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

To the courteous Reader.

FRiend, (for so I presume thou art, or however wish thou wert;) it ought to be thy daily practise to observe the revo∣lution of providence, wherein if thou beest a constant Studi∣ant, thou wilt be so favoured of the most High, as that he will cause thee to understand wisdome secretly. I suppose the Title fronting this ensuing Treatice, will seeme strange unto thee, as that Rome* 1.1 should be ruin'd by the productions of White Hall, a place whose Founder was as a ravening Wolfe to the little Flock of Christ; a place which hath been esteemed, as the Signit upon the right hand of that Romish Whore; a place of succession to the chiefe promo∣ters of Antichristianisme in this Nation, and of Saints persecutors,* 1.2 by Banishments, Imprisonments, as also of Martyrdomes, by Fire, and Faggot; that such a place as this should now be a receptacle for persons of so contrary a frame of Spirit (as to ruine the Successors of such Ruinours) doubtlesse will be a Paradox to many; but to such as are practicall in the afore-mentioned Theory, it will not be admirable; I meane to such as act the Noble Bereans, by studying the Scriptures, observing the Actings of God therein, in his Judge∣ments, and Mercies; for there they may behold his sutable Judge∣ments, to mens Transgressions, as may be instanced in Adonnibe∣zeck, who was taken in Bezeck, the Metropolis of his Empire, where he himselfe suffered like punishment to that, which he had caused to be inflictrd upon others; which he himselfe was forced to acknowledge, as a just reward of God upon him. The like also may be observed in wicked Jesabell, whose blood was spilt, and flesh eaten by Doggs, in the same place where she caused Naboths blood to be shed. Now God is the same, for with him there is no varience, or shadow of change, and therefore his Actions ought to be observed, as well now, as formerly, both in his Mercies, and Judgements, in re∣gard that not one title of what he hath promised, shall fall to the ground, unaccomplished. And he hath declared the destruction of

Antichrist, and his Adherents, and that even by such a meanes as they have used to suppresse the Saints; and to this purpose provi∣dence hath been, and may be wonderfully observed, in that the late Kings blood, was shed in the same place, where ••e cau••ed his Russ••∣ans, to shed the blood of honest Petitioners, (whose ••r••sp••ss•• was only for desiring him to call a Parliament) as also that he should walke through that very place, even to the Scaff••ld, in which formerly he had so much abused God, and his Creatures, by unchristian Recrea∣tions, and prodigall Banquets, even to the excesse of Ryot. As also in relation to his acts of Mercy, I have likewise observed as to my owne particulaer, Gods wonderfull providence, in selecting a place for my ••••••d•• in White Hall, yea such a 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the gorgious Apparell of the Court was ••aid up, viz. the Ro••••r••y▪ in which I writ this Book, (being against the present powers of ••••e wo••ld, and the pride of Antichrist, and his A••••••rents, such as they were, who had their chiefe residence in White Hall,) and therefore I thought it a sutable Title for the same; as al••o in that White Hall is now be∣come white indeed by the assembly of S••i••ts, which of ••a••e have been, and I hope are Collegated in it. ••o••••••••esse the name of White Hall was not given to it (by that Antichristian who ••••e••••ed it) without the consent of Divine providence, the Lord ••••••••ing a determination to make it the beauty of ••••l••••••sse, by ••l••sing such an Assembly of Saints in it, as should ruine them, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to ruine the Saints. It is also well k••••wne to many, what other divine actions have bin promoted in that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wherein thi•• Tr••atice was composed, which was a great encouragement to my spirit to prosecute the work, but I shall forbeare in regard it would be (to many▪) but a thing redi∣culous, I shall commit the effects thereof, to him who ••••••••d me thereunto, desiring it may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 welfare; let this suff••ee to have bin spoken in relation to the Title.

2. As touching the matter therein contained, I am confident thou wil•• since something, which will please thee as well as disaffect thee, for our pallates are such (in Spirituals) as will r••l••sh the discove∣ries of errors in others, but we utterly dislike that glasse, which re∣flecteth our owne d••••••••mi••i••es. ••elix could ••eare Paul gl••dly, untill ••e reasoned of righteousnesse, temporance, and judgement to come, but he could not then be at any further leasu••e; so whilst I am en∣veighing against the Atheists, and Anti-scripturians; the Papists

themselves wil willingly read my lines, but when I come to harp up∣on their string, then they wil bid forewel•• to me, but yet this Musick wil please the Prelaticants, but when I once come to their doores, I shall be sure to be ••••ut out for a wrangler. The like I may also say of Presbitery, and the rest of the errors confuted in this Book; therefore I earnestly desire thee, who even thou art, to lay aside all partiality and selfe, and to set the doore of thy conscience wide open to en∣tertaine Truth, the King of glory, who here presents himselfe to lodge with thee, and be consident he wil be a good Guest unto thee; therefore turne him not out again, 'tis likely thou wilt finde many things therein which wil be crosse to thy principle, but emember the old rule, If thou wouldst lay hold on Time thou must take him by the fore-top▪ for otherwise, post es•• 〈…〉〈…〉 ••e is bald be∣hind. If thou ar•• ••o•• p••••s••••••ly satisfied in what thou readest, doe not immediatly pronounce it an 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but act the noble Berean, by searching the Scriptures, and trying the Spirits, whether they be of God, or no, fancy not the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of thy opinion, neither beleeve your ••rthodox••••l men (as thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, who are of thy judge∣ment) therein u••••••sse they fetch it from the r••dex or r••••t, from whence it had its 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ••••e••••er from the ••ord, or from tradissions, if not from the Word, let it have no longer any ••••••i••ation in thee; doubtlesse a truth of sixteen ••••••dred and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yeares, ought to be admitted by thee, rather ••••••n an error of fourteen hundred yeares; and know for a certaine, that Truth was before Error, and therefore ought to have the 〈◊〉〈◊〉; Neither let it trouble thee that thy Ance∣stors were of this or that judgement, for they served ••••d according to that measure of knowledge, he was then pleased to afford them; and do••••••l••sse, that service was acceptable unto him, for to whom little was ••••••, of them but little wil be required; without all controversie our Pr••••••••••••sors, which suffered Martyrdom in ••ueen Maries dayes (who in their judgements were Prelati••ants) did dye as reall Mar••yrs, as any in the primative times; yea it would be too deep 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••o judge all damned under the notion of Papists, but Christ being now ••l••ased by gradations, to cleare the light of his Truth, and to r••••u••e his Church, to its primative purity; we ••••gh•• as much to renounce, every tradission of Antichrist (which hath er••pt into the Church since the Apostacy) as the Churches gathered by

the ••postles, did relinquish the Levittical Ceremonies, and as then, he, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 would not comply with the Apostles rules, ••as not to be a Mem∣ber of their Church, so neither ought any now to have admittance, without the like complyance; and this is no more a new truth I would possesse thee with, then tomorrow may ••e termed a new day, for the day is the same it was from the beginning of the Creation, it being only the intervall of darknesse (by reason of the declination of the Sun) which maketh the distixction in our Horizon, for other∣wise the Sun never setteth; and so consequently the day-light is one and the same. And albeit in some Countries (by the same rea∣son* 1.3 of the Suns farre remotenesse) it is darke for many moneths to∣gether, yet during that time, other parts of the earth enjoy the benefit thereof: So though the Son of Truth hath been interposed by Anti∣christean darknesse, for many hundred yeares, yet hath some glorious* 1.4 Rayes thereof been beamed forth into severall parts of the earth, for the illumination of the people of God. True, this sulperous cloud of Antichristianisme, was once of that magnitude, that it did almost totally eclipse this Son of Truth, so that very few enjoyed the bene∣fit thereof; but in processe of time, by its daily progresse under it, hath wrought it so thin, as that now the whole lustre thereof may clearly be discovered, which Son of truth is now mounting up to the Meridian, where untill the true Church of Christ have prevailed, it will be fixed (like Joshuas Sun) untill it hath wholly dispelled, and dissolved all the clouds in its firmament.

Fiend, in this Treatice thou mayest▪ behold the severall gradations, by which it mounts it selfe into its Mid-heaven, where he will en∣lighten the whole world, here is that path of truth discovered, by which thou maist also safely betwixt the S••ylla and Caribdian er∣rors of Prelacy, and Presbitry, into the Mari pacissicum, or Church of Christ; here is the Golden meane that will preserve thee from such as erre on the right, or left hand, from such who place their sole affections upon outward ordinances, making the practise of them, their sole Religion; as also from them who utterly reject such Ordinances (as Christ and his Apostles left behind them, as a pattern for us to imitate) esteeming them of no value, amongst the Saints; here (as I have said) thou maist behold light breaking thorow darknesse, the Son of Truth driving his fiery Chariot through the maine ocian of Errour; here thou maist see each opinion, in its na∣turall

colours, as also each seed of Errour ripened to its full perfe∣ction, with its name, and quality, as also the good seed of Truth; here thou maist discerne the Milk and Honey, of Spirituall Canaan, from the Garlick, and Onions of the Antichristian Egypt; in a word, here thou maist behold Christ, and his Antagonists. Know therefore that which of them thou obayest, his servant thou art, &c. I there∣fore advise thee, with Mary, to chuse the better part.

Now to render Sir John, the Parish Priest, a reason why I have not fixed the Authors names to such of the matter as hath been collected by me; 1. It was, because I questioned whether they were their owne, from whom I had them. 2. Neither was it ever thought unlawfull to fight an enemy with his owne Weapon, being obtained; neither have I done any more in this, then by using the Prelates against the Papists, and the Presbiterian against the Pre∣lates; by which contest of theirs, amongst themselves, Providence is wonderfully seene, in that like the Assirians, they helpe to ruine one another, so that my chiefe worke is to subdue that Hierarchy of Presbitery, who hath conquered the other two, and now would reigne it selfe in their stead. Againe, I would have such Sir Johns to know, that to fight a publick enemy, requireth the pub∣lick Magazine, both for offensive, and defensive Weapons; and seeing the Lord hath moved me to be his Churches Champion, a∣gainst that three-headed Monster of the Pope, with his three∣fold Hierarchies, of Papacy, Prelacy, and Presbitery, certainly he will allow me (as Saul did to David) his owne Armour; how∣ever that I may gather, such materials as I shall thinke meet for the incounter (in such common places) as David did in the Brook, which having gathered, I therewith advance in the spirit of Da∣vid, towards that Zanzumim, or Gyganticall Annakim, hoping the Lord of Hosts (the only giver of Battels) will so prosper the event, as that I shall, (as David did Goliah) head him with his own•• Weapon, and bring them as Trophies to the Campe of our Israel.

Take notice Rome, even in the same WHITE HALL, Where here, thou had'st thy rise, thou hast thy fall.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Viz. Cardi∣nall Wolsie.
• * 1.2

  Vid. Fox Acts and Monu∣ments.
• * 1.3

  The Iewes obscurity pro∣duced light 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the G••n••••••les.
• * 1.4

  Vid. Fox Acts and Mo••u¦ments.