Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

The Epilogue.

I'Me confident, this my attempt will be, Judged an act of downe-right foolery By most that read it; yea I doe confesse, The Method, and the Stile, expresse no lesse; But for the Matter, (which I wish thereby Might cleerly be deserned) I deny It wholly, or in part, 'gainst any he That shall oppose it; yea although it be Grand Cerberus himselfe; I meane the Pope, Or any of his sublime Horriscope; And so by consequence, 'gainst any he, That stands for Pope, Prelates, or Presbitery, Or any other faction, which I have Convinced in my Book; how e're they rave Against me by such termes, as Bedlam-wise, Their madded Braines shall dictate, or devise. And having fram'd my speech, to each degree, In this our new built Arrastocracy, I shall reduce them to that three-fold state, Of Layicke, Clergy, and the Magistrate. * 1.1And first to you, the last in nomination, Whose ayrie pomp, remaineth yet in fashion; You that have seene bright Lucifers downe-fall, With his retinue, House of Lords, and all That hath oppos'd the work you have in hand; To wit, the reformation of the Land, In Church, and State; to you I thus begin: Remember first the state that you are in, Next how it was attained, then for what; For be you well assured, 'twas not that You should be imitaters of their wayes, Or meerly for to crowne you with their Bayes;

No, 'twas because the Lord of Hosts will bring, A desolation upon every thing That stands in opposition to his Will, Which in this very age he will fulfill. And therefore be ye wise, and circumspect, Doe not confront him, by the like neglect, As did your Predecessors; sure you'l say, What would you have us doe, which is the way, That he would have us walk in? I reply, The first thing you're to doe, is to deny Your selves; that is, that you would condiscend, To take Christs yoke upon you, that's the end, For which he hath exalted you; but I, Much feare, your answer will be, to deny To weare that yoke, or beare that burthen light, Ʋnlesse with Nichodemus in the night; They're yet too meane for you, what, such as yee Turne Tub-preachers, tush, fye, it cannot be; You that are Steerers at the Helme of State, Is't fitting such as you, should congregate Your selves, with poore, base, and Mechanick men, As Taylors, Millers, Weavers, Coblers, when You may be honour'd, as to your degree, Amongst the Churches of the Presbitry. * 1.2Doe but confesse your selves, to be but Men, Wormes, Earth, and Ashes, Dust, and Clay, and then Boast out your fills of your great Birth, High honours, riches, wisedome, here on earth, And see what they amount unto; or what, Christ will respect you more, for this, or that. Againe, what is so done to you, by such, Which at the present, is not very much; Is meerely for to draw you to their lure, For well they know, applauses must procure The station of their present Hierarchy, Or else it falls even to eternity; And therefore 'tis they warble out such notes, (Even to the straining of their very throates)

For the continuance of Magistrates, And Ministry; but the o're-powring Fates Hath otherwise decreed, that you, or they, Shall reigne as formerly, hence-forth for aye. I doe confesse in reference to the Law, Of Nature, and Nations, there is an Ave- Full feare reflects on you, from such as doe Transgresse them Lawes, in that you are a foe To such like Agents, causing them to be Punisht according unto that degree By which they doe offend. But as for such As keep without your verge, you cannot touch, At least you ought not; you're no more to those, Then Herod was to Christ, who did oppose Him both by word, and action; as likewise The Apostles did the Scribes, and Pharisees; Yea all their Acts, doth plainly shew, how they Did slight their threats, rather then disobey The heavenly pleasure; yea although it were To losse of life, yet would they not forbeare. But now the Church of Christ hath hopes to see, You condiscend to their Fraternity; And not hence-forth, to curbe them by that power, Ordained to protect them, not devoure. And therefore heare O Kings, and Rulers all, Harke with attention, listen to the call, Which now invites you, for to entertaine Christ for your King, who is resolv'd to reigne O're you, and yours, either by love, or awe, But rather doth desire that love may draw our hearts, for to comply to beare his yoke; If not, then know, there is a heavie stroake To be laid on you, with an Iron Rod, Even by the hands of a provoked God; The which will crush your powers, and make you know, That as in things above, so here below, He hath the Kingly power, and will direct All such whom he vouchsafeth to protect.

Relinquish therefore all your powers, whereby You hitherto have rul'd by Tyranny, Over that little Flock, which Christ doth owne As his peculiar Sheep, and now made knowne Ʋnto this present age, that thereby yee May have communion, with their unity. Refuse not therefore those his invitations, As you intend the glory of your Nations; Doe not excuse your selves, or make delay, For it is dangerous; now is the day Of exaltation, and of such renowne, As farre excelleth that your Kingly Crowne Affordeth; O then yeeld a free consent, Ʋnto his now declared Government: For thereby will be added to your Graces, A Priest, and Prophet-ship in heavenly places; For thereby will your pomp, now transitory, Be changed into everlasting glory; For thereby will your fraile, and fleshly nature, Be made Divine, and of a Christ-like stature: Yeeld, yeeld obedience then, that when yee dye, Ye may be crown'd with immortality. * 1.3The next I have to deale withall, are those, Of the Sasardoll Tribe, who yet oppose That Gospel method, which our Saviour left To regulate his Church, and hath bereft It of that glory, which it once injoy'd, Yea have attempted even to have destroy'd It, root, and branch; witnesse that beast-like man Of Rome, who through his pride of heart began The grand Apostasie; as also all, That have officiated by his call, Since that revolt, as you proud Prelates, and You Presbiterian Priests, who yet withstand It, to your utmost power; but all's in vaine, You strive against the streame, for Christ wil reigne Above you, if not over you; therefore Forbeare your proud attempts, you can no more〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

Now if it be the great Law-givers minde, To furnish me with light, and strike them blinde, Will you gaine-say't? Or say he hath done ill By doing so? Dare you oppose his Will? For ought you know, he hath ordained me, As a fore-runner of him for to be, Against his second comming; and how can You know a Prophet, from another man, But by his speech, or writing? 'Tis well knowne. I am no Atheist, neither have I showne My selfe a friend to any other Sect; Nor have I gone about for to erect A new-found fantasie, in this my Booke To trifle time away; nor doe I looke For popular applause, of any he Who in opinion is the nearest me. But God's my witnesse, before whom I stand, The very cause I tooke this taske in hand, Was for to purge Christs floore, and so to sift The chaffe out of the wheat, and so to lift The Pope out of his Throne; all which may be Done easily, if that you thus agree As I have written; But if you refuse, To take that course set downe, and thinke to use Some other meanes, to bring the worke about, To crosse the way which I have here found out, Being the old true way; I doe declare, You seeke to ruine, and not to repaire. The Church of Christ, which in the end will bring Destruction to you all, in every thing: Consider therefore, and the Lord grant skill, To every one of you to doe his will.

Notes

• * 1.1

  To the Magi∣strate.
• * 1.2

  Reply
• * 1.3

  To the present Clergy.