The countermine, or, A short but true discovery of the dangerous principles and secret practices of the dissenting party, especially the Presbyterians shewing that religion is pretended but rebellion is intended : and in order thereto, the foundation of monarchy in the state and episcopacy in the church are undermined / by one who does passionately wish the prosperity of the Church, his King and country.

CHAP. III. An Account of the Heads of these Facti∣ons amongst us, from whence we may

conjecture what their Intentions are: Of their way of Education in the Times of the late Rebellion, in the Ʋniversities, or in the Army. Of their Lay-Teach∣ers, and Shop-Doctors; how they came by their Gifts and Talent in Preaching; the Advantages they made of Religion in their Trades; the Employments they had under the Ʋsurping Governments; the Incouragement they had to invade the Pulpit: The desire they have of an alteration in the present Government, to recover their former Power and Pro∣fit. The great unfitness of these men to officiate in the Church, who are guilty of Sacriledg, Murder, and Perjury.

LET us come therefore to take a sur∣vey of their Persons: from thence we will proceed to their Principles; which will quickly lead us to the conside∣ration of their Practices.

AS to their Persons, we must consi∣der them as that pleasant fellow divided the World, into two parts, one of which was born to cheat the other; or accord∣ing to the more customary and familiar method; we must divide them into the

Heads and Body: for by the Way I must tell you, that these Factions have one remarkable Qualification of a Monster, that to one Body there are many Heads; all challenging Equality, though at the same time every one of them aimes at Priority. The Body being for the most composed of those who are deceived, I shall not concern my self with them, as the Principal Subjects of this Discourse: for if at any time, one of this Body ad∣vances so far as to be able to deceive o∣thers, that Member presently starts up to be a Head. 'Tis these Heads and their Hands that we have just reason to suspect and to be afraid of, and with these therefore I chiefly intend to deal.

THESE Heads must likewise be subdivided (which is natural to them) into two Classes; which Word will please some of them, though it may be the distinction will not: They are either Scholasticks, or Laicks, Literate, or Ig∣norant Heads. The Scholasticks are such as either had their Education in one of the Universities, or in the Army-Col∣ledge, during the late precious times, when the Saints bore the sway, and rul'd

these Nations with a Rod of Iron, viz. the Sword: and with that Iron-Scepter broke their Enemies in pieces like a Pot∣ters Vessel.

IF they are such as suckt the Breasts of either of the Universities, 'tis odds but they are some of those who were nurst up immediately after their poor Mothers had most outragiously been abu∣sed; when little nourishment was to be drawn from them, that was not mixt with Blood; or however with some of that Physick which the Mountebanks of the Age gave them, to recover that Health which they had first taken from them: and it is well enough known that the Vertue of the Medicine will pass through the Mother to the Child. This

Physick was their Pan-pharmacon, called the Solemn League and Covenant. Which was afterwards corrected with a Pill, cal∣led the Engagement to be true to the Government, without a King or House of Peers:

and the Dregs or these poy∣sonous and ill-prepared Medicines, stick as close to these men as their very Natures: so that without the danger of being thought a Conjurer, it is easie to guess

what they are, and what they would be at? I'le lay my life on't they love the Cove∣nant and the dear Good old Cause, a great deal better than a Prince or a Prelate; without which they have sworn to live; and whose utter Extirpation (with* 1.1 hands lift up to Heaven) they have so solemnly sworn and vowed: and their Consciences are so infinitely tender, that they would not break their Oaths, to gain the whole World (no more than Herod would do his) though never so impious and unlawful. And yet these very Men some them, both Clergie and Laicks, made no difficulty in taking those detestable Oaths, to cancel all their for∣mer Oaths of Allegiance, Supremacy, and Canonical Obedience, which they had so often, as they made their Superi∣ors believe, ex animo taken and sworn.

THEIR Brethren of the Armies E∣ducation, are indeed their sworn Bre∣thren, Simeon and Levi: it may be not altogether so well verst in Practical, but Knockers in Polemical Divinity; they can pray two hours upon the Drum's head, make as loud a noise as that when 'tis highest brac't; and it may be are as

empty too. These men can fire a Pistol in the Face of a Prince: can exercise a Troop, both in Martial Discipline and Rebellion: These are spiritual Drag∣goons, and can serve either as Horse or Foot. These were such, who for their Eminent Gifts and Services, were divers of them possessed of the fair Demesnes of the Orthodox Clergie, and at his Majesties late happy Restauration were forced to quit both their Military Dioceses and good Livings: and no wonder then if some of them out of necessity, and for a Lively-hood; others out of Revenge, do now persecute those Persons and that Way with their utmost Hatred, against which they once fought, or at least incou∣raged others to fight, so heartily and suc∣cessfully. And these are their Antesignani of the first Rate, or rather 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Sons of Thunder.

AND lest this precious Generation of men should perish, (for they are not Immortal) the breeding of the Universi∣ties being corrupted with Surplices and Subscriptions; some persons are so in∣discreet as to commit a Son or Nephew to their Tuition; or they pick up some

hopeful young man (as they call him) whom they educate in their Doctrines and Discipline: and thus take care that the succession may be secured and propa∣gated.

AFTER these come the Laicks, Illi∣terate or Ignorant Heads; such as are meerly Mechanicks: Of these some are such as were in actual Armes against their late lawful Soveraign; and having run away from the more painful and honest Trades in which their Parents or Masters gave them Education, in the Rebel Armie learnt the better Trades of War and Saintship, which at that time were inse∣parably linkt together. Others of them are such whose courage it may be was not so great, as to endure the sight of a naked Sword, the clashing of Armour, the noise of the Cannon, or the other Terrors of Warr: but having the gain∣ful Employs of Sequestrators, Decima∣tors, or Country Committee-men, or some dependance on them, staid zea∣lously at home to pray for those who were couragiously fighting the Lords Battels against the Mighty abroad: and by their Rapine and Oppression, making

long Prayers and devouring those Wid∣dows Houses, whom their Companions murdering Swords had made such, in the first place to make Provision for them∣selves, and in the next for their Confede∣rates, who were to bear the Heat and Bur∣then of the Day.

These Fellows were great frequenters of Sermons, those things then call'd Ex∣ercises; which indeed were very violent, and made such as used them sweat, whilst they set their Lungs to sale, from the Pul∣pit to encourage Sedition and justifie Re∣bellion: To these Meetings, if they could write and read, to make their Zeal the more observable, they never went with∣out the necessary Utensils of Pen, Ink, and a large Pocket writing-Book, which was then the high Mode of the Religious and Godly. With such scraps of holy Non-sense as they there pickt up, they charitably feasted the Neighbourhood; and after many vain Repetitions of such fragments of their Collections to their own Families, and whoever else would come to hear them, perswaded of their strange Gifts and Abilities, and encou∣raged by the frequent flatteries and admi∣ration

of others, whose judgment was of the same Standard with their own, they came at last to set up for themselves, and in a little time to despise their Ma∣sters.

NOW and then you should have a Cobler venture beyond his Last, a Chand∣ler finding out new Lights, a Grocer re∣tailing Religion, a Black-Smith with a hot spark of Zeal in his throat hammer∣ing out Hobnails and Heresie, or a prag∣matical Apothecary prating according to the Proverb. This Crew of Shop-Di∣vines, animated by the prevailing licen∣tiousness of the Times, their Ignorance and Impudence, with the help of some seditious Books, and an English Bible, (which for want of understanding the Original they wrest, as all unlearned and unstable men do the Scriptures, to their own sensne, fansie, and damnation) launch forth boldly into the depths of Divinity, to become Fishers for Men and Money: and with as much confidence as if they had the same Commission from our great Lord and Master,* 1.2 which his Disciples had to take the miraculous draught of Fishes or of Men.

NOR were the Advantages and Re∣turns which they made in this Spiritual Traffick, so mean or inconsiderable, but that still they did encourage new Adven∣turers in the Trade; and also paid the first bold Undertakers sufficiently for their pains. Such a man was then accounted a Confiding Man; that is, he was fit for the use of the State, in the necessary and pious Employments of Rapine, Sacri∣ledg, and premeditated Murder; and hereby (which one would think very strange) they got the Reputation of so∣ber and conscientious men, just and ho∣nest in their Dealings, which was no small step to many Customers, and by light Gains and quick Returns to make a heavy Purse for themselves; though I doubt not but they made many heavy Hearts and light Purses for other men; viz. the truly Loyal Subjects, who for no other Crime were called Delinquents and Malignants, and were accordingly treated in their Persons and Estates, as the most notorious Malefactors, by these honest godly men: who for these ser∣viceable Cruelties and ill-gotten riches, came to be feared by all, respected by

many, though lov'd by few. And it was no uncustomary thing, to see one of these pragmatical Peasants with his high shoes and Hobnails, in greater Authority than the Right Worshipful, or it may be the Right Honourable of his Parish. So great gain was the Godliness of those times, that it is no Miracle if they long and breath so much to see those Gospel-Days again.

BUT lest I should be thought a little unkind in giving them the distinguishing Character of ignorant Heads; though I could produce many Instances, one or two shall suffice to make it appear that I am not injurious, but civil to them, in con∣cealing so many of their follies as I am a∣ble to publish.

ONE of these proud and insolent Ig∣noramus's being urged to pay some re∣spect to his Superiors, from the Exam∣ple of St. Paul, who complemented the Roman Governour with that respectful Address of most Noble Festus; found out this cunning Evasion for his unman∣nerly Religion, that for ought he knew Most Noble was the Deputies Christian Name.

ANOTHER of the same form, was

so childishly ignorant, even in the Com∣mon Sentiments of Nature, as to put the Question whether it was the same Moon, at the place where he dwelt, as was in other places? and to admire her kindness for travelling with him all one Evening; going if he went, and standing still if he did so, to wait upon this younger Bro∣ther of Endymion. Nay so strangely silly was this Animal, as by a pleasant con∣ceited Gentleman, (who did it with a∣bundance of personated gravity and plau∣sible Artifice) to be perswaded out of his Christian Name: and yet this Fopp would swagger about Predestination and Election as boldly as the tallest Doctor of the Tribe. And though I make no questi∣on, but a great many of them may have far more natural cunning; not many of them have much more Learning: Since I know it is not now to be hoped for by a Miracle, and I am sure they are far enough out of the Road, and advantages of obtaining it any other Way.

I will not say it is impossible, but I dare say it is very difficult to find a Head of any faction or separation, who either was not bred up for some time, a few days

at least for the Credit on't, in one of the Universities, or one of those mens Pu∣pils who were educated in the times of Rebellion; when a Month made any man of Gifts (for it was no matter for Parts) a Master of the Arts of praying Extempore, and Preaching Pindariques; a Year was sufficient to proceed to the Grace of Doctor; or by what was then called Grace to make him fit to do the Work of one of their Evangelists or A∣postles, and qualifie him to preach that Gospel which was able to convert Chri∣stians to Paganism, or something worse. Or else generally you shall find them such who have been Reverend Spiritual Curiassiers, or Chaplains to some of the Rebel Cohorts, or a Disciple to some of them. A Sequestrator, Committee-man, or related to, and dependant on them. A Favourite to some of the great and lead∣ing Men of those times, or however ac∣quainted with them, or some of those other sorts of ignorant, conceited imper∣tinent Mechanicks; and take the Herring out of which Barrel you please, for they are all of a price.

NOW, do not these look like men fit

to be intrusted with the Management of the Publique Affairs of the Church, and the conduct of Souls to Heaven? of whom some were Actors, most of them A∣bettors in all those abominable Sacri∣ledges, those horrible Depredations, and that Infamous Murther of the best of Princes, the Lords Anointed, and their Lawful Soveraign; to whom they all ow'd and had many of them sworn Faith and Allegiance, and have thereby added Perjury to the rest of their Abomina∣ble Crimes.

WERE not these things matters of Fact and so notoriously known, that they must have Faces of Brass to deny them, the Charge would be most uncharitably scandalous: but I desire no other Testi∣mony than that of their own tender Con∣sciences, and of all the World that knows them, to evidence the Truth as well as Greatness of their Crimes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Cere∣mony of their ta∣king the Covenant, by which it appears they are not against all Ceremo∣nies.
• * 1.2

  Luk. 5.6. Act. 2.41.