A Mirror; Wherein the RUMPERS AND fanatics (Especially those, who even yet desire to continue Religious Rebels, and to make Piety the Sire to Treason, and new Disturbances;) may see their deformity, and abhor both themselves and their Actions.  
Sent in a Letter by a Friend, to a Votary and Follower of that FACTION.  
Occasioned by a Seditious Sermon lately Preached.  Psal. 59.12. 
For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride; and for Cursing and Lying which they speak.  Hor: lib. 3. Ode 4. 
Vis consilii expers mole ruit suâ.  
Vim temperatam Dii quoque provehunt,  
In majus; iidem odere vires  
Omne nefas animo moventes.  
LONDON, Printed for Robert Pawley at the Rainbow in Fleetstreet, 1660.   

A Mirror, etc.  
SIR,  
I Suppose you will readily grant, that if a Person hath a limb or a member cut off, there needs not many Arguments to persuade him, that there is a maim and a deformity in his Body: And surely I think it is equally sensible, and will therefore require as little labour to prove, that in this latter Age of the World there never was more visible tokens of a Divine displeasure upon any Nation, than this of England, which being possessed with many legions of Evil spirits, most furious and fanatic, hath, from their Impulses, for many years together, been like a great body tearing itself to pieces. During a tedious interval of time we lay gasping under the groans and pressures of a Civil Usurpation: from thence (like our Saviour, delivered from the Tyranny and Injustice of Pilate, to the rudeness and violence of his Soldiers) we were transmitted to a Military Insolence: When those Persons, who, before they had built their fortunes upon public ruins, we should have disdained to have set with the dogs of our Flock, were become our Dictator's, and the grand Masters of our Lives, our Properties, and our Laws; all which lay like a Partridge under a Falcon's wing, ready to be seized upon, and torn in pieces at their pleasure. We have known committed the most irregular and exorbitant Tyrannies, aggravated from one part of the Actors from a mercenary perfidiousness, and more highly aggravated from the other party by a pretended legality, which endeavoured to make the Vassalage certain, and irrevocable. Religion, Justice, Council, and Treasure, those four Pillars of Government were undermined, and in part demolished: We were indeed a mere heap and rout of Men huddled together like the Emblem of Disorder. And now, that from all this Misery and Confusion we are in some measure emancipated. When those Daemoniacks, which, (like him in the Gospel) hath many times thrown the Nation into the fire of War and Rapine, and many times into the Water of Violence and Desolation, are almost charmed and exorcised; And when a most distempered People, whom we may properly say, Satan hath bound these eighteen years, are in some assurance of being loosed from their infirmity: When the dawnings of a happy Settlement break forth upon us, and when, (to endear the Mercy,) all this is accomplished without blood and sweat, in such an unexpected and sudden change of Providence, that no Oracle could have found belief, if any had foretold it: That yet notwithstanding any Person should be so besotted with Ignorance, or so everwhelmed with Malice, and Self-interest, as still to dote upon our Enslavers, and consequently, to desire a Return of our Madness and Distraction, is even the most prodigious Wonder; which as in myself it produceth pity and amazement, so in others it cannot but beget both scorn and indignation. For how can it be thought upon, otherwise than with a reflection of horror, that because some corrupt stomaches are able to digest poison, all others must be forbidden the use of more wholesome diet? It is true, there was a time when these State-Conjurers, did with so many clouds wherein their Actions were enwrapped, fill the passages of men's understanding, that the beam of the mind could not set open the light of Reason; but now that those thick Scales are fallen off, and all that painting and varnish with which their pretences were adorned, is now dissipated and vanished, for men still to continue their desires to uphold so corrupt an Interest, doth not admit either Excuse or Pardon, seeing it doth not proceed from Ignorance, or Error, but from a perverse ebstinacy, and a Malicious Ambition. It is a true saying of one of the Ancients, that Time and the Eye try out truth, but falsehood winneth credig only on a sudden, and by uncertainties: And since Time, the most sure and impartial Judge, hath sentenced those glorious pretences, with which our late Politicians did veil themselves, to be nothing else by gilded Hypocrisies, and the baiting of their hook with Heaven to catch Earth; he that subscribes not to this Testimony, must even defy the light itself. Naturalists tell us of the Basilisk, that if he see a Man first, the Man dies, but if a Man see him first, the Basilisk dies; It is most certain of those politic frauds and impostures, used by those exquisite State-Jugglers lately turned out of Play; Many Persons, not being quick-signted enough to discern them, they did not only endanger, but destroy; but now they are discovered, all their power of doing hurt is lost, except over those, who choose to prefer Rebellion with ruin, before Subjection with Safety. I think it may be a question concerning many of our grand Tyrannizers, whether their Persons were more contemptible, or their Actions more to be detested? For there was obtruded upon the Nation, not only vassalage, but contumely: How many of them grew, like Melons, out of Dunghills? Whom that Character which Tacitus gives of some Promoters in his time may aptly express, Of Beggars they are become Rich, Of Contemptible persons feared, procuring destruction to others, and in the end to themselves. Should their Actions be described, the Illegality, Injustice, Rapine, and Violence which was interwoven and coexistent with them, would fill a Volume as big as the Book of Martyrs; And, were they not most eminently notorious, and impossible to be hidden, I should say as Seneca in the like Case, Satius erat ista in oblivionem ire, ne quis postea Potens disceret, invideretque rei minimè humanae. However, my intentions are not to slain my Paper with the things themselves, but only to note their Circumstances, and attendants.  
I am persuaded, since mankind had a being, there was never joined together fairer resemblances, and souler Ends, then in those men. How well may that be applied to them, which Herodian observes of the Emperor Severus, that he was the most cunning Dissembler in the World; not regarding to falfify his Oath to serve his Ambition; one that knew how to insinuate into others, for his own purposes, And would readily utter that with his tongue, which he never intended in his heart.  
Never was that precept of Lysander so well practised, as by these Statists, That Children are to be deceived with Comfits, and men with Oaths. Never was there beast who had more foul and stinking garbage covered over with a fair skin. Never was there Crocodile who was more plentiful in tears, nor more ready to devour: They were like the Cane-plant, which of all Plants, as it is Smoothest in bark, so it is hollowest in body.  
But that which gave the most horrid aspect, and the most noisome favour to all their impieties, (like a taper in the hand of a Ghost, or as sweet Oil to a rank and stinking body,) was, that Religion was forced to become a Fander to their Tyranny and Ambition: And as the Heathens of old, fancied Jupiter to be an Adulterer, Mars a Quarrel, Bacchus a Drunkard, Mercury a Thief, and Venus a Whore, that having such Patrons for their Vices, their uncleanness might seem Religious; So these Politics would needs fancy God to be such a one, as themselves, by interesting him in all their designs; and after the Plot was contrived, he was implored to give the Success, though the thing itself was never so Villainous; and if the Issue was suitable to their desires, than they boasted that they were delivered to do such abominations. Casuists say, He that lies with his Sister commits a heinous Crime, but he that marries his Sister heightens his impiety, by applying God's Ordinance to his own Villainy: Surely there cannot be a more profligate and flagitious Act, then to make God the Patron of fraud, and to use Religion as a Mask to cover their lewd designs. And indeed, how can those impious wretches be sufficiently abhorred, who being full fraught with Malice, and Ambition, lift up polluted hands to heaven; And are neither afraid nor ashamed to approach the most holy of Religious duties, being yet polluted with the blood of their Murders and Regicides? These are the Person, who whilst their Actions gave the clearest evidences of Cruelty and Sacrilege, Disloyalty and Perfidiousness, did notwithstanding not cease to be devout. But what was the Efficacy of their Devotion? Surely nothing more than the correcting of their gestures, and the reforming of their hair; it did not in any measure repress their passions, nor touch their Vices, nor restrain and prevent their Treason and Tyranny. Their greatest virtue consisted in extolling those offenders, whom their own Examples and Commands having made like the Evil Angels, they nevertheless reputed to be Saints, and in speaking evil of those Innocent Persons, whom having injured with the greatest oppression, they also branded with the most infamous terms. Their Zeal, which according to the phrase of the Holy Ghost, aught to have eaten up themselves, did devour their Neighbour, and made a Conflagration, not only of Towns and Provinces, but of Kingdoms and Nations. What did they gain by their frequency of Converse with holy things, more than the contempt which grows from familiarity, and the Custom to violate, and porfane them? They became more confident to commit Wickedness, and willingly lost the scruple, that with the left cheek they might pursue the sin. So that we may believe they made use of Religious Exercises, not so much to implore pardon for their enormities, as liberty to perpetrate more, and to sin with authority. These àre they, who did certainly fancy that all Villainy was permitted them, provided they did but retain a show of Piety. These were they, who mingled God among their Passions, though never so irregular and exorbitant; that engaged him in their Interests, though never so mischievous and corrupt; and employed him upon all occasions where Avarice, Rapine, Murders, and Usurpations were to be promoted. And, that which is not lest to be admired, notwithstanding their pretended Sanctity, was at length even manifest to all, to be but a vizard of specious hypocrisy, yet still they continued to make use of it, thereby to abuse the People: Being, as I conceive, ambitious to exalt their Impudence, to the same degree with their Impiety, I could wish that there was no such cause to affirm of these Men, that as they took the surest course to make other Persons Atheists, so their own handling of holy and religious things, discovered themselves to be worse than Atheists. It was one principal part of their aim, to multiply divisions in Religion, that so, a Spiritual Anarchy, might be engaged to support their Civil Usurpation; Now it is observed of old, That many divisions in Religion are a principal cause to introduce Atheism. Doubtless such Schisms are a greater Scandal, than corruption of Manners: For what can be the effect of such a Morris-dance of Sectaries) each of them having a divers Posture and Cringe by themselves) but to move derision and Contempt in Worldlings and depraved Men, who are too prone to scorn and reject piety and holiness. But on the other side, If any Atheist did but reflect upon those Nefandous and Atrocious Crimes, which those corrupt Politicians have committed, under a pretence to advance the Cause of Religion, He would surely be a thousand times more Atheist than before, and with scorn and detestation cry out, Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum.  
It must needs be more commendable to have no Opinion of God at all, than to entertain such thoughts as are not only unworthy of him, but Contumelious and Reproachful unto him: It is observed, that the Devil's Blasphemy was, I will Ascend, and be like the most High. But those men's Blasphemy exceeds that of Lucifers, for they make the most High Descend, and become like the Prince of Darkness. For what else can it be, to Interest God in those execrable Actions of Murdering Princes, Butchering People, and the Ruin and Subversion of States and Governments?  
And what now is the effect of all, but this only, That having filled their Sails with the Breath of Religion, Profit was the Compass, by which those Land-Pirates steered their Course in all our mischievous Commotions: For the rest, it is most evident to any who have but the least portion of understanding, that they have destroyed the most Glorious and Excellent Commonwealth, which the world could boast off; A Commonwealth which was best Balanced, and most equally Tempered between Royal Prerogative, and the People's Liberty, each Supporting and Maintaining the other: Nor is it possible, for any form of Government upon Earth, more really to secure the people's Rights, than that: Nor to give unto them, either a more assured Redress of Material Grievances, or a clearer exemption from all Burdens, and Taxations, but such as themselves shall concur in the Imposition. And yet our late State- Mountebanks, were like that famous Quacksalver Paracelsus, who counting it a trivial overworn way, to maintain the world as God himself had provided, thought fit to propose a mean for the Propagation of Mankind without the use of Women. Or, as it is Fabled of Ixion, that projecting with himself to enjoy Juno the Goddess of Power, he had Copulation with a Cloud, of which he begot Centaurs, and Chimeras, so these men being carried away with a Frantic and Impotent Passion, and a Vapourous conceit of forming some Imaginary model of Government, which they did especially design to have Perpetuated in themselves, are indeed delivered of nothing but airy hopes, and certain most deformed, and monstrous Apparitions.  
But Sir, to pass from these unto yourself; Is it not most strange, that as Glaveus praised Injustice, and Isocrates extolled Busiris that notable Tyrant, so these men's Commendations should be your Subject, or their Restauration your Desire? And is it not equally wonderful, that such Lectures should be heard with any Approbation and Allowance? But I perceive it is upon the same Reason, that Tacitus gives of the Applause afforded to Alinive Gallus for his defence of Luxury and Prodigality, The acknowledging of Vices under honest terms, and the likeness of Affections in your hearers minds, causeth their assent to be easy and favourable: Nor can the strength of your Arguments be any other, than such as Anthony the Orator was once forced to use; who, being to defend a Person, that was accused of Sedition and Treason, bend all the force of his Eloquence to prove, that Sedition and Treason were no Crimes. Surely it will do well if you take pains to consider, That such an Enterprise as you endeavour, Is as Vain, as it is Impious: There never wanted any thing to the overthrow of those Statesmen, which you so magnify, but only to have the people undeceived and restored to their Right wits: For that which was long since objected to, and answered by that Excellent Photion, (with whom expired the Liberty of his Country, which procured his Ruin) may both ways here be most properly applied; One told him, that if ever the People grew Enraged, they would kill him; Photion answered, Peradventure they may kill me when they are Mad, but if ever they grow Sober again, they will not suffer thee to live. They who have advantaged themselves by the Frenzy of the Vulgar, they will assuredly Abominate, if now they are returned unto their sober temper. So that your old Patrons have two potent Enemies to encounter withal, that is to say, Heaven, and Earth; Heaven for their Blasphemy, and Earth for their Deceit; You therefore who are still their followers, do but labour to kindle a Fire, by blowing of dead Ashes, which if you continue to endeavour, you will but too clearly manifest a strange Composition of Folly, and Fury to be in you, and you must give others leave to take it, not as an evidence of your Saintship, but as an Argument of your Stultitude. And certainly as the Enterprise is Ridiculous, so the Impiety is Incomparable; For what can be more unbecoming him, whose Office is to be an Ambassador of Christ, than to demean himself as an Herald to Belzebub? Or to bring down the Holy Spirit not in the likeness of a Dove, but in the form of a Vulture, or a Raven? It was an Excellent saying of King Henry the 7th. of England, That when Christ came into the world, Peace was Proclaimed, and when he left the world, Peace was bequeathed. How then can they pretend to be his Ministers, who in their Conscionatory Invectives, breathe nothing but Blood, Ruin and Confusion? And rather say as Jehu did, What hast thou to do with Peace? Get thee behind me: As if Peace were not their business, but following, and Parties, and Factions. I cannot but believe that a Minister intermeddling in Court and State affairs, deserves as severe Scourges, as a Merchant who buys and sells in the Temple. However they ought to be such studious Lovers of Concord and Amity, that they should even avoid a Seditious Truth.  
I know what you pretend to fear, and what you are bold to affirm, That Popery will be introduced, and that the King is already a Papist; for the first, let me tell you, (although this old Jesuitick Juggle doth not deserve an Answer) that it is an Objection only of your Suspicion, not your Reason: And yet it is such a Suspicion, that as it imports the greatest scandal to the State, so it implies a most Sottish contradiction in itself: For all men know, That they who first raised a Credit to themselves, by fastening that Imputation upon others, did in the exercise of that power, which partly by that aspersion they obtained, give a perfection to those designs, which the Pope and his Partisans, although they often desired to effect, was never able to accomplish; And it is now fully evinced, That the Beast with seven heads, and the Beast with many heads, have both the same design, to make Princes as the Banditi, and at their own pleasure to proscribe their Lives, their Revenues, and their Kingdoms: So that it cannot but be the strongest symptom of a Fanatique Fancy, to imagine, that the same Persons should be instrumental to return us to that madness and confusion, from which they have even now freed us, and are still labouring to protect, both themselves and the Nation.  
As to the other part, the truth is, you follow the rule of depraved Nature, though it be most unsuitable to Christianity, You hate him whom you have wronged: And as it is said of the Dragon, that when he cannot reach his prey, he poisons the Air with his breath, and so destroys it; So because you cannot touch his Majesty's Body, you labour to blast his Peputation; And now that your Company of Lying Wonders for the Public good, fail, and are become useless, you have recourse to lying Slanders, and perhaps intent to make your Libels, and defamatory Speeches, to be Successors to the Pope's Legend. Surely these Politic contumelies are a recent Invention of this corrupt age; or old they used them not: For it might as well have been objected against David, that he was a Worshipper of Dagon, when Saul's fury and injustice forced him to fly to King Achish, and the Philistines. But of this thus much only need be said, Ten est mendacium pellui et si diligenter inspexeris.  
By this time, Sir, I hope you see that  mischief in which you are implicated, Your Desires are Impossible, your Attempts are wicked, your Fears are vain, and your Reports are false and scandalous: And is it possible that after all this, any Person should be such a superlative Fanatic, as to need extrinsic argumen's to reclaim him? Surely it cannot be; except he be rooted in his Error, as they say Marsus Diaboli roots in self in the Earth, which can never be pulled up without breaking. However I do not doubt, but, as Suetonius reports, that Augustus Caesar walking by a Pond where the Frogs were croaking, commanded them to keep silence, and they were never after heard to make any Noise in that Place: So all that harsh roaring, and discordant clamour both in pulpits and other places, which hath not only portended, but caused so much mischief in the Kingdom, (like the Prognostications of some Conjurers, that foretell the tempests they intent to raise) will ere long by the presence and command of our Augustus be silenced and restreyned.  
I have now done: Only suffer me to add this, What I have writ, although it be bitter, yet it is wholesome: There can not be a perfect Conversion, unless a full Conviction do proceed: Especially in a case of this nature it is indispensably necessary; For those persons, who have hitherto triumphed over our laws, and would now triumph over our senses, as well as our reason and judgement, by persuading us that Tyranny is liberty: Usurpation, justice: and Pressures and burdens, Ease and Rest, will not be reclaimed, until they perceive that their depraved and corrupt Principles, and their crooked and perverse Rules, are as deeply sounded, and as plainly discovered to others, as they are known unto themselves.  
I know that the wound given to the State wants Oil, rather than Vinegar to be poured into it. But he is no good Physician, that doth not in some cases, as well accommodate his Receipts to the temper of the Patient, as to the nature of the Disease. Some wounds are not fit for an healing plaster, except a Corrosive be first applied. And in this distemper you yourself have proved it necessary; And that is the reason I am forced to observe that Method of Physic, which cures one heat by another. I shall conclude with this cordial desire, That as the King is called God's Vicegerent, So that he may make him the pattern, and examplar of his Proceeding, by extending a plentiful pardon to penitent offenders, so far as his mercy may not violate his justice: but they who will still continue perverse and Contumacious, let them perish in their Obstinacy.  

Rarò antecedentem scelestum  
Deseruit pede poena claudo.   

Seldom the Villain, though great haste he make,  
Slowfooted Vengeance fails to overtake.   Prov: 24.24, 25 
He that saith unto the wicked thou art Righteous, him shall the people curse, Nations shall abhor him. But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.  
THE END.