AN ALARM To all Christian Princes and States of the Religion. WRITTEN Immediately upon the first news of the death * 1632. of the King of Sweden of famous memory, and ever will be to all posterity, and to eternity. Which I have concealed till now, having a great reluctation within myself, and doubtful whether to publish it at all or no. Mich. 2.3 Amos. 5.13. Luk. 22.53. Eph. 6.12 No answereth the echo, for this time is evil: It is an evil time answereth the Prophet. The very power of darkness: this is your hour, & the power of darkness, answereth the Lord jesus, for we wrestle not, our reluctation is not, against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers &c: answereth the Apostle. The whole legion of devils, for they are many: We are many, answereth the devil himself, with a hollow echo from hell. But too many for one poor worm, Mark. 5.9 such a one as I am, a worm and no man, to wrestle withal: the Lord jesus help me. Yet considering whom I serve, even this Lord jesus: and what an other Apostle answereth: He that knoweth to do good and doth it not, to him it is sin. jam. 3.17 Matt. 25.25 And conceiving it a part of my talon committed to me of God's grace, not to be concealed, not to be hid, whereof one day I must give account: and for no other reason: written I say immediately after the sorrowful news came of the death of that renowned King: and directed (and I hope in God it is also from him, and so will be taken, and not of any presumption at all from me) to all those Princes and States, now upon so great consultations and treaties, whereupon dependeth the whole State of God's Church: all the reformed Churches of Christendom, now in quaestion upon the death of that famous King whether to stand or fall, high time therefore for all either now to speak, or for ever hereafter to hold their peace. Wherein I make no doubt but Satan will also act his part to the utmost, (this his last part) by his Ambassadors, and secret Agents from all parts, Zech. 3.1. and stand at the right hand of our high Priest Joshua to resist him: that he and his Kingdom may stand, and our high Priest joshua (that is Jesus) & his Kingdom fall: I have therefore adventured in the name of this jesus: (Jesus, Jesus, Jesus: which were the last words that great King uttered immediately before he gave battle: help me to fight this day to the honour of thy name. If I die I die) Let us go and die with him. Esthe. 4.16. john 11.16. Why live we after him? who died not for himself but for us, and for others, (as did jesus,) and for the name of the Lord jesus. I say in the name of this Jesus, our Joshua, who died both for him, and for us all, (all humane respects, either of fear or favour, set apart) I have adventured to publish it. My name shrouded under his name jesus: & who dare speak against it this name Jesus? Hoping this Satan who now thinketh he standeth, and presumteously taketh place at the right hand of our joshua (this Jesus) shall fall shorthlie, and finally, the God of peace shall tread down Satan under your feet shortly, Rom. 16.20. Luk. 10.18 as in that his divine vision: I saw Satan fall down like lightning from heaven, Amen, Amen, and let the whole Church of Christ applaud hereunto, and say, Amen and Amen. IHS, IHS, IHS. Helped me to fight this day to the honour of thy name, against this Satan: this Legioens of Devils: for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, & against the worldly governors the Princes of the darkness of this world, against Spiritual wickednesses which are in the high places, Ephes. 6.12. AN ALARM (Upon the death of the King of SWEDEN) to all Christian Princes, and States of the Religion, to join together in a firm, and inviolable league in defence thereof against the common enemy. SEEING it hath pleased God for our sins to take from us that renowned, & most victorious Prince the King of Sweden, judges. 16 28. victorious even in his death (as was Samson) the most courageous champion, heathen, or Christian, that ever God raised up, or can be read of in any History, to have acted so much in so short a time: his small beginnings, and great oppositions considered. An other Caesar, veni, vidi, vici, A Saviour, and deliverer of God's Church, of whom the world was not worthy, for our sins (I say) taken from us: for the which we ought to lament (lament answereth a woeful echo, and thereby our great loss: An other Judas Machabeus: how is the valiant man fallen that delivered Israel!) but not to lament for him, 1 Mac. 9.21. who now triumpheth most gloriously in heaven, with all the Holy Angels and Saints (as he did on earth) over all his enemies. It were a shame, and dishonour to God, and his anointed that is with God, and a derision to the enemies of God (who now rejoice, and insult over his dead bones, whom living they durst not once look in the face) to suffer these so glorious, and blessed beginnings (and blessed shall they be) to fall to the ground. Those great designs, both against the Antichristian, and Mahometan tyranny: both which had he lived, in short time, by all lyklihood, had been thrown to the ground. For the further managing whereof, & final accomplishment, (in these jest days to be accomplished, according to the Holy Prophecies) it is to be wished, and daily prayed for, by the whole Church of Christ, that all those christian Princes and States, who profess themselves Defenders of the true Christian faith, would join together in a firm, and inviolable league, and union: an Evangelicall union, in the name of jesus Christ and his Church, (all differences of opinion in matter of Religion set apart, with those bitter names of Luther, and Caluin &c.) as Christians, Act. 11.26. for so were we first called in the primitive Church at Antioch: an Evangelicall union (I say) in the name of jesus Christ and his Church, to defend the same, and his holy Euangill, or Gospel, against all the professed enemies thereof, both Antichristian, and Mahometan. They that will not, will not, answereth, the echo, join together to prosecute the will, and directions of that noble King, dead as well as living: yea rather now much more, who hath even sacrificed his life in their defence, and the cause of Religion: they that will not: will not answereth the echo again, join together in this cause, and quarrel, which is even God's cause, the Lord of hosts, whereof he himself is General, and Commander, let them be Anathema Maranatha: let the whole Church of Christ explode them with this bitter curse: 1 Cor. 16.23. jud. 5.23 Curse ye Meros', said the Angel of the Lord, curse ye bitter lie the inhabitants thereof, because they came not to help the Lord, to help the Lord against the mighty. Whom the Lord also himself in the end will curse, explode, and even spew out of his mouth: for they that are not with us are against us, Mat. 12.30. & so to be accounted of, even as enemies. Let them declare themselves, (as our Saviour wisheth) hot, or cold, for Religion, or against Religion: for the common liberty of their conscience, and their country, Reu. 3.15 or against it: I would thou wert cold, or hot, (sayeth our Saviour) but because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. And it is to be wished, and prayed for likewise by the whole Church of Christ (for that is all we can do, to wish and pray, and that we all ought to do) for we are all members of that his mystical body, and every one hath an interest in the weal or woe thereof, and may freely spend his voice. We are all Hypocrates twins, we must either, laugh together, or weep together: wept we have a long time. I say it is to be wished, and prayed for likewise that his Majesty of Great Britainne, who professeth himself Defender of the faith, catexochen above all other Kings and Princes, (and long may he live to maintain it) would now declare himself by summoning, or calling (quam timeo, how do I fear to name it? I only wish and pray for it) a Parliament: [O that the name of a Parliament should now be so heinous, and odious, as no man dare once name it, scarce think of it: that high court of Parliament so named, so reverenced in times past, that great counsel of state, & of the whole Land, assembled as one man to provide for the good of the state, and of the whole Church of God, and oppugn the enemies thereof: which counsel had his Majesty and royal father been pleased to have embraced and not the counsel of those wicked Rohoboami, pravis consultoribus impulsi: impulsi answereth the echo again to dissolve, and break it of from time to time, one parliament after an other: aliquam, quae nunc † Buchanan in his Epist. ded. before his trag: Bapt: Nulla in comparison of our former famous and flouwrishing estate etc. nulla est, rempublicam haberemus: both Church and state had still flourished, as in the days of Queen Elisabeth of famous memory: since utterly decayed, the glory gone from Israel, and nothing prospered that we have undertaken: nor like to do, till it please God to put into his Majesty's heart to call it again, to bewished I say and prayed for continually.] By calling a Parliament (I say) and cutting of the Popish, and Spanish faction: I may not name them neither, I dare not: I need not: their characters are written in such great and capital letters, as a man may read them running: as it is in the Prophet. That great Gordian knot, or threefold cord not easy to be broken, nor possible to be loosed, but cut in pieces by him that beareth the sword, and (I hope) not in vain, our Great Alexander. The Popish, Rom. 13.4. and Spanish faction (I say) with their adherents, flatterers, and time servers, their vassals, and creatures, of all others most base and unworthy: creatures of creatures, vassals of vassals, worthy also to be cut off, as King David denounceth: Psa. 12.3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips etc. nostrì fundi callamitas; the calamity of this our once so famous, and flourishing a Kingdom, and of the whole Church of God, and the reformed Religion: which they have endeavoured to ruin, if it were possible, by diverting his Majesty, and Royal father King james, eos quos tutari debeant desertos esse patiantur. from giving that countenance & assistance thereunto, which in all honour, in respect of that royal title and in their own royal disposition otherwise they both ought and would have done. Bound thereunto by a more particular obligation to their own flesh, and blood, now lying a bleeding, both the one, and the other. Both the cause of Religion, her chief champion slain, and that distressed, and comfortless Lady the Queen of Bohemia, and her royal issue, like to suffer as she hath done hitherto beyond all patience: which yet in the end will overcome all. Whereof (I say) the Popish, and Spanish faction, which we nourish even in our own bosoms, are the cause, and in the end, like vipers, will eat out even their own mother's bowels, and utterly ruin this our famous Kingdom, Church and state, if they be not cut off. Now is the axe laid, to the root of the trees. Mat. 3.10 Trees in the plural number: even the high and mighty Cedars of Lebanon, Kings & Caisars, for with God there is no respect of persons. No respect of persons answereth the echo. 2 King. 20 1. Set thine house in order for thou shalt dye and not live, saith the Lord by his Prophet to Hezekiah King of juda, and in him to our Hezekiah, a like gently warned of late, and to all other Kings, and Princes. God grant they may all repent, mourn, and lament, as he did: that so, many years may be added to their lives here in this world, and after, eternity of glory in the world to come. Gently warned (I say) by a like visitation, immediately after the news came of the death of the two Kings, very remarkable. A like visitation (I say) pestilential, The small pocks, pestilential, and inclining to the plague, & commonly a forerunner. and mortal too to many, cousin german to that great visitation so called the plague: which was (as some hold) the deadly disease of Hezekiah, sick unto death, as it is in that place. A fair warning, if so taken, and not slighted as an ordinary, and casual visitation, (as I fear we do) but the circumstances make it not casual, but extraordinary, and (as I said before) very remarkable. No occasion at all of infection precedent, but immediately from the hand of God, and the very finger of God therein. A gentle visitation indeed, God give us grace to make use of it, before the destroying Angel come with his sword drawn, and cut down all before him. Now is the axe laid to the root of the trees. Kings and Princes, they now see they are mortal, and shall die like men. Even be sick, wounded, slain and die like other men: The words used at the burial of the dead, in the book of common prayer. and that they are but earth, dust, and ashes: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust etc. And therefore the Prophet cryeth unto them: earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. Now therefore let us leave off our revelling, and dancing, our masks, and plays, unseasonable (especially on the Lord's day) when the Lord calleth to prayer and fasting, weeping and mourning. When (I say) the Ark of God is in camp against the Philistines. For fear we do not act the last part of the tragedy already begun, 1. Pet. 4.17. already begun answereth the echo: judgement already begun at the house of God etc. for our God is even a consuming fire. It is already kindled, & the flame or it be long will surely break forth, if in the mean time we do not quench it with the tears of repentance. We have had diverse faire-warnings, and fore-warnings first and last, which have wrought very little impression in our senseless, stony, and hard hearts. Two great plagues: one upon the first coming of King James to the crown: The other of King Charles: many thousands consumed as in the days of King David. God open our eyes, as he did his, 1. Chron. 21.16 2 Sam. 24.17. that we may see his destroying Angel standing between the earth and the heaven with his drawn sword in his hand etc. and acknowledge our sins, as he did: It is I that have sinned, done evil indeed, done wickedly etc. Two great falls: the one of King james into the river at Theobalds' horse & all, where after he died: The other of King Charles then Prince in Enfielde chase not far off, taken up senseless, and carried into a house hard by, but came to himself again God be praised. The same God preserve him still long to survive to his glory. Two great fires: the one at New merket half the town almost consumed where the Kings hunting house is: the other at Whitethall, the banqueting house burnt and consumed. Besides many other great fires elsewhere. And even in London itself the King's Chamber. [Yea London bridge, one of the wonders of the world, a great part of the houses built upon it, very lately also burnt, and consumed.] But all these faire-warnings, and fire-warnings, fore-warnings, and forerunners of further judgements, forgotten, or slighted, as ordinary and casual, as the jews did all those prodigious signs before the destruction of Jerusalem, yea the Powder-plot, or Papists conspiracy, as yet remaining in red characters in our almanaks, among our other holy days celebrated yearly: but what effect hath it wrought? The Papists, and Popish faction, ever since increassed, grown stronger, and stronger: evil men still worse and worse, 2. Tim. 3.13. as the Apostle prophesieth of these last days, these last times: and in the end (as I said before) will utterly ruin both our Church and state, if they be not cut of. I say if these faire-warnings one after an other, and gentle visitations in great mercy sent beforehand from God to move us to repentance, work no effect, nor make us sensible of his judgements already fallen upon others, which our sins have likewise deserved, if not more: we may fear or it be long, to be made examples to others, as others now are to us. And see with fear, and trembling, Dan. 55. the finger of that hand writing upon the wall: Mene, Mene, Tekel Vpharsin etc. The sentence is already gone forth, long since denounced to Hezekiah: Thou shalt die, & not live, and in him to all other Kings and Princes: I have said ye are Gods, but ye shall die like men and fall like one of the Princes. Psal. 82.6 We see it executed before our eyes upon others, upon other Princes, and shall we think to escape scotfree? Two lamentable examples, The 5 of November God only threatened & forewarned by the powder plot: But the 6 paid us home, & double by the death of these two Princes: Prince Henry, and the King of Sweden, A great judgement upon his Church and very remarkable, (too lamentable indeed:) two good Princes taken away, and that on the sudden one after an other. The King of Sweden, the very same day of the month the 6 of November old style that Prince Henry died, that hopeful Prince. And the King of Bohemia immediately after: and will God spare others? If he do, and they do not, not, answereth the echo, bring for fruits meet for repentance, as john Baptist admonisheth (which God grant we all may do) to be preserved from one judgement, is but to be reserved to an other, a far greater, whereof then we shall be sensible and complain, but too late, and in vain: as that froward, and stubborn heart complaineth: * Pr. 5.12 how have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reprooffe & c? Our wilful, froward, and stubborn hearts, they can brook no instruction, or reprooffe. Therefore ‡ Ps. 18.26 Mat. 14.4. with the wilful, froward, and stubborn, will the Lord show himself wllfull, froward, and stubborn etc. as it is in the Psalm. But indeed they that should instruct, admonish, and reprove Kings and Princes & all persons without respects of persons (as john the Baptist did King Herod, it is not lawful for thee etc.) our great Bishops and clergy men, yea and States men too (with reverence be it spoken to the better sort, which is always the least, always excepted) they are flatterers, and timeseruers (namque hoc tempore obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit) all seek their own, and none the things of jesus Christ: Amos 6.6 as the Apostle complaineth. They are not grieved for the afflictions of joseph &c: As the Prophet also complaineth. For the afflictions of God's Church, and Saints, both under the Antichristian, and Mahometan tyranny, daily slain and martyred, and no man considereth in his heart, Whose blood will one day be required. Let them look to it whom it concerneth, Kings, Princes, or others: for to whom much is given, Isa. 30.33 of him much shall be required. Tophet is prepared of old, even for Kings, if they repent not. They repent not, answereth the echo, that obey not Gods holy truth, and Gospel; who either, offend, or do not defend the same, to the utmost of their power against the enemies thereof. Cicero lib. 1, Offic. Qui non populsat injuriam, qui non defendit nec obsistit si potest injuriae etc. he that doth not protect and defend the innocent, and oppressed, from iviurie and violence offered, tam est in vitio (saith a heathen man) as if he should forsake his parents, or friends, or country. And it was one of their great commandments, pugna pro Patria: and is likewise to every true Christian: pugna pro Ecclesia; he thou faithful unto death etc. Rev. 2.10 Much more to Christian Princes whom God hath made his Lieutenants, and chieffe-iustices here on earth, and given that honour to be nursing-fathers' to his Church, to protect and defend it, against al● injuries and violence whatsoever, and against all enemies whatsoever. To protect (I say) and defend the widows, and fatherless. Now especially those two comfortless Rachel's the Queens of Bohemia and Sweden, and their fatherless children: those towardly young Princes, and all others oppressed by that tyrannous, and ambitious house of Austria, & help them to their right. As King David admonisheth: Psal. 82.3 defend the poor and fatherless, do justice to the afflicted and needy: deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked etc. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings: Psal. 2.10 be instructed ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son lest he be angry, and ye perish etc. Repent (as john the Baptist likewise admonisheth) for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mat. 3.2. Now is the axe laid to the root of the trees. And let us all repent, even from the highest to the Lowest, as did the Ninivites at the preaching, of jonas: jonah. 3.4 yet forty days and Nineve shall be overthrown. And mourn, not only outwardly, but inwardly for our sins, which indeed are the chief cause of all these disasters, which have fallen upon our neighbour churches & countries, yea Princes, and great personages, and may likewise fall upon us, how soon we know not. Luk. 13.4 For were they only sinners above all others upon whom the tower in Silo fell, and slew them? I tell you nay (saith our Saviour) but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish. And yet not to be lamented, but our sins & great loss thereby as before. 1 Pet. 4.7. And was that ever renowned, and never sufficiently lamented King of Sweden, that died in battle (as did Josiah:) The King of Bohemia, that died immediately after: And that hopeful young Prince his son that was drowned before; sinners above other Kings, and Princes their neighbours? I tell you nay, but except ye repent, ye shall likewise perish. Two Kings at once so sodainle to be taken away one after another, (the circumstance of time also before mentioned considered) we must needs acknowledge the very finger of God, and judgement of God therein to be admired, and feared of all others. For when judgement beginneth at the house of God (as now it doth, the house of Sued for Sued is Deus, God's house,) what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God? They obey not the Gospel of God, answereth the eeho again, who either, offend, or do not defend the Gospel of God, to the utmost of their power: qui non propulsant iniuriam etc. Or was the Germane nation, or other our Neighbour nations, upon whom God's heavy judgements, of war, and other miseries are fallen, greater sinners than we? I tell you nay, but except we repent we shall all likewise perish. Isa. 60.12 1. Sam. 12 25. Regnum quod non servierit Deo peribit: that Kingdom which will not serve the Lord shall perish: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Repent therefore for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand, at hand answereth the echo again. And so I conclude, praying God to forgive our sins, which have caused these judgements, and upon our repentance to raise up Saviour's, and deliverers of his Church (as I hope he will) more and more to his glory, and the final confusion of his enemies both open, and secret, Gog and Magog, now in these last days, Reu. 20.8 before the end of the world very near approaching, to be utterly destroyed, utterly destroyed answereth the echo again Amen, Amen. IHS, IHS, IHS. Help us to fight this day to the honour of thy name, against these enemies of thy Church and Kingdom: this legion of devils, devil's incarnate, Psal. 3.1. for they are many: many, answereth the echo, that rise op against us, etc. Many and mighty: And open our eyes, the eyes of all those who are to fight thy battles, as thou didst the eyes of that servant of Elisha, at his prayer: 2 King. 6 16. Lord I pray thee open his eyes that he may see etc. That we may see the mountain full of horses, and charets of fire round about Elisha, and say as he did: 1 Chro. 32 7. as did also Hezekiah, encouraging one an other: fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. With them, answereth an echo from heaven, is an arm of flesh, but with us the Lord our God, to help us, and to fight our battles. And if God be with us who can be against us? And O Lord our God, show a difference betwixt us and them, as thou didst betwixt thine own people the Jsraelites and the Egyptians: and say to us, as thou didst to thine own people by thy servant Moses: Eeare ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will show to you this day: Exod. 14.13. for the Egyptians whom ye have seen this day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you hold you your peace. And O Lord open the eyes of all Christian Princes, & States, more and more, to see and detest, the nakedness, and filthiness of that menstruous, Rev. 17.2 and monstrous whore of Babylon, with whom the Kings of the 〈◊〉 have committed fornication etc. spiritual fornication: and put into their hearts with one consent to fulfil thy will, to hate the whore, make her desolate and naked, to eat her flesh, and burn her with fire: and dash her children against the stones. O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed, Psal. 137.8. happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us: happy shall he be that taketh, and dasheth thy little ones, against the stones: both the open, and secret enemies before mentioned. Amen, Amen. FINIS.