Curse ye Meroz. OR THE FATAL DOOM. IN A SERMON Preached in Guild-hall-Chappel LONDON, BEFORE The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, May the 9th 1680.  
By EDMOND HICKERINGILL late Fellow of Gonvil and Cajus College in Cambridge, and Rector of the Rectory of All-Saints in Colchester.  
LONDON, Printed by J. R. for J. William's at the Sign of the Crown in St. Pauls-Church-yard. 1680.   

To the Most Illustrious PRINCESS ELIZABETH DUCHESS of ALBEMARLE, etc.  
May it please your Grace,  
TO take this occasion to Blazon and Publish your Virtues, would be an employ, as needless as his, that Lighted a Candle to the Sun: And if I should here declare how much I am Obliged to your Grace, and how good an Opinion you have had of my Endeavours in this kind, Envy perhaps would Construe it (in me) Ambition rather than Gratitude: And if by the Formality of a Dedication, I should thus engage you to Countenance, or perhaps blush for my escapes, it would not only be a Presumption but a Trappan.  
None of these were Motives to persuade to this address; but the Truth is, Religion in this Age is so much out of Fashion amongst the Men, (some of them at least) looking upon all Religion, but as the needless Parenthesis of Life; that if I take all occasions to give your Grace opportunities to encourage any Loyal and Religious attempts, 'tis the greatest honour I can do you, or can be done to you.  
For which cause (no doubt) St. John Dedicated one of his Epistles to the Elect Lady. And with the same, or the like methods, the Apostles did so Court the great Ladies in the Court of Rome, that they Proselyted to Virtue and Christianity, of Honourable Women not a few.  
Nor can I better evidence my Devotion to your Grace, or more approve my own Judgement to the World, than (by this Dedication) in making Choice of such a Protectoress to favour that Loyalty and Religion (that is Retrieved in this Sermon from a Text by the perverse Interpretations of some Men) almost lost and forlorn.  
Religion (I say) and Loyalty; (I put them together,) for they are Twins, that in our Christian Kingdom, are born, and Live and Dye together.  
〈…〉 Man in England at this day can be 〈…〉 Religious, that is not truly Loyal; nor any Man truly Loyal that is not truly Religious: Not only, (I mean) in the Sense of that great and good Germane Emperor, that turned away his Profane Servants with these words— How can he be faithful to me, that is not faithful to his God? But chief, because true Loyalty, as well as true Religion, are nothing else but an Obedience to God and the King, in the Observance of the Christian Laws of the Land.  
Any other account of Religion is Superstititious, and any other account of Loyalty is Factious or Parasitical.  
In our Age no Rebels ever disturbed the Government, and England's Peace, 〈…〉 such as marched in a Religious Dress, and ●…y Masquerade; and therefore the most dangerous. And though I cannot but have great Compassion for misguided Zeal, yet I have (sometimes) in this following Sermon followed St. Paul's advice (against my natural tenderness and inclination) in reproving them sharply, and giving the Devil his due.  
None was so mild and compassionate to Publicans and Sinners, as our Blessed Saviour, yet when he had to do with Scribes, Pharisees and Hypocrites, he denounced as many Woos, as Verses, against them, and called Judas the Traitor (plain) Devil.  
But to enlarge this Epistle would but aggravate the trouble of this interruption, I shall therefore now (as I daily do) Conclude with my earnest Prayers for the Temporal and Eternal Prosperity of you and yours, as the bounden Duty of  
Illustrious Madam, Your Grace's most Humble 
 and obliged Servant and 
 Chaplain, Edm. Hickeringill. Colchester, May 14.1680.   
Judges 5.23. 
Curse ye Meroz (said the Angel of the Lord) Curse ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof, because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the Mighty.  
I Have chosen a Text, very seldom (if at all) insisted upon in these Times, and never before by me at any time.  
But yet about Forty years ago, this Text (I have heard) was the Common Theme in Pulpits, and Ushered in (as well as promoted) the late Bloody Civil Wars.  
In this Text, some sagacious men could find Horse and Arms, and hence Raise and Muster Battalia's against Sovereign Majesty, nay, here they could find Commissions too to vouch the Quarrel.  
And why should this Text of Holy Writ now (like a piece of Apocrypha) be laid aside, Antiquated and out of Date? Shall this Portion of Holy Scripture never appear, but like those ominous flames (called Castor and Pollux by Mariners) that sometimes precede, but always presage a Storm? Shall this Text of Curse ye Meroz, etc. never be handled, but (as a Sheet Anchor) never made use of but in a Stress of Wether? I am resolved to endeavour (whatever be the Consequence) to bring again into Reputation this Text, Curse ye Meroz, etc.  
And because this Text will direct me necessarily to Treat of no vulgar Truths, nor every days Discourse, I will therefore for your sakes and mine own (do what I never did before.) Read my Sermon upon this Text, Curse ye Meroz, etc.  
The true and genuine meaning whereof will appear if we inquire. 

1. What is meant by Meroz?  
2. What is meant by the help of the Lord?  
3. Why Meroz was accursed?  
4. Why a good Angel, the Angel of the Lord did Curse?    
Is this the Language of a good Angel, or rather the Language of a staring Hector, to Curse and Dam? The Language of a Pope's Bull, to Anathematise, and Curse? is this the Dialect of Heaven, or the Dialect of Hell? That the Fourth and last Quere, why the Angel of the Lord did Curse?  
Q. 1. First, What is meant by Meroz?  
Ans. 1. Meroz is a Name not found in any part of Scripture except here, but by the following words is employed, that Meroz was one of the Associated Counties, the Inhabitants whereof were Israelites, Cursed Israelites, Cowardly Israelites, a pack of Neuters at least, 
Judge 5.18  that— whilst Zebulun and Naphtali were a People that (being good Subjects) Jeoparded their Lives unto the Death, in the High Places of the Field to help their Sovereign Magistrate (Deborah) against the Enemy; The Inhabitants of Meroz, either out of Cowardice, or Disloyalty, or both, stayed at home, and would not stir a Foot, nor contribute Hand, nor Heart, nor their Purses neither to Royal Aid, therefore God's Angel does Anathematise and Curse them.  
Q. 2. Secondly, What is meant by the help of the Lord?  
Ans. 1. By the help of the Lord surely is meant the help of Rebels Aiding and Assisting them against the Sovereign, at least, men have been taught so, and made to believe it, and have ventured all their Estates, nay more, Body and Soul upon the truth on't.  
If this be the true meaning of the Words, the Text is as fit for 1680 as it was for 1640. And we will not dissemble the truth of it, but let it have its full Scope.  
For this Text is part of the Epinition, or Song for Victory obtained by Deborah the Queen or Judge of Israel (Judges 4.4. She Judged Israel at that Time) and Barak her Captain General. The Title of this Chapter, wherein the Text is, is— The Song of Deborah and Barak— after Victory obtained against the Queen's Enemies, the Captain of whose Host was wicked Sisera, who with a Mighty Army came to Fight against Deborah the Sovereign of the Israelites; of which her Subjects, some Fought for their Sovereign Deborah, as Zebulun and Naphtali, some would not Fight for their Sovereign, as Meroz; Therefore Curse ye Meroz, said the Angel of the Lord, Curse ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof, because they came not to the help of the Lord, the help of their Sovereign, (there called) the help of the Lord against the Mighty Enemies of Sovereign Majesty.  
So that the help of the Lord (in this Text) is evidently the help of Deborah, the help and assistance of the Sovereign Magistrate against the Enemy.  
This is so plain and Evident from the Context, that nothing can be more Intelligible. Whence observe, 
Doc.  that to help the Sovereign Magistrate against the Enemy, is to help God. Or thus, They that Fight not for their Sovereign, Fight not for God. And they that Fight against their Sovereign, Fight against God. Or, the King's Enemy cannot be God's Friend. Or, He that Honours not the King, Fears not God. Or thus, All Rebels and Disloyal Persons to their Sovereign, are Cursed Rebels, and Disloyal to God.  
Truth's so clearly deduced (without any wresting) from this Text, as well as, throughout the whole Scripture Canonical, that we may well wonder that there could have been such Pulpiteers, as to Cheat their Hearers with quite contrary Doctrines and Deductions from this Text, or such easy Gulls amongst their Auditors, that could be so grossly imposed upon, and be juggled out of their Lives, their Money, their Plate, nay, (it is to be feared) their Souls are accursed, if this Text be true, not only for refusing to Assist their Sovereign (the Cursed Crime in the Text) but much more for resisting him even to Blood and their own Damnation, so easy are, and so Damnable too (many times) those Juggling Tricks that Cheats the Vulgar.  
Cheat the Vulgar? Alas! What is more Ordinary? But this was the most Gross, most Palpable, and the most Fatal Cheat that ever was put upon them, and from the Holy Scripture wretchedly wrested, and from the Pulpit too; Fatal to the People, Fatal to the King and Kingdom.  
With this Text, that is the most Loyal Text in all the Bible, was the King's Army rooted, our Blessed King Martyred and Murdered, and the Kingdom Ruined.  
Which may teach Sovereigns, by woeful Experience, that if they let lose the Reigns of Government, especially in Ecclesiastical Affairs, if they cannot or will not restrain the Licence of the Pulpit and Pulpiteers, they lose the best Flower of the Crown, and expose themselves and their People to the wild Expositions and Harangues of every bold Expositor, and Boutifeau.  
Where by the way, note how necessary it is for a King, as to outward Administration, to keep the Key of David, that Openeth and no man shutteth, 
Isa. 22.22.  and shutteth and no man openeth, and not to trust the opening, the meaning, and Interpretations of Scripture, to his Adversaries, or Rebels, or such as he has no influence upon, whether Pope or Presbyterian; Popery, or Foppery.  
And have we not Laws enough, and strong enough to bind the Bloody hands of both, and hinder their growth, if men have but honesty and courage enough to put them in Execution?  
And this Doctrine so apparent in the Text, that to help our Sovereign against his Enemies, is to help God; and not to help him, is to be liable to the Curse of God, is founded upon these two following Reasons and infallible Arguments, which I shall place in Answer to the third Quere, why Meroz was accursed?  
Reas. 1st. Because Disloyalty and Rebellion against the Sovereign Magistrate is a Sin of the same horrid nature with Disloyalty and Rebellion against God himself: Nay, the Holy Apostle does not say they are like one another as ever they can look, but they are one and the same. 
Rom. 13.2 Job. 35.6.7.8.  He that resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God, the Imperial Edict of God. For if thou Sinnest, what dost thou against God? (saith Eliphaz) or if thy Transgressions be multiplied, what dost thou against him? If thou be righteous what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a Man as thou art, and thy Righteousness may profit the Son of Man.  
Upon this account Jehoiakim who rebelled against Nabuchadnezzar contrary to his Oath of Allegiance and Covenant (2 Chron. 16.13.) with an Infidel King, and is said to have broken God's Covenant, Ezekiel 17.19. by breaking the Covenant made to that Heathen King, whose sworn vassal he was, as appears also Ezekiel 17.13.18. Murmuring against Moses the Chief Magistrate is called tempting of God. 1 Cor. 9.10. And the People, in their Confession of the Mutiny, say as much Numb. 21.7. We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against thee, where note, that speaking against Moses is called speaking against God; even as, the Royal Aid in the Text, is called the help of the Lord.  
Is not the People's murmur against Moses called murmuring against God? Exod. 16.2. The Lord heareth your murmur which ye murmur against him, and what are we? your murmur are not against us, but against the Lord; which must be taken implicitly, for expressly they murmured only against the Chief Magistrate and Chief Priest; Moses and Aaron. Exod. 16.2.  
Nay, God himself calls the rejecting of Samuel, (the Chief Magistrate) the rejecting of the God of Israel. 1. Sam. 8.7. 
1. Thes. 4.8  The Spirit of Loyalty which moved Amasa to help the King is called the Spirit of God. 1. Chron. 21.18. From whence then came that Spirit that moved Sheba to Rebellion? and made him therefore a Son of Belial? 
2. Cor. 2 15.  2. Sam. 20.1. What Communion has Christ with Belial?  
If then the help of the Sovereign be the help of the Lord, as it is styled in this Text by the Spirit of God that Nicknames nothing, then who do they help that aid Rebels against their Sovereign? The Devil without doubt: And how meritorious is it in the sight of Heaven to help our Sovereign upon Earth; the Blessing of God goes along with these, whilst the other are Cursed by God and his Holy Angel, as Meroz was Cursed Meroz, Disloyal Meroz.  
Thus the Indictment had been rightly drawn up against Naboth, 
1. K. 21.10  for Blaspheming God and the King, if but the latter clause could have been proved.  
The Counsel, in their addresses to the Emperors made use of their just Title— Sacra Vestigia without Scruple; and that humble confession of the Prodigal. Luke 15.18. Implies that Heaven was offended with his disobedience to his Father; I have sinned against Heaven and before thee (that is) in thy sight, but against Heaven, against God is the Sin Committed.  
When therefore a Temptation to Rebellion or disloyalty to the King our Sovereign Master does assault thee (as Joseph's Mistress did him to disloyalty against his Master) quash it, in the same Heavenly Language that Joseph did, 
Gen. 39.9.  How can I do this great Wickedness and Sin against God?  
Reas. 2. The second Reason is, because the Punishment of Disloyalty and Rebellion against the King is as horrid and grievous, as the Punishment of Disloyalty and Rebellion against God himself Immediately, namely, Eternal Damnation. 
Rom. 13.2 1. Sam. 26.9.  They that resist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (in plain English) shall be damned; For who can stretch forth his hand against the Lords Anointed and be Guiltless? (that is) no Jury empanelled on this Inquest can acquit him, or however he may escape by an Act of Grace or Oblivion, at the Bar, in foro civili, yet cast he must be in Foro Coeli at God's Tribunal, into utter Darkness, except he repent unfeignedly of that Hellish deed of Darkness. All which Justifies from bold Censures, that just decree of the King. Ezra 7.26. Whosoever will not do the Law of thy God and the Law of the King, let Judgement be Executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to Banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to Imprisonment.  
But, in case the Sovereign Happen to be a Child, as was King Josiah, (may some well say) or a Madman, as was Charles the 6. the French King; or a Tyrant, as was King Rehoboam; or an Heretic, an Infidel, or an Apostate, as was Julian, to obey and help such a Sovereign Magistrate: Is that to help the Lord, (as the Text Phrases it) or is it not rather to Fight against God? In such cases, how ought Subjects to demean themselves in their Obedience?  
This is a Question and a case of Conscience so naturally arising from the Text, that no discourse upon it can be pertinent and home to the purpose, that does not give a full and plain answer to the same.  
And yet I am sensible it is a question as carefully as necessarily to be answered; nor is he fit to come in a Pulpit, that through Ignorance knows not how, or through Pusillanimity dares not, or through flattery will not, or through carelessness neglects to direct the People in their obedience in this Particular: As for Arbitrary Government and Popery, though we have all the reasons in the World to believe that it is morally impossible, that ever any English Magistrate had any such design in our days of setting them up, and promoting them; yet that's not material; Fears and Jealousies of Popery and Arbitrary Government shall as effectually do the business of those Boutifeau's and Demagogues, that love to scare the People out of their Wits, till they run a Madding to Tumult, Mutiny and Rebellion, to their Ruin; like those that in danger of having the Ship Founder under them, leap Overboard for fear of Drowning.  
Hence come all the mischiefs of Tumults, Treason and Rebellion, The People are either not taught their due Obedience, as Christians and Englishmen; or mis-taught, as they have been Fatally, and from this Text.  
And therefore I answer plainly and with all due Submission, that I would sooner have my Tongue pulled out, than persuade the Subjects of England to active Obedience to such a Word, as Constantius the Emperor threatened his Bishops with, saying, quod ego volo, pro Canone sit, my Will is my Law.  
A King of England, whatever Opinion he is of in his Private Sentiments, cannot speak but in the Voice of the Law of England, and he is therefore called our Liege-Lord, and we his Liege People: And whoever urges any other obedience but according to Law, or pays any other Obedience than according to Law, both of them are Criminals, and shall be punished for the same by the King's Laws, and the King's Ministers and Justices.  
And yet I say in the Words of Tertullian; and his odd Latin, 
Tertul. ad Scapul.  as he usually expresses himself— Colimus Imperatorem ut à Deo Secundum, & quicquid est à Deo consecutum, solo Deo minorem.  
The King himself is accountable for his Errors to none but God, his Personal errors; but as King and in his Politic capacity, it is impossible he should have any Errors; for a King of England can do no wrong; why, because he cannot speak but in the Voice of the Law, and if any Injunction come out contrary to Law, both they that obey, and they that promote shall be punished by the King, by the Kings Law.  
And therefore it is impossible, as our Laws are that any King of England can be a Popish King; for whatever opinion prevails in his private sentiments, He speaks and Acts only in and by the Laws of the Land. And our Laws and Religion are so incorporated, that Prayers and Sacraments and Ordination of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons etc. are all Divine and all Statute-Law; And he that goes to separate and put asunder the same which God and the Lawmakers have thus joined together, may, if he be a Samson, possibly pull down the Fabric, but it will fall upon his own head, and bury himself in the Rubbish. And therefore that God that preserved the Reformed Religion in France, in despite of all the Massacres and Bloody designs of Charles 9 and Hen. 3. the former Brother dying weltering in his own Blood, and the latter, after one of his Bloody Friars had given him his Death's Wound and Mortal Stab, confessing and saying in his dying Pangs, and last words, learn of me, that Piety is a Duty of man unto God, over which worldly force hath no power.  
And shall not the same God more probably defend and protect the Reformed Religion in England, already become our established Law as well as our Religion? Oh, ye of little Faith?  
And note, that as the Persecutors of the reformed Religion in France, never got any thing thereby but Punishment and mischief; so neither did the Protestants there ever get any thing by Arms, but Blood and Ruin.  
Tyranny always ruins Tyrants, and Rebellion always ruins Rebels; read all Histories, Sacred and Profane, and you will find that all rebel's like Sheba and Absalon come at long run to the Block, or the Gallows; or to Repentance.  
King Rehoboam had so little wit as to threaten to be a Tyrant, and what got he by it? He lost Ten of his Twelve Tribes.  
Those Ten Rebel Tribes, what got they? a new Tyrant, and an Usurper, a new Religion and a false Fanatical Nonsensical Religion, by that wicked Jeroboam, that made Israel to sin, and then within a little while they were all carried away captive, the Lord knows whither, for no History can tell us what is become of them to this day; And this they got, even ruin, the certain Portion and lot of all Rebels; whilst loyal Judah and Benjamin continued a Kingdom governed by their own Laws and Religion (except in the Parenthesis of 70 years' Captivity) until the Blood of our Saviour (which according to their wish, fell heavily upon them unto this day, and made them Cain's and Vagabonds upon the Face of the Earth.  
All this shows us the Truth of the Old Religion of the Primitive Christians, (in spite of our new Presbyterian Church-Militant,) whose Weapons were only Prayers and Tears, with which they defended themselves, and wearied out, and at last overcame their Persecutors and Tyrants.  
And as this is true Christian Piety, so we in England find it the best Policy by Fatal Lectures of woeful Experience. People were so alarmed from the Pulpits with such Texts as this, and so frighted with Jealousies and Fears of Arbitrary Government and Popery; that (like men in a Shipwreck as I said before that leap into the Sea for fear of Drowning) we gulfed ourselves into more Arbitrary Government, Tyranny and Popery, or Foppery and Phanaticisme, the Spawn of Popery, then could possibly have betided us, if the worst had come that men did fear, or were persuaded to fear.  
How were our Miseries in the Late Civil Wars Prologued with a noise of Arbitrary Government in the Case of Ship-Money? a Tax imposed without a Parliament, for Remedy whereof, it came to Arms, and Blood and Ruin; and instead of one Arbitrary Tax (as they called it) by the King without a Parliament in a Case of urgent necessity, to defend the Kingdom against Foreign Foes; we underwent a Thousand Arbitrary Taxes by a Parliament without a King, (which is at least equally Illegal) and Millions of Men and Treasure consumed, was not this Remedy worse than the Disease?  
And was there ever any Tyrant heard of in any Age or Nation, that ever Ruined and wasted his People at that Bloody Rate, that we wasted and ruin'd one another, and all this because nothing would please men but New Religions, and New Preachers, and New Expositions of Texts, such as this is, but explained quite contrary to Truth and the Old Christian Religion, whose Weapons against Authority and Sovereign Majesty, are only (I say again) Prayers and Tears. And shall not God hear his People's Cries and Groan? Yes, surely, read all Histories, and you will find that as Rebels, so Tyrants seldom come to the Grave in Peace.  
— Sine coede & sanguine  
Nemo—  
— Nec siccâ morte Tyranni.  
Rehoboam would play the Tyrant and lost his Subjects by it, Dionysius the Tyrant of Syracuse, thought he had insured his Kingdom of Sicily to him with Chains of Adamant, and he was glad to turn Schoolmaster in Italy in Conclusion, and get a Paltry living as a Tyrannical Pedagogue, with insulting over Boys.  
The time would fail me to tell of the dismal ends of such Nero's and Dioclesian's, and I am weary of this Tragical Discourse; and will briefly come to a more pleasant Improvement of the Text, concluding the Stated Question thus: If the King happen to be a Child, a Madman, a Papist, or an Infidel; for his Personal Infirmities he shall answer to God alone, but his Dominion and our Obedience, are circumcised within the Limits of the Laws of the Land, the only Rule of his Sovereignty and our Obedience; and all other Doctrine of Obedience is Parasitical or Profane.  
Use 1. If the help of our Sovereign Lord the King, be the help of the Lord God, and if Royal Aid be Divine Aid, then who do they help that Fight against and resist their Sovereign? Who are they for? For the Devil sure: There is no middle way, no  Limbus, no Purgatory that can Intervene, but they that help not Heaven, they help Hell; they that help not the Lord, help the Devil: As do all those that are so Disloyal, Lazy, or Cowardly, that neglect to help their Sovereign, when endangered or distressed by Enemies; much more do those help the Devil that Rebel and Tumultuously resist and Fight against their Sovereign. If the Spirit of Loyalty be the Spirit of God, as the Holy Ghost calls it, (as aforesaid) than what Spirit is that which Resisteth God, by Resisting the Sovereign Magistrate who is called God, but the Spirit of Antichrist, and the Spirit of the Devil?  
Not the Spirit of the Devil in his own Black Hellish likeness and Apparition. (that would affright rather than invite men to be his Followers) But a Devil in the likeness of Samuel, in the likeness of a Prophet, a Rebel with his Cloak on, the Old Cloak of Religion and the Cause, the Cause. The Devil was great in Absalon, to make him a Rebel against his King and Father, but he was a Crafty Politic Devil withal, 
2 Sam. 15.  to make him pretend Justice, and Courtesy, and Humility, to gain the Populace, and above all Arts, Religion, let me go and pay my Vows which I have Vowed to the Lord in Hebron, (saith he) the Place of Conventicle, and the Place of Rendezvous and Parade also.  
Finge Deum (Belial!) quoties vis fallere plebem.  
And such Devils in the likeness of a Prophet, I say, in the likeness of Religion, is the fiercest, the Bloodyest, the most Antichristian, and Devilish of all Devils.  
Did ever man read of more Bloody Massacres than under the Conduct of the Papists, Covenanted together in France, by the Name of the Holy League? Did ever any thing Parallel it, except those Hellish contrivances, and Bloody Butcheries in this Island, under the favour and Influence of the solemn League and Covenant.  
We read in the Holy Go pel, of a kind of Devils that cannot be Cast out but by Prayer and Fasting; but this kind of Devil or Spirit of Antichrist that I am Treating of, gets Life and strength by Prayer and Fasting.  
Variety of opinions there are, the Man of Sin: Spoken of 2. Thef. 2. the Son of Perdition. Be this Spirit of Perdition or Man of Sin who it will) I am sure. 1st. It is a religious, a pretendedly Religious Spirit, because it sits in the Temple of God. vers. 4.  
Secondly, It is a Rebellious Spirit against the Sovereign Magistrate, opposing and exalting himself above all that is called God (that is) the Magistrate. So that, those that under colour of Religion, and upon pretence of Religion, Fight and Kill and Slay, and break the peace.  
As in our Age have the Papists, especially the Jesuits, and the fanatics, especially the rigid Presbyterian and Fifth-Monarchy-Men, we are sure they are Men of Sin and Sons of Perdition opposing the Magistrate for God's sake, or in pretence of Religion.  
Religion certainly, true Religion is the greatest happiness that God gives to Mortal Men, thereby we converse with Heaven upon Earth, thereby Men live on Earth like the Glorified Saints and Angels in Heaven, thereby comes Glory to God on High, on Earth Peace, good Will towards Men: And as true Religion is the best thing, so it is facile and easy to learn and practice; Fear God and Honour the King, Love thy Neighbour includes the whole duty of Man.  
But the Hypocrisy of Religion, the Face without the Heart of Religion, it requires such a deal of dresses and paintings, controversies, disputes, dissimulations, frauds and pretences, that it had been much better for the good and Peace of Mankind to have had no Religion then such a perplexed, tragical, troublesome and fatal thing as some have made it, and still endeavour to make it.  
The first Quarrel and Bloodshed that ever was in the World was about Religion, therefore Cain slew his Brother Abel, and became the great Example of Murdering our Brethren upon a Religious score to all Holy and Solemn Leaguers and Covenanters, both of Papists in France, and Protestants in great Britain.  
We have then here a clear Evidence, who is the Man of Sin and Son of Perdition, namely, every Spirit that sits in the Temple of God, and opposes and exalts itself above the Magistrate, who is called God.  
And that Spirit, that Devilish Anti-christian Spirit divides itself, (like two lines drawn from the circumference to the centre, that seem to oppose one another, yet both aim at the Centre) into the Spirit of Popery, and the Spirit of Foppery.  
The Former under pretence of Religion exalts the Mitre above the Crown, and the Crosier above the Sceptre; the latter plumes himself in his Almighty Pulpit, whilst the Magistrate truckles under him upon the Stool of Repentance; both of them oppose and exalt themselves above all that is called God; both of them will without scruple do evil that good may come thereof, Equivocate, Lie, Plunder, Sequester, and Behead for Gods-sake, and the causes-sake; both of them agree in that Jesuitical tenant, that Dominion is founded in grace; both of them Plot and contrive Mischief where and when they have sway, but always Mischief as much as in them lies; both of them have for many years been the great Disturbers of the Peace of all Christendom, as well as of the Peace of England; and tell me but of any Massacre, or Bloody Wars and Stratagem's against the Magistrate, any Treason's and Rebellions, but what was carried on either by Papists and Jesuits, or by Presbyterians and fanatics, in the Memory of Man, and i'll be content to abide the Bloody Inquisition of the one, and undergo the Fates of the Arch-Bishops and Metropolitan's of England and Scotland, Canterbury and St. Andrews Murdered by the other.  
Both are Bejesuited and Breath nothing but Blood and Ruin, for Gods-sake and Gods-cause; and yet they are severally distinguished and disguised; one wears a Friar's weed, the other a short synodical Jump; 
Jam. 4.1.  one wears his Crown shaved, the other only cropped; So that, whence comes wars and Fightings amongst us? From the Church, the Temple of God? And such as sit in the Temple of God? Comes it from the conclave, the Synod, or the Pulpit? Yes, it did God knows, when Men, Men of Sin, and Sons of Perdition with such a Text as this did make the Sacred Pulpit a Pulpit Drum to beat a Call thereon, and an Alarm to Arms and War, to Rebellion and Blood? But such wild expositions and Harangues to bejuggle and beguile the silly Rabble came from the Lusts that Warred in their Members, the Lust of Ambition, the Lust of Covetousness, after the King's Lands, the Bishop's Lands, the Stately Houses and Manors of the Loyal Lords and Gentlemen: And this, all this and more came from the Pulpit.  
From this Principle and Spirit of Antichrist, or Rebellion under the Cloak of Religion did Pope Boniface exalted in Pride set his insulting Toe upon the Neck of Frederick the Emperor, repeating with a surly grace that of the Psalmist, 
Psa. 18.40.  Thou hast given me the Necks of mine Enemies, and Psal. 91.13. 
Psa. 91.13.  Thou shalt tread upon the Lion and Adder, the Young Lion and Dragon shalt thou trample under Feet.  
And just so did the fanatics (who are minor Popes of a later Edition) from this Principle wrest another place of the Psalmist, to justify the Murder of our late Sovereign of Blessed Memory— namely, To bind their Kings with Chains, 
Psa. 149. 9●…  and their Nobles with Fetters of Iron, to Execute upon them the Judgement written, this Honour of all the Saints.  
Then that of Isa. 2.2. has done great Service, namely, 
Isa. 2.2.  The Mountain of the Lords House shall be established upon the top of the Mountains, and shall be exalted above the Hills, etc. I'll warrant there has been old quarrelling and scolding, disputing and calling names, (Sons of Whores, Sons of the Whore of Babylon, Whore of Rome;) old Fight and Wrangling, Parrying and Fencing, Thrusting and Scrambling, whose Party should get up on and be this Mountain that shall be exalted upon the top of all other Mountains; Ambition, and Covetousness are (of all Lusts) never weary, never tired, especially when Pride and Coverousness wears the Vizard of Religion, than the Riches of Pluto and Hell cannot glut them; and nothing but the ambition of Lucifer (to be equal if not above their Maker) can satisfy their Insatiable Pride.  
Thus, 
Vid. Alph de Verg. p. 123.  Pope Boniface Lessoned and Tutored Philip (Surnamed the Fair,) King of France, volumus te scire in temporali & spirituali nobis subjacere; you must know, Sir, that in Temporals as well as Spirituals you are our Subject.  
Yet the French Army made bold to Plunder Pope Boniface 8th. of more Treasure than all the Revenue of the Kings of the whole Earth amounted to in one Year, 
Heildfield Histor.  a Sum by far exceeding the Sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Tun of Gold, which Pope John 22. left to his Heirs.  
All the wealth of the Indies is theirs, if the King that owes those golden Mines be Priestridden: But the French not only of late (through the Sorbonists Doctrine) but also in former ages been very dull and unapt to learn the Doctrine of the Pope's Supremacy, and therefore the said French King Philip the Fair, in his Letter to Pope Boniface in answer to his said impudent as well as imprudent claim, gins his Letter, with Sciat fatuitas vestra— instead of Sciat sanctitas vestra; that is in English, I give your Fop-ship to understand instead of— I give your Popeship to understand.  
When Hen. 2. King of England was whipped and went to Tyburn in expiation of Beckets Death, Thomas of Canterbury, a proud Saucy Priest and Rebel, the King took every blow in Dudgeon, and grumbled somewhat to himself in a menacing way, whereupon the Pope's legate stopped his Mouth presently with these words— Domine— noli minari etc. Sir, never threaten us who are Retainers to a Court that Lords it justly over Kings and Emperors.  
'Tis endless to tell Stories of this Nature; 
See Gerson Chancellor of Pa●…is de poestate Ecles consid. ●…2. part 3.  their practice and designs are contained in these Verses.  
Sedes Summa Petri, quae Pastoralis honoris  
Facta caput Mundi, quicquid non possidet armis  
Religione tenet—  
That is, the Pope, like the Presbyterian, does his business with the word, or the Sword; if one will not do, the other shall, or they'll fill the Nations with Blood and Wounds.  
Yet, God be thanked, the Devil and those Roaring Lions, roaring out their anathemas, their Curses and Excommunications, are not always Rampant, nor does more harm than the Curse of Pope Julius the second, did the Frenchmen who rooted his Army (at the Battle of Ravenna: 
Fran à vitoriá (a Popish Friar) the ●…ot Eccles. ●…elict. Sect. ●…. p. 39 See Occu●…nen. in Rom. in Rom. ep. ●…ap. 1. & Theophy●…ct. ●…id. Blasp ●…n glossâ ●…e majori●…ate & o●…edientiâ. ) The news whereof coming to his Holiness, whilst at his Beads by the Fireside, made him in a passion to conclude his Prayers with a Curse in these very words— Sit ergo gallus in nomine Diabolorum. All the Devils in Hell take the Frenchman.  
I met with one honest Friar, Francis à Victoriâ, who confesses that Popes were not always so ambitious, and that their pretended Supremacy over all persons and in all causes was but of late usurped. Glossatores hoc dominum dedêrunt Papae, cum ipfi essent Pauperes, rebus & Doctrinâ: That this Supremacy and Sovereignty was given to the Pope by Expositors that were as poor as proud, with Purses as empty as their Pates, and who were as bare of Crowns, as their Crowns were bare and Shave.  
Hence we have cause to think that Pope Pius the Fifth, (who Excommunicated our Queen Elizabeth Anno 1569.) was in Earnest when he said—  Cum essem Religiosus, sperabam benè de salute meâ, Cardinalis factus extimui, Pontifex creatus paenè despero. 
Which I'll English thus.  
When I was first made Priest, my Soul did well,  
But How, when Cardinal, I cannot tell;  
Now I am Pope, surly my Rome is Hell.  
Optimi putantur Pontifices (saith Papyrius Massonius, who was a Popish Priest) si vel leniter mali, vel minus boni quam caeteri Mortales esse solent.  
Methinks (saith he) we speed well, if our Popes be but indifferently bad, or but a little worse than other Mortals.  
And the same, say I, of all that are of the said Antichristian Spirit, that trouble and disquiet the Magistrate, and their Neighbours, putting them in Fears with their Numbers, and their dare, their Petitions, Subscriptions, like Muster Rolls.  
Methinks we speed well if they be but indifferently bad, or but a little worse than Pagans, Indians, Turks and Jews; if they were as harmless as Indians and Insidels; would tell no more Lies, nor carry on no more Bloody Designs than Pagans, truly for my part I think we should be very happy in them to what we now are.  
An Indian or Pagan, for his Life, could not think of such Pride and Insolence, as that wherewith Pope Paul the Fifth, Treated Dandalus the Venetian Ambassador, when he made him Crouch under the Board, and eat with the Dogs the Crumbs that fell from their Master's Table.  
And yet this Bravery, though more Insolent, yet was less Impious, than that Blasphemous Salutation, which His Holiness gladly accepted from the Sicilian Ambassador, that came to beg his Peace, with Domine, Deus Papa miserere Nostrum; Lord have Mercy upon us, Lord God Pope— And again, Oh Lamb of God, that takest away the Sins of the World, Grant us thy Peace.  
Thus Christoper Marcellus Complemented the Pope, in the Second Council of Lateran; Tu es alter Deus in terris; And with like Religion, did the Old Romanists Erect an Altar in Rome to Simon Magus with this Inscription, Simoni Sancto Deo, In honour of Simon the Hely God.  
Not more Atheistical than these was the Painter's Motto under the Effigies of Alexander the Great— Jupiter assere tibi coelum, ego mihi asserui terram.  
But enough of these Insolences and Blasphemies, yet not a jot too much in these days, when such Designs are on Foot, to make the Crown stoop to the Mitre.  
But for the Crown to Veil and Lower to the Stool of Repentance, Oh abominable and Vile! Forasmuch as 'tis much more Honour to be foiled by a Lion, than to be baffled by an Ass.  
This is nothing else but to be Persecuted with Vermine, and run the Fate of that Germane Bishop, that was devoured and Hunted to Death with Rats and Mice.  
This is to undergo the Martyrdom of the Primitive Christians, that were put in Bears-skins and Baited to Death with Dogs.  
The Pope, how bad soever his Designs be, yet he is a Temporal Prince, of great Territories and Dominions, if you reckon only the Countries called the St. Peter's Patrimony; whether he has got them per fas or nefas, whether by Dint of the Sword, or Cheat of the Word, it comes all to one Reckoning; yet still he is a Prince of Ancient Grandeur, and the less dishonour to be Subject to him.  
But for a Prince to stoop to Geneva-Upstarts, that have nothing Eminent but Ears and Mouth, is the vilest of Subjection, and sets a value upon Turkish Slavery in Comparison of this; Forasmuch as we expect better things from them. Not that I commend our King John of England for proffering himself and his Kingdom, Vassals to the King of Morocco, an Infidel; rather than endure the Tyranny of Religious Men, and the Pope; forced by Pandolphus the Pope's Legate, to resign his Crown to the Papal Chair, which the proud Prelate kept it from him several days, and then disdainfully setting his Foot upon it and the Money with which he bought his peace, restored upon heavy terms the Crown, yet certainly such Barbarous usage from Christians, pretended Christians makes a great, though not a sufficient Apology for him. Grass they say never grows where the great Turk sets his Foot; I'm sure Math. Paris, an Historian of good credit, says that King John used to say, that when he became the Pope's Footstool, he never throve after, to use his own words— Postquam, (ut dixi) me & mea Regna Romanae subjeci Ecclesiae, nulla mihi prospera, omnia contraria advenêrunt. Anno 1213. de Regione liberâ Ancellam fecit per chartum lugubrem, saith Matthew Paris; by a lamentable Charter King John made England a Bondslave (to the Pope) that before was Free; But his Son King Hen. 3. had it shortly after repealed, even in times of Popery, by Act of Parliament.  
Read all our Chronicles since William the Conqueror, and tell me, if ever there were Wars in England but the Clergy had a great hand in them.  
Odo Bishop of Bayeux furnished William the Conqueror with Forty Tall Ships to invade England, and the Pope to encourage him sent him a Banner of the Church, an Agnus of Gold, and one of the Hairs of St. Peter; such another Present as that Phoenix Feather, which the Pope sent to the Earl of Tyrone the Irish Rebel.  
Whose Mouths and Lungs blew up the Fire of contention, in our late Civil Broils, but the Presbyterians and Covenanters?  
Surely Kings will be warned by such Fatal Examples, from trusting their Supremacy, the Choicest Flower of the Crown, out of their own keeping, either to Popes or Presbyters, that will not be subject to them; I mean, the exposition of Scriptures, and Power of the Keys; For all English Bishops, and Ministers, that are not the King's Ministers, are Emissaries and Ministers of the Devil or the Pope, at least, grand Impostors, Enthusiasts, and Cheats.  
For at the upshot all men's Faith must bottom upon some humane Authority or other; except what the Prophets and Apostles had, which was more properly knowledge than Faith; but our Faith and all Faith ever did and ever must rest in humane Authority; Indeed all true Faith is the Gift of God, as all other Gifts and Graces are, for without God's special Grace, no man can believe the truest humane Authority or Church upon Earth to be true.  
But still, I say, all but Enthusiasts and Papists who believe (the former at Random and at all adventures, and they know not wherefore; the latter by implicit Faith) I say all others that are true Believers, their Faith is through God's grace grounded upon some humane Authority or other.  
When therefore any Man believes his Duty to God and the King, he must acquiesce either in Enthusiasm, or Popery, or in the voice of God, which voice of God is infallibly to us (only) in the Holy Scriptures expounded and declared in the Voice of the Laws, our Sacred and Christian Laws, so admirably contrived from the Old and New Testament; comprehending all our duty to God, to ourselves, and to our Neighbours, that we are the Envy of other Nations, happy Englishmen, if they knew their own happiness, more happy in our Laws then in our Land and Situation, being an Island without Parallel in the whole World, exempt and free from the Arbitrary Government, Tyranny, Oppression, Delusion and Blind Devotion that other Nations groan Under.  
And if it were not that the Wisdom of our Ancestors knowing their own Felicities, had not made an Act that no Alien should purchase or inherit Lands in England, the goodness of our Laws and Religion, as well as the conveniency of our Situation and Soil, had exposed us to be overstocked with strangers without Room sufficient for the happy Natives.  
But some will hear object and say, what if the King and his Laws should command us to do somewhat that (at least in our opinion) is contrary to God's Law, to obey, assist and help him herein, can this possibly be called the help of the Lord, or meant in this Text; as for Instance, there is a Law that no Minister who does not conform, shall not Preach within Five Miles of a Corporation Town or City, or within Five Miles of the Benefice, he left and lost through Nonconformity; the Law and the King says do not Preach there; but (say they) woe be to us if we Preach not the Gospel, for we cannot but speak the things that we have seen and heard, and whether it be right to obey you rather than God, Judge ye, as said St. Peter and St. John.  
This is no wild chimerical supposal and objection of my own making, but it is the known and common Apology of the Non-conformists, to justify their disobedience, and vouch their confidence in standing it out, and bidding Defiance to the King and his Laws; nor is it less useful than necessary to give a plain and full answer to this objection, under which all Disobedience, Disloyalty and opposition of Authority does lurk and shelter to this Day.  
The King and his Laws give the word of Command, bids them March and be gone at your Peril; but, they rejoin, we are Preachers of the Gospel, 
1 Cor 9 16  necessity is laid upon us, and woe be to us if we Preach not the Gospel, as said St. Paul; 
Acts 4.19.20.  and whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.  
Ans. 1. This is an excuse that abominably aggravates the Crime to all knowing Christians; Oh Impudence, and Imposture not to be named amongst sober and modest Men and Christians!  
What? shall these Wretches that truckle and drudge for a few Pence and a gathering amongst the Silly Men and Women, shall these Preachers that with such a Text as this have against the plain and easy sense wrested the same to the ruin of their Auditors, Body, Soul and Estate? shall these Posci nummia, these Crumeni mulgae, these Pickpockets, and Petticoat Preachers, that lead Captive silly Women compare themselves with St. Peter and St. John and St. Paul? That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, 
1 Jo. 1.1. 3.  which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of Life, That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you. Saith St. John.  
Now no Man can in truth and in sober fence, without Raving, Cheat, Imposture, and palpable Enthusiasm, say these words at this day, and apply the same to himself, as that which he hath seen and heard, and handled.  
St. John, St. Peter, and the rest of the Apostles, nay, St. Paul in a Vision and an Apostle and witness, as well as the rest, though born out of due time, saw and witnessed what they saw, namely, our Saviour's Resurrection; the great Seal and Confirmation of the truth of the Gospel, and woe be to them if they had not told the World what they saw, and heard, and felt, and handled, and knew, that we might have Faith, the evidence of things not seen, but believing their Testimony, and Witness; through the Grace of God enabling us to believe, what such good Men and true did depose upon their own Knowledge.  
Faith is the Life of a Christian, but how few understand it. To say with the Pharisees that we know that God spoke by Moses; 'tis false, we do not know it, nor they did not know it: It had been modestly and more truly said, we believe that God spoke by Moses; 
Jo. 9.29.  for Knowledge is the Evidence of things seen, Faith the Evidence of things not seen; Knowledge, is the Grace and Glory of the Church Triumphant; Faith, is the Grace and Glory of the Church Militant; and therefore let us not like those silly conceited Pharisees, or good Mr. Calvin, say we know a thing to be true, when we only believe it to be so:  
For Calvin like those Pharisees and the Presbyterians that follow him, defines Faith. 2. lib Institut. 16. Sect. 7. a steadfast and an assured knowledge of God's kindness, &c, Why should Men cheat the World and themselves too, by pretending a Religion that God never made, nor does not require.  
God required no more of the Jews than that they should believe Moses and the Prophets, handed to them by Tradition and Humane Authority; Ay, but the Pharisees, the Puritan Party of the Jews, they must have a surer Card for their Religion then other Jews, and therefore they were not content with Faith, though the Prophet Habakkuk had told them that the just should live by it, 
Hab. 2.4.  no, they must have more Religion and a better ground for Religion then the other Jews, or then God required, or did expect, (which was Faith only); And would make the World believe that (as if they had been as old as the first Mutineers and Ambitious Puritans, Corah, Dathan and Abiram, and had seen Moses Face to shine like the Face of an Angel when he came from speaking with God in the mount); they do not only by Tradition of their Fathers, believe; no, but they knew that God spoke by Moses.  
Mr. Calvin (I confess for him and his followers) that he was forced to give a Definition of Faith contrary to that in Heb. 11.1. for fear the Papists had run him a ground.  
For if he believed Christ and the Gospel upon humane Authority, or the Authority of the Popish Church, which he renounced, he knew not well how to answer the renouncing the Tradition of that Church, without also renouncing Jesus Christ and his Gospel; therefore (which he should not need) he was glad to define Faith to be a steadfast and an assured knowledge of God's kindness etc. and this by a certain witness of the Spirit within a Man:  
By which secret persuasion, if he means God's Grace to make a Man believe Humane Authority, Christian and Humane Tradition and Laws, whereby we believe the truth of the Holy Scripture, he is in the right; but he is evidently out of his Story in calling this Faith, an assured Knowledge: For alas! the best of us, except we Lie, and Cheat, and Vapour, as those Puritan Pharisees did, we must say with the Apostle, we see but in part, as in a glass Darkly, and not with steadfast and assured knowledge as the Saints Triumphant do, and as did the Apostles who saw and knew our Blessed Jesus and Saviour in the Flesh.  
But hence, comes all the mischief, from this Vapour, and Lie, in making our Faith, just like St. Thomas his, whose seeing was believing, and the rest of the Apostles; what ever was true of the Apostles, must be true of us, which is an abominable Cheat and Imposture.  
They were Witnesses of Christ's Resurrection, we only tell what they said, or did Witness; at the second or third hand? said I, no at the Thousand'th hand, and at long run, by the Tradition of the Christian Church and Laws of the Land; he that pretends other ground for his Faith, either believes he knows not wherefore, and is a Fool, or Enthusiast, or Fanatic, which is all one, and a Cheat and Impostor, or else is a Papist, and has an Implicit Faith in the Church of Rome; or else, by doing Miracles as the Apostles did, can and must give a Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power. In the Name of God, what would these Disturbers of Mankind be at? Here's ado with their Religion, their Religion, and there's not one of them knows where he got it, except from the Church of England, or the Church of Rome: And yet they disclaim both these; and consequently, can demonstrate nothing, nor rationally convince any Man of the Truth of their Faith, except by their own secret persuasion, which (though it may be of God) yet they cannot show and prove but that it may be a Lie, a Cheat, and from the Father of Lies.  
Are they Ordained to Preach the Gospel? Let us see their Commission and Ordination.  
They answer, they are Ordained by them that were Ordained by them, that were Ordained by those that were Ordained by the Papists, etc. I knew whether they would come at long Run.  
Nor can they justify to the World, that that English Minister of God's word, that is not the King's Minister Ordained according to the Sacred and Christian Laws of England, is any other than a Minister of the Pope or the Devil; either a Papist, or an Enthusiast, and possessed with the Spirit of Popery, or the Spirit of Foppery. Religion? true Religion, our Saviour says, like a Tree is known by the Fruits; consult all Histories, ancient and modern, view the present posture of Affairs; if ever this Hundred Years there ever was any Rebellion, Massacre, Tumults or Treasons, Blood Rapine and Murder, but either Papist or Fanatic, or both had the great hand in it.  
To look no further back then the Reign of King James; who dethroned his Mother? and made a Slave and property of him in his Infancy, but that Bloody Knox, Buchanan, and the rest of that Puritan Presbyterian brood? by woeful experience he tells his Son, our late Martyred Sovereign in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. That under pretence of Religion he should find (Alas! alas! He did find it by sad experience) not such Barbarous and Bloody Villains in the World.  
When King James came into England, they still made him weary of his Life, and the Papists on the other hand endeavoured to take away his Life, by the Gunpowder-Treason.  
But, Blessed be God, unsuccessfully; all his Reign; but what the Plots, the Popish Plots could not accomplish against his Son, the Presbyterian Plots did perfect, Crowning their Villainy with the Blood and ruin of the Kingdom, bringing the Blessed King to the Bloody Scaffold, and our Gracious Sovereign to the more Ignominious Stool of Repentance.  
And is this your Religion? where did they learn it? not from God, from Holy Scripture; nor from this Text, but from the Devil, who was a Murderer from the beginning, and a Liar, (like these his Children) and the Father of Lies.  
These things are plain and palpable, and had not now been remembered but that Men tread the same steps, follow the same methods; may we not Fast and Pray? (say they) sad, oh sad! may we not Preach? woe be to us if we do not Preach the Gospel, and woe be to you, good People, if we do not Preach; as if the Gospel were confined and Monopolised to a Crew, that can show no Authority, no Commission, no Call, no Warrant for what they do; except from the Pope and Jesuits, who I fear have a great Influence among them.  
The King, and his Laws Ordain and constitutes in England the only true Christian Bishops, Priests and Deacons, as he does the only true Judges and Justices of the Peace; and he may deprive all of them equally. And therefore if they cannot justify there Ordination and Commission, their Warrant and their Call, in an Ordinary and orderly way; nor yet by Miracles in an extraordinary way, let them no more so idly, so impudently and so vainly apply the Apostle's sayings to themselves, but contrarily, woe be to them if they Preach the Gospel, without sufficient, Call, Warrant, Ordination and Lawful Authority.  
Pilate rationally and honestly subjoined to the cry of the Rabble, Crucify him, Crucify him? Why? What evil hath he done? They could tell none, but cried out the more, Crucify him, Crucify him.  
I should be as Foolish and Irrational, if I should decry and silence these Preachers, if I could not Answer that Question, What Evil have they done? I'll Answer it with another, What Evil have they not done?  
Did the People Rise in Rebellion, till these Fanatic Preachers Roused them from such Texts as this? Alas! People generally would be glad to be quiet, and follow their business till Sunday come, and then these Preachers set them agog, and fright them out of their Wits with Fears and Jealousies of Popery, and Arbitrary Government, and I know not what Forgeries of their own making.  
If there was not a Papist in England, (as I wish there were not) yet they would fright the People with Fears of Popery, From whence? From France.  
If there were not one Papist in France, yet still these Boutifeau's would affright the Rabble with Fears from Italy or Spain; or if not from thence, with Fears and Jealousies of some Popishly affected amongst ourselves; that the Sheet Anchor, that's an Engine (Popishly affected) always ready to do the business at a dead lift, and Low Water, when all other hopes are frustrate and desperate.  
Let any Mutinous Contrivance or Petition be (to strike terror to the Government) to be Subscribed by Numbers, though these Preachers, and these Conventiclers, differ and descent from one another, one Sect against the other, even to Death, yet like Herod and Pilate they shall join in Mischief, and unanimously as one man Confederate against the Peace and tranquillity of Christ and his Church, the Common Enemy.  
If there be but Two or Three fanatics in a Parish, observe it, they shall make more a noise, more a Disturbance, more a do in the same than all the Rest, they would do all, and always do ill. Let the Magistrate restrain their daring Conventicles here and there, (for it is but here and there if any be restrained) Oh, how the Country Rings of Persecution, Persecution!  
Let the Magistrate connive and wink at them, and look through his Fingers, and make as if he did not see them, Why? What then? Why then they should be humbly Thankful.  
No, No, Humility and Thankfulness are Graces not to be found in the Holy League and Covenant, no, they grow more Petulant, and say of this merciful Magistrate, God has put a Hook in his Nose, 
Is. 37.39.  as he did in Senacherib's, and a Bridle in his Lips.  
So that a man knows not how to please them, but we must say of them as Solomon says of his Fool, Prov. 29.9. If a Wise (Magistrate) contend with a Foolish man, whether he rage or Laugh, there is no rest. For whether they rage at the Magistrate for putting the Laws in Execution, or whether they Laugh at him for neglecting, still they are restless and unquiet. They are a Plague and Disquiet to themselves and all the Kingdom, which they have all most ruined once, and themselves too, which had not now been remembered but that the same men, the same Principles, the same Methods to embroil us, are again on Foot.  
Bless us, Good God What is Religion, if this be Religion? And what is Religion good for, if these be the Fruits? What? Shall Religion be good for nothing but to make us like Cocks of the Game, which are good for nothing but to Fight? Or like Salamanders, to live no where so well as in the Fire of Contention? Or Pyrrhus like to delight in War?  
If these be the secrets and Mysteries of their Religion, let every good man say, 
Gen. 49.6, 5, 7.  (as Jacob of his Bloody Sons.) Oh my Soul, come not thou into their secrets, unto their Assembly, mine Honour, be not thou united, Instruments of Cruelty are in their Habitations. Cursed be their anger, 
Rex bominum Hispanus, Asinorum Gallus Diabolorun Anglus, Regum ego. Max Imp. Dor. in Syn.  for it was fierce; and their Wrath, for it was Cruel.  
Time was when Regnum Angliae was called Regnum Angelorum; but these Disturbers would (verify the Diverb of the Emperor Maximilian the Second, and) make it Regnum Diabolorum.  
Omnium Provinciarum prima publicitus Christi nomen Recêpit Anglia, saith Sabellicus, Regnante Lucio, saith Eusebius, England received the Christian Faith, Anno 44. by Simon Zelotes, saith Dorothaeus, Octob. 28. Imperatore Claudio etc. Baronius, All agree that England was the first Christian Kingdom, and happy might we yet be if not disquieted by this Man of Sin and Sons of Perdition, the Spirit of Antichrist, namely, the Spirit of Popery and the Spirit of Foppery.  
And both of them have seen their best days, because though both of them yet set in the Temple of God, (both Papist and Fanatic, the spawn of a Jesuit,) yet the Cloven-foot is discovered by the most of Mankind that have any eyes or understanding.  
A Man might, in the days of Yore, with a Knapsack full of Pardon's and Indulgences under the Seal of the Fisher, have filled it in one day with good Money for them.  
But now a Pardon-seller may walk over all Italy, and cry Indulgences, Indulgences, Pardon's, come buy, and scarce get Money to pay for his Supper; and if into Germany or France he Travels over the Alps, 'tis not worth the while, all his Pack will scarce buy him a pair of new Shoes, why? I told you, the cheat is discovered, the Cloven-foot is apparent, though this Anti-christian and Devilish Spirit sit in the Temple of God. What did this Spirit of Antichrist do then? what? but that Satan always does when he appears as an Angel of Light; if he be discovered, he shifts himself and appears in another shape, but still with the same Black Hellish and Devilish Design, seeking whom he may devour.  
So that from the Spirit of Popery he Metamorphosed himself into the Spirit of Foppery; and instead of the old Cheat of Popery, he Plays the same game with the new cheat of Sects and Foppery, and gained wonderfully at first thereby.  
Rebellion, and Murder, and Treason, and Mischief; that's the Principle, Foundation, and Main Design of Hell; but how to make Mortals (so much against Nature, and humane kind,) to perpetrate such Hellish Facts, there's the craft.  
Why, Religion, not true Religion, but the Hypocrisy, the Face of Religion, the Ape of Religion shall Play the Beast, and make Men Play the Beasts, nay, be more Brutish than the Beasts, to one another.  
Cain had never killed Abel, as I said before, but for this Devilish Religion; Absalon could never have Rebelled, nor got a party against his Father, and King but for this Devilish pretence of Religion, and Justice.  
Jeroboam could never have usurped the Crown but for his Devilish new Religion, an easy and cheap Religion, that would save the People's Purses and their Legs too, from a tedious and chargeable long Journey to Jerusalem, when the business was done more cleverly by a couple of Calves in Dan and Bethel.  
Instances of this Nature are endless, to come nearer home; a new, new, Religion; a new, new light, fresh and new (at least an old Heresy new broached) in the Spirit of Foppery did the Business, the Devilish business of Murder, Blood, Ruin and Treason in the late Civil Wars, when the Spirit of Popery had run its race and run itself out of Breath, and off its Legs.  
In Seven Years the Spirit of Popery could scarce get Seven Proselytes, whereas a new light, a new Sect, a new exposition of Holy Scripture, like that of this Text, should fetch in Proselytes by shoals; nay, the Fishers could not throw out their Nets so fast, as the Gudgeons came gaping and willing to be taken, though to their own destruction.  
But alas! alas! even this Cheat is also quite discovered, I wonder into what Shape this Spirit of Foppery will next appear, for the Devil hath no great success with it at this day, no more, than with the Spirit of Popery.  
A Holderforth may Yawl and Yarn, Sniule and Whine, Thump and Bawl, till his Lungs and his Heart ache, and yet neither make open hearted nor open handed their close-fisted Disciples: Nay, he shall now turn up the white of his Eyes, and play as many tricks as Hocus Pocus at a fair, and yet not get so much Money at Night as a Common and Profane Hocus.  
But instead of giving them any thing, Men are grown to subtle, and the cheat so stolen, that when they begin their tricks, and they hear them cant, Men are apt to clap their hands upon their Pockets, as when Gypsies are near them: And know the meaning and aim of the Juggler, as (at long run) they did, of a Long-Parliament Fast, when every Boy could thereby Prophesy the Ensuing Tax.  
And such Villain, Murderers, and Traitors have appeared in the Likeness of this Spirit of Foppery, that worse did never appear in the Spirit of Popery: You may wink and choose; a Bravo in Spain, a Bandito, a High-way-man Kill Men and Rob for Money's sake; so do those Murderers and Traitors and Rebels under the Cloak of Religion, (in the Spirit or guise of Popery and Foppery) all this is for Money's sake, though the Vizard pretends for God's sake.  
A Rebel's a Rebel, and a Traitors a Traitor, and a Robber's a Robber, though he Rob in a friar's weed or a Buffcoat, or a Presbyterian Jump; Vaux, is Vaux though he carry a Dark lantern and wear a Vizard.  
Object. Oh! but Conscience, Conscience is a tender thing;  
Ans. I grant it, Conscience is a tender thing, and a Devilish hard thing, as any thing in the World: The Holy Ghost compares it to the hardest things in the World, to the Adamant stone; 
Zich. 7 12  what harder than the Adamant, or the nether Millstone? Why, Conscience is harder; and feels no more, 
1 Tim. 4.1, 2.  relents no more than if it were feared with a hot Iron; 1. Tim. 4.2. And who are they that carry these seared Consciences? that can swallow Oath upon Oath, Kill, and Rob, Plunder, and Steal, Sequester and Behead, and still their Consciences blunk no more than a piece of Brass? Why, the same Apostle tells us, they are such as shall appear in the latter days, that (in the Spirit of Foppery) shall departed from the Faith, giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils. 1 Tim. 4.1. And (in the Spirit of Popery) Forbidding to Marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, etc. 1. Tim. 4.3.  
I tell you nothing herein but plain Scripture truth's, easily applied, and yet I am sensible it is like to cost me dear:  
This Spirit of Popery and Foppery that I have raised and discovered and shown to you this day, is a fierce Devilish Bloody Spirit; 'tis easily raised, but hard to allay; two Archbishops one of England, the other of Scotland, irritated this Spirit, but this Fierce and Bloody Spirit fell upon them and Killed and Murdered them; many thousand such Bloody Instances, there are, oh! this Spirit has Talons sharp and Keen, I know it experimentally, nor durst I provoke it, as I have done, but that I trust in God through Jesus Christ, being as willing to suffer (as they are to make me suffer) in so good Cause?  
Object. But some may say, we are bound to help and Obey the Sovereign Magistrate against our Consciences? Or, when he Persecutes men for their Consciences, are we bound to help him, and is this help, the help of the Lord?  
Ans. To which I answer, first, that no man on Earth can meddle with men's Consciences; I'll think in my Conscience what I list, and be of what Opinion I list, and none upon Earth can hurt me for the same, though never so flagitious: 'Tis God's Prerogative alone to be the only Searcher, as well as Converter of Hearts and Consciences; For man sees only the outward Appearance, but the Lord Vieweth the Heart or Conscience.  
And as the Magistrate cannot, so he does not pretend to meddle with men's Consciences; if Two Robbers, or Two Murderers come to be tried before a Judge, the one Robber is perhaps a Leveller, or a Covenanter, and thinks in his Conscience he may take the Goods of a Rich man, or a Lord, especially of a Prelate, or Spiritual Lord, till he has pulled him down, nay pulled him up, Root and Branch, as he has Sworn, in his solemn League and Covenant, till he has at least Robbed him, Plundered and Sequestered him of his Estate, so that he has raised his own equal and Level with him: The other Robber is a downright Thief, and never aggravates his Crime, with Hypocrisy; but both are Convicted of the Felony; Does the Judge, or can the Judge search into the Heart and Conscience of the Men, and dive to find whether it be their Conscience or Religion to Rob or Steal; be their Consciences what they will, he is not concerned, but finding them Malefactors, and Transgressor's of the Law, he Condemns the Godly Thief, and the Ungodly Thief to the same Gallows.  
Yet how gently, how favourably, and Religiously has our Laws provided for tender and dissenting Consciences and Religions.  
Men may Preach that will, when they will, what they will, and where they will at this day in England, provided they do not Rendezvous above Five strangers to the Conventicle, lest they Fight the Neighbourhood with their Old tricks of making a Long Prayer and a long Sermon, the Prologue of some ensuing mischief: And also provided the Nonconformist Preacher, do not Hold Forth within Five Miles of the Parish he Deserted (I had almost said Deluded) and also, not within Five Miles of a City or Town-Corporate.  
How would the Apostles have Blest God for this Liberty, if they might but have Preached from House to House, they would have Blest God and the Magistrate for the Grace and Favor.  
But our Spirits of Foppery will not be Fobbed off so, they must and will have Numbers, Glory in their Numbers, brave the Magistrate, and face him and dare him with their Numbers, as if they were ready to come to the Poll with him, and count, whether more People come from the Church on a Lordsday, or from the Meeting, vying for multitude, especially if the weaker Vessels, the Vessels of Frailty will but pass Muster.  
Poor Bashful tender Hearts and tender Consciences! As if a Holderforth cannot Preach Christ in the Wild of Kent, as in the Throngs and Crowds of a City or Corporation; Well, the Magistrates surely do well enough know their meanings, and what they would be at. And such a Discourse as this, and such a Text as this, can no where be so properly or so well Improved, as in this Assembly, the most Honourable, and most considerable of this greatest and most Glorious City, of the whole Kingdom the great Hinge of Peace and War.  
Those Preachers are like Jobs Comforters, Job 13.4. either Forgers of Lies, or Physicians of no value, that do not handle, or do not handle to purpose this Distemper. What disquiets your sleeps but Fears of Disturbances from the Spirit of Popery, and the Spirit of Foppery: I know not which is worst, they are both Bloody and Dangerous, the former by Plotting, but Blessed be God their Plots come to nothing; the latter by Plotting and Acting too, God knows, not to mention the Defolation, the Bondage, the Tyranny and oppression this City groaned under for so many years, under so many Masters, and different Tyrants, Three or Four several ones in a year sometimes, before His Majesty's Happy Restauration; but, even since, though the Papists might Plot Rebellion and Treason, yet the fanatics have not only plotted, but twice been up in Arms, which the Papists never were, twice I say in Arms, and Open Field Fights, in Scotland; where our Miseries were first brooded and begun their Rise; but Blessed be God, as soon Defeated, which was God's goodness more than our Deserts; no Thanks though to the Coventiclers and Field-meeters, they showed their good will and their good Religion, and their tender Consciences in the Interim; oh true Church Militant here upon Earth!  
Why should Ministers make wild and random discourses in the Pulpit and but beat the air, applying remedies to distempers that the City and Kingdom are not especially plagued with; alas! Faction, and Foppery, and Popery, are the great disease, of the Kingdom, with which it now, at this day, as well as of a long time, it has been vexed, and grieved, hic seca, hic ure, here make applications; otherwise we Preachers are like those the Apostle speaks of 2. Thes. 3.11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Working not at all to the purpose but busy to no purpose.  
What? shall Jesuits dare to venture their lives to come to pervert our Nation, in the Spirit of Popery, and shall fanatics dare and brave the Magistrate to his Face, in public, in the Cities, in the greatest City of the Nation, and all this with an Impudent Forehead, like the Whore in the Proverbs, wiping the mouth and saying they have done no wickedness, and all this in contempt, nay, in defiance of all Law and Authority; and shall no Man dare to say and speak publicly what they dare do publicly? Is it no sin, no crime, no shame for them presumptuously and with a High Hand and a Brazen Face to transgress the Laws; and is he fit to be a Minister of God and the King, that has neither honesty nor courage to Check and Rebuke it?  
The great and good Emperor Constantine the first Christian Emperor took another course with Factious Conventicles. 
Euseb. de vit const.  He prohibited them, by Edict and Proclamation, see the Proclamation and Edict at large in Euseb. de vit. constant. 
Theod. l. 1. c. 19  He Burnt their Books and proscribed the Authors and Abettors, to use his own words, Pestium illarum audacia ministri Dei, hoc est, meâ Executione coercebitur. Their Plaguy Impudence shall be restrained by the Authority of the Minister of God, that is, myself, etc. that good Emperor. Those bold pestilent fellows, that dare offend in defiance of all Authority, I'll make bold to punish their Fool hardiness by my Authority.  
A Speech as pious as Princely, and a pious Example to Princes. For ancient and modern experience has taught, that faction (like a Top) never goes well but when under the lash, and well whipped.  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Therefore obstinate and prating fanatics, or Seducers saith St. Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith St. Paul, whose Mouths must be stopped, oportet os obturare; it is very fit they should be stopped. Why? (it follows,) because they subvert whole Houses, teaching things that they ought not for filthy Lucre's sake.  
When the People had got a new Religion but a false one, King Josiah puts it down, and is commended for it. 2. Kings. 23. from the 4. verse to the 14. verse. The same did King Hezekiah, 2. Kings 18.3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The first Law of Theodosius that good Emperor in his Law Book is de sacrâ Trinitate quid credendum. 
Theod lib. legum.   
A Lawful King may not only imperata facere, but imperare facienda; though I know the Learned Grotius scruples this latter, but he was a Hollander.  
By this Regal Supremacy Solomon deposed Abiathar the Archbishop, because he sided with the Rebels. 
1 Kings 2.27.  Constantine did the like to Vigelius, and Justinian to Silverius, Otho the Emperor ejected Pope John, 12. for his Necromancy and Wickedness.  
'Tis Chrysostom's Paraphrase on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 13.1. Let every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers, whether Apostle, Evangelist, Pastor or Teacher, Pope or Bishop, Presbyter or Presbyterian, they must needs be subject and that for Conscience-sake; if they have any Conscience; any Conscience unseared, 
Rom. 13 5 Vid Chrys Hom 3. add Antioch.  any Conscience not hardened. To whom assents Theodoret, Theophylact, Oecumenius and all that are not possess't with the evil Spirit (to keep to my old terms) of Popery or Foppery.  
King Josiah came not with Cap in hand to the Highpriest, 
2 King. 23.4.  but commanded him to reform this and that.  
Nefas est in dubium deducere ejus potestatem cui omnium gubcrnatio superno constat delegata Judicio, saith the 6th. Toledan Counsel, speaking of the undoubted right of King Chintellanus.  
The four first General Counsels were called by Emperors not by Popes, 
Socrat l. 5 in proem.  nor the Clergy.  
Pope Leo petitions the Emperor to call a Counsel in Italy and he called it at Ephesus. Supplicationi nostrae dignetur Imperator annuere. 
Leu. Epist. 9.24.26.  Let the Emperor vouchsafe an Ear and hearken to the request of his humble Petitioner.  
But many years after the Canon of Pope Boniface runs a stile and Language more Magisterical, Dictator like, Dicimus, Definimus, 
De majoritat. in glossâ.  pronunciamus esse de necessitate salutis omm humanae creaturae subesse Romano Pontifici.  
We say it, we decree and pronounce it altogether necessary for all Mankind to be subject to the Pope of Rome in pain of Damnation.  
Observe (by the way) the difference betwixt the Pope's old and new style. For till a Thousand years after Christ, no Pope was ever so audacious as to claim or usurp Supremacy over Kings and Emperors.  
So that the Pope in ordine ad spiritualia, and the presbyterian ribus Christi hooks in all Dominion; Kings will have a good share left between them, but Pride and Covetousness taught these Sons of Perdition these Innovations and Usurpations.  
For Priests and Bishops themselves however they pretend the derivation of their Office from Christ, yet have the liberty of the open Administration thereof from the Civil Authority alone and Laws of the Land.  
Object. But suppose the Civil Authority will not be so civil to us to grant us this liberty, is not this Persecution? what shall we do in this case?  
Ans. In such a Case obey our Saviour's Command and take his advice Mat. 10.23. When they Persecute you in one City, Fly to another, and in one Country, Fly to another Country.  
Every good Christian, every tender conscience will do it; but the Papists and fanatics and Non-conformists scorn the motion; fly, say they, what fly from our dear proselytes, fly from our Dayly-bread, fly from our flocks and our herds, they scorn it, they'll sooner fly in the Magistrate's Face, they are good Christians the while.  
St. Paul thought himself happy that he could fly, though he ventured a Limb by Flying, being let down in a Basket over the City Wall, and so escaped their Hands.  
Obj. But we live not under Pagan but Christian Magistrates, and therefore should expect better things of them.  
Ans. I grant it, and so we do, Blessed be God, any man may in England be as good a Christian as he will, and instead of Persecution for the same, have encouragement from the King and his Laws: But woeful experience has taught not to trust with too much Power Canters and Hypocrites, Jugglers and Dissenters; no Nation in the World but endeavours to maintain its own being, it's own Laws and Constitutions from the Plots and Conspiracies of such as always Watch to defame, disparage, contemn, circumvent and undermine it; especially to such as have bid defiance to a good Conscience, for a good and conscientious Christian dares not disobey our Saviors Command, but if he be persecuted in one Country, he will, he must, he ought to fly to another; and in the Interim if he cannot Fly, willingly to suffer for Christ; and joy and glory therein, as the Apostles did, and not whine, mutiny and complain, as fanatics do. Alas! the Men do not believe what they would make others believe, that woe be to them if they do not Preach the Gospel; if they did, they would Preach it in India, in Turkey, in Persia, the World is wide, and the Converting of a Turk has a better Reward than the perverting of one that is a Christian already.  
Cicero indeed holds it to be Heresy to differ or descent from the Religion of a Man's Country; and the King of Morocco answered the Ambassadors of King John of England, requesting to know how His Majesty liked St. Paul's Epistles which he had lately read, with a Protestation, that were he to choose a Religion, he would be a Christian. But he held it abominable not to live and die in the Religion received from his Forefathers, and his Country.  
But these were Infidels, and to be condemned by us Christians, who are taught to call no Man Master, nor no Man Father, or Rabbi upon Earth, that is, not jurare in verba Magistri, but to give a reason of the Faith and hope that is in us, though the said Cicero and the Infidel King spoke (like as they were) very Wisemen and great Statesmen.  
But when through God's great Mercy we are happy in being born in a Country Beautified with the best Religion and the best Laws, nothing but the said Spirit of Popery or Foppery can make any Man a Nonconformist.  
Our Blessed Saviour, though he was Lord of Heaven and Earth, and also poor and penny less, yet when tribute was demanded of him, (rather than he would offend the Law of the Land he lived in) did a Miracle to get Money to pay his Assessment.  
St. Paul upon his Trial when he was Indicted before Festus by the Jews, who laid many grievance complaints against him, he clears himself by Pleading not Guilty, not by demurring to the Jurisdiction of the Court and Laws of the Land, 
Acts 25.28.  and yet they were Heathen Laws, but Pleads not Guilty and Justifies that neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the Temple, (which yet was Superstitious) nor yet against Caesar, (though their Conqueror and Invader) had he offended any thing all; And Acts, 28.17. In these words, clears himself namely, I have committed nothing against the People, or customs of our Fathers.  
I wonder by what Rule, by what Pattern a Nonconformist walks, whilst he will neither copy after Christ, nor St. Paul.  
Surely no opinion is so wild and extravagant, but will find some Fools so wicked as to follow it, though it ruin them. I read of a Sect called Caynites, because they praised Cain in Murdering his Brother; others that have commended Corah, Dathan and Abiram, as stout Independents and Libertines, that would not be controlled with never a Moses or Aaron of them all; nay, I read of one Bruno that writ an Oration in Commendation of the Devil, and his Luciferian Pride.  
Oh liberty! liberty! is a sweet thing, say some, the very Birds when caged had rather live at all adventure and perhaps starve, then be couped up, with never so much Plenty; oh, (say they) liberty of Conscience to believe what we list, and say what we list, and do what we lift, is a very precious enjoyment. Happy are the People that are in such case, like the Guiana-Indians, sine Lege, sine Rege.  
I can tell you of a time and a Country in Holy Scripture, where there was just such a time of Liberty. And yet they had a King, the good King Asa, but of little benefit to the People, because they had a great mind to this same liberty, and to live as they list and lawless.  
Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God (no matter for that saith the Atheist) and without a teaching Priest (all the better saith the Papist and Fanatic) and without Law (all the better (saith the Libertine.)  
Here was a time to some Men's wish, and was it not a happy time? Read that in the 5. verse. And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, or to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants of the Countries, and Nation was destroyed of Nation, and City of City; for God did vex them with all adversity.  
And 'tis Impossible, it should be otherwise; for there was no Law, no Yoke, every Man was a Son of Belial, (in English) a Son unyoaked, unbridled, unrestrained, his lusts had their full Scope. If any Man lusted after his Neighbour's Wife, his Neighbour's Daughter, his Neighbour's House, his Neighbour's Land, it was but cutting his Throat, and the business was done; till another stronger than he, or many others combined served the Murderer in his kind, in the like Kind; till another or others did the like for them; and so for want of Law, lust was a law and revenge was a Law, and Ambition and Covetousness hurried Men Captive to confusion and ruin, for want of a Righteous Law and Yoke to restrain and protect them.  
No wonder then that the Text says in those times, there was no peace to him that went out or to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants, man against man, and City against City; for God did vex them (and they vexed one another) with all Adversity.  
And this is the fruit of liberty, liberty! But understand a little, ye brutish among the People Psalm. 94.8. And ye Fools? when will ye be Wise? Never, (alas!) never till taught (too late) by the Fool's Mistress woeful experience.  
And if Men should have but (for one day) the Trial of an Inter regnum or Interval of Government (as the Turks usually have at the Death of an Emperor,) and that every Man has liberty, they that wish for it, would find it the most dismal and Tragical day, for Rapines and Massacres that ever they had, if happily it prove not their Last Day.  
So Fatal it is to want Government, so Fatal to England to want Kingly Government, and so Fatal to Rebel's by Fight against it, to Fight against God; and therefore do justly incur the Curse of God, as Cursed Meroz, disloyal Meroz, in this Text. Whence I conclude, that as he that will not venture his Body, can never be Valiant, and he that will not venture his Soul, can never be Rich, so he that will not venture both Body, Soul and Estate, can never be a Rebel.  
There is but one Question more to be Answered, and then I have done: And that is,  
Q. 4. Why the Angel of the Lord does Curse at this Rate?  
Surely the Debauched, and profane Ranters of this Age does not from this Scripture learn to Curse and Dam, after the Example of the Angel of the Lord here, and yet the Lawfulness of Cursing is more plainly proved, than the Lawfulness of Rebellion, from this Text.  
And though it be a Devilish thing to Curse and Dam, as well as to Rebel, yet our Debauches seldom aggravate their sins by adding Hypocrisy to them, and the Cloak of Religion, the Common habit of Rebels in our Age: Yet both of them are alike in sinning impudently, with a High hand and a Brazen Face: Do they Blush when they Swear, and Curse and Dam? And are Men ashamed, when by stubbornness and Nonconformity they dare Confront, as well as Transgress the Laws?  
He that hides his Sin shall not Prosper, faith Solomon; Well, this (I'll say) for both the said Malignants, both the bold Cursers, and the bold Conventiclers, they are so far from hiding their sin, that they boast of it, and Glory in it; The one by Cursing, Swearing and Damning, hop●…s to be accounted a Daring, Valiant, Modish Gen tleman. The Angel Cursed Meroz, but this Fool dares Curse himself, he dare pray to God to Dam him, and seldom do these-Davils Incarnate put up any other prayer to God, but— God Damn them.  
Devils Incarnate did I say? Alas, that speaks them not enough, these dregs of Humanity are worse than Devils, for the Devil did pray in St. 
Luk. 8.28.  Luke's Gospel to our Saviour, saying, I beseech thee, torment me not: But these worse kind of Devils or Demonaicks, pray quite contrary, praying at every word, God, I beseech thee torment me, or, God Damn me.  
Upon me be thy Curse my Son, says a Rash Woman in Scripture; But that any Man should say— Upon me let my own Curse come, is not where to be learned but from Hell, the Devil, and the Damned Spirits.  
God Grant, that every one of us may hence Learn so to set a Watch before the Door of our Mouths, that we may truly say with Holy Job, 
Job. 31.30.  Neither have I suffered my Soul to Sin, by wishing a Curse on another Man's Soul, much less upon our own Soul.  
We read indeed of some Devilish Confederates, that made a solemn League and Covenant, 
Acts 23.  and bound themselves under a grievous Curse to kill St. Paul; But never until this unparallelled Age of profaneness, that any did bind themselves under a great Curse, to kill their own Souls Eternally, and be Damned.  
'Twas Balacks' policy to hire Balaam to Curse, (Come Curse me Jacob) his Enemy; but 'tis these men's policies and all their piety, to Curse themselves, are their own Enemy: The Devil prays they may be Damned, so pray they: Herein seeming to transcend the Blasphemy of those in the Prophet Isaiah, 
Isaiah. 8.21.  that Cursed their King and their God; And except they Repent, they shall with horror and astonishment hear our Saviour Echo to them; Go, ye Cursed into everlasting Burn, prepared for the Devil and his Angels.  
They have often, very often prayed and petitioned Heaven, that they might be Damned, their petition will be answered with a Fiat, according to your daily prayer, Amen, So be it. For them that Honour God, God will Honour, but those that despise him, and all Modesty, 
1. Sam. 2.30.  all Religion, all Virtue, all that Good is, shall be lightly esteemed.  
I know I am (and willingly I am) in some Transport to meet with this sort of men, yet not at all out of my way: Only the Wonder in the Text is not yet taken away. For though the Devil and Devilish men will Swear and Curse, yet, why should the Angel of the Lord use his Mouth to this Hectoring Language? Though I speak with the Tongue of Men or Angels, (faith the Apostle) Devilish Men and Devilish Angels have Tongues, Cursing Tongues, and Cursed Tongues; But why should the Angel of the Lord Curse?  
Ans. Surely, not but upon some notorious and strange occasion, and for some Damnable and Notorious sin, And what is that sin? but Disloyalty.  
Many other Scriptures decry and Condemn Rebellion, a sin of Commission against the King: But this Text Curses and Condemns Disloyalty, which is only a sin of Omission, (not in acting against, but) in not acting for the Sovereign Magistrate. So earnest is Heaven, not only to keep the Peace on Earth, but to help God, I mean (as the Text does) the Sovereign, Magistrate when oppressed or in Jeopardy.  
To sit still at such a Time, or to be a Neuter, is Damnable and liable to a Curse, And why? Because above all other Duties, peace is recommended in Holy Scripture, above all other Legacies, our Blessed Saviour Bequeathed peace to his Disciples and Followers, with a Blessing to the peacemaker and the peace-keeper; and a Curse on him that breaks the peace. Many other are the Blessings of Mankind, but peace includes them all; many are the Miseries of Mankind, but War, Tumult and Rebellion includes them all, as being the Mother of Mischief, including all Mischief in the Belly of it. And therefore the worst of men are thus paraphrased by the Holy Ghost— The way of Peace have they not known, Thiev●…s, and Highwaymen, Murderers and Banditoes, are (no doubt) of the vilest sort of Wretches; but yet not so Vile nor Damnable as Cursed and Tumultuous Rebels, the former being but Retail-Rogues, to those that Murder and Plunder by Wholesale. Not that all Papists and fanatics have nothing but Mischief and Blood in their Eye and Design; many of them are like those Four hundred men that Followed Absalon in their simplicity, but once engaged with him in Rebellion, there was no Retreating. Cursed, Cursed for ever let them be then, well may we say, who have seen the Villainies of Rebels acted under the Guise and Vizard of Religion, and Liberty.  
Curse them, I say, or, (not I so much) as the Angel of the Lord faith, yea, Curse them bitterly, for their Dissoyalty, that will not come to the help of the Chief Magistrate when in danger of Enemies, that will not come to the help of the King, the help of the Lord against the Mighty.  
And now I have done, And (I hope) I have done enough to make this Text speak better English, then formerly, and bespeak better English Subjects; though vile Hackney Tongues have abused this Text and their own Judgements in spite of all Sense, Grammar, and the Context, by wresting the plain and easy sense thereof, to Gull the Blockish English to their Destruction.  
Bees suck Honey from the same Flowers whence Spiders suck their poison, And I doubt not but you will conclude with me, that in this Text (thus naturally now Explained) is verified Sampson's Riddle— Out of the Eater is come forth Meat, 
Judg. 14.14.  and out of the Strong Sweetness.  
FINIS.