Commendable in this respect is that Act of Parliament which was made in the third year of the reign of King JAMES, for an annual grateful remembrance of our more then ordinary deliverance from the Gun. Powder-treason. It is answerable to that act which was made by Esther and Mordecai, 1for keeping the days called Purim. The annual celebrating of the fifth of November, being enjoined by Act of Parliament, Ministers and people make conscience of observing it: and thence many Ministers take occasion year after year to set out before their people the unnatural inhumanity, unsatiable cruelty, and perfidious treachery of Papists: and so bring people into an utter detestation of that more then Heathenish Idolatry. Very well did our learned King JAMES, in that speech which he made to both houses of Parliament upon the discovery of that devilish powder-treason-plot, observe, that No other sect of Heretics, not excepting Turk, Jew, nor Pagan, no, not even those of Calicut, who adore the Devil, did ever maintain by the grounds of their religion, that it was lawful, or rather meritorious (as the Romish Catholics call it) to murder princes ⟨p. 307⟩or people for quarrel of religion. And although particular men of all professions of religion have been some thieves, some murderers, some traitors, yet ever when they came to their end and just punishment, they confessed their fault to be in their nature, and not in their profession. These Romish Catholics only excepted. Preservations therefore, and deliverances from such mischievous persons are the best preservations and deliverances: most worthy to be remembered throughout all generations: that throughout all generations due praise may be given to God. If 2the horrible mischief intended by that powder-plot, if the near approach of the time of accomplishing that plot before it was discovered: and if the manner of discovering the same be well weighed, we cannot but discern that there was just and great cause for preserving both an annual, and perpetual memorial thereof.
Commendable in this respect is that Act of Parliament which was made in the third yeare of the raigne of King IAMES, for an annuall gratefull remembrance of our more then ordinary deliverance from the Gun. Powder-treason. It is answerable to that act which was made by Esther and Mordecai, 1for keeping the dayes called Purim. The annuall celebrating of the fift of November, being enjoyned by Act of Parliament, Ministers and people make conscience of observing it: and thence many Ministers take occasion yeare after yeare to set out before their people the unnaturall inhumanity, unsatiable cruelty, and perfidious treachery of Papists: and so bring people into an utter detestation of that more then Heathenish Idolatry. Very well did our learned King IAMES, in that speech which he made to both houses of Parliament upon the discovery of that divelish powder-treason-plot, observe, that No other sect of Heretiques, not excepting Turke, Iew, nor Pagan, no, not even those of Calicute, who adore the Devill, did ever maintaine by the grounds of their religion, that it was lawfull, or rather meritorious (as the Romish Catholicks call it) to murther princes ⟨p. 307⟩or people for quarrell of religion. And although particular men of all professions of religion have beene some theeves, some murtherers, some traitors, yet ever when they came to their end and just punishment, they confessed their fault to be in their nature, and not in their profession. These Romish Catholicks onely excepted. Preservations therefore, and deliverances from such mischievous persons are the best preservations and deliverances: most worthy to be remembred thoroughout all generations: that thoroughout all generations due praise may be given to God. If 2the horrible mischiefe intended by that powder-plot, if the neare approach of the time of accomplishing that plot before it was discovered: and if the manner of discovering the same bee well weighed, wee cannot but discerne that there was just and great cause for preserving both an annuall, and perpetuall memoriall thereof.
- 1Est. 9. 26.
- 2See the Discourse of discovering the powder-treason, in the works of King JAMES.See the Discourse of discovering the powder-treason, in the works of King IAMES.
