TO THE VVATCHFVLL Eyes in this our state, the worthy Justi∣ces, Imprisoners of Malefactors, and Preservers of peace; that peace is wished which passeth all understan∣ding, with the zeale of God, in due execution of Iustice against the enemies of Christ, and our Countrey.

WHat furtherance your places of Iustice bee to Iudges, sitting in the seate of judgement, is better knowne unto your wisedome, and learned selves, then I can any way immagine or think. Yet I, by my light observation, per∣ceive thus much, what without your vigelancy and faithful∣nesse; the Iudges cannot doe, what either their places re∣quire, or themselves desire to doe, for the good of our countrey. As therefore I have beene bold, in the zeale of God, and cause of Religion, humbly to petition them: so in like manner, I beseech you, in your places, to doe this good for Gods Church, to search out these walking spi∣rits of Antichrist; I meane the Priests and Iesuites, that they may be conjured downe by the power of the law and sword, which doe so audaciously rise up, with contempt of the word and spirituall power of Christ. Likewise that the statutes be executed upon open Recusants, who too boldly dare to professe themselves of the Popish Church. And withall, that a circumspect eye bee had of our Church-Papists: such, as for all their open comming to our assem∣blies, Page  [unnumbered]doe sufficiently in many particulars, declare them∣selves to be in their comming to Church, the very meere servants of Men; their course at home, and abroad, being duely examined. And that you may see, what may truely, and without breach of charity, be thought of these, I will be bold with a godly learned friend of mine,* to set downe unto you, what he concerning these Church-Papist, open∣ly delivered, as a preface before his Sermon once, at Pauls Crosse, word for word, as neere as may be. His affirmation was this:

Conformity to the Oath of alleagiance, and other outward formall satisfactions of the State, concurring wtth a resolution to continue in Poperie, is farre more pernicious to the State, then open and pro∣fest Recusancie.

I say it againe (saith hee), A fellow which hath taken the oath of allegiance; first, either by power of some Popish dis∣pensation, which great men especially may easily procure, because by their wit, or worth, or high roome, they may be more notoriously serviceable to the Church of Rome; or secondly, by proportionable deduction of some warrant to their consciences in that case, from that breife of Pius Quintus in the Queenes time, mentioned before, which any vnder∣standing Papist will easily apprehend: or thirdly, by the co∣soning art of mentall reservation, of which (perhaps) some of their Priests & cunninger sort, especially of the equivocal∣ting generation, will bee ready to make advantage of; or fourthly, by reason of widenesse of conscience, even directly and grosly against the corrupt notious and instructions ther∣of; which is much incident to the more ignorant and infe∣rior rancke of Papists, who through basenesse and lownesse of state, are exempted from inteligence with the Consistorie of Rome, and acquaintance with the liberty of many popish resolutions in such cases, and having no grounded and reall Page  [unnumbered]assurance of salvation in that profession (which is an inse∣parable miserie to popish herisie), dare not hazard their temporall happinesse, for any hope of future comfort they are ever like to have, or reape by such a miserable religion: I say, a fellow having thus taken the oath of allegiance either by popish dispensation, mentall reservation, or directly and grosly against the checke and contradiction of his popi•• conscience, is by accident, and by consequent, farr more Pestilentiall to the State then he was before, for such rea∣sons as these:

By this formall outward false hearted-conformitie.

First, he diverts and declines the watchfull eye of state-rea∣losie, from ordinary excubation and vigilancie over his po∣pish villanies and machinations, from a more narrow parti∣cular insinuation into his vnder-ground vaults, and timely observation of his engrossing too much gun-power; and so workes a great deale of mischiefe vnobservedly, fearfully vndermines, without any countermine of policie; and con∣currers most danderously with the outraged malice of that man of sinne, for the wasting of our Church, and dis-streng∣thening the State, without sence or suspition.

Secondly, he is vnworthily armed with the respect and reputation of a good subiect; and so may more boysterously and with greater bravery, wound and weaken the better side; vexe goodnesse, and good men, more boldly without controlment, and secretly promote Poperie, and hinder proceedings against Papists, even with authority, and some colourable ostentations of safer policie, and florishing pre∣tences of deeper reaches into the misteries of State.

Thirdly, hee may thereby give deeper wounds into the heart of the truth, through the sides of those they call Puri∣tans; and over their heads doe his worst to knocke out the braines of the blessed Gospell of the sonne of God. It is in∣credible, Page  [unnumbered]what a world of wrong and mischiese is wrought vpon the truth which we professe, and true professours thereof, by politicke conformable Papists, vpon the wofull advantage of certaine Ministers inconformitie. If such a fel∣low spie out a consionable painfull Minister, and finde him obnoxious to the rigour of the law, but in the least point; and that (perhaps) out of a peacefull tendernesse of consci∣ence, while himselfe is in heart a ranke traitor to the State. O then he plies the advantage with much malice and bitter∣nesse, by informations, aggrapations, exasperations fawning concurrence with Ecclesiasticall Courts, untill hee have procured the putting out of that burning & shining lampe, (for he well knowes, when such lights expire, the noysome snufe of Popery is like enough to infect that darkesome place:) and God knowes, all this is done, not for presur∣vation of peace, as he publikely pretends; but for promoti∣on of Popery, which he secretly intends. I woul to God, the reverend Bishops and Fathers of our Church, would wisely thinke of this point, before it be too late, I speake not here any thing to harden the Separatist, or any truly tu∣multuous; but to point out a dangerous depth of the miste∣rie of iniquitie, which worketh pestilently upon such advan∣tages. I rather pray, that all the blessings of the God of peace, both in this world, and in the world to come, may be heaped upon his head, whosoever hee bee, which doth any way (with holinesse and good conscience) labour to further the peace of our too much distracted Sion.

Fourthly, he that conformes, in outward obedience, to the State, by warrant of Popish dispensation, must labour to recompence the Popes liberality in that kind, with some more remarkable and notorious service to the See of Rome. Hee shall finde himselfe, out of a sense of such extraordina∣ry favour from that unholy Father, bound in conscience, and ingaged in congruitie, to be more ready and resolute Page  [unnumbered]vpon occasion or advantage, upon any desperate adventure and high attempt, for the advancement of his triple infer∣nall crowne.

Fifthly, hee that with wilfull inlargement of conscience, and secret sturdie resolution, takes the oath, will easily and naturally grow revengefully inraged against the righteous Torturers, and conformers of his corrupt and exorbitant conscience.

The conscience receiving a sting, transfuseth the smart into the affections, Which when they feele, they are pre∣sently furiously inraged against the occasioners of that their bitter misery. And therefore I am perswaded, such a fellow, so taking the Oath, howsoever he may beare him∣selfe reservedly, is afterwards transported, with more vio∣lent and implacable spite, against the power of that truth, and patrons of that profession, (a sacred zeale whereof hath justly brought a racke and vexation upon his misgui∣ded conscience) then he was before. And assuredly, if the times should turne, (which God forbid) wee should finde the Church-Papist, and the politicke conformable Pseudo-Catholicke, more mercilesse & blood thirsty against us, then the Recusant, Though the best of them, no doubt, at that day, would be as a Brier, and sharper then a thornie hedge; nay even as a woolfe in the evening. For there is no malice neere unto the malice of Popery, save the malice of Hell.

Vpon these grounds also, I have thought, that as the state of a Church-Papist, obstinated in popery, is most damna∣ble in it selfe, (even the popish Doctours themselves being witnesses) as I have proved elsewhere: (see my book of le∣gall repentance, p. 59.) so it is most dangerous to the State.

I speake not this to drive or detaine any Papist from the Church, for I pronounce unto him, out of the word of life Page  [unnumbered]and truth, hee must flie out of Babylon, into Sion, if ever hee will save his soule: but to let him know, that comming to our congregation, he ought with humility, reverence, and prayer, to submit his understanding to illumination with truth, and his heart to sanctification with grace, both for the procurement and comfort of his owne salvation, and the contentment and safety of the State. Otherwise, as his dangerousnesse to the State is evident and extraordina∣ry: so his owne damnation sleepeth not. For, if popery were truth, as it is not, but the very doctrine of Divels; yet his State is damnable, because he should so, deny Christ before men: if it be false, as indeed it is, and most accursed from heaven, then hee justly perisheth in his heresie.

But, it may be, some will here reply; what can possibly be more required, and exacted from these men, then con∣formity in outward obedience to the State? what better se∣curity, or surer bond, can be thought upon, then an oath, the sacred and soveraigne instrument of all justice and o∣bedience amongst men? what further invention of State, shall be able to stay the fearefull mischiefes, that hang hourely over our heads, from this malicious and murthe∣rous generation?

I answere, none in the world, while they stay amongst us: not the most exquisite and quintessenticall policy of all the wisest States, that lie under the face of the Sunne, can affoord helpe in this case. I dolatry is ever attended with this inseparable curse, that it will plague the kingdome that nourisheth it, and pay it home at length with a witnesse, except some right round, and resolute course betaken in the meane time, for the rooting of it out. And indeed the depthes of the mistery of iniquity are so unfathomable, that they cannot be sounded by the Plummet of any honest and Christian policy, without diving into the bottome of Hell.

It is a right just and holy thing, to give them the oath, and to bring them to the Church. But their violations of oathes, dispensations, equivocations, mentall evasions, cor∣ruptions of conscience, and execrable transgressions of all lawes, both of God and man, of nations and nature, are so infinite and endlesse; and they so mingle their conclusions of State, with the very confusions of hell; that it is even in proportion as easie, to chaine up those damned spirits, from tempting men upon earth; as to bridle those blood-thirsty monsters, from undermining and overturning those States; which professe the truth of Christ, if power and meanes were answerable to their malice and revengefull humours.

*It was a royall providence of our gracious Soveraigne, in his first speech in the Parliament, to admonish the Papists, that they would not so farre presume upon his Lenity, as thereupon to thinke it lawfull for them, daily to increase their number and strength in this Kingdome: whereby, if not in his time, yet least in time of his posterity, they might be in hope to erect their religion againe. But it is more then manifest, by daily and woefull experience, that their maine end, all their plots, practis•s, strange insolen∣cies, & the whole spheare of a world of Papist, that swarme amongst us, hold a strong opposition and counter-motion to that gratious counsell and first motion of his Majestie. A blessed and happie thing had it beene, had his Princely pleasure beene followed in that point. For assuredly, were we rid of the Papists; and were Idolatry banished out of the Kingdome, as in conscience, and policie, reason, and religion, it ought: the King and his posterity, by the mer∣cies of God, might sit upon the throne of England, as fast as the strong and mighty mountaines upon their sure foun∣dations. Oh, then would the forraigne mint and forge of popish mischiefe, discontinue and expire. Iesuites, the de∣vills Page  [unnumbered]Iourneymen, would take breath, from hammering any more, their hellish powder-plots in hast. That malicious and murthering generation would grow dishartened and unspirited, for matter of project, and conspiracie, against this noble State. The royall person of the King would have none about it, but Angels, and good subjects. The concurrent furie of the greatest enemies in the world, durst not entertaine a thought of invasion, or stirre a finger a∣gainst the unconquerable glory of our peace. For certaine∣ly, the crowne of this kingdome is incircled and surrounded with such infinite and endlesse variety of popish insidiati∣ons; and stands farre more liable to the furious thirst of for∣raigne ambitions, upon this ground principally; because they hope, when time serves, to finde amongst us, a side and faction of Papists, to serve their turne. Cut the thread of this hope; and cut the throat of all plots against the Kings person; and crush the Popes heart, for any probability, or possibility of ever re-establishing, and erecting his accursed tyrannie, in this Iland againe.

Now this blessed businesse of most important and high∣est consequence, for the pleasing of God, security of the State, and preservation of his Religion, and royall seed, that now fits with incomparable glory upon the Throne, would bee happily furthered.

First, if lawes worthily provided in such cases, might have their course and current, without opposition, diversi∣on, partiality, interception by false friends, or any cunning defraudations and delusions of the holy intentions thereof.

Secondly, if on our side there were but halfe the care and conscience, for the maintenance of Christs truth, and extirpation of the infectious heresies of the man of sinne, which are incompatible, both with salvation of mens soules, and the safety of imperiall Crownes: as there is curious∣nesse, Page  [unnumbered]and cruelty, in Popish Kingdomes, for the continu∣ance of Antichristianisme; and, by a bloody inquisition in∣to the very thoughts of men, (the greatest slavery that ever the sunne, or the world tasted) for the banishing and bar∣ring out, even of all possibility, (so far as in them lies) of re∣formation, plantation of primitive truth, and profession of grace.

Thirdly, and above all, the plantation and protection of a conscionable learned ministery, must doe the deed, when all is done, and strike the deadlyest and irrevocable blow into the heart of the Pope, if the never-erring Spirit of God have told us the truth, 2. Thes. 2.8. The Lord will consume the wicked man, with the spirit of his mouth. Po∣licy, State, wisedome, confederations of Christian States, invention and execution of good lawes, the disarming and disabling of the Popes vassals, and the like are very notable and needfull meanes, glorious attendants, and assistants un∣to this holy worke. But the sword of the Spirit, managed by the hand of a powerfull ministery, must strike off Holofer∣nes head; and knocke out the braines of the great Goliah of Rome, which with intolerable insolency doth revile the host of the living God, and trample upon the neckes of the Lords anointed. The Champions of Christ, in the battell of the great day of God Almighty, at Armageddon, may beare themselves bravely, and triumphantly: but the spirit of the mouth of the Lord Jesus, shall carry away the chie∣fest glory of the day, in that conquest and confusion of An∣tichrist, and in laying his triple crowne in the dust.

But in the meane time (untill the Lord put to his helping hand, for setting those meanes on foot, with resolution and constancy) it is a matter of prodigious amasement, to con∣sider, how mightily impunity of popish idolatry provokes the wrath of God against us, and in what danger we stand; Page  [unnumbered]the State, the Gospell, the royall person of the King, the dayly invaluable hope of the succession of his children, and particular welfare of every loyall subject in the land. For, if any man be so voyd of braine, to doe himselfe and the State that wrong, as to thinke that there are not still new mischiefes on foote, and secret workings against us still, by powder-plots, Parisian Massacres, or some proportionable vilanies: let him thinke there is no divill in hell, no Pope at Rome, no malice in the heart of a Iesuite.

Me thinks, it is an astonishment beyond the comprehen∣sions of nature, reason, religion, policies of State: that such an intollerable generation, so odious both to heaven and earth, with abominable Idolatry; so visibly infamous, both to this and the other world, with many capitall cha∣racters of blood; so endlesse and implacable, in their rage∣full designments, against the crowned Majesty of the Kings Throne; so prodigious in their plots, that they have cast an inexpiable and everlasting aspersion, upon the innocency of Christian Religion; such furious Assasins and Incendia∣ries, for murthering or Princes, butchery of people and e, firing of States; so inraged, even like Wolves in the e∣vening, to swallow us up quicke (if the time did serve;) I say, that such, in so orthodoxe a Church, and noble a State, should by allowance, toleration, connivencie, or remisse∣nesse, and paraliticall distempet of the arme of Iustice, or some thing, be suffered to receive encreasement, and multi∣plication, both in number, and insolency, to the great dis∣honour of God Almighty, the continuall vexation of Gods people and good Subjects, and the most certaine hazard of the whole State, and the peacefull succession of the Kings posterity. It would never be, but that the Lord in his just in∣dignation, intends, & prepares us for some dreadfull judge∣ment. And I am afraid, Papists will be the men, to execute Page  [unnumbered]Gods heavie wrath upon us: because they are a principall matter in the meane time, of high offence against his Ma∣iesty.

To let passe infinite more of very speciall, and materiall ponderations, to this purpose; consider, I pray you, but this one point, with feeling apprehendsions, which is able to inflame the heart of an ingenuous Heathen with extraor∣dinary indignation. I am perswaded, there was not a Papist in this land, whatsoever may be pretended, or protested to the contrary, but did heartily rejoyce, at the taking away of that thrice, nay thousand times noble and blessed Prince,* of sweetest memory, for which the heart of every true Sub∣ject, did shead most worthily, even teares of blood. Now, what a rufull case is this, that such vipers should bemourish∣ed in the bowels and bosome of this Kingdome; the breath, heart, and life whereof, they hartyly wish, and would re∣joyce to have extinguished? To conclude the whole point for the present: it is the generall joynt consent, and current conclusion of all the Christian orthodox reformed Chur∣ches upon the face of Europe; and it is worthyly, and un∣answerably demonstrated by our gracious Soveraigne, that the Pope is Antichrist; and Rome, mysticall Babylon.* Some particular men, (out of curiosity and conceit of their owne wit, affectation of singularity, doting addiction to popish writers, want of further illumination in the point, partiall inclinations towards the divinity of Rome, or the like) may dissent, without prejudice of a truth, so universally resol∣ved upon, by Divines of best learning, and sincerest judge∣ment. If so; then tell me the meaning of such places as these, and to whom the spirit of God directs the edge and execu∣tion thereof.

Reward her even as shee hath rewarded you, and give her double, according to her workes: and in the cup that shee hath filled you, fill her the double; Rev. 18.6.

And the ten hornes, which thou sawest upon the beast, are they that shall hate the whore, and shall make her deso∣late, and naked, and shall eate her flesh, and burne her with fire, Revel. 17.16. This prediction by the judgement of the best divines, hath the power, and passeth into the nature of a precept, and therefore is charged as a commandement, upon those of whom it is spoken.

These, and the like, doe indeed strongly confirme, and make good those three propositions of that learned man, and excellent light of Heildelberge, in his booke de iure re∣gum, pag. 6. & sequ. The summe whereof may bee con∣trived into this conclusion; Princes and Magistrates, with their swords and scepters; Preachers, by the word and wri∣tings; private men, by Prayer, and all lawfull opposition, ought to doe their their best and utmost, to bring confusion upon that man of sinne, and his accursed doctrine. And thus to follow the councell of the blessed Spirit, in rooting out the limbes of Antichrist, and Antichristianisme, is so farre from being persecution, that it is a very glorious service unto the Majesty of the God of heaven. The neglect where∣of, and impunity of Idolatry is able in short time, to shake the pillers, and distrengthen the sinewes, to decrowne the head, and shorten the raigne of the strongest State, and most potent Prince in the world Delayes are dangerous; Policy to the contrary is pernicious; and counivency, cruelty; in such places where these sayings have place blessed shall he be, that taketh and dasheth her children against the stones, Psal. 137.9. All yee that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrowes: for she hath sinned against the Lord, Ier. 50.14. In as much as she glori∣fied her selfe, and lived in pleasure, so much give you to her, tor∣ment and sorrow, Revel. 18.7.

In the meane time, vntill the holy Spirits counsell and commandement to this purpose, be taken to heart, and Page  [unnumbered]throughly put in execution, I pray the Lord to stay their rageful malice, and to turne their popish murtherous hearts for whetting any more swords, to shead the blood of the Lords annoynted: or else, to turne the sharpest swords from the point, with a cutting edge on both sides, even up to the very hilts, in their owne hearts blood. And in despite of hell and Rome, good Lord, wee pray thee, let King Charles flou∣rish still, with a crowne of glory on his head, and a scepter of triumph in his hand, and still wash his Princely feet in the blood of his enemies.

Thus much I thought good to Epistle at this time, for the discharge of my owne conscience, and the needfull refresh∣ing your memories, with the apprehension of those dread∣full dangers, which howerly hang over our heads, by reason of the impunity of Popish Idolatry, and the endlesse inevi∣table malice and machinations of the Papists. We have had provocations, and warnings enough; from this place, from the Parliament house: from heaven, by Gods messengers; from hell by the powder-plot, from Ireland by their heathen Tyranny from Rome, by the roring of their Buls; from France, by their massacres, and butchery of their Kings: by more mediate, and politicke; by immediate and miraculous revelations, discoveries, deliverances: by a blacke and bloo∣dy catalogue of most hatefull and prodigious conspiracies, which runne parallell with the golden fine of Queene Eli∣zabeths life; by the dayly villanous libels of the swaggering runagates of our countrey; base and illiterate pamphlets, stuft with ribaldrie, and railings, and personall slanders, im∣pudencies, out-facings, utterly without any passage or im∣pressions of grace, or gracious spirit. A thousand times, a thousand wayes; And yet what good have they done, sith nothing will serve the turne? Gods will must bee done. For mine owne part, I have delivered mine owne soule. If any Page  [unnumbered]will not take warning, whom it concernes, his blood be up∣on his owne head.

But blessed is he, who forc-sees the storme, and hide him selfe in the meane time, vnder the winges of Christ, and shelter of a good conscience. With which Conclusion as hee ended, I also conclude, commending this pithie speech of my so learned afreind, to your wisedome and godly con∣sideration, your selves to Gods holy protection, and all your iust proceedings to his gracious blessing, that you may confidently look for a reward of your well doing in the end of your dayes.