BELLS FOUNDER Confounded, OR Sabinianus confuted: With his damnable SECT.  Jeremiah chap. 50. vers. 2. Bel is confounded. Chap. 51. v. 17. Every man is brutish by his knowledge. Every Founder is confounded by the graven Image: For his molten Image is Falsehood, and there is no breath in them. Verse. 18. They are vanity, the works of errors, in the time of their visitation they shall perish. Verse, 19 The portion of jacob is not like them. Verse, 44. I will punish Bell in Babylon and I'll bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him, yea the walls of Babylon shall fall. 
Written by a Lover of Music, especially in Churches.  
Barns, Durand, and Platino tells, That Pope Sabinnian brought in bells. Anno, 603.   

The Preface.  
FOrasmuch as the PARLIAMENT hath voted down the Ca●hedrals, for satisfaction of the PUBLIC FAITH; it's humbly desired by the best affected, that they would proceed therein, according as the WORD OF GOD shall direct them, and take into their serious consideration, the Bill that's drawn up for the demolishing of the Cathedrals; with some exceptions of those which shall appear to be to the worship only of the true GOD, that so there may be satisfaction provided for the PUBLIC FAITH accordingly; and whereas it hath been moved, that the Bells should be pulled down also for satisfaction of the PUBLIC FAITH, It's humbly desired that the PARLIAMEMT would proceed therein likewise, according to the Rules and Examples of the WORD OF GOD.   

Erratas.  
PAge 4, line 25, for occasion read Oration: l. 27, for sovereign read suffregan: l. 29, for God read the Lord: p. 9, l. 30, for the late read your late.   

Babel's Bells confounded BY ZIONS ARGUMENTS.  
Humbly proposed to the considerations of the PARLIAMENT.  
IF the Brazen Serpent made by God's appointment was broken in pieces when it was Idolised, and that we must fight against spiritual wickednesses set up in high places; If Baal must not be pleaded for; If Bell must be confounded; if the bleating of the Amalekites fat  spared by King Saul was offensive to the Almighty; If Babel is so sick of the Popish Catholic disease that no balm will heal her; If the indignation of the most high is manifested from Heaven against the high places, by thunder and lightning, fire and brimstone, Storms and Tempests, O let the pillars of your hearts tremble, and be ye moved at the terror of the Lord, who doth great things both in Heaven, and Earth, and hath said he will destroy the High places; Flee therefore from such abominations, and deliver every man his soul, Plead not for Baal, but let Baal plead for himself, and put to your hand to the throwing down of all the monuments of Idolatry; for so you have sworn to do, and it's not for you now to repent thereof: Therefore let it not be grievous in your eyes though the Houses of Baal be broken to pieces, and the founded bells of Babel's bulls confounded and dissolved.  
For surely if these these things had been quite abolished in the days of King Henry the eight, and King Edward the sixth, many a precious life would have been preserved, which now is destroyed; but there being many Idols Temples, and other monuments of Idolatry left undestroyed, Queen Mary did speedily set up her abominable Idolatry in all these High places as much as ever; and had the more time to exercise herself in most cruel persecution. And when Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown, she threw not down these abominations; neither did King james, nor the late King, but did still let them remain to the dishonour of the living God, and plaguing of the Kingdoms. And although since the beginning of these late troubles, there hath been some reformation made by demolishing of Crosses, and Idolatrous pictures, yet nothing is done so much as aught to be: for the Roots of superstition, even the Idolatrous high places are not yet removed, though many of them were built intentionally in the forms of Crosses, and consecrated to Popish Saints, that thereby the people might themore adore them: Neither have you taken away the Popish bells, though they are abominable Idols in the very conception, formation, dedication, consecration, exaltation and occupation thereof, and therefore aught to be taken down, and utterly demolished.  
Oh therefore that the Honourable House of Parliament were throughly sensible how greatly the Name of God hath been blasphemed; and many thousands of poor souls deluded, bewitched, and led headlong into hell by such abominable Idols. Now that none may hence forward plead ignorance in omitting of this duty of demolishing of these Idols the bells, which proceeded from the Dragon; which is the Devil and Satan, I shall lay open the filthiness & abomination thereof, 
See the complaint of Jacobus Selestadiensis to Ma●imilian the Emperor.  as those who have read their books & the Chronicles, and have seen their practices, have spoken & can speak by experience, What great abomination hath been committed about these cursed Idols the Bells! What horrible blasphemies of God, 
In Mr. Fox's acts and monuments.  and of the Saints in Heaven! What solemn profanation of the Name of the living God, 
See also The. Bacon upon the relics▪ indulgences, pardons, stations, Exorcisinse, consecrations; benedictions, where you shall see the abominations of the Bells.  and of his holy spirit! What abuse and mis-application of the sacred Word, by their filthy polluted lips! What Exorcisms, by the living God, the God of Elizeus the Prophet,! What suplussing, & stoleing! What crossing and cringing, with the Priests & Clarks singing! What invocations, execrations, conjurations, and benedictions, blind devotions, and admirations! What wiping, anointing▪ sweetening, & perfuming! What sprinkling, with choice of Godfathers and Godmothers, naming the pretty babbles for babies, the bells for Babel's bulls! What singing and ringing! What drinking and roaring! What Gossipping at the said Christen of these abominable Idols! Far worse than the Calves of Beth-haven, or the Image of King Nabuchadnezzar, which was set up in the plains of Dura: for these are advanced above the rest of their Gods, even in the highest places of their Idols temples, That the bells which through their prayers have been brought into a right shape into Christendom (as they say) may make sweet melody like David's Harp, and ring merrily as their Priests and Clarks did sing merrily af●er it was cast, Te Deum, and De pacem, and a Domine factum est istud, & est myrabila in occulis nostris. This is the Lords do, and is marvellous in the eyes of us: Oh horrible! the Founder foundeth it, and they say, it is the Lords do, when it is the Devils do: For from whence came these cursed bells, but from the Idol Bell and the Dragon, Belzebub the Prince of the Devils? Thus the children of Belial have called their bells by the name of old Bell of Babel, even the God whom they worship; and as Babel signifieth confusion, so the almighty saith, Bell shall be confounded, I'll punish Bell, Bell stoopeth; and indeed the Bells begin to stoop already, and it's hoped the Lord of Hosts will dissolve them in his fury. But how have the eyes of the people been blinded and made to dote upon these detestable Idols, that they prayed for the virtue of the Holy Ghost to be put thereon, and again, that the same may be sanctified and hallowed of the Holy Ghost; and in another prayer, that the Bell may be replenished with his heavenly blessing; and in another prayer, that the dew of the Holy Ghost may be poured out thereon.  
Oh what power and glory, what virtue and goodness do they ascribe unto this Bell, for as at King Herod's occasion, the people cried, the voice of God and not of men, so these ignorant sots, after the Bishops or so●●raign hath wiped the bell with a linen towel, sing, Vox Domine super aquas, the voice of God is upon the waters; Deus majestatis intonnuit, Domine superaquas multas, vox Domine in virtute; vox Domine in magnificentia, vox Domine confringentis cadros, and also ascribe that salvation to these bells, which belongs to God, and only to his Christ; that the sound and noise thereof, shall drive away the fiery darts ' and power of the enemies, and make their army afraid. And as the Heathen Romans of old ascribed deliverance to mother Idaea, 
See Mayor's hist. pag. 125.  upon the coming forth of a Prophecy of Sibil, that if Idaea the mother of the Gods were brought to Rome, they should be able to drive the foreign enemy out of Italy, whereupon Ambassadors being sent to Attalus King of Pergamus to fetch her, and by the way the Oracle of Apollo being consulted with, he (that is that Devil) answered, that they must have a care to bring this Idea into the worthiest man's house in Rome; wherefore with great solemnity one that was judged by the Citizens of Rome to be the worthiest, was required to meet the Idol, being then 50 miles off the City, together with a company of Matrons, who brought Idaea the mother of their Gods by turns upon their shoulders, all praying as it entered, that it would willingly enter, and be propitious unto them; so the foolish people now, who hold ignorance to be the mother of devotion, are made to believe, that the sound and noise of the Bells shall drive away the fiery darts and power of the enemies and make their armies afraid; and with such words do they pray at the dedication of the Bell; and likewise that the imaginations of fantasies, the striking of Lightnings, the hurt of Thunderings the calamity of Tempests, and all stormy spirits by the noise and sound thereof may departed and go far away, and all the lying await of the enemy may be far put back, that the beating of the Hail, the storm of Winds, the violence of Tempests may be mitigated and assuaged; moreover that the fierce thundering and boisterous storms may be so measured that they do no harm, or hurt his creatures; in fine, that the powers of the air hearing this bell may tremble and shake for fear, and flee before the Banner of the holy Cross, and that when the sound of the bell pierceth through the clouds that the hands of the Angels may keep the congregation; yea, they ascribe such power unto the bells, as when the walls of jerico fell to the ground, and would make the people believe that the presence of God is in them to work wonders, as at the dividing of the sea and turning back of the waters of jordan, and say when it is demanded, wherefore? it may be answered, the earth was moved at the face of the Lord, at the face of the God of jacob, which turned the hard rocks into rivers of waters, & the flint stones into watery streams; and thereupon say, that when this present bell, (as the other vessels of the Altar) is touched with the holy chrism; and anointed with holy oil all they that come & draw near to the sound & noise thereof, may be free from all temptations of the enemies; and they ascribe salvation to t●os● bewitching creatures, as if there were power in them to deliver their souls from hell & cause them to pass into heaven: Thus God is dishonoured, his mysteries mocked, his creatures abused, superstition and idolatry upheld, the poor people deceived, O therefore make haste, vote them down, down with them, down with them to the very ground, for God hath a controversy with them, and with all them that cry them up, and let them not be exalted any more to the heaven, but bring them down and destroy them, for if you will not demolish them, God himself will do it some other way, either by sending some other power to do it, or else by proceeding as he hath begun with Lightning and Thunder to destroy them, notwithstanding all their prayers to be delivered from such judgements, the bells you see can't deliver themselves, and of all places in their Churches, God's lightning lighteth upon the Belfraies, so that in divers countries the bells are melted, by the vehemency of the flames of I A H, and many people killed outright this year, as well as heretofore, and others dangerously hurt, in so much as we see THE FINGER OF GOD pointing at them, directing you to destroy them.  
Moreover, what abundace of good cheer these bells with the Dragon's Priests have devoured by the great Gosshops feasts, which were made at the baptising thereof! What gifts & offerings to the great impoverishing of the inhabitants, whosoever readeth the book of Martyrs may see, where it is complained of. I would add sonething more, how the Lords name is dishonoured, the Sabbath profaned, drunkenness upheld, and many other vices by the continuation of these ungodly trinkets, and how much money is daily raised by the ringing of the bells for the dead, and mocking of many people, by making them pray for the dead, as if they were alive and dying! But what hath been said and done is enough, unless you would have God speak and do more than he hath.  
If you doubt whether they belong to the Commonwealth, assure yourselves that whatsoever ammunition is sent to the enemy (if it be taken) it's lawful prize, & belongeth of right to the Commonwealth; so these trinkets being devoted to the service of Antichrist, do properly belong to the Common wealth, to do by them as Asa, jehosaphat, Hezekiah, and josia, did by such idolatrous dedicated things, without any further dispute or ask leave of the idolatrous propriators, and as many high places were abolished by King Henery the Eight, and many Crosses from of the Steeples and Maypoles and superstitious signs by the Parliament were taken down. Yea, their Organs in their Churches were destroyed also by order of Parliament, although they were never so tuneable & delectable to the ear & heart, & had multiplicities of notes, and all the flats and sharps thereunto belonging, were full of divisions, subdivisions and varieties of parts, far exceeding the bravest Bagpipes, or the lustiest Lancashire Horn pipes with all their drones, none of all which properties the bells in any one of your Steeple & have, and the Organs required not so many to be occupied in the setting them on work as the bells, one was enough to blow and an Organist to play, which was done with less toil and sweeting then the ringing of bells, some bells requiring sixteen men to ring each of them, and at the best are but novelties in comparison of the Organs, which is of four thousand years standing, the bells being brought in by Pope Sabinianus in Anno 603. yet you have broken the Organs to pieces, and the rails of the Communion Tables, and the Founts, although some Parishes and persons claimed a peculiar interest, and property therein; even so ought you to destroy these abominable bells, and this is a general maxim, that whatsoever is devoted to superstition and idolatry, is forfeited to the Commonwealth, and you ought to seize upon the same, as of the goods of Traitors, which is devoted to the enemy, and if you take not the opportunity now God hath put a prize in your hand, your neglect will be as a dead fly in the Ointment of the Apochecary: If the ignorant people allege that the noise of the bell is heard a far off, and how shall they know when to go to Church, if they be all taken down? Wots you not that in a Market one bell is enough to give warning to the people? and Tread not that God ordained any bells for his Church, but what were made of Gold, and they were not for the assembling of the Congregation neither, but when they were assembled, but indeed God ordained silver Trumpets for the assembling of his congregation, and Trumpets of Rams horns, at the throwing down the walls of jerico, instead whereof the Papists have ordained bells telling us, they are good to clear the air, but if these bawling bells, were metamorphosed into roaring Canons, and charged with Gunpowder and flying bullets, against the gates of our enemies, they would clear the air better, and make a better noise than now they do, and be a better recreation; therefore I pray delay not to abolish them: now make an end where God hath begun, lest he prevent you; for out of heaven hath he thundered upon them, and his judgements findeth them out in the valleys as well as on the hills.  
If you say that you fear the People, I answer, They are but an arm of flesh and you need not fear them at all, for now you have no enemy in the Land in arms against you; but when you threw down the Crosses and Maypoles, and other monuments of idolatry, you had the late King and his forces, and an unconquered people to oppose you, yet you went on and the Lord prospered you: now you are strong but then you were weak; now the government is settled in the way of a Commonwealth, but than it was not settled; you had the King, and Lords, and their Armies to oppose you; And who can harm you if you are followers of that which is good? When you demolished the Cathedral at Leighfield, by the late Order, who opposed you? When King Asa threw down the high places, and abolished the Idols, it is said, the land was quiet before him. Do but you your duty, and I'll warrant you will do well enough, the people will not harm you; GOD can cause his fear and terrer to fall upon them, and thunder upon them by his power, so that if they will contemptuously stand to Plead for Baal, they shall certainly perish, and fall; and if they will have the Idol Bel, they must have the Dragon too.  
Subscribed by SAMUEL CHIDLEY,  
On the behalf of all Saints,  
And for the cure of all Souls,   

To the Honourable Committee for regulating the Markets. The Humble Petition of Samuel Chidley.  
Shows,  
THat although GOD hath commanded, That the places wherein the nations worshipped their gods, should be utterly destroyed. Yet there is suffered to stand still that abominable idol Paul's, that old bawdy house of the whore of Babylon, which was built, dedicated, and consecrated, first by the heathens, and after that by the Antichristians, In which place filthy Idols have been set up, abominable idolatry practised, horrible blasphemies uttered, against THE NAME of THE MOST HIGH GOD, and cruel murders committed against the Martyrs of JESUS CHRIST, The repairing whereof (though impossible to be finished without abundance of money) hath rob the people of millions of treasure, and made them poorer than job, and occasioned much strife, and many houses to be pulled down, which were round about it, Whose highest spire, the lightning from heaven, & fire hath consumed once or twice, The form of that house being a complete cross, the universal badge of a Papist, And the ruins thereof cumbering the ground, & the middle place thereof being ready to fall of itself, the whole Fabric thereof being no ornament, but a disgrace to the City and whole nation, and is of no repute amongst any rational men, but a company of fool, Papists, and Atheists, such beasts whom St. Paul fought with at Ephesus after the manner of men; Besides, some persons out of covetousness have lately stolen away very much of the Leads, after the HOUSE had voted the destruction of the Cathedrals for payment of the PUBLIC FAITH.  
Your Petitioner in conscience to his GOD humbly begs, that that great Idol may be speedily rooted up to the very bottom of Sin Faiths, for satisfying of the PUBLIC FAITH of this nation, And that there may be a NEW MARKET erected there (and called by another name) that the adjacent streets may have a free passage without that usual interruption, by crowds of people, Carts, and Coaches, on every side, All which will no doubt tend very much to the good of the Commonwealth in general, and the City of London in particular, and be pleasing to GOD, which is best of all.  
And your Petitioner shall ever pray, etc.  
FINIS.