Nmthly, The insupportable yoke that this guide puts on kings and sovereign princes, on pretence of its divine right of a universal guid- ance of them and all their subjects, deserves the consideration of them that are concerned, before they give up themselves unto it. It is true, that by and since the Reformation, as this power of these men who call themselves this guide hath been utterly cast off by many, so in those places where on other accounts they maintain their interest, it hath been greatly weakened and impaired, — hence those of the greatest power in the nations of Europe have had little regard unto their authority, imlessit be used unto their. interest and advan- tage;— but their principles are still the same as they were, their pre- tence of divine right the same that it was, and their desires after the exercise of it, unto their own ends, not at all abated. Could they once again enthrone themselves in the consciences of kings them- selves and all their subjects, — could they destroy the balance of a contrary interest, — could they take away the reserves of reliefs against their encroachments, by engaging the assistance of subjects against their princes, of one prince against another, as in former days, — there is no reason to think but that they would return unto their former usurpations and insolency. And wise men, yea, princes themselves, may be deceived, if they take their measures of the nature of the Papacy, with respect unto civil government, from its present deport- ment and attempts, though bad enough. Take away the perjjlexities and difficulties they are cast into, through the rejection of their autho-. rity by so many nations, and by the divided interests of kings and
516 THE CHURCH OF ROME NO SAFE GUIDE.
potentates thereon, — heal their deadly wound, and restore them unto a catholic power over the consciences of all sorts of men, by the de- struction of them by whom it is opposed, — and it will quickly appear with another aspect on the world, another manner of influence on the governors and governments of kingdoms and nations, than now it doth. But the consideration hereof belongs principally unto them who are not wont to be unconcerned in the preservation of their just authority. Yet, if occasion requhe it, a demonstration shall be given of the necessary and unavoidable consequences of the re-admission of the papal power in any of the nations of Europe who have cast it out, and that with respect unto the governors and governments of them.
Among many other considerations which offer themselves unto the same purpose, and which shall be produced if occasion is given, I shall add one moi'e, and close this discourse. And this is, that the foundation of all the religious worship which this guide directs unto, whence all other parts of it do proceed, and whereon they do depend, consists of the overthrow of one of the principal articles of the Chris- tian faith ; and this is, that " our Lord Jesus hath by one offering for ever perfected them that are sanctified," as it is expressed by the apostle, Heb. x. 14 In direct opposition hereunto, the ground and reason of their mass, and the sacrifice therein, — which is the life, soul, centre, and foundation of all their religious worship, — lies in this, that there is a necessity that Christ be offered often, yea, every day, in places innumerable ; without which, they say, the church can neither be sanctified nor perfected. Such a guide is this church, as that it lays the foundation of all its sacred worship in the overthrow of the principal foundation of the Christian faith.
God, in his appointed time, will put an end unto all these exti'a- vagancies, excesses, and distractions in his church, " when violence shall be no more heard in her land, wasting nor destruction within her borders; when she shall call her walls Salvation, and her gates Praise."
SOME CONSIDERATIONS
UNION AMONG PROTESTANTS,
PEESERYATION OF THE INTEREST OF THE PROTESTANT RELIGION IN THIS NATION.
M.DC.LXXX.
PEEFATORY NOTE.
Tms tract appears to have been published anonymously in 1680. The excitement pre- vailing throughout Britain at the time has been described in the prefatory note to the preceding treatise. The precise aim of our author in the tract which follows is not very easily ascertained ; nor does it at first- sight appear why, in order to strike a blow at Popery, and advance the interests of Protestantism, he should insist so strongly on the fact that the Anglican hierarchy, in its claims and pretensions, was the chief cause of the lamentable divisions among British Protestants, and, consequently, of the weakness of the Protestant interest at this juncture. It was, however, not an unusual plea with the adherents of the English Chiu-ch, and more especially with the abettors of the high- handed measures adopted by the Court for discountenancing and suppressing dissent, that the Church of England was the bulwark of Protestantism, and that to strengthen it was the wisest course Avhich the nation in the present crisis could pursue, in order to avert the threatened restoration of papal influence in Britain. Churchmen, accordingly, who were alarmed at the prospect of Popery regaining its ascendency in the land, might, under this consideration dexterously and plausibly urged, be not only confirmed in their attachment to the Established Church, but look with increased jealousy upon Noncon- formists, as traitors to the cause of Protestantism ; while the latter might be led to abate, in some degree, the strength of their conscientious opposition to the polity of the Estab- lished Chui-ch.