A looking glasse for princes and people Delivered in a sermon of thankesgiving for the birth of the hopefull Prince Charles. And since augmented with allegations and historicall remarkes. Together with a vindication of princes from Popish tyranny. By M. William Struther preacher at Edinburgh.

A CONCLVSION Exhortatorie to Princes.

I Turne now that speach (which they abuse) to you, most sacred Princes. Bee wise O Kings, bee learned yee Iudges of the earth: Christ Iesus whom yee haue long* 1.1 pursued by Antichirsts direction, when hee might destroy you, calleth you to repentance, to change both your mindes and course: Your Mindes; to know that po∣perie is that foretold Apostasie, and that the Religion which yee persecute is the trueth of God. And your course that since blind zeale (the companion of false Religion) hath made you thinke it good service to God to destroy his Saincts, you would turne your power for the service of the Lambe,* 1.2 of whom yee haue it, and both revenge Gods quarrell, and your owne vpon the Beast.

Consider how GOD setteth downe his Dittay and* 1.3 D••ome: His Dittay in Idolatrie, Filthinesse, and aboue all the blood of the Saincts. Rome was ever bloodie & the Ma∣thematicians observed, that when her ground-stone was layed the Moone was in cauda Draconis, to tell that all her changes in rysing, growing, standing, would bee in the c••u••ltie of the Dragon: And soone after, Romulus wet her wals with his Brothers blood: Shee turned the earth in a Butcherie by warres abroad: And her Gan••es at home in the Theater, were bloodie: Shee shed the blood of the Saints in her persecuting Pagan Emperours: And lastlie, sheddeth the bloodie of the Protestants by her Antichristian head: Ierusalem was guiltie of the blood of all the Prophets, because they succeeded the Murthe∣rers in malice and crueltie: And Rome succeeds Ierusalem, and exceedeth her in persecuting Christ: a 1.4 All blood of

the Saints is shedde either in Rome or by Romes authori∣tie: Shee hath shedde more blood than Ninivie, Babylon, Shusan, and Ierusalem it selfe.

Her Doome is, doe to her as she hath done to you: And what* 1.5 she hath done to you, your Soules & Thrones may feele. For beside your soules killing, the Pope hath overthrowen* 1.6 the Maiestie and dignitie of Impyres. Shee denuded you of Kinglie Authoritie when shee exposed your Sacred Persons to the contempt and violence of the basest Villanes: Shee ate vp your flesh, not so much in catching the riches of your Kingdomes, as by nesting in your bosome, like a Viper to destroy you: Shee burnt your with the fire of excom∣munication, raising such combustions that your Countrie and Courts were divyded. The Sonne set against the Father, a 1.7 as Henrie the fifth against Henrie the fourth, to pursue him to death, and after death to deny him Bu∣riall.* 1.8 Therefore this is her recompence, that you make the Whoore naked, eate vp her flesh and burne her with fire

God hath sentenced her, and there remaineth no more but execution: Though wee rest on none but Scripturall* 1.9 Prophecies, yet their owne Prophets foretold their ruine: For Hildegardis▪ and Catharina Senensis, (whose con∣traire visions Delrio b 1.10 laboureth to reconceale) Bri∣gitta, telleth them of their destruction: c 1.11 What ever bee the force of her writ it must be Canonick to them, d 1.12 since Boniface the nynth hath cannoized her, and Martine the fifth confirmed that canonization, and their later writers as Chemensis, e 1.13 Capistranus, Aytinger, &c. haue spo∣ken broadlie, That Rome shall bee ruined by the Almaines and the French.

As God calleth and commandeth you to doe it, so you are bound to it by these two bonds wherey they presse* 1.14 you most, your Baptismall initiation and sacred oath: In Baptisme yee were initiate in Christian faith, and not in Antichristian perfidie; And the substance of your oath is to

defend Apostolicke and primitiue trueth and not the yesterday novelties of Rome: Their own a 1.15 Patrons grāt that in the middle ages they were Apostaticke and Apo∣tactick, but since, we never find their reformation or amen∣dement: The errour of time confirmed by badde custome hath made men mistake these Notions of Christ and An∣tichrist, trueth and vntrueth, and so to misplace their affe∣ctions and actions about them, but open your eyes to the light God offereth in his word, and your better infor∣med mindes shall reforme your affections, and rectifie your actions, b 1.16 least you take darknesse for light, night for day, and death for life, that you may forsake Antichrist and heresies, and ioyne your selues to the Lambe, and his trueth in the reformed Churches.

Or if you will not take Gods cause to heart, nor bee* 1.17 moved with these bonds, let your Life and Crownes moue you: Though hee vnder a Iudiciall hardnesse bee senselesse of the guiltinesse of his vsurpation, yet be not you sense∣lesse of these indignities: He maketh you to fight against your selfe in his quarrell, while hee abuseth your power for the maintenance of his greatnesse to the overthrow of your authoritie: Remember hee is head of that Court, whose Ambassadours boasted in England, that they served at that Court, which commanded both other Kings and their* 1.18 Courteours.

It hath ever beene your fault to neglect the commoun* 1.19 cause of Princely authoritie: There is nothing more s••oo∣thed than that that is pleaded by many: When any one Prince was thunder-beaten by Iupiter Capitolinus, hee ex∣horted other Princes, that they should not betray the* 1.20 common cause, but all in vaine: For the ruine of one made a prey to many: Therefore they suffered the present storme to passe over, and that because by a wicked purchas some accession came to their state. This was specially when a great Prince was broken, whose greatnesse was feare∣full

to them all: The Emperour was most left in the sturre, while smaller Princes thought it their securitie, if he were re∣dacted to that state, that hee might not rise to the greatnesse of his Ancestors.

It is tyme for you to awake, when their flatterers pittie* 1.21 your injuries, and the Iesuits admire your patience. Petrus Ferrariensis a 1.22 marking how the Pope insnared you to inlarge his owne iurisdiction, cryeth out. But alace mi∣serable Emperours, and secular Princes, who suffer these things and make your selues slaues to the Pope; and see the world by infinite cousanages abused, and yet you thinke not of a re∣meede: And where the Iesuits please to bee free, they wonder fatuos b 1.23 fuisse veteres Imperatores, & imperij no∣stri ordines qui sibi tanto cum dedecore, ora sublinia Papis su∣stinuerint, that Emperours and the States were so foo∣lish, as to bee gulled with Popes.

Wee haue better cause than Athanasius to say, I am* 1.24 Ecclesiae tempora oculatos▪ & operosos Principes requirunt, that the tymes of the Church require seeing and doing Princes. He had to doe with the Arrians, but now the Antichristiā Mysterie rages. God hath given you power; open but your eyes to leade you in the vse of it. How long will it be ere yee awake to see how hee hath first led you from God in su∣perstition, and now leadeth you against God in persecuting of his Saints. Consider how Maximinus c 1.25 the Empe∣rour was stirred vp to persecute the Church by Pagane Priests vnder hope of great successe: But when hee saw him∣selfe overthrowne by Licinius, hee destroyed his instigators as deceavers. The Pope and his Cleargie haue set you on this last bloody persecution: God vvill disappoint you, and turne it to your shame: It were your wisedome to avenge you of your seducers.

Looke on other Princes, who haue shaken off his yoake,* 1.26 as England, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, &c. Their Kings know none aboue them vnder GOD: They are honoured,

and obeyed of their Subiects, without reflecting vpon any other power on earth You reigne but precario, as Titulars, and they count you but as Kings of the Chesse. Neither a 1.27 dare you rule your Subiects as free Princes: Neither dare your people obey you as such. The terrour, at least the credulitie of the Popes Transcendencie, limiteth your p〈…〉〈…〉er, and looseth your people to rebell. Receaue Christ in his Gospell, and set vp his Throne in your lands as they haue done, and then you shall finde both the sweetnesse of the Grace of the Gospell, and of a free and vndependent gover∣nement. Gods Trueth amongst vs (Protestants) maketh vs not onely to congratulate our happinesse in our free Kings and Churches, but also to commis••rate your e∣state, when wee see Gods image in you great Princes, so shamefully abused by a deceaver. You cannot be both Popish and free Princes: The verie Notion of Poperie sub∣iecteth you necessarly to Hildebrands vsurpation, Renounce Antichristian tyrannie, and come to Christian libertie, and you shall finde both grace for your persons▪ and glorie to your government. Angment the Popesplunges, and while that Iuglar knoweth not which of you to keepe, let him feele the revenging power of you all.

You gote m••••y exhortations of this kinde from Prea∣chers* 1.28 and Theologues, but you haue heard them with close eares: Therefore God hath sent you latelie a royall pre∣monition from the Pen of the King of great Britaine. The sug∣gestions of Subiects found little accesse, and as little re∣gard at your hands: But the Counsell of a King to Kings, and that in the matter of a Kinglie authoritie, is more weightie. Trueth is trueth and powerfull, who ever speake it: But Trueth in the quarrell of Kings propo∣ned by a great and wise King, will find more accesse, than private suggestions The royall Genius which is one in Kings, maketh them to haue a sympathie, speciallie where their common cause threateneth a common danger.

Let none bee so simple as to thinke they will ei∣ther* 1.29 repent their whole course, or relent its extreamitie: Though they haue found, and (ere it bee long) may find a great dash, yet they will but temporize, and suting peace, turne to more deepe and deadlie plotting. They thought all* 1.30 their own at the Smalcaldicke warre, and when God brak their forces, they simulat a pacification, yet they w••••e ever plotting a new persecution. If GOD shall disap∣point them of their cruell intentions (as in mer•• hee hath begunne to doe) yet ere it bee long, they would fire Europe with a new and greater combustion. Antichrist may bee destroyed; but mollified or tamed can hee not bee: Their Romish temper is vncapable either of the change* 1.31 of repentance, or the mollifying of moderation.

The curbing of the Popes insolencie is no more iust and necessar in it selfe than faceable to you: Romes natiue cruel∣tie caried ever the cause of her ruine in her bosome. It was noted as ominous in olde Rome, that when they beganne first to execute that Romane censure interdicere* 1.32 igni & aqua, their Atrium or great Court was burnt with thunder, and so since Popes began to play vpon Princes with their ordinance of excommunication, their state hath beene broken: When Boniface the ••••ght would take on him the Habite, Sword, and Ensignes of the Impyre Phi∣lip of France comp••sced that insolencie shortlie, and made him die in exile and greiefe: And how much their power is broken, since Luthers time, the world seeth: King Henrie of England devorced his Kingdome from the Pope▪ be∣cause Clement the seventh impiouslie denyed to devorce him from his incestuous Queene, to whom Iulius the second dispen∣sation tyed him. Scotland in the minoritie of her Princesse, proved both Maior and masculous in shaking off the Popes yoake: Denmarke, Sweden, and manie Princes of Germa∣nie* 1.33 haue cut his wings in their Dominions.

What an angrie King can doe to him, was latelie

seene betwixt Philip the second, and Sixtus the fifth, Car∣dinall* 1.34 Estensis the ruler of the Consistorie, promised to make him Pope if hee would never promoue Hieronymus Mattheus, but beeing chosen Pope, hee made Hierony∣mus a Cardinall, and so Estensis sent his hand-writ to Philip the second, to proue his periurie and Symonie: here∣vpon* 1.35 Philip minded to call a Councell to processe him for these two crymes, and declare the nullitie of his Election according to their Lawes: But while Sixtus is grieved for the intended processe, and devising a revengfull ex∣communication against Philip hee contracted a fever, and dyed. If that sturre had gone on, possiblie the Pope had beene curbed, or Spaine reformed, to bee as eminent in true zeale, as now pertinax in supperstition: But Gods time is comming: And seeing the republick of Venice gaue him a wound which hee can not cure; What may not you great Princes doe, whose glaining is greater than the vintage* 1.36 of Abiezer?

As Princes and Republickes, so his owne Romans haue curbed his pride: And God set vp barres to it so soone as it began to overflow, for Cincius a 1.37 a Romane, com∣pesced Hildebrand in Rome, while he was abusing the Emperor in Germanie, and when Alexander the third, by his Le∣gate was disciplining Henrie the second for Beckets cause, the Romans had expelled him out of Rome. And Onuphrius b 1.38 marketh, that for the space of fiftie yeares from Celestine the second to Clement the third, the Romans did so intreate the Popes, that some of them died for displeasure, others were almost killed in tumults, and a third sort were banished; and that in their heate of vsurpation over Kings. God here∣by was both taxing the feeblenesse of Princes, and teaching Posteritie, the possibilitie of the Popes curbing. His Brieves, Bulls, and Legats, did more in Kingdomes, farre distant than his owne presence could doe in Rome. Hee domni∣neered absolutelie abroad, while hee fought at home for the go∣vernement

of the Citie, and safetie of his owne life.

Gerson hath made his curbing problematicke, and it is your part to turne his probleme in effect. The Apostle* 1.39 descryving Antichrist, taketh some part of that De∣scription from Nero, whose tyrannie hee saw, and Uespasian* 1.40 (the reformer of Neroes wickednesse) pulled downe the golden Head hee had set on the Collosse, and in stead there∣of placed the image of the Sunne. It were good service to God, to pull downe that head, that hath lift it selfe aboue the Church, and is the life of heresie and schisme, the impedi∣ment of reformation and of peace in Europe; and in his place to make the Gospel, the image of the Sunne of Righte∣ousnesse to shine cleerelie.

Saint Austine a 1.41 telleth you from your owne Lawes, that they who will not in peace worship the God of peace, nihil* 1.42 nomine Ecclesiae audeant possidere. And thereafter, If Prin∣ces doe not so, Quo modo possunt Deo rationem reddere? How shall they giue a count to God? But Baronius is more le∣gall, Eijciendus vt Latro, hee is to bee cast out as a thiefe, who in an evill conscience possesseth that which is not his owne.* 1.43 Io. de Rupe scissa telleth you the way in his Parable, that when a naked bird was busked by other birds, shee became proude, and beate them: Therefore they tooke back their lent feathers, and left her naked. Take backe againe your pro∣fuse donations, wherewith you haue busked the Pope, and* 1.44 then, moveat coruicula risum, furtivis nudata coloribus.

If hee bee redacted to an Apostolicke Preacher, his Cardinals wil return to their primitiue charge in sepelien∣dis mortuis in celebrating the Funerals of the defunct popish Synagogue: Rome hath beene twentie times taken since Christs dayes a 1.45 And Charles the fifth, tooke it last, in show for a Revenge, but indeede to found his Monarchie. Why may not ye in the zeale of God destroy the whoore to vindicate your owne Monarchies? God hath foretold Babels destruction, and it will certainlie come to passe:

The time thereof is both fixed and knowne of God alone. And* 1.46 at that time hee will not want instruments; for hee will put it in the hearts of Kings to fulfill his will. For they will make bright arrowes, and gather the shields: because the Lord hath raised vp the Spirit of the King of the Medes: For* 1.47 his device is against Babylon to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his Temple.* 1.48

To the Pope and his willfull adhaerents, I speak as Cy∣prian did to Demetrian, Provide for your securitie and life, while you may: Wee offer to you the whole some gift of our coun∣sell—And wee exhort you, while yee haue occasion, and are aliue, to satisfie God, and come to the pure light of the trueth, out of the deepe and darke night of Superstition. VVe•• envy not your prosperitie, wee render you loue for hatred▪ and shew you the path of life, in recompence of these torments, yee inflict vpon vs. Belieue, and liue, that yee who persecute vs for a time, may reioyce with vs for ever.

I close with Gods command to the elect people who for a time are captivat in Babylon: Come out of her my peo∣ple,* 1.49 that ye be not partakers of her sins, & that ye receiue not of her plagues: And his command to you Kings, Reward her even as shee hath rewarded you, and double vnto her accor∣ding to her workes, in the cup which shee hath filled, fill to her the double. Therefore, let her plagues come in one day, that as the Angel speakes, Great Babylon may bee throwne down, and found no more, as a milstone cast into the Sea. That all the Saints may haue matter to sing. Halel••iah, Salvation,* 1.50 and glorie, and Power vnto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his Iudgements for hee hath iudged the great whe••re which did corrupt the Earth with her fornication, and av••••ged the blood of his Servants at her hand.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 2. Princes are Gods instru∣ments to pu∣nish Anti∣christ.
• * 1.2

  Apoc. 17.
• * 1.3

  Romes dittay Apoc. 17. Apoc. 18.
• a 1.4

  Aut Romae, aut. Roma, Spalat.
• * 1.5

  Romes doome, and destruction.
• * 1.6

  Matestatem & dignit ••••∣perit evert••t. Onuph V••••. Greg. 7.
• a 1.7

  Epist. Si▪ gibert ad Pas∣••hal 2.
• * 1.8

  Apoc. 17. 16.
• * 1.9

  The prophe∣cies of it.
• b 1.10

  Disquis. Magic.
• c 1.11

  Revel. L. 1 cap 41.
• d 1.12

  ••ardin. de TUr Cremat. pr••fat. Revel. Brigit.
• e 1.13

  Onus Ec∣clesie.
• * 1.14

  Princes are bound to performe it.
• a 1.15

  Baron, Genebrard, Stapleton▪
• b 1.16

  Ne oro lu∣ce tenebras, pro die noctem mortem pro salut•• sumatis Cypr Epist. 40
• * 1.17

  Their iniu∣ries requite it.
• * 1.18

  Matt. Paris.
• * 1.19

  They ne∣glect others in their in∣iuries.
• * 1.20

  Barel. pietas fol, ult.
• * 1.21

  Papists la∣ment the faintnesse of Princes.
• a 1.22

  Practic Iuris sed heu miseri imp & Principes se culares, &c.
• b 1.23

  Goldast Replic pr••fat.
• * 1.24

  Our time craveth do∣ing Princes, Athanas. Ep. ad solit.
• c 1.25

  Cent. 3. L∣ucit. col. 28.
• * 1.26

  Protestant Princes are free Princes.
• a 1.27

  Marta. ••urisd. lib. 1.
• * 1.28

  King Iames a warner of Princes.
• * 1.29

  Their hard∣nesse wil not repent.
• * 1.30

  Paul Vindek de exstirpand. h••res.
• * 1.31

  The Popes curbing is faceable.
• * 1.32

  Platin Vit. Bonisac 8.
• * 1.33

  Philip the se∣cond his threatning in killing Six tus the ••••••••••.
• * 1.34

  Philip the second his threatning, killing Sixtus the fifth is o∣minous.
• * 1.35

  Novus homo pag. 4. Bulla ••ul. 2. B••rclai•• Epist. ad Lector.
• * 1.36

  The Romans haue curbed the Pope.
• a 1.37

  Platin. vit Gregor. 7.
• b 1.38

  Perpetua per annos quin quaginta in∣ter Populum Pontificesq. discordia civis lis fuit. Onuph annot ad vit. ••l••m 3.
• * 1.39

  Hee shall be finallie cur∣bed.
• * 1.40

  Gerson, de au∣ferib. Papae.
• a 1.41

  Tractat. 6 in Iohan, Ibid Tract. 11
• * 1.42

  The best way of his curbing.
• * 1.43

  (b) Baron. An 886 n▪ 28
• * 1.44

  ••••ossard. vol. 2.
• a 1.45

  Atalar. Eg••nolph.
• * 1.46

  ••o•••••• finall 〈◊〉〈◊〉. R••••••l. 17.
• * 1.47

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••••▪ ••1.
• * 1.48

  Exhortation to Papists. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 igi•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & vita 〈…〉〈…〉 licet pro∣vid••te—Ad v••ra Religio∣nis candidam ••uce•••• d•• pro∣fund•• & te∣••ebrosa, &c. •••••••• Ad▪ De∣〈…〉〈…〉ian▪ in 〈…〉〈…〉▪
• * 1.49

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the 〈…〉〈…〉ct to for∣〈…〉〈…〉 Babel. 〈…〉〈…〉l. 18. 4. 5 6. ••. 21.
• * 1.50

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 19. 1. ••