True loyalty, or, Non-resistance the only support of monarchy : a sermon preach'd at St. Pancras, Middlesex on Sunday, June 10, 1716

speciAL

COLL€Ci:iONS

OOUQlAS

LibKAK:?

AT KiNQSXrON

kiNQSTON ONTARiO CANADA

Tnie hoyahy ; or Non-Re fi-
fiance the onlj Support of
Monarchy.

A

SER M ON

Preach'd at
TO a

St. Pancras, Middlefex;

O N

Sunday, Jure lo. Ijl6.

B Y
\V I L O \V B Y M I N i: R s, M. A.

LONDON:

Printed for y. Mur^hew, near Sta-
timrs'Hali. 17 id.

\

'.*•

To all Sincere

LOVER

O F

Epifcopacy and Monarchy,

\ ' T ^ ^^'^^ is, of our

CONSTITUTION

BOTH IN

Church and State;

!

i THIS

iDISCOURSE

( Which has been much mifreprefcnted)

Is Dedicated by

Their humble Servant^ \

Wilo'wby M/nfr^.

(3)

■I,' 1 I " "*" ' ' ' " ft''' I II ■ '•" ' I "B^tyny.

>■' '" • ' ;. • • - ^ -'.u /.^u • \

' t'-'t 'xt.'.'f ' '■ TTcTTH ', ;■•>: r;..::n

Isaiah XXX/ io. » '.

Latter Part. j

.^T'-Prophc/ie not unto m right Things^
'_ fpe.^.k unto us fmcoth Things^ T^ro--
■ vhefte Deceit^.

'-''.^C

."•r.'t ':'•..: fit fi« ■'fiF''!f'>o

"^ I 'Jii^d^ and Jeriifalcm had made in Sin ^ to what

Jl an amazing Pitch of Wickednefs they were arri-
ved •, when they found their Actions not agreea-
ble to what the Seers and Prophets declar'd to be the
^Word of God, inftead of endeavouring to conform to the
l^recepts deliverd, they drove to filence the Seers and Pro-
phets, or what was worfe, to perfwade them to decline tel-
S^ ling them their Duty, to fow Pillows under their Arms to
footh them in their Vices: And that he might do this in
the mofl: convincing Method, he repeats the Sum of what
they were audacioufly wont to dictate to their Spiritual
Guides, that the very Repeating thereof might cover th^m
^ with Confufion of Face- The Context runs thus. •■''" ^
Nowgo^ write it before them in a Tuble^and note it iri h Booi
th.ft it mt))be fo'r the Time to come for ever 'and ever: Tfjntthis
^ is a Rebellious People^ lyin^ Children^ Children that will not hear
. y 'the L<m of the Lord: Wmchfrty to the Seers, fee not^ and to
^ >. the Prophets^ prophefie not unto its right Things^ fpeak unto us
^ fmooth Thi??g'^ prophefie Deceits: Get yoit out of the 'way ^ turn
afide out of the Path^ canfe the Holy One o/Ifrael for to ceafe
^^ from before ta.
Q This daring rebellious Race would fain have their Seers
:^ and Prophets not dare (for fear of their refenting fuch pal-
■-:> pahle Art^"ronts ) to fpeake any Thii/g that clafli'd with their
beloved Lufts, their ohllinate Rebellion againfl a Gracious
God, No, the greateft Truths, if they in any wife grated
with their Carnal Appetites, they would not away with,
j-, but required to have^ their Confciences luU'd afieep with
■"•^ finooth .'gree:ihle Falfities, iiich as were not inconfiftent with
"^ their vicious Anions, and temporal Advantage, fuch as would
^^— not put any Hop to them in their Career to Diftruftion,

A 2 Tis

(4)

Tisnotthe particular Privilege of the Age wherein Ify-
iah lived, or of Judea^ to boaft of having prtivluced fuch an
abandoned " Race of Mankind ; no, fuch wrere the Gmfiicks
in the Primitive Times of Chrirtianity, whom if S. P.mi
would have pleas'd, >. e. have Preached agreeable to their
Herefy, he would not have been the Servant of Chrift ;
which he chofe rathef to be, than to gratify them •, he chofe
ratl^er to perfwad^ e. j. (av?rt the Angler of) God, than
Man - Nor is the prefumptuous Race yet extinft •, we have
many ampne us, who unworthily bear the Name of Chrift-
ians, nay orProteftants, who bravely degenerate from the
true religious Practices of the Primitive Chrilbans-, who
delight in the Deftrudion of their Fellow-Creatures, ani
can only be denominaie^ Men from their fliape 5 I fay, th^s
prefent Age, this Naljon, the adioining populous City may
contend for Precedence in Vice.

We have Men who fay to the Seen fee not, and to the Pro-
phets prophefie not unto us right Things^ fpe^ik uuto us Jmooth
Hongs, propehjje Deceits: "Let \is hear no more unwelcome
Truths, ceafe your unpleafant, difmal grating Reproofs j ouc
delicat Ears will notjbear fuch harfli Doftrine, i|s the ungentle
Mention of Hell, Damnation, an exaft Account by an Impar-
tial Judge J we 'have large Temporal Advantages, heap up
great Riches by Extorfion, by grinding the Face of the Poor ;
we will not quit thefe prefent Benefits for Confcience fake,
for a Reward atagreatDi{lance,Tay what you will, \ve are re-
folved to go on in our Goccl-Oid-Caufe:, nil your too officious
Calls to Amendment are loft upon usj your tofqueamifli C»n-
fciences will not fufFer you to comply with this our reafonable
Requeft of Preaching fmooth and not right Things, 'tis but
branding you with the IjlameofMalignunts, and, fo we'll
quickly filence you. ". " '

And thefe Men who bare the Sacred iVai:^ie of Chrift are
much more inexcufable then thofevyhom the prophet in my
Text reprovesj inafmuch as they have a greater, a clearer
Light ihining to them, then the faint Glimmiring of the
jLaw ; and confequently, greater (hall be their Damnation:
Forafmuch as Light came into the World, hnt they loved Dark-
tiefs rather then Light.

3ut tho' Men are fo unreafonable, as to defire this of their
Spiritual Guids yet muft not they be humoured in their Folly ;
they muft, they ftiall hear of their Sins, their Rebellions, and
the unavoidable Confequences thereof tho'' it founds never fo
j^arfh in their nice Ears ^ otherwife thofe who ought to have
reproved them^ whofe Duty it was to have painted their
Crimes' in lively Colours and d.readfulShapes, thofe who watch
V,;,. , ..- . , ' * over

r»ver them for their Souls Good, thofe who muft give an eir-
aft Account of the Souls committed to their Care, if they
fufTer fuch Multitudes to he loft hy their remifnefsj if pre-
ferment makes them Wink at Vice, or Preach fmooth
Things, ifperfuafive Gold Padlocks their Mouths; if the
Frowns of ^reat Men, the fear of Poverty , Imprifonment,
Perfecutions, or even Death in its moft jhameful and pain-
fal M.inner, can prevail upon them, to prophefie Deceits,
they will brini; an heavy Load upon their own Shoulders^
'tis more elii^ible to be filenced in this World, than ta.
cry bitterly in devouring Fire for ever, to fuffer the mod:
cruel Temporal Death, than the moil exquifite Pains of
Death to all Eternity, without a PoiYlbility of Dying', and
Ihould any unwelcome Truths, which any of the Minifters
of Chrift's Word are obliged in Confcience to Preach, fiib-
jeft them (thro* the Iniquity of the Times) to any of the
forementioned Pains, gladly fhould they embrace their
Fetters, and rejoice that they are accounted Worthy to fitter
Shame^ for thus daring to preach the unfafliionahle Doft-
fine of Chrift, his Apoftle?, and of the Church oi England \
bemg firmly perfwaded, that no Temporal Confideration
ought to prevail npon us, not to cry aloud and fp.tr e not^ not
to lift up our Voices like Trumpets^ and tell Ifrael of their
Sins i We mufl not dare to fay Peace, Peace; when God
faith, there is no Peace to the Wiched : We muft not dare to
fpeak fmooth Things, or prphefie Deceits, left the People
betaken away in their Iniquity, and their Blood be requi-
red at the Watchman's Hands. So thou O Son of Aian ; I have
fet the M a Watchman unto the Houjeof Ifrael ; Therefore thoti
Jhalt hear the Word at my Afouth^ and warn them from me.
When I fay unto the Wicked, O wicked Afan thou /halt farely
Die ; // thou doji not fpeak to warn the Wicked from his way^
that Wicked Aien fl)all die in his Iniquity, hut his Blood will I
require at thine timd. Neverthelefs^ if thou warn the Wick-
ed of his Way to turn from it ^ if he do not turn from his way^
he Jhall die in his Iniquity^ but thou hafi delivered thy Sonl^
E^ek. xxxiii. 7, 8, 9.

From hence appears the great Unreaibnablenefs of the Re-
queftof thefe Men. How can they fay to the Seers, Seenot^
When the Scripture faith. If he dares meanly comply there-
withy not only they Jhall die in their Inquity, but their Blood
Jh ill be required at the Watchman s hand ? How can they fay
to the Prophets, Prophefie not unto us right Things, fpeak nnto
us fmooth Things, prophefie Deceits ? How can we fpeak fmooth
Things'* How can we prophefie Deceits.'' when we know that
the Prophet who J^jallprefume to fpeak a Word in the Name of

the

the Lord, which he hath rtot commanded him tofpeak^ even thtt
Prophet JJ) ill fur ely die. With what AOurance then can "they
defire, command, nay force (as much as temporal A^van:
tagecan) us to do Co I to pull dowtrthe \^eni;ecitice of ajri of^
fended Deity upon our own Head<; ^ to lofe the Favour of onr
Fverlaftiiii^ Benefaftor, by gratifying the fiuful Requefl: of a
temporal Patron. Why mull: we not deliver our own Souls !>
Why muft we not obey God rather xhap Man ? whdit w.a
know the latter can only kill the Body^ J^ut .the forrrte^jian i^fi(
both Soul and Body into Hell. 'I , • •

I might confute many Kerefies, many wild extravagant Not
tions, tbo' hid with fpecious Pretences to Sandity ; but fliali
at this time content my felf with confidering one Pofitiol■«^
deftruftive of all Civil Government, and which hisjnorei
than once brought this unhappy Nation iiuo the utmoll: Con*.
fufiion-, from the Evil Confequences^of vyhich ,1 know not
when we Ihall be wholly extricated, [.'] ■...::•.,.• ^
• The Republicans, the Troublersof iour 7//^^/, have:, a^itli^
Bafis of their Hypothefis^ been long endeavourin^i to robthc
Almighty God of his Prerogative, in fetting up K!n<5;9, and
IS impudently transferred it to our Sovereign Lnd tne Pso^
pie, that by this fpecious Pretence they might more eafily
conclude what they drive at, namely, that the People have
ilfo the Right of removing them. Thus do r hey by their
Schemes render the Word of God of none Etfecft ; and any
otie might think that thefe Men that maim am thefe Pofitions,
either never read, or did not believe the Sacred Truihs deli-
vered in Holy Writ, where God fo often claims a'n abfcilnre
Right to the fetting up, and removing Kings, as is plam
from Dan. ii. 21. Qod chingeth the Twns and the Seajom :
he removeth Kings^ and fitteth up Kings.' God is the Judge '.
he pHtteth down and fetteth up fno^her^ Pfal, Ixxv. 7. But
Ve muft not fuppofe God in this not to claim a greater Share
than in the other Adiuns of Manknid, that is, barely tp .
concurr with them, in giving rhem Health and Strength to
enable them fo to do; for thus far God aiTids Men m their
moft abominable Deeds i for according to this Pohtion^ eve-
ry fuccefsful Rebel that can but gain PofleUion of th.- Po.v-
^r and Regalia, would alio be faid to be fet up by God ; at
this Rate, rebellious Ahfalom^ while he was m PolTellion of
the Metropolis, and moft part of his Father's Kingdom^
would have alfo been faid to have been let up by God ^ and
in our Nation, OUver Cromwell would have been more pro-
perly the Lord's Anointed, while without Controul he en.;
joyed the Regal Power (tho' under a Name lefs odious to
the lanc'lihed Zealots) xm\mdih^ Co vdmn aivd jibjuratioj^
♦vv» not

(7)

not only of Charles Stn.trt^ hut of alltlie L;ne o^ K'\^^QJJ amh
the Firft) down the enthralled Subjects Throats, than was
they banifli'd Charles II. *

But we find that Godj the only Judge of Princes, wiM
not allow of thofe Princes whom he has not fet up-, we find
him expoftulating with his People -..They hr.ve fet up Kingr^
but not hy we •, they have atade PnnccSy hut I knew it not'.
Hof. viii. 4. Since the Almighty here declares, that there
have been Kinss and Prince^, whfl were not fet up by him,
in vain is that Text in the 13 th to the Romans, made ufe of^
to prove all Ohfdienceto be due toUfurpers, (viz. there ii no
Poner hut ofGc^^rhe Fewer s that he are crdanied ofGod^ And
the Text only proves^ that Ufurpers do not derive their Ti-
tles from God. .

Since 'tis plain from Holy Writ, that God it is alone, who
difpoles, as he thinks fit, of Sceptcrsand Diadems, and when
the People will prefume to vvreft this Power from him, or to
^o joini Sharers v^-ith him, he protefts againft it, and fays,
that thofe Kings and l^rinces fo made, were fet up not by him,
nor did he know it, that is, they had no Commiffion front
him fo to do:, without which exprels Commiffion, they en-
croach upon the Prerogative of God, whenever they pre-
fume to difpofeof tiie Scepters or Diadems of this World. If
Kin^s derive their Authority from God, and not from thd
People, as 1 have plainly proved, it can never be proved that
the People may fpoil them of that Authority which they
derive from God.. Their Perfons are facred, becaufe they
reprefcnt God, neither may they ever be refifted, either in
the ^ood or bad Adminiftration of their Office by their
SubjeCls : They hy virtue of their CommilTion are accoun-
table to none but the Almighty:, and God is too jealous of
his Honour to fuffer any with Impunity toufurphisProtince;
All the Weapons that may lawfully be made ufe of againft a
wicked King, are p^jtitions, Remonftrances, and humble <k-'
voutSuppticationstoGod to deliver them in their Diftrefs. '
. The Patrons oi' Rebellion indeed pretend to greater Liber-
ty •, they fay J " Tell us not that 'tis our Duty tamely to U4
ftill, and f::e all that is dear to us made a Sacrifice to the un*
jufl Will of a wicked PrinCe, tho' he be our Lawful Sove-
reign i we will not be perfuaded that 'tis our Duty tiius paP
fively to fubm.it our lelves •, yuu Hull not perfuade us to make
ufe only of Prayers and 1 ears, or to fly from one City to a-
nother ; we have ftron^er, more convincing Arguments in
our Hand^, and they Ihall not rufl in fo glorious a CauJe,
when our All's at Stake. Our Prince is the Minifter of God
to us for. Good j anci. if be does not confult that Good, he is
hP longer God"sVicegerent 3 by running into Meafures de-

ftruave

/{■ruftive of his Subie£>s Good, he foileits all his Dignity,
an^, as an avowed Enemy to God and Man, may, and out^ht
to bedepofed even by us. For what reafon has God given
Bs Arms ? For what have we Liberties and Properties •* For
what does the Prince fofolemnly fwear to preferve all thele
inviolable ? If when we fee him break thro' all thefe Sacred
Tyes, we may not have reconrfeCo the Arm of Flefli^ to o-
blii;ehim to a more flrift Obfervance thereof.

*Our Cafe is diffierent from that of the Primitve Chrift-
lans^ we have Laws enaifted in our Favours, ample Privile-
ges, Immnnities to maintaine, and we will not fee them en-
croached upon; 'tis not your Province tointerfeer with our
Refolutions in this Cafe ^ we will not, as long as we have d
Drop of Blood in our Bodies fee ourfelves, our Pofterity
enllaved, our Holy Religion abolifli'd, if we can prevent
it, be the Means according to your Cant, how unwarrant-
able foever. Preach therefore unto us fmooth Things,
Things grateful both to Flefli and Blood'; Tell us of the
Original Contraft, that the Breach of Faith is reciprocal,
that if the Prince violates his part, we are difcharged front
our Allegiance, and may rife up in Arms againfi; him, de-
pofe him, call him before us his Judges, and punifli hint
with Death for his Mal-Adminiftration. Point out to us
the Cafes when we may rife up in Arm', or leave us to be
Judges thereof, and then every Rebellion that fucceeds
will be comprehended therein, and be termed a Cafe of
Necefiity. This fmooth Doftrine will down with us : But
grate not our Ears, trouble not us with your foolilh, fond
Notions of Submilfion and Non-Refiftaiice, the Sacrednefs
of the Perfonsof Princes 5 we are to wife to be led away_
by fuch Chimera's from confulting our own Prefervation,
when we have it in our Power: Be the Means what they
will, Succefs will give a Sand^ion to them ^ we fhall have:
the Gallows, and confequently, what we will call Law on'
our fide, and then who dare call us Rebels?
But it is not our Duty to preach fuch fmooth things, tho*
by fo doing we might improve our Fortune, ftand fair for
good Livings, or perhaps Biihopricks ; we mull: not beeverf
be fo flupidly moderate as to befilent in this cafe, leaft it bef'
taken for a tacit AlTenf, we muft difcharge our Duty, what-
Ibever Inconveniences we expofsour felvesto ; we may juftij^/,
condemn thefe impious Tenets,
Fir/t^ As we are Men, Men'ibers of a Civil Society.
Secondly f As Chriftians.

Thirdly^ As Members of the ChuVrh of ETfgtand, ,"^

I. As we are Men, Membas of a Civil Society. Accdircp*

(9)

itlg to their Schemes no GovernrneDt can fuhfiftj (T; if -the Su*
J)rc;nie Governor or Govepwrs may he at an^' ttme refiftect )
much Wk Monarchy.. How can any Governor rule in Safe-
ty, if the People are to %c his Judgt?, and have Power to
jpunith him ? Let him rule according to the exa(fVefl: Laws of
Reafon and Revelation ; let his Reign be never fu Jufl, Mer-
ciful and Good, if but a Notion "to the contrary (how
groundleis foever) rtiould pofTefs the giddy Brain of the ma-
ny headed Monfter, thsy prefently w;l! have recourfe to
their own inherent fuperior Power to reform thefe imaginied
Abufes, todilplace his Miniilers, to ruin, and facrifice them;
and 'tis much, if any Bounds are fct to their Fury, if their
Refentment is not carried even to the facrt^d Pcrion of the
Prince j of all which, our Anceftors harried on by afpecious
Zeal for Kcli^^ion, have given too melancholy Proof in their
Behaviour towards as Religious, Gracious, too condefcend-
ing a Prince, asperfe(ft a Man as ever fill'd the EngUjfj Throne,
and once every Year we ftill offer up our Publick joint Pray*
ers toG(xlj that that innocent Blood of his Vicegerent ('which
nothing bur the Blood of the Lamb of God can expiate) may
not be vifited either upon us or our Children.

How (l fay) can the juftefl Prince be fafc, if ths unthink-
ing Multitude is the Judge of his good or bad Adminiftrati-
on * ? feeing that under all Governments there are, and ever
will be Inconveniercies which cannot by any Care or Dili-
gence of the Governor be prevented 9 thefe ill Conveniencicg
niufibeborn, or all Government mufl ceafe, fince there ne-
■ver were, or will be vvantingdifaifetfled Perfons, who love to
filh in troubled Waters, to raife Difcord betwixt Prince and
People i who make it their BuOnefs to inftill their Grievan-
ces, whether real or l«;igned, into the Minds of the People^
tocafl an Odium upon the Government, to alienate the A{^
fe^tions, poyfon the Hearts of the Subjefts, foment Divifioni,
andblov/ uptheCoals of Sedition ^ fincc fuch Men are never
wanting, and theeafy Multitude are too apt to look upon e-
vcry Milcarriage through Magnify ing-GlafTcs, to improve
every Milmanagenicnt into a Breach of the Coronation- Oath,
and of the Conflitution : How can the Bed of Princes be
fafe, if thePo\ver of calling him' to Account Ihould be lodged
in the People ?

II. As ChrijKetns, To the Precepts of which Religion thefe
Pofitionsare direftContradiftionsi and had Chriftianity in-
dulg'd its Pr(jfe(Ibrs with any fuch Libc'-.y, 'twould have

* Suvi ftmperque erunt fuh on}}U'ngi7?i!ne gravarrirta nonpauca^ cfuilra
ftuSa rej^entivm curd, nuSa foSuifut^o fuhvenire {ntefi j yJat hac enm iSh
Jitni habtrida, aut utm hit ilittfunt umiPttHik.-

B difTolv'd

\

( '0 )

difTolv'd all Government 5 but we can find noplace in H )ly-
Writ, whereon to ground this Doftrine, but many to the
contrary, and a heavy Penalty afTured to al), who Ihall pre-
fume not to conform thereto. '

Let every Soul be fnbjefl to the higher Powers^ For theiy ti
m Power but of God: the Powers that be, are ordained of God.
Whofoever therefore refifleth'the Power ^ refifieth the Ordi-i
nance of God: and they that rrfiJ^^fljallrecei'Veto themfehes D on*
nation. Wherafore ye mitji needs be Jnjbe6ts^ not only for Wra:h^
but alfo for Confcience fake, Rom. xiii. 1, 2, ^ . Siibmityourfelve}
to every Ordiijance of Aianfor the Lord's fake-, whether it
be to the King^ as fupreme, i Pet.ii. 13, 14, ^nd David fiid
Unto Ahiihai, Defiroy him nof, for who can ftretch forth his fijnd
Ugainji the Lor''d Anointed, and be gHiltlefs ? David [aid fur-
thermore. As the Lordliveth, the Lord Jball fmite him, or his
Day/hall come to die^ or he Jhall defend into Battle, and perijh
The Lord forbid that I fhould firetch forth mine Hand a^i/.Ji
the Lord's Anointed, i Sam.xxvi. 9, 10, 11, Then 'faid Jelug
unto him., Put Hp again thy Sword into his Place: for all they that
take the Sword, fhall perijh with the Sword,- S. Matt. XTivi. 5- 2.
From thefeTextSj and many more, appears the abfolute Un-'
lawfulnefs of Refiftance in any Cafe ; and if our Saviour lo
(harply rebukes S. Pff^r, forrefifting the Officers who came:
to apprehend the Lord cf Life, and alfo declares, that all who
take the Sword, even in fuch a Cafe, J^jall perijh by the Sword^
1 know not what can juftify it.

Nor let them feed themfelvesup with their Objection ; How
then Jhall the Scriptures be fulfilled? Our Redeemer knew full
well, that if he would ask his Father, he could eafjly have
been delivered from his Perfecutors .- But how <* Not by any
Endeavours of Rebellious Subjc<fts, but by Ten Thoufand Le-
gions of Angels, who haVe a Commiflion fuperior to that af
any King on Earth.

We muft therefore tell them, thar as Chriftians they
cannot pretend to any Liberty of Refiftance, Ana 1 fear,
thofe who have had any Hand in Rebellion?, or betted them
by defending fuch Repahtican Principles, tnat thefe Num-
bers of deluded Mifcreants have not, nor will not find the
Exception allowed ( which they (o ftrenoiifly contended
was implied) when they ilmll ftand in moil: need of it, when
they appear before the awful Tribunal of God, whoni, in
the Perlbn of his Vicegerent, they have Infulted.

We niuft tell them, that a wicked Prince is as much n
Prince, as much the Miniller of God to us for Good, if
we by our own Folly do not prevent the gracious Dcfigns
of God) as a Good Prince/ though thisbefcnt us in his

Ccodnefc,

( 'O

Ooodners, that in his Wrath to punifli a Nation for its cry-
in ^i Sins. The deftroying Angel, whom David faw over Je-
rufalem^ was as much the Minifter of God, as were thofe
who hrou^hr the joyful >Jews to the Shepherds of the Birth
of Ciirill: our Redeemer. What then becomes of what
they fo often, and with fo great AITurauce repeat? " Shall
*' we all he Sacrificed, becaufe the Prince will have it fo ?
They miftake it is not the Prince, but God, who puniOies
them by the means of a wicked Prince-, nd fluU they,
whilrt the Hand of the Almighty is heavy upon them, whilft -
He is correfting them with Judgment for theirlOffences,-:
v.'hilit his Hand isltretched out againft them, in Mercy to re-
claim them by temporal Chaftifements; ShalUhey, by adding
to their fuiful Account, provoke him to correct them in^
his Ano^r, to pour out upon their guilty Heads the utmofl-
Fury of his Wrath, Anger and Difplealure ? whilft he trys-,
mildly to to bring them to Repentance, (hall they force- '
him utterly to deitroy, and put out their Name for ever
and ever ? flmll they fly in the Face of tlie Almighty and
fay, *' We will not be puniflied by thee;

The moft ftrenous Advocates for Refiftance dare not Juf-
tify fuch Aiftions) in this cafe, they muft own that the
beft Method is to endeavour to appeafe a juftly provoked
God, by a meek Deportment, by a Dutiful Refignation to
the WiU of the Omnipotent, to humble our felves under
the avenging Hand of God, that Recourfe muft be had to
no other Weapons but Prayers and Tears, either to defevve
a better Prince, or patiently endure the bad one.

We muft tell them, Thattlie Violation of Oaths is no,t:
reciprocal •, is does not follow, if thePrince is wicked, that
the Subjed may be (otoo: if he breaks thro' all facred Tyes,
that the Subjeft may do the fame; if he will run head-long
to Damnation, that the Subjeft is obliged to accompany him

Every one muft be called to an Account by a Superior^*
therefore the Right of calling the Prince cannot be the Peo-
ple, whofe Superior the Prince is •,if the People are perjur'd,
they are accountable on Earth,where they have a Superior,
and whole Province it is to take Cognizance thereof, for he
that beareth r/ot the Sword in vnin. If the Prince is perjur'd,
he has no Superior on Earth, and therefore is only accoun.**
table at the Throne of God.

Thus therefore muft we tell them>That no Injuftice, nAVi-
oleiijce, no Oppreftion of the Prince whatfoever, can 'juftify
taking up Arms againft him as Chriftians ^ much lets* as
. UI. Afc/nhers of the Church of England. Thofe who pre-
tend to be fuch, and maintain this Doftrine, are moft mexcu-
fabkj they had better repair to the Receptacles of Schifni

6 Z and

(12 )

and Rebellion^ thatt^'e might know wfroare for lis, and who
againft us, thin fcreen themfelves I'tider the Wijig of onr
Holy Mother, and he at the lame time a Scandal to Her, and
to the Reformation •, none who maintain this Dot^rine can
be Her true Sons, fince She has (o exprefly declared Her Senfe
of this Matter in Her Excellent Homilies again fi Rebellion •, '^
and 'tis really a Paradox, how any of HtrSonscan hold the
contrary Opinion, and at the lame time allow, that thofe
Homilies contSim a good aiid wholfome Doftrine :, but few,
very few have fwerved from this Doftrine, except upon the
weighty Covfi deration of Preferment^ when they rather fought
for Arguments to juftify Fa^s, than for true Doftrine, in de-
praved Times-, when ail who were to be tryed by this Shi'
boleth\ the weak Shifts they are forced to have rccourfe to,
to folve the Contradiftion betwixt what they formerly prea-
ched, and what afterwards they thought fit to advance, are
too palpable 5 arfd it were to be wijhed, that they would con-
fute what they themfelves wrote and preached upon this
Subjeft, while they were unbyafT^fd.

Some would not have us preach up this unfeafonable Do-
£^rine, betaufe, fay they, 'twill fcarce beconfiftent witJi the
many Revolutions and Changes that have been made in the
Regal Line within this Realm •, as to this, I have little to
fay, but this I averr, that what I have delivered is the Do-
^rine of Chrift, and muft not be Receded from wpon any
Account. . ,

We muft tell them, that their Cafe is not fo different from
that of tl>e Primitive Chriftians, as they too fondly perluade
themfelves*, we have indeed many Laws enafted in Favour of
Chriftianity, andof theSubied^^ buti cannot find one, that
empowers the Subje^ to refill his Lawful Prince, evetun cafe
the Prince breaks through all the Laws he or his Ancertors
have made^ nay, fo far are we from having any fuch Law,
that wc have an Aft exactly to the contrary not yetrepeal'd,
made izCar. W, Cap. 30. declaring, 'That hy the Vy/dottbted
and Fundiimtntid Laws of this Kingdom^ neither the Peers of

\ '* ■Btit.y fay they, ihall r»e not rife and^ebel agawft fo unkind a Prince,
mthingcovjidering or regarding our true faithful and pairifnl Service , or
i>afeguard of our. Pofttrity^ J^o, faith good David. Shaii me not rife and.
Rebel a'gairt^ our kjiovn mortal and deadly EneTvythat jeehth our Lives?.

^Oi fait^ ,G»(lly D&vid. . -■

Whaf fhaS Toe then da to an evil, to an unkind Prince , an Enemy to us
ttntd'tfQbtf. hiertful to the Commonwealth, &c. Lay no Hand upon him
i faihgoo'd David/ hit let him lihie, ttntill God appoint and work ht's
Endt either ly rtdtaral Deaths or in War-, by lawful Enemies, not by tra~

Jtij(cH9 Suije&j. Hosaiiy Sermon againft wilful Kebellion, p> 601.

• '■■■.,. ■< ■ • fhts

this Realrtty nor the Commons^ nor both t4gether^ w/ Parliament^
or out of Parliament^ nor the People coUeEUvely or reprefenta-
fivelyy nor any other Perfons whatjoever, ever had^ have, hath^
or oug,ht to have a>7y Coercive Power over the Kings of thi^ Realm.

While this Law ftands unrepealed, the A^ors in every Re-
bellion, that does not fucceed, will defervedly incur the Pe-
nalty of Hi^h-Treafon ; andlliould it fucceed, it would ftill
be Illegal, ftill be Ufurpation ; tho' perhaps none durft open-
ly call It fo, for fear of being facrificed for daring to {"peak
right, and not fmooth Things; nay, the Aclors and Abetters
in a fuccefsful Rebellion involve thcmfelves in greater Guilt,
(tho' the Punidiment be at a Diftance) than thofe who mif-
carry in their Attempts-, for the only way forUfurpers tofe-
cure themfelves in their illgot PolTedions, is to facrificc all
thofe Loyaliftsthat have Courage enough to affert the Caufe
of their Injur'd Depos'd Sovereign : And by thefe Means they
are not only guilty of Rebellion, but alfo of the accumula-
tive Sins of Robbery and Murder, deliberative, formal Mut-
ter of the beft Subjefts of their Lawful Prince.

Had therefore the Primitive Chriftians no Laws in Favour
of Chriftianity, no Laws to empower them to refift -, vft
have indeed many in favour of the Subje^, and of our efta-
bliflied Religion 5 but we have alfo this, which I juft menti-
on'd, which obliges us never upon any Pretence whatfoever
to have recourfe to forcible Means againft our Prince,

The Republicans now are more hardened in Vice, than
their PredecfTors in Forty One •, who feem, in the Ordinan-
ces of that Parliament, to have been fenfible of that Maxim
in our Conftitution, that the King can dq no Wrong, that his
Perfon is Sacred ',jiud therefore pretended, that all they did
was For the Prefervation of the Kings Perfort, they took Arms
by his Authority againfi himfelf, laid all the Blame upon the Ma-
lignant s his FvilConncellors, But now, openly is the Lawful-
nefs of refifting the King maintain'd *, atid what's a greater
Wonder, all looked upon as DifafFefted, who will not agree
to this Pofition, deftruftive of all Government,

We muft not let them glory fo much with their Notions
of the Original Contraft, till they can produce it, or tell us
the Contents of it, and when^ and where it received its
Sanftion : And it were to be wiflied, that thofe who hayt
mentic^ned it, had cleared up thefe Things, and then their
Conclufion drawn from the Breach thereof would have been
of more Weight with all reafonable Men.

To ;um up in (hort all I have faid .- We muft tell them
that this is the meek Doftrine of Chrift, this is conforma-
ble to the Primitive Ciwiftians Example 3 which if we

would

imitate imitate, v^'e muft not have reconrfi-; to tlie Arm of
Fleflr, but call our own Ways to reinembrai'Ctf, rand feek by
Prayers and Tears to avert the Aniierof Go^, to prevail
with him to take aw;iy his Pla^u<; from ut^, leave <^liT Caufe
with him, vvlio hasileclared i^^'enged-rice is 7ninc^ I ivi/l repay •,
and not, as if the Arm of the Lord was growu (liort, pre-
fume to call thofe to Account, who know no Superiot upon
Earth but God, and confequently are only accountable at
his Tribunal.

We muft tell them, that under Perfecution, inflead of
relieving our felves by Rebellion, 'tis the way to make our
Cafe much more miferable ^ for a Rciiel is ivarfe than the
rtforji Prince^ and Rebellion than the worji Government of the
VforfiPrince that hitherto has been. Homily againll: Rebellion,
^ This, we muft tell them, is the Do£Vrine of God, of the
CXvdrch oi England^ and confequently muft not be ma;'!e (vf
noneEfFe£^ by the Traditions of Men ; It muft not beftrain'd
to make it agree with every fuccefsful Rebellion, no; alj
Alterations in State muft be brought to this Touch-ftone,
accordingly be either allow'd or condemned, for Succefs will
not add a Tittle of Juftice :, what would have been Rebelli-
oHj had it not fucceeded, does not changes its Nature by
fucceeding-, the fame Charafters remain indelible, and Dam-
nation will ftill be the Reward ^ Force indeed, and Fear of
Puniftiment may filence the Truth, and not fuffer it to appear^
favein Corners, in the Inner Chambers j but God is n't pu-
rer Eyes, than to behold Iniquity, or to fuffer it to go uif
punilhed,

I fliall conclude thi5 Head with the Words of the late Arch-
biftiop of Canterbury: ^Vo to all Princes upon Earthy ij this
Do^rine (of Refiftance) be true^ and become popular :, ;/ the
Multitude believe tbps^ the Pnnce^ not armed with the Scales
of the Leviathan, that is, with irrefiftable Power ^ can never b^
fafe from the Spears and barbed Irons^ which their Ambition^
and pre fumed Inter efi wtU, provide^ and their Malice will Jbarp-
en^ and their pajfionate f^i.olenct throw again/l him. Ij the Bcajl
vefpeak of, knows but its ovfn St ength^ it will never be mana-
ged : Wherefore fuch as own thtfe Dotlnnes^ dcjirutiive to all
Societies of Men, may be faid 40 have Wolves Heads, as the
Laws of Old were wottt to fpeak concerning Excommunicattd
Terfons ; and are, like thofe rave-nom Beaftsy jo far from defer-
ring our Love and Care, that they ought to be dejhoy'd at
the common Charge. Mr. Hobbes's Creed examin'd by the late
Archbifhopof Canterbury. The Second Edition. Z'. 179, i?^-

To conclude, if all Minifters would but ftridly exert
themfelves in the Difcharge of their Duty, it would not on*

(vx5')

]j be condacive to their own private Ac! vantage, but alfo
infinitely to ci-it i\d vantage of thof'e who are arrived to thuc
progrelV in Sin, as to lay to the Seer?, fee not, &c. Fof
hamourin^ them ih' their FolUes, winkifii* at their Vices,
and fio't daring to reprove them, is all omr, as if a Guide"
Hioud fuffer thuie whom he condu(ft?, to be loll in Deferts,
{lifted in Qaagmiref, <>r break their Necks over Precipices,
without lo much as cailmg to them to warn them of the
Danger tiiey were in., the Calcsare the fame, fave, on the-
one hand, Temporal l>arh will be the Coniequence, on the
Other, Eternal Damnation. •'

And 010X11^1 \vc, in Compliance to theCe unreafonable Men, fuffer
them to go on unrcproved in their Career to the Lake of Fire,*"
and plung thcmfelves irrecoverably therein, when they fhali by
Experience know that the l*ath they with fuch unwearied Appli-
catioa purfued leads to a Place, where Ihall be Weeping and
Gnaflilr.g of Teeth, where the Worm never dieth, and the FIrd
never gotth cut: Surely then they will Curfe us for our CompliancQ
fbr nor putting them frequently in mind of the Danger they were
In: The Icene will then be changed; in the Bitrernefs of their
Souls will they curie us, for fufferlng the Frowns of Man tode-
terrus from difchargng our Duty, for letting any Temporal Ad»
vantage over-balance our Care for beth our Eternal Welfare.

And on rhe other hand, thofe who took warning, rellnquifh'd
their Errors, forelook the Broad Road that leads to Perdition
and fl-rove to enter in at the ftraltGate, though by forfeiting thelf
■U'orldly Intreft-, wUl thank us with unfeigned Joy, for having pul-
led them trom the Brink ef the fiery Lake, the Jaws of Hell.

Thanks be to God, we want not Alen, who will not be over-
aw'd by rhe Frowns of any Man, how great foever ; Men, who.
U'ill f[eak the Truth, in fpite of all the powers of Darknefs; Men
over whom no Temporal Advantage can prevail, or Perfecution
force to ipeak fmoorh things, orprophefie Deceits; Men who are
not af-.-iid tf Their Tcmrs, neither are tnukhd, fince the Scripture afl
fures them, that If rhcy fuffer for RIghteoufnefs-fake, for darinff
to declare the Truth, h.-^^y nre they; Men who will blow the Trun*
pet, and warn the People, w'ho are refolved to do all in their Pow-
er to fave the Souls of all whom they know to be in Error, but
will at leafl: deliver their own.

For if the Watchman blew the Trumpet, and the People are
warned, and will not by a fpeedy Repentance fave themfelves, rhey
are altogather without Excufe, they heard the found of rhe Trum-
pet, and took not Warning, their Bleod Ihall be on their owa
Heads, but the Watchman hath delivered his Soul.

If after what I have faid, This will bs n Rebeli-ous People, tying
Children, Children tkif will vot h(nr the Law of the Lord: Will (Ull/iy

■ophefy not unto us rigki
deceits : Get you out of rh
V 0«e o/Ifrael, t} ceafi
from hfoYc us, IVh-vf^re thus faitk thcHol/one c/Ifrael, bemti'^e y.

( 1« )

ief^ife this Wortif dffA tmfi in OpfreJJitn uni Prrverfeveff, and (i^.y t^i-rr-
on : Therefore this Iniifuiiy Jhalt be to you as » Br etch ready to fctllf fweU
ling out in a high Wail, thofe Breaking cometh fuddenly at an hijian:.
And he fhail Break it as the Breakitig of (he Potters Veffel, that is brok:4
in pieces, he fhall notfpare: fo that there fhail not he found in the Bur~
fiing of it, a Sherd to take Fire from the Hearth, or to take Water with-
all out cftke Pit. For thus faith the Lord God, the Holy OTzso/Ifrael,
in the Returning and R(fi fhall ye be faved, in §luietnefr and in Confi-
dence fhall be your Strength ; and ye would net.

1 muft now apply myielf to you, as an Advocate for thefe poor,
Children, who by the voluntary Subfcrlptions of the Society, and
by the liberal Contributions of others, are Cioathed, and Educaced*
in the Principles of the Church of England.

If we would fupport our Holy Mother in her Neceflity, I think
thefe Means will not be inefedual; we can but do our bed as,
long as our frail Bodies will hold out ; but by imprinting the
Fundamential Truths of Holy Religion in the Minds of thefe
Tender Infants, we may contribute to the Support of our Church
even after our Deceafe ; which the Enemies of our Church feen»
to be fenfible of, by their Endeavouring to fupprefs thtfe Nurfe-
ries of Chriftianlty :i.n6. Loyalty.

The Schifmatick are, at this Junfture, more than ordinarily.
Intent upon erefting Seminaries to propagate Schifm and Rebel^
lion all over this Nation i many they have crefted, and more 'aitf
Daily expefted to be fct up ; and fliall we not exert our felves in
cur own Cafe, as much or rather better than they ? Since they
drive on fo furioufiy :o abolilh Epifcopacy, Ihall not we endea-
Vour to maintaine it ?

We fee they have partly accomplifli'd their Defigns; they glo-
ry that now there is not an Epifcopal Minifter to be feen in about
two Thirds of all Scotland ; which is more than could be laid fmce
the Revolution : Unhappy Scotland! ,

This is, as they would have it alfo through England and Ireland.

But I hope, the Lord in Mercy will preferve a Legal, Valid
JMiniftry, fpite of thefe Schlfmaticks»

Thefe Children inftead of being Enemies to the Epifcopacy, 'tis
to be hoped, will(thro' the Education that is given them) know,
that where there is no Bifhop, there is no Church, no Valid Sa-
crament, they will not call Loyalty Rebellion ; nay: fhould the
PRETENDER gain PolTefTion, inftead of fewing or fupporting
him, they will be able to diftinguilh betwix PoflTeflion and Right,
and Ihould they lofe their Lives in Defence either of Monarch} or
Epifcopacy, 'twill be a Satisfaftion to us, to think we have any
ways contributed to the Education ufthofc, who had Grace to
?efift even xmto Blood.

FINIS.