THE CASE OF ENGLAND, AND THE PROTESTANT INTEREST.

SInce the preſent condition of the Kingdom, and the whole Prote⯑ſtant Intereſt by the conjunction of France and Spain abroad, and a a more horrid combination of ſeveral at home, muſt needs affect with the moſt melancholy Reflections all true Engliſh Hearts, ſuch as have any real love or zeal for their Religion, or their native Country. I cannot think it amiſs to preſent a ſhort and impartial View [...]o ſuch as have not conſidered the ſame.

In the beginning of the laſt Age, the Proteſtant Intereſt in Europe was more than a Match for the Roman Catholick; the Kingdom of Bohemia was almoſt all Proteſtant; near half the Subjects of Hungary, of Auſtria and Moravia, were Proteſtant (and did many times defend themſelves by [...] againſt the Emperor himſelf, when oppreſs'd by him for the ſake of their Religion.) That in Germany, the Houſes of Newburgh were Proteſtant, the Palatinates for the moſt part of them Proteſtant, of the ſtricteſt ſort; the Saxons entirely Proteſtant, and being hearty unanimous, and ſeated in the midſt of Germany, were a Bulwark and Defence to the Proteſtants of many other leſſer States as often as they were oppreſs'd for their Religion, by their own or their neighbouring Princes: That many of the Subjects of Bava⯑ria, Bamburgh, Cologn, Wurtzburgh and Worms were Proteſtants. Beſides theſe, [2] that the Proteſtants of France were ſo powerful, as to maintain 8 or 9 Civil Wars in defence of their Religion, and always came off with ad⯑vantage. The Vaudois in Italy were all of them Proteſtant, and great num⯑bers of the Inhabitants of the Spaniſh Low Countries were of the Reform'd Religion. Beſides, England and Holland, and the Northern Kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden, and Dutchy of Brandenburgh, were entirely Prote⯑ſtant. But now inſtead of this, is not the Proteſtant Power deſtroyed almoſt over Europe? The whole Kingdom of Bohemia entirely Popiſh? Are not the Proteſtants of Poland, Auſtria, Moravia utterly deſtroyed? Is not their deſtruction now carrying on, and almoſt finiſh'd in Hungary? In Germany, the Newburghers of Proteſtants are become fierce Enemies of the Proteſtant Religion. The Proteſtants of Bavaria, Bamburgh, Cologn, Wurtz⯑burgh and Worms are all deſtroyed. In France, the Spaniſh Low Countries, Savoy and Vaudois, after long and mighty Struggles, the Religion is utterly extinguiſhed. Againſt the poor Palatinates the Perſecution is now carrying on with its uſual barbarity, and their Neighbours the Saxons are ſo far from being able to help them, that they are under the fearful Apprehenſi⯑ons of ſuffering the like from their own Prince (lately turned Roman Ca⯑tholick to obtain the Kingdom of Poland) ſo ſoon as his Wars with Swe⯑den, and other troubles created him by his Poliſh and Lithuanian Subjects will give him leave. Beſides this, two Northern Princes have given great cauſe to ſuſpect their converſion to the Romiſh Religion: That Sweden by its ſeparation from the reſt of Europe by the Baltick, is unable to give aſſiſtance to the Proteſtants in any part of Europe, without the conſent of the German Princes bordering on the Baltick, which will never be granted by Papiſts in favour of the Proteſtants.

Thus the Proteſtant Religion which had ſpread it ſelf over almoſt all Europe, which had gain'd the entire poſſeſſion of ſome Countrys, the greater part of others, and mighty Intereſt in moſt, has through the reſtleſs malice and endeavours of its Enemies, been ſubverted and deſtroyed in Country after County, till it is at laſt reduced to a little Corner of what it once poſſeſt (England and Holland) And do we think our Enemies will not accompliſh (what they have thus proſperouſly carried on ſo far) our utter Deſtruction? Is it not high time then to think our ſelves in dan⯑ger, to look about us to enquire what it is hath thus weakend us, brought us ſo near our ruin, what meaſures will certainly accompliſh it, and what we muſt take for the prevention of it?

The Romiſh Methods of converting the Proteſtants have been in all Countries the ſame, viz. Confiſcation of their Eſtates, Goals and Impri⯑ſonments, I [...]re, and Sword, dragooning and maſſacring, and inflicting the moſt inhuman torments that rage and fury cou'd invent upon ſuch, whoſe reſolution and zeal for their Religion cou'd not be moved by the former means.

[3] If this be the true caſe of England, and the Proteſtant Religion, then what is wanting to give the finiſhing ſtroke to our deſtruction, but only an ability in the King of France to break the Powers of England and Hol⯑land. And when we conſider how in the year 1672. the King of France marched his Army through the midſt of Flanders, fell directly upon Hol⯑land, then unprovided, enter'd their ſtrongeſt Towns like open Villages; ſome without defence, or almoſt denial, moſt of them without any blows at all, and all of them with very few, and made himſelf Maſter, of three parts of Holland in 2 months time; for which Sir W. T. K. C. II's Ambaſſador (then in Holland) tells us the reaſon was, That the Dutch then not ſuſpecting ſuch a thing, had no Field-Army ſufficient to encounter their Enemies, or ſuccour any Town: That walled Towns will not de⯑fend the men within, unleſs the hearts of the Men will defend their Walls: That no Gariſon will make any reſolute defence, without the proſpect or hopes at leaſt of relief. 'Tis true, that the French King having then all Flanders on his back, gariſon'd with Spaniſh Troops (then his implacable Enemies) a powerful Army of the German Princes matching upon him down the Rhine; Spain and England (alarm'd by his ſucceſſes) preparing to attack him on all quarters, was glad to vomit up all again, and return home with as much precipitancy, as he had invaded them, leaſt the Pro⯑viſions and retreat of his Army through Flanders ſhould be cut off. But now the caſe is otherwiſe, he has poſſeſs'd himſelf of Flanders, extended his Dominion to the very Frontiers of Holland; Spain is all united to him, ſome German Princes (then his Enemies) are now become his Friends; others enter'd into conditions of Neutrality with him: And ſhould he now by a fatal Battle (which God of his infinite mer [...] [...]) break the Dutch Army, which they have with infinite Charge and matchleſs Vigour, gather'd up from Denmark, Brandenburgh, and other remote Countries of Germany, might he not enter the heart of their Country? And whence then can their ſtrong Cities and Towns depend upon relief? May he not as former⯑ly enter 'em like open Villages? May he not as formerly poſſeſs himſelf of their whole Country in leſs than one Campaign? It was the opinion of that great Stateſman, Sir W.T. That Polland wou'd make a ſtout reſi⯑ſtance in any quarrel remote from their own doors; but that which ena⯑bles them (their Wealth) to carry on a foreign War with Vigour, wou'd in a War at home render 'em defenceleſs Rich and populous Towns are not fit for Sieges, or were ever known to make any long and reſolute de⯑fence. If this be our caſe, if the whole power of the Proteſtant Religi⯑on reſts now in a manner in England and Holland; if the deſtruction of England, as well as of our holy Religion muſt inevitably follow the loſs of Holland. If Holland by one unfortunate Battle might happen to be loſt in one Campaign or leſs, Are we not in a moſt ſad and deplorable Con⯑dition? [4] and if ſome Men are without their Fears, Have we not the greater reaſon to fear for our ſelves, our Religion, and our Country. What ſhou'd we judg of thoſe who tell us, 'tis too early yet for England to declare? The Enemy has raiſed his Armies, furniſh'd his Magazines; and 'tis too early for us to think of raiſing a Man. The Enemy is before our Outworks, and 'tis too ſoon for us to prepare our ſelves to be on our guard: Will not thoſe Men tell us, when Holland is loſt, 'twill then be too late? To what purpoſe (will they ſay) now do you think of raiſing Forces? Is not the French King Maſter of Holland? Poſſeſs'd of all their Ports? Where will you land 'em? To what uſe will you put 'em? Does not ſuch Language as this plainly ſhew the intention of the Authors? Is it not plainly to deliver us blindfold, bound hand and foot into the Ene⯑mies hand? Is not their deſign now ſo viſible as not to be diſguiſed? Do not ſome of the Party begin to throw off the Mask, and tell us, 'Twill not be well with us till our old Maſter returns, till the Government returns to its natural Channel. And are not thoſe that were the very Tools and In⯑ſtruments of Popery and Arbitrary Power in former Reigns, and that owe their Lives to Acts of Indempnity in this, induſtriouſly repreſented by ſome as the Patriots of their Country; and by a ſtrange kind of Paradox thoſe that have been always hearty for the Church, and were for defending of it when others were for pulling it down; that were hearty for the King's Acceſſion to the Throne, and to his Perſon and Government ever ſince, are repreſented as betrayers of us, as having ſold us to France: Would it not be a piece of rare refin'd Policy, if France could hang up her great⯑eſt Enemies, under the Nation of her deareſt Friends, and give Encou⯑ragement to her antient Frien [...] under the Notion of being her Enemies.

Let us therefore while it is yet in our power (as we tender our Religion and our Country) uſe our utmoſt Endeavours by all legal ways to aſſu [...] his Majeſty and his Government, againſt all his and our Enemies both at home and abroad; and in the words of our Liturgy, let us offer up our moſt ſervent Prayers to God Amighty, Give peace in our time, O Lord, becauſe there is none other that figureth for us but only thou, O God!