Tydings from Rome: or, Englands alarm Wherein several grounds to suspect the prevalency of the popish interest are seasonably suggested; Londons ruine pathetically lamented; arguments to disswade from the popish religion, are urged; and the duties of Christians in this time of common danger, and distraction, perswaded.

Tydings from Rome: or, Englands alarm Wherein several grounds to suspect the prevalency of the popish interest are seasonably suggested; Londons ruine pathetically lamented; arguments to disswade from the popish religion, are urged; and the duties of Christians in this time of common danger, and distraction, perswaded.

Table of contents

Title page

Tidings FROM ROME: OR, Englands Alarm.

1 COUNSEL.

2 COVNSL.

3. COUNSEL.

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TYDINGS FROM ROME OR, Englands Alarm.

Wherein several Grounds to suspect the Prevalency of the Popish Interest are seasonably suggested; Londons Ruine pathetically lamented; Arguments to disswade from the Popish Religion, are urged; And the Duties of Christians in this time of common Danger, and Distraction, perswaded.

Nostri adversarij etiamnum vivunt & quotidie audaciores fiunt; nocte & die hoc agunt, med tantu [...], ut exortum Evangelij lumen extinguant; antiquas (que) tenebras revocent, interea nos, qui [...]itio uxanimes per Dei gratiam Evangellium annunciav [...]mus, conversis armis in mutua vulnera rumus; gratum (que) hostibus spectaculum exhibemus: qui plus praesidij, at (que) fiduciae in concertationibus nostris quam inani causae suae fundamento, tota (que) arte & po [...]entia sua collocan.

Brentius in Praefat: de Caena.

Psal. 119.120.

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments.

Cant. 2.8.

Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night.

Psal. 137.8.

O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed, happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us.

LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1667.

Tidings FROM ROME: OR, Englands Alarm.

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EVery faithful Minister of Christ, sustains the relation of a Watchman unto the Nation wherein he lives,Ezek 3.17 Acts 20.28 as well as; of a Pastor to the particular flock over which the Holy Ghost hath set him; and therefore not only ought to be of a publick spirit, to observe the first approaches of N [...]tional calamities; but also of a couragious and faithful spirit, to give warning of them. Being thus a debtor to my dear native Country▪ and hearing round about me the noise of b [...]oody Papists rallying together, and prepar [...]ng themselves to make a slaughter; and finding the fears and jealousies of the Nation (lately awakened by the f [...]ames of London ▪ and the instruments of cruelty there discovered) beginning to abate, though their dangers are still encreasing upon them; I could not but present to the publick view, these awakening considerations and counsels following; if happily thereby t [...]ue zeal for the protestant Interest might be provoked, and the g [...]owing design of the common enemy detected and retarded. For alas! [...]ow can I endure to see the evil that shall come upon my people, Esth. 8.6. and upon my kindred? As Esther said in a like case of common danger: yea, were I sure of personal safety in such a da [...] of slaughter and desolation, [Page] yet how terrible a thing would it be to stand upon the shore and see so glorious a Vessel as England is, to be cast away! the Golden Candlestick removed and the doctrines of Devils preached and professed in those places where Jesus Christ hath been so purely and sweetly worshiped.

Isa. 62.6. O England! God hath set Watchmen upon thy walls who will not hold their peace day or night: and though men have endeavoured to muzele and gagg [...]hem, yet like Cr [...]sus his dumb Son, they will cry out when they see thee in dan [...]er.

If thou inquire of th [...] Watchmen in thi [...] night of thy trouble as it is, Isa. 21.11, 12. Fingit respondere custodem desperatis civibus, & augere dolorem. Watchmen, what of the night? they all with one voice return thee the same answer; The morning come [...]h and also the night. There is indeed a glorious morning of salvation and mercy, which will shortly down upon thee England; but before that, there will be a night of dismal darkness and distress upon thy children:Luth. veni [...] quidem mane verum simul cumillo venit nox ista [...]rassio [...] ac terribiliar Muscul. in [...]c. For we have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and no [...] of peace; we see every man with his hands upon his lo [...]ns, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness: alas! for [...]hat day is great, so that none is like it, it is even the day of Jacobs [...]; but he shall be del [...]vered out of it. They speak unto thee as [...] spake to Ahab, arise, get thee up, for there is the sound of a und [...] in; and there came a shower indeed: And that there is a sound of judgment and wrath coming upon us will appear, if you have any regard either, first to the predictions of friends or 2 dly, 1 King. 18.41. to the [...] of enemies; or 3 dly, to the present sta [...]e and p [...]st u [...]e of things among our selves at this day.

1. As for the predictions of friends, you have had many both ordinary and extraordinary.

First ordinary, upon the observations which the Messengers of God have made of y [...]ur barrenness, wantonness and unchristian divisions, under the fullest Gospel-light and liberty that ever was enjoyed by an unthankful Nation; amongst which I cannot omit what a grave and worthy Divine upon the ground fore-ment [...]oned, for divers years past, gave us warn [...]ng of: And [...] that we had been so wise and happy to have improved such a se [...]sonable admonition! his words are these:

‘Gurnels. Christian armour 2d. part p. 429.Consider where you are, and [...]mong whom; are you not in your enemies quarters? If you fall out what, do you but kindle a fire for them to warm their hands by? aha! so would we have it say they, the Se [...] of their rage will weaken this bank fast enough; you [Page] need not cut it for them. The unseasonableness of the strife betwixt Abrahams herdsmen and Lots, is aggrevated by the neer neighbourhood of the Heathens to them, Gen. 13.7. And there was strife betw [...]x [...] them, and the Cananites and Per [...]z [...]tes dwelt in the land. To fall out when these Idolaters look on, this would be Town-talk presently, and put themselves and their Riligion both to shame. And I pray who have been in our land all the while the peop [...]e of God have b [...]en scuffling? those that have curiously observed every uncomely behaviour among them, and told all the world of it such as have wit and mallice enough to make use of it for their wicked purposes; they stand on tip-toe to be at work, only we are not yet quite laid up and disabled (by the soreness of those our wounds which we have given our selves) from withstanding their [...]uty; they hope it will come to that, and then they will cure us of ou [...] own wounds, by giving one if they can, that shall go deep enough to the heart of our life, Gospel, and all. O Christians! shall H [...]od and Pilate put you to shame? they clapt up a [...]eace to st [...]engthen their hands against Christ; and will not you unite against y [...]u [...] common enemy? 'tis an ill time for Mariners to be fighting when an enemy is boring a hole at the bottom of the [...]hip.’

How often have you been told both from the Pulpit and Press, what the sad fruit and issue of these things would be? and as God hath given you timely warnings of this enemy by your faithful Watchmen in on ordinary way, so that he vouchsafed us some extraordinary ones too, amongst which I cannot here omit a strange and remarkable passage, which for divers years since fell from the pen of an English Prophet; and because I live to see one part thereof sadly verified, and the other disposing it self towards its accomplishment (if providence step not out of its ordinary path to prevent it I shall transcribe some of the most remarkable and bearing pass [...]ges of it for you▪ my Author having reproved the wantonness and vanity of professors, particularly those of London, breaks forth into this threatning and terrible prediction.

‘London was Troy nova [...], Mr. Reeves Gods plea for Nineveh; [...]nted about eight years since. it is Troy le grand; [...]il will be Troy l'extinct. p. 2.7. I see you bringing Pickaxes to digg down your own Walls and Springing mines to blow up your own houses, and kindling sparks that will set al [...] in a flame, pag. 223. They which were rich owners, must then wander abroad for relief, and be glad to beg gratuities, or be glad to kise [...]he feet of the adversarie [Page] for an almes, out of his own fulness; and happy were I, if I could here make an end and the last post were arrived. But after all other extremities, conscience at last comes to her punishment, this must be made a captive. Men are not only lockt out of their houses, but out of their Temples; their goods are not only enforced from them, but they are deprived of the Pearl; their libe [...]ties are not only lost, but the freedom of the Ordinances, pure doctrine, worship and faith are in bondage, and the soul enthralled. Men that will not permute a God, and suffer their faith to be new stamped, must either run or die for it: Your looking-glass wi [...]l be snatcht away your bright diamond shiver'd in pieces; this goodly City of yours all in sheards; ye may seek for a threshold of your ancient dwellings, for a pillar of your pleasant habitations and not find them; nothing left but naked streets or naked fields of shelter, &c. But this is but the misery of stonework, of arches, dormans and roofs; but what will you say, when it comes to skin work, arms, necks and bowells? Ye which have walked the streets in state, may then run the streets in destractions, with one leg or half an arm, they may beg the preservation of the rest of your members: What inventions will ye then be put to, to save your lives? your tears will not rescue, nor your gold reedeem you, but your veins must weep as well as your eyes; and your sides be watered, as well as your cheeks; when they allow you no showers of rain, but showers of blood to wash your streets, when you shall see no men in your Corporation but the man led Citizen; and hear no noise in the street, but the cryes, and shreeks, yells, and pants of Gasping, dying men: when ye shall see your kindred slain in one place, your wives in another, your children in a third, and your selves at last (it may be cut in two, to encrease the number of the dead carc [...]sses.’

‘As popolus as ye are, ye shall then [...]e numbred to the Sword; as puissant as ye are, the valiant shall be swept away; as fine fed as ye are, ye shall be fed with your own flesh, and made drunk with your own blood▪ your polititians can no longer help you▪ but have their subtil brains dasht in pieces with yours; nor your Lecturers can no longer save you; but you must meet together at the Congregation near the Shamb [...]es, when this great City shall be but a great Chopping, board to quarter out the limbs of sinners, or the great Altar where in a whole City is to be sacrificed. Oh doleful day! when your breasts shall try the points of Spears, your [Page] sides the keenesse of the Swords, your heads the weight of Poleaxes your bodies made footstools, and your dead Carcasses steppingstones for truculent foes, to tread and trample on; when there will be no pity upon the aged, nor cmpassion upon the young: but heaps upon [...]eaps: tumbling of garments in blood, and Swords made fat w [...]th slaughter. Oh! see what a Crimson City, Crimson sins will make!’

‘If you escape the dint of the Sword, and your lives be given you for a prey; Shall no [...] your goods be made a prey? yes, [...] me may be reserved out of the greatest Massacre; when men are weary with killing, a re [...]reat may be sounded, and called off from the slaught [...]r? yet [...] ye then challenge your own houses, or bri [...]g yur Keyes to your old Chests? No, your Titles gone, your Interest lost ye have tra [...]ed your sel [...]es out of your Estates, or sin [...]ed your selves out of your Propri [...]ties: The Enemy is now houskeepe, Land-holder; ye have forfeited all to the Sword; farwell Inheritances, Purch [...]ses, Leases, Wares, Wardrobe, Furniture, Jewels. As you have gotten these goods unjustly, so they shall be taken away unjustly; and if they be no sla [...]n in the heap, yet they do but [...]ive to see their own m [...]sery, their sins have made them Bankrupts, they are undone; ruin'd▪’

‘And Oh! if the loss of money were the greatest mischief; bnt there is a treasure of great [...]r value in danger; there is not an absolute conquest made, till the inner [...]an be in fetters; thou must be a slave in principles: Oh! it is an hard thing at that time to be a Ie [...] inwar [...]ly to keep the girdle of tru [...]h about thy loins; th [...]u must then bare the fruit of the degenera [...]e p [...]ant, or strange vine: pour out the drink off r [...]ngs of other Sa [...]rifices, follow the sorcery of the Mistriss of witchcrafts, or learn Magick with them that are brought up in the Doctrine of Devi [...]s; thou mu [...]t limp with the halting age: fit thy mouth to answer [...]he general shout▪ [...]hat great is Diana of [...]he Ephesians: thou must taunt thy own Father, spit in the face of thi [...]e own Mothe [...], and [...]iss away all thy true Brethren: thou must be divorced from thy own Fai [...]h, though never so chaste, and deny [...]arah to be thy Wife, though thy Espousals with her were never so solemn. There will be no safety incontaminate faith: thou wilt be either a Nicodimus to come to Christ by [...]ight: [...]r if with Daniel thou open the windowes towa [...]ds Ierusa [...]em, thou wil [...] [...]e cast in [...]o the Den of Lyons.’ Thus far he.

[Page] Dr. Ushe [...].An inundation of Popery was also predicted by the Learned Biwop of A [...]magh, immediately before his death, as is well known to many. And where is the hearr that hath any spiritual sense, or tenderness in it, that trembles not in afearful expectation of these things?Amos 3.7. Surely, the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his secrets to his Servants the Prophots. This is one ground of fear.

2. And your fears cannot chuse but encrease, when you consider the preparation and progress these Enemies have already made; Have they been sleeping; think you, all this while? no no they have digged as deep as hell in their Counsels, their numbers among us are already formidable, their combinations strong, their confidences high,Ier. 4.17. Isa. 9.11. and their Forraign assistants ready. As the keepers of a fi [...]ld, so are our enemies round about us; the Syriane before, and the Philistines behind to devour England with open month. Two considerable advantages t [...]ey have already obtained: ( [...]irst,) The removal of so many able and Godly Ministers out of the way. This is done to their hands by a sa [...] providence: It is an old and true observation, That whosoever will attempt the overthrow of Religion, must begin with the Ministery first. [...]hese are set for the a [...]ence of the Gospel. It was the counsel that Adam [...]onizen (a deep-pated Achitophel of theirs) long since gave in this case; Suppres (saith he) the Ministers; (Et error cui pat [...]acinium deerit, sine p [...]n [...] concidet) and then the error that hath none to patronize it will fall of it self: So he calls the precious truth of Jesus Christ; I dare not affirm that this was intentionally done to open a door of opportunity to them; but that eventually 'its like to prove so, who that exercises reason sees not? When so many pious Ministers went off the Stage, it was apparent enough what an opportunity these men had to ascend it and act their part.

2. Secondly, The destruction of our Famous City, the strength and glory of the Nation, whi [...]h they have laid in the dust; a designe no douht, contrived in the Pop [...]sh Conclave: they well enough knew how able London was to give check to their designes.

My heart bleedeth for thee London to see thee made of a City, an Heap, of a Defenced City a Ruine; a Palace of strangers to be no City. And if they can have their will, that which follows in the text should be added; It shall never be built If Parliaments will hea [...]ken to them, they will perswade like Rehum and Shini [...]ai, Ezra 4.14. that it may lie sti [...]l in its Ashes, and upon the same pretentions, [Page] let search be made (say they) in the Book of Records of thy Fathers, so shalt thou find in the Book of Records, and know that this City is a rebellious City, and hurtful unto Kings and Prov [...]nces, and they that have moved sedition within the same of old t [...]me; for which cause it was destroyed. But I trust the Lord will make our Rulers wise, to discover their bloody intentions; how speciously so ever palliated with pretences of Loyalty and Fidelity.

But mean while London is ruined!A Lamentat [...]on for Londo [...] that goodly mountain laid was [...]ed the most glorious City in all respects, that ever the Sun looked upon, now a desolate Wilderness! O London! who can sufficiently bewail thy misery! for mine own part, as the Orator solem [...]izing a sad Funeral, desired to have learned Mortality from another [...]ubject, rather then that of Scaliger: So (might it have pleased the Lord) I should have been glad to have learned the vanity of all worldly glory from another example, then that of Lon [...]n.

How doth the City sit solitary, Lam. 1.1. that was full of people? she that was great among the Nations, and Princess among the Provinces! O London! Lam. 2.15. Ezek. 28.15. Ezek. 16.14. thou sealest up the summe and wast perfect in beauty: Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day thou wast created untill in [...]quity was found in thee. Thy renown went forth among the Heathen for thy beauty, for it was perf [...]ct through the comliness thy God had put upon thee. Ezek. 28.1 [...]. Ezek. 28.18. But thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou d [...]dst corrupt thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness. Therefore the Lord hath cast thee to the ground, and brought forth a fire from the midst of thee, which hath brought thee to ashes. London hath grivously sinned, therefore is she removed; all that know thee among the people,Lam. 1.8. are astonished at thee, thou art terrour to them. London may now sit down by her Sister Ierusalem in the dust, and say,Lam. 1.12. Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by, see and behold, was there ever any sorrow li [...]e unto my sorrow: which is done unto me, wherewi [...]h the Lord hath affl [...]cted me in the day of his fierce anger [...]? They have heard that I sigh, there is none to comfort me▪ all mine enemies have heard of my trouble, Lam. 1 21. they are glad tha [...] thou hast done [...]; thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me. ver. 2 [...]. Jer. 1 [...].34. Let all th [...]ir wickedness come before thee, and do unto them as thou ha [...] done unto m [...]. Mine enemies have dev [...]u [...]ed me, they h [...]ve crushed me, and made me an empty vessel; they have s [...]allowed me up like a Dragon, ve [...]. 3 [...]. The violence done unto me and to my fl [...]sh[Page]be upon Babylon, shall the Inhabitants of London say. Remember O Lord, the Inhabitants of Babylon, in the day of London, who said, [...] 137.7 ver. 8. Raser, rase it even to the foundations. O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee, as thou hast se [...]ved us.

Let no man think that I endeavour to obscure the righteous Hand of God, which is to be own'd and trembled at in such a judgment. Though London must acknowledge his justice in all that is come upon her; yet the wickedness of Instruments, is not in the least to be excused thereby: God and man may concurre in the fame action, and yet neither his holiness have any fellowship with their wickedness; nor their Injustice, be excused by his Righteousness; Idem quod duo faciunt non est idem, His work is perfect, for all his wayes are judgment; a God of truth, and without iniquity; just and right is He, they have corrupted themselves, Deut. 32.4.5. Wilt thou not confess, London, that thy sins were the sparks that kindled thy flames? doubtless thou wilt such was thy pride, Epicurisme Formality, and Barrenness, under such precious waterings as thou once enjoyedst, above all the Cities in the world, that thou mayest say, it is of the Lords mercy, thine Inhabitants had not all perished with their Habitations; and that God had not made thee like Sodom; for what couldst thou expect when thy Lots were going, but that devouring flames were coming?

But to return from this sad (though necessary) digression; hereby it is manifest the common Enemy hath obtained a singular and long expected advantage to their design; often have they in vain attempted it; but now God hath delivered it into their hands: Well might they rejoice (as they did) to see its flames ascend, and drink healths to its ashes. For upon divers politick considerations it might easily be demonstrated, that their cause and interest is revived and warmed by that fire.

3. Lastly, it cannot but much more heighten our fears, if we consider the sad posture we are in at this day of our Eminent Danger. Three or four sad particulars I shall here suggest▪ and let none think it to be a laying open of our nakedness and weakness to the Enemies; for I shall tell them no News, in telling you that.

1. They are much encouraged, in that the Ceremonies of their Religion find such acceptation among us: It was long since observed, That as the morning ushers in the day, so the Ceremonies of [Page] any Religion, serve to bring in the Religion it self; If we are heartily resolved against Popery, What do we with their Garments, Gestures, Altars Crosses, Liturgies, and Officers among us? upon this reason the Divines of Hamburgh withstood the Cerimonies of INTERIM; of which they gave this account to Melancthon. ‘These indifferent things (say they) are nothing else but the seeds of corruption,Ep. ad Mel. the nerves of Papistical Superstition, and the little passages, by which the Adversaries endeavour to creep into our Churches, that they may turn them off the foundation.’ To the same purpose the Divines of Saxony speak; ‘Satan (say they) from those small beginnings of the Ceremonies,Contet. Saxon edit. 1560. makes progress to the corruption of Doctrine it self.’ If any say these are but groundless surmises, a fighting with our own shadows; the papists themselves are more charitable then such Objectors, and cannot but know, that although we use these Ceremonies, yet not in the same sense that they do. Pray hear what a Jesuit hath observed concerning it. ‘Protestanisme (saith Mr. Chillingworth in his Prefa [...]e, Sect. 20.) waxeth weary of it self, the professors of it, they especially of greatest Worth, Learning and Authority, Love, Temper and Moderation; and are at this time more unresolved where to fasten▪ then at the Infancy of their Church. [...]heir Churches begin to look with a new face, their Walls to speak a new language, their Doctrines to be altered in many things.’ If it be again objected, this is but the groundless construction of a peevish ad [...]ersary. To conclude the controversie: here what a Prelate of our own saith in the case,Doct. Usher of the Ce [...]e [...] pag. 209. they are the words of the learned Primate of Ireland. ‘The Kings and Queen of England (saith he) imposed these Ceremonies, that thereby they might decline the charge of Schismaticks, wherewith the Church of Rome laboured to brand them, seeing it did appear hereby, they only left them in such Doctrinal points, wherein they left the truth. Again, hereby they would testifie, how far they would stoop to win and gain them, by yielding as far as they might in their own way: But (saith he) the exp [...]rience of many years hath shew'd, that this condescention hath rather hardened them in their errors, then brought them to a liking of our Religion; this being their usual saying, if our Flesh be not good, Why do you drink of our broth?’

And have we not grounds for our fears, think you now? if we are blamed for our jealousies, we must blame them, that give cause [Page] for them. Would Bishops cast out those Popish Ceremonies, our fears of Popery would be so much abated; but those that nurse up these Romish brats, we cannot but suspect to have too much love for that Harlot that begot them.

2 We are at this day persecuting and suppressing the faithful in the Land▪ even those that stand in the gap to intercede for it; and are the most considerable persons, both for Parts & Piety, to oppose the designs of this enemy. How are we hacking at the bow we stand up [...]n? and pulling down our wall, whiles the Enemy lies round about them? Is this the time to stop the mouths of so many able and faithful Ministers? to drive them into corners and not only so, but to pull them out of those corners too; and thrust them out of the breach, where they stand with prayers and tears, which are their only weapons, and the Nations best Defence against the common Enemy? VVould any Physician that regards the life of his Patient, having to do with a weak consumptive person that hath but little blood, and few spirits left, open a vein, and let out a drop thereof? it may be you lookt not upon them so, but rather as the disease of England, than the good blood thereof: but God judges otherwise concerning them: The innocent preserve the Island, and it is delivered by the pureness of his hands, Job 22. ult. You think if you were once rid of these, you should quickly be a prosperous Nation: But verily, except the Lord of Hosts had left unto us a ve [...]y small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah, Isa. 1.9.

Ah! how little do our bold informers think whose work they are doing! little do Constables think they are breaking down of the Walls and Gates of the Nation; when breaking up the peaceable Meetings of Gods people. Poor men! did you but see how the Papists laugh among themselves, to see their work so industriously performed by your hands, it would surely cool your courage▪ and check your irregular zeal: Alas! they are not so much afraid of your Swords, as of these mens prayers. That Popish Qu [...]en of Scotland spake out and professed she dreaded more the Prayers of Mr. Knox (a godly Noncon [...]ormist) the [...] an Army of ten thousand men. And will you so officiously serve them, by disarming so many ten thousands of your friends of their best weapons? Oh ungrateful England! dost thou thus requite the Saints for all the good they have been Instruments to procure unto thee? wi [...]t thou make them enter an appeal in Heaven against thee, in the words of [Page] the Prophet? Ierem. 18 20. Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have d [...]gg [...]d a pit for our souls; remember O Lord, how we stood before thee to speak good for them; and to turn away thy wrath from them.

3. Are not the professing part of the Nation at this day divided, both in their judgments and affect [...]ons? add what a singular advantage the enemy hath; thereby is obvious to every considering person; we have been often told, that except the sgirit of love did speedily close up those unchristian breaches, the common adversary would enter in at them. It was a worthy speech of B [...]entius, when the Divines of Germany were scuffling one with another, in the midst of the Popish party; ‘Tollenda merito, &c. let all quarrelling and bitterness be laid aside, and let us subject our judgments to our Lord Jesus Christ: Our Adversaries yet live and are daily more bold; night and day they labour to extinguish the light of the Gospel which is risen among us, and to bring back the ancient darkness; mean while we who in the beginning, by the grace of God; professed the Gospel unanimously▪ turn our weapons one against another, and exhibit a grateful spectacle to our Enemies; who place more trust and confidence in our contentions, than in the vain foundation of their own Cause; and all their own art and power:’

I have a long time looked upon our contentions as upon a Blazing Comet, portending utter desolation, if the Lord heal it not speedily. Think upon this, you that fear the Lord, and tremble at his judgments: How have we beaten our fellow servants? unsainted those that jump'd not with us in our opinions? this Saint was too high, and that too low; but here is an Enemy, that like Procrustes the tyrant,P [...]oc [...]u [...]es. will cut you all of a length: If you were ten thou [...]sand more then you are, you were no match for them, as long as you lie in this posture. How easily did Gideon with his little handful, vanguish the huge Hoste of the Mediantes; w [...]en every man set his sword to the breast of his fellow, and instead of opposin [...] him, shew every man his brother? Iudg. 7.22 I make no question but the Papists have blown up these sparks of discention among u [...], to warm their own fingers by our flames; they have anima [...]ed and fomented that spirit of bitterness and wrath among us as one that s [...]ts two Cocks a fighting [...] that having kill'd each other, he may sup upon them both at night. This was the sad posture of Ierusalem when the Enemy entred in her Gates. O England! England! thy destruction [Page] is of thy self. If the hearts of the fathers be not turned to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, what can we expect, but that God should come and smile the earth with a curse? Mal. 4. ult. Lord heal the breaches of England, for it shaketh Psal. 60 2.

4. Fourthly and lastly, that which much appals and daunts my spirit, is, they find us as deeply guilty of the abuse of the best merc [...]es, as ever any Nation was. So that I am afraid this enemy will prove the H [...]gel um Dei, the scourge of God, (as Totila of old, from his cruel persecution of the Christians was called) to avenge our unthankfulness for those choice favours, which Heaven hath showered down upon this ungrateful Nation. Saint Ierom [...] speaking of the Churches enemies, By our sins (saith he) our enemies are made str [...]ng; and History tells us, that when Ves [...]asian had conquered Ierusalem, he refused to have the Crown set upon his head, saying I ind [...]ed am the rod in the hand of God, but it is their sins onely that have subdued them ▪ Vpon what Nation under Heaven hath God more richly heaped his blessings, than upon England and [...]ha [...] people have more wantonly abused them? or more comtemptuously spurned at the tender mercies of him that conferr'd th [...]m? what blessing is it, which deserves to be stiled matchless, transcendent, glorious, that England hath not enjoyed? If [...]eace be it, we have had it: if Plenty, we have had it: if the Light of the blessed Gospel shining in its Meridian Splendor be it, we have had it: But Iesurun waxed fat, and kicked; O dreadful fore runner of National ruine! What was it that gave the Sa [...]acen [...] footing in the Eastern Empire, but the wantonness of those Churches, abusing the Light which they enjoyed? how impatiently did the people of God in former times, thirst for liberty to worship God purely! and when they had obtained it, What was the use they made of it? horresco referens, I tremble in speaking it; Did we not play with our Light, fight with our brethren by it, till God blowed out the Candle? and so (I wish I could say) ended the quarrel.

We may say of our liberty, as the Philosopher speaks of waters, Suis terminis diffisile continentur, they are difficultly kept within their bounds; why, brethren did you think that God could suffer such precious mercies to run at the waste spout much longer? Did you think he was weary of his mercies, to continue them to such as little regarded them? or that it was not as grievous to the blessed God, that his children should smite one another, as to see the Enemy [Page] smiting them? no darkness is more formidable then that of an Eclipse, which assaults the very vessels of light: no taste more unsavoury, then that of sweet things when corrupted; and no sin more hideous, then that which darkens the brightness of Gods love, and corrupts the sweetness of his mercy. O England! thou hast abused a darling attribute of God, thou hast sinned against the most d [...]eply ingraven Principle, and Law of Nature: The very irrational creatures, yea, the heaviest and dullest among them, the Ox and Ass are not so deficient in gratitude to their owners, as thou hast been to thy God, Isa. 1.3. justly therefore may he upbraid thee, and say, be astonished O ye Heavens at this, and be ye horribly afraid &c. Sic ne repend [...]s? Is this thy kindness to the God of thy mercies? marvel not then if God pluck up the hedge of his protection from about thee, and let in cruel foes upon thee, to chastise thee for thine ingratitude; and though he will not make a full end of thee; yet may he say, concerning thee, as of Israel, 2 Chro. 127, 8. I will not utte [...]ly dest [...]oy them, but will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishack; nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the Kingdoms, of the Countries. The Lord I tru [...]t will not utterly forsake his dwelling place in England; but verily I fear he may permit Antichrist for a time to afflict us, that we may know the difference between the sweet and easie yoke of C [...]rist which we would not endure, and the yoke of Antichrist that shall gall our necks and consciences with cruel servitude: And because we served not the Lord our God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things, that therefore [...]e shall serve our enemies, which the Lord shall send ag [...]inst us, in hunger, and thirst, and nakedness, and the want of all things; Deut. 28 47. that so we may return to God with the Church, and say, as it is Isa. 26.19. O Lord our God, other Lords besides thee [...]ave had dominion over us, but by thee only, will we make mention of thy Name; and as Hos. 2.7. I will return to my fi [...]st husband, for it was better with me then, than now.

These are some of the principal grounds of Englands fear at this day, in reference to the Popish Party. Let the serious and considering Reader lay them together, allow them but a just and even ballance, and doubtless it will hereby appear, that how great soever our fears are, yet our dangers much exceed them.

[Page]Having thus hinted the grounds of our fears what remains but that next I address my self to the principal work design'd i [...] these Papers; which is to call upon England to awake out of her destructive security, and not to suffer her enemies to surprize her sl [...]eping? and I would do it in the words of the Prophet, Zeph. 2.1, 2. Gather yourselves together yea, gather together, O Nation no [...] desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaffe, before the fierce anger of the [...]ord come upon thee. O that I could [...]ound this Admonition so loud that all in the Nation might hear it! Had I any hopes that these poor Papers might be honoured with a glance of His Majesties Eye, I would, as it were, prostrate my self at His feet, and cry as that woman did, 2 Kings 6.26. Help my Lord, O King!

An humbl [...] Address to the King.Great Sir, the Lord hath done great thin [...]s for you, and You are scarcely capable doing a g [...]eater service for him and his people; then v [...]go [...]ously to withstand the Attempts and Encrochments of thi [...] subtil and formidable Enemy; in that it hath pleased the Lord to move Your heart to send forth Your Royal Proclamation aginst them, we accept it alwayes and in all places, with all thankfulness; and pray, That he would not only secure Your Royal Pe [...]s [...]n from their attempts, but also make You a Shield to his people in these Nations.

It is not hid from Your Majesty what a perfidious and bloody Enemy this is, whose principles as well a practise, en [...] to the subversion both of Kings and Kingdoms. One of them affirms it lawfull to murder any one (though his own Prince) if the Pope hold him excommunicate;I [...]m. S [...]. and another se [...] down rules how it may be done [...] and thinks poysoning to be the best way.Mariana. What but Treason and Rebel [...]ion can flow from tho [...]e bloody Doctrines of the Popes temporal [...] risdiction over Princes; and his power to dissolve all Gathes and [...]yes of Allegiance? So that neither Your Person nor Honour can be safe in their hands; or should Your Royal Person be exempt from danger, yet if this Enemy prevaile. How many Thousands of your poor Innocent Sub [...]ects may fall by their merciles [...] hands? What a field of blood will they make Your Kidgdo [...]? and surely the E [...]n [...]my can never co [...] e [...]v [...]il the King [...] damage herein, Esther 6.16. Most gladly at Your Command▪ would we offer our lives on the high places of the field against them; but to fall by trechery, and be butchered in our beds, [...]s horrible to think.

[Page]And O that God would make our Honourable Representatives in Parliament still vigilant to observe,An humble Supplication to the Parliament. and zealous to oppose the motions of this Enemy! we bless the Lord for what you have already done, in detecting them so far; but yet we cannot think our danger over, whilst they swarm in such numbers among us. Hannibal was wont to say, Magis se a non pugnante, Fabio quam a pugnante Marcello timere; he more feared Fabius not fighting, then fighting Marcelus. O be as zealous for the Protestant Interest, as they are against it; if they dare to smite with the fist of wickedness we hope you will not be afraid to smite them with the Sword of Justice. Remember what a matchless salvation was once given to our English Parliament, I mean from the Powder plot, that Catholike Villany, as one aptly calls it: Such a delivernce as ages past cannot parallel in any History, and of which we may say, as the Historian in another case, Si in annalibus non foret fabula videre ur. Had it not been recorded in our own Annals, posterity would never beleeve it: They have indeed studiously endevoured in their late Bold Remonstrance to hide from your eyes the goodness of God in that deliverance, that so by forgetting his goodness, they might bury in silence their own wickedness; we hope none of your actings against this Enemy, will be stained with luke-warmness; if justice be sprikled with a favorable hand, like a few drop of water upon fire; we doubt instead of quenching, it will rather encrease the flame. Rome is a nettle, the more gently its handled, the more it [...]ings. My Lords and Gentlemen, here is an Enemy that deserves your hotest zeale and greatest vigilance, much better then honest loyal Nonconformists, who plead with God night and day on your behalf.

'Tis acknowledged they differ in lesser matters, from the established worship of the Nation; but from the toleration of such Differences, no Publike Danger can arise. Some differences in Opinion (saith an Honourable Author) are as the striving of one Israelite with another; and these Moses quiets and parts them fairly; and some are like the Egyptian striving with the Israelites, whom Moses smites down. It was a noble Speech of An [...]hony of Bourbon King of Navar, Ld Virulam. Oliand. Coment de stat. reip. & relcent. 16. to the Danish Ambassador; this King being a Peer of France, and first Prince of the Blood, challenged the Regency of that Kingdom during the French Kings minoraty: He told the Ambassadour, that he hoped in a short time to procure a free passage for the Gospel throughout France; the Ambassador was pleased with it; [Page] but desired that Luthers Doctrine, not Calvines, might pass for current: The King replied, Luther and Ca [...]vin agree in for [...]y Points, and differ but in one. Let those ther [...]fore tha [...] follow the tenets of these two, unite their strength aginst the common Enemy, and at better leisure; in a more conveni [...]nt season, compound their own differences: Grant that Nonconformists be in an error, yet the difference is not fund [...]mental; and the Famous Emperor [...]heodosius, did not only b [...]a [...] with the Novations, but familia [...]ly consult with their Le [...]r [...]ed Pastors about Church-matters, though differing in several Poin [...]s of Dis [...]ipl [...]ne,Soz lib. 7. Cap. 12. and Constantine, although [...]e made a La [...] in-terrorem, yet in point of executi [...]on he spared them. O that with one shoulder you mig [...]t suppo [...]t the to [...]tering Interest of Christ in these Nations! and be [...]st led the Saviours of England in this time of danger; which wil [...] be a more Honourable Title, then any other you are, or can be dign [...]fied with.

Queries to the Bishops.I would also propound it as matter of serious consideration to the Prelates; Whether this be a time to vex and persecute the Consciencious and Fai [...]hfull in the Land, for Ceremonies and Trifles, when the substance of Religion lyes exposed? Will not the late dreadful Alarms by the Popish Party sound a Retreat and put an end to this work? suffer me to propound two or three Queries to your Consciences.

Are not Papists hereby hardened in their errors, and confirmed in their Cruel and Tyrannical impositions upon Conscien [...]es,Quere. whilst they see you to use the same medium? what plea is left you against their Tyranny, if ever God permit them to re-kindle the Flames of Martyrdom [...]n England? If your way be good, why is not theirs? magis & minus non variant speciem; Is there not as much strength in their Arguments of Fire and Faggot to convince you, as in your Excommunications Imprisonments, Mulcts and Pena [...]ties, to convince us of the lawfulness of your Ceremonies? It's said of Molineus Bonifac [...]us, that his silly reasons for the Popes Supremacy did well enough, being propoudded wish a Sword in bis hand; a keen Sword will make a dull argument cut to the quick; and if you cannot answer such Argument your selves, me thinks you should be tender of urging them against others. Sure I am, Confiscations, Imprisonments, and Death are the most irrefragable Arguments for Popery; and it is a thousand pitties we should tell the word, that the reformed Religion must be supported by the like Artifices: It would better serve their Designe in Spain, then Christs Interest in England. I am [Page] sure 'tis the proper Cognizance of Antichrist: and O that it might remain with them only. Hear what a man of your own Character saith, it is observed saith Doctor Taylor, ‘That the restraint of Prophesying and imposing upon other mens understandings,Liberty of prophesy. p. 109. being Masters of their Consciences, and Lording it over their faith, came in with the retinue and train of Antichrist, that is, they came as other abuses and corruptions of the Church did, when the Churches Fortunes grew better, and her Sons worse, and some of their Fathers worst of all; for in the first three hundred years, there was now sign of persecuting any man for his Opinion, though at that time there were many horrid Opinions.— A Wolf may as well give Laws to the understanding, as he whose dictates are only propounded in violence, and written in blood: and a Dog is as capable of a Law, as a Man, if their be no choice in his obedience, no discourse in his choice, no reason to satisfie his discourse.’

Are you not like to have the same measure,Quer. you mete to us, meted back to you again with an overplus, if this enemy prevail? and then you'l find how good it is to afflict for Conscience sake. Certainly, if you resolve to be fai [...]hful to protestant Principles, you will escape upon no easier terms, then us.

Are not these very persons against whom you discharge your cannons,Quer. and woory up and down by your apparitors, like to prove as stiff assertors of the Protestant cause, (if God call for more blood to witness to it) as your selves? you find them (I believe) inflexible enough to your Ceremonies; all your menacies, and punishments cannot cudgel them into conformity with them, because they find aliquid commune cum antichristo, a spice and tang of Popish Superstition in them; and doubtless, they will as freely lay down their lives in defence of [...]he fundamental and weightier points of Religion, as their Places, Liberties, and Earthly Comforts, for the lesser Circumstantial truths thereof: and is it not pity, that you should (especially at such a time as this) suppress afflict, and silence such men, whose abilities might now be improved to such singular advantage?

But, aquilia non capit muscas, Lordly spirits scorn to stoop to such mean composures,An application to the N [...]t on in general. or take notice of a creeping Pamphlet; Let me therefore speak to the Body of the People, and especially to those among the People, who profess to fear the Lord, and tremble at his Judgments. Will you shut your ears to seasonable counsel also? Will you despise your dangers till you are suprised by them? O [Page] England! Wilt thou not begin to fear, till thou art past hope? Shall thine Enemies find thee sleeping, and leave the dead? Wretehed England! here is thy misery, that thou knowest not thy time; but as the fishes are taken in an evil net, and as the birds are caught in the snare; so wilt thon be snared in an evil time, when it falleth on thee suddenly, Ecles. 8.12. May I freely express my apprehensions in the Case; I much doubt thine Enemies have so contrived and laid their design against thee, that (in their apprehensions at least) all thy struglings now, are but as the flutterings of a bird in the net, which instead of freeing, doth but the faster intangle her. However if God at last, will but open thine ears to seasonable Counsel, and perswade thine heart to thy present duties, who can tell but the Lord may yet be gracious to his Land, and spare his people?

It is not so much their confidence as our impenitence that is to be feared, Haman was as confident as they can be, and had cast Pur for the Jews as well as they for us. Esth. 3.7. So was Pharoah too when he said I will pursue; I will pursue; God can quickly give their pregnant designs a miscarrying womb; so that they which have conceived mischief shall bring forth but a lie; and thou that fearest continua [...]ly because of the Enemie, shalt yet praise him and say; The h [...]athen are sunk down in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid is their own foot taken: the Lord is known by the judgments which he executeth, the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands; Higgaion [...]elah. Psal. 9. 15.16. and when the Enemie cometh in like a flood; the Spirit of thy God can set up a Standard against him: if men cannot, winds and waves shall fight for thee, as they have done in former exigencies.

O nimium dilecte Deo cui militat aether

Et conjurati veniunt ad classica venti.

Only obey the Counsels of God, and let thine ear be circumcised; and as ever you expect that a door of hope should be opened to you in this valley of achor, let these following Counsels be speedily and heartily practised.

1 COUNSEL.

Abhor Popery, and be eminent in your zeal against it. Rome is that Amalek, with whom God will never make peace; neither should we: It was Queen Elizabeths Motto, No peace with Spain and it should be ours. No peace with Rome. My dear Countreymen, I beseech you, be not deceived with vain words; suffer not [Page] your selves too be circumvented by a Stratagem of the Enemy let not prejudice, and discontents which they endeavour to beget and foment in you against your real friends, cause any of you to fall in with the Design and Interest of your Enemies: it is a dangerous thing to comply with that Interest which God hath engaged himself against, and as sure as Christ sits at his Fathers right hand, shall be destroyed: and what cause you have to abhor Popery: you will see by that time I have shewed you, that it is a FALSE: BLOODY: BLASPHEMOUS: UNCOMFORTABLE: AND DAMNABLE RELIGION.

First, It is a False Religion, and thats reason enough to abhor it. You would be loath to be cheated with Counterfeit Coin, especially if you were to receive your whole portion in it) how much more with a False Faith; when it amounts to as much as all your soules are worth in another World! the falsity of the Popish Religion (if it yet remain a question with any among us) may be thus evinced.

That Religion which is not built upon the Foundation the Prophets and Apostles but stands in the wisdom of man,1 Argument. is a False Religion.

But the Popish Religion is not built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, but stands in the wisdom of man; therefore the Popish Religion is a False Religion.

The ma [...]or proposition is undeniable, and stands upon the authority of these Scriptures: Ephes 2 20 And are built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles: Iesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone. 1 Cor. 2.5, That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men: but in the power of God. Isa, 8.20. To the Law and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this word: it is because there is no light in them.

The minor proposition is as evident: For (1.) the Papists themselves acknowledge that their worshipping of Creatures, Mass, Purgatory, the Popes Supremacy, and most other Doctrines, wherein they differ from us, cannot be confirm'd by Scripture: Az [...]rius, instit. mor. par. 2d. lib. 4. ca. 18 (2.) They set up the Pope, as a Judge above the Scriptures, subjecting them to the Popes authority: this many of their Learned Doctors are not ashamed expresly to affirme and defend; Pigh [...]us Hierarch, Lib. 1, Cap. 2.3, 4. Card. Cusan Epist. 7th. ad Bohem. Cocteus, Holli [...]s, &c. [...]3.) They reproach and deprave the Scripture, calling it an uncertain thing, [Page] dead letter, an insufficient guide of it self, without their tradition▪ or unwritten Word, Belar. de sut. Serip. (4.) They add to, and detract from the Scriptures at pleasure. Bellarmin saith, Pontificem posse mutare per ut Eclesiae expedit positivae precepta Apostolorum, (i. e.) The Pope can change the positive precepts of the Apostles, for the behoof of the Church. (5.) They will not stand to Scripture Tryal and Judgment for the Decision of Controversies, but cry out to the Fathers, to Counsels, to Schoolmen, as appears in our own Acts and Mon. in multitudes of examples. (6.) They restrain the people by penalties, from reading the Scriptures perswading them to resolve their Faith into the Authority of the Pope, and believe Implicity, as the Church believes. Ergo.

2 Argument.That Religion which ascribes the glory of mans salvation to himself▪ and not to Christ alone, is a false Religion. But the Popish Religion ascribes the glory of mans salvation to himself, and not to Christ alone; therefore 'tis a False Religion.

The Major is undeniable; the end of Religion is the glory of God; the Christian Religion utterly excludes the glorying of man in himself, Rom. 3.27. where is boasting then? it is excluded; by what Law? of works? nay, but by the Law of Faith. Tit. 3.5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy be saved us, &c.

The Minor is evident, for themselves teach that the proper certainty of hope is in merits,3 Argument. that certainty which is not presumption is of merrits and to be measured by merits, Alexand. Ales. quest. 3d 65. Merits (saith another are the foundation of our hope, Piliucius ▪ tract 22. n. 244 therefore,

That which is the Religion of Antichrist, is a false Religion; but the Popish Religion, is the Religion of Antichrist; Ergo.

The Major is evident, for the Doctrine of Antichrist is a lye, 2 Thess. 2.11. a mistery of iniquity. ver. 7.

The Minor appears as evidently, in that the Notes and Characters by which Antichrist is described and indigetated in Scripture, agree to Popery, and to it only. The Pope is that Ho Anomos that lawless one, 2 Thes. 2.8. He sits in the Temple of God, challenging Supremacy over all Churches. He sits there as God, exalting himself above all that is called God, ver. 4. They attribute to him the Name of the Lord our God.

[Page]

Oraclo v [...]cis mundi moderaeris habenas,

Et merito in terris c [...]ederis esse Deus.

Sixty 4th.

His comming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs, and lying wonders, of which there are numberless multitudes in Popery, their Legends swarm with them. He hath horns as a Lamb, (viz) pretences of meekness and innocency, but speaks l [...]ke a Dragon, Rev. 13.11. He arose out of the earth, stirpium more, after the manner of plants, growing by insensible degrees to this monstrous greatness; to him only agree all the other Caracters in Rev. 17. & alibi, therefore,

That Religion which tolerate and countenances all manner of Pride,4 Argument. Covetousness, Lust, Murders, &c. is a False Religion▪ but the Popish Religion tolerates and countenances these, and many other fleshly lusts▪ therefore it is a false Religion.

The Major if doubted) may easily be proved by all those Scriptures which shew the purity of true Religion, as Jam. 1.27. pure Religion and undefiled before God, &c, Tit. 2.12. teaching u [...], that denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, &c. Psal, 19.9 the fear of the Lord (which is there put for his Worship) is c [...]ean, &c.

The Minor may be as easily proved from their own Histories and Writings, and many other credible Authors▪ As for their Pride, let an instance or two suffice: Sir Richard Baker in his Chron. p. 30. tells us that Aldred Arch Bishop of Canterbury, upon the repulse of his Suit by King William the first, grew discontent, and offered to depart, when the King, in awe of his displeasure, staid him, fell down at his feet, desired pardon, and promised to grant him his Suit; the King being all this while down at the Arch-Bishops feet, the Nobles that wete present put him in mind, that he should cause the King to rise; nay saith the Arch-Bishop let him alone, let him find what it is [...]o anger St. Peter: Richonius that proud Papist, was not ashamed to tell the world in Print, that a Priest is as much above a King, as a King is above a Beast; yea, as God i [...] above a Priest. Their Cove [...]ousness is also insatiable, all things are vendible at Rome, even the Blood of Christ is set to sale for money, they have vast Revenues from the very Stues and Brothels. The blindest times took s [...] much notice of their Covetousness, that though they durst not speak out▪ yet exprest their apprehensions, and just indignation against them in Pictures. There was found in the t [...]e Abby of Fu [...]ba (besides other Embldms taxing Popish Prelates) the Picture of a Wolfe in a Monks Cowle, and shaven Crown, preaching to a F [...]ock [Page] of Sheep▪ with these words coming in a pendant out of his mouth, God is my witness, how I long for you all in my bowels; and underneath was written:John Wolfe [...]ect. memor. Tom 1. adan 130 [...]. This hooded Wolf is the Hypocrite, of whom in the Gospel, beware of False Prophets: this Picture was made two hundred yeers before the Reformation by Luther. Another like this, was found at Ptortzheim, onely with this difference, that the Wolf was preaching to a Flock of Geese, every one holding in his bill, a paire of praying beads. Prodigious Lusts are found among them: they forbid Marriage, and scatter their Lusts like bru [...]e beasts promiscuously. St. Gregory commanded that their Priests should not marry; but understanding what filthiness they commited, and finding in one Fishpond, six thousand Heads of young [...]nfant [...] that had been murdered;Vallarins lives of the Popes. p. 33. he repealed his decree: Yea, their own Writers tell us such stories of their wickedn [...]ss in this kind that I am ashamed my pen should English; the Learned R [...]ader may find more then enough in Bernard, in Cant. Serm. 66. Alva [...]z. [...]el [...]g. de [...]l [...]ct. Ecles lib. 2. artic. 24. Peter Aliacus, Paliugeriu [...], C [...]nelius Mu [...] &c. Most horrid murders are frequently practised by them, yea, and encouraged with promised rewards in Heaven.

Hospin. hist▪ Iesu. p. 225. Hospinian shewes us how the Iesuites animate him, whom they employ for the murdering of Kings; they bring him into a Chappel, where the Knife lyes w [...]apt up in a Cloath with agnns Dei engraven upon it; then they open the Knife and sprinkle it with Holy Water, fastning to the Haft some Consecrated Beads, with this Indulgence. That so many Stabs as he gives the King so many Souls he saves out of Purgatory ▪ they they commend to him the Knife in these words. O thou chosen Son of God▪ take to thee the Sword of Iephte, Sampson, David, Gideon, Iudith, of Maccabeus, of Iulius the Second who defended himself from the Princes by his Sword; go, and be wisely couragious and God strengthen thy hand; then they all fall upon their knees with this prayer, Be present. O ye Cherubims and Seraphims, be present ye Thrones, Powers, Holy Angels, fill this Holy Vessell with Glory, give him the Crown of all the Holy Martyrs; he is no longer ours, but your companion; and thou, O God, strengthen his arm, that he may do thy will; give him thy Helmet and Win [...]s to fly from his Enemies; —then they shew h [...]m a Crown of Glory, and say, Lord respect this thy Arm, and Executioner of thy Justice: —then they tell him they see a Divine Lustre in his Face, which moves them to fall down and kiss his feet, and now he is no more a mortall man, &c,

[Page]These, and all other lusts are indulged, even by the Doctrines and Principles of Papists; for, if venial sins do not render a man unworthy of the love of God, are but trif [...]es, toyes, gnats, a [...] Bellarmi [...]e calls them, Lib. 2d. de peccatorem: If the Pope can get great Indulgencies, of which he hath so many kinds, Indulgencies for certain days, or years, some partial, some plenary; for all sins, yea, interdum plena plenior for more then all; some for this life, some for ever: What should hinder, but that they should take the bit in the mouth, and rush into all wickedne [...]s,Belar de indulg ▪ Ch 4. [...]. Qu. 5. loc. cit. as the Horse into the battel? especially adding what Navarrus Cordubensis, and others by Bellarmi [...]'s own confession, teach, that if men rush into sin, upon the hope of such Indulgencies, they may be nevertheless absolved. But I have stood too long upon this head; our Protestant Writers have clearly and learnedly evinced the falsity of this Religion; only because many of their Arguments are in Latine, I thought it not amise to add somewhat for the satisfaction of vulgar Readers.

2. Abhor Popery, for it is a bloody Religion; Rev. 17.6. and I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus. The Pope writes his Laws in blood, whereever he erects his Throne; he is the Son of perdition in an active, as well as in a passive sense. Poor England hath had experience of Popish cruelty, and so hath Ireland too; in one of whose Provinces 140000 Protestants were Massacred by them in the late rebe [...]lion. Popish cruelty spares none, pi [...]ies none; how have Protestants been compelled [...] tortures to discover their dearest relations! wives (being first defiled) have been forced to give the deaths wound to their dear husbands, bloody villains, putting the sword into their hands, and guiding them in the Execution: Godly Christians compelled to carry Faggots, to burn their own Faitful Pastors: Children of eight years old, whipt to death for Religion: Yea, such hath been their rage against the sincere professors of the truth, that beyond all examples of malice, (for pascitur in vivos l [...]vor post fata quiescit) they have not only hunted after the Living but violated the Graves; and burnt the bones of dead Sams [...] thu they dealt with Bucer, [...]agius, Wickliffe, &c. O England! What cause hast thou to bless the Lord, for so long a respit from Papish cruelty! thine own Histories may sufficiently inform thee, what rivers of precious blood have streamed through thee, what flames of Martyrdom have raged within thy Cities and Villages, when these ravenous Wolves and bloody [...]ygers were let loose to raya [...]e in all thy borders? And what cause hast thou to tremble at the first approaches of these [...]urculent foes [Page] whose rage is boiled up to a greater height then ever? and should they return upon thee again, (which Heaven prevent) they would exceed all former examples of crue [...]ty. Poor England! those knives which lately providence put into thine hand, were intended to be sheathed in thy bowels: art thou able to endure such another bout, as the last age did? Hear how one of the faithful Watchmen (now out of their reach) expostulated upon the same account with thee.

‘Mr. S [...]rong.Can you (saith he) endure to see a stranger to Lord it in your Habitations and your Dwellings? to cast you out? for your pleasant and well tilled Fields to be made a prey? for you to sow, and another to reap? impius has segetes, &c. for the delicate Woman, upon whom the wind must not blow, that scarce dare venture to set the soul of her foot upon the ground for tenderness, to be exposed to the lusts and crueltie of an enemie; to be glad to flie away naked to prolong a miserable life, which would gladly be parted with for death, were it not for fear of the exchange? for the tender mother to look upon the child of her womb, and consider, Must this child in whom I have placed the hopes of mine age▪ (for omnis in Ascanio stat chari [...]ura parentis) he that hath been so tenderly bred up, Must he fall into the rough hands of a bloody Soldier skilful to destroy? It had been well for me if God had given me a miscarrying womb, and dry breasts, rather then to bring forth children unto Murtherers. Or if you could be safe, How could you endure to see the evil that shall come upon your people, and the destruction of your kindred? I do not rhetorize and fa [...] to draw affection, your brethren are a sad Comment upon what I have spoken and Ireland the Stage upon which you may see this Tragedie acted before your eyes.’

3. O hate Popery, For it is not only a Bloody, but a blasphemous Religion. If we be Christians indeed, the dishonour of Gods Name should affect us more then the shedding of the warmest blood in our veins; this Scarlet Whore is full of the Names of Blasphemy, Rev. 17.3. [...]d. Tome. Oper. Luth. Lat. p 125. Popery is a meer Rapsodie of Blasphemies: Luther hath gather'd several of their blasphemous doctrines out of their own Cannons to our hands, of which let a few suffice: (1) Papa & sui, &c▪ (i. e.) The Pope and his, are not bound to be subject and obedien [...] to the Commands of God. (2.) Sole significari, &c. (i. e.) By th [...] Sun is signified the Papal, and by the Moon the Imperial, or Sec [...] lar Power in the Christian Common wealth. (3.) Pa [...]am habere i [...] Sirinio pectoris sui &c. (i. e.) That all Laws are in the Coffer of th [...] Popes breast, and full power over all Laws. (4.) Si p [...]p [...] suae, &c▪ [Page] (i. e.) If the Pope be so negligent of his own salvation, so negligent and remiss in his Office, that he should draw innumerable multitudes to hell with him, to be there ever tormented; yet may no mortal man reprove him of any fault in so doing. (5.) Papam habere potestatem, &c. [...] (i. e.) The Pope hath power to commute and dissolve vows made to God, and then if any man defer to pay his vow according to Gods Command, he is not held guilty. (6.) Quad non Papa a Scriptura, &c. from the Pope. (7.) Summa Summarum, &c (i. e.) The sum of all their C [...]mical Law is this, that the Pope is a God in the Earth, Superiour to all Coelestial, Terrestrial, Spiritual and Secular persons; that all things are his, and none may say unto him, what dost thou? I am loth to offend Christian eares with more of their Blasphemous Tenents, this is enough to turn the stomacks of Christians with indignation aginst them.

4. 'Tis a most uncomfortable Religion; it is impossible to get, or keep true peace of Conscience in that way. Rev. 9 5, 6. And their torments was as the torment of a Scorpion when he smiteth a man: And in those dayes, s [...]all men seek death, and shall not find it, but death shall flie from them: That is, (saith a worthy Divine) the Consciences o [...] poor sinners being stung with guilt and horror of sin, and finding no satisfaction nor remedy in their way, shall be endlesly perplext & tortured with inward troubles of spirit, which are like the stinging of a Scorpion; so that they shall chuse death rather then life: For do but consider, (1) They are enemies to free-grace and all Gospel-preaching. Gardiner would not have this gap of free-grace opened to the People: See (saith [...]ont [...] a Jesuit) The fruit of Protestantism and their Gospel praeching. Conts. in Math. 24. (2) They deprived the people of the Scriptures, wherein are treasured up all the Cordial and soul-reviving Comforts of a poor distressed sinner: If th [...] Law (saith David) had not been my delight, I should have perished in my affliction; and again, This is my comfort in my affliction, thy word hath quikned me, Psal. 119. (3.) They lay the stress of their hopes for salvation (as you have heard) upon their own merits and the merits of others, like themselves: so that all the comforts they build upon that foundation, must needs be loose and delu [...]ory things: debile fundamentum fallit otus: every thing is as its foundation is. Lastly, they deny the possibility of the assurance of [...]alvation in this life; & so coseq [...]ntly, their Consciences must be alwais cauterized & dead, or fluctuating & dubious. O what a religion is this!

5. Lastly, it is a Damnable religion; we have no ground from Sripture, to conc [...]ude the salvation of any among them, that know the [Page] depths of Satan, and live and dye in destructive Opinions Hear what the Scriptures say, Rev. 17.8. The beast that thou sawest, was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth, shall wonder (whose Names are not written in the Book of L [...]fe from the foundation of the Word) when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is; 2 Thes, 2.21. And for this cause, God shall send them strong del [...]sions that they should beleive a lye, that they all might be damned that beleeved not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteosness. When their sorest plague shall come upon them, they shall not have a heart given them to repent; but shall blaspheme the Name of God, because of them. Rev. 16.9. And therefore to shut up this first Counsel, you that love the Lord, hate that by which he is so much dishonoured, it will make your blood boil in your veines, to see how he is Crucified, Dethroned, and trampled on by these his Enemies.

2 COVNSL.

Use all proper preventive means to avert this threatning judgement; of which sort I shall recommend these three in speciall.

1 Me [...]nes.Mourn for the abuse of former Light and Liberty, and say, O remember not against us former iniquities? let thy tendeo mercy speedily prevent us; for we are brought very low, Psal. 97.8. O England! What a day of Mercy hast thou had! how hast thou been exalted to Heaven with Capernaum! thou mightest once have worshipped God as purely, as thou wouldest, you might have been as holy as you would; the lot of this generation was cast upon such an happie nick of time, as is scarce to be found in the history of Ages past; but the most glorious morning hath its evening, the brightest Sun its clouds, and time of setting. We know not the time of our Visitation, but were both wanton and barren under those precous Mercies. God is now coming with his Ax in his hand, to hew down barren Trees. Nothing but unfeigned repentance and speedy reformation can reprieve us. Romanae leges [...]nam pregnanti deferunt. Nothing but those fruits can be a good signe of mercy to England. And will you not yet mourn for the loss of such a day? such peace neglected, and not mourn! such liberties abused, and for their abuses removed, and not a tear! So many flourishing Churches broken, and the heart not broken! So many shining Lights extinct, and none lay it to heart! Such black clouds of Popish darkness and blood gathering over us, and none tremble! Lord! what hearts have we? how wonderful is the stupifying power of sin! O ye Professors of England, that ye had known at lea [...] in that your day the things of your peace! but now they are hid from your eyes, You once had [Page] those mercies, now you have them not; and the Lord only knows whether ever you shall see them again. I am out of hopes of them, till I see the people of God more humbled for the sins that removed them.

Make up your breaches speedily;2 Meanes. it is time (I think) when the enemie is entring in at them. Hear me all ye friends of Christ, by what names so ever distinguished among your selves: Will you some and be friends one with another? have you yet enough of your Divisions? how do the fruits of your Animosities, Contentions and Reproaches, relish now with you? do you see who God is sending to part you? can [...]t you yet pray together, mourn together? strive with God together? Why then, can you go to Prison together? Will you stand quietly at the stake together? What say you friends? you profess to be the children of the God of Peace, and I am sure Christ is the Prince of Peace, and the Gospel, the Gospel; of Peace; and will not you be the Sons of Peace? if you will not yet unite, let the ruine of England lie upon your score. Do you make no more of the Commands of Christ, the Credit of Religion, the safety of the Nation; Ah! methinks, as Tertullian told Scapula, Si non vis tibi parcere parce Corthagim. If you have no pitie for your selves, have pitie for the Nation; dont sacrifice all to your unruly lusts▪ If you profess love to Christ, and yet have no love for those in whom is his Image; if you pretend to be Saints, and yet had rather hazard the honour of Christ, then denie your passions and lusts, pray pull off your Vizards, fall into your places, and appear as you are.

Brethren, I beseech you seriously to consider these three Particulars, and if there be any force in them, or tenderness in your Consciences, let them at last perswade you to love one another. 1. That Scripture makes your love to the Brethren a positive mark of your Regenration, 1 John 3.14. We know that we are passed from death [...]o life, because we love the brethren: He that loveth not his Brother, abideth in death. And 1 Joh 5.1. Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him. And to speak truth, it is (ordinarily) the clearest signe that many poor Christians can find in their own breasts: Upon the hazard therefore of your own peace and assurance be it, if still, you continue to bite and devoure one another. 2. I will farther and, that this endeared and mutual love of the Saints, is the charge yea, the dying-charge of Christ to them; they were some of the last words of Christ in this world, Iohn. 15.12. This is my Commandement, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Dying charges are commonly received with geatest [Page] Veneration, and men (what ever they neglect) will be sure to ful [...]fill the will of the Dead. So Gen. 50.10. When Iosephs Brethre [...] were affraid lest (his father being now dead) he would remembe [...] the old injuries they have done him, urge this pacifying argumen [...] upon him, Thy Father did command, before he dyed, saying, Forgive [...] pray thee now the trespasses of thy Brethren. And ver. 21. you see how it prevailed with him, He comforted them, and spake kindly to them. O my brethren! will you not lay down your private differences and animosities when God threatens you with a common ruin? whe [...] a common danger is upon you all▪ In the year 1607. when by th [...] irruption of [...]he Severn sea the Country in Sommersetshire was over flown almost 20 miles in length, and four miles in breadth, and many persons drowned:Worthies of England, in his farewel to Somersetshire. it was then observable (saith Mr, Fuller) that Creatures of contra [...]y Natures, as Dogs, and Hares, Foxes and Conies yea Cats and Mice, getting up to the tops of some Hills dispensed at that time with their Antipathies, remaining peaceably together, without sign of fear, or any violence one toward [...] another. My Readers thoughts will doubtless anticipate me in th [...] application of this strange passage. Our want of love hath cut th [...] banks and let in an inundation of Calamities upon us, and a more fearful flood of judgments is yet expected; and will not such publick dangers yet cause us to depose our private Differences? shall we act below Dogs Cats, and Foxes? shall we prefer private revenge before common safety? If so, I much doubt God will still us, and part the fray in a more terrible manner then most think of. I doubt it may be said of us ere long, as he said who saw the dead carcasses of Enemies that had been slain in a duel lie quietly together, as if they had embraced each other, quanta amicitia se invicem amplectantur, qui mutua implacabili in m [...]citia perierunt? How lovingly do they embrace each other being dead, who perished through their mutual and implacable enmity? how justly may the Lord sweep away this generation of Professors, and raise up others in their room who will agree, and love one another better?

What shall I say more? If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any bowells and mercies fulfill ye my joy; that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one acccord and of one mind Phil. 2.12.

Strive day & night with God by importunate prayers, for the prevention of those eminent judgments▪ but strive no more one with [Page] another, no more of that work I pray. O 'tis a thousand pities to see the sheep [...] [...]rist to push and go [...]e each other.

Non Secu [...] ac

Cum duo conversis inimica in prelia tauri

Frontibus incurrent —

O rather put out as the Elect of God, bowels of mercy and compassion; let the [...]ople of God be but once heartily united, and then Rome do thy worst. Associ [...]te [...]out selves, O ye people, and you shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all [...] of far Countrys: gird your selves, and ye shall be broken in pieces: take [...]ounsel together, and it shall come to nought: speak the word, and it shall [...]ot stand: for God is with us.

[...]ye day and night at the throne of Grace, interceeding with God for your [...]ves, and for the Nation. What Mr. P [...]rkids said of his times, it i [...] no less sui [...]le to these, Non sunt istae litigandi, sed orandi tempora: these are not times for [...]tention, but Prayer: This will be a good omen of mercy and deliverance at [...]nd: we may say of the spirit of Prayer, as Christ said of the budding of the [...]-tree, Mat. 24. when ye see the Fig-tree and all the trees of the field put forth [...]nder leaves, ye know that Summer is nigh. So the reviving and budding forth the spirit of Prayer is a sign that Salvation is nigh? The Psalmist knew the [...]ne to favour Sion was come, and that God would arise and have mercy upon [...], because he found a spirit of compassion and prayer for Sion poured out, [...]s. [...]2.13.14. When the decree for judgment is gone forth, and God will not be [...]pt, he usually shuts up aud straitens the spirits of praying ones, Jer. 7.16. he ne [...]r shuts out prayer till the case become desperate and [...]emediless: Jer. 15.1. O [...]ds, great is the efficacy of prayer. prayer will rain all your enemies: David [...] up but one petition against Achitopnel, 'Lord turn the councel of Achitopnel into foolishness, and it ruined both him and his design. 2 Sam. 15.3. Prayers [...]nd tears will do more then Guns or swords. 2 chron. 14 9.

O be not discouraged, because you presently see not the effects and returns of [...]ur Prayers: your prayers are heard though their answers be suspended, and [...] confident in due time they shall be answered also. O how many millions of [...]ayers are upon the file in Heaven, as a Memor [...]al before God upon this accoun [...] [...]ot a good man all the world over but joins with you in this cry, Lord, raze the [...]oundations of Antichrist, pull down Babylon, and build up Sion. Yea; the pray [...]s of thousands, who are now in heaven, are yet to be answer'd in that matter [...] or though we may say of their persons as the Church speaks of Abraham, they [...]now us not: yet me may say of their prayers as the Church speaks of Abel, though [...]ey be dead, their prayers are not dead, they live, and yet speak. O then stir up [...]our selves to take hold o [...] God, weep and make supplication.

Two things exceedingly discourage our spirits in prayer, great guilt in u [...], and [...]ng delayes of answers from God: against both these, shé Lord hath laid up encouragements and sweet support [...] in the word▪ are we undèr great guilt? have we abused mercies? so did Israel, Ps. 106.7.8.16.17 18.19.28. Yet mercy comes tri [...]mphing over all their unworthiness with a non obstante, ver. 44. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction when he heard their cry. What though England like Israel be a polluted Nation: yet Israel hath [...]ot be [...]n forsaken, nor Judah of his Go [...]: though their land was filled with sin against the holy one of Israel, Jer. 515. or doth God exercise your faith and patience by delaying the returns of praye [...]? so that you are [...]eady to look at your prayers as lost. See another Nevertheless in that ca [...]e to raise [...] your hearts and hopes. Psal. 31.22. I said in my hast, I am go [...] off from before thine[Page]eyes: Nevertheless, thou heardest the voice of my supplication when I cryed unto th [...] Up therefore every one in whom is the spirit of prayer, pour out your hearts b [...] fore him in this time of common danger, your God will hear you: but if you [...] speechless now, 'tis a sad forerunner of death, and National ruin.

3. COUNSEL.

Prepare your selves for the worst, that if times should alter (for there are cha [...]ges in the right hand of the Most High) yet your hearts may not be turned ba [...] nor your steps decline from those paths of truth and holiness wherein you ha [...] been engaged.

O cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart, and when fiery trials come (whe [...] of most serious and considering Christians are in a trembling expectation) [...] do not basely dissert Christ in open field. To do evil (saith Metellus) where the [...] is neither pain nor danger, is easie and common; but to do good in the face [...] danger is vertuous and truly noble. It was the saying of a Martyr to his Perse [...] tors, Though you pluck my heart out of my bowels, yet you shall never pluck the tr [...] out of my heart. O how is Christ honoured, enemies daunted, and your Souls cured by your Constancy in a time of danger! hold fast what you have recei [...] and though, you lose your Heads, yet save your Crowns. it was a resolute [...] noble saying of Luther, when hard put to it to defend the Truth of Christ aga [...] so many Enemies. Ego Martinus Lutherus, &c. ‘I Martin Luther an unwor [...] Preacher of the Gospel of Christ, do believe and hold, that this Article, [...] That we are justified before God, by faith alone without works shall never [...] overthrown neither by Roman Caesar, nor by the Turk, Tartar-Persian, Pope, [...] all his Cardinals Priests, and Monks, Kings, Princes, Potentates, and all the [...]vils in Hell, will they, nill they, shall leave me this Article unshaken.’

Brethren, I much doubt the wantonness, Scepticisme, and contentions of [...] Professors of the age, have so weakned the Authority and Reputation of Religi [...] in the world, that God will once more call for Christian blood to seal his Tru [...] and convince the world that there is reality in Godliness. And if it should co [...] to that: I even tremble to think what shrinking will be among Professors. [...] prevent which, all that I shall add shall be in these two words. 1. See the gro [...] you stand on be good. I do not speak of the Cause, for it is beyond dispute [...] most glorious cause that was ever sealed by the blood of any Witness: but [...] your Condition. O see that be good also! look to it that you die in, as well [...] for the faith, are you upon sure and safe grounds, as to your eternal state? if [...] but that you be still dubious, its time to make both sure and quick work. 2. Sta [...] your ground, he deserves to be hanged in everlasting chains in Hell, that relinq [...]shes such a Cause, and such a Christ on earth. Christian, I would fain know, h [...] thou canst imagine to close up thy life more honourably, or more comfortab [...] then by offering it up in defence of the precious truths of Christ against his b [...] and blaspheming enemies? the very Heathens heated with love to their Coun [...] have made many brave and bold adventures for it, and will you shrink?Eph. 16.13 ‘O [...] unto you the whole Armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the [...]vil day; and having done all, to stand.’

FINIS.

[Page]

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Title statement

Tydings from Rome: or, Englands alarm Wherein several grounds to suspect the prevalency of the popish interest are seasonably suggested; Londons ruine pathetically lamented; arguments to disswade from the popish religion, are urged; and the duties of Christians in this time of common danger, and distraction, perswaded.

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1667

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A62534

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Wing T1160

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ESTC R11783

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— Tydings from Rome: or, Englands alarm Wherein several grounds to suspect the prevalency of the popish interest are seasonably suggested; Londons ruine pathetically lamented; arguments to disswade from the popish religion, are urged; and the duties of Christians in this time of common danger, and distraction, perswaded.,

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[s.n.],. London :: printed in the year, 1667.. (Tightly bound; some print faded.) (Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.)

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