband died suddenly; at the same time, as was agreed between them, Calvin comes gravely walking by, and de­mands the cause of her Tears and Exclamations. She opens her Case; he answers in Gospel-Language, Weep not, good Woman, thy Husband is not dead, but sleepeth; and walking in, the People about him, call'd together by the Woman's out-cries, falls to his Prayers, and after a while pronounces with great authority, I say unto thee, arise. This being re­doubled, the Man stirs not, the Woman wonders, and after all endeavours to awake him, he is found dead indeed. Which made the poor Woman change her feigned Tears into real Sorrow, and being almost mad at this unexpected accident detects the whole Imposture. Whereby the Counterfeit is punish't, Calvin disgraced, and God glorified. Who desires to know more of this Godly Reformer, let them consult Dr. Jerome Bolsec his constant Physician, who knew him perfectly, and Francis Baldwin, and Florimond de Remond, Men justly to be credited in their Relations.

Moreover, If you observe it, Tim, Fox in his Martyrology is very greedy to make every strange thing a Miracle, to Canonize his Saints.

I shall like the Calvinists the worse for ever for their Father's sake, if all be true is said of him.

The Sixth Lesson, Of Phanatical Impurities.

HOliness becomes the House of God for ever; Christian Religion is a holy Religion, and the Catholick Church according to our Creed is a holy Church: but what Prophanations and Sacriledges brought Phanaticks into the World, and with what Impurities and Impieties they have continued to infect and disturb it, is too notorious to be denied, and much to be lamented by all good Christians.

There's no Society upon the face of the Earth, though endowed from Heaven with all means possible to advance Holiness, but has some Members that deviate from their Profession, and neglect so great a Salvation provided for them. How impertinent therefore is it to rail against Religion for the wickednesses of some Men, who despising her Counsels, to follow their own corrupt Inclinations, will not be re­formed, though the zealous Preachers of their own Profession, thunder against their wicked Lives, to reduce them to good­ness? And how abominable is it for the failings of some, to endeavour, by prodigious Lies, to make the rest odious to the World, who are precious indeed in the sight of God? Those that are bad are justly condemn'd, but the Religion is to be commended, which takes such Care and Pains to bring them to Holiness. And I wish I could say as much for the Carnal Impurities committed by Phanaticks, who make Reli­gion the Patroness of their Wickedness, and must be Saints for all their black abominations.

In the days of the usurping Saints of the long Parliament, when Licentiousness pass't for Christian-Liberty, a holy Pha­natick, [Page 22] though married, had an Inspiration from Heaven, as he pretended, to lye with a Gentleman's Wife, who was a holy Sister, and a handsom Woman, she was soon taken with his pious Rhetorick, for seeing he said it was the Will of God, it must be lawful, and done also. His own wife takes them in their wickedness, and he to justifie their execrable adultery, tells her, he could not but wonder that she being his wife so long, did not yet know the priviledg of the Saints, and that it was also lawful for her, though his wife, to lye with others, who have a call from God for it; and thereupon brought her a holy Brother, who pretending an inspiration, did ratify the new known priviledg to her content.

Come Phil, you abuse the Godly Party this is hardly credible.

Beleive me Tim, 'tis so well known as to be dis­course of the Country for a time, and appear in print; which the Gentleman hearing being a Parliament-Man, whose Wife this white Devil had corrupted, came presently home, and finding it too true, could not be perswaded but that this priviledg of the Saints was against the privileges of Parliament: And so my holy Brother was forc't to fly to save himself from the lash of Justice.

A Zealous Quaking Sister at Holm in York-shire, not far from the Town where then I liv'd, staying too long with her holy Brother to return to her own dwelling that night, was invited by him to take a bed there, which she accepted, and in the night time being tempted with the Devil of lust, came to his bed side, and calling to him, said, good Brother, our Father bids me come and lye with thee; he reply'd if it be our Fathers will, I ought not to resist it. And thus they make God the Patron of their wickednesses.

Another Quaker in those parts when the furious spirit was upon him, came running out into the Streets as a man possest, and crying he had a call from God to kill his Father. And what other madnesses and impurities are committed among them, I [Page 23] had rather bury in silence, being a shame to Christianity, then fully my paper with the relations.

I did not think such great seeming Saints could have been guilty of such Impieties. But I see 'tis high time to return to the Protestant establish'd Church, and Loyalty to my Soveraign.

I wish you many Followers. For the Phanaticks at present are so bloody minded, and impatient to get all Power into their hands, that if the infinite goodness of God had not detected their horrid Conspiracies against King and Kingdom, all good Subjects, before now, had been Massacred by such cruel, bloody-thirsty Rebels, and the glory of England buried in Anarchy and Confusion.

Blessed be God for all his Mercies in delivering us from the hands of these merciless Men. And to prevent it for the fu­ture, we will conclude this short Caution with this cordial Prayer: From the Tyranny of furious Zealots, and all their de­testable Enormities, from Phanatical Massacres, Associations, Lies and Perjuries, from Wolves in Sheeps cloathing, from Pro­phaneness and Sacriledges, from a Presbyterian Zeal, and an Oliverian Mercy, good Lord deliver us. And let every true English heart say, AMEN.