A farewell to popery, in a letter to Dr. Nicholas, vice-chancellor of Oxford, and warden of New-College, from W. H., M. D., lately Fellow of the same college shewing, the true motives that with-drew him to the romish religion, and the reasons of his return to the Church of England : concluding with some short reflections concerning the great duty of charity.
         Harris, Walter, 1647-1732.
      
       
         
           1679
        
      
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             A farewell to popery, in a letter to Dr. Nicholas, vice-chancellor of Oxford, and warden of New-College, from W. H., M. D., lately Fellow of the same college shewing, the true motives that with-drew him to the romish religion, and the reasons of his return to the Church of England : concluding with some short reflections concerning the great duty of charity.
             Harris, Walter, 1647-1732.
          
           [2], 41 p.
           
             Printed for Walter Kettilby ...,
             London :
             1679.
          
           
             Signed: W. H.
             Attributed to Walter Harris. Cf. NUC pre-1956.
             Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Nicholas, John, d. 1712.
           Charity.
        
      
    
     
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             A
             Farewel
             to
             Popery
          
           :
           IN
           A
           LETTER
           TO
           Dr.
           NICHOLAS
           ,
           VICE-CHANCELLOR
           of
           OXFORD
           ,
           and
           WARDEN
           of
           NEW-COLLEGE
           ,
           from
           W.H.
           M.D.
           lately
           Fellow
           of
           the
           same
           College
           .
        
         
           SHEWING
           ,
           The
           true
           Motives
           that
           with-drew
           him
           to
           the
           
             Romish
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           the
           reasons
           of
           his
           Return
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           :
           Concluding
           with
           some
           short
           Reflections
           concerning
           the
           Great
           Duty
           of
           Charity
           .
        
         
           Licensed
           ,
           Jan.
           the
           15th
           .
           1679.
           
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Walter
             Kettilby
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Bishops-Head
           in
           St.
           Pauls
           Church-yeard
           ,
           1679.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           FAREWEL
           to
           POPERY
           ,
           IN
           A
           Letter
           to
           Dr.
           Nicholas
           ,
           Vice
           Chancellor
           of
           Oxford
           ,
           and
           Warden
           of
           New-College
           ,
           from
           W.H.
           M.D.
           lately
           Fellow
           of
           the
           same
           Colledge
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           THOUGH
           I
           was
           not
           so
           happy
           to
           live
           under
           your
           Government
           ,
           and
           thereby
           take
           so
           near
           a
           prospect
           of
           your
           Merit
           as
           my
           
             Fellow
             Collegiates
          
           have
           often
           told
           me
           they
           do
           ;
           yet
           some
           of
           your
           worthy
           acts
           tending
           to
           the
           good
           of
           our
           Vniversity
           ,
           and
           best
           establishment
           of
           Learning
           and
           Virtue
           together
           ,
           have
           raised
           you
           Admirers
           ,
           even
           where
           you
           may
           least
           imagine
           :
           And
           if
           I
           should
           here
           take
           occasion
           ,
           or
           presume
           to
           speak
           of
           the
           Piety
           of
           your
           Life
           ,
           the
           Solidness
           ,
           of
           your
           
           Judgment
           ,
           the
           Gravity
           of
           your
           Person
           ,
           or
           your
           
             Prudent
             Conduct
          
           in
           all
           particulars
           of
           your
           Government
           ,
           I
           must
           quite
           lay
           aside
           my
           intended
           design
           ,
           and
           write
           a
           Volum
           on
           purpose
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           only
           Congratulating
           the
           discreet
           choice
           of
           your
           Vniversity
           and
           College
           ,
           in
           a
           Person
           so
           fitted
           for
           the
           government
           of
           both
           ,
           and
           desiring
           your
           favourable
           construction
           of
           what
           I
           write
           ,
           shall
           endeavour
           to
           make
           them
           both
           some
           amends
           for
           the
           scandal
           I
           may
           perhaps
           have
           occasioned
           by
           my
           
             indiscreet
             conduct
          
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           :
           Such
           as
           give
           a
           
             publick
             Scandal
          
           should
           do
           a
           
             publick
             Penance
          
           ;
           and
           I
           'm
           contented
           to
           undergo
           it
           ,
           as
           I
           am
           sure
           I
           must
           ,
           in
           the
           
             Malicious
             censures
          
           of
           Roman-Catholicks
           ;
           for
           't
           is
           very
           well
           worth
           the
           while
           to
           endure
           that
           ,
           and
           much
           more
           for
           the
           discharge
           of
           a
           
             good
             Conscience
          
           ,
           which
           is
           all
           I
           chiefly
           aim
           at
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           though
           indeed
           't
           will
           be
           a
           confortable
           addition
           too
           ,
           that
           I
           shall
           be
           fully
           restored
           to
           the
           good
           Opinion
           of
           those
           ,
           among
           whom
           I
           was
           first
           and
           best
           Principled
           .
        
         
           Nor
           can
           I
           at
           all
           doubt
           this
           last
           good
           effect
           ,
           if
           I
           either
           consider
           the
           
             real
             Innocence
          
           of
           my
           actions
           ,
           relating
           to
           Religion
           ,
           or
           the
           goodness
           and
           well-wishes
           that
           I
           have
           been
           often
           told
           my
           Fellow-Collegiates
           have
           all
           along
           exprest
           towards
           me
           .
        
         
           My
           own
           Innocence
           will
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           sufficiently
           appear
           by
           giving
           the
           world
           a
           clear
           and
           true
           account
           of
           the
           first
           motives
           of
           my
           favouring
           the
           Popish
           way
           ,
           my
           behaviour
           since
           I
           espoused
           their
           Cause
           ,
           and
           what
           reasons
           have
           induced
           my
           judgment
           to
           fix
           again
           upon
           the
           
             old
             foundation
          
           :
           This
           I
           shall
           do
           with
           much
           sincerity
           
           and
           candor
           ,
           and
           shall
           speak
           the
           utmost
           truth
           according
           to
           the
           best
           of
           my
           memory
           ,
           and
           the
           faithfulest
           information
           my
           own
           Conscience
           can
           give
           me
           .
        
         
           'T
           will
           seem
           very
           strange
           that
           too
           much
           Charity
           &
           Submission
           should
           happen
           to
           drive
           a
           man
           head-long
           into
           the
           most
           Vncharitable
           and
           
             Proudest
             Church
          
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           yet
           so
           it
           was
           with
           me
           .
           You
           know
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           that
           our
           College
           has
           had
           the
           fortune
           to
           retain
           greater
           and
           more
           lively
           Memorials
           of
           Popery
           in
           Statues
           and
           Pictures
           on
           the
           Gates
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Chappel
           ,
           than
           any
           other
           throughout
           the
           Vniversity
           .
           Those
           sights
           did
           often
           put
           me
           in
           mind
           of
           that
           Religion
           ,
           and
           finding
           the
           best
           Divines
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           unanimously
           agree
           that
           those
           Superstitions
           with
           many
           others
           ,
           had
           prevailed
           over
           the
           World
           at
           least
           a
           thousand
           years
           before
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           it
           struck
           my
           heart
           with
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           Compassion
           ,
           and
           made
           me
           often
           wish
           that
           Roman-Catholicks
           were
           in
           the
           right
           ,
           and
           we
           in
           the
           wrong
           ,
           that
           the
           more
           People
           might
           thereby
           be
           saved
           .
           This
           
             Charitable
             consideration
          
           did
           by
           degrees
           work
           further
           and
           further
           ;
           but
           before
           ever
           I
           saw
           any
           one
           of
           that
           Perswasion
           ,
           or
           read
           any
           one
           of
           their
           Books
           ,
           I
           did
           long
           to
           be
           Convinced
           that
           they
           were
           in
           the
           right
           way
           ,
           for
           the
           sake
           and
           general
           good
           of
           Mankind
           :
           So
           that
           by
           mere
           chance
           lighting
           upon
           a
           
             Popish
             Book
          
           in
           one
           of
           our
           Chambers
           ,
           I
           opened
           it
           with
           all
           the
           hast
           and
           greediness
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           read
           it
           with
           as
           much
           joy
           as
           if
           I
           had
           found
           a
           Treasure
           beyond
           value
           .
           I
           was
           impatient
           to
           be
           drawn
           from
           the
           Book
           ,
           either
           by
           Prayers
           ,
           Meals
           ,
           Visits
           ,
           or
           any
           
           other
           accident
           :
           It
           over-joy'd
           me
           to
           find
           that
           they
           had
           some
           Arguments
           on
           their
           side
           ;
           and
           by
           that
           time
           I
           had
           got
           half
           way
           in
           the
           Book
           ,
           I
           turn'd
           a
           
             Zealous
             Champion
          
           for
           them
           ,
           took
           their
           part
           vigorously
           wheresoever
           I
           chanced
           on
           ,
           or
           could
           make
           an
           occasion
           ;
           and
           from
           that
           time
           was
           perfectly
           deaf
           to
           any
           thing
           that
           could
           be
           said
           against
           them
           ,
           by
           the
           best
           wit
           of
           judgment
           that
           either
           College
           or
           Vniversity
           could
           oppose
           me
           with
           in
           private
           Conversation
           .
           Now
           that
           which
           amazes
           me
           sometimes
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           I
           could
           possibly
           have
           such
           a
           tendency
           of
           spirit
           ,
           so
           strong
           an
           impulse
           on
           my
           affections
           ,
           notwithstanding
           that
           I
           had
           not
           one
           Relation
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           not
           one
           Friend
           or
           Acquaintance
           of
           that
           Perswasion
           I
           so
           strangely
           affected
           .
           And
           considering
           how
           innocently
           I
           was
           deluded
           ,
           upon
           no
           worse
           Motive
           than
           too
           much
           Charity
           ,
           I
           can
           promise
           my self
           the
           easier
           Reconcilement
           to
           all
           such
           as
           have
           been
           scandalized
           at
           me
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           Religion
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           Charity
           had
           this
           influence
           upon
           me
           ,
           so
           I
           hope
           I
           can
           in
           some
           sincerity
           say
           that
           a
           little
           Humility
           incident
           to
           my
           natural
           temper
           ,
           made
           me
           think
           it
           Duty
           and
           Conscience
           to
           follow
           the
           guidance
           of
           those
           God
           had
           placed
           over
           us
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           :
           And
           for
           that
           reason
           was
           ever
           very
           Zealous
           for
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           so
           far
           that
           I
           thought
           any
           little
           breach
           of
           the
           Canons
           and
           Constitutions
           to
           be
           a
           kind
           of
           Sacrilege
           .
           This
           temper
           made
           me
           the
           fitter
           to
           be
           workt
           upon
           by
           a
           Romish
           Book
           ,
           called
           the
           
             The
             Guide
             in
             Controversies
          
           ,
           especially
           the
           5th
           ,
           part
           being
           a
           
             Vindication
             of
             the
             Council
             of
          
           Trent
           .
           About
           this
           time
           I
           hapned
           to
           
           receive
           much
           encouragement
           to
           proceed
           in
           leaving
           my
           College
           ,
           for
           sake
           of
           the
           Religion
           I
           was
           so
           wholly
           bent
           on
           ,
           from
           the
           Discourses
           and
           Example
           of
           Mr.
           R.
           of
           
             Magdalen
             College
          
           ,
           a
           most
           ingenious
           and
           
             honest
             Man
          
           ,
           whom
           I
           can
           never
           but
           have
           a
           
             particular
             respect
          
           for
           ,
           because
           I
           know
           he
           liad
           no
           manner
           of
           
             temporal
             motive
          
           to
           quit
           his
           All
           ,
           besides
           the
           preservation
           of
           a
           
             good
             Conscience
          
           .
           He
           meant
           well
           ,
           I
           really
           think
           ,
           both
           to
           me
           ,
           and
           in
           what
           else
           he
           gave
           offence
           ;
           therefore
           I
           shall
           never
           tax
           him
           unkindly
           for
           what
           he
           meant
           honestly
           ,
           but
           wish
           him
           heartily
           well
           ,
           though
           I
           imagine
           him
           to
           be
           gone
           beyond
           all
           reach
           of
           hopes
           of
           any
           return
           to
           the
           Church
           he
           was
           born
           in
           .
        
         
           Whatever
           was
           the
           matter
           ,
           't
           is
           very
           true
           that
           I
           was
           wound
           up
           to
           so
           high
           a
           Zeal
           in
           those
           days
           ,
           that
           if
           I
           can
           now
           guess
           at
           ,
           or
           remember
           the
           Constitution
           then
           of
           my
           mind
           ,
           I
           could
           have
           chosen
           to
           have
           beg'd
           my
           Bread
           ,
           or
           undergone
           any
           manner
           of
           Afflictions
           in
           that
           Perswasion
           ,
           rather
           than
           to
           have
           enjoyed
           the
           greatest
           plenty
           imaginable
           (
           the
           
             Empire
             of
             the
             World
          
           ,
           I
           did
           not
           forbear
           frequently
           to
           say
           )
           continuing
           a
           Protestant
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           Zeal
           made
           me
           extraordinary
           desirous
           of
           Travelling
           abroad
           ,
           that
           I
           might
           the
           betten
           see
           the
           Church
           in
           its
           Glory
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           in
           its
           
             truer
             colours
             .
             France
          
           was
           the
           place
           I
           soon
           fixt
           in
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           very
           glad
           I
           did
           so
           ,
           because
           I
           conceive
           the
           
             Gallican
             Church
          
           ;
           to
           be
           the
           best
           Trincipled
           in
           Government
           ,
           &c
           the
           most
           moderate
           of
           any
           that
           are
           
             Roman-Catholick
             .
             Jansenius
          
           an
           exemplary
           good
           Man
           ,
           has
           there
           a
           great
           many
           followers
           ,
           who
           stoutly
           maintain
           the
           cause
           of
           Virtue
           
           and
           
             good
             Life
          
           ,
           against
           the
           powerful
           contrivances
           of
           the
           Jesuits
           and
           their
           Faction
           .
           As
           for
           the
           speculative
           points
           in
           difference
           between
           those
           that
           are
           called
           Jansenists
           and
           the
           Jesuits
           ,
           I
           never
           concerned
           my self
           about
           them
           ;
           only
           I
           observed
           the
           Jansenists
           to
           be
           
             Men
             heartily
          
           disposed
           to
           reform
           peoples
           lives
           to
           the
           
             antient
             discipline
          
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           who
           thought
           nothing
           too
           much
           to
           work
           a
           
             real
             Conversion
          
           of
           the
           soul
           to
           God
           in
           a
           virtuous
           good
           life
           ;
           whereas
           I
           ever
           conceived
           the
           Jesuits
           to
           be
           the
           most
           subtle
           ,
           slie
           ,
           undermining
           Generation
           that
           ever
           I
           saw
           .
           I
           don't
           know
           what
           's
           the
           matter
           ,
           but
           whenever
           I
           saw
           of
           Jesuite
           ,
           me-thought
           I
           perceived
           another
           sort
           of
           Man-kind
           different
           from
           the
           rest
           ;
           they
           had
           a
           more
           
             Intriguing
             Countenance
          
           than
           others
           ;
           whether
           it
           were
           their
           Habit
           that
           conduced
           to
           work
           in
           me
           this
           opinion
           ,
           or
           what
           it
           was
           ,
           I
           can't
           imagine
           ;
           but
           so
           it
           was
           ,
           that
           I
           often
           exprest
           my self
           to
           that
           purpose
           ,
           even
           among
           
             R.
             Catholicks
          
           .
        
         
           In
           those
           years
           I
           spent
           at
           Paris
           ,
           I
           must
           confess
           I
           had
           no
           scruples
           in
           Religion
           ,
           but
           went
           on
           and
           did
           as
           my
           Neighbours
           did
           ,
           in
           those
           matters
           ,
           wholly
           bending
           my
           mind
           to
           Improvement
           in
           Physick
           ,
           with
           all
           the
           industry
           and
           application
           I
           was
           capable
           .
        
         
           The
           
             Roman
             Religion
          
           has
           the
           greatest
           Charm
           ,
           of
           any
           thing
           in
           Nature
           ;
           't
           will
           soon
           cause
           a
           more
           than
           
             Stoical
             insensibility
          
           upon
           the
           Conscience
           ;
           and
           though
           it
           were
           never
           so
           squeamish
           ,
           troublesome
           ,
           or
           scrupulous
           before
           ,
           't
           will
           now
           turn
           proof
           against
           all
           future
           doubts
           ,
           and
           never
           suspect
           it self
           in
           the
           least
           ,
           let
           things
           be
           in
           themselves
           never
           so
           Ridiculous
           or
           Vnreasonable
           .
           This
           I
           have
           nearly
           observed
           ,
           both
           
           in
           my self
           and
           others
           ,
           and
           there
           's
           very
           good
           reason
           for
           it
           :
           For
           when
           men
           have
           wholly
           shut
           the
           eyes
           of
           their
           understanding
           ,
           and
           leave
           themselves
           to
           be
           conducted
           by
           others
           they
           repose
           an
           
             absolute
             Confidence
          
           in
           ,
           they
           go
           on
           boldly
           and
           blindly
           ,
           and
           consider
           no
           further
           whether
           they
           are
           in
           the
           r●ght
           or
           wrong
           way
           to
           Heaven
           .
           And
           again
           ,
           if
           we
           consider
           the
           propensity
           of
           
             Mans
             Nature
          
           to
           impose
           upon
           others
           ,
           when
           they
           have
           an
           
             absolute
             indisputable
             Power
          
           ,
           we
           may
           fairly
           presume
           that
           these
           
             Vncontroulable
             Guides
          
           will
           be
           apt
           to
           lead
           where
           their
           own
           Interest
           draws
           them
           .
           And
           indeed
           the
           
             Roman
             Church
          
           has
           always
           had
           so
           constant
           diligent
           an
           Eye
           upon
           their
           own
           
             beloved
             secular
             Interest
          
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           made
           the
           whole
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           in
           every
           particular
           almost
           ,
           as
           subservient
           as
           the
           Wit
           of
           Man
           can
           invent
           ,
           to
           this
           
             great
             End
          
           ,
           their
           Diana
           above
           all
           others
           .
           Now
           we
           should
           certainly
           suspect
           the
           judgment
           and
           advice
           of
           any
           private
           Person
           in
           the
           management
           of
           an
           affair
           ,
           if
           we
           perceived
           this
           temper
           to
           prevail
           ;
           and
           why
           may
           we
           not
           with
           the
           same
           reason
           suspect
           it
           in
           so
           great
           ,
           though
           publick
           a
           concern
           ?
           May
           not
           a
           knot
           of
           People
           of
           the
           same
           Gang
           ,
           the
           same
           Interest
           and
           Measures
           ,
           met
           in
           in
           a
           
             General
             Council
          
           ,
           have
           the
           same
           Consideration
           for
           their
           own
           advantage
           ,
           as
           we
           always
           observe
           in
           lesser
           Communities
           or
           Societies
           ?
           If
           every
           Member
           of
           these
           larger
           Assemblies
           were
           of
           this
           or
           that
           Opinion
           before
           they
           met
           ,
           that
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           of
           such
           as
           
             dear
             Interest
          
           guided
           them
           ,
           we
           can
           expect
           no
           more
           from
           their
           conferring
           Notes
           together
           ,
           but
           a
           Confirmation
           of
           what
           they
           held
           ,
           were
           resolved
           to
           hold
           before
           .
        
         
         
           Now
           
             de
             facto
          
           that
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           has
           notoriously
           steered
           their
           determinations
           in
           Councils
           according
           to
           this
           Principle
           ,
           may
           be
           seen
           with
           half
           an
           eye
           by
           any
           Intelligent
           person
           ,
           who
           shall
           either
           weigh
           the
           Controversies
           in
           debate
           between
           them
           and
           Protestants
           ,
           or
           consider
           the
           History
           and
           Passages
           of
           former
           times
           .
           
             Man's
             Infallibility
          
           was
           very
           ingeniously
           contrived
           to
           supersede
           all
           such
           disquisitions
           ,
           but
           God
           be
           thanked
           ,
           no
           Barbarous
           Inquisition
           does
           here
           hinder
           us
           from
           a
           free
           exercise
           of
           our
           Reason
           ,
           nor
           stupid
           voluntary
           blindness
           disenable
           us
           from
           discerning
           Light
           from
           Darkness
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           may
           be
           good
           Logick
           to
           make
           an
           Induction
           of
           a
           
             general
             Temper
          
           from
           that
           of
           Particulars
           ;
           our
           
             English
             Priests
          
           will
           serve
           to
           give
           us
           a
           very
           good
           instance
           of
           their
           
             worldly
             Inclinations
          
           .
           I
           have
           heard
           one
           of
           themselves
           (
           one
           of
           the
           
             best
             Priests
          
           ,
           and
           
             best
             Men
          
           ,
           I
           had
           the
           fortune
           to
           meet
           among
           them
           ,
           and
           no
           less
           than
           Dr.
           of
           Divinity
           )
           seriously
           tell
           me
           he
           had
           frequently
           observ'd
           ,
           that
           he
           never
           in
           all
           his
           life
           knew
           a
           
             Religious
             Man
          
           ,
           who
           was
           once
           become
           a
           Missioner
           hither
           ,
           and
           had
           here
           exchang'd
           his
           Religious
           into
           a
           
             Secular
             Life
          
           ,
           but
           he
           fell
           so
           much
           in
           love
           with
           it
           ,
           that
           he
           thought
           it
           Death
           and
           Misery
           to
           return
           again
           to
           his
           Monastery
           .
           'T
           was
           my
           fortune
           to
           Dine
           with
           one
           good
           
             Father
             Jesuite
          
           ,
           the
           day
           before
           he
           was
           bound
           for
           St.
           Omers
           ,
           by
           Command
           of
           his
           Superiors
           ;
           and
           poor
           Man
           ,
           it
           pitied
           me
           to
           see
           him
           look
           so
           ghastly
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           wanted
           a
           Physician
           both
           for
           Soul
           and
           Body
           ;
           the
           World
           ,
           the
           Flesh
           ,
           &c.
           it
           seems
           ,
           had
           got
           too
           great
           a
           dominion
           over
           his
           
             Spiritual
             Intentions
          
           that
           he
           had
           ,
           when
           he
           made
           his
           
             Rash
             Vows
          
           .
           
           I
           have
           known
           some
           of
           them
           as
           Critical
           in
           their
           Crevat-string
           and
           Perimigg
           ,
           and
           examine
           themselves
           by
           the
           Glass
           with
           as
           much
           care
           ,
           as
           a
           Fop
           that
           's
           lately
           arriv'd
           from
           France
           ,
           who
           's
           grown
           so
           vain
           by
           his
           Travels
           ,
           as
           to
           think
           all
           the
           Ladies
           in
           love
           with
           him
           .
           Particularly
           one
           Man
           I
           can't
           but
           take
           notice
           of
           ;
           he
           is
           no
           less
           than
           an
           
             English
             Dr.
             of
          
           the
           Sorbon
           ;
           he
           was
           a
           very
           hopeful
           ingenious
           Man
           while
           he
           liv'd
           in
           his
           Monastery
           at
           Paris
           ,
           but
           being
           lately
           sent
           to
           breath
           fresh
           
             secular
             air
          
           ,
           I
           met
           him
           several
           times
           in
           the
           Streets
           ,
           and
           other
           places
           ,
           and
           he
           was
           so
           great
           an
           Admirer
           of
           his
           Sword
           and
           Periwigg
           ,
           and
           turn'd
           so
           true
           a
           Sr.
           Fopling
           ,
           that
           I
           could
           hardly
           know
           him
           again
           ;
           a
           stranger
           Metamorphosis
           is
           seldom
           found
           in
           Ovid.
           Now
           when
           such
           people
           as
           these
           (
           so
           Spiritually
           disposed
           !
           )
           are
           summon'd
           to
           meet
           in
           a
           
             general
             Council
          
           ,
           there
           's
           mighty
           hopes
           of
           an
           Accommodation
           and
           Christian
           management
           in
           Doctrins
           which
           relate
           to
           
             temporal
             interest
          
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           I
           am
           speaking
           concerning
           'em
           ,
           I
           shall
           venture
           to
           give
           you
           my
           opinion
           as
           to
           their
           Learning
           and
           Capacity
           :
           I
           did
           expect
           indeed
           to
           have
           met
           with
           Men
           as
           
             Vniversally
             Learned
          
           as
           they
           would
           fancy
           themselves
           Catholick
           ;
           but
           really
           they
           seem
           to
           me
           to
           be
           generally
           a
           very
           illiterate
           and
           weak
           people
           .
           Illiterate
           ,
           I
           mean
           ,
           as
           to
           any
           
             true
             solid
             Learning
          
           ,
           the
           knowledge
           of
           
             History
             ,
             Mathematicks
          
           ,
           or
           Nature
           .
           So
           ignorant
           they
           are
           in
           those
           substantical
           knowledges
           ,
           that
           I
           seldom
           met
           with
           any
           one
           of
           'em
           who
           so
           much
           as
           pretended
           to
           things
           of
           that
           nature
           .
           But
           we
           must
           except
           the
           Jesuits
           ,
           whose
           
             general
             Learning
          
           ,
           and
           most
           
             politick
             Arts
          
           have
           renderd
           them
           more
           considerable
           
           to
           the
           See
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           formidable
           to
           Princes
           and
           
             great
             Families
          
           ,
           than
           all
           other
           Orders
           put
           together
           .
           They
           know
           how
           to
           be
           usesful
           in
           other
           things
           besides
           
             hearing
             Confessions
          
           ;
           nor
           do
           they
           value
           themselves
           mainly
           for
           skill
           in
           chopping
           of
           Logick
           ,
           as
           other
           little
           Priests
           will
           do
           .
           But
           one
           thing
           I
           can
           never
           forgive
           any
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           their
           
             fond
             Opinion
          
           of
           their
           own
           way
           of
           Education
           ,
           in
           so
           much
           that
           they
           cannot
           be
           perswaded
           that
           a
           
             truly
             learned
             Man
          
           can
           come
           out
           of
           our
           Vniversities
           ,
           though
           at
           this
           day
           there
           's
           not
           a
           Man
           among
           'em
           but
           one
           ,
           that
           has
           writ
           sense
           in
           defence
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           besides
           such
           as
           they
           have
           had
           from
           us
           .
           The
           Author
           of
           the
           
             Guide
             in
             Cantroversies
          
           is
           no
           doubt
           an
           Oxonian
           ,
           and
           so
           was
           good
           Mr.
           Cressy
           ,
           whom
           though
           dead
           ,
           I
           shall
           ever
           honour
           ;
           Dr.
           Godden
           and
           Mr.
           Serjeant
           were
           of
           Cambridge
           :
           And
           who
           else
           have
           they
           now
           to
           brag
           of
           ,
           besides
           Canes
           the
           Jesuite
           ,
           who
           is
           able
           to
           talk
           and
           write
           Coherently
           and
           Sophistically
           of
           any
           side
           .
        
         
           But
           't
           is
           time
           to
           take
           my
           leave
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           go
           on
           with
           my
           first
           intention
           .
           The
           first
           Book
           that
           Alarum'd
           me
           out
           of
           the
           Lethargy
           I
           liv'd
           in
           ,
           was
           put
           forth
           by
           Dr.
           Stillingfleet
           ,
           called
           
             The
             Jesuites
             Loialty
          
           ,
           which
           pull'd
           off
           the
           Vizard
           they
           generally
           wore
           .
           The
           
             R.
             Catholick
          
           Gentlemen
           did
           always
           profess
           as
           much
           as
           I
           could
           hear
           ,
           
             good
             Principles
          
           of
           Loyalty
           ,
           and
           would
           often
           venture
           to
           maintain
           full
           as
           much
           as
           is
           contained
           in
           the
           
             Oath
             of
             Allegiance
          
           .
           And
           this
           made
           several
           Heads
           of
           the
           
             Jesuitical
             Society
          
           fall
           to
           work
           with
           their
           Pen
           ,
           to
           hinder
           the
           effects
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           they
           were
           able
           ,
           of
           such
           prevailing
           Principles
           
           For
           you
           may
           be
           assur'd
           the
           
             good
             Fathers
          
           ,
           who
           writ
           those
           discourses
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           rest
           of
           their
           Tribe
           ,
           make
           little
           or
           no
           distinction
           between
           those
           that
           are
           called
           Hereticks
           ,
           and
           those
           that
           are
           not
           
             truly
             Jesuitical
          
           :
           They
           think
           ,
           or
           would
           perswade
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Temporal
             Interest
          
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           their
           Party
           is
           of
           as
           much
           concern
           to
           mens
           Salvation
           ,
           as
           the
           Doctrinal
           part
           of
           Christianity
           .
           For
           my
           part
           ,
           my
           nature
           ever
           abhor'd
           the
           dismal
           Consequences
           that
           must
           ensue
           from
           the
           Pope
           ,
           or
           Church-mens
           invasion
           of
           
             Temporal
             Power
             .
             Give
             unto
          
           Caesar
           
             the
             things
             that
             are
          
           Caesars
           ,
           
             and
             unto
             God
             the
             things
             that
             are
             Gods
             ,
          
           is
           very
           good
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           plain
           sense
           ,
           let
           the
           Jesuits
           comment
           as
           they
           please
           .
           The
           Priest
           does
           well
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           executes
           an
           Office
           that
           deserves
           Reverence
           from
           all
           who
           pretend
           to
           
             honour
             God
          
           ;
           but
           in
           the
           
             politick
             Capacity
          
           ,
           or
           at
           the
           
             temporal
             Tribunal
             ,
             Gods
             grace
          
           is
           apt
           to
           leave
           him
           ,
           and
           he
           becomes
           the
           most
           
             unmerciful
             Man
          
           that
           can
           be
           approached
           .
           This
           is
           too
           too
           evident
           in
           the
           Conduct
           of
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           ,
           his
           Legates
           ,
           or
           other
           
             Court
             Officers
          
           ,
           who
           have
           certainly
           done
           the
           Life
           of
           Christianity
           more
           harm
           by
           their
           Tyranny
           ,
           than
           can
           be
           made
           amends
           by
           all
           the
           benefits
           of
           Vnity
           ,
           or
           other
           pretended
           consideration
           why
           they
           ought
           to
           execute
           such
           Power
           .
        
         
           Is
           it
           possible
           to
           imagine
           that
           Christianity
           ,
           which
           was
           taught
           with
           such
           plainess
           and
           simplicity
           at
           first
           ,
           by
           plain
           ,
           harmless
           ,
           illiterate
           ,
           innocent
           Men
           ,
           should
           now
           necessarily
           want
           all
           the
           art
           &
           intrigue
           ,
           all
           the
           
             cunning
             devices
          
           and
           
             politick
             impostures
          
           that
           the
           most
           
             subtle
             Learning
          
           and
           working
           brains
           of
           Men
           is
           able
           to
           invent
           !
           Was
           Learning
           and
           Policy
           in
           the
           Apostles
           
           time
           so
           insignificant
           and
           useless
           to
           the
           propagation
           of
           Religion
           ;
           and
           must
           they
           now
           be
           the
           only
           prop
           for
           its
           Continuance
           ?
           Certainly
           we
           may
           suspect
           the
           
             Primitive
             spirit
          
           of
           Religion
           to
           be
           much
           changed
           ,
           when
           such
           contrary
           methods
           are
           now
           practised
           .
           And
           this
           reflection
           has
           made
           me
           much
           undervalue
           all
           the
           pains
           of
           the
           School-men
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           think
           that
           Seneca
           and
           Cicero
           will
           be
           found
           to
           deserve
           better
           in
           the
           other
           world
           than
           they
           ,
           when
           the
           works
           of
           all
           Men
           shall
           come
           to
           be
           tried
           .
           Virtue
           and
           
             good
             Life
          
           will
           have
           a
           different
           lustre
           from
           that
           of
           Amusements
           and
           Speculations
           ,
           and
           the
           
             practical
             Commandments
          
           of
           God
           will
           far
           out-dazle
           all
           the
           false
           lights
           of
           little
           Questions
           and
           Disputations
           .
           Much
           Knowledge
           will
           then
           serve
           only
           to
           enhance
           the
           guilt
           of
           our
           neglects
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           we
           shall
           wish
           much
           rather
           to
           have
           been
           Doers
           than
           Inquirers
           of
           his
           Will.
           Alas
           what
           
             general
             Defections
          
           from
           Virtue
           must
           the
           world
           expect
           ,
           and
           how
           great
           ones
           must
           it
           needs
           feel
           ,
           when
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           
             Church
             men
          
           ,
           who
           teach
           us
           Christ
           ,
           are
           much
           more
           concerned
           to
           advance
           their
           own
           Grandeur
           and
           Luxury
           ,
           than
           the
           
             real
             good
          
           of
           souls
           ,
           when
           they
           altogether
           study
           this
           world
           instead
           of
           the
           other
           .
        
         
           But
           here
           I
           would
           not
           be
           understood
           to
           condemn
           
             humane
             Learning
          
           ;
           if
           we
           will
           but
           joyn
           the
           seeming
           foolishness
           ,
           the
           simplicity
           of
           the
           Gospel
           to
           our
           Book-acquisitions
           ,
           we
           shall
           do
           no
           harm
           to
           either
           :
           Learning
           will
           then
           serve
           to
           convince
           us
           the
           better
           of
           our
           own
           Ignorance
           in
           most
           things
           ,
           and
           not
           puff
           us
           up
           with
           empty
           swelling
           conceits
           ,
           and
           we
           shall
           not
           despise
           our
           Fellow-creatures
           ,
           because
           better
           acquainted
           with
           Notions
           and
           Languages
           .
        
         
         
           This
           Digression
           I
           hope
           may
           be
           excusable
           ,
           if
           rightly
           understood
           even
           by
           Scholars
           as
           well
           as
           others
           ,
           and
           I
           shall
           now
           return
           to
           my
           former
           subject
           ,
           the
           exorbitant
           power
           that
           Popes
           have
           gotten
           into
           their
           hands
           by
           their
           subtle
           Policies
           ,
           and
           the
           assistence
           of
           sawning
           Parasites
           ;
           whether
           it
           is
           consistant
           with
           our
           
             Blessed
             Saviours
             Declaration
             ,
             that
             his
             Kingdom
             is
             not
             of
             this
             World
             ,
          
           may
           easily
           be
           judged
           .
           But
           I
           have
           often
           admired
           how
           Emperors
           and
           Monarchs
           came
           first
           to
           part
           with
           their
           Birth-right
           ,
           and
           bow
           their
           Scepters
           down
           before
           an
           
             Ambitious
             Prelate
          
           .
           I
           conceive
           they
           might
           have
           been
           wrought
           upon
           ,
           some
           through
           Zeal
           and
           Weakness
           ,
           and
           others
           through
           Fear
           and
           Terror
           .
           The
           Pope
           had
           every
           where
           his
           
             cunning
             spies
          
           in
           the
           Courts
           of
           Princes
           ,
           his
           Wolves
           in
           
             Sheeps
             Cloathing
          
           ,
           to
           acquaint
           him
           with
           his
           best
           advantages
           ,
           and
           direct
           him
           where
           he
           might
           make
           the
           most
           prosperous
           Invasions
           ,
           and
           easiest
           Accesses
           to
           
             Princely
             Power
          
           .
        
         
           The
           Doctrine
           of
           
             Deposing
             Kings
          
           ,
           and
           
             Absolving
             Subjects
             from
             their
             Allegiance
          
           ,
           for
           Heresie
           ,
           or
           any
           thing
           else
           ,
           it
           matters
           not
           much
           ;
           for
           they
           will
           call
           Heresie
           what
           they
           please
           ,
           as
           they
           do
           call
           Hereticks
           whom
           they
           please
           ;
           this
           Doctrine
           I
           say
           ,
           is
           equally
           senseless
           as
           prodigious
           .
           'T
           will
           appear
           sufficiently
           Senseless
           and
           Irrational
           ,
           if
           Men
           will
           but
           consider
           that
           they
           are
           Christians
           as
           well
           as
           Papists
           ,
           and
           are
           obliged
           to
           follow
           Christ
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Pope
           .
           Our
           Saviour
           gave
           us
           the
           most
           perfect
           example
           that
           Christians
           can
           pretend
           to
           imitate
           .
           How
           did
           he
           earnestly
           avoid
           all
           
             Temporal
             Power
          
           ,
           that
           his
           Disciples
           would
           even
           then
           by
           their
           good
           will
           have
           been
           nibling
           
           at
           ?
           What
           pains
           did
           he
           take
           to
           Spiritualize
           their
           Conceptions
           ?
           The
           Jews
           did
           expect
           indeed
           the
           
           Messias's
           
             Kingdom
             to
             be
             of
             this
             World
             ,
          
           and
           that
           he
           would
           govern
           in
           pomp
           and
           greatness
           ;
           but
           how
           we
           should
           come
           to
           think
           so
           of
           him
           or
           his
           followers
           ,
           I
           can't
           possibly
           understand
           ;
           we
           who
           own
           to
           believe
           that
           he
           was
           born
           in
           a
           Stable
           ,
           a
           
             poor
             Carpenters
             Son
          
           ,
           that
           had
           seldom
           stock
           enough
           by
           him
           to
           provide
           for
           the
           morrow
           .
           When
           God
           was
           pleased
           to
           humble
           himself
           in
           this
           manner
           ,
           and
           after
           suffering
           all
           the
           Indignities
           this
           world
           was
           able
           to
           bestow
           ,
           did
           choose
           to
           conclude
           his
           most
           
             Innocent
             Life
          
           with
           the
           
             Ignominious
             Death
          
           upon
           the
           Cross
           ;
           can
           we
           think
           he
           designed
           that
           any
           under
           pretence
           of
           being
           his
           Vicar
           ,
           should
           presently
           hoise
           above
           all
           that
           is
           called
           God
           ,
           and
           enlarge
           their
           Scepter
           from
           Rome
           to
           the
           uttermost
           parts
           of
           the
           world
           ?
        
         
           How
           Prodigious
           this
           Doctrine
           must
           have
           been
           too
           in
           its
           effects
           ?
           How
           it
           hath
           made
           Christian
           Princes
           and
           the
           World
           to
           tremble
           ,
           our
           Nation
           is
           now
           grown
           sufficiently
           sensible
           from
           the
           frequent
           Tragedies
           that
           have
           been
           acted
           ,
           or
           designed
           to
           be
           acted
           upon
           our
           own
           Theater
           without
           enumerating
           the
           many
           Forreign
           instances
           which
           might
           be
           produced
           .
        
         
           That
           the
           Pope
           and
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           have
           proudly
           arrogated
           such
           
             intolerable
             Power
          
           over
           all
           Princes
           that
           come
           within
           their
           reach
           ,
           all
           such
           as
           desire
           ,
           or
           are
           capable
           of
           being
           satisfied
           concerning
           it
           ,
           may
           have
           recourse
           to
           a
           Letter
           writ
           lately
           on
           the
           
             discovery
             of
             this
             Plot
          
           ,
           wherein
           this
           subject
           is
           most
           solidly
           and
           fully
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           briefly
           handled
           by
           a
           most
           
             excellent
             
             Pen
          
           ;
           they
           may
           also
           consider
           those
           three
           Treatises
           formerly
           mentioned
           ,
           called
           
             The
             Jesuites
             Loyalty
          
           .
           And
           yet
           notwithstanding
           that
           this
           charge
           is
           as
           evident
           as
           the
           Sun
           ,
           't
           is
           pleasant
           ,
           shall
           I
           say
           ,
           or
           wonderful
           to
           consider
           ,
           that
           many
           good
           well-meaning
           Popish
           Women
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           deaf
           and
           blind
           Gentlemen
           ,
           will
           not
           yet
           be
           perswaded
           that
           the
           Church
           is
           guilty
           of
           any
           such
           Doctrine
           ;
           no
           ,
           seeing
           it
           ,
           they
           will
           not
           see
           ,
           and
           knowing
           it
           ,
           they
           will
           not
           understand
           .
           The
           
             Infallible
             Guide
          
           must
           not
           ,
           cannot
           be
           suspected
           of
           doing
           any
           harm
           ;
           and
           the
           Director
           of
           the
           Conscience
           shall
           presently
           settle
           any
           such
           scruple
           with
           a
           little
           of
           his
           Art
           ,
           either
           by
           flatly
           denying
           it
           ,
           or
           softning
           it
           ,
           or
           turning
           the
           charge
           into
           Ridicule
           .
        
         
           And
           from
           this
           Consideration
           I
           shall
           take
           occasion
           to
           urge
           one
           most
           
             invincible
             Argument
          
           ,
           or
           Demonstration
           rather
           ,
           against
           the
           
             Pretended
             Infallibility
          
           of
           the
           
             Romish
             Church
          
           .
           'T
           is
           this
           :
        
         
           That
           Church
           which
           
             teaches
             Doctrines
          
           that
           destroy
           Morality
           ,
           may
           be
           fairly
           suspected
           ,
           (
           nay
           ,
           
             necessarily
             concluded
          
           )
           to
           
             teach
             Errors
          
           in
           
             matters
             of
             Faith.
          
           
        
         
           But
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           has
           
             taught
             Doctrines
          
           that
           destroy
           Morality
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           it
           may
           be
           concluded
           to
           
             teach
             Errors
          
           in
           
             matters
             of
             Faith.
          
           
        
         
           The
           Major
           has
           as
           much
           evidence
           as
           Reason
           can
           possibly
           desire
           .
           For
           supposing
           any
           Man
           ,
           or
           Men
           ,
           guilty
           of
           
             notorious
             Vices
          
           ,
           and
           exhorting
           us
           to
           the
           same
           Vices
           ,
           can
           the
           reason
           of
           a
           Christian
           think
           such
           a
           Man
           ,
           or
           Men
           infallible
           in
           their
           Councils
           in
           a
           small
           affair
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           repose
           absolute
           Confidence
           in
           him
           ,
           or
           
           them
           ,
           much
           less
           in
           the
           greatest
           concern
           of
           this
           life
           ,
           the
           eternal
           concern
           of
           Heaven
           ?
           especially
           if
           we
           consider
           that
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           all
           along
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           
             holy
             Scriptures
          
           ,
           does
           
             advance
             Morality
          
           ,
           and
           put
           the
           greatest
           esteem
           upon
           it
           ,
           of
           any
           Religion
           in
           the
           World.
           Besides
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           Self-denial
           therein
           urged
           further
           than
           any
           Philosophers
           ever
           thought
           fit
           ;
           it
           teaches
           us
           to
           
             love
             our
             Neighbours
             as
             our selves
             ,
             to
             live
             Peaceably
             with
             all
             men
             ,
             to
             forgive
             and
             do
             good
             to
             our
             very
             Enemies
             ,
          
           and
           recommends
           Love
           and
           Charity
           so
           often
           ,
           and
           so
           earnestly
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           rest
           of
           
             Religion
             ,
             Faith
             in
             Christ
          
           ,
           &c.
           were
           things
           that
           needed
           not
           being
           exhorted
           to
           ,
           they
           would
           so
           necessarily
           follow
           by
           the
           secret
           workings
           of
           
             Gods
             grace
          
           ,
           where
           so
           Loving
           and
           Good
           a
           Disposition
           takes
           place
           in
           the
           heart
           .
        
         
           Now
           the
           
             Minor
             Proposition
          
           ,
           that
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           has
           taught
           Doctrines
           which
           destroy
           Morality
           ,
           will
           easily
           enough
           appear
           ,
           if
           the
           arrogant
           allowance
           of
           a
           
             Proud
             Prelate
          
           to
           dispose
           of
           Kingdoms
           that
           don't
           belong
           to
           him
           ,
           to
           Prosecute
           with
           Fire
           and
           Sword
           all
           such
           poor
           innocent
           Souls
           as
           refuse
           to
           submit
           their
           necks
           to
           his
           heavy
           yoke
           ,
           to
           Murder
           and
           Assassinate
           such
           Kings
           or
           Persons
           as
           resist
           his
           dreadful
           Invasions
           ,
           which
           he
           calls
           Spiritual
           ,
           though
           diametrically
           opposite
           to
           the
           spirit
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           the
           spirit
           of
           Meekness
           and
           Charity
           ,
           the
           spirit
           of
           Long-suffering
           and
           Peace
           :
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           if
           the
           allowance
           of
           
             doing
             Evil
             that
             Good
             may
             come
             of
             it
             ,
          
           doing
           any
           thing
           cruel
           or
           barbarous
           for
           the
           promotion
           of
           Religion
           ,
           be
           Doctrines
           that
           destroy
           Morality
           ,
           as
           most
           certainly
           they
           are
           ;
           nay
           ,
           and
           if
           those
           Co●neils
           which
           did
           immediately
           ,
           
           and
           that
           often
           ,
           soon
           follow
           the
           perpetration
           of
           such
           Villanies
           ,
           were
           so
           far
           from
           detesting
           the
           facts
           ,
           that
           they
           rather
           confirmed
           and
           encouraged
           the
           Pope
           in
           them
           ,
           at
           least
           never
           mutter'd
           (
           good
           Men
           !
           )
           at
           what
           his
           Holiness
           had
           done
           ;
           then
           the
           Assumption
           of
           this
           Argument
           holds
           good
           .
        
         
           Now
           as
           for
           the
           Promises
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           which
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           proudly
           applies
           to
           it self
           for
           its
           Infallibility
           ,
           as
           concerning
           
           God's
           being
           with
           his
           
             Church
             to
             the
             end
             of
             the
             world
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           I
           can
           see
           no
           reason
           why
           that
           Church
           should
           think
           it
           belongs
           to
           them
           more
           than
           others
           .
           It
           is
           because
           that
           Church
           has
           escaped
           those
           Devastations
           and
           Judgments
           which
           the
           others
           have
           so
           severly
           felt
           ?
           They
           have
           the
           greater
           reason
           to
           suspect
           themselves
           for
           that
           ;
           for
           
             God's
             People
          
           ,
           the
           Israelites
           ,
           did
           always
           fall
           from
           the
           
             true
             Worship
          
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           bow'd
           down
           to
           the
           
             false
             Gods
          
           of
           the
           Gentiles
           ,
           when
           they
           flourished
           most
           in
           Prosperity
           ,
           and
           God
           was
           pleased
           to
           think
           that
           nothing
           would
           reclaim
           'em
           but
           fearful
           Jugdments
           ,
           such
           as
           
             Plagues
             ,
             War
             ,
             Famine
          
           ,
           and
           somtimes
           Captivities
           for
           many
           years
           :
           And
           still
           upon
           their
           return
           to
           him
           ,
           he
           deliver'd
           them
           out
           of
           all
           their
           Afflictions
           .
           But
           there
           and
           sufficient
           natural
           reasons
           why
           Italy
           has
           less
           felt
           the
           Sword
           and
           Power
           of
           Foreign
           Enemies
           than
           the
           other
           Churches
           .
           It
           s
           Situation
           defends
           them
           from
           Enemies
           aboard
           ;
           they
           have
           the
           Ocean
           on
           one
           side
           ,
           the
           Alps
           on
           another
           ,
           and
           Friends
           to
           sustain
           the
           brunt
           on
           all
           parts
           ,
           by
           Land
           :
           And
           besides
           ,
           the
           same
           reason
           will
           plead
           better
           for
           
             Mahomets
             Successors
          
           ,
           as
           every
           Age
           growing
           more
           and
           more
           Victorious
           ,
           whereas
           the
           Empire
           of
           the
           
             Prelate
             of
             Rome
          
           has
           considerably
           decreased
           .
        
         
         
           Again
           ,
           That
           Promise
           before-mentioned
           was
           not
           made
           to
           St.
           Peter
           alone
           ,
           but
           to
           all
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           other
           Bishops
           of
           
             Apostolical
             Sees
          
           should
           have
           deriv'd
           the
           same
           
             Infallible
             spirit
          
           to
           their
           Successors
           ,
           as
           the
           
             Bishop
             of
             Rome
          
           insolently
           claims
           to
           him
           and
           his
           Church
           .
        
         
           But
           that
           other
           
             Promise
             ,
             Thou
             art
          
           Peter
           ,
           
             and
             upon
             this
             Rock
             I
             will
             build
             my
             Church
             ,
          
           makes
           the
           Romanists
           scorn
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           look
           upon
           themselves
           as
           the
           only
           
             Chosen
             of
             God.
          
           St.
           Peter
           certainly
           was
           a
           
             great
             Apostle
          
           ,
           Converted
           many
           Countries
           ,
           and
           had
           the
           honour
           to
           be
           named
           first
           in
           the
           Catalogue
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           so
           had
           
             Priority
             of
             Order
          
           ,
           though
           in
           another
           place
           he
           is
           not
           numbred
           for
           the
           first
           ,
           Gal.
           2.9
           .
           But
           surely
           if
           this
           
             great
             Apostle
          
           had
           had
           a
           
             Superior
             jurisdiction
          
           over
           the
           rest
           ,
           St.
           Paul
           would
           have
           been
           more
           modest
           than
           to
           have
           so
           severely
           
             Rebuked
             him
             to
             his
             Face
          
           ,
           as
           he
           did
           ,
           Gal.
           2.11
           .
           for
           a
           shrewd
           miscarriage
           in
           his
           charge
           ,
           making
           the
           
             Christian
             Gentiles
          
           to
           Judaize
           .
           And
           St.
           Paul
           was
           so
           far
           from
           encroaching
           on
           the
           Power
           of
           St.
           Peter
           ,
           that
           he
           thought
           himself
           unworthy
           of
           the
           great
           Name
           of
           an
           Apostle
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           15.9
           .
           was
           so
           Good
           ,
           that
           he
           could
           have
           been
           contented
           to
           have
           been
           an
           Anatheina
           ,
           or
           Accursed
           for
           ever
           ,
           for
           the
           sake
           and
           happiness
           of
           his
           Brethren
           the
           Jews
           ,
           Rom.
           9.3
           .
           Besides
           ,
           St.
           Peter
           was
           more
           likely
           to
           have
           chosen
           Antioch
           for
           the
           Seat
           of
           his
           Successors
           ,
           as
           being
           the
           place
           where
           he
           liv'd
           most
           part
           of
           his
           Life
           ,
           and
           exercised
           his
           Episcopal
           Charge
           with
           honour
           ,
           benefit
           ,
           and
           safety
           ,
           rather
           than
           Rome
           ,
           where
           it
           is
           certain
           he
           could
           be
           but
           a
           little
           while
           ,
           and
           many
           with
           good
           
           reason
           doubt
           whether
           ever
           he
           was
           there
           or
           no
           ;
           where
           likewise
           he
           was
           so
           far
           from
           being
           welcome
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           said
           he
           was
           there
           very
           unkindly
           received
           ,
           and
           after
           much
           opposition
           ,
           Crucified
           most
           cruelly
           .
        
         
           He
           that
           will
           needs
           have
           a
           Church
           to
           be
           Infallible
           ,
           I
           would
           desire
           him
           to
           consider
           the
           condition
           of
           the
           Israelites
           ,
           the
           
             Chosen
             People
          
           of
           God
           ,
           who
           were
           brought
           out
           of
           Aegypt
           with
           such
           a
           mighty
           Hand
           ,
           so
           great
           an
           attendanee
           of
           Miracles
           and
           Favours
           .
           One
           would
           think
           certainly
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           in
           the
           Nature
           of
           Man
           not
           to
           go
           astray
           ,
           if
           any
           were
           capable
           of
           Worshipping
           the
           
             True
             God
          
           as
           they
           should
           do
           ,
           these
           should
           have
           been
           the
           Men
           above
           all
           others
           .
           And
           yet
           ,
           though
           they
           had
           a
           Cloud
           by
           day
           ,
           and
           a
           
             Pillar
             of
             Fire
          
           by
           night
           to
           guide
           them
           all
           along
           ;
           though
           the
           
             Glory
             of
             God
          
           did
           often
           fill
           the
           Tabernacle
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           them
           all
           ;
           nay
           ,
           though
           they
           were
           fed
           with
           
             Miracles
             ,
             Manna
          
           and
           Quails
           ,
           and
           Fountains
           ran
           out
           of
           dry
           Rocks
           ,
           yet
           these
           same
           People
           would
           be
           continually
           falling
           from
           their
           Duty
           ,
           they
           would
           be
           longing
           after
           Aegypt
           ,
           nay
           and
           
             making
             Gods
             to
             go
             before
             them
          
           ;
           they
           were
           not
           only
           guilty
           of
           the
           highest
           Immoralities
           ,
           and
           Murmurings
           at
           their
           
             good
             God
          
           upon
           every
           trivial
           account
           ,
           but
           were
           contented
           absolutely
           to
           forsake
           him
           ,
           and
           fall
           into
           
             gross
             Idolatry
          
           .
           If
           after
           all
           this
           ,
           so
           sad
           a
           manifestation
           of
           the
           proneness
           of
           poor
           Man-kind
           to
           Sin
           and
           
             Error
             ,
             Infallibility
          
           can
           still
           glibly
           go
           down
           to
           a
           considering
           Man
           ,
           I
           shall
           more
           wonder
           at
           him
           ,
           than
           have
           any
           thing
           to
           say
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           Nay
           ,
           if
           Men
           can
           be
           supposed
           to
           have
           so
           clear
           and
           undoubted
           understanding
           in
           
             Spiritual
             Truths
          
           ,
           
           how
           comes
           it
           to
           pass
           that
           all
           Natural
           things
           lie
           so
           his
           and
           intricate
           to
           the
           conceptions
           of
           the
           wisest
           Men.
           A
           little
           Knowledge
           indeed
           will
           puff
           up
           ,
           and
           be
           apt
           to
           perswade
           People
           that
           they
           know
           a
           great
           deal
           ,
           but
           a
           significant
           Progress
           will
           have
           a
           contrary
           effect
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           
             humbly
             acknowledge
          
           they
           
             know
             very
             little
          
           ,
           if
           any
           thing
           at
           all
           .
           The
           nature
           of
           light
           and
           colours
           ,
           the
           plainest
           things
           of
           any
           ,
           remain
           so
           obscure
           and
           unintelligible
           ,
           that
           they
           still
           occasion
           new
           Hypotheses
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           will
           do
           so
           to
           the
           end
           of
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           To
           speak
           one
           word
           with
           Submission
           to
           my
           own
           Faculty
           ;
           What
           
             certain
             infallible
             Methods
          
           has
           Physick
           yet
           attain'd
           to
           ?
           't
           is
           much
           to
           be
           doubted
           whether
           Beasts
           by
           the
           Instinct
           of
           Nature
           (
           so
           much
           undervalued
           by
           our
           
             Opiniative
             Reason
          
           )
           do
           not
           Cure
           themselves
           of
           most
           distempers
           much
           sooner
           and
           safer
           than
           fanciful
           Men
           can
           yet
           do
           with
           all
           their
           Art
           and
           so
           much
           glorifi'd
           Reason
           .
           Besides
           the
           
             Cure
             of
             Agues
          
           ,
           brought
           now
           to
           a
           kind
           of
           
             absolute
             certainty
          
           by
           some
           
             rightly
             Educated
             real
             Physicians
          
           ,
           to
           my
           
             certain
             knowledge
          
           ,
           as
           well
           ,
           if
           not
           better
           than
           by
           the
           much
           Celebrated
           ,
           though
           
             Illegitimate
             Son
          
           of
           this
           Art
           ,
           what
           truly
           
             specifical
             Cures
          
           can
           Physicians
           yet
           boast
           of
           ?
           The
           cause
           of
           this
           slow
           advancement
           ,
           I
           take
           to
           be
           ,
           that
           Men
           will
           impute
           the
           failures
           of
           their
           Remedies
           and
           Methods
           ,
           rather
           to
           Nature
           than
           their
           own
           Conduct
           .
           Let
           never
           so
           many
           men
           dye
           unhappily
           of
           such
           or
           such
           a
           distemper
           ,
           
             long-practising
             Physicians
          
           will
           never
           suspect
           themselves
           ,
           but
           think
           all
           was
           done
           by
           them
           as
           well
           as
           it
           might
           have
           been
           done
           .
           whereas
           ,
           if
           they
           took
           their
           Indications
           from
           what
           
           does
           
             sensible
             good
          
           or
           ill
           ,
           and
           from
           
             judicious
             observations
          
           did
           all
           their
           might
           to
           correct
           the
           failures
           of
           their
           Practice
           ,
           and
           would
           but
           once
           impute
           these
           failures
           to
           their
           own
           ignorance
           ,
           and
           want
           of
           
             sufficient
             skill
          
           ,
           there
           seems
           to
           me
           to
           be
           hopes
           God
           would
           then
           bless
           their
           endeavours
           for
           the
           Body
           ,
           as
           he
           does
           
             humble
             Divines
          
           on
           behalf
           of
           the
           Soul.
           The
           
             gift
             of
             Healing
          
           was
           once
           the
           
             gift
             of
             God
          
           ,
           as
           all
           good
           things
           most
           certainly
           are
           still
           ;
           and
           if
           Men
           would
           sometimes
           look
           up
           to
           the
           Fountain
           of
           all
           Goodness
           ,
           as
           as
           well
           as
           into
           Books
           ,
           we
           might
           then
           expect
           to
           find
           
             Learned
             Ingenious
             Physicians
          
           do
           as
           much
           ,
           if
           not
           more
           than
           mean
           ignorant
           People
           ,
           and
           
             weak
             Women
          
           are
           often
           found
           to
           do
           .
        
         
           But
           there
           are
           ,
           God
           be
           thanked
           ,
           some
           Physicians
           among
           us
           ,
           who
           have
           pleased
           to
           be
           of
           this
           
             Christian
             Opinion
          
           ,
           and
           do
           work
           no
           few
           
             real
             Cures
          
           in
           the
           most
           
             dangerous
             Distempers
          
           by
           mild
           and
           innocent
           ways
           ,
           such
           as
           will
           at
           last
           be
           acknowledged
           most
           agreeable
           to
           Nature
           ,
           when
           truth
           and
           moderation
           shall
           have
           gainst
           the
           Victory
           over
           Envy
           and
           Passion
           .
        
         
           One
           word
           more
           ,
           and
           I
           pass
           from
           this
           subject
           .
           The
           Fathers
           of
           the
           4th
           .
           
             General
             Council
          
           had
           no
           such
           deference
           then
           for
           the
           
             Bishop
             of
             Rome
          
           ,
           as
           he
           now
           claims
           for
           his
           inherent
           right
           .
           They
           did
           give
           the
           
             Bishop
             of
             Rome
          
           ,
           Can.
           28.
           
           
             Aequalia
             Privilegia
          
           ,
           equal
           ,
           or
           the
           very
           same
           privileges
           as
           they
           did
           to
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Constantinople
           .
           Their
           reason
           they
           said
           was
           ,
           
             Quod
             ●rbs
             illa
             imperare●
          
           ,
           because
           that
           was
           the
           
             Imperial
             Seat
          
           ;
           the
           Empire
           was
           then
           divided
           ,
           and
           
             Old
             Rome
          
           was
           the
           Seat
           of
           the
           
             Western
             Empire
          
           ,
           as
           
             New
             Rome
          
           ,
           or
           Constantinople
           was
           the
           
             Imperial
             Seat
          
           of
           the
           East
           .
           It
           
           was
           not
           for
           any
           derivation
           from
           St.
           Peter
           ,
           but
           in
           honour
           of
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           pleased
           to
           allow
           him
           
             equal
             privileges
          
           .
           And
           this
           they
           did
           not
           lightly
           ,
           irregularly
           ,
           or
           Uncanonically
           ,
           but
           jure
           ,
           they
           said
           they
           did
           it
           justly
           ,
           what
           they
           ought
           to
           do
           ,
           and
           no
           more
           .
           Then
           again
           ,
           the
           Legates
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Bishop
          
           had
           no
           Authority
           allowed
           them
           to
           speak
           any
           thing
           in
           the
           Council
           ,
           no
           more
           than
           the
           rest
           ,
           without
           leave
           first
           granted
           them
           from
           the
           
             Emperors
             Officers
          
           ,
           who
           sate
           there
           in
           his
           place
           and
           stead
           .
           The
           Legates
           of
           
             Pope
             Leo
          
           spake
           to
           him
           thus
           ,
           
             Si
             Imperat
             Magnificentia
             vestra
             ,
             habemus
             quoedam
             referre
             vobis
             .
             Gloriosissimi
             judices
             dixerunt
             ,
             Quod
             vultis
             edicite
             .
             If
             your
             Highness
             will
             give
             us
             leave
             ,
             commands
             us
             to
             speak
             ,
             we
             have
             somthing
             to
             say
             to
             you
             .
             The
             most
             noble
             Judges
             ,
             answered
             ,
             Speak
             what
             you
             please
             .
          
           Now
           whether
           the
           World
           is
           not
           strangely
           changed
           since
           those
           Primitive
           days
           ,
           whether
           the
           
             Popes
             Supremacy
          
           over
           
             Emperors
             ,
             Kings
          
           ,
           and
           that
           very
           
             Bishop
             of
             Constantinople
          
           be
           right
           and
           just
           ,
           and
           whether
           his
           calling
           all
           Schismaticks
           ,
           If
           not
           Hereticks
           ,
           that
           will
           not
           own
           his
           Universal-spreading
           Supremacy
           ,
           ought
           to
           frighten
           and
           scare
           people
           ,
           I
           leave
           you
           and
           all
           Men
           calmly
           to
           judge
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           to
           return
           again
           to
           the
           more
           immediate
           design
           of
           this
           Letter
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           intended
           to
           be
           an
           angry
           Child
           of
           Controversie
           ,
           but
           mildly
           and
           truly
           to
           give
           an
           Historical
           account
           for
           my self
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           my
           own
           thoughts
           ,
           which
           shook
           and
           chill'd
           my
           
             Roman
             Zeal
          
           a
           good
           considerable
           time
           before
           the
           late
           Hellish
           devices
           made
           every
           innocent
           soul
           to
           tremble
           .
        
         
         
           The
           first
           was
           a
           strange
           and
           proposterous
           influence
           that
           Religion
           has
           on
           all
           its
           Proselytes
           ,
           wholly
           to
           neglect
           ,
           if
           not
           slight
           the
           
             holy
             Scriptures
          
           .
           Let
           a
           Man
           have
           used
           himself
           never
           so
           much
           to
           the
           reading
           that
           
             Holy
             Book
          
           ,
           and
           let
           him
           have
           received
           never
           so
           much
           sensible
           edification
           from
           it
           ,
           yet
           as
           soon
           as
           ever
           he
           embraces
           that
           Religion
           ,
           he
           presently
           throws
           the
           Book
           out
           of
           his
           hands
           ,
           easily
           parts
           with
           it
           as
           a
           thing
           altogether
           useless
           to
           any
           body
           that
           will
           but
           receive
           it
           ,
           and
           entirely
           delivers
           himself
           up
           to
           the
           conduct
           of
           
             humane
             Traditions
          
           .
           No
           future
           Curiosity
           shall
           draw
           him
           to
           read
           in
           it
           ,
           nor
           Arguments
           taken
           from
           it
           ,
           make
           the
           least
           significant
           impression
           .
           Now
           't
           is
           a
           most
           wonderful
           consideration
           to
           me
           ,
           how
           those
           who
           profess
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           think
           the
           Scriptures
           Pen'd
           by
           the
           
             Spirit
             of
             God
          
           ,
           should
           presently
           lose
           all
           deference
           to
           
             Gods
             Word
          
           ,
           and
           mind
           it
           as
           little
           as
           some
           idle
           tale
           .
        
         
           The
           Fathers
           of
           the
           Church
           were
           of
           a
           very
           different
           temper
           .
           St.
           Chrysostom
           Homil.
           9.
           in
           
             Epist
             .
             ad
             Coloss
          
           .
           speaks
           thus
           ,
           
             Audite
             omnes
             saeculares
             ,
             comparate
             vobis
             Biblia
             ,
             si
             nihil
             aliud
             vultis
             ,
             vel
             Novum
             Testamentum
             acquirite
             ,
             Apostolorum
             Acta
             ,
             Evangelia
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           Hearken
           to
           me
           all
           you
           of
           the
           Laity
           ,
           provide
           your selves
           Bibles
           every
           one
           of
           you
           ,
           and
           if
           you
           can't
           reach
           to
           procure
           the
           
             whole
             Bible
          
           ,
           get
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           at
           least
           ,
           the
           Acts
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           the
           Evangelists
           ,
           &c.
           for
           we
           must
           remember
           that
           such
           
             large
             Manuscripts
          
           as
           were
           the
           
             whole
             Bible
          
           ,
           were
           too
           dear
           to
           be
           purchased
           by
           every
           body
           ,
           before
           Printing
           was
           found
           out
           .
           There
           are
           abundance
           of
           Exhortations
           in
           St.
           Chrysostom
           to
           the
           same
           purpose
           ,
           which
           Bellarmine
           ,
           as
           
           great
           a
           wit
           as
           he
           was
           ,
           gives
           but
           a
           very
           poor
           Childish
           answer
           to
           .
        
         
           Another
           thing
           made
           me
           seriously
           reflect
           ,
           and
           that
           was
           the
           
             fruitless
             Devotions
          
           that
           are
           generally
           practised
           in
           that
           Church
           .
           Men
           shall
           instead
           of
           Praying
           ,
           spend
           their
           time
           in
           tossing
           a
           string
           of
           Beads
           ,
           and
           mumbling
           they
           consider
           not
           what
           ,
           a
           Devotion
           fitter
           for
           Children
           to
           sport
           with
           ,
           than
           Men
           to
           Pray
           with
           .
           'T
           was
           a
           most
           excellent
           contrivance
           to
           make
           People
           think
           they
           were
           saying
           their
           Prayers
           ,
           when
           as
           they
           were
           doing
           nothing
           ;
           for
           the
           Beads
           are
           of
           such
           singular
           use
           ,
           that
           you
           may
           gape
           and
           stare
           about
           as
           much
           as
           you
           please
           ,
           while
           you
           say
           'em
           ;
           you
           may
           talk
           between
           whiles
           ,
           walk
           about
           the
           Streets
           ,
           think
           on
           what
           you
           will
           ,
           and
           mind
           what
           you
           will
           ,
           and
           still
           go
           on
           with
           your
           tale
           of
           Prayers
           :
           And
           yet
           notwithstanding
           the
           impertinency
           of
           these
           Knick-knacks
           ,
           they
           are
           celebrated
           by
           the
           Church
           ,
           as
           a
           most
           
             extraordinary
             Devotion
          
           .
           When
           the
           Rosary
           is
           to
           be
           said
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           these
           Beads
           told
           over
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           you
           must
           kneel
           down
           ,
           or
           else
           be
           accounted
           a
           Heretick
           :
           For
           you
           must
           understand
           the
           Services
           of
           our
           Lady
           ,
           as
           this
           ,
           
             our
             Ladies
             Litany
          
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Salve
             Regina
          
           ,
           require
           much
           more
           Reverence
           ,
           and
           more
           necessary
           Obeysance
           than
           any
           Services
           of
           our
           
             Lord
             God.
          
           At
           Prayers
           to
           our
           Lord
           ,
           you
           may
           either
           sit
           ,
           stand
           ,
           or
           be
           as
           careless
           as
           you
           please
           ,
           but
           at
           Prayers
           to
           our
           Lady
           ,
           you
           must
           learn
           better
           manners
           ,
           and
           fall
           on
           your
           Knees
           ,
           though
           't
           is
           never
           so
           painful
           to
           you
           to
           kneel
           .
           
             Blessed
             Soul
          
           !
           she
           does
           not
           require
           these
           things
           at
           our
           hands
           ;
           she
           was
           humble
           and
           meek
           when
           she
           was
           upon
           Earth
           ,
           and
           is
           
           not
           to
           be
           doubted
           of
           the
           same
           temper
           now
           in
           Heaven
           .
           God
           was
           then
           her
           Saviour
           as
           well
           as
           ours
           ,
           but
           now
           she
           must
           be
           Immaculate
           and
           free
           from
           
             Original
             sin
          
           ,
           and
           be
           supposed
           to
           have
           had
           no
           need
           at
           all
           of
           the
           
             Saviour
             her
             good
             spirit
             did
             then
             rejoyce
             in
             .
          
           But
           't
           is
           natural
           to
           Men
           to
           flatter
           Ladies
           ,
           and
           some
           must
           be
           excused
           if
           they
           do
           Romance
           on
           their
           account
           .
           Hence
           it
           was
           she
           came
           to
           be
           
             Queen
             of
             Heaven
             ,
             Queen
             of
             Angels
          
           and
           
             all
             Saints
             ,
             the
             hope
          
           and
           
             refuge
             of
             Sinners
          
           ,
           &c.
           and
           is
           represented
           with
           Crowns
           and
           Glory
           ,
           whereas
           her
           Son
           must
           never
           be
           suffered
           to
           grow
           bigger
           than
           a
           Baby
           in
           her
           arms
           ,
           to
           shew
           his
           filial
           subjection
           to
           her
           ,
           though
           the
           Scripture
           mentions
           not
           any
           thing
           that
           our
           Saviour
           said
           to
           her
           ,
           or
           of
           her
           in
           his
           whole
           life-time
           ,
           without
           something
           as
           it
           were
           on
           purpose
           to
           restrain
           Men
           from
           that
           Superstition
           which
           does
           now
           so
           prevail
           in
           the
           
             Roman
             Church
          
           .
        
         
           Again
           ,
           to
           enervate
           quite
           the
           very
           design
           of
           
             true
             Devotion
          
           ,
           they
           have
           found
           another
           way
           to
           amuse
           people
           with
           ,
           by
           instructing
           them
           to
           say
           their
           
             Prayers
             in
             Latin
          
           ,
           which
           they
           don't
           understand
           .
           Women
           forsooth
           shall
           venture
           to
           say
           
             our
             Ladys
             Office
          
           in
           Latin
           ;
           one
           would
           think
           it
           were
           on
           purpose
           that
           their
           Prayers
           might
           not
           be
           a
           whit
           beneficial
           to
           their
           Souls
           ,
           but
           they
           say
           't
           is
           in
           Reverence
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           which
           does
           all
           in
           Latin
           ,
           which
           Baptizes
           ,
           nay
           Marries
           in
           Latin
           ,
           and
           plights
           those
           Sacred
           Tyes
           between
           ignorant
           people
           with
           a
           Volo
           ,
           promising
           they
           know
           not
           what
           or
           how
           .
           And
           is
           it
           not
           a
           wise
           business
           ,
           that
           because
           the
           Priest
           sings
           his
           Part
           in
           Latin
           ,
           every
           ignorant
           Sot
           must
           needs
           be
           chirping
           the
           same
           tune
           ,
           
           in
           the
           same
           (
           unknown
           )
           language
           ?
           This
           puts
           me
           in
           mind
           of
           a
           story
           in
           my
           own
           knowledge
           :
           A
           certain
           Gentlewoman
           goes
           to
           Confession
           to
           Somerset-House
           ,
           there
           eases
           her
           mind
           in
           a
           great
           many
           matters
           to
           the
           Fryer
           that
           understood
           
             English
             Confessions
          
           ;
           when
           she
           had
           done
           her
           story
           ,
           the
           good
           Father
           sets
           her
           for
           her
           Pennance
           to
           say
           our
           
             Ladies
             Office
          
           in
           Latin
           every
           day
           for
           a
           year
           together
           ;
           a
           very
           severe
           task
           indeed
           ,
           't
           would
           have
           been
           even
           for
           a
           Nun
           that
           had
           little
           else
           to
           do
           .
           A
           Priest
           of
           my
           acquaintance
           ,
           from
           whose
           own
           mouth
           I
           had
           this
           Relation
           ,
           gives
           this
           Lady
           a
           Visit
           the
           next
           day
           by
           chance
           ,
           and
           finds
           her
           full
           of
           tears
           and
           trouble
           :
           He
           enquires
           into
           the
           Cause
           (
           for
           they
           love
           dearly
           to
           know
           the
           Secrets
           of
           Families
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           a
           medling
           where
           they
           can
           )
           and
           after
           a
           few
           reluctancies
           were
           conquer'd
           ,
           she
           discover'd
           to
           him
           her
           grief
           ,
           that
           she
           had
           such
           a
           Pennance
           set
           her
           as
           't
           was
           impossible
           for
           her
           to
           perform
           ,
           for
           she
           was
           not
           Learned
           enough
           to
           understand
           a
           word
           of
           Latin.
           He
           presently
           Counselled
           her
           to
           make
           the
           same
           Confession
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           she
           should
           have
           no
           such
           reason
           to
           be
           troubled
           (
           for
           if
           a
           Person
           dislike
           his
           Pennance
           ,
           he
           may
           lawfully
           have
           a
           new
           one
           set
           him
           ,
           if
           he
           will
           make
           the
           same
           Confession
           again
           to
           another
           Priest
           )
           .
           She
           (
           good
           Lady
           )
           was
           very
           loth
           to
           do
           that
           ,
           for
           it
           seems
           't
           was
           no
           small
           matter
           she
           had
           confest
           ,
           and
           was
           therefore
           unwilling
           to
           uncover
           her
           sores
           again
           .
           Upon
           that
           ,
           he
           takes
           his
           leave
           ,
           and
           she
           blubber'd
           it
           out
           that
           night
           ;
           but
           the
           next
           morning
           upon
           second
           thoughts
           grew
           wiser
           ,
           and
           came
           to
           him
           with
           tears
           and
           courage
           together
           :
           She
           then
           fell
           upon
           her
           Knees
           ,
           and
           out
           
           came
           the
           grievous
           things
           she
           had
           committed
           ,
           and
           this
           
             Indulgent
             Priest
          
           was
           so
           favourable
           as
           to
           order
           her
           only
           to
           say
           the
           
             Penitential
             Psalms
          
           once
           over
           in
           English
           ,
           and
           the
           Lady
           became
           as
           merry
           as
           a
           Cricket
           again
           .
        
         
           Hence
           you
           see
           what
           a
           mighty
           stress
           lies
           upon
           Prayers
           in
           Latin
           ,
           in
           the
           opinion
           of
           those
           
             senseless
             Men
          
           ,
           who
           never
           saw
           any
           thing
           of
           the
           World
           out
           of
           a
           Monastery
           ,
           and
           what
           wise
           States-men
           they
           're
           like
           to
           prove
           ,
           when
           they
           meddle
           with
           publick
           affairs
           .
           This
           other
           was
           a
           
             secular
             Priest
          
           ,
           a
           Man
           of
           a
           good
           capacity
           and
           judgment
           ,
           and
           I
           have
           seldom
           met
           with
           a
           more
           understanding
           Man
           of
           his
           Coat
           .
        
         
           A
           few
           years
           agoe
           there
           was
           Printed
           an
           excellent
           Book
           of
           Devotion
           ,
           called
           
             Devotion
             by
             way
             of
             Offices
          
           ;
           a
           Book
           so
           full
           of
           the
           
             Divine
             Spirit
             ,
             solid
             sense
          
           ,
           and
           
             good
             English
          
           ,
           that
           I
           can
           hardly
           remember
           to
           have
           seen
           the
           like
           ,
           unless
           it
           be
           the
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           of
           our
           late
           
             Incomparable
             Soveraign
          
           .
           'T
           was
           a
           work
           so
           free
           from
           exception
           ,
           that
           paring
           a
           way
           the
           
             Ave
             Mary
          
           ,
           a
           Hymn
           to
           our
           Lady
           at
           the
           conclusion
           of
           the
           Office
           ,
           and
           very
           little
           or
           nothing
           more
           ,
           it
           might
           serve
           as
           well
           for
           the
           use
           of
           Protestants
           as
           Papists
           .
           'T
           was
           writ
           by
           a
           Lay-Gentleman
           ,
           a
           man
           of
           a
           most
           exemplary
           life
           ,
           and
           so
           ingenious
           ,
           that
           all
           who
           knew
           him
           ,
           or
           heard
           of
           him
           ,
           or
           had
           any
           inward
           respect
           for
           true
           Learning
           or
           Virtue
           ,
           coveted
           his
           acquaintance
           so
           far
           ,
           that
           they
           made
           his
           House
           the
           Center
           of
           all
           their
           meetings
           .
           And
           yet
           the
           Jesuits
           will
           not
           bestow
           one
           kind
           word
           on
           this
           Man
           ,
           or
           Book
           .
           The
           Gentleman
           they
           condemn
           for
           a
           Blackloist
           ,
           that
           is
           as
           they
           
           will
           have
           it
           ,
           a
           worse
           Heretick
           than
           a
           Protestant
           ,
           though
           he
           declar'd
           himself
           with
           never
           so
           much
           submission
           to
           the
           
             Catholick
             Church
          
           .
           The
           Book
           they
           disswade
           all
           People
           from
           using
           ,
           for
           no
           manner
           of
           reason
           ,
           but
           because
           it
           is
           not
           stufft
           with
           those
           Litanies
           ,
           and
           
             Prayers
             to
             Saints
          
           the
           Manual
           abounds
           with
           ,
           or
           that
           it
           will
           do
           their
           souls
           too
           much
           real
           good
           ,
           or
           because
           it
           was
           written
           by
           a
           Lay-man
           no
           ways
           Jesuited
           .
        
         
           There
           's
           one
           thing
           more
           I
           can't
           but
           observe
           .
           And
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           
             Convents
             of
             Nuns
          
           ,
           let
           them
           be
           never
           so
           Ignorant
           ,
           must
           be
           forc'd
           to
           say
           and
           sing
           the
           
             Office
             of
             the
             Church
          
           in
           Latin
           ,
           for
           Morning
           and
           
             Evening
             Prayers
          
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           
             Canonical
             hours
          
           .
           So
           it
           seems
           they
           separate
           themselves
           from
           the
           World
           to
           a
           good
           purpose
           ,
           and
           must
           needs
           make
           strange
           advancements
           in
           Devotion
           to
           God
           ,
           when
           they
           thus
           spend
           their
           time
           at
           Church
           ,
           and
           in
           numbring
           long
           Catalogues
           of
           
             Ave
             Maries
          
           .
           'T
           is
           much
           ,
           if
           they
           don't
           repent
           their
           first
           Zeal
           ,
           when
           they
           have
           liv'd
           long
           enough
           there
           to
           grow
           sober
           ,
           and
           consider
           .
        
         
           
             True
             Devotion
          
           consists
           in
           those
           means
           that
           raise
           the
           heart
           to
           the
           
             love
             of
             God
          
           above
           all
           things
           ,
           and
           which
           conduce
           to
           make
           us
           live
           Honestly
           and
           Charitably
           with
           all
           Men
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           a
           
             toothless
             Lip
             service
          
           ,
           where
           the
           heart
           is
           not
           ,
           cannot
           be
           concern'd
           .
        
         
           A
           third
           thing
           that
           must
           touch
           sensibly
           upon
           the
           Conscience
           of
           any
           one
           that
           was
           ever
           a
           Protestant
           ,
           is
           the
           
             Prayers
             to
             Saints
          
           ,
           and
           especially
           those
           continual
           Supplications
           that
           are
           made
           in
           the
           highest
           manner
           to
           the
           
             Ever-blessed
             Virgin.
          
           He
           may
           indeed
           comply
           a
           little
           ,
           following
           the
           
             general
             rule
          
           of
           Believing
           as
           the
           
           
             Church
             Believes
          
           ,
           and
           practising
           as
           the
           
             Church
             practises
          
           ,
           but
           he
           can
           never
           force
           out
           of
           his
           mind
           his
           dependence
           on
           
             God
             Almighty
          
           ,
           and
           heartily
           quit
           his
           
             natural
             refuge
          
           to
           God
           to
           make
           Applications
           to
           this
           or
           that
           Saint
           .
        
         
           The
           
             Worship
             of
             Images
          
           ,
           so
           flat
           against
           the
           2d
           .
           Commandment
           ,
           and
           the
           putting
           out
           the
           2d
           .
           Commandment
           so
           plain
           against
           the
           
             Worship
             of
             Images
          
           ;
           the
           
             Adoration
             of
             Reliques
             ,
             Agnus
          
           Dei's
           ,
           and
           other
           
             Consecrated
             Bawbles
          
           will
           make
           the
           Conscience
           of
           a
           Protestant
           grumble
           somtimes
           ,
           let
           him
           do
           what
           he
           will
           ,
           and
           declare
           himself
           never
           so
           much
           for
           that
           Church
           .
           Concerning
           Reliques
           I
           observed
           ,
           that
           when
           they
           were
           exposed
           on
           great
           days
           to
           the
           view
           of
           all
           comers
           ,
           there
           was
           a
           Priest
           to
           gard'em
           ,
           who
           would
           take
           it
           very
           unkindly
           ,
           if
           any
           body
           presumed
           to
           kiss
           the
           Case
           they
           were
           kept
           in
           ,
           without
           depositing
           some
           Mite
           into
           the
           Dish
           just
           by
           .
           So
           that
           poor
           People
           must
           only
           look
           on
           ,
           and
           devoutly
           admire
           the
           Reliques
           and
           the
           
             rich
             Case
          
           together
           ,
           without
           profaning
           it
           with
           an
           empty
           ,
           too
           near
           an
           approach
           .
           And
           again
           ,
           some
           Images
           and
           Altars
           have
           a
           much
           greater
           virtue
           in
           'em
           than
           others
           .
           His
           Holiness
           has
           bestowed
           most
           
             liberal
             Indulgences
          
           to
           some
           above
           others
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           he
           has
           favoured
           more
           particularly
           such
           or
           such
           a
           Monastery
           ,
           and
           granted
           them
           a
           means
           to
           make
           Fools
           stocks
           thither
           more
           abundantly
           ,
           and
           confer
           their
           Charity
           with
           a
           freer
           hand
           to
           the
           disposal
           of
           a
           pack
           of
           Covetous
           Insatiable
           Wretches
           .
        
         
           Now
           't
           is
           most
           certain
           and
           plain
           that
           the
           
             Worship
             of
             God
          
           without
           an
           Image
           is
           lawful
           beyond
           dispute
           ;
           with
           an
           Image
           't
           is
           dangerous
           at
           least
           ,
           to
           say
           no
           worse
           .
           
           To
           Pray
           to
           the
           God
           that
           made
           us
           ,
           is
           safe
           beyond
           scruple
           :
           Prayers
           to
           Saints
           may
           make
           God
           Jealous
           of
           his
           Honour
           .
           To
           say
           such
           Prayers
           as
           affect
           the
           heart
           ,
           cannot
           but
           be
           very
           acceptable
           to
           him
           ,
           but
           a
           dry
           insipid
           Lip-service
           ought
           much
           to
           be
           suspected
           .
           To
           Receive
           the
           Blessed-Sacrament
           as
           our
           Saviour
           did
           himself
           Institute
           it
           ,
           cannot
           but
           he
           effectual
           to
           a
           soul
           duly
           prepared
           :
           but
           the
           mincing
           this
           great
           Sacrament
           ,
           the
           taking
           it
           by
           halfs
           is
           not
           what
           he
           intended
           ,
           if
           we
           will
           follow
           his
           own
           example
           ,
           or
           believe
           his
           own
           words
           .
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           to
           believe
           the
           
             three
             Creeds
          
           ,
           the
           
             foundation
             of
             Christianity
          
           ,
           and
           imitate
           the
           Primitive
           the
           best
           &
           purest
           times
           ,
           is
           very
           rational
           for
           a
           
             good
             Christian
          
           ;
           but
           to
           take
           in
           all
           the
           idle
           Superstructures
           that
           Politick
           ,
           or
           Zealous
           ,
           or
           Ignorant
           Men
           have
           since
           raised
           ,
           either
           for
           self-ends
           ,
           or
           through
           weakness
           ,
           or
           the
           wilfulness
           of
           Opiniators
           ,
           gives
           too
           great
           a
           Latitude
           to
           the
           Enemy
           of
           Man-kind
           ,
           who
           watches
           all
           opportunities
           to
           withdraw
           us
           from
           our
           duty
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           not
           the
           Title
           and
           Name
           of
           Catholick
           ,
           which
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           do
           so
           uncharitably
           appropriate
           to
           themselves
           ,
           that
           should
           frighten
           us
           into
           a
           better
           opinion
           of
           them
           than
           they
           deserve
           .
           I
           know
           not
           why
           an
           
             English
             Catholick
          
           should
           not
           sound
           full
           as
           well
           as
           a
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           ;
           but
           in
           their
           sense
           't
           is
           a
           meer
           Solecism
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           a
           Particular-general
           .
           'T
           is
           not
           the
           Name
           ,
           but
           the
           Thing
           that
           must
           do
           our
           business
           hereafter
           .
           And
           a
           most
           uncharitable
           exclusion
           of
           all
           Man-kind
           from
           Salvation
           ,
           besides
           those
           that
           are
           Cross'd
           with
           that
           Title
           on
           their
           Fore-heads
           ,
           will
           help
           but
           little
           to
           forward
           our
           future
           happiness
           ,
           let
           Zealous
           fiery
           Priests
           urge
           it
           till
           their
           hearts
           ake
           .
           
           But
           that
           nobody
           may
           be
           scar'd
           from
           doing
           their
           duty
           in
           England
           ,
           upon
           the
           consideration
           that
           no
           Salvation
           can
           be
           had
           out
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholick
             Church
          
           ,
           I
           shall
           here
           declare
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           often
           talkt
           with
           some
           of
           the
           most
           judicious
           and
           
             knowing
             Priests
          
           among
           them
           concerning
           this
           point
           ,
           and
           they
           have
           seriously
           agreed
           with
           me
           ,
           that
           neither
           they
           nor
           the
           Church
           do
           think
           so
           Vncharitably
           .
           Paltry
           Priests
           will
           say
           so
           to
           frighten
           Women
           ,
           and
           weak
           persons
           ,
           but
           they
           do
           not
           ,
           cannot
           in
           their
           Conscience
           think
           so
           ,
           if
           they
           have
           but
           the
           least
           grain
           of
           wit.
           
        
         
           I
           could
           add
           a
           great
           many
           other
           things
           to
           those
           already
           said
           ,
           though
           for
           several
           years
           I
           have
           not
           so
           much
           as
           lookt
           into
           any
           Book
           of
           Controversie
           ,
           having
           had
           somthing
           else
           to
           do
           ,
           and
           being
           persuaded
           that
           Controversie
           is
           the
           Mother
           of
           far
           more
           Harm
           than
           Good
           ,
           as
           turning
           
             Practical
             Religion
          
           out
           of
           doors
           ,
           and
           spending
           the
           
             true
             spirit
          
           of
           Religion
           in
           talk
           and
           noise
           ,
           which
           rather
           consists
           in
           Peace
           and
           Action
           .
           But
           I
           must
           remember
           I
           am
           writing
           a
           Letter
           ,
           not
           a
           
             Treatise
             ;
             Do
             to
             others
             as
             you
             would
             be
             done
             unto
             ,
          
           is
           a
           greater
           and
           more
           substantial
           part
           of
           Christianity
           than
           we
           are
           commonly
           aware
           .
           And
           he
           that
           would
           take
           a
           few
           words
           to
           guide
           his
           life
           by
           ,
           let
           him
           remember
           now
           and
           then
           what
           S.
           Paul
           teaches
           him
           in
           the
           5th
           .
           Chapt.
           to
           the
           Galatians
           ,
           where
           he
           reckons
           up
           what
           are
           the
           fruits
           of
           the
           Flesh
           ,
           and
           what
           the
           fruits
           of
           the
           Spirit
           .
           These
           latter
           he
           says
           are
           
             Love
             ,
             Joy
             ,
             Peace
             ,
             Long-suffering
             ,
             Gentleness
             ,
             Goodness
             ,
             Faith
             ,
             Meekness
             ,
             Temperance
             ,
             against
             such
             there
             is
             no
             Law.
          
           What
           a
           chain
           of
           kind
           ,
           soft
           ,
           tender
           words
           does
           he
           here
           put
           together
           ,
           as
           if
           Good-nature
           
           were
           all
           in
           all
           ,
           and
           our
           Religion
           required
           no
           other
           qualification
           to
           make
           the
           best
           sort
           of
           Christian
           ,
           And
           doubtless
           if
           this
           be
           true
           ,
           that
           Opinion
           which
           renders
           men
           
             Morose
             ,
             Harsh
             ,
             Vnkind
             ,
             Vncharitable
             ,
             Contentious
             ,
          
           or
           Cruel
           ,
           springs
           not
           from
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           some
           
             evil
             Spirit
          
           .
        
         
           But
           above
           all
           things
           Charity
           is
           the
           Lesson
           that
           Christians
           are
           obliged
           to
           practise
           heartily
           ;
           so
           necessary
           't
           is
           thought
           in
           the
           
             Holy
             Scriptures
          
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           infinite
           repetitions
           exhorting
           us
           to
           it
           ;
           and
           so
           useful
           the
           Meditation
           of
           it
           seems
           to
           me
           ,
           that
           I
           shall
           venture
           to
           adjoyn
           some
           thoughts
           on
           this
           subject
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           a
           little
           besides
           my
           main
           intention
           .
        
         
           Charity
           is
           almost
           the
           
             whole
             Duty
             of
             Man
          
           ,
           and
           he
           that
           performs
           this
           duty
           as
           he
           should
           do
           ,
           needs
           little
           to
           be
           remembred
           of
           his
           duty
           to
           God.
           
             Thou
             shalt
             love
             thy
             Neighbour
             as
             thy self
             ,
          
           is
           so
           comprehensive
           a
           Precept
           ,
           and
           does
           so
           fully
           contain
           all
           that
           can
           be
           said
           ,
           that
           nothing
           but
           the
           
             Spirit
             of
             God
          
           could
           have
           sum'd
           up
           the
           Law
           in
           so
           few
           words
           .
        
         
           Charity
           does
           respect
           both
           our
           Opinions
           and
           our
           Actions
           .
           Our
           Opinions
           or
           Censures
           ought
           to
           be
           govern'd
           always
           by
           it
           ,
           or
           else
           they
           'l
           be
           found
           to
           deviate
           very
           widely
           from
           what
           the
           Apostles
           taught
           us
           .
           
             Judge
             not
             least
             you
             be
             judged
             ,
          
           sounds
           very
           dreadfully
           and
           severely
           ,
           if
           we
           consider
           the
           narrow
           Principles
           and
           uncharitable
           Constructions
           of
           almost
           every
           party
           of
           Man-kind
           .
           How
           does
           every
           Man
           now
           think
           it
           Prudence
           to
           think
           the
           worst
           of
           one
           another
           ?
           How
           does
           every
           little
           Hot-brain
           now
           peevishly
           confine
           Salvation
           to
           his
           own
           narrow
           
           Herd
           ,
           though
           a
           number
           so
           inconsiderable
           as
           hardly
           fit
           to
           be
           named
           in
           the
           large
           Arithmetick
           of
           Nature
           ?
           I
           should
           be
           glad
           nevertheless
           if
           they
           did
           not
           wish
           ill
           to
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           think
           ill
           of
           one
           another
           .
        
         
           
             That
             there
             is
             no
             Salvation
             to
             be
             had
             out
             of
             the
             pale
             of
             Gods
             true
             Catholick
             Church
             ,
          
           I
           believe
           as
           firmly
           as
           the
           great
           Athanasius
           did
           ;
           but
           in
           what
           manner
           this
           mystery
           is
           to
           be
           understood
           ,
           I
           as
           little
           perplex
           my
           thoughts
           ,
           as
           how
           Three
           can
           be
           One
           ,
           how
           God
           could
           be
           Incarnate
           of
           a
           Virgin
           ,
           or
           how
           we
           shall
           Rise
           again
           with
           the
           same
           
             numerical
             Bodies
          
           ,
           that
           have
           by
           long
           successions
           serv'd
           to
           nourish
           one
           another
           ,
           or
           been
           corrupted
           into
           as
           many
           forms
           as
           there
           are
           different
           species
           of
           things
           .
           I
           could
           never
           conceive
           how
           this
           Article
           of
           our
           Belief
           should
           render
           us
           ,
           uncharitable
           to
           all
           that
           are
           not
           of
           our
           own
           persuasion
           .
           We
           may
           as
           soon
           expect
           to
           have
           a
           clear
           Idea
           of
           the
           
             Joys
             of
             Heaven
          
           ,
           the
           frame
           of
           Angels
           ,
           or
           the
           Essence
           of
           our
           own
           Souls
           ,
           as
           to
           know
           what
           company
           we
           shall
           meet
           with
           in
           the
           other
           World
           ,
           or
           who
           alone
           shall
           enter
           into
           inconceiveable
           Bliss
           .
           Let
           us
           but
           take
           care
           of
           our
           own
           particular
           ,
           and
           by
           acts
           of
           Charity
           and
           Devotion
           provide
           suitable
           dispositions
           for
           a
           fit
           Reception
           there
           ,
           and
           we
           shall
           be
           found
           at
           last
           to
           have
           spent
           our
           time
           to
           much
           better
           purpose
           than
           in
           such
           needless
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           
             dangerous
             disquisitions
          
           .
           Men
           have
           all
           souls
           of
           the
           same
           immense
           value
           ,
           and
           the
           Providence
           of
           God
           is
           over
           all
           in
           general
           ,
           but
           what
           allotments
           of
           Grace
           he
           has
           made
           'em
           here
           ;
           or
           shall
           
           hereafter
           of
           Rewards
           and
           Punishments
           ,
           neither
           the
           Apostles
           seem
           to
           define
           ,
           nor
           Apostolical
           Men
           since
           have
           presumed
           to
           determine
           .
           I
           should
           sin
           if
           I
           ventur'd
           to
           speak
           of
           this
           subject
           ,
           either
           as
           largely
           as
           Origen
           once
           did
           ,
           or
           as
           narrowly
           as
           some
           Divines
           do
           of
           a
           latter
           date
           ;
           though
           I
           am
           apt
           to
           think
           that
           Errors
           sprung
           from
           too
           much
           Charity
           (
           if
           I
           may
           so
           say
           )
           will
           be
           found
           far
           more
           Innocent
           than
           those
           from
           too
           little
           .
        
         
           Truly
           it
           makes
           my
           heart
           ake
           somtimes
           to
           consider
           how
           easily
           and
           willingly
           people
           can
           hurl
           one
           another
           headlong
           into
           the
           
             Bottomless
             pit
          
           .
           Suppose
           but
           twenty
           Men
           were
           here
           Condemn'd
           to
           the
           Rack
           ,
           and
           appointed
           to
           suffer
           the
           most
           exquisite
           tortures
           that
           cruel
           blood-thirsty
           Men
           can
           tell
           how
           to
           invent
           ,
           every
           day
           for
           a
           month
           together
           ;
           would
           not
           the
           hearing
           on
           seeing
           such
           a
           master-piece
           of
           cruelty
           make
           every
           good
           Man
           shiver
           ,
           knowing
           not
           how
           near
           his
           own
           turn
           might
           be
           ,
           if
           God
           should
           suffer
           he
           furious
           barbarous
           disposition
           of
           some
           to
           take
           place
           .
           How
           much
           more
           inhumane
           and
           dreadful
           then
           is
           it
           ,
           to
           precipitate
           one
           another
           into
           that
           
             place
             of
             torment
          
           ,
           too
           intolerable
           to
           be
           express'd
           ,
           if
           it
           consists
           in
           nothing
           else
           but
           confusion
           of
           face
           and
           heart
           ,
           the
           gnawing
           remorses
           ,
           and
           continual
           stings
           of
           a
           guilty
           self-confounded
           Conscience
           .
           Me-thinks
           it
           should
           rather
           trouble
           us
           that
           any
           are
           like
           to
           be
           so
           unhappy
           ,
           than
           to
           keep
           out
           by
           our
           good-will
           all
           that
           are
           not
           of
           our
           own
           
             Opinion
             .
             Christ
          
           certainly
           died
           for
           all
           men
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           we
           shall
           find
           his
           death
           applied
           to
           the
           eternal
           benefit
           of
           many
           
           harmless
           ,
           virtuous
           ,
           invincibly
           ignorant
           People
           ,
           that
           common
           Uncharitableness
           will
           not
           let
           us
           have
           a
           kind
           thought
           of
           here
           .
           We
           may
           lawfully
           think
           and
           hope
           the
           best
           of
           all
           Men
           ;
           for
           though
           we
           are
           forbidden
           to
           say
           too
           much
           for
           'em
           ,
           I
           'm
           sure
           we
           are
           not
           allow'd
           to
           judge
           them
           too
           severely
           .
        
         
           Who
           could
           imagine
           that
           those
           who
           have
           often
           read
           St.
           Paul
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           13.
           should
           forget
           the
           
             absolute
             necessity
          
           of
           Charity
           ,
           and
           not
           be
           touched
           with
           the
           greatest
           concern
           ?
           'T
           is
           a
           Sermon
           that
           is
           second
           to
           nothing
           I
           know
           extant
           ,
           unless
           that
           Preach'd
           upon
           the
           Mount
           ;
           and
           I
           think
           it
           deserves
           to
           be
           read
           full
           as
           often
           ,
           as
           some
           have
           well
           conceited
           that
           
           Pythagora's
           
             Golden
             Verses
          
           do
           deserve
           ;
           not
           to
           take
           a
           leasure-minute
           now
           and
           then
           ,
           but
           be
           the
           excellent
           subject
           of
           our
           daily
           Meditations
           .
           The
           Charity
           there
           described
           ,
           is
           of
           so
           
             absolute
             necessity
          
           ,
           that
           though
           I
           had
           the
           knowledge
           and
           Angels
           ,
           and
           Wisdom
           of
           Solomon
           ,
           though
           I
           had
           Faith
           strong
           enough
           
             to
             remove
             Mountains
             ,
             though
             I
             gave
             all
             my
             Goods
          
           and
           Possessions
           
             to
             the
             Poor
          
           ,
           and
           
             my
             Body
             to
             be
             burned
          
           ,
           upon
           any
           other
           never
           so
           good
           account
           ,
           yet
           without
           this
           ;
           all
           would
           signifie
           nothing
           .
           That
           Charity
           is
           such
           as
           
             thinks
             no
             evil
          
           of
           any
           Man
           ,
           believeth
           and
           hopeth
           the
           best
           of
           
             all
             things
          
           ,
           and
           peaceably
           submitteth
           to
           all
           that
           God
           pleases
           to
           inflict
           .
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           we
           are
           advised
           to
           abide
           in
           
             Faith
             ,
             Hope
             ,
             and
             Charity
             ,
             these
             three
             ,
             but
             the
             greatest
          
           of
           all
           is
           said
           to
           be
           Charity
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           not
           offer
           to
           comment
           upon
           this
           
             Divine
             Chapter
          
           ,
           and
           compare
           the
           practice
           of
           those
           that
           are
           called
           Christians
           with
           the
           extensiveness
           of
           St.
           
           Paul's
           
           Description
           ,
           for
           fear
           I
           should
           either
           prove
           or
           become
           more
           uncharitable
           than
           I
           desire
           .
           To
           uncover
           such
           foul
           sores
           ,
           without
           better
           hopes
           of
           healing
           'em
           ,
           would
           but
           cause
           a
           noisome
           smell
           ,
           and
           but
           offend
           those
           who
           suffer
           them
           as
           well
           as
           my self
           ;
           and
           therefore
           I
           shall
           pass
           to
           the
           next
           branch
           of
           this
           duty
           ,
           and
           consider
           it
           as
           it
           concerns
           our
           actions
           .
        
         
           Charity
           in
           the
           distributive
           sense
           ,
           as
           it
           relates
           to
           our
           actions
           and
           practice
           ,
           is
           so
           inculcated
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           common
           Genius
           of
           Man-kind
           ,
           that
           unless
           one
           puts
           off
           all
           Humanity
           to
           receive
           the
           Wolf
           and
           Tygar
           ,
           't
           will
           be
           extream
           hard
           not
           to
           have
           some
           fellow-feeling
           of
           the
           deplorable
           wants
           and
           miseries
           of
           our
           Fellow-creatures
           .
           Those
           who
           are
           Stewards
           of
           large
           and
           ample
           Fortunes
           ,
           will
           have
           long
           accounts
           to
           make
           at
           the
           
             great
             day
          
           .
           But
           Oh
           what
           a
           ravishing
           sight
           will
           it
           then
           be
           to
           see
           
             the
             Hungry
             we
             have
             Fed
             ,
             and
             the
             Naked
             we
             have
             Cloathed
             !
          
           What
           a
           multitude
           of
           Sins
           will
           they
           stand
           between
           and
           cover
           !
           for
           then
           't
           will
           be
           enquired
           ,
           not
           what
           Learning
           we
           had
           gain'd
           ,
           what
           Cobwebs
           we
           had
           spun
           ,
           or
           what
           nice
           speculations
           we
           had
           made
           ;
           but
           what
           good
           we
           have
           perform'd
           ,
           and
           how
           we
           employ'd
           our
           hands
           and
           hearts
           ,
           not
           our
           wits
           and
           fancy
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           
             Jewish
             Law
          
           was
           but
           a
           Type
           of
           
             Christian
             Discipline
          
           ,
           and
           our
           Saviour
           came
           not
           to
           abrogate
           the
           Moral-Law
           ,
           but
           to
           fulfil
           and
           raise
           it
           higher
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           how
           much
           then
           ought
           we
           to
           exceed
           the
           Jews
           in
           
             acts
             of
             Charity
          
           ?
           and
           yet
           't
           is
           to
           be
           feared
           we
           come
           too
           short
           of
           what
           their
           duty
           prompted
           
           them
           to
           .
           Besides
           their
           
             Annual
             Tithes
          
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           they
           gave
           another
           Tithing
           to
           the
           Poor
           every
           third
           year
           ,
           by
           Gods
           own
           appointment
           ,
           Deut.
           xxvi
           .
           12
           ,
           13.
           and
           this
           comes
           to
           the
           same
           reckoning
           as
           an
           Annual
           30th
           .
           which
           whether
           
             Christians
             Charity
          
           doth
           reach
           to
           ,
           or
           exceed
           as
           far
           as
           it
           should
           ,
           I
           leave
           to
           every
           Mans
           Conscience
           seriously
           to
           consider
           .
           For
           
             except
             our
             Righteousness
          
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           the
           very
           same
           word
           that
           in
           many
           places
           of
           Scripture
           does
           necessarily
           signifie
           
             Legal
             Alms-giving
             ,
             except
          
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           
             our
             Righteousness
             does
             exceed
             the
             Righteousness
             of
             the
             Scribes
             and
             Pharisees
             ,
             we
             can
             in
             no
             wise
             enter
             into
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             .
          
        
         
           Now
           if
           we
           consider
           but
           the
           Peace
           and
           Serenity
           of
           Mind
           ,
           the
           Heaven
           upon
           Earth
           ,
           that
           is
           gained
           from
           a
           consciousness
           of
           having
           done
           some
           
             real
             good
          
           to
           others
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           a
           thing
           eligible
           ,
           if
           there
           were
           no
           further
           motive
           .
        
         
           But
           again
           ,
           If
           we
           will
           but
           examine
           our
           own
           Interest
           ,
           I
           mean
           not
           only
           our
           
             Eternal
             Interest
          
           which
           would
           certainly
           move
           us
           ,
           if
           we
           were
           but
           effectually
           persuaded
           of
           it
           ,
           but
           also
           our
           dearly
           beloved
           
             Temporal
             Interest
          
           ,
           the
           truest
           way
           of
           multiplying
           our
           riches
           ,
           and
           best
           improvement
           of
           our
           Estates
           ,
           we
           should
           readily
           comply
           with
           this
           Duty
           in
           all
           respects
           .
           What
           says
           the
           
             Prophet
             Malachi
          
           ,
           ch
           .
           iii.
           v.
           10.
           
           
             Bring
             ye
             all
             the
             tithes
             into
             the
             Store-house
             ,
             that
             there
             may
             be
             meat
             in
             mine
             house
             ,
             and
             prove
             me
             herewith
             ,
             saith
             the
             Lord
             of
             Hasts
             ,
             if
             I
             will
             not
             open
             you
             the
             windows
             of
             Heaven
             ,
             and
             pour
             you
             out
             a
             blessing
             that
             there
             shall
             not
             be
             room
             enough
             to
             receive
             it
             ,
          
           and
           see
           
           again
           Prov.
           iii.
           10.
           
           
             So
             shall
             thy
             barns
             be
             filled
             with
             plenty
             .
          
           And
           the
           Scriptures
           are
           full
           of
           passages
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           inviting
           us
           all
           manner
           of
           ways
           to
           try
           the
           
             goodness
             of
             God
          
           which
           he
           pleases
           to
           offer
           us
           in
           this
           life
           ,
           upon
           one
           only
           condition
           ,
           if
           we
           will
           but
           believe
           his
           promises
           to
           us
           .
           And
           this
           puts
           me
           in
           mind
           of
           an
           
             excellent
             story
          
           I
           have
           read
           in
           a
           good
           Author
           concerning
           a
           Jew
           ,
           who
           when
           he
           had
           perused
           several
           of
           those
           places
           which
           promise
           abundance
           of
           
             Temporal
             blessings
          
           to
           Charitable
           persons
           ,
           resolved
           to
           try
           whether
           God
           would
           be
           as
           good
           as
           his
           word
           ,
           and
           spared
           no
           occasion
           of
           
             profuse
             Charity
          
           ,
           until
           he
           had
           reduced
           himself
           to
           one
           single
           piece
           ,
           the
           whole
           remain
           of
           all
           his
           former
           riches
           .
           Now
           was
           he
           come
           to
           the
           Crisis
           of
           tryal
           ,
           a
           Crisis
           able
           to
           shake
           even
           a
           
             Christian
             courage
          
           ,
           and
           it
           did
           shake
           his
           indeed
           ,
           though
           he
           had
           proceeded
           boldly
           hitherto
           without
           any
           fear
           or
           distrust
           .
           He
           began
           then
           to
           murmur
           and
           repine
           ,
           and
           blamed
           his
           Credulity
           ,
           for
           what
           he
           had
           so
           rashly
           ,
           he
           thought
           ,
           done
           ;
           and
           in
           this
           pensive
           heart-breaking
           mood
           ,
           he
           spied
           two
           men
           a
           quarelling
           and
           fighting
           .
           Notwithstanding
           his
           own
           afflictions
           he
           presently
           interposed
           ,
           and
           demanded
           the
           cause
           of
           their
           so
           great
           difference
           .
           They
           answered
           that
           going
           along
           there
           they
           had
           found
           a
           stone
           ,
           which
           both
           laid
           claim
           to
           ,
           but
           could
           not
           agree
           which
           was
           the
           first
           discoverer
           ,
           so
           that
           if
           he
           would
           bestow
           somthing
           for
           it
           ,
           they
           told
           him
           it
           should
           be
           his
           .
           He
           gave
           them
           all
           he
           had
           ,
           his
           one
           remaining
           piece
           ,
           and
           so
           they
           went
           well
           contented
           with
           it
           .
           He
           presently
           repairs
           to
           a
           Jeweller
           to
           know
           the
           
           value
           of
           his
           purchase
           ,
           and
           was
           informed
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           the
           best
           Jewel
           which
           belonged
           to
           the
           
             High-Priests
             ,
             Breast-plate
          
           ,
           and
           that
           if
           he
           would
           carry
           it
           to
           the
           right
           owner
           ,
           he
           need
           not
           doubt
           of
           a
           sufficient
           recompence
           .
           He
           goes
           to
           the
           High-Priest
           ,
           acquaints
           him
           with
           what
           he
           had
           found
           ,
           and
           the
           accidental
           occasion
           that
           brought
           him
           to
           such
           a
           Treasure
           .
           The
           
             Man
             of
             God
          
           roundly
           gave
           him
           first
           a
           box
           of
           the
           Ear
           ,
           for
           distrusting
           Providence
           ,
           and
           then
           dismissed
           him
           with
           a
           reward
           answerable
           to
           the
           occasion
           .
           From
           that
           fortunate
           day
           he
           thrived
           in
           such
           measure
           ,
           and
           received
           the
           full
           satisfaction
           of
           all
           his
           former
           wishes
           ,
           that
           notwithstanding
           the
           Charitable
           continuance
           of
           his
           former
           good
           intentions
           he
           soon
           grew
           to
           be
           one
           of
           the
           richest
           men
           in
           all
           Judea
           .
        
         
           God
           never
           forsakes
           those
           that
           will
           trust
           in
           him
           .
           He
           will
           try
           them
           indeed
           whether
           they
           are
           in
           earnest
           ,
           and
           how
           far
           they
           will
           venture
           to
           trust
           in
           him
           ,
           but
           be
           assured
           he
           never
           leaves
           man
           in
           his
           extremities
           ,
           unless
           he
           leaves
           his
           God
           first
           .
           And
           I
           have
           observed
           several
           instances
           of
           people
           that
           have
           been
           brought
           to
           the
           very
           brink
           of
           ruin
           and
           despair
           ,
           who
           have
           been
           strangely
           and
           suddenly
           advanced
           ,
           to
           the
           amazement
           of
           all
           their
           acquaintance
           ,
           by
           the
           
             immediate
             hand
             of
             Almighty
             God.
          
           And
           if
           all
           
             good
             people
          
           in
           affliction
           do
           not
           find
           the
           same
           ,
           't
           is
           their
           duty
           to
           resign
           themselves
           up
           to
           the
           wise
           ,
           but
           unaccountable
           ways
           of
           Providence
           .
        
         
           Now
           notwithstanding
           all
           that
           has
           been
           said
           ,
           if
           any
           man
           will
           be
           so
           Vncharitable
           ,
           as
           to
           think
           the
           
           Current
           of
           the
           Times
           of
           late
           ,
           and
           not
           my
           own
           inclination
           and
           
             real
             judgment
          
           ,
           induced
           me
           to
           write
           these
           things
           ,
           I
           must
           be
           contented
           ,
           to
           remain
           unhappy
           in
           his
           opinion
           ;
           for
           no
           other
           Arguments
           can
           persuade
           him
           to
           alter
           .
           I
           am
           very
           well
           satisfied
           ,
           that
           every
           man
           who
           thinks
           at
           all
           of
           Religion
           ,
           has
           a
           
             natural
             affection
          
           for
           some
           one
           Religion
           above
           others
           ,
           as
           he
           has
           for
           some
           
             particular
             Person
          
           ,
           but
           if
           upon
           sober
           thoughts
           and
           familiar
           Conversation
           he
           finds
           the
           Lady
           he
           dotes
           too
           much
           upon
           to
           be
           either
           a
           Strumpet
           ,
           or
           wretchedly
           Painted
           ,
           or
           Proud
           and
           Cruel
           ,
           especially
           if
           all
           these
           together
           ,
           he
           is
           not
           to
           be
           blamed
           if
           he
           recalls
           his
           
             extravagant
             passion
          
           ,
           and
           settles
           it
           rationally
           upon
           a
           pure
           and
           unspotted
           ,
           a
           mild
           and
           innocent
           ,
           and
           deservedly
           amiable
           object
           .
           There
           's
           great
           variety
           of
           tempers
           in
           Men
           ,
           and
           these
           different
           tempers
           make
           Men
           
             naturally
             incline
          
           to
           as
           great
           variety
           in
           Religions
           .
           Some
           take
           to
           the
           sowre
           and
           morose
           ,
           others
           are
           led
           with
           an
           
             artificial
             shew
          
           ,
           and
           with
           this
           most
           Men
           are
           apt
           to
           be
           insnar'd
           ;
           till
           they
           find
           out
           the
           Cheat
           ;
           some
           are
           taken
           with
           
             licentious
             encouragements
          
           ,
           and
           others
           (
           the
           fewest
           of
           all
           )
           with
           an
           
             honest
             naked
             truth
          
           .
           Now
           if
           among
           these
           various
           attractions
           an
           
             innocent
             well-meaning
             Man
          
           happens
           to
           be
           a
           while
           deluded
           ,
           there
           's
           no
           such
           real
           wonder
           ;
           but
           
           God's
           Grace
           and
           Providence
           which
           over-looks
           Man-kind
           ,
           and
           watches
           incessantly
           for
           the
           good
           of
           us
           all
           ,
           is
           not
           like
           to
           pass
           by
           long
           those
           who
           are
           in
           no
           worse
           circumstance
           than
           that
           .
           How
           do
           we
           know
           but
           that
           these
           many
           different
           Religions
           are
           most
           agreeable
           to
           the
           
             great
             end
          
           of
           the
           Creation
           ?
           
           When
           we
           cannot
           possibly
           see
           two
           faces
           alike
           ,
           no
           nor
           any
           two
           things
           exactly
           so
           in
           all
           respects
           ,
           must
           we
           fondly
           desire
           that
           all
           Nations
           in
           the
           World
           should
           be
           of
           one
           and
           the
           same
           
             Opinion
             ?
             God
          
           says
           Heresies
           shall
           come
           (
           and
           no
           doubt
           remain
           too
           )
           that
           the
           Faithful
           may
           the
           better
           be
           tried
           ;
           and
           for
           that
           reason
           I
           should
           rather
           suspect
           Italy
           and
           Spain
           ,
           where
           are
           no
           Dissenters
           to
           try
           their
           Faith
           ,
           than
           think
           
             that
             blind
             forc'd
             Vnity
          
           makes
           so
           much
           for
           '
           em
           .
           
             Christian
             Gospel-liberty
          
           cannot
           avoid
           Dissenters
           ,
           the
           Enemy
           will
           sow
           his
           Tares
           ;
           but
           the
           Inquisition
           gags
           the
           mouths
           of
           all
           who
           presume
           to
           examine
           any
           
             whys
             or
             wherefores
          
           .
        
         
           One
           thing
           I
           shall
           adjoyn
           ,
           and
           so
           conclude
           :
           When
           first
           I
           return'd
           to
           
             Church
             ,
             God
          
           be
           thanked
           ,
           I
           can
           
             truly
             say
          
           ,
           I
           never
           did
           any
           thing
           with
           more
           peace
           and
           
             assurance
             of
             mind
          
           ,
           or
           with
           more
           
             inward
             comfort
          
           to
           my
           soul
           ,
           than
           that
           time
           at
           Church
           ,
           which
           really
           to
           me
           is
           a
           most
           
             comfortable
             reflection
          
           as
           oft
           as
           it
           occurs
           .
        
         
           Now
           may
           Virtue
           and
           Charity
           encrease
           among
           us
           all
           ,
           and
           may
           the
           World
           grow
           more
           and
           more
           sensible
           of
           the
           future
           and
           
             present
             benefit
          
           of
           a
           
             just
             ,
             peaceable
          
           ,
           and
           
             well-disposed
             Life
          
           .
           Sir
           ,
           I
           am
           ,
        
         
           
             Your
             most
             Humble
             ,
             and
             most
             Obedient
             Servant
             ,
             
               W.
               H.