FEaring God and the King are Duties inseparable. Indeed all the Commands are so chain'd together, that he who loosens but a single link, dissolves the whole chain; who transgresseth one, is guilty of all. For tho they were wrote in two distinct Tables, and distributed under ten heads, or words, (as the Jewish Docters speak) by God himself; yet his Authority, being the soul which quickned them, (like the soul anima­ting the several members of the body; gave them all but one common life and being: So that a particular violation of one, becomes of acces­sity an universal destruction to all. And as the Commands, so our obli­gations to observe them are connext; if not after that manner as Zeno affirm'd all virtues were, (who promiscuously confounded them toge­ther:) yet so, as Ch [...]ysippus hath explain'd that Stoical Doctrine, That a man could not be truly Brave without the conduct of Prudence; nor [Page 2] Prudent, without attending to Justice; nor Just, without the regulation of Temperance: So in like manner, a man cannot be piously affected to­wards God, without being honestly affected towards Men; cannot ex­press his Love towards the one (in the instances belonging to him,) with­out shewing it towards the other, in all points which concern them; and he who pretends to the former: And neglects the latter, proclaims himself a liar.

The reason of this is plain and obvious, because if I perform the first from a right principle, out of conscience of my duty towards God requi­ring it; the same principle will engage me to do the second, because he demands that likewise. And on the other side, if the motive of my love to my fellow Creature man, be his bearing the image of God, I cannot but love and reverence that God, who fashion'd him after his own like­ness.

And as there is no dividing, so there is no commuting of duties; our zeal in one kind, will not make attonement for our remisness in another; our Piety for Injustice.

But tho'all the commands are inseparably conjoyn'd, yet there is a clo­ser and more indissoluble union between these two particular ones of [...]earing God and the King, by how much Kings are more lively expressions of God's Majesty and Power, than ordinary images (other men) are. The wise Man hath here mention'd them as one command; and St. Peter too, even while he useth two words for them, Fear and Honour, Fear God, Honour the King, for this honouring the King [...] Pet. 2. 17. is the same act, as fearing of him, or expressive of it. And Kings for their nearer and exacter resemblance of him, are adorn'd with his title, wear his name, and have Psal. 82. 6. Joh. 10. 34. Exod. 22. 28. his stile given them by Himself; I have said Ye are Gods: and again, Thou shalt not ourse the Gods..

From this strict alliance and union of these two com­mands, arising out of the near resemblance between the persons, God and the King, and the Majesty of the one, and Soveraignty of the other; it is made as impossible to adore God, and not revere the King, who repre­sents him; as it is to honour the King, and cast all the contumely we can upon his Lieutenants, or Vice-Roys, commission'd by him.

And of necessity it follows, that Subjects withdrawing their Obedience from their Such was and is James the Second. Lawful Prince, is a deny­ing the Authority of God, a shaking off His Government from his Shoulders, a laying Him aside, that he should [Page 3] not reign over The people of England. Them. They have not rejected Thee, but Me, that I should not reign over them, 1 Sam. 9. 7.

Treason against the King, is a kind of Sacriledge; a Revolt from Him, an Apostacy from God; a Resisting Him, an Opposing God; Rebelling against Him, Fighting with God; the Is not this the case in England. Setting up a counterfeit Prince against the True One, an intro­ducing a plurality of Godheads; the Obeying of an Usurper, Idolatry; the slandering His Annointed and his Footsteps, a Blaspheming God; the blaming His Conduct, a Quarrel­ling with Providence.

And as we cannot Fear God, the Supreme Potentate, without Honour­ing the Subordinate, who bears His Image and Superscription; so we cannot Honour this last as we should, without Fearing the former as we ought: We cannot revere the Copy of Divinity transcrib'd in the King, without revering the Original, the Deity, front whom His power came, any more than we can have a veneration for the picture of a man, and none for his person. We cannot be for maintaining the Prerogative, while we are clipping the wings of his Power, &c.

There is no bearing true Faith and Allegiance to our King, when we do it not to our God; no being loyal Subjects to the One, while we are downright Traytors to the Other. The reason of this is clear, because the honouring and obeying our Prince should proceed from a Religion towards God; a conscientious regard to his Authority, exacting the pay­ment of both these; which if they do not, they are false and spurious, wanting the true and genuine Parent (a right principle I mean) for their production, and must needs be English Loyalty. sickle and inconstant, for not being grounded upon a sure and standing bottom: So that when an Inviting Occasion offers, of promoting our interest to greater advantage, of serving our ambition with better success, than by Honouring or Obeying our King; or of Gratifying Malecontents or disgusted Lords? our Revenge, of Wreaking our Malice, then these are forgot and withdrawn. Or last of all, when by a declination in the state of affairs He is grown too weak, to compel Us to render these, Baxter's Holy Common Wealth, Thes. 137. then we not only deny the payment of them, but ju­stify it too. Then maxims of humane Wisdom, the most contrary to these precepts of the Divine, are broach'd by Us. That the King is not God's Minister, but the Peoples [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 4] Servant; and as theirs, stands accountable to them for his misdemeanors; That his Power being a Trust only from, and for them, is revokable at their pleasure and discretion, and they may justly reseize it into their own hands, and for their own behoof, when they see it is not administred for their good; That wicked, and irreligious Princes (and all are such whom They please to brand with those marks) have actually for­feited their Crown and Dignity to them: And then Too lately in England. Practices squar'd, or rather deform'd by these enormous rules, are set on foot too; seditious Clubs and Cabals are erected; Illegal Associations form'd, and entred into; Secret Conspiracies hatch'd; next Open Insurrections raised against them; and last of all, Uillanous Assas­sinations, &c.

A disdainfull pride swell'd Dathan, Abiram and On, Sons of Reuben (and so of the eldest House) to see that power Numb. 16, 8, 13, 14. lodg'd in Moses and Aaron's hands, which by right of Pri­mogeniture, they imagin'd belong'd to them; Ambition seduc'd Absolom, the Peoples Guil. And Revenge for be­ing 2. Sam. 15. removed from his great Charge, and drove into Exile by Solomon, inflam'd Jereboam into Rebellion under the 1 Kings 11. 28. 40. Reign of his Son. And every one of these either forsook God afore they did such is the King. Their Lawfull G [...]vernours, or Else Renounc'd them and disclaim'd him together: The Sedi­tious Reubenites were engag'd in a Schism against God, at the same time as they were up in Mutiny against their Ru­lers; joyn'd themselves to Corah, a Levite, who had Usurp'd the Priest's Office, in Burning Incense before the Lord, which apper­tain'd not to him. Absolom had his hands imbrewed in 2 Sam. 13. 28. his Brother Amon's blood before he lifted them up a­gainst his Prince and Father, and Jereb [...]am, to 1 Kings 12. 27. 28. strengthen himself in his unjust acquisitions, made a Change in the Worship; to continue the rend in State, by winding it; He made a Rupture in Religion. To defend his Rebellion, he set up Idolatry, two Calves at Dan and Bethel.

And to manifest that we fear God and honour the King, We ought not to meddle with those that are given to Change: And this The Bishops. We may do, either by approving the Projects of Lords Tem­poral▪ Men Designing a Change, or by actually endea­vouring One our selves; and the concerning our selves ei­ther [Page 5] way is unlawfull: And first, the approving a Change Ren­ders Us as equally Guilty, as if we had brought it about; for it is consenting to a Crime, which derives all the malignity of it upon who has been to blame. Us; the External Commission of it being only the owning of that to the World, which we had before per­petrated within our selves: Cataline was not less a Conspi­rator, and an Enemy to Rome, when he sat in Consultation within its Walls, by what methods and parties its frame and constituti­on were to be subverted, than when he took the Feild, and Usurping the Ensigns and Badges of Consulship he joyn'd with C. Mallius: And a man may be as compleat a Rebell as he was, without taking up Arms against the Government, meerly by justifying the Lawfullness of so doing, a Traytor Why did not the Lords Spiri­tual abhor, or disown the P. of O. Declaration as the King re­quired them. by Giving a Favourable Ear to Dvertures tending that way; deep dy'd in the Blood of his Prince, by being con­scious to a design of Sheding it; or all over Coal-black with foul Poyson, which he hath neither prepared nor mingled, by being Privy only to an intention of Ad­ministring it.

And as we are Guilty in the Courts of Heaven, and our own Conscien­ces, of a Treason or Conspiracy, which hath once gain'd out likeing, tho We proceed not to Execution; Let every Xian Man in England consider this. so we may by the Law of State be justly Punish'd for the same, if that could be prov'd: For although it might be hard, it was not unjust, when a Noble-man of Normandi was Arrested and Condemned of Treason by the Judges of the Parliament of Paris, For an Intention to kill Francis the first, which he himself disclosed as a Crime he repented of, and for which he craved the Comfort of Absolution.

And secondly the endeavouring a Change plungeth the person (tho he be drawn in by the Artifice of others) over head and ears in guilt, im­merseth him as deep in it as the first Contriv [...] and hottest promoters of it: For it matters not to the aba [...]ement of that, what time he engag'd in it, or whether after engagement he was active or supine in prosecuting it; nor is it any what meanes he chooseth to effect it, whether fair or [...]ou [...] (as we usually distinguish) whether he be for Picking his way, or Resol­v'd to venture through Thick and Thin: And in a Crime of this Nature, there are no accessaries, but all are Principals

And further, to endeavour a Change, is contrary to the Duties, so oft [Page 6] [...] [Page 7] [...] [Page 6] and so earnestly pressed upon Us in Scripture, of not Touching God's Annointed; of being Sub­ject Psal. 105. 15. Rom. 13. à 1 ad 6. 1 Pet. 2. 13. 14. to the Higher Powers; of Submitting to eve­ry ordinance (of every one Constituted in Au­thority) whether to the King as Supreme, or unto Governours, as those that are sent [i. e.] Commissioned by him, For is not the Assassination of God's Annointed, contrary to the Command of not Touching him? Is not the Plucking down Kings or Rulers con­trary to the Precept of our Subjection and Submission to Them? Is not the endeavouring to Embroyl the Affairs of his or their Government op­posite to the Doctrine of living Peaceably under it? And are not these the Methods We pursue in Order to bring about a Change? And if they are, they cannot (with all the Allowance of Favour) be so Construed, as they may be reconcil'd with our Honouring Him or Them; for it may be as easily made out, that you may Smite Them with the Fist of Vio­lence, and not Touch them; Raise Combustions, and not meddle in their Affaires; as Salve the doing these with Honouring Them.

And if there have been Men among us; who have taken these Cour­ses, and yet have confidently, or rather Impudently stil'd themselves his Majesties most Loyal Subjects, They ought to prove the before mentio­ned Texts are to be expounded backward, and shew us they have found out the Misterious Art of Salving Contradictions; of making Light and Darkness, Order and Confusion dwell together; Peace and War salute and kiss each other, or Else leave us at Liberty to dis-believe Their Pro­fessions, when we see Their Practices.

Again, the Endeavouring a Change is contrary to the duty of Praying for the safety of our Go­vernours, Jer. 29, 7. Baruch 1, 11. 1 Tim: 2. 1, 2. and the Prosperity of their Goverment a point which the Iews were commanded to do, for the Peace of Babilon, and the Lives of Nebuchadnezzar and Bal­tazar his Son, while they were Captives in that Place. And Christians are Commanded to do the like for Kings and all that are in Authority under Them, that they may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all Godliness and Honesty, (with this Recommendation) because its good and accep­table in the sight of God their Saviour: And which in the First and purest Ages of Christianity they form'd for their Emperours and Kings, re­spectively to their Religion, Their Opinions in it, their Natural dis­position, or their Carriage towards them, for their Heathen Persecutors, as Tertullian is a Competent Witness, Nos enim pro Salute Imperatorum [Page 7] Deum in [...]amus aternum, &c. Dein oramus pro Ominius Imperatoribus, vitam illis Prolixam, Imperium Securum, Domum tutam, Exercitus fortes, Senatum Fidelem, Poputum Probum, Orbem quieium, & quacunqn [...] ho­ [...]inis & Caesaris vota sunt; And so many Dioni [...]uis, bulgen­tius Theodoret, &c. others Testify.

To endeavour a Change, is most opposite to the tenour of the Gospel, and the frame of Christianity: The virtues That it inculcates, and This makes profession of, are, Contentedness in all Estates; Humility in the highest, Patience in suffering, Meekness in bearing, and Charity in for­giving injuries: Whereas Discontent, Pride, Ambition, Impatience, An­ger, Revenge, are the Passions and Vices which instigate men to endeavour revolutions in Government.

They affect Novelty, and therefore sit uneasy under the present Go­vernment, which will be always deem'd heavy, by men of such volatile and unquiet spirits. Militis aut pl [...]bis ingenium observat. Nec impositos un­quam cervice volen [...]i f [...]rre duces.

They love not a Constitution wherein Divine Providence hath an hand, and are for One of their Own setting up. This made the Israelites re­quest to have a King, like the rest of the Nations round about, when they were under a Thescracy, God reserving the Soveraignty in his own hands, but exercising the act of it by Samuel, 1 Sam. 8. 5.

Or They are dissatisfied with their station and place in the Govern­ment, as too low and mean for men of their abilities and merits; and suspecting they are not like to rise higher, or make themselves greater, in the present posture of affairs, are for disturbing them, as the probablest way to gain their point; or out of meer indignation to see themselves neglected (as they esteem) are for subverting it, tho they themselves be opprest with its fall.

Or if They stand high, they are displeas'd to see any above them, (for its the nature of Ambition not to look down, but up; not on those be­hind, but those before) and therefore they will unhinge the whole Frame, in hopes to get in their places; or tumble all down, so they may advance themselves.

Or They are Poor and Needy, and so would fain enrich themselves, tho' it be with the spoil of their Countrey, which they can never come to Ransack but in publick Commotions: Want engag'd Cateline and his Associates. And those in a Commonwealth who want Power or Riches will envy them who have; and out of meer anger or madness with their private Fortune, will desire and Labour to have the Publick State turn'd Topsie turvy. [Page 8] Or They like not the or Religion Disposition of their Governors; They are too Mild or too Severe, &c. Excesses of Princes are to be Born with, as we bear overmuch Drought, or Immoderate Rain; nor are vitious Princes always Succeeded by such, but the good Interpose and compensate for the bad; yet They will not expect time to assist them with this Remedy, but are for immediate discarding them, and going in guest of another of a more Sutable Temper, let the hazard of the Wild Goose chace be what it will; Ceri­alis Tacit. liest. l: 4. cap: 73: 74. ita loquitur, Quommodo Sterilitatem, aut nimios Imbres, & catera naturae mala, ita Luxum vel Avaritiam dominaan­tium tolerate, vitia erunt, donel homines, sed neque hac continua & meliorum interventu pensantur.

Or They have been digusted by them, because in the disposal of Hon­ours they have pass'd them over, or have not had that High Esteem for Them in words or actions: And to be Reveng'd for these neglects and af­fronts, they will Combine to Depase or Murther Them; And care not whether they confound Heaven and Earth in one common Chaos again, so be it They have their Revenge. Pausanius killed Phillip of Macedon, for advancing Attalas to the Government of a Province, instead of punish­ing him upon his Complaint for abusing his body; And Aruns brought the Goths into Italy, for having not Justice done him against Lucamon, who had defiled his Wife; Lucan Conspired with Piso and others against Nero's life for suppressing his Poem; Quinctianus, for Defaming him in Song; Maximus against Valentinian the third. Iulian (a noble-man of Spain) calls in the Moors thither to be even with Roderic for corrupting his Wife or Daughter; and even he was, for their Success put an end to his life, and the Gothique Race of Kings in that Country; Robert of Artois called the English into France, because a Suit of Law went against him; and Charles of Bourbon Rais'd up Charles the fifth against Francis the first, for the same reason; and Bodilus killed Chilpherick for ordering him to be Whipt as a punishment.

Or last of all their Villanies, have Render'd them Obnoxious to the Justice of the Government from which they have no way left of Saveing themselves, unless by committing the greatest, that of undermining and overthrowing it. The Philosopher wisely observ'd. Those who have don wrong usually fly to Sedition to protect them against punishment [...], Arist Pol. l. 5. c. 3 And the Histo­rian saith, that Men fling themselves into actual dangers, to secure them­selves against those they only fear, Imminentium periculum remedium ipsa [Page 9] pericula Arbitrati.

Thirdly, the methods which men usually take to bring about a change are extreamly Ill. The first of which is the devising and venting Lyes a­gainst their Governors; And this of slandering Princes and their Conduct, is generally the first step Seditious Incendiaries make in their progress to Rebellion. Absolom began his Rebellion so, telling the People their mat­ters were good and Right, but no man deputed of the King to hear them 2 Sam: 15. 34. In short Wicked men Malliciously spy out Faults where there are none, Aggravate those that are, and with alike greedi­ness and pleasure divulge them both, to weaken his Credit and Estimati­on with his people, They make invidious Constructions of his Designs; Odious Reflections on his Actions, and spread them abroad; which when they are grown the subject of common report, fill the Peoples minds with Fears and Jealousies, and so dispose them, as combustible matter soon takes fire, for Tumults and Insurrections. The spreading of false Rumours is to the multitude as Windes to the Sea, makes them Rage and Swell, lift up their voice and Rore, in the Elegant Expression of the Psalmist. Psalm. 46. 3. who otherwise; like that, smooth when not blown upon, would have lain still and calm: And by insensible degrees it tends to work this Effect, tho' the false news within few houres, dayes at farthest, can be disprov'd, for either the Refutation shall never reach so far as the lye went, or if it doth, that hath made too deep an Impression in Some to be erased; the Poyson of it hath wrought it self so far in, and lodg'd it self so throughly, that Truth is too weak an Anti­dote to Expell it.

The second method is near of kin to this; viz. False and Hypocriti­call pretences. They who Levell at the Government, always disguise those Aims with the fair and specious Colours of maintaining. Endan­ger'd Religion, Liberty and Property; while They have no sense of the first, intend to oppress the second and seise on the third; These are all such pleasing names in the Peoples Ears, that albeit no attempt towards a change can be made, without first violating Religion and its Commands of Subjection and Obedience; And it is always seen if that succeeds, that Liberty is afterwards crush'd, and property usurp'd: Yet as con­spiring Knaves never fail to make use of them; so nor Easy Fools to be charm'd and caught by them, and to contribute their assistance towards the distruction of them all in a change, for when that's Actualy come, then these cunning Contrivers of it are sure to bind the silly, giddy hel­pers of it forwards with Chains for Cords; and instead of an easy yoke [Page 8] [...] [Page 9] [...] [Page 10] to put an heavy burthensome Clogg about their Necks; for Enjoy'd or Promis'd Freedom, to entayl Slabery on them and their Posrerity: And And [...]ave the Impudenceat the same time to call this State of Oppression and Tyrany, an asserting the Privilidges of the Nation, and Restoring the People to their Birthright as The Romans when they had Seised on Kingdoms without Right, and wasted them with Fire and Sword, call'd that desolation Peace, Aufer [...]e, trucidare, rapere falsis nominibus Imperium atque ubi solitudinem fecerint pacem appellan [...] Miseriam servitutem falso pa­cem voca [...]ent. This is the Recompence, and a deserved one they meet with for their easiness in believing the pretences, and forwardness in Aid­ing them in their wicked Enterprises Absolom us d both these Colours; He complai [...]'d that the due course of Law was stop'd, and seem'd grieved that Justice did not freely flow in it's Channels, and promis'd withall to open them a passage, if he were made a Judge; That thery Man then who had a Suit, and would come unto him, should have right done him, 2. Sam. 15. And yet He Uiolated the Law of Nature in thus affecting the Soveranity, which was not to be had without killing, Dethroning or Commanding His Father And did not Jeroboam cover his Ambi­tion at first with a Zeal for the purity of Religion? And when he had Ʋsurp'd the Throne did he not infringe the Peoples liberties, and lay Heavier Taxes on the Revolted Tribes, than ever Solomon did? towards the Payment of the Soldiers and Garrisons it was necessary he should maintain for the holding of his Ill got Power; and those no doubt har­der to be paid, in his Divided and unquiet Ʋsurpation, than the same would have been under Solomon while the Kingdom stood En [...], and his Reign flowed with Peace and Wealth

The third method is Steaking through all Oaths they stand bound by, of bearing True faith and Allegiance to their Gove [...]nours; of discovering all Treasonable Designes and Practices against their Per­sons or Authority: Oaths in which They deposited with them the Rich­est pawn it was possible for them to stake down, and gave them the Strongest Security the others could Require of Their Fidelity and obedi­ence, viz. Their Salvation; Oaths in which They call'd God's Omnis­cence to witness their Engagements, and his Justice and Power to Re­venge The breath of them. And yet, as if They were no more to be held by them than Samson was with green wyths or new Ropes; Or as if Their Conscieuces were no more to be wounded by Perjury than the German Hard-men are by Sword and Sho [...], or last of all, as if They had a secret Receipe of being acquainted with Conspiracies, and not being in­fected with the Treason of them.

But if there were no breaking through Oaths, (and yet I believe there is scarce any form of Regiment in the world which takes not this kind os cautionary Bond from their Subjects) they must make Their way through all Natural Obligations to come at their end: for every man who is not born to Empire, antecedent to all Oaths and abstracting from the Force of all Humane Laws, is born with a Tye of duty and Obedience to the Government under which he was born; And he can no more Disolve change or Transfer this Obligation by a subsequent Protectation of his Obedience to a Prince or State, other than His Natural, than he could before he came into the World choose of what Parents he would descend the Country where, and the dominion under which he would make his Entrance into it.

And now suppose The Treason meet with all the Success the Con­spirators could wish, yet these Persons are oft, at the long Run, over­taken by vengeance, and exemplary punish'd in this World. Innumer­able Footsteps of this Justice are left Us, standing both on Sacred and Civil Records: The Earth opened her Mouth wide and swallow'd up Corah Dathan and Abiram, with their Rebellious Crew in the very Act and Height of Their wickedness: Abi­milech, Judges 9. 53. who dy'd his Princely Scarlet in the Blood of Seventy Brethren he slew that he might Rule without Controul, had his Skull at the storming of Thebez broke by a stone thrown by a Womans hand, on which the Historian, who Relates it, makes this Remark. Athaliah who Murther'd all the Royal 2. Kings: 11. 16. Line of Judah (except an Infant He [...]r preserv'd by his Aunt for a more fabourable Iuncture) that she might Reign, and Reign without a Rival, fell from her greatness by the same Bloody steps she mounted to it; was slain by her Guard within the Verge of her Palace: Jeroboam the grand Ʋsurper of the 1. Kings: 15. 19. the Isralitish Crown, tho'he escap'd in his person yet was punish'd in the utter Extirpation of his Posterity; Nadab his Son kill'd and all his Family by the Sword of Baasha, not one left alive who breath'd. This Murtherer's 1. Kings: 10. 12. Son Elah, together with all the Male Line were de­stroy'd by Zimri; not one left who piss'd against the 1. Kings: 16: 15. 18. Wall, Zimri after seven days Reign, lay'd hands on himself to avoid falling into Om [...]'s who besieged him, Burning his Palace over his own head Shallum who tooke away Z [...]hariah's life and Kingdom, was 1. Kings. 15. 30. [Page 12] depriv'd of both within a Month by Menahem, whose Son Pekajah had the like turn done him by Pekah the Captain of his Guard, and he by Ho [...]hea, who in the 9th year of 2 Kings: 18. 9. his Ʋsurpation was strip'd of his Regallity, and car­ried Captive by Salmanezer into Assiria and Media, and with him expir'd that M [...]narchy.

And should I Travel out of sacred Story into Prophane for instances, Time would faile me in recounting the Tragical Ends of Ʋsurpers or Regicides of Cyrns who Seised on his Grandfathers Kingdoms; of Bessus whose Murther of Da [...]ius Ochus caused the Translation of the Empire from the Persian to the Greeks; of [...]hillip the Ʋsurper of the Macedonian Crown, slain between his Son Alexander the great and his Son in Law Alexander of Epicus, at the Espousal of his Daughter, of Pisistratus who Invaded the A [...]henian; Julius Caesar who Invaded the Roman Govern­ment: The Murderers of Gordian the Emperour, who fell all by Their own hands, using those very Swords against their own lives, which They had before Imployed to take away others. And Infinite Numbers more mentioned by the Roman Byzantine and other Writers; only I can't o­mit two Memorable Examples, the one of Maximus, who procur'd the Murther of Valanttnian the third, Torn afterwards in Peices by the Peo­ple of Rome; the other of Phocas, who through the Barbarous murther of his master Mauritius, Ascended the Throne of Constantinople, he taken by Pho [...]inus received a suitable Reward, and had his Head, Hands and Feet with his Privities cut off:

In these (Generally speaking) is that saying of our Saviour verified, They who take the Sword, (take it against Lawfull Authority) shall Perish with the Sword, (the Sword of Justice) And of St. John, he that killeth with the Sword, must be killed with the Sword; so David Killed the Amalekite who slew Saul at his own [...]treaty, &c. And can it be thought, that he who Will not hold him Guiltless that taketh his name in vain, should connive at the violation of all Obligations of Duty and Fidelity contracted in that name; and let such escape Scot-free that rise up against them who wear his name, and are clad in the Rayes of his Maje­stie; That if men shall be in danger of Hell fire for calling their Brother Fool, shall They be in none for Rayling against their Superiors invested with Authority from above, and 1. Pet. 1. 2. comp. with the 10. Iud. 8. comp. with the 13. Acting by a Commission from heaven? St. Peter and St. Iude, have taught Us otherwise, viz. That God Reserveth Such who speak evil of Dignities [Page 13] unto the day of Judgment, to be punished; for the Blackness of Dark­ness for ever.

If Lyars, Sorcerers, Whoremongers, Murtherers and Idolaters, shall receive their part in the Lake which Rev. 21. 8. Burneth with Fire and Brimstone, as we are infor­m'd they shall; surely such Lyars, who Maliciously Slander Their prince first to weaken his Credit, then his Hands; such Sorcerers, who with the Witchcraft of Cunning and Fair Speaking, alienate the Peoples Affecti­ons from him; such Whoremongers who are Guilty of, and stand answer­able to Justice for all the Rapes and Destorations Soldiers rais'd by Them to begin an Insurrection, and make a Revolt, in the heat of War and Lust commit, surely then those Murtherers of their honest fellow Sub­jects, who will not side with them in taking up Arms; Then Those Ido­laters; who Crown'd with Success erect a False Power in opposition to the Legal One and would Compell all to acknowledge and pay Homage to it, like Nibuchadnezzar, to fall down and worship the Image, They have made and Set up, shall be cast there.

Some there are who have (too lately) made use of Their pretended Fear of God, to Justle out the King's Honour; their serving God, to excuse these disobedience to the King; their fits of Devotion & Extatical Raptures, their Acts of Disloyalty, Their Asserting the True Religi­on, Justifying their Rising up against his Majesty.

And now let every Englishman begin to examin himself, whether he hath not medled with them who were given to change? Have not You shew'd your selves such, by siding and going along with that Faction which wrought the last dismal change, or by following men who Trac'd their steps, and Practic'd the same methods of Sedition, which usher'd in that Rebellion? did you not greedily Swallow down the Calumnies and and Slanders They F [...]d you with against the Government? Have you their persons in the greatest Admiration, who made the Biggest Noise for Religion and Liberty, while Their Lives manifested they had extin­guish'd the one, all but the Name, and Their Arbitrary proceedings that they were Resolv'd to Prostitute the other to their own Lusts? such who had Scrupl'd at Order and Decency in the Church, but had made none of involving three Kingdoms in Misery and Confusion; strein'd at Conformity, but Swallow'd down Rebellion; slumbl'd at a Ceremony, but leap'd over the Murther (or Dethroning) of Their King.

And after all this, did you not look upon your selves as absolv'd from the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and on them as antiquated Bonds? [Page 12] [...] [Page 13] [...] [Page 14] Or were you not for expounding Them so as they might be best accom­modated to Rebellion, or willing Disciples of such Masters who did? That they were stipulations of a Conditional Obedience, Provided the King maintained your Rights, and that limitted and Restrain'd to some Case only; so that the King not performing the former, you were not bound to the latter; or Commanding something without the Verge of his Autho­rity, might be oppos'd by Arms, and Forc'd within compass; Or that those Sacred Tyes might be violated without Sin, for promoting such great Goods as the Power of Godliness and the Freedom of the Gospell! did not the Casuistical Divinity of such Rabbies please you, who directed You, in Order to shake the Crown from off the Monarch's head, to break any Oath with the deepest sence of Religion, which you before had Sworn with a Sound Conscience, &c. And besides the Wickedness of Breaking Through These Sacred Obligations have you not bound your selves by illegal Associations or Covenants (directly opposite to these solemn engagements) to labour a change? So Cataline initiated his Complices to the privacy of his conspi­racy, by a Sacrament solemn as a Sacrifice to the Gods, He drank to Them in a mingl'd bowl of man's blood and wine, and made them pledge him and one another in that, and so doing their mutual Faith, devoting them­selves with horrid execrations to suffer all Ills, in case they infring'd it, afore he ventur'd to acquaint them with the villany they were to be actors in. And if you have in any of the forementioned respects been guilty (as it is more than to be suspected you have.) Let me exhort you, to wash away the contracted guilt with the tears of repentance, &c.

LONDON, Printed for William Nott, at the Queen's Arms in the Pall Mall. 1683.

MEn of turbulent and restless spirits will be sure to find, or make some pretences or occasions of quarrel under the most just and equal Government. Sometimes They dispute the right of Succession; but this they could not do in David's case, unless they would dispute God's right to place and displace Princes: For he was immedi­ately chosen by God, and annointed by his Prophet, and yet this could not secure him from Conspiracies and Rebellions.

Others pretend great Oppression and male-administration of Govern­ment, tho' Their licentious noises and clamours sufficiently confute it; for men who are most opprest dare say the least of it. And Others make Religion a pretence for Their Rebellion; Religion! the greatest and the dearest interest of all: But methinks it is a dangerous way for Men to rebel to save Their Souls, when God has Rom. 13. 2. threatned damnation against Those who rebel: But this is a vain pretence, for no man can fight for Religion, who has any Reli­gion. Religion is a quiet, peaceable, governable thing; it teaches Men to suffer patiently, but never to rebel. And were there any true concernment for Religion in this pretence, can We imagine, that the most profest A­theists; the most lewd prostigate Wretches, the greatest Prodigies and Monsters of wickedness, should be so zealous for Religion? But it's evi­dent, [Page 16] it is not Religion such men are zealous for, but a liberty in Reli­gion; that is, that every one may have his liberty to be of any Re­ligion, or of none; which serves the Atheists turn, as well as th [...] Sectaries; but is nor much for the honour or interest of true Reli­gion.

I suppose no man doubts how many dangers a Prince is expos'd to who flies before an enrag'd and victorious enemy: A Prince whose Fa­ther was murther'd, and himself forc'd into banishment by his own Sub­jects! Who knows not whither to go, where to hide himself, whom to trust: Many persons who were in greatest power, being concern'd (for their own preservation) to keep Him out; while those who wish'd Hi [...] Return, durst not whisper any thing tending to call the King back again. This was the condition of our dread Soveraign, who was hunted as: Partridge in the mountains, pursued by his own rebellious Subjects, who had usurp'd his Throne, and thirsted after his Blood. But then God found an hiding place for Him, and delivered Him from the desire and expectation of his Enemies: And, as the Psalmist says, This is the Lords doing; and it is marvellous in our eyes; now know We, that the Lord sa­veth his Annointed, He will hear Him from his holy Heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand, Psal. 65. 7.

God may sometimes suffer Treason and Rebellion to be prosperous, but it can never prosper but when God pleaseth; and it is impossible Rebels should ever know that. There is nothing more expresly contrary to the reveal'd will of God, than Treasonable Plots and Conspiracies against Soveraign Princes: And tho God does many times permit those things to be done, which he has forbid to be done, or else no man could ever be guilty of any sin; yet his forbidding of it is a plain argument that he does not approve it, that he will not countenance it. God never indeed interposes by an irresistible power to hinder men from choosing that which is wicked, for he offers no force or violence to mens wills: but when this wickedness is injurious to others, who are the objects of his care and providence, he many times interposes to prevent the mischief. Who ever suspected, that the Fire at New-Market, was sent by God for the preservation of our King and His Royal Brother?

Christian Religion is the greatest security of Government both i [...] its precepts and examples: It commands Every Soul to be subject to the higher Powers, and threatens eternal damnation against Rebels; it strictly enjoyns the practice of all sociable virtues, and charms those boisterous passions which disturb humane conversation; it requires Us to obey our Supe­riors [Page 17] in all lawful things, and quietly to submit and suffor, when we [...] obey: And the blessed Jesus, who was the Author of our Religion, [...] our great Pattern and Example, did himself practise these laws, which he gave to US. He liv'd in obedience to the Civil Power, and though the Jewish Nation, which was a free People, the Lot and Inheritance of God himself, were then in subjection to the Romans, yet He would not give Them the least encouragement to shake off the yoke, but commands them to give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. He died himself upon the Cross, and made this the con­dition of our discipleship, To take up our Cross and follow Him; and thus the Apostles and Primitive Christians did, they chearfully follow'd their Master to the Cross, and conquered by suffering. Christianity was plan­ted in the world by no other arts but the foolishness Preaching, and it de­fended it self Only, by a resolute and patient suffering for the name of Christ. This is the true temper and spirit of Christianity. Under the most barbarous and persecuting Emperors, no Christian ever suffer'd as a Rebel, They gave no other disturbance to the Government, than by confessing themselves to be Christians, and suffering for it. Their num­bers indeed were very formidable, but nothing else; for in imitation of their great Master, They went as lambs to the slaughter, and as sheep before their shearers are dumb, so they opened not their mou [...]hs.

But notwithstanding this, our daily experience tells US, that when Religion is divided into Factions and Parties, or rather Men are divided into Factions and Parties upon account of Religion, there is nothing more imbitters mens spirits against each other, nor gives greater distur­bance to publick Government. All the Troubles and Miseries which for these late years have overwhelmed this unfortunate Island have been dooing to this cause; Religion has been made either the reason or the pretence of all.

To deny that Prosest Protestants have ever rebell'd against their Prince, is to deny, that there ever was a Civil War in England. And I would to God, We had but one instance of this; it might have left some hope still, that This was not the temper nor the Principles of the Men, but some unlucky [...]cture of [...]ffairs, which transported Them beyond the bounds of their Duty, and their own [...]ow'd Principles.

When Religion turns into a [...]a [...]e [...] to curb and restrain, and quell such pretences, is not to invade the [...] Conscience, o [...] the [...]ber­ [...] of Religion, but to secure the publick [...] to prevent the occa­sions of new Rebellions. And no sob [...] man can [...] his Prince for [Page 16] [...] [Page 17] [...] [Page 18] this, tho he may Those, (and ought to express a just indignation against Them) who forfeit this liberty, by abusing it for a cloak of malicious­ness.

A great and passionate Zeal, like a distemper'd Love, blinds mens eyes, and makes them mistake both their Enemies and Friends. It fills their heads with endless jealousies and fears, and makes them start and run a­way from their own shadow. Such a boysterous Zeal is the frenzy and Calenture of Religion, which makes men uncapable of any sober coun­sel, and all prudent Resolves, and precipitates them into the most wild, extravagant, and irreligious attempts. There is nothing more perni­cious than Zeal, when it gets a-head, and bears down all the considera­tions of Reason and Religion before it. When men are conscious to themselves, that they are engag'd in a good cause, and have honest de­signs, it makes them more bold and venturous: For tho few men da [...] own it, yet the actions of too many sufficiently proclaim, that Th [...] think they may strain a Point, and dispence with strict Duty, when it is to serve a good cause, when the Honour of God, and the Interest of R [...] ­ligion is concern'd: Such a Zeal does violently push Men forward, but [...] does not steer well, nor observe its compass; and thus it is too often see [...] that Men who begin with a zeal for Religion, insensibly slip into Stat [...] Factions, and are engag'd vastly beyond what They first design'd. L [...] Us then above all things have a care of our Zeal, that we may not mista [...] ­en earthly Fire, which burns and consumes, for that divine and harmle [...] Flame, which is kindled at God's altar. A true zeal for Religion, is no­thing more nor less: than such an hearty love for it as makes us very di­ligent in the practise of it out selves, and contented, if God sees it fit, [...] lay down our lives for it, and very industrious to promote the know­ledge and practise of Religion in the World, by all lawful and prude [...] means. A true Christian Zeal will not suffer US to transgress the stri [...] bounds of our duty to God, or of our duty to Men, especially to King and Princes, whatever Flattering Prospect of advantage it may give. To lye, to forswear our selves, to hate and revile each other; To re­proach and libel Governors in Church or State; to stir up, or counte­nance, with the least Thought, any Plots, Seditions or Rebellions again [...] the King, is not a Zeal for God nor for Religion: for this wisdom [...] not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devillish: for where strife and co [...] ­tention is, there is every evil work.

Let Our past Experience therefore teach Us, to watch over the lea [...] [Page 19] stirrings, and first appearances of a seditious and factious spirit, either in our selves or others, however it may be disguised with a pretence of Religion. Faction, like other vices, has but very small beginnings; but when those beginnings are indulg'd, it soon improves, and gets strength. Omne in praecipiti vitium stetit: When men once espouse a Par­ty, like those who are running down hill; they cannot stop when they please. Discontents and jealousies are easily fomented, when We have once given admission to them; and the busy Factors and Agents for Se­dition, when They find US never so little disposed to receive the Im­pression, use their utmost art and skill, all the methods of insinuation and address, to make us Proselytes. I doubt not but many Men have died Rebels, and suffer'd as Traytors, who at first did as much abhor the though [...]s of Treason and Rebellion, as any of us can; Thus I doubt not but it was in our late Troubles; And thus I believe it is at this Day.

Let such Examples as these make Us wary, how We begin to enter­tain, or to whisper our discontents and fears; how we begin to listen to be suspicious of our Prince, or of his Government; and to hear with plea­sure, any scandalous stories or reflections on either. Those who can with content and pleasure hear their Prince and his Government revil'd, will soon think him not fit to be Their King.

And the great danger of such beginnings is, that We are not apt to observe them in our selves or others, when Religion is concern'd in the quarrel. We think it all Zeal, pure Zeal! and can't suspect our selves or others, to be in any danger of turning Rebels. But whatever is in its own nature a degree or tendency towards Rebellion, is so where-ever, and in whomsoever it is found; and there is always more danger, that the beginnings of vice should corrupt the best temper of mind, than any hope that a sound and religious disposition should correct the malign in­fluences of such a vice. Some mens Religion does as much incline them to Faction, as secular interest doth other men; and there is no such dan­gerous Faction, as that which is bred and nourish'd by the corruptions of Religion. The Jewish Zealots, and the Christian Enthusiasts of all sorts, are too plain an Example of it. And therefore when men, who make great pretences to Religion, begin to talk or act factiously, a fair opportunity is as like to make them Rebels, as any other men. Thus We often see it is, and this is a sufficient reason to suspect all such begin­nings, either in our selVes or others, whatever glorious pretences we may have.

London, Printed for Tho. Basset at the George in Fleetstreet.

KIngs have their Authority deriv'd immediately from God, whic [...] Authority is not confer'd on Them, as a Trust by the People. Let us consider first what Titles the Scriptures give to King They are called the Ministers of God, therefore not of men, Rom. 1, 4. 6. The Powers that be, are said to be Ordained of God, therefore not of Men. v. i for the question concerning St. John's Baptism, wa [...] it from Heaven? or of Men? seems to put this upon an Issue; Besides they are call'd Elohim, Earthly Gods, Psal: 82, 6. And what Peopl [...] can make there own Gods, without Palpable Idolatry.

When God first Subjected his own People, Israel to the Government of Kings, the People had nothing to do in conferring the Power Mos [...] was made their Ruler immediately by God so Ioshuah and the Iudge [...] for so long the Theocracy did continue visable among them. When th [...] People desir'd a King with formality, God is not angry with them simp [...] for desiring a King; for he foretold their having a King, and gave hi [...] directions for his Government, Deut. 17 but for some irregularities their manner of desiring him, But how was he chosen? not by the Peo­ple, but by Lot. 1, Sam: 10, 20, 21. the determination whereof from the Lord, Prov: 16. 33. no hand of the People in choosing him David was made King by God's immediate [...] Sam: 16. 1. H [...] [Page 21] the Theocracy seems to end. Afterward the Government did descend by Succession And Those that pretend directions from the Scripture in every thing, will be at a loss where to finde directions there for the Peo­ple to take away or Confer Power upon their Prince.

We Challenge any man from Prophane Histories, to shew Us any Footsteps of such beginings of Monarchy, when the People did intrust this Power to their King? If they acknowledge that their History fails them, let not also reason fail them; Let not Loyalty fail Them; let not Con­science fail them let them have somhing more than bold Surmises, or else not attempt to build a Supposition of such dangerous consequence, upon the meer strength of imagination.

If therefore they Persist and Urge Us to shew, how Monarchy first came to Subject men to Obedience, I think the History of the Bible will give US light enough. That Patriarchal Government, or the Ruling of the Father or eldest of the Family over the Rest, was the first form of Government in the World, I think is generaly own'd; Now when the Families increased, the Subjects multiplied, and by insensible degrees the Patriarchal Government seems to have setled into that Government of the Reguli, or small Kings, which was upon the matter the same; when Ioshuah Conquered the land of Canaan, which is less in extent than the Kingdom of England alone, he found and Subdued 31 Kings, Iosh: 12, 24. And it seems this was the least Jurisdiction of their Reguli. For after him Iudg: 1. 7. Ad [...]ibezek when he was Conquer'd, doth own that he kept 70 Reguli in Barbarous Servitude under him. And some Hundreds of years after the King of Syria (no great Prince) had 32 Kings at once in his Army, 1 Reg. 20. 1. so that it seems their Territories and power were then surely but an inconsiderable alteration of External Govern­ment, and that which by degrees introduced greater Monarchy's.

If We further proceed to take a view of all the ways, whereby Prin­ces ascend to the Throne, it will appear they are but few; and that in none of those the People confer the power on the King; first by D [...]scent or Succession, as in England: Now who can say that the People herecon­fe [...] the Power? If they ple [...]d that at the Kings Coronation the consent of the People is demanded; it is evident that the King is King to all intents and purposes before his Coronation, Besides neither are all the People Sommon'd, nor any considerable part of them appear at a Coro­nation: And if then thereshould be any su [...]ly Sheba, that should re­ject his Prince, that would not hinder the Coronation, so that this is but barely a thing of course and doth not deside the King's Power from [Page 22] the People at all. Secondly those that attain a Crown by conquest, no man can say They expect or receive the explicit consent of the People, tho' a tacit consequential consent may be argued in their yeilding him a forc'd obedience, Thirdly Those that Surprise a Throne by Fraud, tho' they may impose upon the People so as to gain a formal consent. Yet is there no real consent in those that are thus bewitch'd or cajol'd, Fourth­ly, there are some that come to a Crown by Elcteion: And here our Male-contents think they are secure, that They derive their Power from the People. But we must consider the great difference that is betwixt Designing the person, and conferring the Power; The former is from those that choose Him, the latter by no meanes, the Dean and Chapiter of a Cathedral, by the Kings leave) choose a Bishop (Sede vacante) this choice designs the person, but doth not confer the Power, which is after­wards given him in his consecration The Aldermen and Commons of a City, do yearly choose their Mayor; this choice doth indeed designe the person, but not confer the power, which descends by virtue of the Kings Charter, So when the seven Electors choose an Emperour of Ger­many, or those that usually choose a King in Poland, they only design the person; his Power is not from them, but immediatly from God. And now, whether the Power of Kings be so immediatly subordinate to God and depending upon Him, that no Earthly: ower whatsoever can call them to account for the Administration of their Government, and dis­charge of their Trust?

The Accountableness of Princes to the People in their Representatives hath passed (too lately) for currant Doctrine in the days of imprisoning King Charles the first, &c. That Reason and Conscience may be satisfied of the falsness and dangerousness of such Assertions, I shall offer what fol­lows, to prove that God Almighty is the only Ruler of Princes, and that to him only they owe their accounts, first in reason it is a contradiction, after We have own'd the King to be Supreme in all Causes, and over all Persons both Ecclesiastical and Civil, to affirm afterwards, that there is any other Power that hath Right to call him to an account, and conse­quently is in that respect his superior. That We have own'd the King as Supreme, I suppose all men will confess, and the Apostle St. Peter calls him so, 1 Pet: 2, 13. And that his accountableness to any other on Earth, would render these persons that may demand his account (to nomine) Superiour to Him, is grounded upon that known maxim, Par in parem nou habet potestatem. If therefore the King be Supreme, and yet hath others on Earth that are Superiour to him, then is he Supreme, and [Page 23] not Supreme, a palpable contradiction, both branches of which cannot be true. Now the Kings Supremacy, both the Law hath Setled, and e­very Good Subject hath own'd, and therefore must disown the Suprema­cy of the People, either Collectively, or in their Representative as a Spurious Offspring descended from Salus Populi, and Ʋniversis minor. Se­condly, If We consult the Scriptures, when David had committed those two great sins of Adultery and Murther, either of which singly was ca­pital by the Jewish laws, yet do we not find him call'd to account for them, but only by the great King of Kings, who takes the matter in­to his own hands, sends his Prophet to him, Summons him before him­self, as his Judge, brings him to Repentance, accepts his Confession, and Remits his Trespass, as to the Eternal punishment. And David appears very sensible of his being accountable to God only; when in his most pe­nitent Confession he crys out against Thee, Thee! only have I Sinned, Psal. 51, 3. If therefore We own the Scriptures for our guid in all doubtfull and important points, here is an instance to guide Us in a matter of this great and weighty Moment.

Thirdly to hold a Power in the People to call the Prince to account for the Administration of his Government is most highly inconsistent with the law of nature, and all the Reason and Conscience immaginable: For it makes the People at once the complainants, the witnesses, the Jury and the Judge, For when we speak of the King, and the People, they are but two parties. If therefore the King must be impleaded, who must be the Complanants & Prosecutors? the People! who Witnesses? the People! who must be the Jury to enquire of matter of Fact? the People! who must be the Iudge, to determin he hath broken a Law, and be obnoxious to pun­ishment [...] the People! at last when Sentence is passed upon him, who must Execute it? still the People! a thing never heard of in any Judicial proceedings, even in the most Barbarous Nations: and that which must needs preclude the doing of Justice, when passion or interest in the Mo­bile, would carry all things according to their own Lusts and Hu­mours.

The Judgments of God, have dogg'd at the Heels, in all Ages, Those Subjects that have Risen up in Rebellion against their Lawfull King, and [...]ther Secretly, or openly, taken away their Lives Had Zimri peace who [...]w his master? &c. And how hath the Justice of God, become the a­venger of Blood, and pursued Those, who had killed and taken possessi­on, and boasted of their Wickedness, for several years together; and some of them desired it might be written on their Tombs, here li [...]sens [Page 24] of the late Kings Iudges. This I hope will not be forgotten in This Generation, &c. That all men may hear and fear, and do no more so Presumptiously.

If Kings then have their Power from God, and are not accountable to any person or persons on Earth, then is it a great Sin, to Arraign the wisdom or Justice of his Majesties proceedings, in the Convention of men of unsanctified Hearts, unhallow'd lives and prophane Mouths. Too many now adays make it either a sign of Grace, or a token of Wisdom, or at least an argument of good affections to the publick, to Slander the Footsteps of God's Anointed; And as if they would investigate their Pedegrees, from Cora [...] and his Complices, do proceed by Rising up a­gainst Moses and Aaron, reproaching both Prince and Priest, as if They took too much upon them. If he that stept out of his rank, without allowance of his Officer, to fight an Enemy, though he kill'd him, was condemn'd for deserting his place, what censure can be great enough for Those that desert their Ranks and Stations, not to fight an Enemy (a Forreign Invader,) but to encounter their lawful Soveraign? If God Almighty be the only Ruler of Princes, and neither the People collective­ly nor Representatively; have power to censure the actions of a King, then certainly the Individuals, or little knots of the Popul [...]cy, have much less power to censure his proceedings.

When Men presume to think that the King is the peoples creature, de­riving his Power as a Trust from them; and when the fondness and no­velty of the notion by degrees hath flatter'd them into a fix'd opinion of it, They will quickly implead his Authority, as a conditional and preca­ [...]ious thing, and upon the least distaste, will be tempted to meditate a re­vocation of their trust; So that what does not jump with one mans in­terest, tho it may advance anothers, the King must answer for; And what does not indulge the lusts of the foolish, though 'tis highly accep­table to the Wise, the King must account for; so apt are Resty Men to clamour against the Settlements of their own security and happiness, and promote the steps of their own ruine and confusion. But when Men shall seriously consider that the Sword is put into His hand by God him­self, and that he bears it not in vain, that he is a Revenger to execute wrath upon Him that doth evil Rom. 13. 1. This will oblige them to obe­dience and loyalty to their earthly Soveraign, out of a principle of con­science towards the King of Heaven; This will speak them at once both True Christians and Good Subjects. For pretended Sain [...]sh [...]p is con­ [...]stent with Rebellion, but True Christianity will be always attended [Page 25] with Loyalty. This will clear the Profession of Religion from the a [...] ­persion of ungovernableness; and set Us forward to that Kingdom, where He by whom Kings Reign, shall rule over all, and be all in all.

LONDON, Printed for Joanna Browne at the Gun at the West-End of St. Paul's.

OF all Rebels they are certainly the worst, that are such out of conscience; and no such desperate Villains as those, who think to please God by Murders and Massacres. Other wicked men may be often checked, are sometimes restrain'd by their consciences, and dread of a future Judgment; but what evils shall they ever boggle at, who commit such gross wickedness out of complyance with their con­science? out of obedience to God? and expect to be rewarded for it in another world! And is it possible (by any thing We can do) to bring greater dishonour to our Religion, or more effectually to prejudice Ru­lers and Governors against it, than by making it to patronize and coun­tenance Faction and Rebellion? If this were the true genious of Religion, To make men Unpeaceable, Turbulent, Mutinous, Seditious, &c. It would then become the great interest of Princes to guard themselves against It, as the very Pest of Humane Society, and dangerous to the Civil Govern­ment. But thanks be to God, This is not the temper of Our Christi­anity: Our Saviour's Religion begets in men the most gentle and meek, [Page 26] patient and Governable Spirits, and is so far from being inconsistent with Loyalty to our Prince, that it is th [...] greatest [...]ye and Obligation to it in the World, And there is no one can through off his Allegiance to his Earthly Soveraign, but at the same time He Renounces all duty and Con­science towards God.

The Doctrine and discipline of the Church of England We all know what it is; It is stated and defin'd, and we are sure that it condemns all disloyal Seditious practices, on any pretence whatever. We must not compass, imagine desire or contrive (Or invite) any thing that tends to the damage and prejudice either of our Soveraign Lord the King▪ or of any that are Commission'd or Authoriz'd by him, Soveraign Kings and Princes are God's Deputies and Vicegerents, set up by himself, and They derive their Power and Authority from him alone. God Almighty the maker of us all is the only absolute Lord and uncontroulable Sover­aign of Men and Angels, part of his own Power and Authority, which he hath over his Creatures, he hath Delegated and Committed to Kings, who are the most Principal instruments and Ministers of his providence in the World: Hence are they call'd Gods, and Children of the most High: Psal: 82 6. God hath invested them with some part of his own Maje­sty, stamped his own Character upon them, and appointed Them in His place to perform and administer even some part of his Divine Office (if I may so speak) amongst men; Thus constituting Them Earhly Gods, as to their persons, sacred; and as to their Actions, Accountable to None, but that Supereminent Divine Authority that gave them Commission. This is not any new coyned Divinity, invented in favour of Arbitra [...]y Pow­er, but is expresly delivered in holy Scriptures, was professed own'd and taught by the primitive Christians and hath been the constant Doctrine of the Reformed Church of England, Nay it is agreeable to the general sence of mankind, and might be made out by Rational Evidence, if we had no other confirmation of it.

That Supreme Governours have their Power and Authority from God alone, is expresly delivered in Scripture; and that not only of the Kings of Israel (who were evidently established by God's appointment) but in general we are told Prov: 8. 15. 16. By me Kings reign and Princes decree Justice: By me Princes Rule, and Nobles, even all the Judges o [...] the Earth. Thus Cyrus an Heathen Emperour is call'd God's Annointed Isa. 45. 1. Thus saith the Lord to his Annointed to Cyrus; and in the last verse of the preceding Chapter, he is call'd God's Shepheard (Prin▪ ­ces being often, by reason of the Resemblance betwixt the Pastoral Offic [...] [Page 27] and Government, call'd Shepheard [...]) I have made the Earth saith God by the Prophet Jeremiah 27, 5, 6. and given it to whome it seemed meet unto me, And now have I given all▪ these lands into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon my servant: Thus Daniel declareth that the Most High Ruleth in the Kingdoms of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And he tells Nebuchadnezzar Chap. 2, 37. that it was the God of Heaven, that had given him a Kingdom, Power and Strength and Glory. In the new Testament nothing can be plainer, than the begin­ing of the 13, Rom: where St. Paul tells us that there is no Power but of God, that the Powers that be are ordain'd of God; whence in the next verse he styleth Magistracy or Government, the Ordinance of God; and in the 4th verse the Ruler is Called the Minister of God, To execute his vengeance upon Them that do Evil. It is plain that this was always the Doctrine of the Church of England, as appears from the Booke of Ho­milies, wherein we are taught▪ That the High Powers are set in Authori­ty by God; that they are God's Lieutenants; God's Presidents; God's Officers; God▪s Commissioners; God's Judges Ordain'd of God himself, Nay, it hath been directly asserted in our Church, that the most High and Sacred Order of Kings, is of Divine right, being the Ordinance of God himself, founded in the prime law of nature, and clearly establish'd by express Texts both of the Old and New Testament.

Nor indeed can it be well Conceiv'd or Reasonably imagin'd from whence Kings and Soveraign Princes should have right to Govern and Command, but from God alone, since He is the undoubted Lord of the whole Earth, and alone hath full Power and Right to Govern it: I can­not see, but that whoever shall goe about to Confer any Power of Go­vernment, or take upon himself, any such Authority, over others, were it not [...]y God's Appointment and insti [...]ution, he would thereby put himself, upo [...] disposing of Gods Right, without his leave, or ordering: so that Government or Supriority of o [...]e, or more, over others, is all Tyrany and Usurpation upon God's Right, or els it must be granted, to be Ordain'd by God himself. And whatever the form of Government may be, or whatever hand the People may have in Choosing or Design­ing the person, or persons, that shall be invested with this Supreme Au­thority, yet the Power and Authority it self, is deriv'd only from God, and is neither Received of the People in Trust, nor is the▪ Soveraign Power, answerable to them▪ for the Administration of it: which is some­times illustrated thus, Tho' the Wife may choose what person she plea­seth, to make her Husband, Yet his Authority over the Wife; is not ow­ing [Page 26] [...] [Page 27] [...] [Page 28] to her, nor doth she confer it upon him, but it is of Divine Ap­pointment.

Whosoever R [...]sisteth the Power, Resisteth the Ordinance of God saith St. Paul: To oppose and shake off his Majesties Government, To Plot and Con [...]pi [...] against him is to Rebell against God; And when We wou [...]d not suffer our Lawfull Soveraign, whom the Divine Majesty had appointed to Rule over Us, we did, by just consequence, and fair in­terpretation, endeavour what we could to Dethrone God himself and proved Traytors [...]ot only against our Natural Lord and King, but a­gainst the Heavenly Monarch himself, by whose Commission he Reigns.

That Wicked King Z [...]d [...]kiah, of whom it is expresly said, 2 Kings, 24. 19. that he did that which was Evil in the sight of the Lord; yet he is stile [...] by the Prophet Jeremy, Sam. 4, 20. The Breath of our No­strils The fates of whole Kingdoms depend upon them. All that live under their Government are interested in them, and partake with them: And a Uillanous Invitation or Treache [...]ous Attempt Succeeding a­gainst our Soveraign, may (I am afraid most justly, will) stab a whole Nation to the Heart, and fill all Places with Blood and Confusion.

Is it not God's wonderfull Providence, that hath hitherto preserved His most Sacred Majesty. And did not the same Providence preserve his Royal Brother, and himself, from the Fury and Rage of those, who Em­brued their Salvage hands, in the Sacred Blood of their Majesties Royal Father? Hath not the same good Providence continually encompassed Them as with a sheild, when their own Subj [...]cts, then, and now again, in Arms▪ sought both their Deaths and destructions? was it not the same Providence, that for a long time hid and Conceal'd Them, from the most diligent Search of Blood-thirsty Rebells, and at last after a Mira­culous manner provided an escape for them, and through Innumerable dangers, conveyed them safe to a strange Land? was it not the same God who deferded and supported them then and still continues so to do, in the unparallel'd case of his present Majesty, against the most unnatural and blackest Treacherys, and Treasons, that ever yet saw light, till at length by His own Right hand and Ou [...]stretched Arm. He brought them safe again to England, and Gloriously Restored the King, to his three Kingdoms.

Tho' it were realy so that We were oppressed, or treated harshly, by Governors, yet We are not to give vent to our passion, in undecent Rayling, or Inveighing, against them, call'd in Scripture, Blaspheming, or speaking Evil of Dignities. Is it fit saith Elihu to Iob, to say to a King, thou art wicked; and to Princes; ye are ungodly.

It cannot but be observed, almost by every man, that many of the Heads of this late Conspiracy, were persons Infamous throughout the whole Nation, for their Immortallities and Debaucheries; Notorious Whoremasters! Adulterers! Drunkards! Murderers! Swearers! and what not? Now what a Fulsome thing is it, and to be abhor'd of all Honest men, to hear such persons as these set up for the great Patriots of their Coun­try, and the assertors of the Peoples Rights, and Conservators of their Liberties and Religion? Are men of such Atheistical Principles, and pro­stitute Consciences, fit to be trusted, either with Religion or our Liber­ties? or can we desire any gr [...]ater Argument, that they are mov'd by some other design; which they make under such plausable pretences.

Let Us all be warn'd, to have a care of Reading Factious Books, and of imbibing antimonarchical principles, but more especially that cursed Antichristian Principle, which hath done an infinite deal of mischief a­mongst Us, and perhaps hath brought more into This Plot than any one thing els, I mean, That it is Lawful in some Cases by Force and Vio­le [...]ce, to Resist the Supreme Authority Especially in defence of the True Religion; Particularly, if the King or those commissioned by him, use Illegal Force to bring in another Religion, or to persecute the Professor of the true Keligion. Let us have a care of the Books, wherein such Poysonous Doctrines are taught, or of the Company of those who pro­fess to believe them, least before we are aware, they insinuate themselves into us, and so betray us to infinite mischiefs

Men do not become Traytors, and Reb [...]lls, in an instant, But first They begin with Murmuring and Complaining, then unmannerly talk­ing of their Superiors, at length plain accusing their proceedings, till by such undutifull practices, they become conscious to themselves, that They have offended the Government, at so great a rate, as that they cannot be safe under it, and then in their own defence, they think of destroying it.

LONDON, Printed for Walter Kittilby at the Bishops Head in St. Paul's Church yard.

TO oppose Our lawful Magistrate, is against the sense and pra­ctice of Christ's Church in all ages, even under the severest per­secutions, I say in all ages, even under the severest Persecutiors of Heathen Emperors, nay, under Julian the Apostate. And if We shall reflect upon the Judicial proceedings of God Almighty in this kind, we shall find him so jealous of his own, as not to suffer in his Deputys Ho­nour, and therefore by some secret and irresistible power, He hath still countermanded the deepest projects of Traytors. He hath split their Councels, and struck their most refined Policies, with frustration, Or a Curse. You have heard how Corah, Dathan and Abiram (who had sup­planted, from their loyalty, no less than 250 Princes, men of renown, upon whom the Holy Ghost in the Text, fastens no other character, than that of Wicked) suffer'd, both in themselves, and accomplices, for their mutiny against Moses. And let Absolom steal the hearts of Israel from David, both his King and Father, Let ten of the twelve Tribes pro­claim him King in Hebron; Let the Distressed David fly from his Royal [Page 31] Seat, and let his ungrateful and rebellious Son, possess Jerusalem [London.] Let A [...]hi [...]ophel advise Absolo [...] [...]o pursue David, his counsel shall be turn'd into folly, insomuch that he sh [...] lay violent hands upon himself; and though the too indulgent Father gives command to spare his life, yet rather than Absolom shall prosper in his Treason, his own beloved hair shall serve for an halter to execute him, 2 Sam. from chap. 15. to the 19th. Let Sheba the Son of Bichri make a Party in Israel, against David, let him secure himself, in the strong City, a Woman shall perswade his own Followers to cut off his head, and present it unto David's General; chap. 20 If you look into 2 Kings 11. you will find the reward of Athaliah's Treason; She seizeth upon the Crown of Judah, and to s [...]cure herself in it, she (as she imagin'd) slew all the Seed Royal: After six years en­joyment of the Throne (without doubt she supposed herself safe enough) when behold the King's Son (hid in the house of the Lord for six years space) is brought forth by the loyal Jehojada, the High Priest, and pro­claimed King, and the Traytoress Athaliah is justly slain.

And in our English Annals we may find Examples enough of this kind: Let John usurp the Throne due to Arthur, his elder Brother's Son, he taught but his Subjects to rebel against him; and after he had numbred as many troubles, as days of his Reign, he is thought to end his life by poyson. Edward the Third, tho otherwise a brave Prince, yet because he Dispossessed his Father of the Crown, shall rue it in his Grandson, his immediate Successor, whom H. 4 (another Usurper) bereaves first of his Throne, and a little after of his life too; But Divine v [...]ngeance meets with him likewise, in his Posterity; for H. 6. his Grandson (tho as innocent and harmless a Prince as ever before him that enjoyed the Imperial Crown of England) hath his own Son stabb'd before his face, and himself some time after butcher'd by the same hand [...] Let Rich. 3. murder his innocent Nephews in the Tower, let him poyson his own Wife, that so he might marry his Neece; the only Heiress to the Throne; yet God blasts his designs, and blesseth this Nation both with his death▪ and the happy Union of the York and Lancaster Families, in the persons of Eliz and Henry the Seventh, Which Contest had cost more Blood than twice Conquer'd France; Which, One would think, should make all true Englishmen pray for the Succession of the Crown, in a true lineal de­scent.

From these, let us come some what nearer, and behold Edward the 6th upon his death bed, whom Northumberland works, and imposeth to de­clare the Lady Jane Gray his Successor: The secu [...]ity of the Protestant [Page 30] [...] [Page 31] [...] [Page 32] [...] [Page 33] [...] [Page 32] Religion was then, as now pretended, To which They knew Mary was averse, And so soon as the King was Dead, the Lady Gray (against her own will is proclaimed Queen, in London; and her Ambitious Father in Law, Northumberland thinks all safe, as having nothing to oppose him but a Naked and defenceless (Tho a true) Title; when no sooner Mary (tho' a Papist) asserts her Right to the Crown, but her Subjects (tho' they were Protestants) as one man rise up in Arms to Defend [not to oppose or invade] the Succession: They knew how many thousand lives the dispute about the Crown had cost but a little before; Neither could they finde any motive then, no more than We can now in the Church of England, That gave any Encouragement against the Lawfull Heire. P [...] ­secution they might dread, but they would commit that Cause to God; and they had rather undergo the flames of Martyrdom, than be stigmatiz'd with the brand of Rebellion. Upon this the Conspirators were defeated (and that without a Battle) taken and Executed. I might tell you of Wyat's Conspiracy in the same Queens time, and of many others in Her Sisters Reign.

And as we often see Treason Severely punished in this World, so it is much more dangerous to the Actors thereof in the World to come; I am sure St. Paul tells Us so, Rom: 13. 2. They that Resist, shall Receive to Themselves Damnation, a very small Encouragement (God knows) for Conspirator and Usurpers, to rise up against and Dethrone a Lawfull King; Fortho' we should grant (which seldom happens) that many Traytors might so far prosper here, as to secure themselves from the hands of Justice; yet there is a King of Kings, from whom no power can shelter Conspirators or such (whether they be Lords Spiritual or Tem­poral) that shall any ways Invite, or encourage an Invader, against their Lawfull Soveraign; And this Damnation, in the close of all, will prove a sad Prize of the most Fortunate, or Succesfull Treason whatso­ever.

And in the 49 verse of this Chapter, we may find no less than 14700 destroy'd, because they maliciously cryed our against Moses and Aaron that they had killed the People of the Lord; And what People were they? why even the Blessed Conspirators! Corah and his Accomplices! Good God! that any should be so bold, or Foolish to call those, whom the Holy Ghost in my Text, brands with the character of wicked Men The People of the Lord; No! No! They never were nor can be the Peo­ple of the Lord, who Resist Lawfull Authority.

London, Printed for James Norris at the Kings-Arms without Temple Bar

NEither the sense of a natural allegiance, nor the Sacred Tyes of Oaths, nor Preferments, nor Honours, nor Riches could keep Some men, in the dutifull station of Subjects; St. Paul would have the Corinthians take warning from the Israelites, whose Murmur­ings, and discontents, are recorded in Scripture, and recorded there not only To ubraid their ingratitude, but as the Appostle speaks verse 11. These things happened to them, for Examples, and they are written for Our admonition, upon whom the Ends of the World are come.

Solomon gives a Caveat, Say not thou what is the cause that the former dayes were better than These? For thou dost not enquire wisely, con­cerning this matter; The Murmuring Questionists of his Age, had the like before them, and they have been since; and ever will be! so long as time is, men will complain of the times, and the little portion of Hap­piness that God gives Us in this life, is di [...]urbed by our own Restless and Repining nature, any little petry accident, at present, doth more di­sturb Us than a load that is past, and gon off our shoulders, Israel was under the Miraculous protection, and deliverance of Heaven, but wants some little convenience; and presently, we read of a loud and clamarous Murmuring; would to God We had dyed in Egypt! The hard Bondage they had felt, was gon off now; and the want but of a meals meat, in [Page 34] [...] [Page 35] [...] [Page 34] the Wilderne [...]s, put them to Murmur against God and their Gover­ [...]ors.

As if it were not enough that man was born to labour, as the sparks fly upward, but we ad, sparks to the fire, when we are Children and un­der the disciplin of the Rod, we complain that we were not born sooner, and past the Correction of our Master; and when we are Old, we think we ware never so happy as when we were Children; indeed we are [...] Those phansies that pleas'd Us, we are soon weary of, and seek for new; somthing it is that would please Us better, but what it is we know not; Nev [...]bus atque Quadrigis petimus bene Vi­vere. &c.

To Represent unto you the [...] or Murmurer; first he is an He­retick; St. Inde speaking of false Teachers, says that they are Murmurers, Complainers &c. Iquietoe Hereticorum Curiositates says Tertulian: They are always Restless, and always Prying; Creep into Houses, and then in­to affections, till their Murmuring discontents at last, break out into open Factions.

Secondly, The Murmurer is certainly the State sinner, The little grudgings that begin in Princes Courts, are [...]oon spread into the Coun­try; and they are like the Poets F [...] Malum, the further the same goes the greater it grows, The Murmuring discontents in the state, at last break out into open Rebellion (as We now sadly see The Israelites said as for this Moses, We wot not what is become of him, The next thing we hear of them is, They make a Motion Calf, that is set up a Religion and Government of their own, The Tongue is a little Member saith St. James, but tis a great evil: and the Murmuring Tongue sets the state still on fire; and Hell Fire shall be the Portion of such Tongues.

Thirdly the Murmurer is ever an envious person, and so an evil mem­ber of a Socie [...]y; Murmuring is a distemper call'd [...], a complaining without cause, and the envious man always doth this, Tis a nature that mak [...]s a near appreach to the Devils, The pro­sperity of Iob is an Eye-sore.

Fourthly he is the Malicious man; delights to do Mischief where he lives; is a trouble to himself, and will be so to his Neighbour; and there­fore no wonder if punishment doth attend him, for he is ranked by Solo­ [...]on among the seaven abominable things, that God hates, Him that soweth discord among Brethren. In short a Murmurer is he that is every thing, that is Mischievous, Blaspheams-God, the King the Church his Nei­bour; and he is a burthen to the Earth, and to himself, neither good nor [Page 35] bad wheather pleaseth him, Complains in War, and yet is discontented in Peace; pines away in Scarcity, and yet repines at plenty; when [...]s Summer, he longs for Winter, and when 'tis Winter wisheth again for Summer, neither Times nor Manners please him, and could he call for them at his pleasure, yet he would Murmur still, of which we have a full iustance in the Text.

Ill Men, who have private designs of their own to carry on will be always complaining of Publick affairs; and their Complaints may somtimes seem so plausible, that they may gain Proselytes to their Faction, I doubt not but there were many such in England. Some of whom may not Mean so ill, as they do.

Froward Men disturb God's method of Mercy, and make it ever Mis­carry in the Womb. God intended quietly and safely to lead Israel out of Egypt into Canaan; and the March of so many years might have been accomplished in so many days; but They stood in their own light and stopp'd the way against themselves: They tempted God very oft, and so oft, that a patient and long suffering God, at last, sware in his wrath that They should not enter into his Rest. This Sin of Murmuring is [...] an ill habit of the stomach, that corrupts the best meat; We Murmur at Mercys, as Israel did at Manna.

Some Casuists tells us, that Habitual Sins have a guilt distinct from those Sins of which they are Habits, and that they are more dangerous, because the Sinner is farther off from Repentance: The guilt that is con­tracted from those Habits doth make a Callus, and fear the Conscience, that the sinner little thinks on it, That he is going down into the Cham­bers of death, and he is ensnared into damnation, drown'd in perdition before he says Domine miserere, or asks what he has done? The Habit of Murmuring is so universal. Hand joyn'd to Hand, Tongue to Tongue, that the sence of the Guilt is lost; and because 'tis so 'tis a distinct guilt: for the greatest Sinners have repented, as Murderers, Adulterers, yea and Ido­laters too, who are in a peculiar manner Guilty Loesoe Majestatis Divinae, and Traytors to the God of Heaven. The repentance of all habitual sin­ners is difficult, but the repentance of an Habitual Murmurer, is bes [...]t with more than ordinary difficulties; for the Arguments that should reach the guilt, are not well reducible to any single Commandment and doth scarce affect the letter of any; And yet tis a sin of a complicated guilt, affects both Tables, and most of the Commandments of Both. Besides the Murmurer is not so soon as other Sinners convinced of his [Page 36] Guilt, because he hath fram'd a rule of rectitude to himself, and his Con­science o [...]ens and shuts by that Rule, and so he strains at gnats and swol­lows Camels: Nothing so much troubled the Coscience of a Neopolitan Sh [...]pherd, when he came to Confession at Ea [...]ter, as that he had tasted a little Cream the Lent before; but he had often Robb'd and Murder'd Passengers on the Mountains, and that troubled not his Conscience, be­cause his Father and Grandfather had [...]on so before: I believe all o [...] Us are ready to pass a true and just sentence here, but Reflect, here are some, who cannot digest as [...]t Form of Prayers; are offended at a Sur­plice, startle at the Cross in Baptism, &c. And yet can whisper against the King, and whisper to be heard too! talk loudly against Bishops and P [...]iests, censure all men; complain of every thing and be satisfied with nothing.

Remember that God passed by some of the discontents of Isr [...]el, but when They grew Clamorous and more Combined, his wrath fell in a­monst them. And Remember that God hath other Eyes to see Sin, with than We have, and hath other Scales to weigh it in, than We have We our selves do not take ill Language kindly from our Neighbour, and can we think that God will from Us, when by our discontents We dayly Revile his Providence?

When froward men do take a Liberty to speak, write and Print what they please, and all with designs against the Government they live under, 'tis plain, They would be Governors themselves, And when They have whet their Tongues, and sharpn'd their Pens, They are not far off from drawing their Swords. And surely, without offence, I may now ask if this be not the present case of England against their natural Liege Lord and King?

LONDON, Printed for John Fish near the Fountain Taver [...], in the Strand.

THere is no question but David in my Text had an eye to all the terrible hazards he had run before he was Crown'd, when Saul and his bloody house were hunting him like a Partridge upon the mountains: So that not his Own Not our King's Palace. House which should be a man's Castle, and his San­ctuary, not his Own His Majesty di­disturb'd at mid­night. Bed, which was made to be quiet in; not those very places whither He fl [...]d for Refuge, were free from the peril of the Sword.

[...]o keep far enough off, not only from cold and frivolous parallels, but also from odious comparisons. I will only say, Do We not see a King preserved from the same implacable enemy that has pursued him a­bove these forty years; but a much more formi [...]able enemy since he con­ceal'd his enmi [...]y▪ than when he declared himself openly, even by setting a price upon the Most Sacred Head.

And David in his refl [...]ctions upon the dangers or deliverances of his life, looks up to Heaven, he acknowledges, That the Race is not to the swift, nor the Battel to the strong; and tho it be added by Solomon, that Time and chance happen to all things; his meaning was, that many things [...]ook indeed like Chance, tho guided by a hand of Providence, to most [Page 38] unseen, which yet was most visible to King David; in the whole course of his Fortunes; therefore he gives the Honour to God alone: He thanks him not only for his own prosperous success [...]s, but in behalf of All the Crown'd Heads in the world, It is he that giveth victory [...]nto Kings: To the same great▪ God of Heaven he ascribes their Preservation from so many Horrid Cons [...]iraties, as while there is a Devil in Hell, and so many of his Agents upon Earth [in England] will never cease to be carried on; and when they are defeated or prevented, it is [...]e the King of Kings that delivers his Servant David, or by parity of reason, any other Sovereign Prince, from the hurtful Sword.

Now when David says, It is God that giveth victory unto Kings, it is to be understood virtually, and implicitly univer [...]al; he does not say that God always gives them victory: We know it has been given against the Best of Kings to the Worst and most Ungrateful of all his Sub­jects: But the meaning is, that when ever th [...]se sacred Princes are so de­livered, as to be preserved from the Sword, 'tis by an extraordinary vi­gilance of the Divine Providence over them, 'tis God is their Guardian, and not Man. And as [too late experience teacheth,] no King is to put his trust in the number or the fortitude of his People, so neither is any People to confide in the wisdom of their Heads, or in the vastness of their Body, to Oppose their Lawful Prince: For God in his Good Time, will make it appear that He governs the World, and He will make Them feel his hand that [Have Wrested] or think to wrest the Scepter from Himor Them that hold it for Him. Whoever They are that use indirect & un­lawful means to raise or establish, or but to S [...]cure Themselves, They set up as it were for themselves, without God in the World; They take the certain course either to miscarry with their design; Or, if they do gain Their Point, yet their success it self is a J [...]dgment upon Them; Pro­portionable to the greatness of their Sin, will be Their punishment; which, if It comes in this World, is commonly fetch'd out of the very bowels of the Sin that deserv'd it, and so as the hand of God is illustri­ously visible in it. Such as will not trust in God as a Deliverer from any Dangers They fear, but will take the Sword against Their Lawful Prince, upon any pretence whatsoever; Their Sen [...]ence is read in the words of our Blessed Saviour; They that take the Sword shall perish by the Sword.

As an humble Confidence of God's Protection over us (if We resolve to live in his most holy fear) is the most infallible course We can take to continue in safety; so, on the other side, all Policy that swerves from [Page 39] the strict rule of Conscience, does rather procure than pr [...]ent extreme danger.

The men of Israel said unto Gideon (that was in the time of the Judges) Rule Thou over us, both Thou and thy Son, and thy Son's Son also: By which they bind themselves and their posterity to be subject to him and his: But how did they keep their Faith with him? Much at the same rate as the unconstant multitude are wont to keep it. As soon as G [...]deon is dead, Abimelech his Son by a Co [...]bine, insinuates himself into them; They fur [...]ish him with Money under hand, wherewith he hires vain and light persons to follow him; Multi quibus utile Bellum: And with These he assassinates all the seventy legitimate Sons of his Father upon one stone; yet the People have still that wicked partiality for him, as to make him their King; but how did this And so is every Traytor; for the blood of all that is spilt in the Re­bellion, shall lye upon their heads. Murdrous Traytor and his A betters prosper? Jotham the youngest Son of Gideon, and the only Son that sur­viv'd the Massacre, cryes as a Prophet from God a­gainst the Usurper; and denounces that Fire shall come out of [...]e Bramble, (so in his parable he calls that Ba [...]e Son) and that this Fire shall devour their Cedars of Libanon▪ Their Noblemen that raised [or invi [...]ed] him. And we are told afterwards, that the men of Sichem dealt treacherously with Abi­melech, as Those that have been once F [...]llow Tray [...]ors to their lawful King, do s [...]l [...]om long continue faithful to one another. What [...]umul [...]s t [...]ere follow'd? What Insurrections? How the Fields were died with Gore, and how much Blood ran down the Streets of their City, you may read in that noble Story. And all the evil of the men of Sichem did God render upon Their own heads, and upon Them came the Curse of Jo­tham.

But because this [...]istrusting of God, and (in stead of doing that which David presses so passionately, O tarty Thou the Lord's leisure) being ready to say with that impious Nobleman, Why [...]arry We for the Lord any longer? Because this fatal Impatience seems to be now one of our nati­onal Sins, I shall urge against the sad effects of it some such examples as shall be national, and virtually a multitude of examples; Zedekiah the King of Judah having absolutely submitted to the great King of Babylon, ' [...]is said he rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: Therefore by the way▪ The [...]st [...]ing a lawful Prince to whom an Oath of Obedience ha [...]h once been take [...], tho he be an Hea­then Prince, as Nebuchad ezxar was, is [...] better than a down-right [Page 40] [...] [Page 41] [...] [Page 40] P [...]ury, A wicked Rebellion: So Jeremiah the poor despised Prophet of God implies it to be throughout his Prophecy. But what if these were Perjur'd Rebels? yet this was always their note concerning them­selves. The Temple of the Lord! The Temple of the Lord are these▪ i. e. They were the Godly, they were the Saints; just as the True Pro­testant! The true Protestant! is now the common Cry of Those, who think that Title, a good Apology, & a sufficient Plea to legitimate Perjury and Rebellion; nay more, he is sure to be call'd a Factor for Babylon (as Jeremiah was) that dares but call it Perjury and Rebellion. But to return to my Story, what became of that Rebellion I was relating? That misguided easy Prince was utterly lost, his very eyes were not left him, but only so long as to see his Sons put to the Sword, and the People were carried Captives into that same Babylon, that heathenish Countrey, which they so justly abhorred

Again, the same tu [...]bulent and restless People, being after many ages in some degree re-established by the valour of the Maccabees, had made an intire and necessary surrender of themselves to the Romans, as to their Lords and Masters. For fear of giving umbrage to the Romans of any other pretender to the Crown but Cesar, their cursed Polititian Caiaphas was for putting our Blessed Lord to death: These two words Venient Romani! the Romans will come, and take away both our place and Na­tion, were effectual Incentives to stir up the People to cry, Crucify him, Crucify him: As now to cry loud enough, Popery will come in and swallow Us up, serves all the turns of any great Incendiaries, to b [...]e [...]k through all Humane and Divine Laws. What else could they intend (speaking of the Phanatick Plot in King Charles the Second's time) but a Massacre? What other thing could they wish? What other cause of acting so detestable a Treason? For to take off a most merciful King, and his next Successor; Who next to him hath shewed himself of a most reconcilable Temper.

Complying men, such as can sit still and be quiet under any Usurpa­tions, care not What In [...]erest prevails, and laugh at the notion of being State Martyrs: But I wish this sort of men (who please themselves w [...]h being so Passive in so Active times as these) would consider what kind of censure, or sentence rather, an Heathenish Legislator hath pass'd upon them; Amongst the Laws of Solon (says Plutarch, Writer of his Life) that is very peculiar and surprizing, which makes all Those infamous, who stand Neuters in a Sedition: for it seems he would not have any One insensible and regardless of the Publick, and securing his Private af­fairs, [Page 41] glory that he had not any feeling of the Distempers of his Country, but Presently joyn with Those that have the Right upon their side, assist and venture with Them rather than shift out of Harms­way. These are the words of the wise man, stating and declaring the concern that every private man ought to shew, when his Prince (in re­spect to Rebellion) or his Country (by Invasion) is in danger. And David being yet a Subject, tells the people plainly, as the Lord liveth (says he) Ye are worthy to dye, Because Ye have not kept your Ma­ster the Lord's Annoynted. Awake then You that together with the Land which the Lord gave, to your Forefathers, inherit their virtue too the old English Loyalty and Courage, Lay out your thoughts upon some thing more worthy of your selves, than are thoughts only of your own security: Let every one in his station do his duty fearlesly: And they that doe soe, prove for the most part the wisest aswell as the most Consciencious, the safest aswell as the noblest and best Patriots: Let Us set it down to our selves that Honesty is the true Policy, and let none make that cursed conversion of the proposition, as if Policy were the true Honesty; unless they mean to Revive that old abominable Gnostick principle of Compliance with any Usurpations, or Impositions, for fear of sufferings, for fear of that; which a Christian would rather wish for his own sake, could it be without other mens guilt, i. e. the Crown of Martyrdom. The Church (the Feild of God) has been manur'd and enriched with the noblest compost in the world, the blood of Martyrs; The times and Seasons of the year are bounded out and Signalized by the dying days of Martyrs, The Christian Temples are dedicated to the Memorials of the Martyrs; And Miracles were undeniably wrought at the Monuments of the blessed Martyrs. After all this, men of soft and smooth-Insinuations would introduce a Principle of self-preservation (as they call it) as if it were unworthy, as if it were unlawfull to suffer any thing like Martyrdom, Nay as if it were more Christian like, to be Rebels and Regicides, than to be so much as Confessors in the cause of Christ.

I hope now many of the Kings Enemies will change their note, and sing Our new Song, But then let it come from the ground of the heart, And upon these terms They are welcome not only to Our Communion (to our Church, She never takes the Sword against her lawfull Sover­aign) but to that of the Angels in Heaven; for there is joy in the pre­sence of the Angels of God over one Sinner that repenteth, then much more joy over many repenting Sinners. What a noble change, or rather [Page 42] [...] [Page 43] [...] [Page 42] what a Glorious transfiguration would be wrought upon These men, that were lately Instruments of miscief; would They now turn Saviours in their kind, such as the Prophet gives God thanks for, Thou gavest them Saviours who saved them out of the hands of their Enemies, Nehem: 9. 27. I will not say the third part of the Stars are smitten down (as they were in St. Iohn's vision) yet now so many who shin'd heretofore in their proper Orbs are fallen. And yet the greatest Cou­rage in the World may finde Room enough to exercise and shew it self in a Thorough Penitent; as tis excellently argued by St. Chryso­stom, That David shew'd a more undaunted greatness of mind in daring to think of Surmounting the Sin, and the Shame, and to set up again for a Saint, after his Foul, Treacherous and Bloody offence in the mat­ter of Ʋriah, than he had shewn in his Single Combat with Goliah of Gath.

LONDON, Printed for Benjamin Took at the Ship in St. Pauls Church-yard.

REbellion (says Samuel) is as the sin of Witchcraft: Satan first Rebelled against the great Monarch of the World, and tho his Ambition tumbled him down from the bright Regions of Bliss into eternall Chains of Darkness, yet his instruments carry on the same Rebellion still; tho' the scene be changed, and the Plot carried on at a distance, the design is still the same, only that Our earthly Rebels are in this the worse Devils, that They dare Rebell against God and the King too.

This Psalm in general is a pathetical complaint of David to Almigh­ty God of the Pride, Treachery, Malice and Cruelty of wicked men, who (as Solomon says) seek only Rebellion; and These wicked men (ex­positors tell us) are Those whom he had maintain'd and preferr'd in his own Court, and were therefore the more wicked and the more dan­gerous; of which very persons he says; It is not an open Enemy that hath don me this dishonour, &c.

Divisions are of late soe dangerous, that I shall not dare soe much as [Page 44] to divide my Text, but will only raise from it this proposition; That it is no [...] new thing for the worst of men to make use of the sacred name of Religion, to palliate the most abominable undertakings. Bloodshed, the Murtherer of the▪ Fathers and Defenders of Religion (Pious Kings and Princes) destruction and Massac [...]e of their Fellow Subjects, pulling down and overturning of all polity in the World, must be all usher'd in (as We see it this day) with the Lamb-like harmless voice of Re­ligion: And tho' in these Glorious times of the Ghospel they cannot pos­sibly think so, yet They will pretend, that in all this They do God good Service; so true is that of our Saviour; They come to Us in Sheeps Cloathing, but inwardly They are Ravening Wolves.

My proposition has been so often and soe sadly proved, even Among Our selves, that to go about to confirm it by Arguments or precedents were to light you with a Lanthorne, in the Sun-shine, or to perswade you that you are wounded, when you are (now) Roaring under the smart and anguish of the Blow. An evil man (says Solomon) seeks only Rebellion. therefore a cruel Messenger shall be sent against him. Prov: 17, 11.

We must have a care how we hearken to Those men, that make the greatest noise about Religion, which is not a thing of Talk and Noise and Tumult, but a Quiet, Calm, Peaceable thing: The Author of it was the Lamb of God, who neither stirred up the Jews to Rebell against the Roman Heatken C [...]sar, nor did he ever make use of any Sinister, or Vi­olent meanes to escape the hands of his bloody Persecutors and Cruci­fiers, who envied him for nothing more than his Religion, which he came on purpose to plant among them, and which was to be water'd with his own Blood, and brought to perfection by his own Death. In all his Actions, in the whole course of his Life, he was a Pattern to them of Meekness, Gentleness, Peaceableness, and Sub [...]ection. And truly I am affraid Those men, who make such an Hurry and Clutter about Religion, are not his Disciples, nor did They ever learn it from the Prince of Peace, especiall when They make Relligion the Argu­ment of Publick Commotions and Disturbances.

Let me now give you this Seasonable Caution. Doth any one come to you in Samuel's Mantle, in the Garb and Posture of a Prophet, and in that Sacred Disguise falsy whisper to you what that Aparition said truly to Saul; That God is departed from the King, and become his Enemy (for such Sprights also there are now abroad in the World, and Those in Black too) Have a care now? and stand upon your Guard! [Page 45] Look Diligently about you! are you not got into Endore e're you are aware? Is not the Witch and the Devil at work now, instead of Sa­muel, tempting You to ill thoughts of him, whom that more sure word if Prophecy (the word of God) tells you, ye shall not dare so much as to think Irreverently of? Remember that Apparition was an Extraor­dinary thing, never permitted but once, a thing that Frighted the Witch herself, and not like to be repeated again, for every Fantastick mans [...]ake, that would pretend to Inspiration. 'Tis true indeed; there are [...]ch Spirits in the World, but they are [...], Cademons or Wicked Spirits, Spirits of Rebellion and Mischief and Murder, as St. Paul Prophecies of, 2 Tim: 3, 4. Trayterous, Heady, High-minded, Lovers of pleasure more than Lovers of God, such as St. Iude describes, who Despise Dominion, speak evil of Dignities; And these St. Paul tells [...]s, have a form of Godliness; They appear like Lucifer himself, when [...]e is Transform'd into an Angel of Light, all Clad with the bright and Glorious Rays of pretended Sanctity, as if they were Sons of the Morn­ [...]ng, some of the Corps du Guard to the great King of Heaven: But then [...]ave a care, Mulier formosa superne, De [...]init in Piscem. Beware of the Clo­ [...]en Foot under the Robes of light; for tho' they have the form of God­ [...]iness, yet you may be sure they deny the Power of it, who endeavour to [...]essen and vilify those persons in your opinion, who bear the Image and [...]amp of Him, from whom they derive their Authority; By Me Kings Reign; And while they Command nothing▪ but what is in their Com­ [...]ssion, are no less to be obey'd than he that sent Them, and set them o­ [...]er us, however They are not In any Case to be Resisted; for Who­ [...]ever Resist shall Receive to Themselves Damnation. Rom: [...]3, 2.

And when his Majesty was Restored in meer Mercy to Us; for I can [...]arce call it any to him, who seem'd to be brought back only to new afflictions, by the Ingratitude and Repeated Rebellions and Conspira­ [...]es of a Stiff-necked and Hypocritical Generation, who have Repayd [...]ll those Blessings, that by Him were conveyed to Us, not only by Re­ [...]roachfull and Contumelious language, which Moses calls Reviling of [...]e Gods, Exod: 22, 28. But by atheistically, Sacrilegiously and Re­ [...]lliously Plotting and Contriving his death, to whose Mercy [now] [...]nd to his Brothers God-like Act of Oblivion, so many among Us owe [...]hose lives, which We are now Sacrificing to the God of Rebellion a­ [...]ainst him. A King so dear to Heaven, that it has shewn as many Mi­ [...]acles in his preservation, as Hell hath produced Plots even to a Mira­cle, [Page 46] [...] [Page 47] [...] [Page 46] for his destruction. I need not refresh your Memories which the wonderfull Acts of Heaven in his whole life, which has had its black lines of affliction, more perhaps than any other King we read of, in the Murther of that glorious Saint; his Royal Father, the several Exiles of himself, and the Royal Family, and the present Calamnities, which now attend him, in all which he hath suffer'd and doth still continue to suffer more than I can relate, or he could bear, were he not sustain'd by the right hand of the most High while he not only was, but now is again what St. Paul says of himself, [...]n Iournying often, in Perils of Waters, in Perils of Robbers, in Perils by his own Country-men, in Perils among False Bretheren [Treacherous Favourites] in Weariness, in Painfulness &c. And now let Us pray to God that he would move Us all to walk more uprightly, and more sincerely before him, And that the same God would make Us for the future more Loyal to our King; that We may not any longer deal Hypocritically with the one, or Rebelliously with the other, That God may once more speak Peace to his People.

LONDON, Printed for Walter Kettilby at the Bishops Head in St. Paul's Church-yard:

HAth the Nation scarcely wip'd Their Eyes dry for the Blood of the Incomparable Father, but must it be drown'd again in Tears, for the murther of his succeeding Sons? And that in a scene of cruelty more inhumane, and with a malice more infatiable than the former. [And may I now say (as this juncture stands) being from Men that were once the least to be suspected.] The rage of the Factions had then but the Blood of one King for its present gratification; but Our Zealo [...]s for the Cause could not glut their thirst for Royal Blood, but by murthering (as it were) Two at one blow; the life of the Dearest Brother too must be sacrificed to their fury and design. So that (methinks) I hear the Saints of that complexion say of him, Here is the Heir, come, let Us kill him also, and seize on the Inheritance. [But let Us declare the wonders of God, for that the King hath escap'd the killing, tho the Rebels have assisted an Usurper to seize on his Majesties Inheri­tance.] A Prince who all along manageth the conduct of his own King­doms and Government, with such a sweetness and ingenuity of temper, that he never did, or can, choose to see his meanest subj [...]cts so much as [...]neasy, if Ob [...]inacy precludes not his Royal Kindness to relieve Them: [Page 48] [...] [Page 49] [...] [Page 48] In a word, a Prince that is every thing, that a character of any the most gracious King can represent him.

And is it This? Such a King! that was design'd to be barbarously murther'd by his own Subjects! [and now as basely betray'd by the most villanous treacheries!] O! are you not all struck with such an horrour at the thoughts of it, as even to forget You have a being at all? Don't all the Blood of Your Ueins chill to a stone, at the very notice of it? And are not your whole Souls, and all their faculties, swallow'd up with surprize and amazement? Why don't You cry to the Heavens and the Earth to be astonish'd, that it should ever enter into the hearts of any of the Christian name, to attempt such acts, that would not only have justified the salvageries of the most brutish Barbarians, but even made Hell it self comparatively innocent in its worst consults. Such acts! that do invert the order of the mischievous Regions, and hath placed the Bottomless Pit (as it were) above ground, and hath so out-done Devils at their own art, that they shall for ever after be tormented with envy, as with a new kind of Hell; that there should be among mankind (in a certain Island) greater Devils than Themselves. Marvel not that I dis­course in this rapturous manner, the Case requires it, and it is a defect not so to express it. The Devil as General, with his Lieutenants in sheeps clothing, under the Flag of a Thorough Reformation, had once again rallied the Whole Protestancy, that is, all the Heresies that ever infested the Catholick Church in all ages, especially the Reformados of the Knip­perdollian and Knoxian Regiments, to bear down before them all that's regular and loyal, learned and pious.

And let us now behold further the sad consequences that have already, and are still like to attend Us. Did you not see the enraged Vulgar turn their Plow-shares into Swords, and their Pruning-hooks into Spears, to execute what their bloody Leaders long fermented malice had before contriv'd? Every Village is now likely to become a seat of War, all united Neighbourhoods are now in danger of being turn'd into distinct Hostilities, and every single person is like to be lysted into one side or other to carry on the fatal, the sad and dismal work of a Thorough De­struction. How happy were We, when the armed Troops in our streets march'd only as our Defence and Guard; When our Trumpets sounded nothing but the welcome Joys of our common Safety; and our Drums beat Us every night to bed▪ for an unsuspected quiet. [But alas, We must now awake amidst all the dismal Alarms of horrour and confusion, and our beloved Countrey is like to be the Seat of that War, which [Page 49] is most just against Us: How could We dethron [...] ­ted!]

This Treason! this late Conspiracy! was not only [...] [...]betted, but really managed and acted, by a considerable [...]art of [...] ­ [...]ility, [Lords Spiritual and Temporal] who having aff [...] by Petitioning, Protesting and Ca [...]alling, gave the seditious [...] f [...]ll assurance, that They own'd and headed their Cause. Bu [...], [...] unfor­tunate Gentlemen, (or Wretches rather) that [...]ou should co [...] be Tools, and to creep in the dust, to humour a Pievish and unworthy [...]action: That They should go about to blend and extinguish that Light [the King] from whence They borrow'd their own Lustre; and choose to fall from their own Starry Orbs, to turn Blinking Meteors in the [...]usty Regions, to shine only by the Favour of an unjudicious and uncon­ [...]nt multitude under the Reign of an Ʋsur [...]er.

This Conspiracy hath been greatly supported under the pretence, and by the obliging name of Religion. Now as Religion bears generally the most powerful Charm in the minds of men, and influenceth them to the highest resolutions of acting, be the attempts never so difficult or ha­zardous: So must the danger of any evil procedure be encreased, that [...]ath gain'd such a prevailing abatement. And such was our Case. All the Factions (tho in other things they may irreconcilably disagree, yet) [...]curr in this one common principle, That they mans Religion is [...]s own Private Conscience, which he is to believe is the immediate dic­ [...]ate of God, and which he is bound indisputably to follow. Now when this notion of Religion is entertain'd, it sets up in every factious mind an uncontroulable Tribunal, which governs with a power superior to all [...]mane reason, laws and authority; and gains such an ascendant over [...]ch mens thoughts and actions, that like the Commanders power in the Gospel, I say to one Man, come, and he cometh; and to another, Go, and [...] goeth. Go; saith Conscience, fetch me a Chain, to bind this King, [...] Those iron Fetters, to tye down those Nobles; It's dispatch'd with­ [...]ut dispute: And if then it saith, Go and pluck down those Idolatrus Stru­ [...]ures, and let those superstitious Ministers be cast out of them; if such a con­ [...]ence be but tinctured from Scripture, that those are Groves and High [...]aces, and these are Baalitish Priests and Dumb Dogs, the work is [...]one in an instant. When this Soveraign Conscience enjoyns this Oath [...]o be taken; another, to be superseded, or broken; such a Jury to be [...]ack'd, and such a Verdict to be given, let an innocent mans life, or even [...] safety of an whole Nation lye at stake, He can no more suspend his [Page 50] Duty, than violate his Credit of being of the Godly Party. Nay if Blood lyes in the way of Reformation, 'tis but Whispering into Conscience a Text or two, and it bids the man ( [...]it be against whom it will) Goe, and utterly destroy those Sinners the Amalakites, and Fight against them till they be consumed, as he finds it, 1 Sa [...]: 15. 18. Or if he Reads, Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently, and that keep­eth his Sword from Blood, as he is told Jer: 48. 10. Or if he but hears a Curse ye Meroz, unless you raise a Regiment to fight the Lords Battels; The man of Conscience can no more resist such a call, than if a Revelati­on from Heaven had set him at work. And what mischief these and such like destructive principles have done We all know, and are now like sadly to smart under the miserable consequence of them. But when shall the Prophecy of the Royal Martyr be accomplished among Us, who told his Son (our Soveraign Lord) That when the mask of Religion should be Pull'd off the Face of Rebellion;—He might then see happy Days. But instead of that, Doe We not now see three Kingdoms im­broyl'd in the most unnatural War, or which is worse made Slaves to the most unnatural Tyrants! Tho' we have not yet heard the sad Tydings of Cities lay, in Ashes, or of, Fields covered with the Slain, yet We have just; alas too just! reason to fear that destruction attends Us at our ve­ry dores; And We have seen that the Innocent and Loyal have been eve­ry where made a Prey, to Satiate the Malice of a Revengful Faction! And for their sakes the Nation is Now again become the Reproach of Christianity, and Scorn of Man-kind.

LONDON, Printed for Walter Kettilby.

THe Jews were always a Moody Head-strong People, Impatient of any kind of Government, Theocracy it self could not please them, They Murmured against Moses and Aaron, &c. And when the Messias appears as Moses had don before in this great Junct­ure of hardship, They adhere to their Oppressors, and shamefully reject the [...]r Saviour; by Libelling his Government in general, by throwing con­tempt upon his person in particular, Is not this the Carpenters Son? by traducing his life and conversation, making him a Winebibber, a Friend of Publicans and Sinners; by making base Reflections on his Dis­ciples and chief Ministers; by undervaluing his Doctrine, as inconsistent which the Pomp and Grandeur of the Roman Empire, by making him an Innovator, a disturber of the Establish'd Religion; and lastly (as the Height of their Malice) by Proclaiming him a Traytor and Enemy to Caesar, as having Si [...]ister ends to set up a Fi [...]th Monarchy, in opposition to the Fourth. And when all their pretences were Ba [...]ed, and they Re­duc'd to the last effort of Obstinate Rebels, to own Rebellion for Re­bellions sake, then They Magisteriously resolve themselves into the So­veraignty of their own Wills, and conclude against all Government in a direct Nolumus Hun [...], We will not have this man to Reign over Us, But can they think he will not Reign over them? Yes he does and will too at his last terrible Advent, when he shall come with all the Solemni­ties [Page 50] [...] [Page 51] [...] [Page 52] of Majesty to Judge the World, Pronounce Sentence upon These Wicked Citti [...]ens, and make Them the Vassals of Eternal vengeance, The certain Doom of all unrepenting Rebels!

I am sorry to tell you, that the frequent Tumults and Insurrections which have infested the Reigns of our British Kings, gave occasion to that Sarcastical saying; Rex Angliae, Rex Diabolorum; but you may tell your selves, that These Devils never Acted more like Devils▪ than since They were possessed and guided by the Turbulent Spirit of our Modern Pharisees the Presbyterians; who are the very Cittizens, that from their first Institution have shewn their hatred against Monarchs and Monarchy. John Calvin founded his Presbytery in Treason and Rebellion, the Cit­tizens having prepared his way by expelling from Geneva their Lawful Prince and Governor, Which violent Act was Encouraged, approved and confirmed by Calvin; and it has ever since been carried on by Schism and Sedition. Never was it Received into any Church, but it presently dissolv'd the Catholick unity of Faith, and broke the Bond of Peace; never into any State, which it did not embroil and throw into very dan­gerous Convulsions; never into any Family, which it did not divide, and set at variance; never did it get possession of any single man, whom it did not strangely transform with Pride and Morosness, made him unfit for Civil Society and Common Conversation.

Have the Presbyteria [...]s in any of their Synods censured or condemn'd the pernitious Tenets of Calvin or Beza? has Any of them had the grace to disown or write against their Dethroning Doctrines? if they have their Books have proved very ineffectual, for if We pass from their Prin­ciples to Their Practices, We shall find that They have always been of a Turbulent, Imperious and Bloody Spirit. And there have not been wanting Some Church Trimmers, still retaining a Fellow-feeling for the Cause, who from the Pulpit have endeavour'd to clear them, and [...]ay the guilt of their Horrid Murthers chiefly upon the Popish Priests; though they cannot finde the name of one Papist in the whole List of True Protestant Regicides.

The Principle of De [...]roning or Deposing Kings (charged upon the Jesui [...]s) has been publickly censur'd and condemn'd as impious and er­roneous in several Forreign Unsversities, written against by men of the Romish Communion, and is most solidly and unanswerably confuted by Barclay in his excellent Book De potestate Pap [...], &c. which book is dedi­cated to Clement the Eighth.

The Prerogative never suffer'd, no great Statesman has ever been [Page 53] disgrac'd, nor the Church of England it self (nay the Libertys of the People) ever Wounded, But a dreadful Outcry of Popery has [...] ­ceded, No man could shew his Fidelity to the Monarchy, but he was pre­sently blasted with the odious Title of a Court or a Church Papist.

Speaking against the Bill design'd to exclude his Royal Highness the Duke of York (now King) says this Reverend Divine. To say nothing to the Rude form observ'd in the penning of this Bill, that 'twas drawn up by a person since accused of High Treason; And to pass by the Ingra­titude of the Contrivers, against a Prince of such Eminent virtues; who has ventured his Royal Blood as frankly for the good of his Country, as the meanest Subject in it, & who was even then actually manifesting his unalterable Loyalty and affection to his Soveraign in Reducing Scotland to their Obedience; and We have at this hower great reason to be thankful to him for his Wise and Prosperous Conduct in that af­faire.

And I do here publickly declare; what was always my judgment, that I doe believe no human Acts or Power in the World can de jure hinder the descent of the Crown upon the next Heire, which is his unalterable Right by Religion, Law, History and Reason.

And now if We consider the quality of This Hellish Conspiracy, It is compounded of so many malignant Ingredients, that it looks more like a confederacy against Religion, Morality and the Common Sentiments of Humanity, than a Conspiracy against the Frame, Constitution and Administration of the Government, Ambition, avarice and Revenge have often lead men and bewitch [...]d them into Treasonable Associations But This seems to be the sole result of abstracted malice, of men aban­don'd to the curse of a Reprobate minde; who after having Travell'd through all the slow methods of Sedition, have now at last taken Arms and begun a most Bloody Rebellion against the Lord's Annoyn­ted.

And now what storms are coming upon Us! what Devastations and Spoyles (by Fire and Sword) may we justly dread. And the whole Na­tion alas! may now become a Theatre of War and Feild of Blood; And the streets fill'd with the Cryes of Widdows, and the Fatherless, with Murders, Rapins, Incest, Adulterys, Sacriledges, Massacres. and Conflagrati­ons. And what satisfaction now can any Loyal Subject have to think of Surviving the Ruines of the Government? or to live in a Land Polluted and Stain'd with Blood? to see daily before his Eyes the dismal specta­cle of his enslav'd undone Country? or to live in pepetual Fears of being [Page 54] made a Sacrifice himself? But it hath hitherto pleased that God, who allotteth to Atheists and Rebells a portion with the Hypocrite, to rescue and preserve his Majesty from the Paws of these Bloody Miscreants, Hence it appears, That good Kings are the immediate care of God; and that They should be so, seems agreeable to the Oeconomy of his Providence, and is confirm'd by Examples in all Ages. For They are his Annoynted, His Vicegerents, set over Us by his appointment, and are therefore en­tituled to a special Right in the Divine Providence. Of this Truth his present Majesty, with the late King his Royal Brother have been very Eminent Examples through the whole course of their Respective Lives.

And that which seems Truly deplorable in this Execrable Treason, is the Hardiness and Impenitence that accompanies This Rebellion, and pursues the Rebells to the very moments of their Deaths. But wo! be to Those wretched Guids, who lead Them into both; Those Betrayers of Souls! who instead of disposing men to Christian Obedience, have caused Them first to Rebell, and then instead of disposing Them to Re­pentance have encouraged them in the Rebellion; And then at their very Deaths have forc'd them (as it were) to Publish such Iustifications as seem written with designe to incite their accomplices to carry on the work here, whilst they are answering for it in the other world. and this consideration is enough to make the hearts of all good Christians Ake. And We must now pray, that as God hath hitherto preserved the King, so that Justice may overtake those Rebells and Traytors whom Mercy cannot Reclaim.

In a word then, as We are thankful to God for the preservation of his Majesty hitherto, so let Us implore Protection over him for the time to come, That he may daily Receive fresh Accessions of Strength and Splendor, and be Recompenced for the times, wherein He hath suf­fered Adversity.

Lonndon, Printed for R: Royston his Majesties Book-seller.

WE then most truly honour God, when we express a great sense of his Power and Soveraignty over us, in our Lives: And we then only glorify and acceptably praise Him, when we live according to his Commandements acknowledg the reasonableness and goodness of his Laws, and chearfully do those things, that are pleasing unto Him. Among these, there cannot well be an higher instance, than to live up to the Principles of that Excellent Religion, that he has ap­pointed To be the Measure of all our Actions.

To enquire now what was The Cavil and objection which these Foo­lish men made against Christian Religion, which the Apostle in the Text hath respect unto, and would have Silenced? And this may easily be re­solv'd, by considering the two verses immediatly preceding the Text; In which the Apostle doth press the duty of Obedience and Subjection to Our Lawful Governors, both Supream and Subordinate; Submit Your selves to every Ordinance of Man, whether it to be the King as Supreme, or unto Governors, as those that are sent by Him. And this he presseth by an Argument that can never fail of effect upon a good man, [...] for the Lord, and out of Conscience to him, whose Institution Government is, and who hath commanded Subj [...]ction to it▪ Upon which These words immediatly follow; by which We plainly understand, that the Objection which he enjoyns this Subjection in Con­futation [Page 56] of, was that old and early Clamour, that Christian Religion was an Enemy to Government, and the professors of it Factious and Se­ditious persons, The great Clamour against the Christians, upon which that great uproar against them at Thessalonica was stirred, Acts 17. 6, 7. was this, [...]hese that have Turned the World up-side down, are come hither also; and These all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another (one Jesus) King. This you will also finde the chief thing in the accusation against St. Paul, Acts 24, 5. For we have found this Man a Pestelent fellow, and a Mover of Sedition, &c.

And I doe most readily confess, that were this accusation true, were Christian Religion inconsistent with Government, an Enemy to it, or a Disturber of it, there could not be an objection that would be more fatal to it; all the Reproach and Dishonour that men could load it with, were just, there were no apology to be made for it, nor any thing to be ex­pected, but that all the world should combine together against it. All men that have any becoming thoughts of the Providence and Goodness of God, how tender he is of the good of Mankind, and how largly he hath provided for it, how wisely he conducts the course of humane affairs, and steers them by Rules, which would make them, and all things else that is happy, can never beleive That to be a Divine Religion, or be perswaded to accept it as coming from God, which perplexeth the course of things, and defeats these good purposes of God in the World. God is the God of Order and not of Confusion, the Author as well as Lover of Concord and Peace, and not of Ruine and Dissention among Men; And therefore can never be the Author of any Religion that is destructive of the One, and naturally effective of the other, among them. And it therefore greatly concerns all Those that hav [...] any Respect for the Christian Religion, to be sure to keep it clear from any Objections of this kind.

The Ancient Apologists have taken care [...]in their Noble defences of Christian Religion, to clear it from this Scandalous Reflection, By ap­pealing to the known Doctrines and Principles of it; They challenge the World to instance in any one saying in the new Testament, whether there [...]e the least hint or encouragement given to Rebellion, or any thing that can warrant the least undutifull Carriage towards our Go­vernors? Or rather, whether there be not enough asserted there, to assure Government, and to engage all persons to Subjection, upon better ar­guments, and stronger Reasons, than a [...]y yet were ever made use of be­fore, For here the Reason of Subjection is layd deep, and charged im­mediatly [Page 57] upon the Consciences of men, Resistance is [...] ­ si [...]ing the Ordinance of God, and Damnation is expressly threat [...] [...] ­gainst it. And yet I must needs say to the dishonour of Some men, That They have Robbed Christian Religion of this way of Defending itself, and defeated the effect of this appology for it.

Obedience is not only recommended, upon the great advantages of quietness and Peace, of happiness and Order, that result to the World from it, nor backed with the Sanctions of Temporal Punishment to Those that Rebell; but it is pressed upon Reasons of Conscience and Duty to God, and the danger of incurring that Eternal Damnation that is prepa­red in Hell, for the Lawless and Disobedient.

Kings will be better pleased, and satisfied with the quiet and peace­able Lives of their Subjects; their chearful obedience to their Laws, and Their ready complyance with their pleasure, than with all the formal Caresses, and Protestations of Loyalty and Love. And I wish Some men of late had not given Them too great cause to conclude, that Mens Practices and Prof [...]ssions doe not always go together.

The good Christians of Old were in all cases peaceable and submis­sive, They readily obeyed, and heartily pray'd for their Governors, Even when mos [...] Barbarously and unjustly provoked to the contrary; so that not one Christian dyed as a Rebel or a Traytor, in all the Early Perse­cutions of Christianity, nor for several Centuries; And you may challenge any of our modern Factors for Treason to instance in One. Nay, it is well known that even Julian the Apostate acquits Them from this as­pe [...]sion, and upbraids his Heathen Subjects, with the Obedience and Loy­alty of the Galileans (as he scornfully calls them) which is the more re­markable testimony, for coming from the mouth of the Bitterest Ene­my that Christiani [...]y ever had.

And now alas! amongst all the sad Circumstances of Our late Trea­sons and Rebellion, there are none [...]e ought more to be concerned for, than the Impiety and Guilt of the Conspirators, and the advantage that some men will take hence, to Reproach the Protestant Religion. Oh! Cursed Impi [...]ty and Hypocricy! are these things becoming True [...]ro­testants? Is this the effect of all your Starch'd and formal Godliness▪ Doe all your Oaths and Vows of Loyalty, and service to Your King? Do all Your appeals to God, for the sincerity of your Intentions? Do all your Solmn Protestations of care and concern for his safty, come at last to this? good God! that Plots and Conspiracys against the King, Nay [...]n Rebellion it self, should shelter themselves under the Gospell! And Reli­gion [Page 58] [...]e [...] to Colour that, which almost above all things it abhors. What shall we say of such men? who can help U [...] to Names and Cha­racters bad enough for Them? who have put off not only Religion, but Humanity, and are Actualy commenced Devils.

LONDON, Printed for Henry Bonnick at the Lyon near St. Paul's

THe Rebellion that was to begin at Heb [...]on, did happen under the pretence of paying a vow unto the Lord, that is, under the Veil or Disguise of Religion, Absolom said to the King, Let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord in Hebron, 2 Sam: 15. 7. Nothing more usual than to give out, For the cause of Christ! whilst under that vizor, They Act parts quite contrary to his Holy Doctrine and Blessed Example. And this is ever observable, in a well formed Conspiracy (if a Conspiracy can in any sence be so expressed) First, To settle it self Under some Chief Leader, that by Popular Arts [Page 59] hath insinuated Himself into the Multitude, Giving Himself out to be some mighty one, And what he wants of a just Title (as that ought ever to be maintain'd in an Hereditary Kingdom) He will make good in his defence of the Peoples Religion, Estates, Lives and Fortunes.

The late Lord Russel, encouraged by this Scotch Doctrine. That it is Lawful to defend a mans Conscience by open Force against any Autho­rity whatsoever, did dare adventure his Body (Yea I [...]remble) his very Soul on this false bottom, so his Execreable paper seems to import, But instead of a Faithful (I fear) he met with a Faithless Confes­sor: B [...]rne [...]. For who (that is not resolved to quit humanity) will believe that to be Religion, which is Maintain'd with Treasons and Murders of the most Purple Dye? And here we may observe, of what Mischievous Consequence any Combination is, whether influenced by self-Interest, Pride, Ambition, Spight or Malice. When We are once lead out of the Kings High-way of Honnour and Honesty, into any By-paths of our own, We soon fall into the Broad road of Rebellion.

Having taken a Survey of This Hellish Conspiracy, a suddain Horrour here Seifeth my trembling heart, at the sad apprehensions of what hath already, or may still, most justly befall Us, The dismal consequences of a Bloody War! &c. The face and voice of an Angel (which hitherto hath been for Religion, Estates, Lives and Liberties) is now like to be changed into the hands of a Devil, who may rend those dearest Interests into a thousand pieces; And the bleeding marks of the Last Rebellions, being Scarse out of our sides, We are now again like to be turned into avery Shambles.

But surely We that have been so many years, a Lasting mark of Infa­my (over the habitable Earth) for Murdering King Charles the First, of Blessed Memory, and Betraying his present Majesty, as Judas did his Sa­viour, can no longer delight, in a continuance of such disgrace, as wants a Parallel. Have We forgot our Oaths of Allegiance? Have We cast be­hind Us all past favours from the Crown? to Betray our Trust, to lift up our hands against God's Annoynted! sure there are Some, the better they be dealt with, the worse still ye shall find them, And of These con­stan [...]ly David was most in danger.

LONDON, Printed for William Crook at the Green Dragon without Temple-Bar.

THe special Providence of God is seen in nothing more, than in watching over Princes, in preserving Them, and their King­doms, and in supporting their Government For the hearts of Men are naturally so impatient of Subjection, and so greedy of Power; their particular interests are so divided; their designs are so various; their Passions are so violent; their Principles are so different; their minds are so sett upon Villany and Mischeif, (and what through Ambition or Co­vetuousness, or Discontent) their Spirits are so restless, that 'tis by a daily Miracle that Princes live, and 'twould be impossible for them to be safe one Moment, did not the immediate had of God (of whom alone They hold their Crowns) Shelter and Protect Their Persons, and overule the Mad­ness of Turbulent and Blood-thirsty People.

Perhaps noe Prince living ever had such ample experience of this, as King David had; unless W [...] will except our own dread Soveraign, whose case comes nearest to a Parallel: Davia's Title to the Crown was Unquestionable: His Government was equal and easie; His heart was of a Tender and Compassionat Temper; He was ready to forget the greatest wrongs, and not only to Forgive, but also to express Kindness to the greatest Criminals; insomuch that Iob had the Confidence, in the heat of his Passion, to tell Him, That He Loved his Enemies more than his Friends, and, by so doing, Shamed the Faces of all his Servants, 2 Sam: 19.

All this notwithstanding, tho' David was a Man according to God's own heart a Character which God himself gave him) yet the poor Prince found Troubles on every side, First he was prese [...]u [...]ed by Saul. and anon forced to a Controversie with Saul's [...]ouse One while he was in da [...]ger from Enemies abroad, and another while from disaffected Men at home. Now he was Conspired against by Absalom, which afflicted hi [...] the more Because the Rebel was his Son. Then he was railed at by S [...]ime [...], that Dog (as Abishai rightly call'd him) the Sier of all that [...]yt [...]r, which are continually Yelping at the Lords Annoynted. Nor was this all, For Sheba and his Fellow Traytors raised a formidable In [...]urrection against him, being frustrated of their expectations at the Kings Return: For David had been in Exile, being Forced to Fly [or withdraw] from his Rebellious Subjects, and upon his happy Restauration Some Israe­lites were enraged, that They had not that Interest at Court which They hoped for; and hereupon They were vexed that the King was come home, and so an Alarm was sounded, Every Man to his Tents, O Is­rael, 2 Sam: 20.

Had not the Divine Providence been David's Shield and Salvation, that Excellent Prince had been utterly Ruin'd by This Army of Trou­bles, which continually follow'd him at the Heels. But God was his support and stay; and tho' there was Plot upon Plot, and Rebellion af­ter Rebellion, Yet He trusted still to the Righteousness of His Cause.

David Commemorates with thankfullness throughout this his Book of Psalms God's unwearied goodness and singular Mercy towards him, From whence he draws this Conclusion, for the comfort of all Righteo [...]s Princes, which should come after; that tho' God may, and many times doth, For great Ends and Reasons, suffer Them to be Evil Entreated for a Time; yet he will not only be with them in their Troubles, but also will (sooner or later) give Them a fair Exit, out of all their distress Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous, &c.

There are Some, who have gain'd such a perfect Mastery over their Consciences, that they can believe even a Cheat that serveth their turn, and dis­blieve even a Miracle that wounds their Interests▪ discerning Men have seen for several years last past, that our King and Government were both in eminent danger because those very [...]r [...]ifices being Imploy'd again, which served effectually to destroy the Father, We had all the reason to believe they were intended to Dethron the Son too; it being impossible, but the same means used in the same manner, must tend to the accomplishment of the same Ends.

Some Men by their tacit Confessio [...]s and Artificial shifts; by exte­nuating and mincing matters [by their d [...]ny [...]ng publickly to excuse themselves (at the Kings request) from the foulest charge that was ever drawn against Prelates] did force all men to conclude, that there was some great thing in hand, which needed the utmost of their Art and Skill [which they have since most lewdly brought to its accu [...]sed Per­fection] And I am apt to think that These men who can call Resistance, only Innocence, will so lessen the matter, that Cutting of Throats will be termed only a new way of Triming, and the Destruction [or Dethron­ing] of Princes, to be no more but a Perfecting the History of the Re­formation.

Who could imagin, that after so many Protestations and Professions of sorrow for former miscarriages! after so many vows of Loyalty and hearty Obedience! after so many Oaths of All [...]giance and Supremacy, repeated over the whole Nation! after such Acts of Indemnity granted even to Monsters of Rebells! after such prof [...]snes [...] of Royal Bounty, whereby Villains were enriched and grew fat! after so many expressions of Goodness, Tenderness and Clemency, enough to s [...]ften any Devils but Fanaticks! after so many specious Adresses, said to be presented by his Majesties Most Dutifull and Loyal Subjects! I say, who could ima­gine, that after all This, any Such men should be found among Us, that would not only Conspire against the King [but have now Hellishly en­gaged Themselves in an open Rebellion against Him.] But methinks if Men would but seriously consider, how the Providence of God hath been particularly concerned for our King all along, from his Birth even to this day [in delivering him from dangers and freeing him from the Mischievous Imaginations of Wicked Men, &c.] it should be enough to turn the hearts of all his Enemies, and prevail with Them to love his Government and Him, who hath continually been, And Still is, won­derfully preserved by the immediate Care of Heaven. I have heard of a Iew that was Converted to the Christian Faith, by considering these Wonders of Christ for the King.

Though the generality of Men have been strangely Blinded and mis­lead, by the Artifices of Those, who made use of Mens Fears of Popery, to promote their own Fanatick and Republican Interests; Yet there were [and still are] Many that will not be wrought upon To bow down their knees to Baal; [or Worship the Golden Calf which Same Men have set up] We have all pretended gr [...]at Honour and Affections for his Majesty, and a most tender care for his safety and preservation. But [Page 63] We can never be Loyal or good Subjects, till We appl [...] our selves hear­tily to the necessa [...] business of Repen [...]ance, and Turn from the Evil of our ways; We ought to make it the business of our whole life▪ Truly to Fear and Obey God, And then we [...]eed not fear the most Malicious and Wicked Parties of Those who have basely gon off from the King's Side (if ever they were really on it) And gon off too, with all sorts of Debauchery and Immorality along with Them.

Tis necessary too that Men repent of their Follies, Has the P: O: kept to his De­claration? that they have been so credulous and easy, In taking the words, and trusting to the Principles, and ab [...]tting (tho' Inadvertently) the Practices of these Conspi­rators; And to beware of the like Follies for the future. Those Princi­ples which have been sent so thick abroad of late, That the King hol­deth not his Crown Jure divino, but is the Common Wealths Trustee and Delegate; That he is accountable to his People; That all his Rights are founded upon Human Laws, That He is a Co-Ordinat State; And that the Supreme or Soveraign Power is Lodged in the People: Whi­ther did These Doctrines tend, but to the Deposition and Destruction [or B [...]nishment] of his Majesty? you may observe they were the Prin­ciples which Bradshaw went upon at the Kings T [...]yal.

The manifest obstructing the Course of Justice, notwithstanding full and pregnant Evidence; The protecting of the B [...]sest F [...]l [...]ows, and the greatest Cri [...]i [...]als, who had nothing to recommend them but this, that They were Factious and Dishonest; The taking of Oaths, not in the sense of the Law, but according to every Mans priva [...]e construction; The ju­stifying of the most infamous villains; and the zealous endeavours which have been used, both to rescue Traytors from the Law, and to cl [...]anse their Reputation, af [...]er they were condemned for the foulest Malefactors Whither did all thi's tend, but to embolden Conspirators, and to encou­rage them with securities from all manner of Penalty, if they had but the Character of true Protestants? A character of the Popish [...]lot. The Suborning of Wretches, to say and unsay, to speak by Roat, and to tell every thing but truth; The Supporting of Perjury as a Trade, far more profitable than any old English Manufacture; and the Stitching up of every hole, which any Common Idiot could see in an improbable Story, What did this tend to, but to keep a great stock of Oaths in Bank, to swear the King himself out of his Honour and his Life? The Charge and Sweat which Thousands have wasted, to put the most Disaffected persons into [Page 64] Places and Offices of great Trust, and Power! What did this tend to, but to make Resistance and Rebellion look fair with the Face of Autho­rity? the aspersing of the Government; the Calumniating of his Majesty, and all Subordinate Magistrates, and Loyal Ministers of State; The Frightning of Men with such a noise of Popery, when so many had ex­changed all Religion for Atheism; The Out-cry against Tyrany, when the Licenciousness of those very men argued that Common Justice could not be done, no, not for the King himself; What did all this tend to but to Subvert the Fundamental Constitution both in Church and State? The dispersing of Libells; The Countenancing of the most Seditious Pam­phlets, that came from the Rudest and Fllthiest hands; The Scareing of Men (if it had been possible) from speaking Reason, Justice or Truth; And the practicing of every thing that serv'd for the diminution of all that is Good, Great, and Noble; What did all this tend to, but to help Evil-minded Men by degrees and Inches to get to the king's Throne, that they might Assaffinate his Person with a full Thrust, and then leave it to the prejudiced and ill affected world to make their Appology.

One would have thought it impossible, that discerning Men should not be able to look to the end of these things, nor so much as to guess at the Conclusion by the premisses: But so it was that great multitudes of Men (Some of whom I am peswaded were not guilty of Black Intentions) were led away with the Common Error, and upon false presumptions; That nothing was at the Bottom, but a tru [...] Design for the Interest and Stability of Religion; The Stale pretence that turn'd the Nation into Aceldema once before! 'Tis High time therefore for such to be sor­ry to see how greatly They were befool'd, and to consider with them­selves how far they may have contributed (tho' unwittingly) to the car­rying on a Design Soe Horrid and Barbarous without a Parallel; and by their just Indignation for what is past, and Highest zeal for the future, to endeavour (if it be possible) to make his Majesty Reparation for those intollerable mischiefs, which Blood-thirsty Traytors would (per­haps) never have attempted upon the Confidence of their own Interest.

I have no more to add' but that We give all dilligence Religiously and Honestly to perform Our Duty to God, and to his Annoynted; and in so doing to look up to the Hills from whence all our help cometh, and to trust in God for Our deliverance from These Dangers which Stand now dreadfully before Us, trusting in Him, who hath heretofore deli­vered Us, that He will deliver Us yet Still; Tho the troubles of the Righteous be many, Yet the Lord delivereth him out of all.

London, Printed for William Abington next the Wo [...]der in Lu [...]g [...]e-street.

THo' wicked men of all kinds are at never so great a distance a­mong themselves, yet Truth being equally an Enemy to them all, it moves their hatred so much against it self, that other dis­gusts and Broyls are soon forgotten. So the Pharisees, Sadduces, and Herodians laboured at all times to undermine each other, but readily combined together to destroy our Saviour. The more vigorous and bright Truths luster is, the more violent the assaults of its opposers, be: So it proved in the Primitive Church, many and absurd Heresies sprung up in it, The breaches between the different Hereticks were irreparable, And yet They Lived almost in a constant Conspiracy against the True Catholick Church of Christ: And he that examins Church History will finde, that when peace gave the greatest Ornaments to Christianity the Mushroon Heresies and Schisms grew up the fastest; as on the contra­ry, when Religion grew indifferent and the Professors of it Lukewarm, Hereticks and Schismaticks seemed to lay down their Weapons, as if Hell had no more employment for them.

The Devil is never so truly dreadful, as when he puts on the shape of an Angel of Light, otherwise every one stands upon his guard, but then the Subtle Serpent insinuats himself into the bossoms of those, who least sus­pect his poysonous nature. And Wicked Men can never possibly do such mischief, as when They put on the visor of Piety; The servants of God avoid Them, when they appear like Themselves, But when the sheeps Clothing has invested the Wolf, even he may pass for a very Innocent Creature.

It is not to be question'd, but that the acknowledgment of the True God, and the offering due sacrifices to him as God, is the main Foundation of True Religion: But a bare Foundation without a Superstructure is of on worth, for upon these Principles plainly and evidently depend a great number of other things, which, if not observed, prove that the Foun­dation [Page 64] [...] [Page 65] [...] [Page 66] was never truly own'd; For if a man believe indeed that there is a God, and by offering Sacrifices, acknowledgeth there is a duty ow­ing to that God, nothing can be commanded by that God, nothing for­bidden, but the man (if he hopes for Salvation) must sincerely, and to the utmost of his power obey it. All the Commands of God must be punctually obey'd; Men may not cull out this, or another, according to their own Fancies, since the Rule is infallibly Authentick, Iam. 2, 10. That whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all; The reason is because he breaks that very Foundation he builds upon viz.) The confession of a God, and our duty to Him: The Apostle makes the inference, verse the 11: For He that said do not commit Ad [...]l [...]ery, said also, do not Kill; now if thou commit no Adulte­ry, yet if thou Kill Thou art become a [...]ransgressor of the Law: so then if any man pretend, out of a sense of his duty to God, to do one or more things, and yet mindes not some other things, which God has com­manded aswell as those, His whole Obedience is nothing, and his whole pretence a Lye, he really (with the Fool) says in his heart, there is no God.

But if at last we look into the word of God, we shall find that as he has commanded us to abstain from all Immoralities, even from whatso­ever has the least appearance of Evil; so he has by the Apostle enjoyn'd Us to mark, to set a brand of infamy on Those, which cause Divisions and Offences, contrary to the Doctrine We have learned, and to avoid them, 1 Thes: 5, 22. For They that are such serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Belly, and by good words and fair speeches De­ceive the Hearts of the People, Rom: 16 17, 18. It is not the openess of a Sin that makes it comparitively the greater; Malice is as bad as Theft, yet it lys close conceal'd within the dark Recesses of the heart; Witchcraft is an obscure Sin, few know what it is, yet every one be­lieves it worse than Drunkeness, Adultery, Covetuousness, &c. And Trea­son tho' it hates the light, is as had as Profaness. To Curse the King in Our hearts (tho' never so secretly) is a Damnable Sin, And 'tis the same To contrive Tumults and Rebellions in the State, against Our Law­ful Soveraign. But these last admit of one particular aggrava [...]ion be­yond all bare Immoralities whatsoever; and it is this, every one who pretends to Conscience acknowledges it to be his duty, to abjure all Immoralities, while many pretend to be active in the other only for Con­science sake, And when Sin is once abetted by that which men call Con­science, the mischievous effects of it know no bounds.

Presently after the King's Restauration, before things wre fully settled [Page 67] Tong, Phillips, Stubbs, Hind, Sallers, Gibbs, (all of 'Em men pretending to tender Consciences) were executed at Tyburn 22 Decemb. 1662. for no meaner a design than Cutting off Root and Branch, Kings! Queens! Dukes! Bishop! all were to go one way! That there should be no Run­ing beyond Seas, or parlyes there, but a Total destruction of the King, Lords, Bishops and Gentry; The Plot when effected to be Charged upon the Papists, and the People to be excited to Rise in Arms under pretence of a Popish Massacre; And the Godly party in the year following were Plotting again (in the Northern parts) to carry on the same work their Brethren had failed in before; Of which Treasonable Plot; His Majesty told the two Houses, That it was of a large extent, and very near execu­tion, had not he by God's goodness come to the knowledg of the Princi­pal contrivers, and so secured them from doing their intended mischief. But still the Evil Spirit was not quite lay'd, In the year 1666 the sever­al Parties ventur'd once more upon a Plot, To Murder His Majesty, Overthrow the Government, Surprise the Tower, Kill the Lord Gene­ral and to Fire the City of London, which Plot was to have been exe­cuted September the third of that year: Mony was distributed to the Con­spirators, and a Council of the Heads setled at London for the Manage­ment of affairs: For which Hellish Plot Rathbone, Saunders, Tuck [...]r, Flint, Evans, Myles, Westcot, and Cole, were executed. And tho' so many suf­fered, yet one part of the Plot was unhappily effected in that dread­ful Conflagration wherein the great Metropolis of the Kingdom was lay'd in Ashes. This being disappointed the Devil of Sedition flew into Sc [...]tland, when in the same year the Old Covenanters broke out into Rebellion, at Pentland hills, soon after Iames, Mitchel (a Covenanting Mi­nister) attempted the Assassination of Dr. Sharp, the most Reverend Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews, and in the attempt mortally wounded the Bishop of O [...]k [...]y: But the poor Arch-bishop escaped not so; Implaca­ble Fanatis [...]n pursued, 'till he was effectually Murdered by some of the Crew (with the most inexpressible barbarity) 3d May 1679, The same month a new Rebellion (under the Banner of the Covenant) broke out at Bothwell Bridge, where Their Powers were crush'd once again; From which blow God grant They never more return. But all these ill Suc­cesses, have not yet (It seems) so tamed our numerous Sectaries, and their Favourers, but that Religious Treason has once more made its Entry among Us; The King himself, the Duke, the great Officers of State, the Loyal Magistrates of the City of London, all doom'd to Slaugh­ter, &c. No [...]op [...]p [...]! No Slave [...]y! has been the Common Cry, They act­ing therein like those Sabtle villains, who when they have Killed a man [Page 68] [...] [Page 69] [...] [Page 68] themselves, are the most busie to find out the Murderers. Same tell us, that he Members of the last Parliament at Westminster were All Church Men; But what [...]hey were, their horrid actions declared, Such Church Men the true Church of England will always disown, as only fit Associats for Conspirators and Rebells.

Is † This the True Protestancy some have boasted so much of? Or are all P [...]pishly aff [...]ted who declar can Hear­ty The Rebellion now on Foc [...]. abhorrence of all such D [...]ilish Principles and P [...]ati­ces? May We all bear that reproac [...]ful Character, ra­ther than for a Popular Ti [...]le, run headlong to the Devil. And let all Persons, who profess Loyalty to their Soveraign be truly Loyal to that God, who is the great preserver of Princes; Let the world be convinced, that even s [...]eming virtues, which render Schismaticks plausible, are solid and real in all Thos [...], who maintain God's ancient, solemn & r [...]g [...]lar wor­ship; Let Us Fear God and Honour and Trust our Soveraign; Let no Subtle Emissarles of Faction, make Us suspicious of our Superiours, or of one another, That so We preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace and Righteousness of Life, the wo [...]k of God may prosper in Our hands; That Plots Treasons and Rebellions against Our Law­ful Prince, may for ever be execra [...]ed and accursed, And all England may hear and fear, And no such W [...]ckedness may be hea [...]d of among Us any more. London Printed for Walter Kettilby.

THe good Providence of God over the Sacred Persons and Go­vernment of Princes in p [...]eserving both from the most Malicious designs of so many Restless and Sanguinary Spirits, is one of [Page 69] the most stupendious works of God's Omnipotence, that ever He hath shew'd since the last day of the Creation, a Miracle which was the Com­mon Subject of King David's thankfull M [...]itations (up and down throughout his whole Book of Psalms) and pa [...]icularly in this Psalm, where after a most humble manner he doth adore the infinite Mercy and Power of God, For Delivering Him and his Subj [...]cts, from the [...]reat­ning dangers of a fresh Insurrection: And that too, when the Rebellion was so formidable, When the Malice of Wicked Men was so outragious; when their app [...]tites were not to be satisfi [...]d but with streams of Blood, when Ruin was breaking in upon the whole land like a mighty Torrent, when without the immediate help of God, nothing could be expected but utter desolation; when the danger was so emminent, and seemingly so inevitable, that Those Men of Uiolence thought themselves as sure, as if the Prey they sought after, were already in the Gin; Then was the time for God to lay to his hand, to make bare his Arm, and to gain himself Fo [...] our so was the King Delivered from Rochester. by reseu [...]ng Innocence from the Pitt, as it lay at the Brink, ready to drop into the depth of Destruction. And this [...]a [...]ger did proceed from S [...]eba and his Associates; a desperate Leader of a Uery Terrible Defection; nothing being more dangerous to any Prince, than the United Malice of Rebellions Spirits, that submit, not for Conscience sake, but either upon Constraint, or for Their Inte­rest only.

I doubt not but David in the Penning of this Psalm particularly thought of the Conspyracy of his Bloody Son Absolom, that formerly had been guilty of shameful Murder; his Ambitious Son Absolom, whom nothing would satisfy but the Crown; his ungratful Son Absolom, that so basely rewarded him for his Longings after him, when he fled from his pres [...]nce to Geshur, and for his pardon, for his Kisses upon his re­turn; His Persidious Son Absolom, that no sooner went out of his Fa­thers Court, but ran to the Gates, to steal away the hearts of his Fa­thers Subjects, saying O that I were made Iudge (meaning King) in the Land; His Hypocritycal Son Absolom that pretending a desire to perform his vow [To preserve the Protestant Religion &c.] would have Usur­ped the Throne and did under colour of Religion raise an open and bare-fac'd R [...]bellion. This was such a dreadful Conspiracy, as made David himself [the King] tho' a man of such Prowess and Conduct, presently To fly for his Life. Such a Uiolent agitation were People in the [...] that they were ready to flow to him from all Quarters, like the meeting and inundation of many Rivers to make a Deluge.

And that which made this Conspiracy the more Terrible was that Achitophel was in the head of many others. Achitophel that hardned Traytor, and cursed Reprobate, that when his Council and Bloody en­deavours would not take, fled for it presently, and through Anguish and Vexation Hang'd himself: A sad end indeed, for any Rebel to be his own Executioner, though in Some Cases 'tis pitty that an Achitophel, an Inveterate and Advising Rebel should ever dye in his Bed.

When the Highest Treason was form'd by such working Heads, when 'twas Conducted by such Politick Councils; when 'twas Executed by such desperate Instruments; when it prosper'd On a suddain by such The vilest Trea­cherys of some of the Nobility, in the West. Successful Stratagems, nothing could be expected, but the King's inevitable Ruin, had not the hand of God been more concern'd in the cause, than the hand of David's Faithful General, Joab; visible in the surprizing death of Abso­lom, Who was caught in a wood, and hung by his Locks upon a Tree; To shew the World what a Reward all They deserve that take up Ar [...]s and Rebel against Their Is not James the 2d Son of Charles the first and only brother of Charles the 2d who dy­ed without Issue. Lawful Prin [...]r.

Tis true (a most sad and shameful Truth God knows) such was the monstrous Impiety of the last Age, that it afforded one unpresidented, unpa­rallel'd instance of God's wrath, when that in­comparable Monarch, the Glory of our Refor­mation, and Honour of the world, was forced to bow his head down, and to fall a Sacrifice, to the Lusts of the most bar­barous Villains, Somthing like the case of his present Ma­jesties; But God be pray­sed it is not go [...] so far! as if God had forsaken him! however that some Compensation might be made for that superlative (and otherwise i [...] repara­ble) loss, by the due Succession, and after greatness of his Posterity, God hath multi­plyed those Temporal Glories upon the Sons, which he took from the Father, and gave him a blessed Eternity in Ex­change for. And to let the world se [...], that Resistance is criminal even when tis prosperous, and to punish Rebellion, in a Second Age, tho' it escaped in the First, God hath delivered the Two Royal Brothers, from six Troub [...]es and s [...]aven, too' Sh [...]ba and Absolom, with their Wick­ed Confederats [or Inviters] joyn'd hand to hand to execute a Conspi­racy, which had been long a forming by the For the People are al­wais deceived by the beau­ty of the Pretence, Religi­on &c. as the Serpent de­ceived Eve, with the fair­ness of the fruit. And re­pent as she did when 'tis too late. Se [...]pentine Subtilty of a twining and party-colour'd Achitophel.

This Deliverance was manifestly the work of God. Our dangers were so immense, and and yet so close and privy, that it b [...]h passed the Sagacity, and exceeded the reach of hu­mane Force to prevent them, and nothing can deliver Us from them but the Power and wis­dom of Almighty God, What were the Con­spirators, but the most daring and desperate Villains? And what was the Conspiracy itself, but along studied, and now ripe Design, to draw in upon Us an whole Deluge of Blood to over-whelm Prince and Peo­ple with final Slaughter, To destroy the very name, aswell as to stiflle all further efforts of Loyalty, and to bury Ou [...] Monarch [or Dethrone him] beyond all hopes of a Resurrection? and what is like to be at the end of all this, but Irreligion and A [...]eism, accompanied with the most dismal Confusions, and a Perpetual War, till by weak'ning and killing one another, We may in time, when 'tis to late grow weary of Our Follies.

Good God! That ever Atheism should prevail in such a Land as this, where not only all Demonstrative Arguments have been used to prove a being infinitely wise, Just, and Good, to preside over the world, but moreover where the presence of God hath been so often, so long, and in all the vicissitudes and changes of this Sublunary World, so constantly seen and manifested, as if he had taken up his abode with Us, as if he had said of tkis Kingdom, as he did of Zion, Psal. 132. 14. This is my Rest for ever; Here will I dwell, for I have a delight therein; And yet I may truly say, but to our great shame, that since the Creation of the Universe there never was such an Athestical Generation, no, not in the most dark; in the most distant; in the most infidel parts of the World, as this Nation hath groaned under these late years.

And yet 'tis observable (tho' it be very strange) that None among Us have pretended greater concernment for the Reformation, than Those who have bid open defiance to all Religion whatsoever Men of the most profligate Reputation: Open Drunkards, profest Adul [...]re [...]s, Notorious Cheats, Forsworn Rebells, Impudent Lyars, Persidious Hy­pocrites, and but the other day Scoff [...]rs at God, and at the very shew of Piety. 'Tis enough to move the Meekest, the most Patient Man on Earth to consider what Foreheads of Steel and Adamant those Impious Wretches, haue that coul [...] take the [...]nsidence Th [...]s to Gull and Im­pose upon the People, by a seeming Zeal for Religion: Especially when They are now up in Arms, fighting for it; in open Rebellion against [Page 72] the Example of our Saviour, and the Precepts of the Gos­pell.

As far as I have observed, the whole History of England doth not af­ford Us an Instance of God's Providence, that can come any thing near that account which Rel [...]tes to our present Soveraign, and his Royal Brother Deceased; unless it be that single Story of King Alfred the great: A Prince of that Learning Wisdom, Clemency, Sweetness of nature, and other such excellent Virtues, as really made him an honour and or­nament to the Throne. And yet that excellent Prince was once Re­duc'd to those miserable straights partly by the Invasion of Enemies from abroad, and partly through the Treachery of Rebels and Deser­ters at Home, that he was Forc'd to put himself into the disguise once of a Common Soldier, another time of an Herds-man, and at last to abscond for a considerable time in the West, in a poor Cottage, among Woods and Moors (a sad and wofull place for a Crown'd Head to Rest in!) And yet such was his Religious dependance upon God, that tho' He was Forsaken by his Friends, invioron'd with his Enemies, and brought to those extreams and shameful necessities, that his mother and himself were hardly able to subsist, yet He doubted not but Providence w [...]uld one Day Restore Him to his just Grandieur. And so it was, that in that ve­ry mean Condition, in that most obscure place he began the Recovery of his Fortunes: There he began the Foundation of his Kingdom, Rai­sing it on still by degrees, till in a little time he became the sole and ab­solute Monarch of this Nation, and made it a most Flourishing Kingdom, and gave many the most excellent Laws that We enjoy at this Hour, or rather may so do, when God shall Restore the King, and we return to to Our Allegiance and Duties.

LONDON, Printed for Samuel Keble at the Turks Head in Fleet-street.

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