A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and citizens of London, at the Church of S. Mary le Bow, the fifth of November, 1684 by Francis Bridge ...

I have but a few words for the Close of this Discourse, and so I shall dismiss you.

THere is a clamor in the mouths of ma∣ny at this day against Popery; nay, and to take off the imputation from them∣selves, they charge persons with favouring that Party, who publickly and solemnly have dis∣owned all their proceedings. I shall not therefore think it amiss, briefly to Exhort you, to take an estimate of Mens Affections to Popery by their Doctrines and Principles,

and judge them so qualified, by detesting or owning their Opinions, especially in the bu∣siness of Loyalty or Resistance to Govern∣ment; for by their fruits we shall easily know them. And I am afraid, by that time we have closely examined the several Parties, we shall find those who make the greatest noise against them, are the nearliest allied to them, especially in practices of this Nature, for the Subversion of an Established Government; and this hath made the Jesuits themselves so often assistant at their Conventicles. Car∣dinal Bellarmin would have the quiet and submission of the Old Christians consist in this, That they had not strength enough to resist; so hath a late scurrilous Apostate too deser∣ved little thanks from the Primitive Martyrs of the Church, in that they were gentle and meek; it was neither Allegiance or Consci∣ence (in his opinion) but want of Strength; for else the Emperors had suffered, and not They. Such persons as these justly admo∣nish the Government to have a care, to keep them from Power and Authority; for they publickly Declare, they want not Will, but Force to Execute their Designs. Did not Parsons's Book (under the name of Doleman) serve the turn of the Papists in the days of

Queen Elizabeth; it was but Reprinted again in a True Protestant Character, and it served the Regicides in the Year 48. and in∣different well since that time in the late Hor∣rid Conspiracy. Calvin and Ignatius had their Original much at the same time, and the chief of their Followers in their Writings have shown the same disaffection to all Go∣vernment, unless of their own appointment: And in the late Rebellion the Popish and Presbyterian Lords were generally observed to combine together. The Church of Eng∣land (which is to be destroy'd under the fine Notion of adhering to Popery) hath always declared her Reverence and Obedi∣ence to Magistracy; and therefore hath al∣ways been the common Enemy both of Popish and Republican Recusants. Our Sa∣viour himself sufficiently testified his Sub∣mission to that Government which then pre∣sided, although he could have commanded twelve Legions of Angels; a Power able to encounter and overcome all the Armies in the World. None could say the Disciples after him Submitted for want of Force, they that could strike Elymas blind, Ananias dead, and had in a readiness to revenge all Disobedi∣ence,

2 Cor. 10.6. would certainly (if Christ's Kingdom had been of this World) have had further Commission to stop the violent proceedings of all their Enemies. It is not always the Anointing of the Spirit required for our Subjection. Josias a King truly Godly and Religious, and Cyrus a meer Hea∣then, are both Recorded by the Prophets of the Lord, Isaiah and Jeremy. David a good King, and Saul one of the worst of Tyrants, both Anointed. Royal Unctions give no Grace, but a just Title only; and therefore in Scripture it is not said, Touch not mine Anointed, while he Rules well, in the Preser∣vation of the true Religion; while he is endu∣ed with extraordinary Vertues and Gifts of the Spirit, while he pleases the People; but because whatsoever he is, He is the Anointed of the Lord: Dominion is not founded in Grace; neither Priest nor People can pretend any thing in setting up the Lords Anointed. The Opinions of these wild Dissenters, for the Destruction both of Governours and Go∣vernment, were derived from Muncer, Knip∣perdoling, John a Leyden, and the rest of their Hairbrain'd Prophets, condemned by all so∣ber persons of the Reformation, particular∣ly

by Luther in a Book written for that very purpose, where he plainly shews. That Ma∣gistracy is of God, and necessary for our good; and that whatsoever befals us, it is the part of a Christian to suffer the Cross; Prayers and Tears were the Primitive Christi∣ans Arms; they embraced the Doctrine of the Bow-String, (as it is maliciously represented by one scarce worthy the name of a Reform∣ed Christian) and we never find them in∣terposing with Sword and Blunderbus, or any other Offensive weapon whatsoever. I have not time to enlarge upon this Subject, and what hath been said is to vindicate the Loyal Sons of the Church of England from all Aspersions of this Nature; and that we may be all convinced, that all the Stirs and Tumults which have been in our Land have proceeded from the same Principle, whether in Papists or Fanaticks; and till this be quite rooted out, we shall never be free from Rebellion. King James was this Day destined for Ruin by the Papists: His Son King Charles the First was reserved out of their Hands to suffer Martyrdom by preten∣ded Protestants; and our present Sovereign (whom God long preserve) hath had his

Troubles and Plots on all hands: But (God be praised) we are still in a condition to give Thanks, to abhor the Practices and Positions of such Men, whose only Piety is to make Religion a Cloak for Treason, and turn Re∣bels out of Conscience: And let all that fear God rejoyce in his Name, in the midst of this, and all other his Wonders in our Pre∣servation. For the Righteous must Rejoyce when he seeth the Vengeance: he will wash his footsteps in the bloud of the Wicked: So that a man shall say, Verily there is a Reward for the Righteous: Verily he is a God that judgeth in the Earth.

So let all the Enemies of thy Truth, and thine Anointed perish from thy presence, O God, even all that have Evil Will at Sion; so persecute them with thy Tempest, and make them afraid with thy Storm: Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek thy Name, (O Lord) let them be con∣founded and troubled for ever, yea let them be put to shame and perish, that men may know, that thou whose Name alone is Je∣hovah, art the most High over all the

Earth. But let thy Truth and thy Righ∣teousness flourish; let the Throne of our Sovereign be Established, all the Plots and wicked Devices of his Enemies brought to nought; so shall we always be praising Thee, and continually Rejoycing in thy Salva∣tion. Amen.

FINIS.