England's Ichabod, glory departed, discoursed by two Christian men, zealous for the glory of God, and true lovers of their nation: the one called Heraclitus junior, weeping for and lamenting the inevitable wo and desolation impending and approaching on his native country. And the other called Democritus natu minimus, laughing at the ignorance, blindness, madness, and inexorable stupidity of his own nation, overwhelmed in folly, sin, and wickedness, insensible of its own ruine and misery. Both of them paradoxically praising the Jesuites, and their spurious seed, for their policie, activitie, and dexteritie, in promoting their factions and projects. / By Heraclitus junior, and Democritus natu minimus, for Ri: Fosterschism.

England's Ichabod, &c.

Democritus.

MY love and affection to you, most dear Heraclitus, hath induced me to visit you, that you and I may discourse a little touching these woful and doleful days wherein we live.

Heraclitus.

Welcome, my most cordial and most constant friend; I rejoyce in your pre∣sence so gladsome to me, that, if any thing would asswage my mournful tears▪ your chearful society would do it. But, Sir, it is too late: I rather wish to be dissolved into Tears, then to be revived with Mirth; for the glory of Eng∣land is departed. Where is the glory of our Cities, of our Aca∣demies, of Trade, and Merchandise, either Domestick, or with For∣rein Nations; of Equity, Law, and Justice; of the Liberty of the People; of the Freedom and Priviledges of the Nation in the whole Common-wealth? Nay, (which is the greatest wo of all) where is the glory of Religion and Sincerity? Religion is no∣thing but Opus operatum, a formal, out-side Preaching and Hear∣ing, like the fig-tree cursed by our Lord Christ, bearing no fruits

of Charity, Humility, Obedience, Justice and Mercy. It is by some made a meer stalking-horse and a servant to Pride, Ambition, Covetousness; whose entire and endeared companions and con∣federates, gilded Hypocrisie, and execrable Villany, merciless Cru∣elty, bloody and horrid Treason, must be sometimes assistant, to effect impious lawless designes. And where will the glory of one of the most famous Cities of the world, of London, be, if the Citizens lose Exportation of Cloth and Stuffs, and Importation of forrein Merchandises, as they have lost themselves in their Co∣venant made with God, whereof there is a Table and Copie, for memorial, fixed and hanged up in most Temples in the City? And then where will the glory of Clothiers, Artificers, and others, whose Trades and Livelihoods depend upon manufacture of Cloth and Stuffs, appear? And where will the glory of the No∣bility and Gentry, whose revenues depend upon Sheep and Wool, soon after be? Last of all, where will the glory of our Army and Souldiery be, if they conquer not all Europe, or at least quit themselves against the Power and Forces thereof? For it ap∣peareth manifestly, that they have provoked most part thereof to be enemies to our Nation. Woful will our Lamentations be: I shall not be able to weep enough: I shall even wish to be a Niobe, that I might be dissolved into tears. Tantum relligio potuit suadere malorum? as the Poet. Simon, John, Elea∣zar; Prelate, Independent, Presbyter. Scarce three men meet accidentally together of one minde: men are so transported with fiery zeal for one of the three, and so void of meekness of spirit, that they become as fierce as Bellarmine, and cry down all Ar∣guments on the behalf of the other two, although they be newly rouzed from the pillow of Bacchus, and be inscient of the vali∣dity of what was or can be said. Why hath Opinion, distracted about Rule and Government, brought these later evils upon us, since the just shall live by Faith alone, and not by Govern∣ment?

Democritus.

I my self making the same observations which you do, and being apprehensive of the Calamities and Desolation neer ap∣proaching, and attending our Nation, could, as I am subject to

natural passions, mourn and lament also: but since I am fully sa∣tisfied, by consulting with the sacred Prophets, that there is an in∣evitable Divine Decree in this vengeance of the Sword, fore-ap∣pointed for the accomplishment and manifestation of God's infi∣nite power and glory in purging his Church, and bringing in a better people, and in restauration of Mercy and Justice in the Common-wealth; that Grief, which would otherwise possess me, is turned into mirth. Yet, if it may be asked by Prayer, Let not, O God, the Parable and Curse of Jotham (mentioned in the ninth Chapter of Judges) be fulfilled, and fall upon our Abi∣melechs and Shechemites of England! Hearken, ye men of Shechem, famous Citizens, that God may hearken unto you, and not send an evil spirit amongst ye, to stir ye up to destroy one another, as Abimele••h did the Shechemites, when they had raised him, and made him their King, after the bloody murder of his brethren, the legitimate sons of Gedeon, about seventy men. Like noble Bereans, read the Chapter, and apply it. And take notice of a few words uttered and predicted against our Nation, and some famous Citie thereof, above 1100 yeers since, in the Reign of Vortiger, printed at Frankfurt about 50 yeers since: Viz. Vae perjuriae Genti, qua urbs inclyta propter eam ruet: Festinat namque dies qua cives ob scelera perjurii peribunt. If that Astrologer who uttered these words, amongst others, (whereof we have seen the completion in a great part, and could, if without controulment permitted, fully demonstrate) did now live, he would laugh profusely at some modern Astrologers, who gainsay them, or speak slightly or dubiously of them, although completed.

Heraclitus.

If there be a Divine Vengeance in this scourge of Division, Faction, Rapine, and Bloodshedding; why have the people se∣verally murmured, railed, and clamoured, some against the be∣headed King, some against the Parliament, some against the City of London, some against the Scots, as the several sole causes of our unnatural and bloody Civil War?

Democritus.

Because they ignorantly and falsly conjecture that all things

come to pass by Chance, without Divine providence and govern∣ance; many being so peremptory and stiff in Opinion, and so puffed up with their own transcendencie of Piety, and Singu∣larity of spirit, that they explode all Opinions but their own, and all Reasons and Arguments against the same, although valid and forcible; as is evident, in that, that though they despise Govern∣ment and all Dominion, yet none more eagerly aspire to, and hunt after high places of Domination, both Ecclesiastical and Temporal: And when they are invested in them, none so rigid as Themselves, who so much censured and condemned the Go∣vernment of Others to be oppressive and tyrannical: And then they make ostentation, and buz like the Fly upon the wheel, This have I done; whenas the coach-wheels and horses heels stirred the dust: So, by the help of Insinuation, and subtil Faction, ambitious, covetous, proud Boasters, and singular Self-lovers are exalted to trample on their brethren. Plurimis famam 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, avidè magis ambientibus quàm fervidè, & sincerè 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 annunciantibus. One would be Paul, another Cephas, and the third Apollo: and the itching-eared people love to have it so: But what will they do in the end? These men consider not that their own particular sins, and the general sins of the Nation, have drawn down God's wrath and indignation against us; some daring to call our Covenant made with God, filed of Record in our Temples An old Almanack, which may be thrown in the fire at yeers end.

Heraclitus.

How might their Understandings be better informed, and their Judgements rectified?

Democritus.

By none other means but, first, by reading the Scriptures, and principally the Prophet Isaiah, Chap. 45. vers. 7. and Amos, Chap. 3. v. 6. and Jerem. Chap. 25, v. 15, 16, 26, 27, 29, 31, 32. and Chap. 3. v. 6. and Chap. 30. v. 24. and Chap. 34. v. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. and Chap. 5. The whole scope of which two last-recited Chapters plainly parallel with our Times and Nation, and Matth. 24▪ with divers other Scriptures, as well touching the neerness of the end of the world, in confutation of the Mil∣lenary

Schism, much availing for the Romane party, and now boldly and busily broached by some of the prime Dissenting Bre∣thren, Igodown, Oglethorp, and others; as also, touching Na∣tional Churches, in confutation of Independencie and Singula∣rity; as Rev. 20. 4. and 21. 24, 26. and Isai. 60. 3, 5 10, 11, 16. and Rev. 11. 15. And secondly, by comparing the last oc∣currences of Tumults and Insurrections when we had a King, he then having no Councel nor Army; and our present Home-divi∣sions and Naumachies, with the beginnings of our Civil wars, when we had a King, he then having an Host of men, and Coun∣cel. But now, since we have no King, who can be said to be the cause of our present broils, rapine, and spoils, by Sea and Land, but our own sins; Cùm Anglia laborat saevire in semetipsam? Even as when there was no King in Israel, every man did that which was good in his own eyes: as Judg. 17. 6. and Ch. 19. more at large.

Heraclitus.

The evidence thereof aggravateth my sorrow, and increaseth my tears; and much more, when I read the fourth verse of the third Chapter of Hosea, threatning judgement against the Isra∣elites, that they should be many days without a King or Prince, &c. Was it a judgement in the days of Israel, and is it none in our days? Our Laws have depended upon Monarchy, although enacted (which was our happiness, if we had well considered it) not by Monarchy alone, but by Aristocracie, and Democracie: Therefore, without all three, our Laws are dissolved, and we fall into Anarchy. Is Peace ever to be looked for without Law? If the Sword be our Law-giver, shall we not become Assassinates and Heathens? Where will Truth and Religion be? Without them, farewel Peace. We feel with sorrow and smart, that Inter Arma silent Leges. And if there be neither King, Law, nor Religion, What will become of Parliaments? Our case will be the same with the Israelites, when they had no King: Every desperate man will dare to say to a Parliament-man, as an injuri∣ous Hebrew said to Moses, Who made thee a man of Authority, or Judge over us? But is there go balm left in Gilead? Is there not one man left, who by grave and seasonable counsel might

discover the Incendiaries of our Divisions, and the Contrivers of our Factions and Distractions; and so divert the Deluge of Con∣fusion and Slaughter ready to overwhelm our Nation?

Democritus.

It is daily done by zealous Preachers of God's Word in the Pulpit, and by them and others in Printed Papers, with solid and weighty Motives; but with little effect: For most mens hearts are hardened, and their understandings stupified: God hath stricken us, but we have not sorrowed; he hath consumed us, but we have refused to receive correction: we have made our faces harder then a stone, and have refused to return. We may now, with Jeremiah the Prophet, in his fifth Chapter, Run to and fro in the streets of our English Jerusalem, and behold now, and know, and enquire in the open places thereof, if we can finde a man, or if there be any that spontaneously executeth judgement, and seeketh the truth; and then hope that the Lord will spare the Land. Where is the man, who payeth his Vows to God? Where is the Patriot of his Country, fearing God and hating Covetousness? Where is the Justiciary? Do we not see almost every mans Self to be his own Country? Many great men say, they know the way of the Lord, and the judge∣ment of their God; but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds. The sins for which most often and most severely God punished the Israelites, were Idolatry, breach of Covenant, and Perjury. Did God punish them for those sins, and can other Nations, now in being, hope to be quit, and go free? We expected an issue of our miseries by the Sword; but they are augmented, and aggravated: our hopes fail us. What will become of that People in the end, which repose confidence in their own strength of Charets, Horse-men, and Horses? Jeremiah (in his 31 Chap. vers. 1.) telleth them what attendeth them. God is the God of Order, and not of Con∣fusion. Will not the Lord visit for these things? Shall he not be avenged on such a Nation?

Heraclitus.

The consideration of these things, draweth a flood of tears from me. For it is most manifest, that the English Jesuites, by

their secret and admirable policies, and subtil insinuations, under pretext of Tender Conscience their Bugbear, work upon the easie mindes of the weaker sort of people, who, by how much they are more shallow in Judgement, by so much are more obstinate and stiff in Opinion, impenetrable, and inflexible with any Ar∣guments whatsoever, Humane or Divine. Amidst my sad and doleful tears, I am the more astonished, when I revolve this verse predicted of England long since, viz. Corruet Anglorum gens fraude suorum; which word suorum can have relation to, or dependance on no words in the whole series of the Latine nouns but to one or two ending thus, viz.—ituum▪—itiorum. It irketh me very grievously, that it should be said to some of those, to whom belongeth the heading of those two imperfect words, whose hearts are right for Church and Country, against all obstructions, that exitus will be exitium: but as touching any amongst them, who are inveterate, rancorous, and deadly enemies to the tranquillity, peace, and splendor of our National Church, and Commonwealth; I say, Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered! How shall God's wrathful indigna∣tion be appeased, when through hardness of heart we are insensible of the National sin, as heinous as the sin of Achan, and the bloody sin of Saul against the Gibeonites, committed under pretence of zeal to his Nation, provoking God's wrath against the Israelites to destroy them with Famine; which was not aba∣ted, until, through David's satisfaction given to the Gibeonites, by the decollation and slaughter of Saul's sons, God's wrath was appeased? as 2 Sam. 21. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8▪ 9, 14. Hath not God visited our Nation with the same punishment? It hath been said of old, Quos Jupiter perdere vult, priùs dementat. What hope have we to evade and escape the snares of the politick Je∣suites, when we are already wrapped and involved in them, and when we neither do nor will discern their most exquisite, subtil, and close conveyances? they having adopted, or rather begotten a bastard-breed of sons, and infused so much of their virulent vertue into them, that thereby they have not onely wrought weak judgements to pretended conscience of an Independent Church, but have also by State-policie benummed, blinded, besotted, and

stupified some great and wise ones in our Nation, inducing them to connive at their frauds and juglings, whereby more strenuously a Toleration of Schism and Heresie is creeping in, then ever could have been brought in by themselves alone for their party.

Democritus.

Charitable and pitiful Heraclitus, thy tears verily proceed from a tender conscience affected with the abominable sinfulness of thine own Nation, and the blindness and stupidity thereof. But be thou not sollicitous and grieved, since God, for horrid and loud-crying sins, hath designed our Nation to woful Calamities: Let us be rather comforted, and give glory to God, and rejoyce, that he hath given us the sight of those things in his holy Word, which neither mighty men, nor noble, nor learned, nor Politicians will take notice of; but do rather wink with their eyes, and shut their understandings from being advertised thereof, and will de∣ride both thee and me for our discourse, if they should hear it.

Heraclitus.

Nevertheless, dear Democritus, let us not ••…••…ist: A word spo∣ken in its place is like apples of gold with pictures of silver, as Solomon hath it in his Proverbs.

Democritus.

Moses and the Prophets speak plain enough to our Nation: if we will not hear them, neither will we hear, though one rise from the dead again, unless he should beat wit into our heads with a maul: and some such dreadful judgement, I fear, doth at∣tend us. Were our words acceptable, or might they be profita∣ble to our Nation, I could be incessant and indefatigable: for, Cuique probo Patria sua est jucundissima. But our Nation is become so barbarous and heathenish, that it laboureth with all its wisdom, wealth, and power to destroy it self. We do but scatter our words, we do but charm a deaf adder. I have lately read these words in a book published long before our distractions grew to this immense multiplicity (as now they are) and irrecon∣ciliable incomposedness, viz. [Be wise, O England, and discern the Jesuitical Romish frauds, and pernitious plots, and break and avoid their last arrow of Independencie and Aristocracie, (for they have no more left to wound Great Britain withal) and

be happie: Sin minus, caveto tibi, ne faciem tuam obfuscent tenebrae non nisi ex nova Romana caligine illuminatae:] and I well know that they came to the view of some both great and wise; but they seemed to them ridiculous: yet now they may see, that darkness must give light, or we must have no light. The unwarrantable predictions of uncertain Astrologie promising se∣curity, were and are pleasing, and embraced; which to con∣fide in, is as to consult with the witch of Endor: But the warrantable presages couched in the infallible Prophecies of God's holy Seers, contained in his sacred Word, contemned, slighted, and rejected, even of mighty men, much more of men of inferiour order. Railing, lying, futile, scurrilous, seditious, libellous, traiterous Pamphlets, spread abroad with all advan∣tage by nimble winged Mercuries, have been, and are (a time very unfit for such fopperies and iniquities, when our Nation is bleeding, languishing, and at the point to be extinct) embraced by most men, according to their several fancies and affections, very few men having ••…••…rned the Catechism of that most pious and venerable Doctor Joshua Hall sometimes Bishop of Exceter, since Bishop of Norwich, where they may learn how God doth and will do all things in this world, and as few having compun∣ction of heart for the destruction and desolation of their own Country.

Heraclitus.

How cometh it to pass that the Jesuites have such influence up∣on our Nation now at this time, since their manifold, bloody, and traiterous practices thorowout the whole Reign of Queen Elizabeth, of King James, of our late King Charles, are fresh in memory, being to be read in Histories, rehearsed in Almanacks, and brought to our ears by publike Thanksgivings to God yeerly for our deliverances from them?

Democritus.

Thou knowest, Heraclitus, that a Ship at Sea is in the power of its Pilot, and that he, if out of treachery he intend it, can be∣tray it to an enemy at his pleasure. The politick practices and treasons of the Jesuites against Queen Elizabeth▪ by commo∣tions, rebellions, pistols, poisons, poniards, the Spanish Armado,

were so exquisite and admirable, carried on with such secrecie, that had any of them prevailed, England must have gone to Rome again for the Popes pardon. But what were all those their de∣vices to that transcendent hyperbolical Gunpowder-treason, which with one Sulphureous blast had destroyed King James, and all his Royal Issue male; all the Nobility, and a great part of the Gentry, and had subverted Religion, and our Laws, and had sub∣jugated our Nation again to the yoke and tyranny of the Pope∣dom? Since then, far more transcendent, exact politick, never to be parallelled have their stratagems been to undermine our Church and State, by insinuating, creeping, and serewing them∣selves into eminent places and employments in both, under pre∣text of Patriarchacie and Sanctimony; and they have so hood∣winked many of the wisemen in our Nation, that they suspect them not at all, much less that they have now any Plot upon our Nation and Church, or are at the Rudder; but suppose that they sit still and quiet, neither acting nor plotting any thing. It it is evident to all honest intelligent men, that our late Civile bellum Episcopale was plotted and contrived by their ingenuous and profound policies; and it will shortly be as evident, that our Civile bellum Populare is driven on by their close conveyances, and ambodexter-juglings, by misleading the people under pre∣tence of New Lights, and Divine Raptures, and Christian Liber∣ty, and Liberty of Chiveril Conscience.

Heraclitus.

We know well in former times the Bishops days, when all Functions Ecclesiastical and Civil were transacted and conferred at a price (for Quid mihi dabis?) it was an easie thing, they being so exquisite and secret in their Plots and Contrivements, and they having at that time ducem venerii castri, the Buck with the gilded horns for their Patron and Advocate, to step into▪ nestle, and rivet themselves as well into high and eminent places in the Court, as also into subordinate Judicatory-administrations, and into the Clergie and Prelacie without controulment, especially after the Eagles Chicken had nested himself in the highest Ro∣chet in the Realm. But by what means now do they possess themselves of Publike Places either Ecclesiastical or Civil, sance there

hath usually been such a wide and opposite antipathy between them, and all manner of Protestants, though Sectaries and Sepa∣ratists?

Democritus.

First, know, Heraclitus, that the range and rabble of those Gleeds which the Eagles prime Chicken brought in, are not outed of the Clergie, Academies, and other publike Societies, nor, as the case now standeth, can be, but rather more are gotten into them. And next know, that the Jesuites are the most subtil ex∣pert, and artificial Impostors in the world, instructed by art and exercise, to put on Proteus shapes, and to personate all degrees and qualities of men, and neatly, closely, and dexterously to act in all manner of Societies, Councels, and Factions. And all mo∣derate men know, and of that part yeeld, that in the late Wars many of them became Commanders and prime Officers in the Field and Forts against the Parliament. And if after their sur∣renders, and yeelding up of Forts and Forces, they have been en∣tertained, and ma•••• Commanders in the present Army, have they not obtained their ends to agitate their designes of poisoning the Army, and consequently the whole Nation with Schism and He∣resie, so to hinder the settlement of Peace, and to embroil the Nation in future War? And further, know, Heraclitus that the Pope, and his emissaries and ministers have of late yeers had private Oathes for Secrecie, Fidelity, and Activity in their Ca∣tholike Cause, to minister to all their party both abroad and at home, with dispensation to repair to our Temples, whereby they might seem Protestants, so to gain popular esteem in their Coun∣try. And since many men have been presented to the Parliament from Counties and Boroughs by the power of the Souldiery, might not such men, having taken such Oath, by insinuation with the Souldiery by the assistance of their party in the Army, make themselves of the number of Legislatores, that they might without the least jealousie or suspect become Legisviolatores?

Anglicano Italianotto, diabolo incarnatto.

An English man Italianate, a devil incarnate.

Heraclitus.

What is thine expectation, Democritus? Dost thou conclude

that these Foxes, Wolves, and wilde Boars shall still prevail against the unity of the Church, and tranquillity of the Realm?

Democritus.

Though I know well, that Hoc rupti Foederis deaurabit aquila, that his Holiness is better pleased with the Device and Plot of his dearest sons the Jesuites for Democracie, then Apes with nuts: if their Plot take full effect, he will write both in red letters in his Kalendar. Yet I make no such conclusion; but I conclude them to be the servants of God, as Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh were, and as the devil sometimes is, that is, instru∣ments to execute his vengeance, to bring inevitable wo upon our Nation, and for his glory to gather wholesom Hellebore out of the Orcades, therewith to purge our Nation of Phrenzie and Hypocrisie, and the Church of Schism, Heresie, and Idolatry; and thence and thereout also to gather a lusty new green Besom, that shall sweep themselves, and all their spurious seed, and bastard-sons out of the Realm against their wills. And I conclude the Jesuites to be those unclean spirits, like Frogs ••oming out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beast, and out of the mouth of the False Prophet: for they are the spirits of devils working miracles, to go unto the Kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battel of the great day of God Almighty, mentioned in Rev. 16. 13, 14.

Let honest men therefore, with David, tarry the Lord's leasure, be strong, and trust in the Lord, and their hearts shall be com∣forted.

And as Lot was in Sodom, if they be captivated, let them hope that God will send an Abraham to deliver them. And let them resolve with David, that whose dwelleth under the de∣fence of the most High, shall abide in the shadow of the Al∣mighty.