YOur Lordships kinde acceptance of this mean Treatise in its first part , brings the rest of it now to your feet , upon hope it may goe out with the like countenance and favour . In these very miserable times , when so many of all conditions , are given over to beleeve lies , to be inveigled with the hypocrisie of seducing spirits , which the Lord in his justice has permitted to goe forth in a great multitude , for the seduction of this present evill world ; the truth is glad of the patrociny and assistance of all who will be on its side ; and of none more then of such as your Lordship : I mean of persons so much eminent in wisdome , learning , courage , zeal , and other noble qualities , above the most of their fellows in birth and rank , as these doe ordinarily account themselves elevated by their civill priviledges , above the common multitude .

And truly it will be found no lesse prudence then piety for men of your Lordships place , to put and hold themselves in these unhappy days , upon the side of truth , though never so much deserted , disgraced , and trampled upon by a world of simple or malicious ignorants . For now it is when the Lord with his axe is going through his garden , and hewing down not onely thousands of brambles and bushes of lower stature , but many of the tallest Cedars , the highest Palms , the thickest Oaks : and they who yet remain untouched , though none doe know how soon the axe may be applyed to their branches , yea their very root , yet many have reason to fear that their stroak may be suddain .

Among the wofull spectacles of our time , none use to touch a heart wherein is any humanity , with more compassion , then the ruine of ancient Families : How many great and potent houses are blown over by these late tempests ? How many this day be tottering and very like to fall before the windes be calmed ? and of those that appear in least danger , being incompassed with the thickest defences that policy can invent against all storms above ground , how easily may subterraneous vapours shake their foundations ? and when all fear is past of the evanished and invisible storm , by an unexpected Earthquake , lay their wals also levell with the ground ? There is no security for the greatest and strongest edifices , but in the rock of truth : what ever is builded upon this , were it never so brittle , will stand out the greatest blasts : And if any breach be made , the God of truth will not fail to repair it , till the appointed time for the change of all things under the Sun , bring that Cottage of clay to its fatall period : And even then , the house shall fall without any prejudice to the Inhabitant , whosoever hath been a true lover and patron of truth . For how small is the losse of a translation from a mansion upon earth , to one in the heaven not made with hands ? But here is a losse indeed , and a fall truly lamentable , which oft to our sorrow we may see , and have reason to fear shall yet be more frequent amongst us , when unhappy Inhabitants by the hands of their errors and vices , subvert the pillars of their Ancestors habitation , and bury with themselves their whole family , under the rubbish of a temporall ruine , without any hope of reparation either in earth or heaven .

In the following writ I point at the danger wherein not onely families , but the whole fabrick of our Churches and Kingdomes doe for the present stand : while the Episcopall and Sectarian factions are doing their utmost endeavours to have all our former sufferings to be but short prologues to new very prolix if not endless , Tragedies . The one so far demented with a frantick passion towards the government and service of the Church of Rome , that all the miseries which they have brought upon themselves and millions of others , have not in the least degree cured the disease of their corrupted mindes , so far are they from untying the knots that their own hands have made , or essaying to draw any of their deceived party , out of the perplexities of conscience , wherein their mis-informations alone have cast them , that rather then to retract their errors , rather then to advise the lawfulnesse of joyning with all the rest of the Reformed Churches , in laying aside Episcopacy and Liturgick ceremonies ; they choose to give up the neck of their Countrey to the sword of bloudy and idolatrous strangers ; They are content to draw all again to the hazard of a new more terrible war : Tell them of the too probable issue of their obstinacy , that if their designs should prosper , the danger would be greater , then their wit , or the wisdome of any mortall creature could secure us from , to have a tyranny planted in our State , and Popery without any more circumlocution , setled in our Church . But if their renued warre should again miscarry , that then the hazard is evident , of undoing the royal family , of turning the civil State of England into a Babell of confusion , and the Church thereof into a fountain of heresies , for the intoxication with its streams of all the rest of the Reformed . To all such very rationall discourses , this generation of men is deaf , as if all naturall affection to their distressed Countrey were dead , and sympathy with any of the true Churches of Christ , altogether extinguished in them .

This is one ground of our present fear , O if it were all , so should we , if needs must , goe out again with great courage against that Squadron of Malignants : But when we have returned Victors from that field , behold our more perillous exercises are but yet approaching . The Sectaries of more names and kindes then ever were known in any Kingdome of the world , tell us with open mouth , we must be their slaves : They must have liberty to overthrow our Parliaments ; all Kings , all Lords , and this House of Commons ; to set up the individuals , as they love to speak , of the whole multitude , in the Throne of absolute Soveraignty . From this new Soveraign we are commanded to expect a body of new Laws , a modell of a new Ochlocratorick government . This yoak , much worse then a Turkish slavery , must be put upon our body , but a worse upon our soul : A full liberty must be granted to every Seducer , who will in the most publick places , & within the doors of our houses also , perswade our loving consorts , our dear children , our faithfull servants & friends , to deny Christ , to embrace Mahomets Alcoran , the Jewish Talmud , the fables of the Pagan Poets , in place of the Old and New Testament , for the everlasting destruction of their souls . This is the reward which the Sectaries plead for , as due to their labors in the war against the common Enemy : would they stand to the determination of the most favorable , if any way equitable Judge , they pleased to chuse , glad would we be to see their merits weighed to the full , and much above all their deservings attributed unto them ; But by any possible deserving , to think of obtaining a liberty to doe a great deal more mischief both to Church and State , both to the souls and bodies of men , then ever any former enemy did intend , carries not the face of any justice .

As for their great deservings , which always they are trumpeting out with a loud noise , we onely say that they doe not prudently , to bring them so oft near the ballance of triall : for if that , which I have heard from many , both wife and gracious men , be true , their merits will be found to be but of a very common alloy . Where did the most of them lurk when the heat of the day did scorch the valiant labourers of both Nations ? When Ruthven , New-Castle , Rupert , H●pton did keep the field with Armies of any number or vigour ? When noble Essex at Keinton had the King in the prime vigour of his strength , upon his army ? When Leslie about Bawdoun was compassed for some weeks , in the bare fields with frost and snow , with wants of all kinds , with the very gallant Army of New-Castle , double in number , and much better provided , then any thing that P. Rupert could bring to Naisby ; when in Marston-Moor , David Leslie and Crawford , with the flour of the Scots and gracious Manchesters Army , were breaking the greatest and most formidable strength , that ever the Enemy commanded in all this War . It is true , when the work was as good as done , by the sweat & bloud of others , when the Enemies were become so low , that they were never more able to bring ten thousand together , when the danger was well-near all over and gone , then was it good time for them to come in play , and with their cunning legerdemain , to shuffle all others , who had managed the Game while it was hazardous . They were then so wise as in the end of the day , with a great deal of courage , to fall upon the back of a broken Enemy . It could be no great miracle of valour and conduct , to take up the forces and treasure almost of all England , and then at Naisby , with a greater number well payed , armed , and disciplined , to beat nine thousand of evill led , evill payed , and evill armed soldiers , the most part raw and new levied Welshes . Had they ever any enemy after that day in the field , of half either their number or strength ? And when their Adversary had left the field without any hope of a new Army , to take in place after place , which had neither supplies within , nor any hope of rescue from abroad , cannot b●●● very monstrous prowess : What if such a piece of soldiery had faln in their hands as Massies defence , and Essex rescue of Gloucester ; As Essex and the Londoners fought at Newbury ; As David Leslies march and medly at Philiphaugh ; As Pointz enterprize neer Chester ? What if in any of the gallant services of Sir Thomas Fairfax the half of the actors had been of their feather and livery ? Could any ears then have endured the noise of their miraculous merits ? But I hold , Immodesty and impudence doe oft draw on reckonings , which else would have been forborn .

With the former troublers of our Church I have dealt in divers other Treatises , and by Gods grace , I purpose to have always one eye open for the observance of all their motions : with the latter I continue to meddle in this part also of my Disswasive . How candid and fair my dealing with them is , and how little I intend either to irritate or hurt the person of any of them , in my Prefaces to both parts , I shew at length .

By these poor endeavours of mine , and the more rich and strong Treatises of others , I wish your Lordship may be advanced in your zeal against error , and whatsoever else is contrary either to the profession or practice of any part of true Religion . Thus shall you stand , when others of your rank doe fall : and when they by their ignorance , prophanity , lust , revenge , self-seeking , banish out of their houses that honour which their noble Progenitors laid up in store , your Lordship by your perseverance & growth in that integrity and zeal for the trut● , wherein hitherto by the great mercy of God , you have been exemplary to many , above your age , shall adde new store to the old : and that very ancient Nobility which you found laid up in your family from many ages , you shall transmit to posterity , with encrease of a new lustre from the gracious endowments , the vertuous and honourable performances of your own person : So earnestly wishes and heartily prays ,

Men most carelesse when their dangers greatest . The very same is the condition of the Church of Christ ; in its greatest dangers , the dulnesse , the stupidity , the feneantise of her servants are very oft too palpable : the chief of the Apostles when their Master was to be taken from off their head , when the Shepheard was to be smitten and the sheep to be scattered , through very grief and feare , did fall into so deep a sleep , that with much adoe Christ himself got them roused up , though Judas the Traitor was at hand . Towards the consummation of all things , when the end of the world is neer ; when the Lord Christ shall be upon his return , and even at the doors ; when best it beseems his servants to have their lamps burning , and their loyns girded , to be ready upon every call to goe out and meet their Master ; when the expectation of the last Trumpet ; when the noise of wars , and rumours of more and worse wars ; when the sound of heresies and errours grow louder then ever before ; when such things as these , in reason ought to keepe the watchmen on foot upon their watch Towers : yet behold the unhappinesse of these very times , even then , the wisest Virgins , the faithfullest servants slumber and sleeep , till the generall cry of the Bridegrooms comming make them all awake .

We dare not make so bold as some , with the determinations of the times and seasons , which the Lord keeps secret from the very Angels in the hollow of his own hand ; yet , it will not be presumption to conjecture the propinquity and neernesse of the last times , by the evidence of some , at least , of their symptomes and pr●vious signs , which at the present are visible to any who have the smallest measure of spirituall understanding . I shall speak but of the two in hand , the present danger , and yet the present negligence of the people of God .

The Protestant Churches have not of a long time been so to be devoured by the teeth of the Beast as at this day : The present danger of the Protestant Churches . Of France . What keeps all the faithfull in France , Geneva , Sedan , out of the mouth of the Romish wolf ? have the Supposts of Rome ( think we ) lost all their wonted stomach towards Protestant blood ? The Irish Massacres may free us of that fancy : stay till the French King get out of his childhood , or before in the intervall of some peace or truce from forain war , a little leisure be given to that Court to bring home their Armies ; whensoever that unhappy day shal dawn , there is no more expectation of quietnesse , yea , no more possibility of subsisting to any of those Churches , but in the mercy of God , who now doth divert , and then can avert and bridle the rage of that powerfull State ; against which these weak lambs have no humane force to oppose . How many thousands there are panting for a morning when once they may re-celebrate S. Bartholomews Matins , and bring the old Massacres again in fashion , which now may be execute with a great deal of more safety and ease then ever .

The condition of Holland seems not at all safe to those who know the inside of their States ; Of Holland . it 's like the predominant motive of their reconciliation now in hand , with their hereditary enemies of Spain , is no other then fear : if their prepotent neighbour of France can but re-invest his Crown with his ancient fees of Flanders and Brabant , as he hath done with Artois and Lorrain , with Catalaunia and Alsas , and divers more Provinces ; Holland fals next to be dealt with , for nothing doth then stand betwixt it and the French Arms.

The Protestants of Zuitserland cannot be free of danger so long as the most of the Cantons are bigotly popish , Of Zuits . and very strictly allyed with the popish States that lie round about them .

The Churches of higher Germany have long lien in Of Germany . the dust , and in our days oftner then once , have been very near to be devoured by the bill of the Austrian Eagle , and the paw of the Bavarian Lion : and though that ravenous bird and cruell beast were both disabled from preying any more upon their harmlesse neighbours , whereof the appearance this day is but small ; yet there is a more strong and wicked beast then either of the former , still ramping at their doors ; the Grand Signior is daily upon the German borders , too ready to fal upon that poor Country , when the Princes and Cities by mutuall wounds have now disabled themselves more then in any by gone age , to resist so terrible a power .

Of Bri●●in by the M●l●gna●ts . Britain was wont to be taken for the head and heart , for the strongest Bulwark of the Protestant strength ; how are the present dangers thereof , and in in it , of the whole Protestant Churches , it 's easie to judge . How much of late the leaders of the Court and Clergy of both Kingdomes had advanced the design of bringing in well-near the whole body of Popery , at least a full reconciliation with Rome ; And when their counsels were discovered , and begun to be opposed , how near oft of late they have been to force upon the neck of the whole Isle by violence the yoak of what ever tyranny in State , or errours in Religion they pleased ; the world hath seen , and many thousands have felt , to their utter undoing ; whereof long agoe we gave some account in the Canterburian Self-conviction , and parallel of the Service Book with the Missall .

By the Sect●ries . But behold while we are wrestling to the bloud and extream hazard of all that is dear , with that tyrannous , superstitious , and profane party : There is now start up at our back , another enemy , little lesse dangerous then the former : A swarm of heresies and sects darkens the sun of truth , fils the air with noxious vapours , is ready upon a little more encrease to fall down on the earth , for the overwhelming of of the State as well as the Church : betwixt these two milstones the Orthodoxe Churches of this whole Isle , if the hand of the Lord prevent it not , are in hazard to be ground to dust and ashes .

It is true , Our dangers from the Malignants are not yet past . the Malignants by the miraculous power of God are brought so low , that in the eyes of the most , their force seems now contemptible ; yet wiser men doe see too great cause to be affraid of them this day little lesse then ever . Their numbers over all the Isle are yet very great , their hearts are nothing changed , though some bands for the time be put upon their hands . The unexcusable obstinacy of the Episcopall Divines . I have often marvailed and much regrated , that many reverend and very learned Divines of that side , have been to this houre so silent , as to give no glory to God , nor any assistance at all to the setling of the State and Church : though it be clear as the noon-day that the ways of their party did really tend to the corrupting and enslaving both of State and Church ; that the Parliaments of both Kingdomes were put to an absolute necessity of defence against their force , to preserve their own and the posterities necks from an iron yoak both of Ecclesiastick and Civill bondage ; that the continuance of this war has brought the Kingdomes oft to the border , and the King this day to the very doors of ruine ; that the Church is overflowed with a floud of evils ; all which by their timous and cordiall conjunction with their brethren , might ●●ppily in some good measure have been prevented . Shall Episcopacy and a read Service be so necessary in a Church , that rather then England should joyn with all the rest of the reformed , to lay them aside , the King , the Parliament , the State of the Kingdomes and Churches of the whole Isle , must perish for any help that any of them will make with the least of their fingers ? Posterity cannot take well at their hands so pervicacious an obstinacy . Suppose so many provocations and scandals cast in their way by the hand of others , as may be ; yet for men of parts and fame to be touched with no compassion towards the Churches of God and their deare Countrey , but to adhere so stifly to these things , with the best of their friends in all other Protestant Churches did esteem ever to be but needlesse and changeable , and which now the better part of the whole Isle doth beleeve to be dangerous corruptions , and necessary to be removed : for them to be so wedded to those toys , that rather then they will advise to lay them aside , they can be content to behold the whole royall Family , both the Houses of Parliament , the City , the Countrey , and all to be destroyed ; such prodigious pertinacy cannot want great guiltinesse .

It s great folly to misprize the danger from France . However , that our dangers from the Malignant party doth yet continue , will not be doubted when th●ir number and quality , and great obstinacy yet over all England is considered ; In Scotland their case is not much unlike ; Ireland is well-near wholly their own ; their correspondence with the neighbour States is great ; their hopes from France seem to be but too well grounded . If the peace of Munster come quickly to an end , as the appearances are great enough , France , Sueden , and Bavaria being sure of all their desires at the charge of the Austrians , and our best friends the reformed Electors Palatine and Brandeburg , what else has the French adoe with their great Armies and Navies ? Their peace with Spain is not so impossible as some would m●●e it , they will be glad to give over their interest in Catalonia and Portugall , for the fair and nearly adjoining Territories of West-Flanders : In such a bargain they would make the dishonesty to be but small , for the Catalans shall not be deserted when reconciled to their own King in such tearms as themselves shall like ; for the performance whereof , France will oblige : their alliance with Portugall is not so strict , but a lesse bud then the half of West-Flanders will easily break it in pieces , and that without much hazard to Portugall : for it is easie to France to send them under-hand as many men and money , and to see to their subsistence as well as when the confederacy was open and avowed . It is the ridiculous blindnesse of some to contemn the posture of all the world abroad , as if England were situated so far above the moon and stars , that the most malign aspects of all neighbour Nations could have no influence upon it : Be it so , that vigoro●s and healthfull bodies are little sensible of planetary operations , yet very small changes of the heavens and air are able to vex much a crazy and valetudinary person .

For many ages Britain has not been in so great a distemper , as this day it is : Antichrist may be near to swallow down the whole reformed Churches . the people so broken and exhausted by a heavy war , the land full of open divisions and heart-burnings , the best and greatest part groaning under heavy grievances both of Church and State , whereof there is little appearance of any possibility of redresse in haste ; the Sectaries growing in numbers , and insolencies of all kinds , and openly inclining to join with the Malignants , rather then to misse of their hopes and very unreasonable desires . Fools are blind and unable to comprehend the grounds of just fear , and so they go on in their rashnesse till they be plunged in the ditch of remedilesse calamity ; and then onely doe they begin to complain of their former inconsideration . What long has been the opinion and fear of some not unconsiderable Divines , that Antichrist before his abolition , shall once again overflow the whole face of the West , and suppresse the whole Protestant Churches , I pray God to avert .

If from the Malignant hand there appear not mischief enough to hang this day over the head of the Churches of Britain , The flood of Errours and Heresies like to overflow the Church ▪ let us divert a little our eye to the other side , the n●w generation of Sectaries ▪ from this quarter so much smoak doth arise , as alone is abundantly able to darken our skie . It is long since all , at least the principall Articles of Christian Religion , without exception of any that I remember , have been oppugned ; The holy Scriptures , both the Godhead and Manhood of Jesus Christ , the holy Ghost , the Divinity it self , is now exploded with high and basphemous scorn : all Churches , all Sacraments , all publick Worship and Ordinances , are made unnecessary , A liberty for all Errours the great aim . yea unlawfull . And if any point of Religion hath had the fortune to escape the blasphemous tongues and pens of these erroneous men , lest it should still go free from opposition , the most of that party have n●w set up their rest upon a principle , which makes them sure to gather up their gleanings when ever their leisure may serve them to make a review of their omissions : A liberty to beleeve , to professe , to propagate in matter of Religion , whatever any the most desperately erroneous soul may conceive to be truth . All these are but things of the mind and matters of opinion , a toleration in them is miserable and despicable , but a free and absolute liberty in every such thing , is the due and naturall right of every humane creature in all places of the whole earth . This monstrous imagination of liberty is not only generally put in practise without any considerable control now for some years in the midst , and all the corners of England , but men of prime place , have courage to write the justice of it under their hand to the High Court of Parliament , yet without any repentance we hear of .

The Parliament spoiled of all power to reform Religion . It was a matter of our grief to know men of parts assert , that the Reformation or defence of Religion , notwithstanding all the Declarations , Protestations , and Covenants of the Parliament , might not be any part of our apology for our defensive arms : It has lien heavy upon our spirits , that men of most corrupt minds should be permitted to hinder year after year , the setling of the Church of England in any passable condition , when there appeared little difficulty of a quick , plenary , and satisfactory settlement , except what such evill men did create , who make the retardment and frustration of every thing which may advance the truth of God , a matter of their most serious practises in private and in publick , of their daily sport and drollery . But this was to us a cause of wonder , that the very other day the principall Chaplain of the Army should be brought to proclaim with all confidence , in a most solemn audience of the Ho●se of Commons it self ; that all the Reformation of the Parliament was but Antichristianisme ; that the Reformation of the Church by any Christian Magistrate before them , was no better ; that God requireth all Magistrates to lay aside all intentions of reforming the Church ; a a And therefore Honourable & beloved , I say to you touching this work of Reformation of the spirituall Temple of the N●w Testament as God once said to David touching the building of the materiall temple you did well in that it was in your heart to reform the Kingdome of God , neverthelesse you shal not reform it , for you have been men of war , and have shed much bloud , & therefore you shall not doe this work , for this is not a work of men of war , but of the Prince of peace . Dels Sermon to the House of Commons , p. 13 , 14. Ibid. Object . May not the spiritual Church of Christ be reformed with worldly and secular power ? I ans. by no means . Ib. p. 26. All these things shew that worldly power hath no place at all in the Reformation of the Gospel . Ibid p. 26. They that would govern the faithfull , the members of Christs own body , make themselves the head of these members , and so Antichrist may as well be found in a combination of men as in one single perfom that the onely right Reformation was that of the heart , which was to be left to Christ alone , as he was pleased to work in the breast of every man ; that the new Sectarian Preachers , which are run out without any call , either from God or man , into every Shire of the Kingdome , are sent out by Christ to be instruments of this Reformation ; that their Ministry is that of the Spirit b b Ibid. p. 29. Gods anointed ones are the faithfull that are anointed with the Spirit , and these anointed ones are the Lords Prophets , and the Lord hath no Prophets but such as are anointed with the Spirit ; all his brethren are made Prophets , being fellows with him in his unction . Ib. When I see the generality of the people of all sorts rise up against the ministration of the Spirit which God hath now an these dayes of ours set up even in every County for salvation to his people , but for a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to the rest ; it does grieve me to see how the City , Countrey , Countrey Towns , Villages , doe all rise up for the most part against the ministration of the Spirit , for this is a certain sign of the undoing of them all . ; that their followers are the Saints , which shall prevail , maugre all opposition c c When you read what you have heard , you must needs acknowledge it to be the mind of God if you received the anointing of the spirit . In the Epistle , ib. this truth shall carry all opposition and opposers before it , and none shall be able to stand against it ; and of this both your selves and this generation shall bee witnesses . ; that all the other Ministers of England , who dance not after their pipe , especially such as M ● Love , who opposed this man immediately to his face , are but lims of Antichrist , whom the Parliament is obliged to suppresse without any toleration d d Ib. p. 41. Truly sir , when God shall make you a new creature you will be glad of new light , the old light will serve the old man well enough , your Sermon savours as ill to the faithfull as mine to the world . In the Epistle , If the Assembly , which I hope they will not , should condemn that doctrine of the Gospel for the substance of it , delivered then by M. Dell , it will be no blasphemy to say they are the enemies of the truth of Christ , and I hope the last prop of Antichrist in the Kingdome . Ib. The Prelates successors in the Kingdome of Antichrist still cry , No Minister , no Magistrate . Ib. To the Reader , This light was since obscured by the new darknesse of Antichrist , which these men love better then that old light , and will by no means exchange the one for the other , and these as well as their Fathers of the same race and lineage , in whose stead they are new risen up , shall in due time become a reproach and a shame , and their name shall be for a curse to all Gods chosen . In the Epistle , I shall desire this in the behalf of the faithfull Gods peculiar portion in the land , that you would not suffer us to be oppressed by our adversaries , neither would suffer them thus publickly and shamelesly to call as Sectaries and Hereticks . P. 38. The Magistrate may deterre you and the rest of the Kingdome that are of the like minde , from resisting and hindering this work which hath its authority from heaven , that so the Saints my pray for the Magistrate . .

Who now are the persecuters . Hitherto are these men come already , notwithstanding all their declamations against persecution , though no man has molested them now for some years , nor laid in their way the least impediment to think , speak , write , act whatever they thought expedient for the propagation of any blasphemy , they have been pleased to entertain , nor called them to any account , when by the force of arms , they have beaten out of their Pulpits and Houses , the faithfull Ministers of God , themselves usurping their places in very many parts where the Army has gone , and setting out to the people by all the skill they had , whatever heresie the times hath produced . Yet now their fears to be persecuted are come to this , that they dare preach the House of Commons to their face , Antichristian oppressors , for assaying to reform the evident corruptions of the Church , within their own jurisdiction : And exhort them to lay aside that sinfull and impertinent work , permitting every man to follow in Religion , whatever his own heart dictates to be best . Yet by no means to tolerate any Preacher who shall oppose that their liberty . To this height of presumptuous malice are those declamers against persecution publickly proceeded , and in all this are countenanced and pleaded for by too many , and too eminent Patrons .

If those mens counsell might be followed , The monster of Libertinism . what at once should bee the condition of the Church of England ? It could not but by and by become the most hideous and wofull monster , that ever any pious eye did beheld : every two or three making up an Independent-Congregation , for the setting up of what ever tenets and worship themselves please to invent , albeit for no longer a time then every single person amongst them doe think fit . They stick not to professe the lawfulnesse to erect , at least the unlawfulnesse to disturb when erected in the most publick places , Schools and Professions , for the perswading of all the idolatries and blasphemies , which either of old or this day , have been among the Pagans , Turks , Jews , or the most infamous hereticall Christians , that so from England as an open fountain the streams of all those , and if they be any more , imaginable errours may be sent out to every other part of the Christian world : adding , That whoever is against this happy liberty , is without all doubt a corrupt , fleshly , and unregenerate man , ignorant of the grace of God , whom the Magistrate is obliged to punish , though by duty he is to protect all other in the free enjoyment and practise of all the dictates of their own minde .

The devill had never a more clear and downright way , not onely to evert all Churches , but to explode as a ridiculous scorn , whatever looks like truth , or has the least savour of any Religion .

The Sectaries having done with the Church , proceed to the ov●rthrow of the State . For all this , there might be s●me hope of subsistence for Religion if those men , when they have done their worst against the Church , would be content to hold their hands off the State ; for it cannot be , but where ever a truly Christian State doth stand , it will shelter the Church , and by no art , no force , so long as it hath any beeing for its s●lf , will it exterminate the Lords inheritance : The spirit that leads the Sectaries , knowing this in all his long experience , letteth them not rest in their designes against Religion , but presseth them on , for doing their endeavour to pull down the State likewise . Wee need not speake of their declared rage against Vniversities and all Societies of Learning , against the profession and person of all Lawyers , against the Society of Merchant-adventurers , against the Common-Councell and Court of Aldermen in the City of London : all these things to them are corruptions , and grievances to be extirpate . But that which we are most affraid for , is , that with their whole strength they attach the known foundation of the whole State , the High Court of Parliament .

The Parliament must be abolished . It 's not onely the King who must bee cut in pieces with Agag , and for his faults the whole royall race , yea , the very state and condition of Royalty and Monarchy must be razed and abolished for ever : but also the House of Lords and the whole Peerage of England must follow the fortune of the King , and with him fall under a perpetuall abolition : yea , the House of Commons it self , the onely remainder of our hope , must walk in that same way , their House likewise must be pulled down about their ears : The common people , every individuall of the whole multitude must be set on the Throne of Soveraignty , to mould themselves in a new fashion of State , and frame to themselves a body of new laws , by the hands of such persons , as they may be pleased to set up for their Deputies in a new House of Commons .

When such dictates are put in print , and under the eye of Authority , daily in Pamphlet after Pamphlet , sent out over the whole Land , to open the eyes of the blinde with this new glorious light of the Kinghood ( as they call it ) of every individuall of the people , as well beggers , fools , and rogues , as the most vertuous , wise , noble , and wealthy persons ; When such maximes are sweetly hugged in the arms not onely of the multitude , but others of the best quality ; when the authors and abettors of so good and wise Positions are caressed , cryed up , rewarded with preferment in the State , in the Army , in the Countrey ; When their opposers receive hard measure , are discountenanced , rebuked , deprived of favours by men in place , and sometimes spoiled of their goods , and knocked down by the professors , indeed , of a catholike liberty ; but truly the practisers of tyranny and persecution : This being our known and felt condition , upon how weak and tottering props , the house of our Church and State doth stand , may easily be conceived .

What I have said of our dangers needs no other proof then the sense of that which the eye and ear brings daily before every observing minde ; but the remedies of so eminent and imminent dangers , require a pate of a much larger size then mine , or any other such of mean and vulgar capacity .