superstitions then obtruded were not pleasing, they could not concoct Idolatry with witty distinctions, In a Word, they could not swallow the doctrine of Balaam, which some great Prelates and their adherents set abroach, teaching men to bow to a piece of wood or stone, the work of the hands of the Mason or Carpenter, no doubt a right worshipfull block, therefore the enemies either drove them out and persecuted them into strange Cities, as Jeroboam did the conscientious Levites, 2 King. 17.21. Or if they tarried still in the Land, they were appointed out as sheepe to the slaughter, Zach. 11.45. consult the place and it will seeme a Prophecy calcu∣lated for our Meridian.5. To affect our hearts with just griefe, yet more, see if there be not a mighty Reigne of all manner of Iniquity almost every where in the Land. Is there not an overflowing Deluge of Popery, Atheisme, Heresies, Sects, Schismes, Idolatry, Tyranny, Simony, Bribery,Merito quis i∣rari possit quo∣modo in tam dis∣solluta consu∣tudine omnium∣que rerum excep∣ta prasulatus sugillatione do∣ctrina tum diu incorrupta per∣stitit Bright∣man in 3. cap. Apoc. Sacriledge, Oppression, Rapine, Whordom, Drunken∣nesse, Adultery, Murther, with all other abominations, that can be named? are not all these as you heard worthily from the reverend Doctor in the morning, broken in like a torrent or winter land∣flood upon us? It was a sad complaint of a learned and worthy Divine of ours divers yeeres since, That there was such a generall corruption of manners here, that all things seemed to be lawfull, and might be acted freely and with impunity enough, except med∣ling with the Prelates Myters, which only were so sacred that they might not be toucht: the Jewes have a saying, That when all the creatures were destroyed by the flood, Noah had a copy of them in the Arke, which was after re-printed to the world; and sure I think, were all the corrupt Religions, and all the notorious sinnes of the world lost, a new Edition might be soon supplyed and sent out by the Copies and Paternes of them that are among us. Where these things are, and abound, it may be questioned whether the Lord raigns; but it is out of all doubt that so far forth at least Sathan hath a Throne there, as in the Church of Pergamus, Revel. 3.13.6. That which may heighten our griefe as it doth our misery yet further, since the beginning of the Reformation none of all out former Princes or Parliaments have ever yet so laid these mis∣chiefes to heart, as to make any effectuall provision against them. Daut animum ad libere loquendum ultimae miseriae. Extreame mise∣ries will force a man to speak out more freely then otherwise 0