Pia Fraus: OR, Absalom's Theft.  
BEING A SERMON Preached to a Country-Congregation On the Thirtieth of January last, BEING The ANNIVERSARY FAST FOR The MARTYRDOM OF King CHARLES the First.  
By R. L. M. A.  Lament. ch. 4. v. 20. 
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.  
LONDON: Printed by J. C. and F. Collins, for Charles Yeo Bookseller in Exon. 1684.   

Viro verè Nobili, Et Regiae Majestatis Subdito fidelissimo, Necnon Ecclesiae Anglicanae Filio obsequientissimo, EDVARDO SEYMOR Bart Hanc CONCIONEM, In Testimonium gratitudinis, Humillimè offert, dicat & dedicat  
ROB. LAWE.   

The Reader is desired to take notice, that this SERMON was fitted for the Press, as now it is, before the Plot was detected; but met with an unexpected impediment.   
2 SAM. 15. v. 6. 
So Absalon stole the hearts of the men of Israel.  
THE Text presents you with a Theft of the highest nature, aggravated by the horridest circumstances. Under the Law, 
Exod. 22 v. 1, 4. Prov. 6.31.  common Theft was punished with restitution of double; in some cases, of fourfold, fivefold, sevenfold, according to the various circumstances of the fact: But he that stole a man, was to die without mercy: He shall surely be put to death, Exod. 21. vers. 16. Hence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menstealers are reckoned amongst the vilest of sinners, 1 Tim. 1.10. What punishment doth he deserve then, that steals the best and noblest part of man, the heart? 

1. 
Psal. 82.6. I have said, Ye are Gods.  From so sacred a person as a King (a God upon earth) that robs him of the love and loyalty of his Subjects.  
2. For so vile a purpose, as Rebellion, Murder, etc.  
3. By such wicked means as falsehood, flattery, lying, hypocrisy, profanation of the name of God, etc. prostituting Religion itself to the basest designs, by making it a Veil to cover the infamy of the most enormous actions.  
4. And for so mischievous an end, as to dethrone the Lords Anointed, and advance an infamous Rebel to his Seat.    
But let us examine the circumstances apart, and inquire,  
I. First, What the Theft was, or who stole?  
Absalon, an unnatural Wretch, an ungrateful Viper, a Subject, a Son, bound to his Father by many obligations and extraordinary favours; one that had so deep an interest in his heart, that the barbarous murder of his own Brother Amnon, could not alienate his affection from him; but his heart was still towards him, 2 Sam. 14.1. (when indeed the hand of his Justice should have been against him). Nay, he so vehemently doted on this ungracious wretch, that his soul not only longed to go forth unto him, 2 Sam. 13.39. but also 
* In the margin, Was consumed. The Septuagint renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, i.e. Valdè laboravit, or usque ad fatigationem.  languished in the desire of enjoying him; so that he was no longer able to bear his exile or absence. Nay, so doting and blind was his Father's affection, that he could not, or would not see the Plot that was hatching against him, though visible enough, by his Darlings daily courting the people, and slily insinuating himself into their affections: which could not choose but come to his ears by some one or other of his attendants, (it being so frequent, so public, beside the way of the gate, 2 Sam. 15.2. the place of public concourse, and his daily practice) had not his monstrous fondness either silenced the tongues of those that were about him, or stopped his own ears against all informations, or charmed him into such a confidence of his Son's Loyalty, as that he was resolved to believe no Reports against his ungrateful Fondling.  
Here were obligations enough to have kept him within the bounds of his duty, and all loyal obedience, and to have silenced and suppressed all rise of rebellious thoughts within him; being so strongly, bound by Nature, Scripture, Allegiance, Gratitude, etc. But what unnatural Villainies will not Pride and Ambition put rebellious spirits upon!  
II. Secondly, What did this Absalon steal? The hearts of the men of Israel; id est, their Affections, Love, Loyalty, Obedience; alienating them from their lawful Sovereign, and wretchedly perverting them to the advancement of his own rebellious design, and the destruction of his Father, whose right they properly were.  
Now that this was a manifest Theft, will appear by a double consideration.  
First, 
Furtum est occulta acceptio rei alienae, Aquin. or ablatio fraudulenta rei alienae, invito domino, lucri causa. The Septuagint renders it, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, etc. fecit cór virorum Israel suum.  Because the hearts of the men of Israel were not Absaloms, but his Father's right; their Affection, Loyalty, and Obedience were due to their Sovereign: and it was theft in Absalon (a private person) to alienate them from his Prince, who had the only just and legal Title to them: a theft (as might be showed) that was aggravated by many circumstances; as, the high value of the thing stolen, the great injury that was done to the Owner, and the sad consequences of it, even to those that were accessary to it. For to steal the hearts of the people, was to steal a Crown from a King, to convert it to the damage and destruction of the legal Possessor, whose Crown and Head were doomed to fall both together.  
The people's hearts then were David's by right; he had as good a Title to them as he had to his Crown, and that was as good as God himself could confer upon him. But the Rebel had none but an usurped power; and it's certain that the clamours of the Rout, Absalon reigneth in Hebron, could devolve no right upon him.  
It's granted, that they might love and honour him as the King's Son; but not in competition with, or opposition to their lawful Sovereign; not so as to be persuaded, by his pious disguises and plausible pretences of Reformation, to give up their hearts to the disposal of an Usurper, and combine to set the Crown upon a Rebel's head.  
Secondly, Because he did it secretly, closely, treacherously, like a thief-in the dark, Job 24.14. and like a cunning insinuating Hypocrite, inveigled all the people with his gentile Deportment and Compliments, his specious Pretences and Allurements; and this so subtly, that neither David himself, nor the people, could discover his Plot, till it was ripe for action, and past all possibility of prevention.  
The common guise of all Rebels, to walk at first in the dark, and like cunning Pioners, to work under ground until they have brought their Mine to perfection, and then they blow up the foundations of all ancient and regular Government in an instant: such exact imitators are they of that Prince of Darkness, the first Rebel in the World, the grand Inciter to, and Author of all Rebellions against God and his Vicegerents. Had Absalon attempted this by plain and open force, probably he had never prevailed so far; therefore he lays the foundation of his Plot in secret fraud, and makes use of the Fox's case, to prepare a way for his after-appearance in the Lion's skin.  
III. Thirdly, Let us inquire whose hearts Absalon stole? The hearts of the men of Israel; who were,  
1. The peculiar people of God, solemnly dedicated to him and his service, in covenant with him, and highly prized by him. Now to draw them into so foul an Apostasy, so fatal a Conspiracy against the Lord and his Anointed, was a great aggravation of his damned Impiety.  
2. But this is not all. The men whose hearts he stole, were David's Subjects, tied not only by the Bonds of natural Allegiance to their Prince, but with the most sacred Ties of Religion; a Solemn League and Covenant made before the Lord in Hebron, 2 Sam. 5.3. So that he drew them not only into Rebellion, but Perjury; such near affinity there is between sins of this nature.  
3. Absalon stole the hearts of the men of Israel, not barely from their King, but a King of Gods own immediate choice and appointment, Psal. 89.20. I have exalted one chosen out of the people, I have found David my servant, (as it were by diligent search and enquiry after some excellent and heroic person) with my holy oil have I anointed him: And 2 Chron. 6.6. I have chosen Jerusalem, that my Name might be there: and have chosen David to rule over my people Israel, that under his government they might enjoy the greater felicity.  
4. He stole their hearts from a King, whom they received with the greatest expressions of joy, 1 Chron. 12.40. and not without cause, if you consider how well he deserved of them, by their own acknowledgement, 2 Sam. 5.2. Also in time past, when Saul was King over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel, etc. 2 Sam. 19.9. The King saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines, etc. In a word, one that had conquered their enemies, enlarged their Territories, (but above all) reform their Religion according to the purity of Gods Law. And yet these are the men whose hearts were stolen from their confessedly-deserving Sovereign, by the crafty insinuations of complimental Absalon. So mutable are the opinions and affections of the giddy Multitude!  
IU. Fourthly, This will appear more clearly, if we consider the next circumstance; from whom the hearts of the men of Israel were stolen: from no common person, but a King; from no foreign King, but their own; no unworthy dastardly Prince, but an heroical, magnanimous, and renowned one, for his Valour, Wisdom, Piety, etc. chosen of God to be the Ruler of his people, as you heard before: A man after Gods own heart, 1 Sam. 13.14. one that did judgement and justice to all his people, 2 Sam. 8.15. (whatsoever the Rebel suggested to the contrary) ruled them prudently with all his power, fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands, Psal. 78.72.  
This is the King whose Subjects hearts were stolen by an ungrateful Son and infamous Rebel. So blind is Ambition in the Plotters, and a brutish Itch after novelty in the Abettors of rebellious projects and practices against the best of Princes.  
How much then doth it concern Princes to carry a jealous eye over that beast with many heads? to suspect the fickle and unconstant disposition of the Multitude (especially if poisoned with principles of Rebellion, under pretences of Religion); who are apt enough of themselves to grow weary of the present Government, if at least it be charged (true or false, they never examine) by their graceless Ringleaders with any irregularities or defects, (though such as probably cannot be avoided in the best of Governments, or by the best of Governors): but Absalon furatus est cor, etc. i. e. (as one descans upon the Text) excordem reddidit, & amentem populum: he made the people stark mad by his intoxicating Allurements and Enchantments.  
V. Fifthly, By what means he stole the hearts of the men of Israel? By the most vile and sordid that Hell itself could suggest, (and yet such as are usually practised by Rebels in their method of undermining Kingdoms) as Fraud, Flattery, Lying, Hypocrisy, palpable and malicious slandering his Father's Person and Government.  
This obsequious Gallant puts forth his hand, embraces and kisses every one that comes to him to do him obeisance, 2 Sam. 15.5. Et omnia serviliter pro dominatione, as Tacitus said of Otho. He kissed them, not out of love, but design, as Judas did our blessed Lord and Saviour, Mat. 26.48. not to salute, but betray him. We read, John 12.4, and 5. how solicitous the Hypocrite seemed to be for the good of the poor; not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief. So this Traitor puts on the Cloak of feigned Humility and Humanity, Holiness and Charity; not that he regarded any of those, or minded the happiness of the people; but because he was a Thief, and aimed at the Crown.  
For what probability was there, that he who was so prodigal of the blood of his own Brother Amnon, should be tender of the lives of his Subjects? or that he should make conscience of preserving the Rights and Privileges of his People, who endeavoured to deprive his Prince and Father of his Regal Prerogatives? or that he should consult the Peace of the Nation, that wilfully involved it in an unnatural and bloody War, only to satisfy his own ambitious Lust?  
And yet how passionately doth the Hypocrite breath out, O that I were made a judge in the land, that every man that hath suit on cause, might come unto me, and I would do him justice! How zealous would the good man be for the People's Welfare 
* 
Occultum & insidiosum malum est perfidia cujus efficasissimae vires sunt mentiri & fallere. Val. Max.  
Prov. 10.18. He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.  ! for says he, thy matters are good and right, but there is no man deputed of the King to hear thee. As if he should have said, Neither the King, nor any of his Officers, have any regard to Justice or the Public Good; (a brazenfaced lie, and shameless slander, of a graceless wretch): Yet with this Art he woes and wins the hearts of the men of Israel. But the grand Engine to advance his hellish design, was the Traitor's hypocrisy, and pretence of Religion, (the painted Vizard that the vilest Rebels use to hid the deformity of their mischievous Plots with). Religion must be a Cloak for his Rebellion; a Vow must be paid in Hebron, the place where his Father was first crowned King, and, as 'tis probable, where himself was born and bred, amongst his Relations and Acquaintance; and at some distance from the Court, that he might act his part with the less suspicion. 'Tis granted, that as a prologue to the Plot, he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him; that he might appear splendid before the People, and dazzle the eyes of the Vulgar, who are much taken with Novelties, and apt to admire such a royal Attendance, and outward appearance of Grandeur.  
Besides, he invited two hundred men out of Jerusalem, to grace the action, who went in their simplicity, and knew not any thing: Yet, I say, Religion (the pretence of it) was the main and most effectual Artifice to win the People's affections, and under the vizard of Piety, to cheat them into a most impious Rebellion and Apostasy. A Vow must be paid in Hebron, 2 Sam. 15.7. Sacrifices must be offered there, v. 12. And would so religious a Prince attempt any thing that was unlawful or unjust? But see the damned hypocrisy of this flagitious Wretch! these Sacrifices were offered in Design, not in Devotion.  
First, Either quod conjuratio validior esset foedere Sancita, that the Conspiracy might be the stronger, being ratified by a Solemn League and Covenant.  
Thus the Guisian party in France strengthened their side by their holy League; and the perfidious party of the Scots, in imitation of them, (and 'tis probable by the French advice) played their Pranks under the same Vizard; 
You may read their palpable Hypocrisy and Juggling, in the King's large Declaration.  by which they intended, especially the Ringleaders of the Faction (whatever they pretended) to strengthen the hands of their Party, and by the strictest ties of Religion, to engage incautelous Souls in one of the most villainous Rebellions that ever was hatched in Hell, or acted on Earth: And yet all this while (see the villainy of it!) many of the Contrivers had a secret reserve and resolution to keep it no further or longer than it should be subservient to their own ambitious and covetous ends. Witness their base, barbarous, and treacherous delivery up of the King's person (whom they were bound by the Law of Nature, Nations, and common Humanity, to have protected) into the hands of his cruel and bloodthirsty Enemies.  
And this too, directly contrary to the tenor of their own Covenant; wherein they had solemnly, with hands lifted up to the most high God, sworn to preserve and defend the King's Majesty's Person and Authority, in the preservation and defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdom; that the World may bear witness with our Consciences of our Loyalty 
* Psal. 55.21. The words of his mouth were smother than butter, but war in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. A Psalm penned, as 'tis probable, upon the occasion of Absalom's Conspiracy and Achitophel's Treachery. Mell in ore, fell in cord.  and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesty's just Power and Greatness. And yet it is manifest that they basely sold him (as Judas did his Master) for a sum of money, to the eternal Infamy (if not of the Nation, yet) of those Hucksters amongst them that were employed to drive the Bargain.  
Or else, secondly, that he might impiously crave the Blessing of God upon his cursed Rebellion. Thus Jezebel, when she thirsted after Naboth's Vineyard and life, proclaimed a fast, 1 Kin. 21.9. that the mask of Religion might cover the villainy of so barbarous an action, as the cruel Murder of so innocent a person. In imitation of whom, these men or Monsters amongst us, who were the occasion of this days Solemnity, had learned to fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness, Isai. 58.4. For when they had any mischievous design on foot, they used to prepare their way by proclaiming a Solemn Fast, as a pious Cheat to inveigle the credulous Multitude into an high opinion of their extraordinary Sanctity.  
VI Lastly, For what end Absalon stole the hearts of the men of Israel. Not to relieve the Oppressed, or reform the State, (though these were pretended); but to satisfy his ambition and avarice, by making the dead Carcase of his own Father a step to the Crown; and then, like a Tyrant, to own no Law to rule by, but his own Lust. A perfect Pattern of our late Rebels! as will after appear.  
And the Issue was every way correspondent to the Action; a mischievous design, attended with a miserable destruction of the Arch-rebel himself, and twenty thousand of his poor seduced Party, 2 Sam. 18.7. And let such a fate attend all such infamous Rebels!  
But was not the hand of Achitophel in all this? 'Tis probable that it was; though the subtle Fox did not appear openly, till Absalom's Party was grown so strong and formidable as to take the Field, and bear down (as he thought) all opposition that could be made against it. Peter Martyr thinks that he was Author vel faltem magnus adjutor Conjurationis: I am persuaded that he was both, and that in compliance with Absalom's discontented, ambitious, and (it may be) revengeful humour, the whole Plot was projected, the Scenes divided, and the Actors assigned their several parts, by this subtle Politician, before there was any apparent entrance upon the execution. And this appears to me probable, by his readiness to attend upon Absalom's motion, 2 Sam. 15.12. the desperate counsel that he gave him to make the breach irreconcilable, 2 Sam. 16.21. and the offer of his own personal service to pursue weary and weakhanded David, before he could recover counsel or courage to make any considerable resistance, 2 Sam. 17.1, etc. Which latter (if it had not been defeated by the overruling providence of God) had certainly proved destructive to his forsaken Sovereign.  
Upon what provocation this Arch-rebel as well as Politician, engaged in this Conspiracy, is uncertain: But 'tis certain, that David esteemed and honoured him so far, as to make him his chief Counsellor, (it may be, Lord Precedent of his Council) whose counsel was of that weight and authority with David, as if he had enquired at the Oracle of God, 2 Sam. 16.23. Nay, if we consult 55 Psal. v. 13, etc. (where the Psalmist curses his perfidious Villainy) we shall find that he made him his equal, his companion, his bosom-friend, his guide in all his affairs and actions; one in whom he reposed the greatest confidence; therefore, 2 Sam. 15.31. it was brought (as it seems) as strange and unexpected news to David, Achitophel is amongst the Conspirators. Strange it was indeed, that a person so highly honoured and obliged by the King, should assault his Crown and Life with such bitter, bloody, and implacable malice.  
But we need not be curious in our inquiry after his base Treachery, and ungrateful Apostasy from his own Master. A plodding head and mischievous heart will never want pretences for the sordidest Villainies; especially when aspiring persons conceive hopes of advancing their fortune by a compliance with, and adoration of the rising Sun: and that no obligations from a Prince will keep such persons firm to their Loyalty, might be made evident by a multitude of Instances amongst ourselves.  
To apply this to our present occasion.  
This day fell the best of Princes, by the bloody and barbarous hands of his own Subjects. There were many Absaloms' and Achitophel's, proud, ambitious, covetous, subtle, malicious wretches, that conspired to shed his innocent Blood: and to this end, stole the hearts of his beguiled Subjects, and by plausible pretences, decoyed them into a Rebellion against their lawful and gracious Sovereign, that so they might rob him both of his Crown and Life at once. Unnatural Miscreants! whom no reverence to his sacred Person, no fear of that great God (whose Vicegerent he was) no sense of their own Duty, nor shame of the World, could restrain from the open, impudent, impious, and villainous shedding his Royal and Sacred Blood. What Morsters were these, that durst deal so barbarously with a King, their own King, who offered them all the pledges of his Love, all possible security for their Lives, Liberties, Laws, Religion, or whatsoever was dear to, or might abundantly satisfy all good and loyal Subjects 
* This the King grievously complains of in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, I had formerly declared to sober and moderate minds, how desirous I was to give all just content, when I agreed to so many Bills; which had been enough to secure and satisfy all, if some men's hydropic insatiableness had not learned to thirst the more, by how much the more they drank. Chap. 6. ! A King famous for his Parts, Piety, Patience, Devotion, and all other Christian Graces; which will make him admired to all Generations, when the name of these wicked ones shall rot, Prov. ●0. 7. and stink in the nostrils of all those that have any sparks of Ingenuity or Humanity left in them.  
But what assurances could satisfy those that were resolved not to be satisfied with any thing but his Crown and Life? and therefore wretchedly staved off all offers of Accommodation for Peace 
† Or else offered such unreasonable terms as he could neither in Honour, Reason, or Conscience, yield to. Witness the 19 Propositions, the Treaty at Uxbridge; which proved unsuccessful (says the King, in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) by the treacherous obstinacy of those men, with whom it was a grand Maxim, to ask something which in reason and honour must be denied, that they might have some colour to refuse all that was in other things granted, ch. 18. . For these Miscreants had a bloody Tragedy to act, an execrable design contrived, which they were resolved to carry on, against all Laws of Scripture, Nature, Nations; against their own public Declarations, against their solemn Oaths, Vows, Covenants, and (I am persuaded) the checks of their own Consciences too, unless they had as wilfully seared them, as they had impudently brazened their faces to act such a prodigious Villainy in the face of the Sun, and view of the whole World; who stood amazed to behold the impudence and impiety of those graceless wretches, who had made such public and frequent Professions (and those confirmed by sacred and solemn Oaths) of their Loyalty to that innocent and excellent Prince, whose Blood afterwards they so barbarously spilt.  
If we inquire into the Means and Methods by which they effected this monstrous Villainy, we shall find that they traced exactly the steps of this bloody Absalon, in their Fraud, Hypocrisy, Calumny, false and impudent Slanders cast upon that King's Person and Government: as appears by that Remonstrance set forth in 1641. pretended to be for the information of the People; but intended (by some at least) for their seduction, and indeed proved the source of all our ensuing Miseries, and the prologue to that woeful Tragedy acted on this day. As also by their frequent and false Declarations, wherein they wrist all his Expressions and Concessions to the worst sense, charging him with the Irish Rebellion, and the guilt of all the Blood that was spilt in the three Nations 
* The tenderness and regret I find in my soul, for having had any hand (& that very unwillingly, God knows) in shedding one man's blood unjustly, etc. may, I hope, be some evidence before God and man to all posterity, that I am far from bearing justly the vast load and guilt of all the blood which was spilt in this unhappy War; which some men will needs charge on me, to ease their own fouls. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, chap. 2. Of the Irish Rebellion, see chap. 12. . (Though themselves had no ground for the raising that bloody War, but their own pretended and groundless fears and jealousies); and offering the highest indignities to his Royal Person and Family.  
Their usual Expressions were, Blacken him, blacken him; i. e. load him with Reproaches, defame him amongst the People, make him odious by false Accusations, malicious Slanders, infamous Libels, etc. 
† Those foul and false Aspersions were secret Engines at first employed against the love of my People towards me, that undermining their value of me, mine Enemies, and theirs too, might at once blow up their Affections, and batter down their Loyalty. Chap. 15.  And so they did. Some of them spit their hellish Venom upon his Name, as others (in imitation of their Forefathers the Jews, Mark 14.65.) did their aspish Poison in his face, (a Barbarism unheardof!) in token of their greatest Contempt and Abhorrence.  
But his Name, like a precious Ointment, will yield a sweet savour, Eccl. 7.1. when their Memorial shall perish with them: or if any thing remain of it, it shall be noted with a black mark, Nigro carbone, fit only to be fixed upon men famous for infamy, and render them an hissing, a byword, and an astonishment to all succeeding Ages 
* I am well assured, that as my Innocency is clear before God, so my Reputation shall, like the Sun, (after Owls and Bats have had freedom in the night and darker times) rise and recover itself to such a degree of Splendour, as these feral Birds shall be grieved to behold, and unable to bear. Chap. 15. .  
But the grand Cheat lay in the pretence of Religion and Reformation; Popery was coming in upon us like a Flood. Popery; a terrible word, and which of late hath been made use of by some subtle Underminers of Monarchy, as a Bugbear to affright silly people out of their wits. But were they really such Enemies to Popery as they pretended, who connived at least, at the most infamous Heretics and Heresies that ever started out of Hell? (or else Mr. Edwards belies them in his Gangrene). And Mr. Prynn, in his perfect Narrative, undertakes to demonstrate to them, that their new Commonwealth or Good Old Cause (they are his own words) was originally projected by the Jesuits, and other Romish Emissaries, To destroy our Protestant Religion, Church, King, Kingdom, Parliament, Laws, Liberties, etc. And Papists and Popish books were grown so numerous and audacious under their government, that the Stationers of London thought themselves bound in conscience to alarm them and the whole Nation with a little Tract called The Beacon fired: which was very ill resented, and bitterly answered by the Ringleaders of the Faction. But it would be endless to insist upon particulars of this nature.  
It's certain, that as they were no Enemies to Popery, so they were no Friends to Religion; only they had learned Machivel's Principle, to own the show, but not the substance of it: For their Solemn League and Covenant taken by themselves, rigorously and unconscionably pressed upon others, in the taking whereof, there were so many Solemnities used, so much seeming Zeal, Reverence, and Devotion expressed; this very Covenant, when it crossed their design, was laid aside like an old Almanac out of date, and a useless thing. Base Hypocrites! thus to profane the sacred Name of the great God, by Religious Mockeries.  
And of this their vile Hypocrisy, their own actions were a clear demonstration, when they plucked off the Vizard from their faces, and were not ashamed to discover the ugliness of their complexions to the whole World. For when these zealous Reformers had gotten the Power into their own hands, and when they had stolen the People's hearts, heads, hands and all, and engaged them in their Party, what Havoc did they make, what Oppression, what Cruelty did they exercise towards their fellow-subjects? What Violence, 
Psal. 55.9.  what Strife, what Mischief, what Wickedness, what Deceit or Guile did they omit, to support their new-erected Tyranny?  
Is it not lamentable to consider that so much Treasure should be spent, so much Christian Blood spilt, so many Subjects lives lost? (not to speak of the dangerous condition of their Souls who died in actual Rebellion against God and their King, Rom. 13.2. and were drawn in by the subtlety of those Bloodthirsty men); and all this to mount an infamous Faction, made up mostly of the Dregs of the Nation, to the highest pitch of Power and Dominion. Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum?  
But the great God made them know, to their smart, that he ruleth in Jacob, and to the ends of the earth, Psal. 59.13. that he is King, be the people never so impatient; that he sitteth between the cherubims, 
Psal. 99.1. Old Translat.  be the earth never so unquiet; that he who sits in Heaven, sees and derides the bold attempts of such daring mortals, Psal. 2.4. that he to whom vengeance belongeth, will show himself; that the Judge of all the earth, will render a reward to the proud; that the wicked shall not always triumph, nor the workers of iniquity boast themselves, nor break in pieces his people, and afflict his heritage, and slay the widow, and murder the fatherless, Psal. 94.1. Sera sed certa venit vindicta. At last God arose, and fcattered his enemies, Psal. 68.1. blew up their Plots, subverted their Councils, and turned all their mischief upon their own pates. A fire not blown, consumed them, Job 20.26. A strange and unexpected Judgement sent from God's immediate hand, like a fire that arises of itself, no man knows how, seized upon them (when they were at the highest of their hopes and confidences, and fancied, with the Psalmist, an immovable and settled prosperity, Psal. 30.6.) and cast them down into destruction, brought them into desolation, as in a moment, and utterly consumed them with terrors, Psal. 73.15, etc.  
And is it not sad to consider, that notwithstanding all this, there should be some of the same Litter still lurking in the Nation? who, though they have seen the mighty hand of God in the destruction of their Party, and the miraculous reduction of his present Majesty, do yet long to be at it again, and still hope for the day, when they shall cry once more against Church and State, (as the Edomites did against Jerusalem) Psal. 137.7. Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof 
* Isai. 26.11. When thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see and be ashamed of their envy at the people. .  
Is War so sweet to these men, 
Dulce bellum inexpertis.  that they should stand on tiptoe to leap into a new Rebellion, to act over the old Part upon a new Stage, and under a new disguise, to revive the Good Old Cause, to the confusion of King, Church, and Kingdom? and in order to this, to endeavour, by a new knack of an Ignoramus, to pervert all Law and Justice, and let lose the Reins to the greatest Villainies, to plot and act all manner of mischief impunè, even to the murder of the King himself? For what Justice can we expect to be done upon those, who are to be tried by their fellow-Delinquents?  
And is it not yet to be feared, that Absalon and Achitophel are still at work amongst us, and hope by their secret machinations and subtle insinuations of strange fears and jealousies, to prevail with the giddy Multitude, the Rabble of Towns, and Rout of Country-bumkins, to beat (not their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks, Isai. 2.4. that is a Prophecy of Gospel-times, and that Peace and Concord which should reign amongst Christians, but) their Ploughshares into Swords, and their Pruning-hooks into Spears, as it is in Joel 3.10. to convert all into Arms and Ammunition, as men use to do in the calamitous times of War? A time most suitable to the spirits of bold, furious, fiery, and bloody-minded men.  
But God hath hitherto dashed their designs; so that though they intended evil, and imagined a mischievous device against King and Kingdom, yet they are not able to perform it, Psal. 21.11. God, I say, hath hitherto prevented their Malice, and out of the ashes of that Phoenix, the best of Princes, a Non-such indeed, (but not in the sense of those Miscreants) hath raised up another, our most gracious Sovereign now reigning, (whom God long preserve) maugre all the Plots and devices, the spite and malignity of all his open and secret Enemies.  
I shall conclude with Jacob's exprobration of Simeon and Levi, (for some of both Tribes had a hand in the innocent blood that was shed this day) and his Apostrophe to himself, by way of detestation of their bloody fact, (and I hope every good Christian and loyal Subject will join with me): Simeon and Levi are brethren, 
Gen. 49.5, etc.  instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret: unto their assembly, mine honour, be thou not united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.   
FINIS.