obferve them, have thir postures, and thir motions no less expertly, and with no less variety then they that practice feats in the Artillery-ground. Sometimes they seem furiously to march on, and presently march counter; by and by they stand, and then retreat; or if need be can face about, or wheele in a whole body, with that cunning and dexterity as is almost unperceavable; to winde themselves by fhifting ground into places of more advantage. And Providence onely must be the drumm, Providence the word of command, that calls them from above, but always to fom larger Benefice, or acts them into such or such figures, and promotions. At thir turnes and doublings no men readier; to the right, or to the left; for it is thir turnes which they serve cheifly ; heerin only fingular; that with them there is no certain hand right or left; but as thir own commodity thinks beft to call it. But if there come a truth to be defended, which to them, and thir interest of this world feemes not fo profitable, strait these nimble motionists can finde no eev'n leggs to ftand upon : and are no more of use to reformation throughly performd, and not fuperficially, or to the advancement of Truth (which among mortal men is alwaies in her progrefs) then if on a fudden they were strook maime, and crippl'd. Which the better to conceale, or the more to countnance by a general conformity to thir own limping, they would have Scripture, they would have reafon alfo made to halt with them for company; and would putt us off with impotent conclufions, lame and fhorter then the premises. In this posture they seem to stand with great zeale and confidence on the wall of Sion; but like Jebufites, not like Ifraelites, or Levites: blinde alfo as well as lame, they difcern not David from Adonibezec: but cry him up for the Lords anointed, whofe thumbs and great toes not long before they had cut off upon thir Pul pit cushions. Therfore he who is our only King, the root of David, and whofe Kingdom is eternal righteousness, with all those that Warr under him, whofe happiness and final hopes are laid up in that only just and rightful kingdom (which we pray inceffantly may com foon, and in so praying wish hafty ruin and destruction to all Tyrants) eev'n he our immortal King, and all that love him, must of neceffity have in abomination these blind and lame Defenders of Jerufalem; as the foule of David hated them, and forbid them entrance into Gods House, and his own. But as to those before them, which I cited firft (and with an easie search, for many more might be added) as they there stand, without more in number, being the best and chief of Proteftant Divines, we may follow them for faithful Guides, and without doubting may receive them, as Witneffes abundant of what wee heer affirme concerning Tyrants. And indeed I find it generally the cleere and pofitive determination of them all, (not prelatical, or of this late faction fubprelatical) who have writt'n on this argument; that to doe juftice on a lawless King, is to a privat man unlawful, to an inferior Magiftrate lawfull or if they were divided in opinion, yet greater then these here alleg'd, or of more autority in the Church, there can be none produc'd. If any one fhall goe about by bringing other teftimonies to dif able thefe, or by bringing these against themselves in other cited paffages of thir Books, he will not only faile to make good that fals and impudent affertion of those mutinous Minifters, that the depofing and punishing of a King or Tyrant, is against the conftant Judgement of all Proteftant Divines, it being quite the contrary, but will prove rather, what perhaps he intended not, that the judgement of Divines, if it be fo various and inconftant to it felf, is not confiderable, or to be esteem'd at all. Ere which be yeilded, as I hope it never will, these ignorant affertors in their own art will have prov'd themselves more and more, not to be Proteftant Divines, whofe conftant judgement in this point they have fo audaciously bely'd, but rather to be a pack of hungrie Church-wolves, who in the steps of Simon Magus thir Father, following the hot fent of double Livings and Pluralities, advoufons, donatives, inductions, and augmentations, though uncall'd to the Flock of Chrift, but by the meer fuggeftion of thir Bellies, like thofe Priests of Bel, whose pranks Daniel found out; have got poffeffion, or rather feis'd upon the Pulpit, as the strong hold and fortrefs of thir fedition and rebellion against the civil Magiftrate. Whose friendly and victorious hand having refcu'd them from the Bishops thir infulting Lords, fed them plenteously, both in public and in privat, rais'd them to be high and rich of poore and base; onely fuffer'd not thir covetousness and fierce ambition, which as the pitt that fent out thir fellow locufts, hath bin ever bottomless and boundless, to interpofe in all things, and over all perfons, thir impetuous ignorance and importunity. Between James Earl of Ormond for King Charles the First on the one hand, and the Irish Rebels and Papifts on the other hand. And on a Letter fent by Ormond to Colonel Jones Governour of Dublin. And a Representation of the Scots Prefbytery at Belfaft in Ireland. To which the faid Articles, Letter, with Colonel Jones's Anfwer to it, and Reprefentation, &c. are prefix'd. ORMOND, A Proclamation. HEREAS Articles of Peace are made, concluded, accorded and agreed upon, by and between Us, JAMES Lord Marquefs of ORMOND, Lord Lieut. General, and General Governour of His Majefties Kingdom of Ireland, by Virtue of the Authority wherewith We are intrufted, for, and on the behalf of His Moft Excellent Majesty of the one Part, and the General Affembly of the Roman Catholics of the faid Kingdom, for and on the behalf of His Majefties Roman Catholic Subjects of the fame, on the other Part; a true Copy of which Articles of Peace is hereunto annexed. We the Lord Lieut. do by this Proclamation, in His Majefties Name publish the fame, and do in His Ma jefties Name strictly Charge and Command all His Majefties Subjects, and all others inhabiting or refiding within His Majesties said Kingdom of Ireland to take notice thereof, and to render due Obedience to the fame in all the Parts thereof. And as his Majesty hath been induced to this Peace, out of a deep fense of the Miseries and Calamities brought upon this his Kingdom and People, and out of a Hope conceived by His Majefty, that it may prevent the further Effufion of His Subjects Blood, redeem them out of all the Miseries and Calamities under which they now fuffer, restore them to all Quietnefs and Happiness under His Majesties most Gracious Government, deliver the Kingdom in general from those Slaughters, Depredations, Rapines and Spoils which always accompany a War, encourage the Subjects and others with Comfort to betake themselves to Trade, Traffic, Commerce, Manufacture and all other things, which uninterrupted, may increase the Wealth and Strength of the Kingdom, beget in all His Majefties Subjects of this Kingdom a perfect Unity amongst themselves, after the too long continued Divifion amongst them: So his Majefty affures himself that all His Subjects of this His Kingdom (duly confidering the great and ineftimable Benefits which they may find in this Peace) will with all Duty render due Obedience thereunto. And We in His Majesties Name, do hereby declare, That all Perfons fo rendering due Obedience to the said Peace, shall be protected, cherished, countenanced and fupported by His Majefty, and his Royal Authority, according to the true Intent and Meaning of the faid Articles of Peace. GOD SAVE THE KING. Given at our Castle of Kilkenny, |