THE CASE OF ENGLAND, AND THE
PROTESTANT INTEREST.
SInce the present condition of the Kingdom, and the whole Protestant 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
Bavaria, Bamburgh, Cologn, Wurtzburgh
and
Worms
were Protestants. Besides these, 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 advantage. The
Vaudois
in
Italy
were all of them Protestant, and great numbers 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 Protestant. 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, Wurtzburgh
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 Apprehensions of suffering the like from their own Prince (lately turned Roman Catholick to obtain the Kingdom of
Poland)
so soon as his Wars with
Sweden,
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 danger, 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 Imprisonments, 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.
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
Holland.
And when we consider how in the year 1672. the King of
France
marched his Army through the midst of
Flanders,
fell directly upon
Holland,
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 defend 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 Provisions 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 formerly 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 resistance in any quarrel remote from their own doors; but that which enables 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 defence. If this be our case, if the whole power of the Protestant Religion 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 Condition? 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 Enemies 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 Instruments 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 greatest Enemies, under the Nation of her dearest Friends, and give Encouragement 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!
FINIS.