with another; and these Moses quiets, and parts them. fairly ; and some are like the Egyptian striving with the Israelite, wliom Moses smites down. * It was a noble speech of Anthony of Bourbon, king of Navarre, to the Danish ambassador ; this king being a peer of France, and first prince of the blood, challenged the regency of that kingdom during the French king's minority : he told the ambasador, ' That he hoped in a short time to procure a free ' passage for the gospel throughout France ; and the ambassador ' was pleased with it ; but desired that Luther's doctrine, not ' Calvin's, might pass for current. The king rephed, Luther and ' Calvin agree in forty points, and differ but in one. Let those ' therefore that follow the tenets of these two, unite their strength ^ against the common enemy, and at better leisure, in a more con- ' venient season, compound their own differences.' Grant that Nonconformists be in an error, yet the difference is not fundamen- tal : and the famous emperor Theodosius -|*, did not only bear with the Novatians, but familiarly consulted with their learned pastors about church matters, though differing in several points of disci- pline. And Constantine, although he made a law in terrorcm, yet in point of execution he spared them. O that with one shoulder you might support the tottering interest of Christ in these nations ! and be stiled the saviours of England in this time of danger ; which will be a more honourable title, than any other you are or can be dignified with.
J would also propound it as a matter of serious consideration to the prelates; whether this be a time to vex and persecute the conscientious and faithful in the land, for ceremonies and trifles, when the substance of religion lies exposed.? Will not the late dreadful alarms by the popish ^nxiy sound a retreat, and put an end to this work ? Suffer me to propound two or three queries to your consciences.
Query 1. Are not papists hereby hardened in their errors, and confirmed in their cruel and tyrannical impositions upon conscience, whilst they see you to use the same medium ? What plea is left you against their tyranny, if ever God permit them to re-kindle the flames of martyrdom in England.? If your way be good, why- is not theirs ? Magis et minus non variant speciem : Is there not as much strength in their arguments of fire and faggot, to convince you, as in your excommunications, imprisonments, mulcts, and penalties, to convince us of the lawfulness of your ceremonies ? It is said of Molineus Bonifacius, that his silly reasons for the pope's supremacy did well enough, being propounded with a sword
* Comment, de statu reip. et rel. Cent. 1 G. f Soz. lib. 7. cap. 12,
5T2 TIDINGS FROM JIOSIE ; OR,
ill his hand ; a keen sword will make a dull argument cut to the quick ; and if you cannot answer to such arguments yourselves, methinks you should be tender of urging them against others. Sure I am, confiscations, imprisonments, and death, are the most irrefragable arguments for popery, and it is a thousand pities we should tell the world, that the reformed religion must be supported by the like artifices. It would better serve the design in Spain, than Christ's interest in England. I am sure it is the proper cog- nizance oi antichrist, and oh that it might remain with them only. Hear what a man of your own character saith, ' It is observable,
* (saith Dr. Taylor*) that the restraint of prophesying, and im- ' posing upon other men's understandings, being masters of their ' consciences, and lording it over their faith, came in with the re- « tinue and train of antichrist ; that is, they came as other abuses « and corruptions of the church did, w^hen the church's fortune
* grew better, and her sons worse, and some of their fathers worst ' of all ; for in the first three hundred years there was no sign of
* persecuting any man for his opinion, though at that time there
« were many horrid opinions. A wolf may as well give laws to
' the understanding, as he v/hose dictates are only propounded in ' violence, and v/ritten in blood ; and a dog is as capable of a law ' as a man, if there be no choice in his obedience, no discourse m
* his choice, nor reason to satisfy his discourse.'*
Query 2. Are you not Hke to have the same measure you mete to us, meted back to you again with an overplus, if this enemy prevail ? And then you will find how good it is to afflict for con- science sake. Certainly, if you resolve to be faithful to protestant principles, you will escape upon no easier terms than us.
Query 3. Are not these very persons, against whom you dis- charge your canons, and worry up and down by your apparitors, like to prove as stiff assertors d the i)rGtestant cause, (if God call for more blood to witness to it) as yourselves.^ You find them (I believe) inflexible enough to your ceremonies ; all your menaces and punishments cannot cudgel them into conformity with them, because they find aliquid commun ami antichristo, a spice and tang Q^ popish superstition in them ; and, doubtless, they will as freely lay down their lives in defence of the fundamental and weightier points of religion, as their places, liberties, and earthly comforts, for the lesser circumstantial truths thereof: And is it not pity, that vou should (esjX'cially at such a time as this) suppress, afflict, and silence such m,cn, whose abilities might now be improved to such singular advantage ?
But aquila non capit muscas ; lordly spirits scorn to stoop to such
Liberty of prophecy, p. 109.
EXGLAXDS AL.\U^r. 57-3
mean composures, or take notice of a creepini^ paniplilet : Let nie therefore speak to the body of the people, and especial ly to those among the people, who profess to fear the Lord, and tremble at his judgments. Will you sliut your ears to seasonable counsel also ? Will you despise your dangers, till you are surprised by them?
0 England ! wilt thou not begin to fear, till thou art past hope ? Shall thine enemies find thee sleeping, and leave thee dead ? Wretched England ! here is thy misery, that thou " knowest not " thy time ; but as the fishes are taken in an evil net, and as the " birds are caught in the snare ; so will thou be snared in an evil " time, when it fallcth on thee suddenly ,''* Ecclcs. viii. 12. May
1 freely express my apprehensions in the case ? I much doubt thine enemies have so contrived and laid their design against thee, that in their apprehensions, at least, all thy strugglings now are but as the fluttering of a bird in the net, which, instead of freeing, doth but the faster entangle her. However, if God at last will but open thine ears to seasonable counsel, and persuade thine heart to thy present duties, who can tell but the Lord may yet be gracious to his land, and spare his people ?