IN all Ages some Prodigies or Monsters , have appeared amongst Mankind , that have been ingenious at the peril of the Publick , such who compass their ends not by fairness and strength of Argument , but by insinuating themselves into Mens affections by all the basest Method of subtilty and adulation , which sort of flattery is indeed a Collective accumulative baseness , being compounded of the most sordid , hateful qualities incident to Mankind , viz. Lying Servility , and Treachery , each of which being detestably deformed singly , must certainly in conjunction make up a most loathsome ugly Gu lt. But not to trouble our selves to search for Precedents in former Story , we see before our eyes more than sufficient ! much more than future Ages will ever credit . We behold indeed so much , that after one Century the truth of these things shall be taken for feigned Hyperboles , or abominable Lyes . Who will ever believe this general Defection ? Who can imagine that Bishops , Noblemen , &c. would ever Harlotize that Sacred Character of Nobilitas est sola atque unica Virtus , and suffer themselves to be ingender'd with Treachery ! Nay , that such Men who bear so great a Character in Church and State , would ever see , nay assist ! ) so foul a Monster as Treason to deflower their Virgin Loyalty , and at once to Rob the Glory of the Reformation , ( the Church of England ) of all her pretence to the Beauty of a most Pure and Primitive Christianity . O horrid ! O abominable Invitation ! Religion ( that Sacred Name ! that true interest of all Christians Souls ) is continually abus'd to palliate and countenance the most abominable Undertakings : And Men of turbulent and restless Spirits will be sure to find , or make some pretences or occasions of Quarrel under the most Just and Equal Government . But as such Proceedings stand , in respect to Religion , the Reverend William Sherlock , D. D. ( foreseeing what might come to pass , as well as what had happen'd in the World ) declares in a Sermon on Sept. 9th . 1683. Pap. 11. 13. There is nothing more expresly contrary to the revealed Word of God , than Treasonable Plots and Conspiracies against Sovereign Princes : Christian Religion ( says he ) is the greatest Security of Government , both in its Precepts and Examples ; it commands EVERY Soul to be subject to the Higher Powers , and threatens Eternal Damnation against Rebels . And ( as things now stand ) were there any true concernment for Religion , can We imagine that the most prosest Atheists ! the most lewd profligate Wretches ! the greatest Monsters , and Prodigies of Wickedness ! ( as many of our Inviters are notoriously known to be ) should be so Zealous for Religion ? These two Words ( says the Bishop of Ely , in a Sermon , upon the sme day , p. 17. ) of the wicked Polititian Caiaphas , Venient Romani , are effectuall Incentives to stir up the People to Cry , Crucisie him ! Crucifie him ! Always ( says that Reverend Prelate ) Popery ! Popery ! serves the turn of any great Incendiary to break through all Divine and Humane Laws . And John Fitzwilliams , D. D. on that day Preaches to all Christians , That Subjects withdrawing their Obedience from their Lawful Prince , is a denying the Authority of God ; a shaking off Gods Government from their Shoulders , that even the Almighty should not Reign over them ; They have not rejected Thee , but Me , that I should not Reign over them , 1 Sam. 5.7 . Treason against the King , ( says this Reverend Divine ) is a kind of Sacriledge , and Revolt from him , an Apostacy from God , and a Resisting him , an Opposing of God , Rebelling against him , Fighting with God ; The setting up a Counterfeit Prince against the True One , an introducing a Plurality of Godheads , the Obeying of an Usurper , Idolatry ; the slandering his Annointed , and his Footsteps , a Blaspheming of God ; the blaming his Conduct , a quarrelling with Providence , &c. To these may be added the Suffrage of many more , the best and most Learned of the Church of England : By which it is fully evident , our Principles , of the Principles of the Church ! are for Loyalty : And I will now challenge the most Malicious Abdicator , even Burnet himself , ( who has thrust in his black Face to bespot her Beauty ) to shew me the contrary , otherwise than by the Complexion of his own accursed Actions . And further , the Laws of our Countrey are in this case adequate to those of our Religion , and do attaint Those that Invited the Frince of Orange of the highest Crime that can be committed ( in respect to Civil Government ) upon earth , and Condemn for High Treason those that maintain the Invitation . First it is a known Maxim of the Common Law , That the King of England holds his Power from , and is accountable to none but God , Rex Anglia sub nullo nisi , tantum sub Deo , Bracton . And by the Statute Law , 25. Edw. 3. cap. 2. To compass or imagine the death of the King , Queen , or Prince of Wales . To levy War against the King , or adhere to his Enemies to give them Aid or Comfort within the Realm or elsewhere , is High Treason . And by the Statute 13. Car. 2. cap. 1. If any intend to Depose the King , or to levy War against him , or to move , [ or Invite ] any Strangers to Invade any of his Majesties Dominions , is also High Treason . Inviolably to keep , and Religiously to observe which Laws , all the Nobility , Lords Spiritual , as well as Lords Temporal , Clergy , Lawers , and the greatest part of the whole Gentry of England , besides most of the Tradesmen , and inferiour sort of People , one time or other , ( upon some manner of occasion ) have Sworn , and upon the Holy Evangelists declared , That it is not Lawful , upon any account whatsoever , to bear Arms against the King , or against any , that are in Commission under him . And likewise , That his Majesty James the Second , is the Only Supream Governour in all his Dominions : And that They will do their utmost to resist Any Forreign Prince that shall Invade him .

But alas ! When I reflect upon the sad and dreadful Complexion of the Times ! when I behold the Monstrous Ingratitude , and Treachery of Some , persisted in with such an Obstinacy as is not to be found , but in Apostate Angel , who cannot , and amongst Traytors and Rebels who will not Repent .

However I say , some of Us may speak for our selves , yet I must and will blame Those whose Undutiful Actions made the first Scene in this Bloody Tragedy of Rebellion ! Those who have boldly ventur'd ( upon peril of their own Damnation ) to streign a point of strict Duty , and dispence with the before-mentioned Laws of Conscience , and of our Countrey , having nothing to plead for themselves , but that old pernicious Principle of Doing Evil , that Good might come thereof . Our Church , the Bulwork and Glory of the Reformation ! The most Pure and Apostolical Church upon Earth , ( who as the Bishop of Ely ( in his Sermon before cited , Pag. 33. ) says , Never takes the Sword against her Lawful Sovereign ; was never in that Danger as now : Now is the time , says our Adversaries , that Heresy is swallowed up in Atheism ; Now is that lamentable time , wherein with horror we behold the sad Convulsions of our beloved Reformation : Our Churches are now to be new Moulded into all the sordid and slovenly Methods of the Coventicle , Our Episcopal Rites , and Jurisdictions , into all the Faces of Calvinism and Presbitery . And I tremble to think what Satisfaction must be given to the Divine Vengeance , for that vast effusion of Christian Blood , &c. that is now like to be spilt in the damnable progress of this most Unnatural and Impious Rebellion .

This Paper shall Weekly demonstrate our Loyalty to the King , whom you have most barbarously Abdicated , to the great Scandal of Chrianity it self . You shall upon all occasions find us Abhorrers of this Rebellion . Our Actions shall speak our Fidelity Sworn to James the Second , whilst You pay your Perjur'd Allegiance to the Vsurper . And we will Now begin to set our selves heartily to do His Majesty Right , against your Invasion , in order to send the War home to you , who so Wickedly began it .