fragrant odours breathes forth sweetness in the nostrils of all those who hold Fidelity to the Scepter to be the best cognizance for the Coat of a Subject But for the ungodly Principles and bloody Practices of implacable men and barbarous Miscreants plotting unnatural and hellish Conspiracies against the Person Crown and Dignity of Sacred Majesty let them be as Oreb and Zeb Zeba and Zalmana that perished or else remain as Pilate in the Creed a curse to all posterity Discontented Pride has made more Schismaticks than Conscience if this hath slain its thousands that hath killed its ten thousands Many are zealously affected to Truth but for want of sound knowledge or meek and humble hearts they are full of violence their capacities are over-cast with a cloud of ignorance that intercepts their view and blunts the point of the brightest ray their understanding sends forth to discover any Errour of the Church but breaks out in a clamorous storm of passion * Clamoris plena doctrina Haereticorum quae non in sensu sed in multiloquio clamore versatur S. Hieron Here I may recite the words of S. Austin against the Letters of Petilian the Donatist changing Evangelium into Ecclesia quae mitiùs pertuli◠Regum flammas The Church better endured the flames of Tyrants than the tongues of Schismaticks Nam illis incendentibus unitas mansit vobis loquentibus manere non potuit for while the◠burned Unity remained but while these rail the Church must needs be divided for Schisms and Divisions set up the Kingdom of Satan the Prince and subtle Commander of the Air the potent Adversary of Mankind who holds his Supremacy and Dominion by Variance and Enmity and all his Agents subordinate to him Nihil speì nisi per discordias habent as Tacitus speaks No Logick or Reason can batter down the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strong Holds of prepossessed false Opinions neither the determination of general Councils nor unanimous consent of Primitive Traditions nay the Scripture it self must strike Sail to their Judgments as if the Oracle of the Word would only admit of their corrupt Glosses and false Annotations which Irenaeus * Advers Haeres l. 4. c. 43. joyns together scindentes elatos sibi placentes Schismaticks proud ‖ Mater omnium Haereticorum superbia Aug. de Gen. contr Manich. l. 2. c. 8. and self-pleasing men This was one of the Originals of Arrius his cursed Heresie his pride and envy against Alexander the good Bishop of Alexandria as Theodoret * Theodor. Eccles Hist lib. 1. cap. 2. reports Pelagius also and his Associates who though they did acknowledge the name of Grace ‖ Gratiae vocabulo frangens invidiam offensionemque declinans Aug. de Grat. Christ l. 1. c. 37. to decline envy and avoid the curse of the great Council of Carthage yet still they did but shelter their proud Heresies under Equivocations and Ambiguities What store of this Coin is minted at Rome to advance and support the Grandeur and Greatness of the Papal Monarchy who dams up the clear waters of Antiquity * The Reverend Bishop Taylor in his Disswasive from Popery pag. 124. saith The Roman Emissaries endeavour to prevail amongst the ignorant and prejudicate by boasting of Antiquity and calling their Religion the old Religion and the Catholick So by insnaring others by ignorant words in which is no truth their Religion as it distinguishes from the Religion of the Church of England being neither the old nor the Catholick Religion but new and superinduc'd by Arts known to all who with sincerity and diligence have looked into their pretences and opens the sluce to the puddles of Novelty is visible by Indulgences and Pardons consecrated Grains and Prayers for the Dead Pope ‖ Primus indulgentiarum nundinas primus in Purgatorium extendit indulgentias Agrip de Vanit Scientiarum cap. 61. Boniface VIII who lived in the Reign of King Edward the First of England was the first that instituted the Merchandise or Sale of Pardons and extended them to Purgatory for the Doctrine of Purgatory is the Mother of Indulgences The vast Treasure issuing †Sixtus the Fourth was wont to say Papae non deerunt pecuniae quamdiu ipsi manus erunt calamus The Pope could never want money so long as his hand could hold a pen. thence is solely possessed by the Pope and no other Patriarch in the World It is a matter of meer interest and advantage and if these Silver Shrines were not the Crafts-men of Rome would quickly fall If there were no gain saith a Reverend Prelate to be reaped from them their chief Champions would be ashamed of the great Diana that they worship When the Truth of God and the Death of Christ the Kingdom of Heaven and the Fire of Hell the Souls of Men and Salvation of the World shall be made basely serviceable and contributary to the boundless pride and ambition of the Pontificality and See of Rome who seeks to abuse Antiquity and to patronize their own Errours subjecting Religion into Maxims of humane Policy * All their Policy tends to maintain their archieved Majesty and Greatness whereby his Holiness shall be estated not only in the City of Rome but also in the Seigniory of the whole West not in Spiritualibus only as Vicarial Head but also Lord Paramount in Temporalibus as Monarch of the Church in having all power upon Earth at his will and the Crowns of Kings to stand or fall at his pleasure and the ancient integrity of the Apostolick Faith into Innovations and a new Belief as Gregory Nazianzen ‖ Gregor Nazian Orat. in Arianos said of the Arians their refined Doctrines meer Novelties new-broach'd Heresies For at the Council of Trent they adjoyn'd new Articles of Faith to those twelve which the Apostles set down for a sufficient Summary of sound Doctrine whilst the Sacrifice of Mass Corporeity of Presence the Doctrine of Purgatory Invocation of Saints Worship of Images and the like were commanded to be embraced and received with the same pious affection and reverence as the holy Scripture under no less penalty than Damnation and to be believed for fear of Anathema O Roma * Rome once the Emporium of the World and Mart of Christian Faith when it enjoyed all the happiness this life is capable of it grew exorbitant That State which seem'd above foreign casualty laboured with its own happiness and from its height and glory found way to ebb again Roma diu titubans variis erroribus acta Corruet mundi desinet esse caput à Româ quantum mutata vetustâ es Nunc caput es scelerum quae caput orbis eras For a Nation or People to receive Christianity and true Faith from Christ himself or the Apostles matters nothing unless they do still retain the same Theological and Divine Principles Some can talk over the series and descent of all times with such
another They carry with them fierce Bulls such as the Poet doth mention Vulcanum naribus afflant and breathe or speak nothing but in the fiery accents of desolation of which temper the Jesuitick Spirit seems to be which deceives the Nations with the Cup of Errour setting out Truths in a painted and meretricious Bravery nay blending them with humane inventions teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men And there can be no greater Sacriledge in the World than to put our own Image upon the Ordinances of Christ 1. Our Lord and Saviour hath commanded us to read the holy Scripture Joh. 5.39 and the Holy Ghost blesseth them that delight therein Psal 1. But the Roman Church forbids the reading thereof to the Laity in the vulgar Tongue * Haeresin â—sse si quis dicit necessarium esse ut Scripturae in vulgares linguas convertantur Sander Visib Monar lib. 7. Credo institutum hoc à Diabolo esse inventum Peres de Trad. part 1. assert 3. pag. 47. which if they should be permitted the perusal of would easily discover their new Articles of Faith to be erroneous their Image-worship to be Idolatry and their not erring Bishop to be a grand Deceiver Pope Clement VIII in the Index of prohibited Books says That the Bible published in vulgar Tongues ought not to be read and retained no not so much as a Compendium or History of it And Bellarmine says That it is not necessary to Salvation to believe that there are any Scriptures at all written This is to blot out the Canonical Scripture and give us Apocrypha in the room of it to make the Divine Oracles to speak to the patronizing of their own interest and would suborn God for a Witness to their Errours As Caligula dealt with Jupiters Statue taking off the head of it and placing his own in its stead So they substitute the devices of their own Brain in the place of Gods Word putting that most excellent Candle under a bushel to make the Decretals of the Pope as authentick as holy Writ and wholly rely on the Dictates of the Priest setting more by an old Tradition than a Divine Precept Thus these insolent Usurpers who seek not so much to oppress the bodies as exercise their Tyranny over the Souls of men and pitifully inthral them to everlasting servitude As the wicked Shepherds of Midian would drive their Neighbours flocks from the watering Troughs and the Philistims would stop the Patriarchs Wells So the Emissaries of Rome use all Arts to keep the people from the use of the Scriptures the Wells of Salvation hindering them from instruction It is a great glory to the Church of England that the Bible * The difference between Pope Sixtus the Fifth and Clement the Eighth the one commanding one Bible only to be used the other another under their Curses whereby the Romish Partisans are involved into a miserable necessity being constrained not to read any or be liable to the Anathema of Pope Clement if they use Sixtus's Bible or of Sixtus if they use Clement's which was shut up in an unknown Tongue from the generality is now in our own Mother-tongue and Language of the Kingdom And what S. Chrysostome spake of old concerning the British Islands is verified at this day every where a man may hear the people discoursing of the Scriptures strangers indeed in speech yet of the Houshold of Faith in tongue Barbarians but in conversation drawing nearer unto Saints for the Christian Laity in the Britannick Church which is not permitted in the Roman walk in the most clear Light of the Gospel and drink their fill of the pure streams of the water of Life in Scripture * It is a weighty Saying of Tertullian Adoro pl nitâ—dinem Scripturarum for all Scripture was given by Divine Inspiration 2 Tim 3.16 and profitable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for redargution 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for correction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for instruction that the man of God may be perfected unto all good works And we all have not only liberty by Proclamation to enjoy it but several Acts of Parliament to confirm our use of it Religion and Liturgy God grant that which is so great a mercy and happiness to us we make it not our misery by turning the cause of our thanksgiving into murmuring repining and dissatisfaction for if ever Times were under cross and unluckly Aspects if ever there were a publick Spirit of Phrensie and mischief in the World certainly this Lot is fallen upon ours in contending for Mint and Cummin disagreeing in the lesser ‖ Disunanimity and disuniformity are a breaking not only of the King 's but of God's and the Churches peace It causeth distraction hinders devotion and indisposeth men unto Religion and clouds the understanding in the disquisition of Truth and consequently hinders that blessed light which clarifies the Soul of man and predisposeth it unto the brightness of eternal felicity only when they all agree in the substance and in the greater as matters of Faith and Articles of Belief viz. to believe in the Father Son and Holy Ghost one Divinity of equal Majesty in the holy Trinity It were to be heartily wish'd that in matters that truly concern so much the glory of God the honour peace and welfare of the Church and Commonweal that all prejudicate Opinions varnish'd with plausible errour through pride and ambition might be laid aside and in the zeal of affection not forget our Duty and the Unity that should be among Christians 2. Christ administred to his Disciples both Species of the Sacrament of Eucharist and his Command stands in Sacred Record Mat. 26.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 drink ye all of this Mark 14.23 and they all drank of it saith the Canon of Scripture Christ ordains it but the Church of Rome forbids it as if they were wiser than our Saviour setting their mouths against Heaven and correcting his holy and divine Institution For in the Council of Constance * Et similiter quod licèt in primitiva Ecclesia hujusmodi Sacramentum reciperetur à fidelibus sub utraque specie tamen haec consuetudo ad evitandum aliqua pericula scandala est rationabiliter introducta quod à conficientibus sub utraque specie Laicis tantummodo sub una specie suscipiatur c. Const Sess 13. they alter'd the Testamental Legacy and Ordinance of Christ himself in taking away from the Laicks the Chalice of the Sacrament the holy Symbol of Christs Blood stiled by the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Cup of Blessing for the Eucharistical Elements are not Theories or empty Signs but Seals to confirm and Instruments to exhibit Christ with all the benefits of his Passion and blessings of Heaven unto every believing Christian therefore the Romish Church does great injury to Christendom in her half Communion the deprivation of the Chalice Quomodo
our charity and unity but can't discern those greater lines of Duty Subjection and Loyalty And as the Scribes and Pharisees of old cry'd up every where The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord so we have many such now a-days who are seemingly great Champions for the Church and take great care of the Duties of the first Table and yet can freely indulge themselves in the violation of the second proving annoyances to the State by seditious Insurrections though the Christian Religion doth firmly oblige men to peace obedience and due submission unto Secular Governours there are many persons that owne that Name and yet entertain Positions wholly inconsistent with the Precepts of that Religion and the safety of Princes and their Kingdoms swallowing REBELLION * There was a time which is a precaution to posterity when men pretended a Call from God to do the work of the Devil viz. rebelling and then murdering the best of Kings erecting him a Scaffold for a Throne and for a Diadem of Gold gave him a Crown of Thorns and instead of a glorious Prince made him a glorious Martyr without regret which opens the floud-gates of impiety and lets in upon us a Chaos of Anarchy Libertinism and popular Confusion bringing a kind of present damnation on the World They that are Authors or Abetters of Sedition saith S. Chrysostome can neither avoid shame on Earth nor escape eternal Damnation Though God the great Judge do sometimes permit Rebels in his Justice to prevail against Kings for the contempt of the Law of the highest and neglect of their own duty the reward of Rebellion shall be no better than the recompence of Satan who is the Instrument of the Lords wrath for the punishment of all disobedience The Kings Power is from God and for any private person or any Club of Subjects to wrest it out is a double Usurpation First They invade Gods Soveraignty Rom. 12.19 who saith Vengeance is mine Secondly The Princes Prerogative whose Office is to protect and punish to defend the innocent and correct the Spirit of Contumacy and Rebellion relieve the oppressed and support the vertuous rewards to Merit as well as punishment to Sin and Vice are dispensed A terrour to evil doers 1 Pet. 2.14 saith the Text and praise to them that do well Therefore honour the King Secondly As the goodness of Heaven shines in the preservation of our Royal Soveraign from the Usurpation of cruel Enemies at home so likewise Divine Providence hath guarded him from Foreign Attempts of unreasonable men abroad and made the Plots and Conspiracies of these worse than Heathens of none effect and deliver'd our King and our Princes our Nobles and the Heads of our Tribes the Governours of our Church and Judges of our Land nay the whole Commons of this Realm from a fearful destruction that would have swallowed them up For when the Ax is laid to the root of the Tree to cut off Soveraignty and destroy the Lord 's Anointed the rest of the people who are the Branches must expect lopping The restless Emissaries of the Church of Rome whether Priests Jesuits or Colledge of Cardinals give daily proof of their inveterate malice against the King the Government and Protestant Religion thinking that new Massacres are the most effectual course to stop the cry of the old and that the readiest way to silence their Adversaries is to make them instances of the Truth of the Accusation If the great God of Heaven who refrains the Spirits of men that delight in Blood had not been gracious to our King and Kingdom you had not this Day been Auditors nor I Speaker of this Theme but all of us miserable Spectators of the contrary And the Pope's Triple Crown would have been set with many red Roses of great Triumphs in a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nothing less than utter extirpation of us and Memorial from under Heaven The Rivers of Rome may seem to run smooth their Sea is Blood the extracted Spirits of things work more forcibly than concrete Bodies take heed of an Elixir an Extraction of Malice sublimated spiritualized into a Religion The cruel Massacres of Primitive Christians * If we reflect on ancient times and look back to the course of the World in general in the first Monarchy we find a fiery Furnace in the second a Den of Lions in the third the madness and fury of Antiochus when to believe in one God was to be put on the Rack and to abhor Idolatry involved the Votary in cruel Tortures In the fourth Monarchy the ten Persecutions more bloody and grievous than all that went before for not to sacrifice to Idols and to offer Incense to Heathen Gods was cause enough to be torn in pieces by wild Beasts and be exposed to all manner of terrible Torments when bloody Tumults affrighted Christ's Members and chased them from their Devotions when the Priest became the Sacrifice and his Books in disdain were made a Burnt-offering will teach us the price of our own happiness and the slaughter of our Forefathers may upbraid our unthankfulness with the benefits of our peace 'T were good that we their surviving Off-spring would learn to make use of their happy Martyrdom In their crimson steps we may trace the way to our Saviour's Cross and read in the living memory of their Torments the sad Tragedy of his Sufferings The World at this day is well mended with us we know not the meaning of Rack or Faggot of Sword and Gridiron the Instruments of Romish Cruelty Let three Kingdoms therefore bow themselves as the heart of one man and praise God for his mercy unto his Servants under the Protection of our gracious and religious King Charles Heaven hath preserved our Church from ruine and confusion from the spreadings and prevailings of Errours Heresies and Schisms Superstition and Idolatry which strive to oppress us and to eclipse the truth and purity of Doctrine which is our Churche's Glory and so much offends the Eyes of Rome and makes them clip wash and new-coyn the Gold of the Sanctuary Lastly As Divine Providence and Goodness did this Day bring into the World our gracious Soveraign and hath hitherto preserv'd him from all Enemies Domestick and Foreign So the same special grace and favour of God did this Day bring home and restore to us our King a Prince of so much Clemency and Mercy that he is inferiour to none that sways a Scepter or sits upon a Throne His Restauration was wonderful without any Effusion of Blood The Voice of War is changed into Proclamations of Peace the Clattering of Swords and Spears is turned into the sweet Melody of Harps and the harsh Tones of Death into a Psalm of Thanksgiving O Lord thou art become gracious unto thy Land and hast turn'd away the Captivity of Jacob Praise therefore waits on thee in Zion and unto thee shall the Vow be perform'd in Jerusalem We celebrate the Memory of this thy Mercy in restoring our King and with him the free Profession of true Religion and Worship What doth God require now both from Prince and People but the acknowledgment of his favour He that will not glorifie God as the Father of Mercies in the rigour of Justice God may glorifie himself in his eternal ruine If we prove not the Heralds of his Glory Examples shall we be of his just indignation All tasting Mercy all should be thankful and though all have not Frankincense yet every one mâ—y have Praise Let us praise God for his miraculous preservation of our King and Kingdom Church and People and let it sound so â—oud this day as it may reach Heavens gates and meet with Hallelujahs which the bright Morning-Stars in their Orbs pay to their Creator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Angels Liturgy is singing of Hymns of Glory And shall not the Militant Church say We praise thee O God our Souls do magnifie the Lord The Stork pays Tribute of her young the Trees of their fruits the Earth of her flowers and shall we be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without natural affection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without God in the world not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 return blessing and praise to the Divine Majesty for his infinite Blessing unto us We praise God in his Sanctuary and in the Firmament of his Power for his mighty Acts and according to his excellent Greatness Praise him with the Sound of the Trumpet with Psaltery and Harp with stringed Instruments and Organs shew your selves joyful before the Lord the King Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Let us now direct our Prayers and Supplications to the Glorious and Eternal Trinity that all Blessings Divine and Humane Spiritual and Temporal like the precious Oyntment of Aaron's may be pour'd out on the Head of ouâ— Royal Soveraign length of days on hiâ— right hand on his left Riches and Honour that his Reign may be glorious and his Regal Vertues after this Life crowned with immortal Glory And we with the residue of God's holy Church may rise to that incomprehensible endless Felicity where the Blessings of the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity will gloriously shine upon our Souls for evermore Which God of his infinite Mercy vouchsafe unto us for the Mercies of his Eternal Son our blessed Saviour To whom with the Father and Holy Ghost three Persons one God be ascribed as most due is all Honour Glory Power Praise Might Majesty and Dominion the residue of our lives and for ever Amen FINIS ERRATA Pag. 56. line 13. for then read there p. 62. l. 10. fo Reershaba r. Beersheba p. 74. l. 16. for fair this read this fair
unanimitas Erasm Paraph. in Act. 1. being conjoyned together in one Communion and Fellowship in the mystical Body of Christ And we can't be joyned to Christ our Head except we be glued with charity one to another For he that is not of this Unity is not of the Church of Christ which is a Congregation or Unity together and not a Division The Churches unity which is by one Spirit from one Head is but one in all and though many Members Eph. 4.15 16. yet but one Body As Gregory ‖ Gregor Mor. l. 19. c. 14. speaks Sancta Ecclesia sic consistit in unitate fidelium sicut corpus nostrum unitum est compage membrorum In the structure of the natural Body all its parts conspire for the good and benefit of the whole There 's such a Symmetry and proportion as that the Members are joyn'd by Nerves Veins Arteries and Ligaments to their Head from whence they receive strength and sensation and by virtue of this union to the Head retain a Fellowship and Community among themselves So it is in the Body Politick the King's Majesty the Golden Head of our Land the Honourable Council the Eyes of it the Nobles Lords and Barons the Shields and Shoulders thereof the Reverend Bishops and Clergy the Chariots and Horsmen of Israel the Tongues of the Land the Judges those grave Sages the Hands of our Land for the Execution of Justice the flower of our Gentry and Commons the Feet of our Land Head Eyes Tongues Shoulders Hands Feet all even all should concur for the general good and publick safety and in both for Gods Glory and Worship that we may lead peaceable and quiet lives in all godliness and honesty because peace is the foundation of happiness and lustre of any Government and the fiercest Enemy of peace is dissention in Religion therefore unanimity is a work worthy of every ones best endeavours and of absolute necessity to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the bene esse of the Church it is the Life and Soul of it Ecclesia nomen est consensûs concordiae And that multiplication of Unities Eph. 4.6 one Spirit one Hope one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of us all declare that we should be all of one mind in the Lord all keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace It is a good thing when Unity and Concord Peace and Religion go hand in hand two gentle Companions as full of love as they are of innocence and it is a great pity that two of so near alliance should suffer ever an injury of a Divorce examine their descent the root of both signifies to bind Religion is a bond between God and man Peace is a tye between man and man Christian and Christian And one would think the very name of Christian should have a greater efficacy and power to still and suppress disorders in the Church than that of Quirites was presently to hush and allay the commotions in Caesars Army because the Church is a spiritual Building made up of Souls cemented with love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as S. Chrysostome speaks It is a Body compact and knit together in one and the same Orthodoxal Verity which was once given to the Saints in the holy Apostles days and in all Substantials maintained by the holy primitive Fathers for which we ought as S. Jude tell us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to contend earnestly even all that owne and profess the same Faith in sincerity The irrational prejudice of many Schismatical Sectaries against the present Discipline would soon be removed if they do impartially weigh the purity and simplicity of the Doctrine of the Church of England A Church that teaches no other Doctrine but what Christ and his Apostles delivered derives none of its Principles from the impure Fountain of vain and uncertain Tradition but a sure word of Prophecy is that Spring that sends forth all her Doctrines So that all her Articles all the parts of her Worship all her Canons and Constitutions are by derivation pure and holy Add unto this the innocency and decency of her Ceremonies the regularity and Decorum in her Offices and Administrations the integrity and candour of her Manners and Principles It holds no Tenets nor teaches * Lib. Can. discip Eccl. Angl. injunct Regin Eliz. Anno Domin 1571. Can. de Concionatoribus any thing pernicious to Salvation or dissentaneous to the rule of Faith in purity of life and holiness of conversation every way consonant to the Doctrine and Discipline of primitive times in the first and purest Ages of the Church And what Faith can be the foundation of a more solid peace the surer Ligaments of Catholick Communion or the firmer Basis of a holy Life and of the hopes of Heaven hereafter than the measures which the holy primitive Church did hold and we after them Therefore we may conclude the Religion of our Church certainly Primitive and Apostolick and the best Transcript and Original Copy of Christianity that is left in the World And there needs no better demonstration for bringing of men into the unity of Faith and the knowledge of the Son of God or establishing a Community among us than purity of Doctrine and of Worship in the Service of God by Prayers * The Liturgy of the Church of England or publick Form of Divine Worship though contemned and depraved by its malicious Adversaries out of a Spirit of contradiction and singularity who do preach or speak perverse things against the Discipline and Government of our Church out of their own Fanatical asseverations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith S. Basil and the novel imaginations of their own brains yet it is notwithstanding religious and holy and recommends to us the wisdom and simplicity purity and spirituality of Christian devotion It is a compound of Texts of Scripture exhortations to repentance Psalms Hymns Doxologies Lessons and Creeds Forms for the Administrations of the holy Sacraments Comminations against impenitent sinners all mixed and diversified with great care to quicken attention and stir up devotion Praises and Sacramental Celebrations which are the great characters and confirmation of true Christians Communion with the blessed and glorious Trinity with God with their Saviour and the holy Spirit and by the Grace of these with one another for the holy Word of God the Scripture of the Old and New Testament which stream from the Fountain of our Saviour is the only Standard * The Authority of the holy Scripture for which it ought to be believed and obeyed dependeth not upon the Testimony of any man or Church but wholly upon God 2 Pet. 1.19 21. 2 Tim. 3.16 1 Joh. 5.9 1 Thess 2.13 who is Truth it self the Author thereof and consequently the Supreme Judge by which all Controversies of Religion are to be determined and all Decrees of Councils Opinions of ancient Writers Doctrines of men and private Spirits are to
Testamentum nuncupant qui mortem Testatoris negant Quomodo libertatem usurpant qui negant sanguinem quo redempti sunt * Ambros ep 73. lib. 9. S. Ambrose says That he who receives the Mystery otherwise than Christ appointed i. e. in one kind when Christ has appointed two is unworthy of the Lord and he cannot have devotion It s innovation and novelty is clearly manifest if we look into the Glass of Antiquity but from the beginning it was not so ‖ Mat. 19.8 See the Reverend Dr. Pierce in his primitive Rule of Reformation as our Saviour said of Divorce which is a sufficient confutation Cassander * Ecclesia Orientalis in hunc usque diem Occidentalis verò sive Romana mille amplius annis continuis non aliter quà m sub duplici specie in conventu Ecclesiae Sacramentum hoc Dominici corporis sanguinis administrasse legitur c. Consult de utraque Spec. says That the Eastern Church to this day and the Western or Roman Church for more than a thousand years did exhibit the Sacrament in both Elements to all the Members of Christs Church S. Chrysostome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Body and one Cup is given to all Pope Calixtus * Peractâ consecratione omnes communicent qui noluerint Ecclesiasticis carere hominibus sic autem etiam Apostoli statuerunt Sancta Romana tenet Ecclesia De Consecrat dist cap. 2. speaks fully When the Consecration is finish'd let all communicate that will not be thrust from the bounds of the Church for so the Apostles appointed and so the holy Church of Rome does hold Pope Gelasius ‖ Comperimus quòd quidam sumptâ tantummodo corporis sacri portione à calice sacri cruoris abstineant Qui pro culdubio quoniam nescio quâ superstitione docentur astricti aut integra Sacramenta percipiant aut ab integris arceantur quod divisio unius ejusdemque mysterii sine grandi non sit sacrilegio De Cons dist cap. 2. Some taking saith he a portion only of the sacred Body do abstain from the Chalice of the sacred Blood I know not by what Superstition they are obliged let them either receive the intire Sacrament or be kept from the whole because the division of one and the same Mystery cannot be without grand Sacriledge Nothing can be a greater cause of wonder and amazement in the consideration of it than that the Church of Rome should seek to obscure the light of Truth shining as clearly as the Sun in its Meridian beauty and splendor arrogating to themselves a Dominion over our Faith and introducing such Doctrines and Practices as are contrary to the Rules of Christ and his Apostles and the purest Ages of the Church As Lawgivers setting themselves down in S. Peters Chair as they pretend and magisterially decree * Si quis dixerit ex Dei praecepto vel de necessitate salutis esse omnes singulos Christi fideles utramque speciem Eucharistiae sumere debere Anathema sit Concil Trident Sess 5. Can 1. Laws and Constitutions diametrically opposite to the Divine command and Christs holy Institution When the Lamp of Reason is darkened and obscured the Soul presently embraces a cloud and courts a shadow the blackest errours and most palpable wickedness must needs cover the face of those Souls that start back and apostatize from their God and their Reason To preserve therefore its lustre and integrity in the memories of all those who bear any true love to substantial Truth the ancient Light establish'd and receiv'd in the Church of England is a secure Guide to direct us not to be weary of old Truths forsaking the ancient paths to espouse new and fond Opinions that we neither incline to the cunningly composed Charms of Popery on one hand or ignorant ‖ The Separatists and Papists have been playing at Tennis and the Government and Hierarchy are the Balls they toss The Separatist strikes them into the Popes Hazard calling them Antichristian Prelacy The Papist with vehemence rackets them back again as Schismatical but the Roman Church are the Schismaticks in renouncing alâ— communion with all Christian Churches in the World except their oâ—â—â— and iâ—l it is with us which soever wins the game The one bâ—â—â—â—s down the wall of Sion by disturbing the peace of the Reformed Câ—â—â—ch â—he other builds up the ruines of Babylon in superstitious Vanitâ—â— And they are so fast linked and tied together like Samsons Fâ—â—â—â— with Fire-brands of Sedition that if they be not quenched by thâ—â—â— wâ—r of Majesty they can't chuse when the means are fitted to thâ—â— Plot but sâ—t the Church on fire and the State in an uproar Sectarians and men of unstable minds on the other who crumbling into Conventicles are ready to joyn with every Enthusiastick Sect and so making Gods Israel to become a speckled Bird of several colours Jer. 12.9 of all varieties of Religion S. Paul has a term for them 2 Tim. 3.8 if they like it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men of sick brains as well as of corrupt minds And such is the arrogant disposition of some transported humors being under the torrid Zone of unruly passion that rather than they will acknowledge their errours though never so apparent the very State and Law it self must be condemn'd and condescend to their distempers being led more by their own pleasing Fancies than right Reason or the sacred Rules of Piety and Truth who have laboured to sow the Tares of Dissention in the Vineyard of the Lord disquieting the Unity of Gods Church Division is the only musical note that sounds harmoniously in the ears of our Zimries And it is a Truth undeniable That these later times have produced a doleful Scene of various transactions and consequently discover'd and brought to light the unparalell'd designs and execrable intentions of Fanatical zeal or Democratical fury for the Dissenters in this Age have conspir'd together to untye the knot of Christian Charity and produce an unhappy Schism in the Church what else mean those strange whispers mysterious workings and grand plotting who would not only uncover the roof and take down the Pyramids and Battlements of venerable Episcopacy but like the rough Sons of Edom raze it even to the ground And under hypocritical disguises contrive the sad prodigy of Treason whereby we see that Apostates to Atheism and Revolters to Schism are Monsters of ingratitude or Fiends incarnate who could imagine mischief against so much Mercy and sin against so great Goodness requiting the Protection of a gracious Prince with traiterous Machinations * See His Majesties Declaration concerning the Treasonable Conspiracy against his Sacred Person and Government read in all Churches and Chappels within this Kingdom Septemb 9. 1683. and under the mask and specious pretences of Religion bring to ruine the Government of the Kingdom as it is by Law establish'd in Church and State Loyalty like fresh and
a perfum'd breath and richness of Language as if they were made with the first Adam speak of the Dictates of the Patriarchs and Testimonies of the Prophets but in vain do any boast they are descended from Abraham since he is not a Jew who is one outward in the flesh bur inward in the Spirit as our Saviour told the Pharisees vaunting of Antiquity Joh. 8. except they did the works of Abraham and abide in the Truth Truth then is the Child of Time and as there is Antiquity of Time so also of Truth and Doctrine And so long as the Romish Church continued in the profession and practice of Apostolical purity i. e. of Faith and Doctrine which was once given to the Saints all other Christian Churches held Communion with her for the Church of Rome did not anciently in former Ages hold all these Doctrines which now she owns The ancient Church of Rome was but a Member of the Catholick Church of God of which Jesus Christ was Head But the now Roman Church does at this day what S. Augustine * De Vnit Eccles cap. 6. told to the Donatists inclose the Catholick Church within their own circuits and usurps it wholly to her self of which the Pope is Head And the Papacy will have their Pope by reason of the Kingdom of Christ to be the Head and King of the Church in ordine ad Spiritualia and consequently the Supreme Civil Power over the Monarchs of the Earth in ordine ad Temporalia to be the Head and King of the Church Such a Church was never in Rome for many hundred years after our Saviour no Bishop ‖ Gregory Bishop of Rome Ego fidenter dico quia quisquis se universalem Sacerdotem vocat vel vocari desiderat in elatione sâ—â Antichristum praecurrit Pope Pelagius distinct 99. Vniversalis autem nec etiam Romanus Pontifex appelletur Cyril Patriarch of Constantinople 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did assume Christs Title to be the Head of the Church till Boniface the Third who not contenting himself with his Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical and fulness of Spiritual Power but his towring Ambition aspires yet higher and with much contention obtained of the Rebel Phocas about the year 604. who murder'd Maurice the Emperour the Title of Universal The Pope looking for Primacy on Earth is very unlike his heavenly Master whose Vicar he pretends to be Christ paid Tribute unto Caesar Luke 20.25 but the Pope that Prevaricator of the Apostolick See exacts it from them and Caesar pays unto him Our Saviour wash'd his Disciples feet but the Bishop of Rome in these days with imaginary Supremacy causes the greatest Princes and mightiest Emperors do him Homage and swear Allegiance * Clement the Fifth call'd a Council at Vienna An. 1311. in which it was ordained and decreed That the Emperour his Lord should give his Oath of Allegiance to the Pope for being not content with his Primacy abused Religion into Policy and casting off all moderation the Pope devoured the Emperour Thus the Head of the Church degenerated into a Monster and in reaching at Temporal Soveraignty he broke the Spiritual Unity contrary to the Divine Authority and Majesty of the Scripture Let every Soul be subject to the higher powers Rom. 13. and to the King as Supreme 1 Pet. 2.13 As Heathen Rome under the Emperours Domitian and others would be adored as Gods though never so impious so Rome Christian falls under the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Apostle Sitting in the Temple of God as God 2 Thess 2.4 and exalting himself above all that is called God * Zacharias Papa ex authoritate Sancti Petri Apostoli mandat populo Francorum ut Pepinus qui potestate Regiâ utebatur etiam nominis dignitate frueretur Ita Hildericus ultimus Merovingorum qui Francis imperabat depositus est in monasterio missus est Marian. Scot. Hist lib. 3. Lambertus Danaeus in his Response to Bellarmine the great Master of Controversie contending that Childerick was lawfully deposed by Pope Zacharias Can Zachary saith he have Authority in France being a Stranger Can he depose the publick Magistrate being but a private person though he were Bishop of Rome or transfer that Principality to Pepin that he hath no Right unto and commit so many Sacriledges and Impieties stealing from Childerick and giving to Pepin another mans Right Authorizing Subjects to violate their Oaths which they had sworn to their King Transposing Kingdoms from one man to another whereas it doth only belong to God to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdoms Thou mayest see Bellarmine how many outrages this thy Zachary hath committed Resp Danae ad Bellar. lib. 2. cap. 17. pag. 316. in a superlative Greatness and that not of order and precedency only as to Ecclesiastical Regency stretching his Diocese over all Bishops and Churches in the Christian World but of absolute Authority claiming universal Jurisdiction in a Monarchiâ—al Superintendency or Regality over all Christendom with a Power to depose Kings and dispose of Crowns and Kingdoms for the benefit of the Church is a Title only of Usurpation without any ground of Scripture or Antiquity First Christ was no Temporal Monarch but an Eternal King to rescue us from the thraldom of sin the sorcery of the flesh and the Curse of the Law Christ was no earthly King and left no Regal Power to S. Peter therefore the Pope can have no Civil Power or Temporal Dominion as the Vicegerent of Christ and consequently overturns and destroys the Doctrine of Supremacy The Lawgiver himself even Ipse Ille that bare rule in Heaven the incarnate and crucified Messias Joh. 12.36 saith My Kingdom is not of this World Whereas that Sect of Politicians the Romanists turns the Kingdom of Christ into outward Pomp and Bravery and they to have the Managery and Government of it as if the now See of Rome should be known to be the most Christian Bishop not in having with Christ no Temporalties but an absolute Soveraignty to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdoms which is nothing less than a strange Usurpation for the Son of God did never impose such a hard duty and condition to Kings that were to become Christians as to forsake their Imperial Crowns and Diadems except in their hearts and affections and in comparison of the Kingdom of God O Eternal Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Light of Truth inspire the Universal Church with the Spirit of Truth Unity and Concord and grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the Truth of thy holy Word and live in unity and godly love Secondly View it in relation to the Apostles who were the Patriarchs of the Church And the Evangelists make special mention of their Names as those to whom we owe great honour and veneration being conversant with Christ and daily instructed by him who continued with him unto his Passion and Crucifixion and after his Resurrection
are we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 living Laws and Royal Examples of greatness to the World when we do and speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so as not to disgrace but adorn the Gospel and consequently stop the mouths of all gainsayers by a controuling sanctity of actions and all men be wholly convinced or compelled to unity and obedience It is expected then whatever habits are in fashion among others that the Priests should be cloathed with righteousness adorn'd with a decent conversation and produce the fruits of good works these be the evidences of the Buds Blossoms and Almonds of Aaron's Rod and denote its Supremacy Nothing will restore the Church says a Reverend Prelate to its pristine honour love and authority in mens hearts and minds but a serious setting themselves to the study preaching and practising of truth and peace in a holy life These were the Arts these the Policies these the pious Stratagems by which anciently they gained peoples hearts to love God his Truth and of themselves the witness of it to such a height of honour and ecstasie of love that they received them as the Angels of God and Ambassadors from Heaven God grant the Tribe of Levi may be like Jacob's Ladder which he saw in Bethel Gen. 28.12 whereon were Angels ascending and descending so by our Office and Ministration Angels might in us ascend and carry up ours and the peoples supplications unto God and Angels by us descend to bring Gods Word and Message to the people that there may be the sweet contexture or agreement of Beings one espoused to another in faithfulness and truth even a blessed Union betwixt Prince and People and a gracious accord too of the people among themselves in an united conformity and conjunction in the Service of God being knit together in the inviolable bonds of Loyalty and love neither entoiled with Civil broils within nor infected with Hostile inroads from without but all professing that one eternal Truth which is both the Mother and Nurse of Peace we may enjoy such a tranquillity as in the days of Solomon when Judah and Israel dwelt safely every one under his Vine and under his Fig-tree from Dan even to Beershaba Or as it was in the days of Constantine when there was silence in Heaven for the space of half an hour and the prayers of the Saints ascended up as a cloud in grateful odors The prime perfection then and pleasure in this life second to that supernatual one Faith in Christ and Sanctification through the Spirit consists in the beholding Brethren to dwell together in unity which limns and shadows out the glorious Hierarchy of Heaven the Trinity in Unity for Deus est unitas omnis unitatis affector * Dionys Areop let us therefore express this unspeakable concord by the Sacrifice of our selves to a Spirit of Unity and Truth and not a Spirit of Error and Division which causeth the breach of Union the disturbance of the Peace and quiet of the Church As the unity of Faith joyns us so the bond of Charity tyeth us fast together through one and the same Spirit to unity and godly love because Schism is the next way to Heresie which is to be hated as a thing that leads to destruction And non semper servatur unitas in credendo ubi non est unitas in colendo there will not always be unity of Doctrine in that Church where there is not uniformity of Discipline Prophane Writers can tell us by concord the weakest * The Sun-beams disperst are but of small force but they gather strength if collected in a narrow glass Scilurus the Scythian on his death-bed as story tells us taught his fourscore Sons the force of Unity by a Faggot of Rods or as it is in Plutarch a bundle of shafts while together are hardly broken but if you divide them 't is quickly done And thus it is in Ecclesiae fasciculo Hosea prophesieth destruction but this doth usher it in Their hearts are divided Hos 10.2 things grow strong by discord the mightiest States are overthrown Though States differ the Communion of Saints must be preserv'd the Church should keep at unity and by united force repel Heresie After all our unhappy Divisions what can be more seasonable to the Genius of our Times than cementing counsel that all Gods Building may be raised up as of one stone by having cor unum viam unam Jer. 32.39 one heart and one way which was the Character of the Church Christians primitive Age Acts 4.32 for Division is a sad Prognostick threatning desolation when the stones of the building begin to fall off from one another the house grows ruinous Isa 30.13 and the breach thereof comes suddenly in a moment May the number of those increase that are friends of Sion and the generation of those perish that make it their design to lay waste the City of God and bury her in her own ruines Did the godly Jews mourn for Judah And shall not the English Nation for the Land of our desires and Nativity O that ever such an inlightned Goshen should hatch or harbour such black Monsters that would gnaw out the bowels of their own Mother That so many Judasses should be found amongst Christs Disciples The Prophet Isaiah saith Isa 15.5 Chap. 16.7 9 11. My heart shall cry for Moab and bewail the vine of Sibmah I will water thee with my tears O Heshbon and my bowels shall sound like a harp for Kirharesh Is not England as dear unto us and have not we as great cause to lament for this Church and State the Womb that bare us and the Breasts that gave us suck Every one ought to bow down and go heavily as one that mourneth for his mother by reason of her Divisions * No Church so fair in this World as to be without spot and wrinkle none so happy as to be wholly priviledged from jarrs and dissentions The Jewish Church in Christs time was full of divisions there were Pharisees Sadducees Essenes c. In the Church of Philippi what contestations and tumults broils and factions were there and that not Oeconomical about meum and tuum but Ecclesiastical and in matters of Religion by those of the Concision those evil workers as S. Paul calls them In the flourishing Church of Corinth where there were so many Christians of the first magnitude eminent for Religion and Piety yet even here are strifes and divisions inasmuch as S. Paul wrote his first Epistle to dissolve those factions and repress those dissentions that were amongst them In the Church of England to come home to our selves there is Presbyterian Independent Anabaptist and Quaker and it may be said of our days as in S. Paul's time at Corinth There are divisions among us In Paradise there was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only in Heaven there 's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 full and perfect harmony without any discord but we can't
look for a Church triumphant here below What scandalous and irreligious Libels of factious Brains have been exposed to the publick view of all Athenian Gazers What indiscreet and Satyrical Pamphlets have been dispersed by a malevolent Party to incite a dislike and hatred of the Government in Church and State For Sions sake then I cannot hold my peace but deplore the decay of Religion by the want of Union and Loyalty and the defect of the practice of this ancient and heavenly Duty of Unanimity amongst us Our Saviour left to his Church the Legacy of Peace Joh. 14.27 it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Farewel gift or as S. Basil calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a largess dropt from a higher World worth the keeping therefore let us in our several stations endeavour the unity of the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the bond of peace beating down all animosities study of Parties and obstinacy in Opinions which breeds disaffection and this humor grows impetuous * Animi inflammati ebulliunt ad certamen marching like Jehu the Son of Nimshi furiously till it flames into open contention giving to the restless Emissaries * Whatever the pretensions of Rome are to love and concord among themselves yet their want of unity appears in their different Opinions Schisms cruel Wars and in the contests between their Popes and Acts of their Councils contradicting one another Bishop Hall in his Tract of Rome sets down 300 differences of Opinions maintained in the Popish Church recited by Bellarmine himself the Arch-pillar of the Roman Synagogue The many Schisms in the Church of Rome may be easily conjectured when there were several Popes at the same time one fought against another and the greatest Conquerour wore the Triple Crown The people were wofully divided and many thousands of Christians were slain in those bloody Battels between Pope Vrban and Pope Clement This Schism continued almost fifty years one resident at Rome another at Avignon The want of concord and unity in the See of Rome is also demonstrable in their cruel Wars between the Popes and Emperours called Bellum Pontificum whereby all Europe at one time or another has been divided by Feuds and Factions And the Popes not only thundred out their Excommunications against the Emperours but also perswading their own Subjects to levy War against them as if Christ had ordained his Sacraments not to be Seals of Grace and helps of our Faith but hooks to catch Kingdoms and rods to scourge such Potentates as would not or could not procure the Popes favour and consequently has embroiled the Christian World in discord and dissention in great and cruel Wars It is a thankless work in the sight of God to improve his Worship by the dint of the Sword and to found his Church as Romulus did Rome in blood No such Sacrifices no such Ambages of cruelty can be acceptable to the God of mercy and Prince of peace and pity The bitter contention and envy of one Pope to another speaks their privation or want of unity one disannulling all the Acts of another as Pope Stephen VI. abrogated all the Decrees of his Predecessor Formosus and so of many others The like appears in their Councils contradicting one another the Council of Basil decreed for the Council against the Pope and the Council of Lateran under Leo X. decreed for the Pope against the Council The Council of Toledo did prohibit the Worship of Images the second Council of Nice commands it And so our Adversaries of Rome who boast of intire Unity may see their own vanity of the Church of Rome and growing Sectaries great advantage and to Satan no small occasion to laugh and triumph It were well for us if we would see or suspect the policy of the Devil or his Agents who envy our happiness and take advantage either of our judgments depraved or Natures corrupted to make us their instruments to break our blessed unity in Church or State And so while we are contending for shadows we may be deprived of the substance and be brought into irrecoverable confusion therefore let brotherly love and unity be maintained in the World standing fast in one Spirit with one mind for the Faith of the Gospel * It is one evidence of the Truth of the Christian Religion that Christ hath carried it on by means contemptible against all oppositions imaginable Who could have thought that a few illiterate Fishermen that had neither skill in Grammar or knowledge in Rhetorick should carry on the Truth in a Majestick simplicity The Princes of the Earth being not only non-assistants but all the great Monarchs of the World opposing Christianity in the infancy thereof whilst it was in the cradle Acts 4.26 27. King Herod's enraged jealousie burned so fiercely that it sucked up the blood of all the male-infants within the Coasts of Bethlehem And had not an heavenly inspiration diverted the Eastern 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the intended way of their return their blood also should have run among the ingredients and made up the dose to allay the fury of an angry Prince Add unto this those fierce persecutions continuing in their height and heat with a rage reaching up to Heaven for the space of three hundred years no storms could blow out the light of this Sun clouds might cover it but never extinguish it because the Gospel is from God the World cannot overthrow it Acts 5.39 whereas all those Religions which the Romans Greeks and all the Gentiles went a gadding after before the advent of our Saviour are all come to nothing and the rest risen since shall shortly be destroyed with the brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 therefore stand fast in an united conformity striving together for the Faith of the Gospel as Members of one Body under one Head Jesus Christ Which leads me to the second general as the alliance of humane Nature so the bands of a spiritual Consanguinity engages us to holy concord Gal. 3.28 We are all one in Christ Jesus Christ taught all alike to call God Father in the Lords Prayer All have the same filial Prerogatives Gal. 4.26 Jerusalem above is the Mother of us all All as one mans children have the same food provided them like Aristotle's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are brought up with the same milk 1 Pet. 2.2 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as S. Peter calls it of the Word For all Christians are Children of the same heavenly Father Mal 2.10 regenerated to the same lively hope Rom. 8.17 coheirs of the same heavenly Inheritance redeemed by a Saviour that breathed out nothing but Love Isa 63 9. Joh. 15 13. sanctified and sealed by a Spirit of Unity It is a Truth in the fourth of the Acts there were many bodies and but one Soul I wish unanimity may so combine * The language of Constantine to his Synod of Bishops has been
oppose shall be interpreted a Command from Heaven to do it Judg. 5.23 Curse ye Meroz was the Text Rapine and Plunder the Comment and the Use Wars sounded as loud from the Pulpit as the Drum as if it had been the task of the Heavens to kill and slay and for its Arms hung in the Zodiack Man's Anatomy to shew they were born with those that arose oâ— the Dragon's Teeth in the Poet Mutuis perire gladiis to bleed to death on one another's Swords And here I may lead your thoughts to the unnatural Civil War in our British Isle when Tribe did rise against Tribe Brother against Brother Marte cadunt subito per mutua vulnera fratres Ovid. And the sight of one Aceldama one field of Blood will raise mens careless thoughts to a due valuation and grateful apprehension of the comforts we enjoy under our most Gracious Soveraign He that has escaped with him in Job to bring news of rapine and violence can best tell us what it is to see a flourishing Land become a Sea of Blood because War playes Pliny's Cockatrice annoying whatsoever it doth touch He can tell us what it is to see the Horse in equal state with its Rider both of them weltering in their own gore He can shew us what it is to see the obedient Son run over his slain Father to escape the hands of his own Executioner He can shew us what it is to see the burning of Cities and the woful Inhabitants martyr'd in the flames Is not every Siege the Funeral of a City * Quot obsidia tot urbium funera quot pugnae tot hominum lanienae quot agmina tot ruris supplicia quot turmae catervae cohortes acies tot suriae ad exitium agrorum hominum armatae Putean in stat bell pacis lit every pitched Battle a Massacre If a Samuel 1 Sam. 15.33 hew Agag in pieces a David in the heat of War falls a cutting Ammonites 1 Chron. 20.3 Sin Satan and War have all one Name Evil is the best of them The best of Sin is deformity the best of Satan enmity the best of War misery * The Turkish History makes mention of the Scythian Tamâ—rlane when he walked amongst the slain aâ—ter a bloody Victory against the Muscovites He accounted those Princes unhappy which by the destruction of their own kind sought to advance their own honour protesting himself grieved even from his heart to see such sorrowful tokens of his Victory It is no wonder now to complain as the Orator to the Athenians whatsoever they gain in their thrifty Peace they are deprived of by those consuming Tumults for what Paradise is there under Heaven which a lasting War will not easily turn into a Wilderness Many in this Nâ—tion have witnessed the truth of it with their eyes and its horrour with their tears by these inconveniences we may judge of the benefits of Peace and may see what gracious opportunities it doth yield for the practice of Religion and Godliness We may behold with joy and thankfulness that the Ark the Testimony of Gods presence which was long held captive among the Philistins is now returned and happily setled among us and that his Worship is duly performed in his Word and Sacraments Let his lungs waste in his breast let his spirits decay let his tongue languish to a perpetual silence that will not beseech God to establish this blessing as firm as the days of Heaven and wish its continuance O then pray for the Peace * Pulchriùs vomer quà m ensis splendet bidens quà m hasta meliùs ferro vervacta agrorum quà m agmina agricolarum proscinduntur saith Puteanus of our Jerusalem that love her and consequently for the life and prosperity of the Monarch of Great Britain King Charles II. our dread Soveraign the light of our eyes and the breath of our nostrils Lam. 4.20 who causes malignant vapours to vanish and dispels those clouds of mischief by his Princely power that would turn Religion into Rebellion and Faith into Faction cry up Priviledge to invade Regal Prerogative and under the notion of the Preservers of our Peace and Defenders of our Liberties reach out their hand to turn the stream of Royalty and subvert an excellent Monarchy into a Tyrannical Republick The Fallacy having been put on the Kingdom and Cheat acted once before it will not easily prevail with men of sober and rational judgments to renounce their Religion the best in the world or their Loyalty and obedience to the best of Kings whose Princely Goodness is not more tender of the Imperial Crown and Dignity than of the Peace and tranquillity of the Subject The one as it regards Royal honour the other the care of his People to cause Religion happily to flourish and Liberty Laws and Property to be safe and inviolable with the Blessings of Heaven notwithstanding the subtile insinuations and cunning stratagems of the old Enemies of Monarchy and the Church to throw us back into a relapse which reminds us of the late Rebellion when men in Buff durst proclaim themselves the only Legal Authority of the Nation and these like a mighty Torrent did drive all before them with an unruly violence brake down the banks of Ecclesiastical Discipline making no difference betwixt things Sacred and Common swallowed up Churches with their Revenues and laid desolate Sanctuaries of Piety and Religion Here we may wail out an Epicedium War and desolation poverty and paleness and garments roll'd in blood hearing the woful groans of dying men and bitter lamentations of Children for their Parents The Orphan blubbers his cheeks and sighs with Elisha O my Father my Father Now David breaths out an Elegy and O Absalom Absalom my Son my Son And Rachel likewise weeps and will not be comforted because they are not These were the miseries this Kingdom groan'd under after the Barbarous and horrid Murder of that Glorious Martyr King Charles the First of ever Blessed Memory And so it continued under the heavy yoke of an insolent Usurpation till his Majesty's happy Restauration actual Government and gracious Reign over us in peace and quietness security and freedom We owe the happiness of these temporal enjoyments under God to the prudent Conduct of Regal Majesty And here take this Thesis or Doctrine by way of affirmative Position If the Church be depriv'd of Kingly Majesty she is as apt to be infected with home-bred Errours as Foreign injuries for when there was no King in Israel Judg. 17.6 every man did what was right in his own eyes We see then the Office of a King is attended with as much burden as Jurisdiction He must encounter with Adversaries For has the holy Oyl been pour'd upon his Head and the Crown setled upon it by Divine Providence which over-rules Nature He that has given him the Crown gave the Sword also to secure and guard it and as it was Judah's Prerogative to