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them in the works of Elizabeth's and several succeeding reigns and even in sermons they are not unfrequently mentioned as evidences of the intentions of the Papists in the projected invasion of England. The following passage occurs in a sermon preached in London in the year 1631, forty-three years only subsequent to the event: "But now Philip of Spain is become the Pope's general, and prepares his invincible navie; of galeasses, ships, &c. about one hundred and fifty, &c. besides whips and butchers' knives abundance: ye may guesse for what use: some of which remain at this day as monuments of their mercy. The engines of cruelty were all ready, and cut-throats as ready to use them." I quote this passage as evidence that in the year 1631 these instruments were publicly exhibited in the Tower, and no one entertained any doubt on the subject. Let it be remembered also that at that time, so soon after the event, the cheat, if there had been any imposition, could have easily been detected.

In reviewing all the proceedings connected with the armada, the reader must be struck with the singular indications of the gracious providence of God towards our Church and nation. For many years the people of England were accustomed to review God's mercies, and to give expression to their gratitude by acts of praise and thanksgiving. A writer of considerable

* See a Sermon by THOMAS TAYLOR, A.D. 1631, entitled Eighty-Eight, in Works, 565.

celebrity in the year 1625, alluding to the armada and the gunpowder treason, says: "What shall I speak of the more than miraculous preservation of the late Queen, and our late King, from infinite and eminent dangers, both from fire and water? in the Spanish invasion from water, in the gunpowder treason from fire: God make us ever more and more thankful for these our more than miraculous deliverances*." It behoves all Protestants to retain such deliverances in remembrance.

The Papists of the time of Elizabeth laboured to subvert the Church of England, viewing it as the greatest bulwark of the Reformation and against the encroachments of Popery. In the same light has the Church ever been viewed by Papists. In that light is it still regarded by the emissaries of the Papacy now in this country. From that Church the Romish system has suffered more than from any other quarter: from her ranks there has been a constant succession of able champions for the truth, whom the advocates of Popery were unable to gainsay. May she be preserved, in her integrity, to the latest posterity!

Having considered all the most important particulars respecting the armada, I shall take leave of my readers with a request, that they will give me credit for wishing, in this attempt, to promote the cause of truth. I consider Popery to be a most dan

A Manduction unto Divinitie; by THOMAS JAMES, D.D., 118, 1625.

gerous error and my object, in the narrative, has been to illustrate its principles. There are many persons, who will not believe that Popery is now what it has ever been yet when asked for a reason for supposing that it is changed, they are unable to assign one. They may talk of the improvements of the age, and of the general spread of knowledge: but they lose sight of, or perhaps have never been acquainted with the fact, that every persecuting and exterminating canon still continues to be the law of the Church of Rome: and that no change whatever has occurred since the period, when Pius V., and Sixtus V., on the authority of the Lateran decree, authorized King Philip to seize upon the throne of Queen Elizabeth and reduce the country to the obedience of the Papal See. Considering, therefore, that the principles, which once led to such scenes of horror, are still retained by the Church of Rome, I feel fully justified in calling upon the Protestants of England to REMEMBER

THE YEAR ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTYEIGHT!

151

THE BULL OF PIUS V.

"The Sentence Declaratory of our Lord Pope Pius V. against Elizabeth the pretended Queen of England, and the Heretics adhering to her: wherein also all her Subjects are declared absolved from the Oath of Allegiance, and whatever else due unto her: and those who hereafter obey her, are hereby anathematized.

"Pius Bishop, servant of the servants of God, for a future memorial of the matter.

"He who reigneth in the Highest, to whom is given all power in Heaven and in earth, hath committed one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church (out of which there is no salvation) to one alone upon earth, namely, to Peter the chief of the apostles, and to Peter's successor the Bishop of Rome, to be governed in fulness of power.

"Him alone he made prince over all people and kingdoms, with power to pluck up, destroy, scatter, consume, plant, and to build : that he may continue the faithful who are knit together with the bond of charity, in the unity of the spirit, and present them safe and unblameable to their Saviour.

“In discharge of which function, we who are by the goodness of God called to the government of the aforesaid church, do spare no pains, labouring with all earnestness, that unity and Catholic religion (which the Author thereof hath, for the trial of his children's faith, and for our amendment, suffered to be punished with so great afflictions) might be preserved whole and uncorrupt.

"But the number of the ungodly have gotten such power, that there is no place left in the world which they have not endeavoured to corrupt with their most wicked doctrines; amongst others, Elizabeth, the pretended Queen of England and the servant of wickedness, hath assisted thereunto; in whom as in a sanctuary the most pernicious of all have found a refuge. This

very woman having seized on the kingdom, and monstrously usurping the place of supreme head of the Church, of all England, and the chief authority and jurisdiction thereof, hath again brought back the said kingdom into miserable distraction, which was but even then reduced to the Catholic faith, and an hopeful condition.

"For having by strong hand forbid the exercise of the true religion, which Mary, a lawful queen of famous memory had by the assistance of this see restored, after it had been overthrown by Henry VIII., a revolter from the truth: she following and embracing the errors of heretics, hath removed the royal council, consisting of the nobility of England, and filled it with obscure heretical fellows; hath suppressed the embracers of the Catholic faith; settled dishonest preachers and wicked ministers; abolished the sacrifice of the mass, prayers, fastings, choice of meats, unmarried life, and the Catholic ceremonies; commanded all the kingdom over, books manifestly heretical, and impious mysteries and institutions, according to the rules of Calvin, which she herself entertains and receives, to be likewise observed by her subjects. She hath presumed to throw bishops, parsons, and other Catholic priests out of their churches and benefices, and to bestow theirs and other church-livings upon heretics, and to determine of ecclesiastical matters: to forbid the bishops, clergy, and people to acknowledge the Church of Rome, or to obey the precepts or canonical sanctions thereof; hath compelled most of them to obey her wicked laws, and to abjure the authority and obedience of the Bishop of Rome: and by oath to acknowledge her to be sole governess, as well in spiritual as temporal affairs. Hath imposed penalties and punishments upon those who obeyed not the same: hath exacted them of those who persevered in the unity of faith, and their aforesaid obedience: and hath cast the Catholic prelates and parsons into prison, where many of them being spent with long languishing and sorrow, miserably ended their lives.

"All which things, seeing they are manifest and notorious to all men, and by the clearest testimony of very many sufficiently proved, that there is no place at all left, either for excuse, defence,

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