Prophecies concerning the return of popery into England, Scotland and IrelandProphecys concerning the return of popery into England, Scotland and Ireland

James Usher late Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh Primate of Ireland, being asked by a Gentleman of his acquaintance what his thoughts were of a very great Persecution, which should fall upon the Church of God in these Nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland, of which he had spoken with great confidence many years before, when we were in the highest and fullest state of outward peace and Settlement. The Gentleman asked him whether he did believe those sad times to be past, or that they were yet to come, to which he answered, that they were yet to come, and that he did as confidently expect it, as ever he had done, adding, that this said Persecution would fall upon all the Protestants Churches of Europe. The other replied, that he did hope it might have been past as to these Nations of our, since he thought, that though we, who are the People thereof, have been punished much less than our sins have deserved, and that our late Wars had made far less Devastations, than War commonly brings upon those Countries where it pleaseth God in Judgment to suffer it: yet we must needs acknowledge that many great Houses had been Burnt, Ruined and left without Inhabitants, many great Families Impoverished and undone, and many thousand Lives also had been lost in that bloody War, and that Ireland and Scotland, as well as England, had drunk very deep of the Cup of God's Anger, even to the overthrow of the Government, and the utter desolation almost of a very great part of those Countries.

JAmes Vsher late Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh Primate of Ireland, being asked by a Gentleman of his acquaintance what his thoughts were of a very great Persecution, which should fall upon the Church of God in these Narions of England, Scotland, and Ireland, of which he had spoken with great confidence many years before, when we were in the highest and fullest state of outward peace and Settlement. The Gentleman asked him whether he did believe those sad times to be past, or that they were yet to come, to which he answered, that they were yet to come, and that he did as confidently expect it, as ever he had done, adding, that this said Persecution would fall upon all the Protestants Churches of Europe. The other replyed, that he did hope it might have been past as to these Nations of our, since he thought, that though we, who are the People thereof, have been punished much less than our sins have deserved, and that our late Wars had made far less Devastations, than War commonly brings upon those Countries where it pleaseth God in Judgment to suffer it: yet we must needs accknowledge that many great Houses had been Burnt, Ruined and left without Inhabitants, many great Families Impoverished and undone, and many thousand Lives also had been lost in that bloody War, and that Ireland and Scotland, as well as England, had drunk very deep of the Cup of God's Anger, even to the overthrow of the Government, and the utter desolation almost of a very great part of those Countries.