But to return from this sad (though necessary) digression; here- by it is manifest, the common enemy hath obtained a singular and long expected advantage to their design ; often have they in vain attempted it ; but now God hath delivered it into their hands : Well might they rejoice (as they did) to see its flames ascend, and drink healtl]s to its ashes. For upon divers politic considerations it might easily be demonstrated, that their cause and interest is revived and warmed by that fire.
S. Lastly^ It cannot but much more heighten our fears, if we consider the sad posture we are in at this day of our imminent danger. Three or four sad particulars I shall here suggest, and let none think it to be a laying open of our nakedness and weakness to the enemies, for I shall tell them no nevrs, in telling you that.
1. They are much encouraged, in that ceremonies of their re- ligion find such acceptation among us. It was long since observed, that as the morning ushers in the day, so the ceremonies of any re- ligion serve to bring in the rehgion itself. If we are heartily re- solved against popery, what do we with their garments, gestures, altars, crosses, liturgies, and oflicers among us ? Upon this reason the divines of Hamburg * withstood the ceremonies of the Interim ; of which they gave this account to Melancthon. ' These indifferent ' things (say they) are nothing else but the seeds of corruption, the ' nerves of papistical superstition, and the little passages by which ' the adversaries endeavour to creep into our churches, that they ' may turn them off the foimdation.' To the same purpose the ' divines of Saxony speak -j-, ' Satan (say they) from those small * beginnings of the ceremonies, makes progress to the corruption
' • ■■y.- — ■■ ...... .- ■ - - ■ ■ ■■■ ' ■ - ■ ■■- ' ■ W. I 1-1 ■ II- I
• Ep, ad Mel, f Contet, Saxon Edit, 1560,
* of doctrine itself.' If any say, these are but groundless surmises^ a fighting with their own shadows ; the Papists themselves are more charitable than such objectors; and cannot but know, that although we use these ceremonies, yet not in the same sense that they do. Pray hear what a Jesuit hath observed concerning it.
* Protestantism (saith Mr. Chillingworth in his preface, Sect. SO.) ' waxeth weary of itself, the professors of it, they especially of ' greatest worth, learning, and authority, love temper and mode- ' ration, and are at this time more unresolved where to fasten, ' than at the infancy of their church. Their churches begin to ' look with a new face, their walls to speak a new language, their ' doctrines to be altered in many things."* If it be again objected, this is but the groundless construction of a peevish adversary : To conclude the controversy ; hear what a prelate of our own says in the case, they are the words of the learned * Primate of Ireland. ' The kings and queens of England (saith he) imposed those cere- ' monies, that thereby they might decline the charge of Schisma- ' tics, wherewith the church of Rome laboured to brand them,
* seeing it did appear hereby, they only left them in such doctrinal
* points wherein they left the truth. Again, hereby they would ' testify, how far they would stoop to win and gain them, by ' yielding as far as they might in their own way : But (saith he) ' the experience of many years hath shewed, that this condescen-
* sion hath rather hardened them in their errors, than brought
* them to a liking of our religion ; this being their usual saying, ' If our flesh be not good, why do you drink of our broth I"
And have we not grounds for our fears, think you now ? If we are blamed for our jealousies, we must blame them that give cause for them. AVould bishops cast out those popish ceremonies, our fears of popery would by so much be abated ; but those that nurse up these Romish brats, we cannot but suspect to have too much love for that harlot that begot them.
2. We are at this day persecuting and suppressing the faithful in the land, even those that stand in the gn}) to intercede for it ; and are the most considerable persons, both for parts and piety, to oppose the designs of this enemy. How are we hacking at the bough we stand upon ; and pulling down our walls, whilst the enemy lies round about them ? Is this a time to step the mouths of so many able and faithful ministers ? To drive them into cor- ners, and not only so, but to pull out of those corners too ; and thrust them out of the breach, where they stand with prayers and tears, which are their only weapons, and the nation's best defence
Doct. Usher, of the Ceremon. page 209. N n 2
666 ANTIPHARMACUM SALtJBERRlMUM,
against the common enemy ? Would any physician that regards the Hfe of his patient, having to do with a weak, consumptive per- son, that hath but Httle blood, and few spirits left, open a vein, and let out a drop thereof? It may be you look not upon them so, but rather as the disease of England, than the good blood thereof. But God judges otherwise concerning them : " The innocent preserve " the island, and is delivered by the pureness of his hands," Job xxii. ult. You think if you were once rid of these, you should quickly be a prosperous nation : But verily, " Except the Lord *' of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have '' been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah," Isa. i. 9.
Ah ! How little do our bold informers think whose work they ai'e doing ! Little do constables think they are breaking down the walls and gates of the nation; when breaking up the peaceable meetings of God's people. Poor men ! did you but see how the Papists laugh among themselves, to see their work so industriously performed by vour hands, it w ould surely cool your courage, and check your irregular zeal : Alas ! they are not so much afraid of your swords as of these men's prayers. That popish queen of Scot- land spake out, and professed, she dreaded more the prayers of Mr. Knox (a godly Nonconformist) than an army of ten thousand men. And will you so officiously serve them, by disarming so many ten thousands of your friends of their best weapons ? O ungrate- ful England ! Dost thou thus requite the saints for all the good they have been instruments to procure unto thee .^ Wilt thou make them enter an appeal in heaven against thee, in the words of the prophet, Jer. xviii. 20. " Shall evil be recompensed for good ? " For they have digged a pit for our souls ; remember, O Lord, " how we stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn " away thy v/rath from them.''