THE PHANATIQUES CREED, OR A Door of Safety, &c.
ALthough That Party might very juſtly be deny'd the common Benefits of Indulgence, and Protection, that Declares it ſelf againſt the Common Rules of Religion, and Society: Yet His Majesty is rather pleas'd, by a gentle Interdiction of their Private meetings for the Future, to Prevent more Miſchief, then by a Total Extirpation of the whole Faction ſo Principled to Puniſh the Outrages they have already Committed. God grant they abuſe not This Mercie too, as they have done That already, by virtue of which they doe at this Inſtant enjoy their Lives and Fortunes. Never was ſo Foul a Villany Seconded by an Equal Madneſſe. For a Small, Poor, Raſh, Divided, Hated, and Deſpiſed Party, to Invade the Numerous, Potent, Sober, and United Intereſts of the Nation. A People, that enjoy'd all the Privileges of Engliſhmen, and Citizens, without any Provocation either from Neceſſity, or Oppreſſion. Theſe are your Men of Tender Conſciences; — your ſtreight-lac'd2 Chriſtians. — The Spirits that ſome Twenty years ſince, were Raiſed, to Call for Juſtice upon Delinquents, and Taught to Tumult for a Goſpel-Miniſtry. The Croſſe, the Surplice, and the Common Prayer, — are an Abomination; but Rebellion, Blaſphemy, Murther, Sacrilege, Spilling of Chriſtian Bloud like Water; (Playing the Devil in the Name of Jeſus) This they call — Following of the Lamb. — Riſing againſt the ſéed of the Serpent: In fine, they aſcribe to a Divine Impulſe, the lewdeſt Actions that ever proceeded from Corrupt Nature. To Reaſon with them, were to doe too much honour to their Groſſe, Wilde Opinions, and Time Loſt to oppoſe Argument againſt pretended Revelation. It ſhall ſuffice me, to expoſe their Principles, and leave the World to judge whether they favour more of Chriſt, or Belial. To that end, I have extracted the ſumme of the Phanatique Creed, from one of their own Pamphlets, Intitled
A Door of Hope: OR, A CALL and DECLARATION for the gathering together of the firſt ripe Fruits unto the STANDARD of our Lord, KING JESUS.
NOw, your Attention to the Language of the Saints. - After an Invocation of the Holy Spirit; Thus doth our Libeller diſcourſe of his late Glorious Majeſty, (Page 1.)
This beginning of Reformation, and the honeſt Party engaged in this Quarrel, (however by far the leſs number) God did abundantly own, and witneſs too from heaven, by opening his Salvation, and making bare his own Arm, against the late King, who was juſtly out off as a Murtherer, (ſee Decl. of Parl. 11. Feb. 1647.) Tyrant and Traytor, &c.
Soon after in the ſame Page he goes on, — Nevertheleſſe,3 God hath now taken away all our bancks, and permitted this old Enemy, to come in upon us as a flood, Iſa. 59.19. And now C. S. the Son of that Murtherer is Proclaimed King of England, whoſe Throne of Iniquity is built on the Blood of precious Saints and Martyrs, and on the Blood of all our Brethren in the late Wars, &c.
Not to trouble the Reader with his Nauſeous Calculations, and forc'd Gloſſes upon Texts, in favour of his Deluſion: my Buſineſſe is, in as Few words as may be, to ſhew how Dangerous to the Civil Magiſtrate, and to the Publique Peace, People of this perſwaſion are: Their Dreams of Zion and of Babel; and their ſetting Daniel and the Revelation together by the Ears about the Number of the Beaſt, concern not me. Thoſe tedious Fooleries omitted, as beſide my Purpoſe; I paſſe on to his ſecond Page, where ſpeaking of the Royal Party he proceeds in theſe Terms.
For as he raiſed up Pharoah, ſo hath he them, to ſhew his Power in them, and that his Name may be declared throughout all the Earth Rom. 9.17 They are brought as Foxes into the Snare, and as Birds into the Net. We ſay when we conſider theſe things, we are ſo•ar from being dejected, that we cannot reſtrain from ſinging and praiſ•, knowing that this will make much for Gods Honour, our good, and this Works advantage, and they ſhall not be able to touch one hair of our head; nay, we were very much confirmed in our hopes of the ſudden appearance of this Work, by the coming in of their poor wretched King, at whom (as the Daughter of Zion did at that great boaſting Aſſyrian) we laugh, and have them in deriſion.
And when we conſider the great opinions of this year, the wonderfull effects it is like to produce, the ſweet harmony and agreement of the Prophecies, the viſibility of thoſe things therein foretold to fall in the time of the Witneſſes death, the great likelihood of the Witneſſes Reſurrection, the great New Covenant-Promiſe of the ſpirit made to this Work, the wonderfull undeniable ſigns of the times, and how miraculouſly we have been cut out, and preſerved for this Work, of which we ſhall ſpeak in a brief Treatiſe by it ſelf: And alſo having our hearts broken with the Love of Chriſt, and boiling over, and having taſted through choice diſtinguiſhing grace, the Preciouſneſs, Power and Love, of a ſoul-endearing Jeſus; we are mightily awakend and ſtirred up, and that Fire that has been hid under our Aſhes will break out into Flames, n•d that Fountain of the Rivers of Living Waters4 into Streams, as the bubbling Springs that ſearcheth the ground, and finding entrance guſheth out. Our Lives, and every thing elſe that is dear unto us upon a worldly account, we deſpiſe as a mean thing in compariſon of the glory of that Name, which is to us as precious Oyntment, and we lay all down at the feet of our Lord Jeſus, reſolving if we periſh to periſh there.
His Zeal growes now a little warm, in theſe words, Page 3.
We therefore freely, of a ready mind, and with a most chearfull heart (accounting it an Honour too great for us, poor worms, who are the meanest of Men, the greateſt of Sinners, and the leaſt of Saints, to gird on a Sword for Chriſt.) Give up our Lives and Eſtates unto our Lord King Jeſus, and to his People, to become Souldiers in the Lambs Army, abhorring Mercenary Principles, and Intereſts. And for this works ſake we deſire not to love our lives unto the death, neither will we ever (if we may ſpeak ſo great a word with reverence in the fear of God) ſheath our Swords again, untill Mount Zion become the joy of the whole Earth, a Mountain of holyneſſe and a habitation of juſtice, untill Rome be in Aſhes, and Babylon become a biſſing and a curſe, the border of wickedneſſe, and the people againſt whom the Lord hath indignation for ever, there being left unto her neither Name, nor Remnant, Son, or Nephew. For that we are not purpoſed, when the Lord ſhall have driven forth our Enemies here, in theſe Nations, and when we ſhall in a holy Triumph, have led our Captivity Captive, to ſit down under our Vines and Fig-trees, but to go on to France, Spain, Germany, and Rome, to deſtroy the Beaſt and Whore, to burn her Fleſh with Fire, to throw her down with violence as a Milſtone into the Sea, that ſhe may be found no more at all, Rev. 18.21. Jer. 51.35 to bring not only theſe, but all the Nations to the ſubjection of Chriſt, that the Kingdom may be the Lords, and to perfect the deliverance of all the Saints, the remnant of the Waldenſes, and all the Children of the Free-woman, who are yet groaning and crying under the Tyranny and Perſecutions of Antichrist, and to avenge the blood of all the Martyrs, which we earnestly remember, and which is an eſpecial motive unto us, the cry of which is very loud in our ears, and much more in the ears of God, unto whom vengeance belongeth. And this is much more than a National Quarrel, that which is the Test now, being the intereſt of Chriſt, the blood of the Butcher'd, Murder'd, Martyr'd, and Maſſacred5 Saints, the Intereſt of the good People, the Liberties of all men, and the undoing of all the ſinfull oppreſsions and yoaks of the whole Creation.
The Controverſie now lyes between Zion and Babylon, Chriſt and Antichrist; and therefore we aſſert, That it is lawfull for the true ſpiritual Seed, the legitimate Heirs of the promiſes and the World, Rom. 4.13. To RISE UP againſt the carnal, ſerpentine, accurſed ſeed, who are the deſtroyers of the Earth, Ren. 11.18. To poſſeſſe the GATE of their Enemies, to bind their Kings in Chains, and their Nobles in Fetters of Iron. And we being called of God, and cut out without hands or human contrivement, in whom is ſhewn forth his Power; RISE UP on Gods behalf (free from the guilt of the breach of Oaths and Covenants upon our Conſciences) to conflict with this profane perſecuting Spirit of the Dragon, and the Worſhippers of the Beaſt that dwell on the Earth. And we Call all that have a Life to lay down for their King and Saviour, to come forth againſt them with the Sword, and execute upon them the judgements written. Are you a poor deſpiſed Remnant? why, God has formed you for himſelf: As Chriſt was a tender Plant, and a Root of dry Ground; ſo may his Kingdom ariſe out of a poor, obſcure, illiterate, and (ſuch as the World calls) Fanatick people. And out of them ſhall come forth the Corner, the Nail, and the Battel-bow; we look for a righteous Spiritual Magiſtracy out of the new ſharp threſhing Inſtrument.
From hence, after another Page, divided betwixt Raylings againſt Biſhops, Ceremonies, and Cavaliers, and the Recommendation of a well-order'd Commonwealth, which he ſayes is Intended by his Kingdom of Chriſt, having Called in All to his Aſſiſtance, that either Hate the One, or Love the Other; he pronounces the King to be a Profeſt Enemy, a Rebell, and Traytor to Chriſt, [Page 5.] And half a dozen Lines further, Shall wee Quietly (ſayes he) give up our Necks to the Yoke, and ſuffer the Common Prayer, Organ, &c. to be impoſed on us? Is Iſrael a home-born Slave, that we ſhould bore the Ears of our Souls, and Bodies in their Poſts? What can we expect from them, if we will not take their wicked Oathes of Supremacy and Allegeance, that which we cannot doe, though we ſhould Dye, becauſe they are against both the Priestly and Kingly offices of our Lord Jeſus, &c.
6Did but this Miſerable Creature Think of Christs Doctrine, while he Prates thus Impertinently of his Offices, he might Remember that we are to Obey, not to Deſtroy our Governours, for the Lords ſake. Does not our Bleſſed Saviour ſay himſelf, My Kingdom is not of this world? But why do I conteſt with Whirlwinds, or with Shadowes: with a Phantôme, that is nothing but Fury, and Deluſion? To Follow him through All his wandrings; he runs himſelf Quite out of Breath in the next Leaf, againſt Popery, and the Deſign of Cruſhing the Reformed Intereſt. He tells us further of Maſſacres deſign'd by the Jeſuites, but whether by Thoſe of the Society of Jeſus, or Theſe of the Kingdom of Jeſus, may be another Queſtion. Upon the Whole, he concludes the Neceſſitie of Taking Armes; and here followes his Chriſtian Invitation to that Purpoſe. Page 8.
Who ſo loveth God, his Country or his own Rights which Christ purchaſed for him by his Blood, and cannot ſell his Body, Soul, and Conſcience to the Devil, to wicked men and their luſts, to commit ſin with greedineſſe, and run with them to the ſame exceſſe of all manner of filthineſſe and wickedneſſe, muſt now take up the Sword againſt this Beastly crew, as the laſt remedy God has left us; for ſuch is the unparallel'd iniquity of this day (we hope the Devil is playing his laſt game in England) that a man that hath but Sobrietie in his looks, can ſcarcely paſſe without the brand of Fanatick.
And theſe men themſelves have ſet us free from the Bonds of Subjection; for we have no benefit by the Government of this bloody Family, neither are we comprehended within the Verge of their Protection: Wherefore they cannot juſtly challenge any obedience from us by the Law of Nature or Nations: For a man is not bound to pay him Subjection who ſeeks his Deſtruction.
But although, The Children are brought to the birth, there is no ſtrength to bring forth; the hour is now come, and we are travelling in pain to be delivered, for the Name of our God, the Noble and Precious Interest of his Chriſt, and the Deliverance of his Saints and People; and O how are we ſtraitned till it be done! We have been with much fear and trembling in this Work, and much wrestling have we had with the Lord: for ſo far as he has revealed our ſelves unto us, we had rather ſuffer all things, not only to the loſſe7 of our Names, and Eſtates, but even our very Lives for his ſake, who ſince we believed is made precious to us, then diſhonour his great and holy Name; and our Souls are ſweetly quieted in the Lord, and abundantly ſatisfied in the time; and certainly if we be deceived, God has deceived us. And now the Love of Chriſt has conſtrained us in the face of the greatest perils and dangers, none of which move us, ſo we may finiſh our courſe with joy, and ſerve our Generation in the works which God has committed to us, according to his will. And we profeſſe we have nothing but the naked Arm of the Lord to truſt in; and if we periſh, we'll periſh in believing his promiſes, in ſerving and promoting his Cauſe, in cont•nding for this Noble Truth of the Kingdom of his dear Son. And this is our joy, that our God has bound himſelf by his Promiſes (in his fear we ſpeak it, and with reverence) to appear for his People: And if God ſhould not appear for his poor Remnant of Jacob, and ſuffer then for whom his precious blood was ſhed to fall before Papiſts, and Cavaliers, and prophane, drunken, damning, ſwearing, Idolatrous, Adulterous, wicked and ungodly men; and ſhould ſuffer the Cauſe of the Papists, of the bloody Family of the Stuarts, of the old bloody, Popiſh, wicked Gentry of the Nation, of the drunken, dumb, Popiſh ▪ ſcandalous Clergy, to get the upperhand of his own Cauſe, and ſhould ſuffer all our Reformation to be loſt, then what would become of his great Name? It was becauſe he could not bring them into the good Land, (will the Enemy ſay) that he has deſtroyed them in the Wilderneſſe: What will become of his promiſe made to Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, and their Seed? How will the New Covenant ſealed with the blood of Chriſt, and the Oath he ſware unto David in his holyneſs, be verified.
Now therefore, to come to the matter of our Declaration, that we may lay the Ground-work of ſo great a Building, and ſtir up and provoke our Brethren in all the Countries, as alſo in the City of London, to ſhare with us in this honour, and be partakers in this work, and now to prepare themſelves, and in all points to be ready, in order to a general rendeſvouzing on Mount Zions bottom, We declare, &c.
Thus far, the Saints Call to the Standard; Now, Their Declaration, which conſiſts of Three Heads. 1. The Renunciation of Antichristian Magiſtracy, Ministry, Tithes, &c. 2. The8 Eſtabliſhment of Civil Liberty upon the Foundation of the Viſible Kingdom of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 3. The manner of Diſpoſing of the Spoyle which ſhall be taken in Battel.
The Subſtance of their Firſt Propoſition runs thus, page 9.
We contend for a Righteous Magiſtracy, that may be a terrour to evil doers and a praiſe to them that do well, and for a true Goſpel-Miniſtery with their Maintainance: And we own and declare our Lord Jeſus Chriſt (unto whom and whoſe Laws we will alone ſubmit, as unto him who is the Fountain and Original of all juſt and lawfull Power) to be the Supreme Head and Law-giver of theſe Natious, the alone LEGISLATOR, who has right to make and give Laws for the governing of the Commonwealth, and who is King of Saints and Nations, whoſe Royal Laws and Precepts muſt be ſubmitted unto in Church and State, and Tyranny, Monarchy, and Antichristianiſm deſtroyed and rooted up in both; his Laws and Statutes contained in the Holy Scriptures, and remaining in force ſince his death, to be the Law by which theſe Nations ſhall be governed and judged; and his Saints (without reſpect had to any particular form or judgement) on whom ſhall reſt the ſpirit of councel and wiſdom, ſhall be the Adminiſtrators thereof, or ſhall have the executive Power. So ſhall we have Magiſtrates like Job, that will be eyes to the blinde, and feet to the lame, and Fathers to the poor, that will break the jaws of the wicked, and pluck the ſpoil out of his teeth, Job 29. And we ſhall be the bleſſed of the Lord, whoſe habitations ſhall be full of the bleſſings of heaven and earth, and full of Peace on the foundation of Truth, and we ſhall be the happyest people in the world, having the beſt Laws and the beſt Governours, Deut. 4.6, 7, 8.
Having in a word ſaid enough of the Second Head, concerning Civil Liberty; I paſſe to the Third, (Page 10.) which ſayes,
That the chief of the Spoil which ſhall be taken in Battel, and all the Eſtates which ſhall be forfeited through Treaſon and Rebellion, ſhall be brought into one common Treaſury, according to the Word of God, Their Gain ſhall be conſecrate to the Lord, and their Subſtance to the Lord of the whole Earth, Mic. 4.13. That it may not feed the Fowles of Prey, or enrich and corrupt particular Perſon, as of late, but carry on the Work of God with the Army of the Lamb, in which every Souldier ſhall be ſufficiently provided for, by a certain honourable9 constant Revenue, iſſuing out of the ſaid Treaſury, according to his Place, Degree, Services, and Family.
And for accompliſhing and attaining theſe great and weighty ends, we Declare alſo for the Razing, Deſtroying, and perpetual Rooting out of the whole Conſtitutions and Foundations of the Antichriſtian Laws and Government of theſe Nations; for the removing of Taxes, Tythes, Exciſe, and Cuſtomes alſo, ſo far as Oppreſſive and unlawfull; ſlaviſh Tenures of Land, Oppreſſions of Landlords, Monarchy and Lordſhip as well in Church as State; ſo alſo in Cities, Societies, and Families, wherein the Rights of younger Brethren will be vindicated according to Law, (the nature whereof is Juſtice, Mercy, and Equity, wherein is no footing for ſuch fictions as this wicked Law teacheth to diſtinguiſh between Courts of Juſtice and Equity) and the Nimrod-ſpirit and Monopolies of elder Brethren (unto whom as Kings in the Family, the younger Brethren are Slaves and Subjects, which is one grand branch of Tyranny, and Intereſt of Monarchy) pulled down, whoſe Intereſt nevertheleſſe, by right of Primogeniture, is aſſerted according to the Kings Law, to wit, two-fold; For the ballance of Lands muſt be adaequate to the Government of the Common-wealth.
And as our great deſire is to take off all yoaks and oppreſſions both of a civil and ſpiritual nature from the necks of the poor People; ſo ſhall we endeavour to caſt the wing of Protection over them, their Perſons, Families, and Intereſts, to preſerve them from Free-quarter, Plunder, and all other Injuries, and violence whatſoever, being reſolved firſt to offer up our own proper Eſtates for our neceſſary maintenance. For it ſhall be our great and indefatigable care to preſerve an excellent and ſtrict Diſcipline in our Army, that not the leaſt wrong of how ſmall value ſoever may be done, alwaies reſpecting Propriety; ſo that all Perſons (other than ſuch as ſhall oppoſe and rebel againſt this righteous Intereſt) may expect the fruition thereof in their peaceable Demeanours of themſelves, in their lawfull Occaſions, and Family concerns.
Our Pamphleter's next Care is the Free Courſe of the Goſpel and he tells us for our comfort, (page 11.)
That the Remnant of Jacob ſhall be as dew from the Lord, when Magiſtrates and Souldiers ſhall preach the Goſpel, and teach the people knowledge, as well as thoſe appointed unto the Word10 and Doctrine; for this Cheat of the Whore of Rome, and Innovation of Antichriſt, Monopolizing the Work of the Miniſtry (to make a trade of the Goſpel, and Slaves and Souls of men) into their own hands, limiting and appropriating it unto Perſons in Eccleſiaſtical Offices, ſhall be taken away.
And finally, We moſt earneſtly deſire, and call all that love our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and wait for his Kingdom, to offer themſelves willingly with us in this Work, that as in that renowned Hiſtory, Judges 5.9.14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23. Out of Ephraim there may be a Root of us against Amaleck, after thee Benjamin among thy People; out of Machir ſhall come down Governours, and out of Zebulon they that handle the Pen of the Writer: The Princes of•ſſachar with Deborah and Barak on foot in the Valley. And if Reuben will continue in his diviſions, and abide among the Sheepfolds to hear the bleatings of the Flocks; Gilead abide beyond Jordan, Dan remain in Ships, and Aſher continue on the Sea-ſhore, and abide in his breaches; yet Zebulon and Napthali will be a People that will jeopard their lives unto the death in the high-places of the field; and Meroz ſhall be accurſed, becauſe they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.And our heart being towards you that among all the people offer your ſelves willingly to the Work, we beſeech you ſet all things in order prepare your ſelves, and let the Rich help the Poor, that with one mouth we may all ſay, Thine are we David, and on thy ſide thou ſon of Jeſſe; Peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee, And if any of the old Army which God hath laid aſide, whoſe hearts he hath touched, do quit their Interests, and come to us on this alone laſting Foundation, they ſhall be willingly received.
From hence, to the End of the Pamphlet (no leſſe then 5. full Pages) I find nothing Remarquable, or uſefull. It is a Tedious, and Confuſed Diſcourſe, full of Wreſted Applications, and Evident Diſagreements, concerning the Two Witneſſes in the Revelation. The ſcope of it, is to perſwade, that the Dwellers upon the Earth, are (as he expreſſes himſelf, Page 14.) the Old, Carnal, Cavalier, Popiſh Party; — who Quarrelling with the Witneſſes about the Finiſhing Teſtimony, (as page 6.) will probably be now deſtroy'd by the great Day of the Witneſſes Riſe, in this11 preſent year, 1660. His great Confidence being founded upon Mr. Mede's Clavis Apocalyptica, I ſhall only relate one material Obſervation concerning that Gentleman; and apply my ſelf then, to the Diſpatch of what I have to ſay. Mr. Mede, (otherwiſe an eminent perſon) was ſo abſolutely perſwaded, that the King of Swede ſhould deſtroy Antichriſt, that ſo far as poſſible, he caſt all his Calculations upon That Subject, to That Byaſſe: at laſt, he found his Errour, the King was ſlain, and the Impreſſion of that Miſtake, in the Judgement of his neareſt Friends, coſt that worthy Gentleman his Life. This is enough ſaid upon this Subject.
I ſhall Endeavour now to make ſome uſe of what I have extracted from this Helliſh Libell; by drawing up in Short the ſum of All; That done, I ſhall diſcourſe upon it, as I ſee convenient. Take now the Fundamentals of this Reprobated Faction, with a brief View of their Deſign.
The Fanatiques Creed.
I Do Believe all Governours, Governments, Laws and Conſtitutions, to be Antichriſtian, ſave Chriſt himſelf, — his Deputies, — his Viſible Kingdom, with his Laws and Statutes: of which Laws, his Saints ſhall be the Adminiſtrators; (but without any Literal Direction, for upon them ſhall reſt the Spirit of Counſel and Wiſdom.) I do Believe, according to the Prophets, that in this preſent year 1660. all Carnal Powers ſhall be Deſtroy'd, and that the Controverſie lying between Zion and Babylon, I am bound to Liſt my ſelf a Souldier to the Lamb, and12 called to Riſe on Gods behalf, to Bind Kings in Chains, &c. — to Raze and Root out all Conſtitutions Antichriſtian whatſoever, and whereſoever: and never to ſheath my Sword, till the Beaſt and Whore be deſtroy'd, till Rome lye in Aſhes, and Babylon become a Hiſsing and a Curſe, &c.
Wherefore let all that have Lives to lay down for their King and Saviour, come forth againſt the Wicked with the Sword, and execute upon them the Judgements written: As for the Late King, he was a Murtherer, a Tyrant, and a Traytor: ſo is his Son; and further, an Enemy and Rebell to Chriſt, and we owe no Subjection to that Bloudy Family.
CAn any Loyal, Modest, or Christian Ear, hear this Language without Tingling? Can any Sober or Politique Conſtitution, harbour theſe Vipers, with either Honor, or Security? I doe confeſſe, if This were but the Madneſſe of ſome Few, a man might Charitably impute it, either to ſome unhappy Diſtemper of Complexion, or a more deplorable Deluſion. But Theſe are people, only Frantique in their Opinions; Their Actions have a Face of better Reaſon, in Order to the Execution of their Damn'd purpoſes. I grant; for Number, and for Intereſt they are not conſiderable in the Nation, and yet what Miſchiefs will not Twenty Bold Rogues effect, if left at Liberty, that are of This Perſwaſion? We need not look far back to ſee the bloudy Determination of theſe wretches. For my own Part, I have but little Intereſt with thoſe that ſit at the Helm; If I had more, I would employ much of it, to Theſe three Ends. 1. To procure a ſtrict ſeverity againſt Seditious Preachers; for 'twas the Pulpit firſt Engaged and Licenſed this Rabble; tho' for another Intereſt; which having ſerv'd Long enough, they ſet up for13 Themſelves. Nay; come to the very point of their late Tumult, 'tis more then probable, that Venner's Preachment blew them into ſo ſudden Action. In the next place; the Preſs I would adviſe ſhould be well Look'd to. That Preaches to the Whole Nation at once. 'Tis True, ſome Pamphlets, with the Printers and Authors have been diſcover'd; but there are Others, of a more Dangerous, though of a ſmoother Compoſion; that paſſe as current, as if they had an Imprimantur, not ſo much as look'd after, to the right End. (but of Thoſe, I intend to ſay ſomething further ere long.) Now my Third Care ſhould be to diſappoint the Intended Outrages of the Phanatiques. And to That Purpoſe; I would move that ſuch of their Principles as are Inconſiſtent with the Conſtitution of this Nation; and Deſtructive to it; and Own'd for Theirs, by themſelves, in This their Late prodigious Libell, might be ſumm'd up together, and offer'd to all ſuſpected Perſons; and whoſoever ſhould Refuſe, under Hand, and before Witneſses, to diſclaim the ſaid Opinions, I would have him commanded to depart the City, and upon a Penalty not to be ſuffered to come within Twenty Miles of London, without Licence.
If it be objected, that This would make them Deſperate; I anſwer, that their Principles render them ſo, more then any thing elſe can; and that while they reteyn Thoſe Principles, they are not to be Truſted; when they Quit them, they are not to be Puniſhed. Alas, with how much Eaſe and Safety, may this be done! I was about to ſay how hazardous may it prove to leave it undone. I am perſwaded, that the Fear of Danger where none is, produces the Greateſt Dangers. Can it be Imagined that among ſo many Proſtitute Devotes (as they reckon themſelves) there are not ſome Combinations as well Perſonal, as Publique; to Act, what I cannot even Conceive without Horrour? If ſo, Where, but in This Town; by whom, but by this Faction, can ſuch a Ʋillany be Attempted?
It's True, their Private Meetings are forbidden, Yet they meet ſtill, in ſpite of Authority, and in contempt of the Proclamation that forbids them. If any further Miſchief enſue, let thoſe that are to Look to't, Anſwer for't. I have here oppoſed a Door of Safety, to their Door of Hope; with the Submiſſion of my Private Thoughts to due, and Fayre Correction. I14 am no Publick Minister, but one that Truly Loves his Country, and that heartily ſayes, GOD SAVE THE KING.
As to Their Jewiſh, and Ʋngratefull Revilings of their Lawfull Prince; That Prince, who to ſave the Lives of theſe Ʋnmannerly Rebels, hath expoſed his Own; I ſhall not trouble my ſelf to Reply upon't. His Bleſſed Father, was ended with a Superlative, and Fatal Tenderneſſe; The Beſt of Men, and the moſt Ʋnhappy of Kings met in the ſame Perſon. That our preſent Soveraign may be as Little the Latter, as he is Perfectly the Former, ſhall be my Earneſt and Concluding Prayer.
January 15. 1661.