the most of them especially for some Ages have been Persons wicked ignorant proud sensual and brutish in their Lives This then is the Foundation of the Protestant Religion in that it is built on those Principles which are every way suited unto the Divine Nature and Goodness as also satisfactory unto Humane Reason with a refusal of them which are unworthy of infinite Wisdom to give and the ordinary Reason of men to admit or receive Secondly as the name Protestant is distinctive with respect unto some other pretended profession of Christian Religion so it derives this denomination from them who in all Ages after the Apostasie of the Church of Rome came to be expresly Antichristian departed from the Communion of it opposed it reformed themselves and set up the true Worship of God according unto the Degrees and measures of Gospel Light which they had received This was done successively in a long tract of Time through sundry Ages until by an Accession of Multitudes Princes and People unto the same Profession they openly testified and Protested against the Papal Apostasie and Tyranny whence they became to be commonly called Protestants And the Principles whereon they all of them proceeded from first to last which constitute their Religion as Protestant were these that follow 1. That there are in the Scripture Prophesies Predictions and Warnings especially in the Book of the Revelation and the Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians that there should be a great Apostasie or Defection in the visible Church from the Faith Worship and Holiness of the Gospel and in Opposition unto what was appointed of Christ the Erection of a worldly Carnal Antichristian Church-state composed of Tyranny Idolatry and Persecution which should for a long time Oppress the true Worshippers of Christ with Bloody Cruelty and at last be it self consumed with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroyed by the Brightness of his coming This Defection was so plainly foretold as also the beginning of it in a Mystery of Iniquity designed even in the dayes of the Apostles that Believers in all Ages did expect the accomplishment of it by the Introduction of an Antichristian State and Power though the manner of it was hidden from them until it was really fulfilled I say from the dayes of the Apostles and the giving out of those Prophesies and Predictions of the coming of Antichrist and an Apostate Church State with him all Christians in all Ages did believe and expect that it should come until it 's real coming in a way and manner unexpected confounded their apprehensions about it 2. Their second Principle as Protestants was that this Defection and Antichristian Church State so plainly foretold by the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures was openly and visibly accomplished in the Church of Rome with the Nations that had Subjected themselves unto the Yoke thereof Therein they found and saw all that Tyranny and Oppression all that Pride and self Exaltation above every thing that hath the Name of God upon it all that Idolatry and false Worship all that departure from the Faith of the Gospel all that contempt of Evangelical Obedience which were foretold to come in under and constitute the fatal Apostasie 3. Hereon their third Principle was that as they valued the Glory of God the Honour of Christ and the Gospel their own Salvation and the Good of the Souls of others they were obliged to forsake and renounce all Communion with that Apostate Church though they saw that their so doing would cost many of them their dearest Blood or Lives 4. They were convinced hereon that it was their Duty publickly to Protest against all those Abominations to Reform themselves as unto Faith Worship and Conversation according unto the Rules before laid down as those that are Fundamental unto Christian Religion These were the Principles whereon Christian Religion as it is Protestant was reintroduced into the World after it had been not only obscured but almost excluded out of it as unto it's publick Profession And these Principles are avowed by all true Protestants as those whereon they are ready at all times to put their Cause and Profession on the Trial. The Way whereby the Profession of this Protestant Religion was introduced on these Principles and made publick in the World under the Antichristian Apostasie was the same whereby Christian Religion entred the World under Paganisme Namely by the Prayers Preaching Writings Sufferings and Holiness of Life of them who embraced it and were called to promote it And herein their Sufferings for the number of them that suffered and variety of all Cruel Preparations of Death are inexpressible It is capable of a full Demonstration that those who were Slain by the Sword and otherwise destroyed for their Testimony unto Christ and the Gospel in opposition unto the Papal Apostasie and Idolatry did far exceed the number of them that Suffered for the Christian Religion in all the Pagan Persecutions of Old A Plant so soaked and Watered with the Blood of the Martyrs will not be so easily plucked up as some Imagine Nay it is probable it will not go out without more blood of sufferers I mean than it was introduced by which yet no man knows how to conceive or express But it had no sooner fixed its Profession in some Nations but it was loaden with all manner of Reproaches charged with all the Evils that fell out in the World after its entrance and by all sorts of Arts and pretences rendred suspected and hateful unto Princes and Potentates Whatever is Evil in or unto Mankind especially unto the Interest of great men was with great Noise and Clamour charged on it For so it was in the first entrance of the Christian Religion under Paganisme There was neither Plague nor Famine nor Earthquake nor Inundation of Water nor War nor Invasion by Enemies but all was charged on that New Religion And the Reason hereof was not only the Hatred of the Truth through the Love of Sin and Unrighteousness and an ingrafted power of Superstition through blind Devotion but Principally because for a long Tract of Time the whole of the Profession of Religion had been suited unto the Secular Interests of men supplying them under various pretences with Power Domination Territories Titles Revenues Wealth Ease Grandeur and Honour with an Insinuation into and power over the Consciences of all sorts of Persons a thing very desirable to men of corrupt Minds and easily turned into an Engine unto very bad and pernicious Ends. That the whole Complex and all it's parts in their various motions and Operations of the Christian Religion in the Papacy is framed and fitted unto these Ends so as to give satisfaction unto all corrupt and Ambitious desires in men is palpable unto all that are not wilfully blind But this Protestant Religion so introduced stated the Interest of Christian Religion in a way and design utterly inconsistent herewith and destructive of it And this was to
A Brief and Impartial ACCOUNT OF THE NATURE OF THE Protestant Religion IT S PRESENT STATE IN THE WORLD ITS STRENGTH and WEAKNESS WITH THE Wayes and Indications of the Ruine or Continuance of its Publick National Profession By a Protestant LONDON Printed by J. A. and are to be Sold by Benjamin Alsop at the Angel and Bible in the Poultrey 1682. THE STATE and FATE OF THE Protestant Religion THE World is at this day filled with discourses about the Protestant Religion and the Profession of it and that not without cause The publick Opposition that is made unto it the Designs that are managed with Policy and Power for it's utter Extirpation and the Confidence of many that they will take Effect must needs fill the minds of them whose Principal Interest and concerns lye in it with many Thoughts about the Event Never was there a greater Cause brought on the Stage for a Tryal A Cause wherein the Glory of God is concerned above any thing at this day in the World A Cause wherein the most Eminent prevailing Powers of the Earth are visibly ingaged as unto its Ruine and whereunto all the Diabolical Arts of men are employed A cause wherein those who embrace that Religion do judge that not only their Lives but the Eternal welfare of them and their Posterity is inevitably concerned This cannot but fill the minds of all men with various conjectures about the Issue of these things according as their Interest works in them by Hopes and Fears Some of them therefore do Endeavour by their Counsels and other wayes for the Preservation and Continuance of this Protestant Religion amongst our selves according as they have an Accession unto publick Affairs And some whose Lot is cast into a private capacity do engage Faith and Prayer unto the same purpose The Enemies of it in the mean time are powerful active and restless many amongst us being uncertain in their minds as not resolved where to fix their Interest and a greater multitude like Gallio care for none of these things This being a matter therefore wherein all men who have any sence of Religion are so deeply concerned it may not be unseasonable Briefly to enquire what is this Protestant Religion which is so contended about what is it's present State in the World What it 's Strength and Weakness as unto it's publick Profession and what is like to be the Issue of the present contest This is that which the ensuing Leaves are designed unto and it is hoped they may be of use unto some to extricate their minds from involved fruitless Thoughts to direct them in their Duty and to bring them unto an acquiescency in the Will of God The Protestant Religion may be considered either as it is Religion in General that is Christan Religion or as it is distinct from and opposite unto another pretended Profession of the same Religion whereon it is called Protestant In the first sence of it it derives it's Original from Christ and his Apostles What they taught to be believed what they commanded to be observed in the Worship of God All of it and nothing but that is the Protestant Religion Nothing else belongs unto it in nothing else is it concerned These therefore are the Principles of the Religion of Protestants whereinto their Faith and Obedience are resolved 1. What was revealed unto the Church by the Lord Christ and his Apostles is the whole of that Religion which God will and doth accept 2. So far as is needful unto the Faith Obedience and Eternal Salvation of the Church what they taught revealed and commanded is contained in the Scriptures of the New Testament witnessed unto and confirmed by those of the Old 3. All that is required of us that we may please God be accepted with him and come to the Eternal Enjoyment of him is that we truely believe what is so revealed and taught yielding sincere Obedience unto what is commanded in the Scriptures Upon these Principles Protestants confidently propose their Religion unto the Tryal of all mankind If in any thing it be found to deviate from them if it exceeds in any Instance what is so revealed taught and commanded If it be defective in the Faith or Practice of any thing that is so revealed or commanded they are ready to renounce it Here they live and dye from this Foundation they will not depart This is their Religion And if these Principles will not secure us as unto our present acceptance with God in Religion and the Eternal Enjoyment of him he hath left all Mankind at an utter uncertainty to make a blind venture for an invisible World which is altogether inconsistent with his Infinite Wisdom Goodness and Benignity Being in possession of these Principles of Truth and Security from Christ and his Apostles it belongs unto the Protestant Religion not to change or forgo them and to repose our confidence in the Infallibility or Authority of the Pope of Rome or of the Church whereof he is the Head For these Principles of Assurance are such as every way become the Wisdom and Goodness of God and such as that our Nature is not capable in this life of those which are higher or of a more illustrious Evidence Let the contrary unto either of these be demonstrated and we will renounce the Protestant Religion To forgo them for such as are irreconcilable unto Divine Wisdom and Goodness as also to the common Reason of Mankind is an effect of the highest Folly and of strong Delusion For that all Mankind should be obliged to place all their Confidence and Assurance of pleasing God of living unto him and coming unto the Enjoyment of him for Eternity on the Pope of Rome and his Infallibility however qualified and circumstantiated considering what these Popes are and have been is Eternally irreconcilable unto the Greatness Wisdom Love and Kindness of God as also unto the whole Revelation made of himself by Jesus Christ. The Principles of Protestant Religion before mentioned do every way become are highly suited unto the Nature and Goodness of God No man living shall ever be able to instance in one Tittle of them that is not correspondent with Divine Goodness and Wisdom But on the first naming of this other way no man who knows any thing what the Pope is and what is his Church if he be not blinded with Prejudice and Interest will be able to Satisfie himself that it is consistent with Infinite Goodness and Wisdom to commit the Salvation of Mankind which he values above all things unto such a Security Neither hath this latter way any better consistency with Humane Wisdom or the common Reason of Mankind namely that those who are known many of them to be better and wiser men than those Popes should resolve their Religion and therein their whole Assurance of pleasing God with all their hopes of a blessed Eternity into the Authority and Infallibility of the Pope and his Church Seeing many of them
give all Glory and Honour to God and Christ alone and to teach the Guides of the Church to be Humble Holy Zealous Ensamples of the Flock utterly renouncing all Secular power and Domination with Territories Titles and great Revenues on the account of their Office and the Discharge of it And was it any Wonder that those who were in possession of three parts of the Power and a third part of the Revenue of most Nations in Europe should look on this Principle as the Worst of Devils and so represent it as to frighten above half the Monarchs of these Nations from once looking steadily upon it whereby they might have easily discovered the cheat that was put upon them And thus was it with the first Planters of Christian Religion with respect unto the Pagans Act. 19. 27. But herein many labour to make a difference between the Introduction of Religion under Paganisme and the Reformation of it under Antichristianisme For they say that the first Professors of Christian Religion for three hundred Years endured their Persecutions with all patience never once stirring up either Wars or Commotions in the defence of their Profession But since upon and after the Introduction of Protestant Religion there have been many Tumults and Disorders many popular Commotions and Wars which have been caused thereby For if all the Professors of it had quietly suffered themselves to have been killed with the Sword or hanged or burned or tortured to death in the Inquisition or starved in Dungeons and more was not required of them there would have been no such Wars about Religion in the World For their Enemies intended nothing but to destroy them in peace and quietness without the least disturbance unto the Civil Rule among men I say this Difference did not arise from any difference in the Religion of the One and the Other nor of the Principles of those by whom they were professed But it hath proceeded from External causes and circumstances that were greatly different between the Primitive Christians and the Protestants in some places and Nations For the Primitive Christians whose Story we have were all of them placed in and Subject unto one Empire In that whole Empire and all the Provinces of it there was not one Law Custom or Usage giving the least countenance unto Right of Protection of Liberty There was not one Prince Ruler Senate Governour that had the least pretence of legal Right to protect or defend them in their Profession against the Will and Law of the Emperour or Empire The outward Rights of Religion were no way allied in any thing unto the Civil Rights of men However numerous therefore the Christians were in those dayes they were all absolutely private persons without pretence of Law or Right to defend themselves in which state of things it is the undoubted Principle of all Protestants that where men are persecuted meerly on the account of Religion without Relation unto the Civil Rights and Liberties of Mankind their duty is patiently to Suffer without the least Resistance But it hath been otherwise upon the Reformation and since For the Protection and Preservation of Religion was taken up by sundry Potentates free Princes and Cities who had a legal Right and Power to protect themselves and their Subjects in the Profession of it It hath been and is at this day incorporated into the Laws Rights and Interests of sundry Nations which ought to be defended And no instance can be given of any people defending themselves in the Profession of the Protestant Religion by Arms but where together with their Religion their Enemies did design and endeavour to destroy those Rights Liberties and Priviledges which not only the Light of Nature but the Laws and Customs of their several Countreys did secure unto them as a part of their Birth-right Inheritance And in some places though the name of Religion hath been much used on the one side and the other yet it hath been neither the Cause nor Occasion of the Wars and Troubles that have been in them And this makes their case utterly different from that of the Primitive Christians This Religion being thus reinstated in many Nations it brought forth fruit in them even as the Gospel did at its first preaching in the places whereinto it came Col. 1. 6. It brought forth fruit in them by whom it was received such as is the proper Fruit of Religion Namely it did so in Light Knowledge Truth in Holiness in the real Conversion of Multitudes unto God in Good Works in the Spiritual Comfort of Believers in Life and Death with all other fruits of Righteousness which are to the praise of God Thereby also was the Worship of God vindicated from Idolatry and Superstition and restored in many places unto it's Primitive Simplicity and Purity It brought also no small Advantage even unto those Nations both Princes and their Subjects by whom the Profession thereof was never received as Christian Religion also did of Old unto the Pagan World For hereby it is that the Kings and Potentates of Christendom even those of the Roman Profession have much eased themselves of that Intolerable yoke of Bondage that was on them unto the Popes pretended Power and his Impositions For whilest all Nations were in Subjection to him it was at their utmost hazard that any one King or State should contend with him about any of his Demands or Assumptions For he could stir up what Nation he pleased and give them sufficient Encouragement to avenge his Quarrels on Rebellious Princes which he also did in Instances innumerable But since so many Nations fell off from all dependance on him and Subjection to him by the Light and Profession of the Protestant Religion there is a Ballance of Power against him and an awe upon him in his Presumptions lest he should be dealt withall by others in the like manner Had these Western parts of the World continued under a Superstitious Sense of a Fealty and Obedience in all things due to the Pope as they were before the Reformation the King of France himself should not so easily have rejected his personal Infallibility and Jurisdiction as he seems to have done But he hath now no way left to avenge himself but Assassinations which at this time may prove of very evil consequence unto himself Wherefore the Princes of Europe as well those by whom the Protestant Religion is not embraced yea is opposed and persecuted as those by whom it is received seem not so sensible of the Benefit and Advantage which doth accrew unto them all thereby For from thence alone it is with the Interest and Power which it hath obtained in the World that they are freed in their Minds and in their Rule from as base a Servitude and Bondage as ever persons under their Denomination were Subject unto The common People also who yet continue in the Communion of the Papal Church have received no small advantage by that Effectual Light which shines in the