The Court hath not onely euery corner, but publicke walkes filled with Papiſts, and Hiſpaniolized temporiſers. And what did they? appeare in ſeuerall diſguiſed formes, and their corrupt hearts taught their tongues to vent forth blaſphemy, and notori-abuſes: For as you read how Ieremy was taken by his enemies, and brought before the Princes and Prieſts for weakning the hands of the men of warre, and daunted their hearts that wiſhed well to the peace of Zion: So played theſe impoſturing ſpirits, charming all men with ſuch ſubtilties. What? the houſe Auſtria to be checked, and the Emperour of Germany to be affronted with petty rebels? beleeue it not it is impoſſible, take heed, how you aduenture in ſuch a buſineſſe; you ſee how hee preuailes, and no forces can reſiſt him. What? the Arch-Dutches to be mated with ſuch inferiors, traytors, rebells, and mechanicke vpſtarts? Neuer ſpeake it for ſhame: For at this inſtant they are no leſſe then foure mighty armies, 60000 men ready to deuoure theſe one night Muſhrumps, and ſetting vpon their territories in foure places at once, make a fatall ruine of all their fortunes and hopes in a moment.

What? Spaine to be threatned with warre, and intruſions of hoſtillity? Who is able to couer the Viena, as Xerxes once did the Helleſpont, with a numberleſſe, and inuincible Armado, to ſet vpon the Iland of Brittany as a Conqueror: to trouble Ireland with an army of 20000: to infeſt Scotland, and ouerrun it at pleaſure, and to make England to tremble with the multitude of his forces, and yet dare you talke of warre and aſſiſting the Low-Countries? But now God be thanked, Papiſtry ſhall be ſuppreſſed, the Prieſts and Ieſuits baniſhed, and theſe mighty Buls of Baſſan either haue their hornes ſawed off, or their chaps mufled, and what an alteration is heere?

Oh let vs then giue thankes vnto God, and confeſſe his mercy is beyond our apprehenſion, and his benefits are an Ocean in compariſon of our duty, ſtanding poole of deſeruing. And ſeeing the King is ſo gracious to looke vpon vs like a faire mouing Planet, in a conſpicuous Orbe, from whoſe influence can proceede nothing but ſweet preſages: Seeing our Parliament is ſo religiouſly Honorable, to ſound the foord of Spaines proiects, and their funtries haſſard by colluſion, and halting betweene two opinions: with the plummets of true Wiſedome, and Zeale to the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt: Seeing our Clergy are ſo indulgent ouer Gods Church, that they will not ſuffer either the wild Bore of the Forreſt to trample downe the hedges, or little Foxes to deſtroy the Grapes, but are willing that Iehoydas filthy garments may be taken away, and a crowne of pure Gold ſet vpon his head, ſeeing the people are prepared to call and haſten one another to go vp to the Temple of the Lord; and rather then Ruben ſhall rayſe a heape of ſtones like an Alter, to put the people in feare of Idolatry, they are ready to arme with their brethren, and examine how the matter ſtands, let euery man exhillerat himſelfe, and cry out: Why art thou cast downe ô my ſoule, and why art thou diſquieted within me? hope thou in God, for I ſhall yet praiſe him, he is the health of my countenance, and my God: So then if Papiſtry ſhall be ſuppreſſed, the Prieſts and Ieſuites baniſhed, and our enemies, both Forraine and Domeſticke ouer-reached: let God haue the glory, the Prince the honor, the Parliament the commendation, the people the comfort, the Country the benefit, and euery true hearted Chriſtian ſing Iopaean, and Epithalamians to Iehouah.

Marke the difference betweene flouriſhing Kingdomes through the bleſſing of reformation, and aduiſe of good gouernours, and the fearefull diſtraction of Common-wealths, where irreligion and indirect courſes ouer-maiſter: While the ambition of Athalia was predominant ouer her affection, and driue her head-long to al voſcenity and tyranny, ſhe committed idolatry, ſhe neglected the houſe of God, ſhe defiled the Alter, ſhe deſtroyed the ſeed-royal, ſhe vſurped the Diadem, and diſturbed the peace of Iuda and Iſrael: But when Iehoas was miraculouſly preſerued and inſtructed by Iehoiada: Athalia is ſlaine: Iehoaſh doth that which is right in ſight of God, the Prieſts repaire the Temple, the Alters are cleanſed, the Common-wealth reformed, and the whole Country reſetled in order; and was not this a great alteration?

In the ſtory of Manaſſes, and Ammon his ſonne, you ſhall finde theſe imputations of wickedneſſe caſt vpon them by the Holy Ghoſt: Hee did that which was euill in the ſight of the Lord, hee liued after the abhominations of the Heathen, hee reared vp Alters for Baal, he offred incenſe to the Hoſt of Heauen, he made his ſonne paſſe through the fire, he vſed enchauntments, obſerue • times, and dealt with familiar ſpirits, and wrought much wickednes before the Lord: But when Ioſiah came to raine, and was inſtructed how? he feared God, and liued vprightly, he cleanſed and repayred the Temple: he commanded the booke of God to be read, hee rent his cloathes as ſtrucken with compunction of ſoule, he made a couenant with God to obſerue his teſtimonies, hee put downe all the offices of Baal, and the groues dedicated vnto him: Hee ſlew his Prieſts, he ſolemnized the Paſſeouer, and he performed the words of the Law, which were written in the Booke; and was not this a great alteration?

Thus is it betweene the gouernment of Spaine and England, eſpecially the contrariety of Religion, and diuerſity of ſeruing God, betweene Papiſts and Proteſtants: the Papiſts both in Spaine and in England, commit blaſphemous idolatry, are poluted with inceſts and fornication, derogate from the Honor of God, to attribute adoration to creatures, paſſifieth himſelf in the Laborynth of aequiuocation: Diſſemble with God, their owne ſoules, and all that deale with them, care not by what meanes or treachery they compaſſe their owne ends, deny Chriſts preſence in Heauen, a maine article of Faith, extenuate the power of the God-head, by allowing a dyety to Creatures, and an inuocation to Diuells. Firſt, they haue made many Saints that are paſſed downe to Hell: Allow of murther and monſtrous impiety, and in a word, are poyſoned with the dregs of abhomination, wherewith the whore of Babilon hath filled her cup.

The true Proteſtant and zealous Chriſtian alloweth God the preheminence of all adoration, will by • o meanes blaſpheme with idolatrous exorciſmes, deteſteth whoredome, and all inceſtuous Leproſie, defieth the participation of Gods glory to murther, ſimply and plainly contriueth his affaires, and keepeth his word, though it be to his owne hinderance, intermeddles not with matters of ſtate, except hee be called to place of eminency, is with Anna praying in the Temple, and continually reioyceth in the conuerſation of Gods ſeruants, and maketh the Church the ſanctuary of his ſoule, in a word, is ruled by the directory of Gods word, and neither dare abuſe the Maieſty of Princes by inter-iecting a iealouſie and ſuſpition betweene the Prince and the ſubiect, nor runne away with the deceit of his owne heart, in preſuming to be more holy then his brethren, or preiudging others either maliciouſly, or fooliſhly: And is not this a great alteration? And is not this cauſe enough to compell vs to thanke God, and acknowledge his mercy and kindneſſe, that our King and Parliament would goe and buy eye-ſalue without money, perſpicuouſly to looke into the enormities of the Church and Common-wealth, and not onely with Nehemiah, abridged the extreamity of vſury: compelled a relaxation of debts and oppreſſion, kept and ſanctified the Sabbaoth,Nehemiah 13. droue the Merchants and ſellers of meate out of the City, and at laſt put away their idolatrous wiues: but alſo would not ſuffer the Ammonites and Moabites to come into Gods Temple, but enforced them to baniſhment out of Ieruſalem.

For as you read how Iacob after his returne from Laban cleanſed his houſe of the idols: ſo did Nehemiah in deſpight of Eliaſhib the Prieſt, who had allied himſelfe to Tobiah a ſtranger and idolater, put him from his lodging, and caſt out all the ſtuffe out of his chamber, which in the text is likewiſe called cleanſing, and thus thankes be to God, our great Nehemiah dealt with the Papiſts, hee hath not onely thought them as prickes and thornes in the ſides of good Chriſtians: but now found them as noyſome and infectious weedes in the Common-wealth, to choake and eate vp the ſweeter Flowers, and ſpringing graſſe; and thus hath the Church of God example enough in Scripture to be an enemy to Gods enemies, and fall to reformation with courage and magnamity.

Shall ſuch a man as I flye, (ſayth Nehemiah) ſhall ſuch a King as I, (ſayth King Iames), that haue been trayned vp from my infancy to deny Popery, and for my Kingdome of Scotland, a very nurſery of zealous profeſſors, and mirrour of purity and piety, ſuffer England to be defiled and contaminated with the poyſon of ſuperſtition; & now I haue recollected my ſelfe, ſhall I giue way to rotten and filthy policy, to eate vpon the heart of true Religion, or ſuffer priuate ends to thicken themſelues, like ſome obſcure and dangerous cloud, to ſtand as an interpoſition betweene the Sunny ſplendor of Gods word, and the faire progreſſe of gouerment: No, No? I will now be my ſelfe, and therefore if either the Pope or Spaine deride me with Michol for dancing before the Arke, and bringing it in into Gods houſe: I will anſwere with Dauid, I will yet bee more vilde and zealous for the Lord; and as he told his wife, that therefore God had taken the Kingdome from her father, and inueſted him with the Diadem, ſo may King Iames anſwere Spaine, that therefore God will make him mighty in his Prouinces, in deſpight of malignant oppoſition, and England ſhall not be only able to ſtand firme, like an impregnable rocke in all honor, riches, and proſperity: but of ſufficiency to protect diſtreſſed neighbours, and recouer vnfortunate and ſurrepted Prouinces: Therefore away yee Prieſts and Ieſuites, packe hence for your liues; and let me not heare any further of your daring impoſtures, and you that will remaine Papiſts, and with the Adder ſtoppe your eares, that charme the Charmer neuer ſo cunningly, hee ſhall not preuaile ro remoue you, take heede and bee warned, that you liue modeſtly in your wilfulneſſe, neither daring to breake our ſtatutes againſt thoſe Locuſts of Rome, nor to inſult your ſelues, or be offenſiue to any ciuill conuerſaſion by the wrong defence and ſupportation of Romes corrupted Doctrine: For I proteſt vnto you by the faith of a Religious King, I take a pleaſure in hearing, what God ſayd to Abraham: For I know him, that he will command his children,Geneſis 18.19 and his houſhold after him, and they ſhall keepe the way of the Lord to doe iuſtice and iudgment, that the Lord may bring vpon Abraham that which hee hath ſpoken vnto him: And therefore as I am Gods ſubſtitute in the ſupreame royalty, ſo will I be his inſtrument in the practiſe of this reformation, neither ſuffring any Papiſt whatſoeuer to haue the vſe of Idolatrous maſſes, nor to bring vp their owne Children in the eimerian darkneſſe of ignorance, and diueliſh deuotion: For the Apoſtle tells vs plainely,Coloſ. 2. that the tormenting the body, worſhipping of Angells, obſeruing of Dayes, and many fooliſh humiliations, likewiſe denying of lawfull marriage, and forbidding of meates, and cellebrating of ſuperſtitious times, are all the doctrines of the Diuell: and is not this joy to England, and how are our hearts cheered, as you read of the Iſraelites, that in the time of Salomon reioyced with one another, and made merry eating and drinking vnder ther owne Vines.

Thus ſhall wee ſee the backes of our aduerſaries, and by Gods ſpeciall fauour and grace the baniſhment of Prieſts, and Ieſuits: But yee Maieſtrates of the Common-wealth? let them not immitate the Iſraelites in this,Exod 40. to rob the Egyptians in their departure out of Egypt? Let them not exporte our treaſures, nor enrich other Countries with our ſpoyles: Let not your Ladies beſtow their iewels and ornaments vpon them: For though they could be contented to loue them with gratuities and preſents, yet muſt the Common-wealth reſerue ſome ſecrets of State, not to be impoueriſhed by the lauiſh gifts of thoſe, that vnderſtand not the Miſtery of carying wealth out of the Land, or conſuming our ſiluer in trifles, let none of their houſes bee furniſhed with thoſe remnants of gew-gawes, wherein the ancient idolaters excelled them in be decking their idols, I meane their meduies, crucifixes, relickes of ſaints, the wood of the Croſſe, the milke of our Lady, and a thouſand ſuch like trumperies fit for nothing but toyes to play with all, as Apes do with Nut-ſhells: For as you read how the children of Iſrael were tainted with the groſſe ſuperſtition of Egypt: ſo muſt needes the tender hearts of your women be captiuated with the reſeruation of theſe things: Let your Purſeuants and Officers a Gods name be the reſearchers of ſuſpected places, that the very children, which as yet, know no harme, may be ſent to the Schooles of the children of the Prophets, and by that meanes learne to liue in the feare of God, and dye in his fauour: Let the potent men be diſarmed a Gods name, not to giue them cauſe to thinke the better of themſelues, as if they were to be feared, or reputed dangerous and polliticke: but as you take kniues and other hurtfull things from madde men to preuent miſchiefe, that they neither endanger others, nor themſelues: In a word, let all good orders be obſerued, and a faſhionable body of a religious Common-Wealth erected, that his Maieſties perſon may bee ſecured, the Prince and his Siſter protected and pleaſed, the honeſt neighbours ſubtenated with care and dilligence, out owne Country flouriſhing with proſperity and confidence, the poore releeued, the trades reſtored, the City repayred, the Merchant countenanced, the ſouldiers eſteemed, the Clergy-man beloued, the well deſerued reuerenced, the weake ſupported, the obſtinate ſinner puniſhed, the offender through frailty remitted, and all iuſtifiable actions practiſed to the glory of God, and comfort of our own ſoules.

Then if there be cauſe of warre,Exodus 15.1. and ſo ſucceſſe fallen, Moſes and Iſrael ſhall ſing a ſong of Triumph to the Lord; and Miriam the Propheteſſe ſhall take a Timbrell in her hand, and all the women goe after her with Timbrels and Dances: Then if there be the flouriſhes of peace, and that Salomon hath finiſhed the Temple of God, and his owne houſe, he will preſent himſelfe before the Lord,1 Kings 8.22.9 and kneele to his prayers, ſpredding foorth his hands toward Heauen: And then to conclude both in war and peace ſhall England confeſſe to the Lord. What is man, that thou ſhouldeſt thinke vpon him, or the ſonne of man, that thou wilt remember him? and ſo prayſe the Lord in his Sanctuary, and in the firmament of his power: prayſe him in his mighty acts, and according to the excellency of his greatneſſe, prayſe him for thinking vpon vs, euen in this particular of ſuppreſſing Papiſtry, and baniſhing the Prieſts and Ieſuites.

I will meddle with no matter of State, nor aduenture traducing for ſelfe loue, or aduiſing others more wiſer then my ſelfe, but keepe cloſe to the ſhore of this one ſpeciall obſeruation: Let the aduerſaries of religion ſay what they can to accuſe a Proteſtant of one murther, whereas God and the World knowes, that not onely the turbulencies of Europe haue beene blowne vp with popiſh breath, and ſufflation of Conſiſtorian Cardinals: but the fearefull ſlaughters of Princes haue beene audaciouſly proſecuted, eyther by Friers and Prieſts, or ſuch inſtruments, whom the peſtilent Ieſuites haue ſeduced: what ſtate then in the world (eſpecially our reformed Churches, if there were no other cauſe then this affrighting, would endure then in the gouernment, and therefore now this muſt needes be a happineſſe to England, that at this inſtant ſuch a mercy floweth toward vs, as a Proclamation againſt them.

How Geneua hath continued, and groaned vnder the preſſure of many difficulties, yea, endured diuers aſſaults of whole armies, and volleies of ſhot, from the mounted Cannons againſt her; and yet was neuer any attempt made vpon the Duke of Sauoy, and her aduerſaries by her procurement, or ſuggeſtion, is well knowne to the world.

In all thoſe bloody maſſacres of France, and terrors of the ciuell warre, what one miſchiefe was euer conceiued againſt the perſons of their Kings, and who durſt lay hands on the Lords Annoynted? In that fiery triall in the dayes of Queene Mary, when the rages of Papiſts made them more furious, then a Beare robbed of her Whelpe: What one Proteſtant ſlipped out of the circle of obedience, to put her in ſuſpition of her life, yea it is well knowne, that the Proteſtants of Suffolke aduanced her to the Crowne though they were the firſt that felt the effect of her ingratitude: In all the troubles of Germany, and exactions vpon the free Cities, how ſecurely did the Emperors goe on concerning their owne perſons, and when did you read of a Pope ſlaine, but as they poyſoned one another. I will name but one thing in the Low-Countries, and that is the pride and cruelty of the Duke of Alua; ſo that if euer an excuſe might haue beene made for taking away a Tyrants life, it might here in ſome action or other haue receiued a iuſtifiable forme, and yet Alua liued without touch, and practiſed all manner of wickedneſſe without controule: whereas on the contrary ſide in theſe Countries formerly mentioned, there hath bin a 1000 ſeuerall murthers committed vpon the bodies of publicke and priuate perſons, or at leaſt proſecuted with reſolution to be actuated vpon aduantage by popiſh Prieſts, Ieſuites, and their Officiall, and Miniſters: Is it not high time then to baniſh them our Common-wealth, or doe as we haue done (and ſo it ſhall be no new matter or deuiſe of puniſhment) euen hang them vp at Tyborne, or detrude them into the houſe of ſlaughter, where Iuſtice is predominant.

Marke for Gods ſake, marke the ſecrets of good husbandry, he that meanes to till and manure a woddy ground, muſt leaue no ſtumps within touch, leaſt he breake his plow in the labour, and ſee freſh ſciences and ſprigs to ſprout vp to choake the corne: the beſt way then is to ſtocke vp roote and tinde, and follow the picke-axe with a ſpade, that the ground may bee throughly ſearched indeede; and ſo muſt England doe with this brood of Vipers, eyther pull out their ſtings, or chap them in peeces: For ſo were the Prieſts of Baal ſerued at ſeuerall times, and in ſeuerall places by Gedeon, Iohn, Elias, Ioſias, and other godly Prieſts and Princes: but ſeeing this good beginning of our gracious and iudicious King, in the quenching the ſmoake of theſe fire-brands, which in time would eyther haue blinded our eyes, or put them cleane out, hath cheered our hearts, and powred the balme of Gilead into our wounds, let him haue the glory of his owne handy-worke, and England the joy, and ſo both he, England, and euery true Chriſtian retribute all poſſible thankes to the ancient of dayes, whoſe haires are as white as wooll, and eyes as a flame of fire; and to the voyce that commandeth vs out of Babylon, leaſt we be deſtroyed in her abhominations: For Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great City; becauſe ſhe made all the nations drinke of the Wine of the wrath of her Fornication.