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A90933 The next way to France: or, A short dialogue between two zealous well-wishers for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ; viz. H. P. and B. G. H. P.; B. G. 1651 (1651) Wing P32; Thomason E645_8; ESTC R208804 4,839 8

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of the evil which is apprehended may be carried on on the Principles of Self-charity and Justice H. P. I doubt not but that you are able to prove what you say B. G. Why truly I can do it to the purpose for that you must of necessity grant how that God himself divided the speech of those who went about to build the Tower of Babel He caused the Midianites to fight against their brethren in Gideon's days He sent a spirit of dissention between Abimelech and the Sichemites for that he would destroy both the one and the other He suffered a lying spirit to act by the mouth of his own Prophets for to bring Ahab to a fall in Ramoth-Gilead He permitted Samson to fire the foxes tails to set them on to do mischief Paul himself raised a difference between the Sadduces and the Pharisees that so he might work his own deliverance In the like manner it 's void of all doubt that the Publike Good may be endeavoured with a very safe conscience although it should be effected by the causing of a confusion amongst men yea although they were neighbours especially such who should they be left at liberty would sheathe their swords in our own bowels whenas in case they be prevented therein the truth of the Gospel may thereby have a free passage and so consequently the Kingdom of Christ may be advanced which is the main thing to be minded As for the accessory results of such an Undertaking it must needs be granted that it cannot chuse but be a great advantage for any State to cut out work amongst its neighbours abroad that so it may have rest at home a Maxime which in all times hath been held void of all dispute and the which hath swayed amidst all men not onely those of the first Age and the second or during the times that Hannibal left Carthage to war on the Romanes or whenas the Athenians and Thebans bestirred themselves to puzzle the Spartans but even in these later Ages in our grandfathers and fathers days the particulars whereof may be as yet fresh in our memories viz. How that in Philip the second King of Spain's Reign the French King's the Emperour's Queen Elizabeth of England the King of Denmark's the Swedes nay and amidst the States General of the Low-Countries the same hath been found to be a necessary course and an usual practice whereunto the said King Philip the second had so much accustomed himself viz. to minde and endeavour the embroyling and setting by the ears together of all the other Christian Princes as that the several inhabitants of Europe were at length constrained to imitate him therein though not to the same extension of their consciences as he did especially whenas his extreme passion illimitated ambition and cruel fire-brands moved him to see all his neighbours on fire nay he endeavoured to have made use of Henry the Fourth of Navar as then of the Reformed Religion to make war against the French King Henry the Third when at the self-same time the said King Philip the second made an agreement with the Infidel Muley Malucco It may therefore without any further allegations or examples be maintained that those who do not much differ in the point of Religion from those of the Reformed Religion in France may lawfully use all plausible means to back and abet them in the advancing of the Kingdom of Christ and in their opposing of that Faction which meaneth nought save destruction unto the Britains and so interrupt them in their running alongst on the Lords providence Thus I have made good the goodness justness necessity and plausibleness of the Undertaking H. P. But as now pray resolve me concerning the apprehended mischiefs which may ensue if so be this present occasion be not heeded B. G. Hereunto I answer That as there is nothing so inconstant as a French-man's spirit so is there nothing so furious in its resentments As for instance the Flemings can very well determinate whether the French furies and massacres were not far more violent and outrageous then the Spanish although it cannot be denied but that the French will also passionately love and befriend where once they are engaged All which infers how that there is nothing so apparent as that in case the discontented French Princes should perceive that neither those of the Reformed Religion in France nor themselves when once engaged could expect to be countenanced abetted and back'd they would as then with the more violence hasten to patch up their own domestick Jars at any rates as also their forraign Wars with Spain which if they should once compass what can there then be expected but that they would all together joyn their malice and forces towards the impediting of the Britains their designe and so unanimously proceed to the troubling of the English Seas So hath it likewise ever been accounted for an infallible truth that though the French Nation be excessively inconstant ready and capable at each turning of the winde to embroil one another and to commit most egregious oversights so are they as ready and capable to piece up their own differences again and to finde out Expedients to salve over their faults Moreover as they are more violent then any other Nations in the hatching of mischiefs against those with whom they fall foul being as Cesar observes at their first onset more then men so likewise are they easily pacified and soon reconciled Wherefore my conclusion thereon is no other then this Viz. That although Divine Providence steers all things on its own score yet that there is an obligation which may very well to observe and to make good and that same seems at present to be in season to wit That a fair civil and hopeful demonstration might be made of Amity and countenance unto those of the Reformed Religion in France and unto the discontented Princes whenas this following truth will not admit of any gainsaying viz. How that both of them do conceive that they have sufficiently exprest their meanings thereon H. P. By what I pray B. G. By that which I have instanced on to shew and to unfold so that if you heed it not it must needs lie at your own door And the which is the less to be excused for that in two yeers time the said Particular could not so much as be permitted to be represented nor was there so much as any notice taken That the same was grounded on Credentials whereon it was to have been manifested Besides men have not Letters Patents for their lives durance nor can it be expected that whenas Parties do not meet with the least encouragement at all for the heeding of their Overtures in fit time they should as then expect any better success on their Proffers then those who sowe seeds on Ice or Snow FINIS Octob. 17. Anno 1651.