Archbishop Grindal.

TWo great dangers I really fear, Atheism and Popery; both Let. 2. to W. C. C. me thinks, I see arising out of our needless divisions and differences, fomented and cherished, I fear me, by Satan the enemy of mankind, and the Pope, the enemy of Christendom, that Antichrist the mystery of whose iniquity yet worketh a­mong us, but that she letteth who also did let, and will let, by her power and authority given her of God, for God, until (which God avert, though their enemies endeavour) she be taken out of the way.—By these differences the enemies of our Religion gain this, That nothing can be established by Law in the Protestant Religion, whose every part is opposed by one or o­ther of her own professors; so that things continuing loose and confused, the Papists have their opportunity to urge their way, which is attended with Order and Government, and our Religion continuing thus distracted and divided, some vile wretches lay hold of the Arguments on one side to confute the other, and so hope at last to destroy all: In quae reservamur tempora?

Archbishop Whitgift.

THese [...]inciples (though they little think it that uphold Against Mr. T. C. p. 106. c. them) [...]ead directly to Anarchy, and these practises tend directly to L [...]tinism, s [...]at whosoever maintains them they see [...] to be the Engines [...] the Roman Conclave, whereby they inten [...] [...]e overthrow of this Church by our own folly, which they cannot compass with all their Policy; for if either we or our posterity, which God avert, should live to see the event and issue of these fancies of yours when prevailing: It would be no [Page] other then this, That our Order and Government must give way to Anarchy, confusion and disorder, wherein the Recusants would demean themselves so Politickly, that they would at last have the advantage to appear either for a toleration or a settle­ment: The children of this world are wiser in their generati­ons than the children of light.

M. Luther.

NOn citiùs, &c. No sooner have we reformed, but those arise among us who speak perverse things, and destroy Ad Anub. P. 32. that in a week, which we had been some yeers setting up; whose hand is this, is it not the adversaries? who sows these Tares, but the Enemy? who finding he cannot prevail openly, under­mines us secretly; who seeing he cannot succeed against us bare-faced, attempt us under the vizard of a deluded people: God of his mercy put a stop to these delusions, which if they proceed will ingulf us again in Popery: These cry down the Ministers of the Gospel, the Papists can do no more; they do the Papists work for them; alas, alas! &c.

Mr. Hooker.

VVIth our contentions their irreligious humor also is much strengthened; nothing pleaseth them better Lib. 5. p 2. mihi p. 189. then these manifold oppositions about the matter of Religion, as well for that they have the more opportunity to learn on one side how the other may be oppugned, and so weaken the cre­dit of all unto themselves; as also because by their hot pursuit of lower Controversies amongst m [...]n professing R [...]gion, and agreeing in the principle foundations thereof, time will cause White Quaker. altercation to grow: For which p [...] when [...] occasio [...] they stick not sometimes in other m [...]n [...] persons, ye [...] sometimes without any vizard at all, directly to try, what the [...] reli­gious are able to say in defence of the highest points, where­upon all Religion dependeth. Now for the most part it so falleth out touching things that are generally received, that al­though in themselves they be most certain, yet because men [Page] presume them granted of all, we are hardly able to bring such proof of their certainty, as may satisfie gainsayers, when sud­denly, and beside expectation they require the same at our hands, which impreparation and unreadiness, when they find in us, they turn it to the soothing up of themselves in that accur­sed fancy whereby they would fain beleeve that the hearty de­votion of such as indeed fear God, is nothing else but a kind of harmless Error, bred and confirmed in them by the slight of wiser men.

Archbishop Bancroft.

AS the Scottish Nation were ready upon all occasions to en­danger Soliz. p. 36. our State upon the account of the French Interest: so the Scottish Kirk hath been ready upon all occasions to en­danger our Church for the Interest of the Romish Religion; and as the Scots people set upon the Border, while the French attacked the main Continent: So the Scotch Disciplinarians oppose some Circumstances, which are as the Borders of our Religion, while the Papists attempt the main foundation of it: and if the foundation be destroyed, what shall the righte­ous do?

Dr. Sutliffe.

HAnd vanus timor, &c. Its no vain fear which some wise Lib. 8. Sect. 13. men have entertained upon their experience of affairs, that these unhappy Questions about indifferent things are managed by the subtile Jesuites, thereby to disturb the peace and settle­ment of [...] Church, until at last they enjoy their long expe­cted opportunity to set up themselves, and restore the explo­ded Tyran [...] and Id [...] of the Church of Rome.

Mr. Selden.

MIrum quidem, &c. It is a wonderful thing that Azu­arrus M. S. Bod. p. 104 M. S. Gal. M. S. p. 112. 400 years ago should say that indeed about the year 1500 the Catholick Religion should fall much in lustre, extent and authority (if I translate his words aright) onely I must confess the pride, vanity, and security of the Catholick Clergy seem to make way to it: yet (which is more strange) the same Religion should recover its self towards the years 1700, onely I must needs say that I think the late divisions ari­sing no doubt from Roman Insinuations, seem to threaten the Late Reformation; weakening the Interest of Religion on the one hand, and opening advantages to the adversaries of it on the other; while the Jewish way was one and entire within it self, it was secure from forreign attempts upon its being or pu­rity; as soon as it was crumbled into those minute parts and factions of Esseans, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, Ze­lots, &c. It yielded to the adversary, and at last was resolved to nothing: But that I think there is a providence in all ages remarkable, which doth at once bear testimony to, and secure Religion, I should much fear that our most excellent Religi­on, so miserably confounded by its distracted followers, would one day give place to the two grand mischiefs of the world Popery and Profaneness; against which there are no other remedies below the merciful assistance of heaven, then sound Letter concerning Late Divi­sion. Doctrine setled, severe discipline established, a decent and holy Worship secured, and a grand establishment enjoyned, which may sence in truth and virtue, and keep out errour and sin; whereby the Orthodox and the good part of the [...]tion may be known and encouraged, as the Heterodox may be discove­red and awed.

Bishop Gauden.

THese, and such like, are the uncouth expressions used to usher it, under the names of liberty, curiosity, sublimity, Sighs of the Church. pag. 202. nothing but ignorance, idleness, Atheisme, barbarity, irre­ligion, and utter confusion in this Church: or at best, (as I shall afterward more fully demonstrate) they are but vancourriers, or agitators for Romish-superstitions and Papal usurpations; the end of all this gibberish is, Venient Romani.

Put all these fine fancies and affected phrases together, with all those strange phantasms in Religion, which of late have haunted this Church, like so many unquiet vermin, or un­clean spirits; truly they spell nothing but, first, popular extra­vagances, which are the embasings and embroylings of all true and Reformed Religion; next, they portend Popisb interests and policies prevailing against this Church and State, whose fu­ture advantages are cunningly, but notably, wrapt up in these plebeian furies and fondnesses, as grocery wares are in brown pa­per. Be confident, the spirit of Rome (which is very vigilant and active) doth then move most potently upon the face of our English waters, when there is to be seen nothing but a sea of confusion, a meer Chaos of the Christian and Reformed Religion.

Which feared deluge, and (by wise men foreseen) devastati­on of the Reformed Religion (once wisely established, honoura­bly maintained, and mightily prospered in the Church of Eng­land) is already much spread and prevalent among many people, under the plea and colour of I know not what liberty, to own any or no Minister, any or no Religion, any, none, or many Churches in England. The visible decayes and debasings of the true and Reformed Religion in England, as to piety, equity, unity and charity, as to the authority of its Ministry and so­lemnity of its Ministrations, are so palpable, both in the out­ward peace and profession, also in the inward warmth and per­swasion, that it is high time for all sober and wise men, that love God, Religion, and their Country, mightily to impor­tune the mercies of God, that breathing upon us with a spirit [Page 6] of meekness and wisdome, truth and love, humility and honesty, he would (at length) asswage that deluge of contempt and con­fusion, the troubled and bitter waters of wrath and contention, which have over-whelmed the highest mountains of this Church; over-topping by their salt waves and aspetsions, the gravest, wisest, most learned and religious, both Preachers and Pro­fessors, of the Reformed Religion in this Church and Na­tion.

Which licentious insolencies have made all sober Christians so sick, weary and ashamed of them, that they cannot but be in­finitely grieved to see and fore-see the low ebbe, to which the Reformed Religion in its purity and power, must in time fall in England, while the pristine dignity and authority of the Evangelical Ministry is so invaded, baffled and despised; while the authentick derivation, and Catholick succession of that holy power, is so interrupted, innovated, divided, de­stroyed; while the reverence of primitive customes and exam­ples is so slighted, abated, by fanatick innovators; while the cords of Christian harmony and Church-polity art so loosened and ravelled on every side; while the just honour and encou­ragements of learning and learned men are so much damped and exhausted; while the Ecclesiastick Glory of this Nation, which was the chiefest (in being and owning it self as a true and Reformed Church of Christ) is so much eclipsed, to the great reproach of this present age, and the infinite hazard of posterity; which will bardly ever recover the honour, order, beauty and unity of Christian and Reformed Religion former­ly enjoyed in this Church and Nation, when once the Jewels of it, the learned, ordained, orderly and authoritative Mini­sters of the Gospel, with all the it Ministry and M [...]strations, come to be either trampled under [...] by Schismatic [...] fury, or invaded and usutped by vulgar in [...]; which in time will rake them all up, and bury them in the dungh [...]l of Romish su­perstitions and Papal usurpations.

From the Deformities, Divisions, and Degenerations of Religion, also the Falsifications, Usurpations and Devastations, Ibid. p. 300. which of later years have been made by the violent sort of A­nabaptists and other furious Sectaries, against the Unity and [Page 7] Authority, the Sanctity and Majesty of the Church of Eng­land, destroying its Primitive Order and Apostolick Govern­ment, its Catholick Succession, its holy Ordination, its happy and most successful Ministry, to the great neglect and con­tempt of all holy ministrations and duties of Religion; I cannot but further intimate to your piety and prudence (O my honou­rid Countrey-men) that which is most notorious, and no lesse dangerous, both in religious and civil respects, namely, the great Advantages, Applauses and Increases▪ which the Roman, or Papal party daily gain against the Reformed Religion, as it was once wisely, honourably, and happily established, pro­fessed and maintained here in England: which is now look­ed upon by the more subtil, superstitious and malicious sort of Papists, as deformed, divided, dissolved, desolated; so con­clamat for dead, that they fail not with scorn to boast, that in England we have now no Church, no Pastors, no Bishops, no Pres­byters, no true Ministry, no holy Ministrations, no Order, no Ʋnity, no Authority, no Reverence, as to things Divine or Ec­clesiastick. Insomuch that we must in this sad posture, not one­ly despair of ever getting ground against the Romanists, by converting any of them from the errours of their way to the true Reformed Religion; but we must daily expect to lose ground to the Popish party and their Proselytes: there being no banks or piles now sufficient to keep the Sea of Rome from over-flow­ing or undermining us, in order to advance their restless in­terests; which have been, and still are, mightily promoted, not by the reverend Bishops and the other Episcopal Clergy (who are men of Learning, Piety, Prudence, and Martyr­like constancy) as some men with more Heat than Wit, more Spite that Truth, have in their mechanick and vulgar Orato­ry of l [...] miserably and falsly declaimed; but by those who have most done the Po [...] work, while they have seemed most furiously to [...]y in the Popes face, as popularly zealous against Popery, and yet at the same time by a strange giddiness, hea­diness, and madneses; they have risen up against that Mother-Church which bare them, and those Fathers in it, who here­to fore mightily defended them and theirs from the talons and gripes of that Roman Eagle: and this not with childish scuf­flings [Page] or light skirmishings, to which manner of fight the illi­terate weakness and rudeness of our new Masters and Champi­ons hath reduced those Controversies? but with such a Panoply or compleat Armour of proof, such sharp Weapons, such pon­derous Engines, such rare dexterity of well-managed Powers, raised from all Learning, both Divine and Humane, that the high places and defences of Rome were not able to stand before them heretofore, when they were battered by our Jewels, our Lakes, our Davenants, out Whites, our Halls, our Mor­tons▪ our Andrews, and the late invincible Ʋsher, who deser­ved to be Primate, not onely of Ireland, but of all the Prote­stant Forces in the world. All these were Bishops, Worthies of the first three, seconded in their ranks by able and orderly Presbyters, as Whitakers, Perkins, Reynolds, Whites, Craken­thorps, Sutliffs, and innumerable others, while our Regi­ments were orderly, our Marchings comely, and our Forces both united and encouraged.

Whereas, now there is no doubt but the merciless mowing down and scattering of the Clergy of England, like Hay, with the withering and decay of Government, Regularity and Or­der in this Church, these have infinitely contributed to the Pa­pal harvest, and Romish agitations; the gleanings of whose Emissaries will soon amount to more than the sheaves of any the most zealous and reformed Ministers in England. By the Papal interest and advantages, I do not mean the Roman Cler­gies preaching or propagating those truths of Christian Do­ctrins and Duties, which (for the main) they profess in com­mon with us and all Christian Churches: if any of them be thus piously industrious, I neither quarrel at them, nor envy their successes, but rather I should rejoyce in them with [...]int Paul; because however Christ crucified i [...] preached, by [...] whom common people will either more r [...]ence or sooner believe (than they generally do the decayed, despised, and divided Mi­nisters of England) who seem to have (many of them) so small abilities, and carrying so little shew or pretence of any good authority for their work Ministerial; nor can they be potent or esteemed abroad, who are so impotent and disesteemed at home.

But I mean that Papal Monarchy, or Ecclesiastical Tyran­ny, by which the Church, or rather the Court of Rome, (by such finister Arts and unjust Policies, as were shamefully used and discovered in the Tridentine conventicle) seeks to usurp and continue an imperial power over all Churches and Bishops, as if there had been but one Apostle, or one Apostolick Church planted in the world; also to corrupt and abuse that ancient Purity, Simplicity, and Liberty of Religion, which was preserved a­mong Primitive Churches and their co-ordinate Bishops: Fur­ther, without fear of God or reverence of man, opposing some Divine Truths and undoubted institutions of Christ, also imposing such erroneous Doctrines and superstitious Opinions up­on all Christians, to be believed, and accordingly practised, as become not the severity and sanctity of true Religion, ad­ding to that holy foundation (which was indeed first laid by the great Apostles, and continued happily for many hundred years by the successive Bishops of Rome) those after superstructures, not of ceremonies onely, which are tolerable (many of them like feathers, making but little weight in Religion) but of cor­rupt Doctrines and superstitions Duties, as seem (at best) im­pertinent to true Piety; but some of them are erroneous, sacrilegi­ous, pernicious. In some things they are boldly adding to or de­tracting from the Doctrine and Institutions of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ: in other things they impose for sacred and neces­sary, such opinions and customes, which are but the rust and dr [...]sse, the disease and deformity of Christian Religion, contra­cted in the long ignorance, darknesse, and almost barbarity of times, which God winked at: but now they appear highly and justly scandalous, yea, intolerable to more judicious and lesse credulous Christians, who are very sensible, not onely of that offence which many Papal Injunctions and Observations give to themselves, as Chri [...]s, but also to the very Heathens, to J [...] Mahomerans, who cannot reconcile in any Rea­sonable Religion the Idolatrous use of Images and Hoasts among Papists, to which they must submit, if they will be in com­munion with them, or converted to be Christians; nor yet those Tridentins Terrours and Anathema's of eternal damna­tion, which are thundered by them against all those who will [Page] not, against Gods expresse Word; own as Truth, and sub­mit to as necessary, those opinions and practices among Pa­pists, which seem either impious or impertinent, as to true Faith and a good Conscience.

Against all which burthens (too heavy for any wise and gene­rous Christians to bear, when once duly informed of the wright and danger of them, and duly reformed from them) as the great Wisdome, Piety, and Order of the Church of England in its sacred Ministry and holy Ministrations, was heretofore the greatest barre and bulwark in all the Christian world: so the disadvantages of the Reformed Religion are now so palpable; and the danger of the people of this Nation, a [...] so obvious in their returning to that Egypt and Babylon again, which is not the Church of Rome, but its disease and oppression; that I know not in ordinary providence any means can be used, or is left, to stop the daily prevalencies of Popery, and the great Apo­stasie of England to the Romish superstition and subjection in after-times, unlesse God stir up such Wisdome, Zeal and Care in those that have honest hearts, joyned with publick power and influence, not so much to fleece and depress Popish Recusants by pecuniary exactions (which is to set Religion to sale, and to make merchandize of mens errours, rather then fairly to per­swade and win them by the proper and perswasive engines of true Religion;) but (rather) duly to restore and speedily assert the Honor, Order, Succession, Unity, Authority and Maje­sty of this Reformed Church and its Catholick Ministry: from which when the Papists see our selves to be such profound Re­volters, with what face can we expect they should ever come in to our Reformation, which they now behold with joyful and disdainful eyes, so deformed, so massacred by our own hands? How can we with Justice, Honour; w [...] Huma­nity, inflict severe penalties upon P [...], as refusing to con­form to our Church and Religion, when they pro [...] with so much truth, to our faces, they cannot see any Church any Religion among us as uniform, publick, authentick, constant? What (they say) formerly had the goodliest figure and fairest presence of a Christian Church, and the best Reformed of any, i [...] now deformed, ruined, demolished; nothing but scattered [Page] rafters and pieces of that ship-wrackt vessel now appear float­ing up and down in a restless and foming sea of faction, oppo­sition and confusion, between Bishops, Ministers, and People: some are Episcopal, others Presbyterian, a third sort Inde­pendant: all are disparate or opposite in Discipline, some are Heterodox in Doctrine: the Anabaptists rise against all, and the Quakers soare above all.

To which of all these, with many other Sects, shall an ho­nest-hearted Papist apply himself, to be safe and setled in Reli­gion? If to the poor and depressed remains of Bishops, and the Episcopal Clergie, who yet adhere to the Church of England; alas, they are weak and exhausted, contemned by many, pitied by some, but asserted by few or none, according to their true merit in former ages, or their present Worth, Courage, Constancy and Patience in this. If the Romanists go to the Presbyterian party, which like small shoots sprang out so thick in England, upon the cutting down of Episcopacy, to which they all formerly submitted; these, besides their Levity, Parity, and Inconstancy, as to their former Stations, Opinions, and Oaths, seem so unseasonably insolent, and magisterially domi­neering, before they had got a full and just dominion, that all sober men think them rather popular, plebeian and impertinent in their heats, transports and passions, than so modest, wise, and grave, as becomes those who will undertake to wrest Go­vernment out of the hands of their superiours and betters every way, and to impose a novelty of untried and undesired Disci­pline upon such a great and stout Nation as England is; which disdaining the insolency of Popes, and offended at the indis­cretion of some Bishops, will hardly ever bear the pertnesse of p [...]ty Presbyters, who cannot want Vanity, Impudence and Arrogancy, when they fancy themselves in a supremacy of Power above people, Parliaments and Princes: for they [...]ct no lesse, as Christs due and theirs too. If the tossed Ro­manists [...] to the spruce and self-conceited Independants for shelter, because these fine new Masters seem to have patents for Christian Liberty, and urge a Magna Charta from Christ, to be accountable to none in matters of Religion, but their own lit­tle Congregation, Church, or Body, in which, as in an Eccle­siastick [Page 12] Corporation or free Borough of Religion, they may hrng and draw, exercise high and low Justice upon m [...]n souls as they list in their little Conventicles; yet here the poor Papist finds so much of a rude and exotick novelty, such a grosse shew of Schisme, such variety, such an inconsistency, such a plebeian petulancy, such pitiful and ridiculous affectations, and arrogating of Church-power in some of the plebs, and such con­tempt of it in others, that he cannot think it is other than some pieces of Josephs bloody coat, or some corn▪ limbs of his bo­dy, compared to what Splendour, Order, Strength, Beauty, Unity, Decency, and Majesty in Doctrine and Discipline, in Faith and holy Duties, was formerly to be observed, even to the envy and admiration of sober Papists, in the Church of England; how much more in the Ancient and Catholick Chur­ches grand combinations, from which these petty fractions and crumblings of Christians seem most abhorrent and disso­nant?

This goodly Cedar, then, of the Church of England being thus broken and hewn down, and nothing like it, or compa­rable to it, planted in its room, but such Shrubs and Mush­romes as grow of themselves out of the rankness of the earth (vulgar humours and passions) under whose shade any Egyp­tian Vermine, Frogs, or unclean Birds may hide themselves, no wonder if the Papists triumph in their sufferings and con­stancies, if they despise all our Presbyterian, Independent, Ana­baptistick, and fanatick Novelties; if they rejoyce in that vengeance which they conclude God hath made upon our Schismes, Errours, Obstinacies, and Persecutions against them, by our mutual confusions.

Hence must dail [...]nd necessarily follow s [...]et inclinatio [...] and accessions to the Roman party, by all t [...]o [...]e who [...]e not well grounded in the Reformed Religion, or not [...] gainst the Popish Errours, or are indifferent for any R [...]n which is most easie or pleasing. These at length will [...] to the Roman party, [...] the most specious of any: so that unless there be a speedy restauration of the honour of the Church of Eng­land, I see not how it is possible to prevent that fatal relapse, either to Romish s [...]erstition and slavery, or else to a dreadful [Page 13] persecution, which will in time necessarily follow those dissipa­tions and destructions of this Reformed Church, its Ministry, Government and Religion, which some men have already too much, and still do, beyond measure, so industriously promote, to the excessive joy and gratifying of the Popish party and de­signs, which are not onely invasive upon the honour and free­dome of this Nation, but highly scandalous to our Reformed Profession, and dangerous to our consciences, especially as we yet stand convinced of the Errors, Superstitions and Sacriledges of the Romish Religion since it lapsed from the Primitive Insti­tutions of Christ, the patterns of the Apostles, the ancient Communion of Christian Churches, and the fraternal Co-ordina­tion of Bishops, who were alwayes united in orderly, happy, and harmonious Aristocracies, rather then subordinate to any one Monarchical Supremacy, as to Ecclesiastical Power and Ju­risdiction: however they had such regulation and primacy of or­der, by Patriarchs and Metropolitans among Bishops and the representers of several Churches, as became wise men, that were numerous when they met in great Councils or Church-Assemblies.

Nor do these wilely Romanists exercise their malice against Ibid. pag. 362. this Reformed Church, onely with their own strength and dex­terity, but they have other oblique Policies and sinister Practi­ces by which they set on work the hot heads and pragmatick hands of all other Sects, who pretend the greatest Antipathies to Popery, and yet most promote its interests by their Factions and fanatick Practises, by their heedlesse and headlesse, their boundlesse and endlesse Agitations, which blast all true Refor­mation, and [...]ing in nothing but Division and Confusion.

For among these there are a sort of people who affect Supre­macy in Church and State too, a spiritual and temporal Domi­nion, no [...] than doth the Pope of Rome: there are among them many petty Popes, who would fain be the great and one­ly Dictators of Religion, whose opinionative pride and pro­jects are as yet of a lesse volume and blinder print, but they e­very day meditate and agitate new Editions of their power, and larger additions to their parties and designes; being as infalli­ble in their own conceits, as imperious in their spirits, and as [Page 14] magisterial in their censures, as the proudest Popes of Rome; not doubting to condemn and excommunicate any private Christians and Ministers, yea whole Christian Churches, yea and the best Reformed in the world (such as England was) if they be not just of their form and fashion, or if they will not patiently submit to their multiform and deformed Reformations, by which they daily wire-draw true Reformation to such a small thread, that losing its strength and integrity, it must needs snap in pieces and become uselesse: the strange fires of blind, popular, preposterous and sacrilegious Zeal so over-boyling true Religion and sober Reformation, till they are utterly con­founded and quenched with such sordid and shamefull deformi­ties, as must needs follow their Divisions, Distractions and Despiciencies, as to all Church-order, Christian unity and Mi­nisterial authority. Thus many heady and giddy Professors have been so eager to come out of Babylon, that they are almost run out of their wits, and far beyond the bounds of good con­sciences; so jealous of Superstition, that they are Panders for Confusion; so scared with the name of Rome, that they are a­fraid of all right Reason and sober Religion; so fearful of being over-righteous by following vain traditions of men, that they fear not to be over wicked, by over-throwing the good foun­dations of Order, Honour, Peace and Charity, which Christ and his Apostles have laid in his Church: fierce enemies in­deed against the Idolatry of Antichrist, but fast friends to Be­liat and Mammon, to Schisme and Sacriledge; which having no fellowship with God and Christ, must needs belong to the party of Antichrist, which contains a circle of Errours, while Christ is the centre of Truth: and we know that parts diam [...] ­trally opposite to each other may (yet) make up the same circum­ference, and be at equal distance from the centre▪ so may Pra­ctises and Opinions which seem most crosse agai [...]ch other, yet, as Herod and Pilate, alike conspire against Christ and true Religion, like vicious extremes, which are contrary to each other, and yet uncorrespondent with that virtue from which they are divided.

But the end or effect following their acti [...]us, (though possi­bly Ibid. pag. 366. not some of their intentions) will be this, to prepare by these various windings, confused circulations and distorted wrestings of the Reformed Religion, the way for Roman fa­ctors, Papal interests and Jesuitick designes, whose learned abilities, orderly industry, and indefatigable activity is such, that by that time the old stock of Reverend, orderly and au­thoritative Bishops and Presbyters, (the truest and most un­questionable Ministers of the Church of Christ) are worn out in England, and the reformed Religion is reduced with its titular and extenuated Ministers to a meer medly, or popular Chaos of confusions; (the most of sober people being either sick, or ashamed, or weary of their home bred disorders, and unremedied diseases in Religion) by this time (I say) the Romish agitators will not onely devour all these petty parties, and fee­ble factions of Reformers, with as much ease as the Stork did the Froggs; but they will (in time) utterly destroy the remains of the defamed Doctrine and deformed Religion, which your fore fathers owned, and to the death professed, as most true and well reformed, with great Honour, Holiness, and Happiness, which yet the ignorance and insolence, the Il­literateness, and Rusticity, the Barrennesse and Barbari­ty of novel Sects have already rendred poor and despi­cable, much to be pitied and deplored both at home and abroad.

I must ever so far own my reason, as to professe that I look upon the Defamers, Dividers and Destroyers of the Church of England, (whatever they are or seem) to be no other then the perdues or forelorn hope of Popery, which by lighter skirmi­shes open advantages to the Popes main Battaglic; the Van­courriers, or Harbingers, sent and excited (in great part) from the Pragmatick Policies of Rome, whose grand interest since the Reformation hath been, not more to advance the House of Austria [...] preserve the Papacy, than to regain the Church of England to the Romish slavery.

Certainly these petty parties, who scarce know what they pag. 367. drive at, and are full of varieties in their Fancies, Forms and Fa­ctions, these cannot produce so constant a current and so strong [Page 16] a tide, as is alwayes urging against the Church of England and the honour of the Resormed Religion; but they are driven on by a subtil and secret, yet potent impulse, as waves of the sea, not onely dashing and breaking upon each other, but (all of them) bat ering the Honour and Stability of the Church of England, as the great rampart or bank which stands in the way of the Sea of Rome; mightily opposing and hindering heretofore both fanatick Confusions, Papal Usurpations, and Romish Superstitions; whose advantages now are evidently pre­pared and carried on by those, that under the name of Refor­mation will most effectually at last overthrow it.

For after these petty spirits, who have been and are the great Dividers, Despisers and Destroyers of the reformed Church of England, have a few years longer played their mad pranks in this sometime so flourishing and fruitful vineyard of the Lord (pulling up the hedge of Ecclesiastical Canons, and Civil Sancti­ons, throwing down the wall of Ancient Discipline and Ca­tholick Government, breaking in pieces the wine-press of holy Ordination and Ministerial Authority and Succession, pulling up both root and branch of holy Plants and regular Planters;) what (I beseech you) can slinder these subtil Foxes and wild Bears of Romish Power and Policy, to enter in, and not one­ly secretly, but openly (as occasion shall serve) to destroy all the remaining stock of the true Protestants and Professors of the Reformed Religion? who at first soberly protesting against Popish Errours and Deformities, afterwards praying (in vain) for a joynt and just Reformation, did (at last) reform them­selves, after the rule of Gods Word, interpreted by the Catho­lick Practise of purest Antiquity.

What (without a miracle) can hinder the Papal prevalency in England, when once sound Doctrine is shaken, corrupt [...] despised; when Scriptures are wrested by every private inter­preter; when the ancient Creeds and Symbols [...]e Lord [...] Prayer and Ten Commandments, all wholsome fo [...]ms of sound Doctrine and Devotion, the Articles and Liturgy of such a Church, together with the first famous Councils, all are slight­ed, villified, despised and abhorred by such Englishmen as pre­tend [...] be great Reformers; when neither pristine Respect nor [Page] Support, Credit nor Countenance, Maintenance nor Reve­rence shall be lest either to the Reformed Religion or the Mini­stry of it? without which they will hardly be carried on beyond the fate of Pharaohs Chariots, when their wheeles were taken off, which is to be overwhelmed and drowned in the Romish red Sea, which will certainly overslow all, when once England is become not onely a dunghill and Tophet of Heretital filth and Schismatical fire, but an Aceldama, or field of blood, by mutual Animosities and civil Dissentions, arising from the vari­ations and confusions of Religions.

All which, as the Roman Eagle now fore-sees, and so fol­lows the camp of Sectaries (as Vultures and Birds of prey are wont to do Armies) so no man, not blinded with private passi­ons and present interest, is so simple, as not to know that it will in time terribly seize upon the blind, dying, or dead car­kase of this Church and Nation; whose expiration will be very visible, when the Purity, Order and Unity of Religion, the Respect, Support and Authority of the Ministry is vanished and banished out of England, by the neglect of some, the Malice, Madnesse and Ingratitude of others, your most unhap­py Countrey-men: Then shall the Israel of England return to the Egypt of Rome; then shall the beauty of our Sion be cap­tive to the bondage of Babylons either Superstition or Persecu­tion; from both which I beseech God to deliver us.

As an Omen of the future fate, how many persons of fair Estates, others of good parts and hopeful Learning, are alrea­dy shrewdly warped and inclined to the Church of Rome, and either actually reconciled, or in a great readinesse to imbrace that Communion (which excommunicates all Greek and Latine Churches, Eastern, Western and African Christians, which will not submit to its Dominion and Superstition) chiefly mo­ [...]d hereto, becau [...] they know not what to make of or ex­p [...]om the Relgion and Reformation of the Church of Eng­land▪ which they see so many zealous to reproach and ruine, so few co [...]erned to relieve, restore, or pity?

As for th [...]e turn of you (my noble Countrey-men) and your Posterity to the Roman Subjection and Superstition. I doubt not but many of you, most of you, all of you that are persons [Page] of judicious and concientious Piety, do heartily deprecate it, and would seriously avoid it to the best of your skill and power, as indeed you have great cause, both in Prudence and Consci­ence, in Piety and Policy: yet I believe none of you can flatter your selves, that the next Century shall defend the Reformed Religion in England from Romish Pretensions, Perswasions and Prevalencies, as the last hath done, while the Dignity, Or­der and Authority of the Ministry, the Government of excel­lent Bishops, the Majesty and Unity of this Reformed Church and its Religion, were all maintained by the unanimous vote, consent and power of all Estates.

Nay, the Dilemma and distressed choice of Religion is now reduced to this, that many peaceable and well-minded Christi­ans, having been so long harressed, bitten and worried with novell Factions and pretended Reformations, would rather chuse that their Posterity (if they may but have the excuse of ignorance in the main controversies, to plead for Gods mer­cy in their joyning to that Communion which hath so strong a relish of Egyptian Leeks and Onions, of Idolatry and Super­stition, besides unchristian Arrogancy and intolerable Am­bition; that their Posterity, I say) should return to the man party, which hath something among them setled, order­ly and uniform, becoming Religion, than to have them ever turning and tortured upon Ixions wheel, catching in vain at fanciful Reformations, as Tantalus at the deceitful waters, [...]olling with infinite paines and hazard the Reformed Religion, like Sisyphus his stone, sometime asserting it by Law and Pow­er, otherwhile exposing it to popular Liberty and Loosenesse, than to have them tossed to and fro [...] with every wind of Do­ctrine, with the Fedities, Blasphemies, Animosities, Anar­chies, Dangers and Confusions, a [...]ending fanatick P [...]nci [...] and quotidian Reformations, which like [...]ches or boiles from surfeited and unwholsome bodies do [...] break out [...]ong those Christians, who have made no rule of Religion but their own humours, and no bounds of their Refo [...] but their own Interests; the first makes them ridiculous, the second per­nicious to all sober Christians.

Whereas the Roman Church, however tainted with rank [Page] Errours and dangerous Corruptions in Doctrine and Manners (which forbid us under our present convictions to have in those things any visible sacred communion with them, though we have a great charity and pity for them; Charity in what they still retain good, Pity in what they have erred from the Rule and Example of Christ and his Catholick Church;) yet it can­not be denied, without a brutish blindnesse and injurious slan­der (which onely serves to gratifie the grosse Antipathies of the gaping vulgar) that the Church of Rome, among its Tares and Cockle, its Weeds and Thornes hath many wholsome Herbs, and holy Plants growing; much more of Reason and Religion, of good Learning and sober Industry, of Order and Polity, of Morality and Constancy, of Christian Candor and Civility, of common Honesty and Humanity, becoming grave men and Christians, by which to invite after-Ages and your Posterity to adhere to it and them, rather then to be everlastingly exposed to the profane bablings, endless jang­lings, miserable manglings, childing confusions, Atheistical indifferencies and sacrilegious furies of some later spirits, which are equally greedy and giddy, making both a play and a prey of Religion, who have nothing in them comparable to the Papal party, to deserve your or your Posterities admira­tion or imitation, but rather their greatest caution and preven­tion: for you will find what not I onely, but sad experience of others may tell you, that the sithes and pitch-forks of these pet­ty Sects and plebeian Factions will he as sharp and heavy as the Papists Swords and Faggots heretofore were, both to your religions and civil Happinesse.

Doctor Burges.

IT is the Opinion [...] many wise, and the fear of more weak Rejoynder. men that Popery may return again and spread over this Land and Nation▪ although I must needs fay, there is not so great reason for those opinions or fears, as some men pretend, yet I confess the secret undermining of all established Government and Order, doth seem to tend that way; for what do they who will not submit to any In junctions of lawful Government, but endeavour to keep the hedge down for the Beasts of the Forrest [Page 20] to enter in: If there be no Law submitted to, which may se­cure the Church, the adversaries of Rome may impunely break in upon us; which God forbid, &c.

Dr. Featley.

WHat are our divisions but Romes triumph, P [...]r discerdias Spect. 16. civiles externi tollunt animes; Liv. What are our dif­ferences but Campanellaes wishes, who advised the King of Spain above all things to breed dissentions and discords among our selves, if he would promote his Interest in England? If I see a­ny thing into things; These Divisions maintained by Schism, when all the discontented, the ambitious, the proud, the cove­tous, the revengeful, and the implacable, which are a considera­ble party under any Government, fall in to the dissenting side by the dangerous practises of the Jesuites, they may attempt in Parliament against the very Government it self, and according to the same Jesuits advice overthrow all Law and D [...]scipline, and open them a gap to break in upon us like a mighty Flood.

Lord F.

THe design upon England is manifest, the Papists have made a shift to make the dissenting party, by some grievances by M. S. p. 16. An. 1633. them to that purpose promoted confiderable; they being consi­derable are masters of the major voice in the Election of Parlia­ments, the Parliaments they command the purse of the Nation; they put our gracious Soveraign upon chargeable undertakings against Spain and other places; he wants money, they will not supply unless he closeth with their Faction, if he closeth with them, it must be by indulgence to Dissenters, which the Papists look for: If he closeth not with them; then he must take such courses which his Prerogative directs him to, this will make a breach; In this breach the Papists will side that it may be able to ballance the other, and be encouraged to hold out. If it fall o [...] to be on the Rebels side, it is but that side they have o [...]en taken, and they may fare as well as others: If they happen on the Kings side, then either he conquers or not; if he conquers not, there will be perpetual wars which Spain, and Rome may at pleasure make use of for their advantage: If he conquers, they can say that their Loyalty and Faithfulness to him deserved at least an indulgence.

Mr. Baxter.

VVHen the motion was first made, for the publishing of Baxt. a­gainst Po­pery, Epi­stle to the Reader. these Papers, it seemed to me to be as the casting of water into the Sea; so great is the Number of the Learned Wri­tings of Protestant Divines against the Papists (which will never be well answered) that the most claborate addition may seem superflu­ous; much more these hasty Disputations prepared but for an exercise which is the Recreation of a few Countrey-Ministers at a monthly meeting, when they case themselves of their ordinary work. But upon further consideration, I saw it was, The casting of water upon a threatning fire, which the Sea it self doth but restrain. It's more Engines than a few that are openly or secretly at work at this time to captivate these Nations again to the Roman Pope. When so many hundreds, if not thousands are night and day con­triving our seduction, (under the name of reconciling us to the Church;) if no body counter-work them what may they not de. Its not enough that we have had Defenders, and that their Books are yet in the World. Old Writings are laid by, though much stron­ger then any new ones: But new ones are sooner taken up and read. The Papists have of late been very plentiful, and yet very spa­ring in their Writings. Plentiful of such as run among the sim­ple injudicious people in secret, so that the Countries swarm with them; But sparing of such as may provoke any Learned man to a Confutation: That so, they may in time dis-use us from these Siudies, and so disable the Ministry therein, and catch us when we are secure through a seeming peace, and fall upon us when we have lost our strength. And I am much afraid that the generality of our people (perhaps of the best) are already so much dis-used from these studies, as to be much unacquainted with the Nature of Po­pery, and much more to s [...]k for a preservative against it, and a through confutation of them. So that if Papists were once but [...] fully set out among us in their own likeness, as they are under the names of Quakers and other Sects, what work would you see in many places? I doubt many would follow their pernicious ways, and fall like Sheep of a common ret, or People in a raging pestilence, especially if they had but the countenance of the times: Not through their strength, but because our people are naked, and unmeet for a defence.

The work that now they are upon, is, 1. By Divisions, and re­viling [Page 22] the Ministers, to loosen the people from their Guides; that they may be as a Masterless Dog that will follow any body that will whistle him.

2. To take down the Ministers maintenance and encourage­ments, that they may be disabled so vigorously to resist them.

3. To hinder their union, that they may abate their strength, and find them work against each other.

4. To procure a Liberty of seducing all they can under the name of Liberty of Conscience, that so they may have as fair a game for it as we: and Ignorance and the common corruption of nature (especially so heightened by a custome in sin) doth befriend the Devils cause much more than Gods; or else how comes it to pass that the Godly are so few, and Error, Idolatry and Impiety doth so abound in all the earth!

5. To break the common people into as many Sects and Parties as they can, that they may not onely imploy them against one ano­ther, but also may hence fetch matter of reproach against our pro­fession in the eyes of the World.

6. To plead under the name of Seekers against the certainty of all Religion; that men may be brought to think that they must be either of the Popish profession or of none.

And indeed when all Sects have done their worst it is but two, that we are in any great danger of (And of those I think we are in more danger, then the most are aware of) and that is, 1. Papists: who plead not as other parties, onely by the tongue, but by exci­ting Princes and States against us, and disputing with the Fagot or Hatchet in their hands: And if we have not Arguments that will confute a Navy, an Army, or a Powder-plot, we can do no good against them.

2. Prophaneness, animated by Apostate Infidels: This is the Religion that men are born in. And men that naturally are so in­deared to their lusts, that they would not have the Scripture to be true, will easily hearken to him that tells them it is false.

Yea so much doth Popery befriend men in a v [...]se, that some are apt to joyn those together, thinking at the heart that Chri­stianity [...] but a Fable: but yet for fear it should prove true, they will be Papists, that they may have that easie remedy for a reserve.

If God will preserve us but from these two dangers, Popery and Prophaneness animated by infidelity, it will go well with England.

[Page 23] 1. Either Scripture is true or not true: If not, Popery is not true, which pleadeth its warant from it (and some of them argue, as if they purposed to disprove the Scripture and to imitate Samson, in pulling down the house on their heads and ours, in revenge for the dishon [...]u [...] they have suffered by the Scripture.) If it be true (as nothing more true) then Popery is not true, which palpably contra­dicteth it, as in the points of Latine service, and denying the Cup in the Lords Supper, and many other is most evident.

3. Either the judgement of the Antient Doctors is sound or not: If not, then the Church of Rome is unsound, that is sworn to ex­pound the Scripture only according to their consent: If it be sound, then the Church of Rome is unsound, that arrogate in Ʋniversal Government and Infallibility, and build upon a foundation, that was never allowed by the Antient Doctors (as in the third Disp. I have fully proved) and which most Christians in the World do still reject.

4. Either Reason it self is to be renounced or not: If it be, then none can be Papists but mad men. If not, then Popery must be renounced, which foundeth our very faith upon impossibilities, and teacheth men of necessity to beleeve in the Pope as the Vicar of Christ, before they beleeve in Christ, with many the like, which are after wards laid open.

5. Either our five Senses, and the judgement made upon them, is certain and infallible or not. If not, then the Church of Rome, both Pope and Council are fallible, and not at all to be trust­ed: For when all their Tradition is by hearing or reading, they are uncertain whether ever they heard or read any such thing; and we must all be uncertain whether they speak or write it: And then we must not only subscribe to Fransc. Sanches. Quod nihil scitur, but also say that Nihil certo creditur. But if sense be certain and Infallible; then the Church of Rome, even Pope and Council are [...] onely Fallible, but certainly false deceivers [...]ived. For the Pope and his Council tell the Church that it is [...]read and Wine which they take, eat and drink in the Eu­charist. But the senses of all sound men do tell them that it is. I see that its Bread and Wine. I smell it, I feel it, I taste it; and somewhat I hear to further my assurance: And yet if Popery be not false, its no such matter. [...] One would think the dullest Reader, might be quickly here resolved whether Popery be true or false. Look [Page] on the consecrated Bread and Wine, touch it, smell it, taste it, and if thou canst but be sure that it is indeed Bread and Wine, thou mayest be as sure that Popery is a delusion. And if thou canst but be sure, that it is not Bread and Wine, yet thou mayst be sure that the Pope or his Council, nor any of his Doctors are not to be believed. For if other mens senses be deceitful, theirs and thine are so too.

Reader, Adhere to God, and the Righteousness of Christ, and the Teachings of the Holy Ghost, by the Holy Scriptures, and a faithful Ministry, in the Communion of the Saints, and as a member of the Catholike Church, which arising at Jerusalem, is dispersed over the World, containing all that are Christians; renounce not right Reason, or thy senses, and live according to the light which is vouchsafed thee; and then thou shalt be safe from Popery, and all other pernicious damning Errors.

Doctor Sanderson.

BUt I have somewhat to return upon these our Brethren, who thus cause­lesly suspect us. Possibly it will not please them: ( [...].) Preface to the Reader. But I must speak it out, both for the truths sake, and theirs. To wit, that them­selves are in truth, though not purposely and intentionally, (whereof in my own thought I freely acquit them) yet really and eventually, the great promoters of the Roman Interest among us: and that more ways then one. These three among the rest, are evident. First, by putting to their helping hand to the pulling down of Episcopacy. It is very well known to many, what rejoycing that Vote brought to the Romish party. How even in Rome it self they s [...]ng their Io Paeans upon the tidings thereof, and said triumphantly, Now the day it ours; Now is the fatal blow given to the Protestant Religion in England. They who by conversing much with that Nation, were well acquainted with the fiery turbulent spirits of the Scottish Presbyterians, knew as well how to make their advantage thereof: and handled the matter with so much cunning by fomenting their discontents under-hand till they had framed them, and by their means some of the same party here, to become the fittest instruments for the cartying on of their great design. And this I verily beleeve was the very Master-piece of the whole plot. They could not but foresee (as the event hath also proved) that if the old Government, a ma [...] pillar in the building, were once dissolved, the whole fabrick would be sore shaken, if not presently shattered in pieces and ruined; things would presently r [...] into confusion; de­stractions and divisions would certainly follow: And when the waters should be sufficiently troubled and mudded, then would be their opportunit [...] [...]ast in their [...]ets for a draught. Some who have undertaken to discover to the world the great plot the Papists had of late years for the introducing of Popery in the several parts of it, might have done well to have taken some little notice of this also, (I wonder how they could look beside it,) being so visible; and in­deed the fundamental part of the plot. Without which, neither could the spar [...]s of Errors and Heresies have been b [...]own to that height, nor that Liber­tinism (& some other things therewith mentioned) have so soon over-spread the whole face of the Land, as now we finde they have done.

Bishop Jewel.

Now let us behold the present state of our country. These Sermons, p. 201 & p. 192. words of Christ our Saviour were never more true, then we finde them now in these our days. The harvest is great, and the laborers very few, the poore people lieth forsaken, and left as it were shéep without a guide: the afflicted in consci­ence have no man to quiet them: they grow wild and savage, as it were a people that had no God: they are commanded to change their religion, and for lack of instruction, they know not whither to turn them: they know not, neither what they leave nor what they should receive.

Some other defie, and spit at the holy Gospel of our Sa­viour Christ, and refuse the covenant of everlasting life. Some other for lack of knowledge follow after wilfull and blind masters, and become Arrians or Pelagians, and thus they blaspheme the Son of God. Some other give them­selves over to their own affections, and, as he saith, rejoyce and triumph in their filthiness, without fear of God, without conscience of sin, and so tread down the blood of the Testament under their feet: and this do they for lack of teaching, because they have not learned men and preachers to shew them what they should do.

O, saith our Saviour Christ, the good shepherd and bishop of our souls, my harvest is beaten down and lost, and there is none that will go abroad and save it. My people run headlong to their own destruction, not of malice but of very simplicity, only because they are not taught, because they know not my father nor me. Alas, it is not my fathers will that any of them should be lost.

But for the hope of posterity, I report me to all you which are fathers, and have children for whom you are careful. Al [...] your [...]ves have a zeal and care for the house of God: yet will you breed them up, keep them at School, un­til four and twenty years old to your charges, that in the end they may live in glorious poverty? that they may live poor­ly and naked like the Prophers and Apostles? Our posterity [Page] shall rue, that ever such fathers went before them: And Chronicles shall report this contempt of learning among the punishments, and murrains, and other plagues of God. They shall leave it written in what time, and under whose raign this was done. Or if we grow so [...] [...]ar [...]ils that we consider not this, or be not able to draw it into Chronicle, yet forraign Nations will not spare to write this, and publish it to our everlasting reproach and shame.

In the mean time, what may be ghessed of their meaning, which thus rabin and spoil the house of God, which decay the provision thereof, and so basely esteem the Ministers of the Gospel? they cannot say to God, The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up. Howsoever in other things they do well, howsoever they seem to rejoyce at the prosperity of Sion, and to seek the safety and preservation of the Lords Anointed: yet needs must it be, that by these means forraign power, of which this Realm by the mercy of God is happily delivered, shall again be brought in upon us. Such things shall be done unto us, as we before suffered: the truth of God shall be taken away, the holy Scriptures burnt and consumed in [...]re. A marvellous darkness and calamity must needs en­sue. For, if the tempest be so dark in the sea, that the load­star lose her light, and the needle fail to give token of the North Pole, no marvel though the ship lose her course, and be swallowed up in the sands.

The Gospel of Christ is the fountain of light, and of knowledge? It cannot be maintained by ignorance and darkness. These be the props of their kingdom which take a­way the Scriptures, which hold the people in blindness, which flie the light, which have their common prayers, mi­nister the Sacraments, marry, bury their dead in a strange tongue, that the people may understand nothing: which make a famine of hearing the word of God: w [...] up the springs of the wa [...]er of life: which [...]ke [...]ys of the kingdom of Heaven, and neither enter [...]selves, nor [...]er them that [...]o [...]d enter: which say ignorance is [...] her of [...]otion, and the Church is then in best order, and [...]e people [...]vour, when they are hoodwinc [...]t and [...]nded, and see nothing.

These are not fit instruments wherewith we may over­come the adversaried. This is not the sword of the spirit, these are not the spiritual weapons, which castdown holds, and every high thing that is exasted against the kingdom of God. What man that would keep out his enemy, will pull down his hol [...]s? what Captain that meaneth to give a for­cible assault upon the enemy, will discourage his fighting souldiers? But our souldiers are out of courage, our Ca­stles are falling? therefore that which we seat will fall upon us.

Bishop Sanderson.

But thirdly, and above all, I beseech them to consider, whi­ther that [...], which many times marreth a good P [...]ef. to his Sermons. business, hath carryed them; and how mightily (though unwit­tingly, and I verily believe most of them unwillingly) they pro­mote the interest of Rome, whilst they do with very great violence (but not with equal prudence) oppose against it: so verifying that of the Historian Poet, spoken in another case,

I mean, in casting out not Ceremonies onely, but Episcopacy also, and Liturgy, and Festivals out of the Church, as Popish and Anti­christian,—Hoc Ithacus velit. If any of these things be otherwise guilty, and deserve such a relegation upon any other account which yet is more then I know) farewel they: But to be sent away pack­ing barely upon this score, that they are Popish and Antichristi­an; this bringeth in such a plentiful harvest of Proselytes to the Jesuite, that he doth not now, as formerly, gaudere intus & in sinu (laugh in his sleeve, as we say) but [...], openly and is the face of the Sun triumph gloriously, and in every Pamphlet pr [...]laim his victories to the world. If you should say, that the Sea [...] taken by them, not given by you: it is (to all but your selves) [...] much as nothing: whilst the contrary is demonstrable, and that there is in these very pretensions, a proper (and as I may say a natural) tendency to produce such effects, as we see to have ensued thereupon. The truth whereof will evidently appear by stating the Case thus. A man otherwise rational and conscientious, [Page] but somewhat wavering in point of Religion, yet desiring in since­rity of heart to be of the true [...] Church, if he knew which were it, hath some temptations offered him by his education, friends, books, the confusions among us, or otherwise, to encling him towards the Church of Rome. Which temptations being not able of himself to conquer, he repaireth to a Presbyterien (suppose) or Independent; he acquainteth him with his doubts, and desireth satisfaction therein: telleth him among other things, that he had a good o­pinion of the Church of England heretofore, whilst she had E­piscopal government, and a well-formed Liturgie, and did observe Christian Festivals, and some kind of outward decency in the wor­ship of God, as all the Churches of Christ had and did in the purest and primitive times; but now that all these things are laid aside, he must needs be of another minde, unless they can fully satisfie him concerning the premises. In this Case, I would fain know what possible satisfaction such a man could receive from either of these, holding to their Principles. To tell him these things were Popish, and therefore to be cast out of the Church, were the next way to put him quite off: he would presently conclude (and it is impossible he should do otherwise, being already so prepared as in the Case is supposed) that certainly then that which we call Po­pery is the old Religion, which in the purest and primitive times was professed in all Christian Churches throughout the world. That only [...] which is usually the last Reserve in these disputes, That the mystery of iniquity began to work betimes; will seem (to him) but a ridiculous begging of the Question; and he will tell them, that every Sectary may say the same to them. Whereas the sober English Protestant, is able by the grace of God, with much evidence of truth, and without forsaking his old principles, to justifie the Church of England, from all imputations of Heresie or Schisme, and the Religion thereof as it stood by Law established from the like imputation of Novelty; and to apply proper and pertinent answers to all the Objections of those (whether [...], or others) that are contrary minded, to the full satisf [...]n of all such, as have not by some partial affection or other rendred them­selves uncapable to receive them.

Bishop Reynolds.

It is easily foreseen whither these distempers tend: they have Serm. before Par. 1657. all an aspect towards Rome. The deluded souls cry down Mini­stry: the Papists desire no more. They disown the Magistrates coercive power in matters of Religion, and plead for an U­niversal toleration: the Catholick wishes no more. They cry down Learning and Universities, that the subtle Jesuits may have none but ignorant people to deal with. Ministers main­tenance is decryed, while cunning Emissaries, maintained by stipends from Rome, delude the Nation. Is not the hand of Joab in all this?

Bishop Laud.

In the mean time, you know what the Pharisces said against Speech on Scaffold. Christ himself, If we let him alone, all men will believe in him, & venient Romani, and the Romans willcome, and take away both our Place and Nation. Here was a causeless Cry against Christ, that the Romans will come: And see how just the Judgement of God was; they crucified Christ, for fear lest the Romans should come; and his death was it, which brought in the Romans upon them; God punishing them with that which they most feared. And I pray God this Clamour of venient Romani, (of which I have gi­ven no cause) help not to bring them in; for the Pope never had such a Harvest in England since the Reformation, as he hath now upon the Sects and Divisions that are among us.