GREAT And Good NEWS to the CHURCH OF ENGLAND: Being the Exact NUMBERS of CHURCHMEN, DISSENTERS, And ROMANS, In ENGLAND And WALES; As they were given to the Late King JAMES, on the 3d day of May, 1688. From an Authentic Calculation; Wherein it appears, That the Churchmen are more in Number than Romans and Dissenters 2354727, (Viz.) Protestants 179 to One Roman, Protestants 23 to One Dissenter, Protestants more than Both 102 to One. Also is presented to the World the 7 Bishop's SPEECH to King JAMES, and His Answer to the said Speech. With choice Observations upon the Bishop's Commitment to the Tower; And also upon their Deliverance out of the Prison, Worthy the Remark of all Good Christians. Provinces Protestants, Romans, Dissenters. Canterbury, 2123362. 11878. 93153. York, 0353890. 01978. 15525. Total of Each.— 2477261. 13856. 108678. Protestants 179 to One Roman: Protestants 23 to One Non-Con. Protestants more than Both Romans and Noncons, 2354727, which is 102 to One. The Seven Bishops Speech to King JAMES on May 8 th', 1688. Concerning Reading the Declaration for Liberty of Conscience, in Churches. May it please Your Majesty, We are not Averse to the Reading Your MAJESTY's Declaration for Liberty of CONSCIENCE for want of due Tenderness towards DISSENTERS; In relation to whom, We shall be willing to come to such a Temper, as shall be thought fit, when the Matter shall come to be Considered and Settled ●● Parliament and Convocation, The Declaration, being Founded upon such a Dispensing Power, as may at Pleasure set aside all Laws Ecclesiastical and Civil, Appears to Us Illegal; and did so to the Parliaments in 1662., and 72: And it is a Point of such Great Consequence, That We cannot so far make Ourselves a Party to it as the Reading of it in the Church in the Time of Divine Service. King James' Answer. I Have heard of This before, But could not Believe it, You look like Trumpeters of Rebellion; You aim at my Prerogative, But I will not lose one Branch of it; Take your Course, and I will take Mine; My Commands shall be Obeyed, Deny it at your Perils. ☞ Note, Here follows Four most Remarkable Providences, Worthy the Consideration of every true Son of the Church of England, which import that God Almighty of His infinite Wisdom and Goodness has frequently given his People peculiar Tokens to distinguish Good from Evil; more especially in disposing Matters so Agreeable to the Lessons, Epistles, and Colects for these following Days which have been Attended with such Extraordinary Circumstances: That on the 30th of January, when King Charles I. of Blessed Memory, was Murdered, the Lesson appointed by the Church to be Read on that Fatal Day, is the 27th Chapter of St. Matthew. WHen the morning was come, all the Chief Priests, and Elders of the people took counsel against JESUS to put him to death: 2. And when they had bound him, they lead him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the Governor. 3. Then Judas which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repent himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, and so on. That it was on the 8th day of June, That the Bishops were Committed to the Tower; immediately they went to Evening Service to the Chapel. The Second Lesson for the Day, Appointed by the Church, is the 6th Chapter of the 11 Epistle to the Corinthians. WE then as workers together with him, beseech you also, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2. [For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I saccoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation.] 3. Giving no offence in any thing, that the Ministry be not blamed: 4. But in all things approving ourselves as the Ministers of God, in much Patience, in Afflictions, in Necessities, in Distresses, 5. In Stripes, in Imprisonments, in Tumults, in Labours, in Watch, in Fast, 6. By Pureness, by Knowledge, by Long-suffering, by Kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by Love unfeigned, 7. By the Word of Truth by the Power of God, by the Armour of Righteousness, on the right hand, and on the left, 8. By Honour and dishonour, by evil Report and good Report: as deceivers, and yet true: 9 As unknown, and yet well known: as dying, and behold, we live, as chastened, and not killed: 10. At sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: as poor, yet making many rich: as having nothing, and yet possessing all things, etc. That it was upon the 29th of June, St. Peter's Day, that they were Delivered; They went immediately to White-Hall Chappel, the same Morning, to Return Thanks, Where the Epistle for the Day was Read, in the 12th Chap. of the Acts, from Verse the 1st. to the 12th. NOW about that time, Herod the King stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church. 2. And he killed James the Brother of John with the Sword. 3. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further, to take Peter also, [Than were the days of unlevened bread] 4. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four Quaternions of Soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the People. 5. Peter therefore was kept in Prison: but Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him. 6. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two Soldiers, bound with two chains, and the Keepers before the door kept the Prison. 7. And behold, the Angel of the LORD came upon him, and a light shined in the Prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly: and his chains fell off from his hands. 8. And the Angel said unto him. Gird they self and bind on thy Sandals: and so he did. And he said unto him, Cast thy Garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he went out, and followed him, and witted not that it was true which was done by the Angel: but thought he saw a Vision. 10. When they were past the first, and the second Ward, they came unto the Iron-gate that leadeth unto the City, which opened to them of his own accord, and they went out, and passed on through one street, and forthwith the Angel departed from him. 11. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, now I know of a surety, that the LORD hath sent his Angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 12. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the Mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together, praying. ☞ Observe the collect for the foresaid Day. When Oliver the Usurper died, which was on the 3 of September, 1658. The Lesson appointed by the Church for that Day, is the 14th Chapter of Isaiah, from Verse 5. to 21. THE LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the Sceptre of the Rulers. 6. HE who smote the People in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the Nations in Anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. 7. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. 8. Yea the sir-trees rejoice at thee, and the Cedars of Lebanon, saying. Since thou are laid down, no seller is come up against us. 9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee, to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth, it hath raised up from their Thrones all the Kings of the Nations. 10. All they shall speak, and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? Art thou become like unto us? 11. Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. 12. How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning? How art thou cut down to the ground, who didst weaken the Nations? 13. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my Throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the Mount of the Congregation, in the sides of the North. 14. I will ascend above the heights of the Clouds, I will be like the most high. 15. Yet thou shalt be brought down to Hell, to the sides of the Pit. 16. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the Man that made the Earth to tremble, that did shake Kingdoms? 17. That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the Cities thereof, that opened not the House of his Prisoners? 18. All the Kings of the Nations, even all of them lie in Glory, every one in his own house. 19 But thou art cast out of thy Grave like an abominable Branch: and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit, as a Carcase trodden under feet. 20. Thou shalt not be joined with them in Burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evil doers shall never be renowned. 21. Prepare slaughter for his Children, for the Iniquity of their Fathers, that they do not rise nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with Cities. portrait portrait GOD Preserve the CHURCH of ENGLAND, May No Sword Formed against It Ever Prosper, GOD save the KING. AMEN. LONDON Printed by David 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉