Of the morality of the fourth commandment as still in force to bind Christians…Of the morality of the fourth commandement as still in force to binde Christians…

For the author of this, would bear the World in hand, that he who wrote the book entitled God and the King, and was a Puritan; and that none but Puritans do stand for the absoluteness of Kings in such sort as it is there maintained. And that it is merely a plot to ruinate monarchs, by advancing their absoluteness so high; dealing with them herein, as Hercules did with Antaeus; for observing that as often as he threw him to the ground, he rose up with greater strength, for the earth being his mother, as often as he fell into her bosom she inspired new vigour and spirit into him; therefore he would throw him down no more, but lifting him up from the Earth into the Air, there he held him between his arms, until he had crushed his breath out of his body, and so made an end of him. In like sort, it is there said, that Puritans find it their only means to ruin monarchs, by advancing their absoluteness in so unreasonable a manner: that when the people shall understand it aright, they will be so provoked hereby, that they will strain the uttermost of their power to root out all Monarchies. Nevertheless all this is but a squib, making a great noise but doing no hurt; yet sufficient to scare any man in these times, considering how Funestous a condition it is, to come under the shadow of the very name of Puritan. And the Papists, and all that are popishly affected rejoice in this, as in nothing more. Forsooth Hoc Ithacus velit & magno mercentur Atreidae. But see my unfortunate condition; after I had resolved to make it my next work to labour in this argument: and after I had dispatched my first work of pleading for the supreme absoluteness of God in Heaven; in the next place to try my strength what I could say for the secondary absoluteness of Kings and Monarchs here on Earth; I am suddenly driven to intermit all other businesses formerly in hand, and to travail in a new argument, and to strengthen my self against the lightnings and thunders, that may break over our heads we know not how soon; for we see examples before our eyes of sufferings ⟨p. 35⟩in this kind, and how soon our own turn may come to suffer in the same kind it is uncertain unto us. Therefore to return to John Barcley:

For the author of this, would beare the World in hand, that hee who wrote the booke intituled God and the King, and was a Puritan; and that none but Puritans doe stand for the absolutenesse of Kings in such sort as it is there maintained. And that it is merely a plot to ruinate monarches, by advancing their absolutenesse so high; dealing with them herein, as Hercules did with Antaeus; for observing that as often as he threw him to the ground, he rose up with greater strength, for the earth being his mother, as often as he fell into her bosome she inspired new vigour and spirit into him; therefore he would throw him down no more, but lifting him up from the Earth into the Aire, there hee held him betweene his armes, untill he had crusht his breath out of his body, and so made an end of him. In like sort, it is there said, that Puritans finde it their onely meanes to ruine monarches, by advancing their absolutnesse in so unreasonable a manner: that when the people shall understand it aright, they will bee so provoked hereby, that they will streyne the uttermost of their power to roote out all Monarchies. Neverthelesse all this is but a squib, making a great noyse but doing no hurt; yet sufficient to scare any man in these times, considering how Funestous a condition it is, to come under the shadow of the very name of Puritan. And the Papists, and all that are popishly affected rejoyce in this, as in nothing more. Forsooth Hoc Ithacus velit & magno mercentur Atreidae. But see my unfortunate condition; after I had resolved to make it my next worke to labour in this argument: and after I had dispatched my first worke of pleading for the supreame absolutnesse of God in Heaven; in the next place to try my strength what I could say for the secondary absolutenesse of Kings and Monarches here on Earth; I am sodenly driven to intermit all other businesses formerly in hand, and to travaile in a new argument, and to strengthen my selfe against the lightnings and thunders, that may breake over our heads we know not how soone; for wee see examples before our eyes of sufferings