foole onely looking foorth right and to that which is before his feete not comparing times past with the present and both these with that which is to come thereby to prouide for his owne good and preuent his owne harme which if we wil do with wisdome and circumspection in this case of Iesus Christs most profest and our heauy enemies the Papists we may eastly coniecture what their future and after behauiour will be by their former and present cruell and Caniballike carriage If a she Beare robd of her whelpes or a hungry woulfe will not prey on the silly Lambe she meeteth in her way then may we trust the Popish crewe and suffer them to continue and range vp and downe among vs. The shee woulfe of Rome hath had heretofore and now for their treasons is like to haue such a losse of her whelpes whether she and hers yet liuing will not seeke reuenge I will not make question least I should séeme to doubt whether a Woulfe be a Woulfe and Rome the same to day that it was yesterday Reuel 17.9 for certenly so long as she piercheth on seauen hills she will either ouercrowe the Kings of the earth or séeke to plucke their Crownes from their heads And what she doth shee will teach all her broode Reuel 17.16.17.18 Reuel 18.6 Reuel 18.6 eDut 13.1 and chickens to doe vntill the Kings of the earth according to Gods fore councell and iustice and according to his command in that behalfe ioyne together and execute the wrath of God vpon her and her adherents Which if almighty God command them to doe in the head I desire to know what they ought to do in the members Euery profest idolater by the lawe of God is to dye but the Papists are profest Idolaters the assumption or minor proposition will be doubted of I will not therefore conclude till I haue strengthened and confirmed it knitting it vp after this sort If Papists be the grosest idolaters that euer were then idolaters but the former is as true as the seuen hild citty is the seat of Antichrist ergo the latter as she shall certenly be burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God that will do it The antecedent will not bee graunted mee for the consequent S. Iohn warranteth me I therefore fortifie it thus All they that worship so base a thing a◠a peece of bread for the maker of heauen and earth idle Pictures rusty nailes rotten timber and olde ragges are the grosest Idolaters that euer were but the Papists doe all these therefore they are the grosest Idolaters that euer were And now I conclude Papists ought by the law of God to die But me seemeth I see some man steppe forth now I haue concluded pleading for Idolatry and Papistry denying my proposition the groundsell of all and yet me thinketh it cannot stand faster then on the eternall and vnalterable word of God But sayth he it is one of Moyses iudicialls Is it indeed Moyses and not Almighty Gods He reioyneth therefore yes and those Iudicialls were temporary and for the state of the Iewes and taken away by the appearing of Christ To this reioinder I adioyne that Christ sayth no such thing but that he came not to take away the law but to fulfil the law He came to destroy and take away the works of darkenes not to make a way for the workes of darkenes which he must needs doe if he should either take the sword out of the Magistrates hands or giue it in his hand there to suffer it rust in the sheath and not draw it forth against offendors And I pray you in good part against whō should he vse it if not against Idolaters the greatest notoriest Traytors against God and his glory that the earth yeeldeth Shall Kings draw the sword which the Lord hath put in their hands and that most iustly for the cutting off of them that complot treasons against their owne persons and shall they be lesse zealous in the Lords cause then in their owne But what speake I of the Lords cause onely when in this case of the Papists there is a double treason first against God by their idolatry next against the King by their disloyalty This latter I affirme confirme it thus Whosoeuer holdeth the Popes supremacie is a Traytor to the King but all Papists hold the Popes supremacie My assumption will heere againe be baited at I will therfore bar it thus If euery Christian haue his name for that in trueth he acknowledgeth Christ his head then euery Papista Papist hath his name from Papa the Pope for that he acknowledgeth him his head but the former is true therefore the latter So that if once I beare him say he is a Papist I can truely say by and by he is a traytor But wée will haue a shift for this he is no Papist if there be such danger in the notation of the name but a Catholicke I promise you it is now well amended as one washing off the filth of his face with inke From whence I pray you cometh this name what soundeth it After this sort whosoeuer holdeth the Popes supremacie is a traitor euery Catholick holdeth the Popes supremacie my assumption neede here no more words for this very name selleth me that he holdeth the vniuersality of the church of Rome and so the vniuersall authoritie of the Pope of Rome And this will alwayes be the keeping of the dirige a Papist a catholick a traytor a traytor But it may be our language is harsh and barren giuing gracelesse names to gracious men will the smooth Latin lend vs a couple of names in steed of them to steed these men for I would saine tid my selfe of them What say you to Pontificius and Papicola will either of these better Papist or catholick Surely no neuer a barrell better hearing for when all commeth to all either hée must forget his Papistry or hee can neuer forgoe his treachery Notwithstanding al this if he wil continue a Papist and so his treason and so his double treason first against god next against the King what remaineth but the reward of a treator Yea but we cōdemne papistry of cruelty and what were this to execute all Papists first therefore we must know a difference betweene one that is foolishly Popish and that smacketh of the corrupt dregs of Rome and an other that hath drunken of the wine of her fornications péeuishly popish a peruerse papist a young Cubbe and an old Fox one that is créeping out of the shell and another that is fledge for when I speake of a Papist which instantly ecchoeth a traytor by and by calleth for a halter I meane such a one as is a true Papist a Catholick Pōtificius Papicola that hath the grounds is grounded in the fundamentall points of his rebellion I should say his religion for as sure as the Lord liueth if he be a resolute papist he is an absolute traytor to God
The two first I will not handle so amply because many others according to their places and giftes did with more deepe contemplation waigh the accidents themselues and with consideration can more effectually remember and deliuer them to the glory of God and the praise of his great power and mercy Of the latter I will God willing bée more large my place and profession requiring thereof in this kinde a more ample testimony then of any others present from the béeginning of the accident and action to the end thereof The first therefore worthy of admiration and so of commemoration was the streaming flaming burning of the heauens for many nights togither both before at and after the time that that horroble inhumane and more then butcherly treason the like whereof was neuer heard of among infidels should haue béene executed to the extinguishing of the light and taking away of the life of the whole state The heauens as it were taking a bloudy and firy impression and blushing as it were at those most bloudy attemptes of cursed Caitifes and of those furious flames which they most treacherously were kindling to the vtter ruinating of their deare couÌ„try and common wealth Which great worke of God although all did or might behold and see with wonderment yet who could or did know the ende thereof vntill in the ende the Lord himselfe made it knowne and open to the view of all men And now hauing opened it to all who is so blind as * F Iâ—sâ—phus in lib. de Iâ—â—aeâ— bel 7. cap. 12. he saith on the tokens that procéeded the taking and ouerture of Ierusalem neither hauing eies nor soule as not to see that God hath a singular care of mankind and doth euery where foreshew betime what is most expedient for them especially what care the Lord hath of Kings and kingdomes and of their regalty and royalty That the heauens doe euen take notice openly foreshewe and publikely bewray the horrible treacheries and conspiracies that shal be in earth and as it were vnder the earth in secret desperately complotted and contriued for the ouerthrowe and ruine of their high estate and soueraignety whereon dependeth as the life of the body on the head the wealth and happinesse of the whole common-wealth That he that seateth and vnseateth Kings at his pleasure should so watch ouer their persons and places and watch them that shall seeke by most vndutifull indignities to wrong their persons and places that where the earth cannot the heauens shall hold out a light and euen bring to light those cursed complots that are in obscurity most deuilishly hudled vp against the Crowne and dignity of the Lords annointed Is it admirable in the eies of al men almighty God should so woÌ„derfully tender the good of humane societies especially of their heads and gouernours that the heauens ouerspreding the earth should returne such a reflection of the actions done therein as not to suffer vnreuealed but publikely by flaming lights therein to giue a light to the search and finding out of that to their singular benefit whereof otherwise to their Imminent danger they are vtterly ignorant is this I say admirable in the eyes of all ought not euery one and shall not all both King and subiect Prince and people head and heart make a holy and happy vse of almighty Godâ— this so wonderfull and vnspeakeable goodnesse God forbid else The vse therefore béeing manifould I will heare drawe it to a double head generall particular The generall doeth generally call vpon all men that fith almighty God hath such a care of all head and body crowne and foote that hee hath and doth not onely inrich vs with infinit good thinges prossperity plenty peace and what not all which we are altogither vtterly vnworthy of but hath and doeth also dayly preuent and forestaie so many deserued euills reuerting them vpon their heads that are the instruments of ill all of vs therefore should from the highest to the lowest from his sacred Maiesty that fitteth on the Throne to the drawer of water and hewer of wood know and acknowledge with feare and reuerence the almighty presence and prouidence of our good God and alwaies to laud and praise him for his goodnesse And for that wée are all forgetfull and dull by nature each one according to his place and calling to prouoke and stirre vp on another with that of the prophet not for fashioÌ„ but with affection O come and let vs sing vnto the Lord let vs heartily reioyce in the strength of our saluation As this is the generall vse so the particular is double according to the double estate of men for each King hath his vse and euery Subiect his vse All Kings who acknowledge with reuerence for their soueraigne the King of Kings haue their vse of singular comfort and courage euer to behaue themselues Kingly not to congratulate this Estate or that person at any time by houering policie and hidyng piety considering the great founder and when it pleaseth him confounder of all Estates and persons doth ouer shadowe and shelter their thrones and kingdomes that so long as they serue him Iob. 5.23 and forward his commands their is no power there is no policy in earth or in hell that shall harme their Maiesties one hayre for all the powers of the heauens and of the earth are combined and confederated togither for the maintainaunce and vpholding of theyr thrones But if any shal so far forget their allegeance to the highest as to set themselues against his high commaunders on earth he himselfe from heauen will sight against them and cause all the rest of his creatures to crye out vpon them and to hale them on to due and most deserued execution As this is a kingly comfort and incouragement to kings in their godly gouernment so the second vse is loyall respecteth the subiects in their faithfull obedience to teach and continue them in loyalty and fidelity Is the King seated by the king of Kings in his throne hath the Lord himselfe thought him sit visibly to represent vnto thee his inuisible maiestie and wilt not thou in the Lord yeeld vnto him feare and reuerence or darest thou soe and worme of the earth whatsoeuer thou art lift vp I say not a sword in thy hand but a thought in thy heart against his sacred power and gouernment When the Lord himselfe saith This man and his posterity shall raigne ouer thee and the land of thy subiection and shall rule this Empire this I le these and these people and nations art thou sound or wilt thou onely be appeacht for a traytor not onely against the Crowne and dignity of thy earthly king who hath power of this thy life but against thy heauenly Soueraigne who hath power after thy head is taken from thy shoulders thy body vnbowelled and quartered and the parts of thy body imparted heere and there as an horrible and odious spectacle of thy disloyalty to
it receiued being great was from the hands of men who fearing what was likely that the rage of the flames would haue had the like force on the Church as it had on the stéeple sought to saue what might be They therfore ript vp and cast out almost all the seates and vncouered the three Iles of the Church in the middle in hope to saue if it might be that halfe which was westermost if the other halfe next the steeple were fired But their labour indeed turned to losse as it fell out for God by his good prouidence did not onely restraine the rage of the fire from the Church which was on the West but likewise froÌ„ the houses néere most admirably especially from the ministers which stood so â—nder the merâ—y of the fire and the winde that 〈◊〉 thousand stakes of fire might be seene to light aâ—â—â—ng his wood on his hay corne mowes and soon whatsoeuer almost â—as about his house and yet so gratious is 〈…〉 are 〈…〉 onely I think did him not 〈…〉 〈…〉 of hurt In the meane season it 〈…〉 to râ—â—ie 〈◊〉 not withstanding this so maniâ—â—st 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—able a toolke of God in weath speaking vntoâ—â—â—n 〈◊〉 such sort as you haus heard that sawe it not and that 〈…〉 from heaueâ—t of many that caâ—â—e 〈…〉 scarce one 〈◊〉 amoÌ„gst many 〈…〉 〈◊〉 a â—â—ishap is 〈◊〉 what a miseâ—â—â—â—â—â— here what 〈◊〉 hap what bad forfuâ—â—e wish such heathoâ—ish speecâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the sphears of heauen were the wheeles of fortune 〈◊〉 the clouds hayle lightning thunder and alt the 〈…〉 God else were but a cast aâ— hazard So little weâ—â— they â—â—â—rected est hee with the great power of God or the 〈…〉 their owne great sinnes yea I dare say and yet I thinke before the Lord I say the truth more did truely for the present what they haue done since I know not bewailt thâ—â—oâ—e or their sweet ring of Bels which the seâ—â—eâ—e wrath of God would no longer suffer to â—angle then orther for their ignorance of God and his goodnes or their vnthankfulnes or for any other sin which was doth the cause of this and is the cause of all other his iudgements And least I should séeme to speake without booke hâ—râ—â—â— I will alleadge that restimony which is without exception the greatest of al other of the aboundance oâ—the heart the mouth speaketh The truth whereof not beeing doubted then I say it is an vndoubled truth I haue affirmed for I heard with mine eares diuers lament the death as it 〈◊〉 of their Belles but no one there so much as mention the guilt or punishment of sinne And if they that were present spectators and had a spâ—â—â—all interest as it were in so manifest and publicke a preâ—â—â—ent of Gods wrath reuealed from heauen made so little vse of it what great cause is there some speciall vses beâ— ript vp as well for them that are nere as for them that are farder of I come therefore to the vse Which is double first in regard of places secondly of persons for places it beeing a towre and a Steeple of great height proudly aspiring as it were and aduancing it selfe in the apre that was thus fearefully strucken with the piercing force of thunder and lightning as it many times hath falne out â—â—nes the tower of Babell began to bee founded that God writeth confusion on models erected with ambition it is a document to all places to take heed of the like ambitious fully least they haue the like pernicious fall It is fayned of 〈◊〉 that it creepeth at first on the ground but at last it râ—â—steth on the top of high topt turrets but for the fame of Gods wrath lighting on places most while it ariseth from the ouerturning of that which hath beene turretted raised vp alost That where the proud spiers seems to threaten the heauens they are by the heauens ouer topt and turned topsey turney to the ground And as this is exemplisted in proud towers and turrets so may it bee in trees that peeping out of the earth wil at the length aduance themselues so haughtily as if they disdained the drops that come from the clouds should light on their crownes But it is in vaine to speake of the places without the persons for though god write confusion on them they know not ne feele their owne pride or perditioÌ„ which lighteth on them not for any sin of theirs for they are vnreasonable and vnsensible but for the sin of mens persons whoÌ„ God hath indued with reason vnderstanding vnto whoÌ„ he hath coÌ„mitted the dominion vse of his other creatures for the abuse wherof he doth in iustice not onely sometimes set the stampe of his wrath vpon their persons but more often in mercy doth spare their persons brand it in the other creatures that he hath giuen for their profit or pleasure I come therefore to the personal vses hereof which shal be threefold according to mens thréefold estate highest lowest or betwéene both Men of the first order and ranck I do most humbly intreat often and againe to remember who hath so highly aduanced them and whereunto for the forgetfullnesse of these two points is followed with an impotency of mind the archenimye of moderation the most potent procurer of the hasty downfall of their high estate Prou. 8.15 For if they did euer remember of whom they hold their places and of what importance that it is the sonne of GOD by whom kings raigne and statesmen decree iustice by whoÌ„ princes hold their principality and all the good Iudges of the earth and as by the sonne of God they are placed the importance of their places to bee such as Moyses the best commaunder on that euer was groned vnder the burden of it and Salomon maketh it a matter of impossibility for any man to discharge it 1. King 3.9 without more then humane ability If they did remember I say these things togither with the peril whereto great men in that they are great are subiect could pride so haue preuaild with many of them as it hath as Pharoah Nebucadnezar Herod not onely with such bad gouernors but with the best likewise as Dauid and Hezechiah Which desease the Lord who knoweth the hearts of men foreseeing how it would infect did before hand prescribe a diet and gaue an an tedate which may be there more fitly profitably seene then here remembred And sith it is the Lords prescription Deu. 17.19.20 it is not without manifest danger to be neglected but to be vsed of men in highest places as they loue their own health and happines A word to the wise I will therfore conclude this first vse vnto men of the first roome as Kings their great councellers and assistants with the speach of the Kingly prophet Dauid and leauing them vnto the gratious blessing of God most humbly take my leaue Ps 138.4 All the Kings of the earth shal praise thee O Lord for