proper also to observe in this place that setting aside the Interest of that which they call their Religion and their Church which relates wholly and finally to the Profit or Ambition of the Ecclesiasticks the Clergy of the Church of Rome consider'd as to their Civil Life are not much wickeder than their Laymen as I have already said which proves that the Devil Reigns principally in that Church in regard of the Legislative Authority of Popery as it relates to the Affairs and Interest of their Religion and Church that is to say of the Pope and his Guard of Pensioners or Catchpoles This excepted I have known many honest enough Men of their Clergy nay even of the Jesuites whose conduct as to Civil Life was near the matter as good externally as those of their honest Laicks And there are diverse Persons who assure me that how abominable soever the Court of Rome may be in general as their Principles and Maxims have been for several Ages yet there are Prelates nay even Cardinals among them who have very good Moral Qualities and are persons of Merit Article XVI relates to that Spirit of Despotical Government with which the Church of Rome inspires Princes in regard of their Subjects This is it that hath produc'd the Severity of the Government of France which hath so much contributed to the Desolation of that fine Kingdom The Jesuites especially do infuse it in Princes who are ruled by them not only in matters of Religion but likewise in Affairs of Political Government by advising them to make use of the most Absolute Authority because that how much the more the Princes whom they govern are Authoriz'd and Fear'd of their Subjects so much the more are the Jesuites their Tutors Authoriz'd and Dreaded also France smarts at present under the Effects of this and England has but lately escap'd the like danger That Spirit of Tyranny which makes up a great part of the Essence of Popery is yet more peculiar to the Society of the Jesuites than to any other in Popery and it is known that the Principles of their Order as they call it do give their General an Absolute and Unlimited Power to Command and to do what he lists wherein they are to render him a Blind-fold Obedience It 's also known that they look on the Popes pretended Monarchy over the Universal Church and World to be the most perfect Pattern of Government in assuming to himself the Authority to destroy all Nations and Persons in Soul and Body that oppose his temporal Interest The Church of Rome reaps great advantage from this Despotical Power of the Princes of her Communion for those Princes being govern'd by their Confessors who are govern'd by Rome the more Authority those Princes have the more the Pope hath over all the Kingdom and then this great Authority of the Princes is imploy'd to oppress those they call Hereticks both within and without their Dominions and to purchase more Slaves to the Pope or otherwise they ingage them in War for humbling some Popish State that the Court of Rome would have brought low and many times with a design to ruin that very Prince whom they so engage in War For it is highly the Interest of the Court of Rome that their Neighbouring Nations be kept poor because that Spirit of Bondage Slavery and Ignorance which is so useful and agreeable to the Religion which they impose is not consistent with the Liberty of a rich people and the Popes are constantly affraid that if the Dominions of those States and Princes that are subject to him be very populous and rich they will at sometime or other shake off their Yoke This is it they had in view by inspiring the French King with a design to ruin his Protestant Subjects so manifestly contrary to the true Interests of France and the Kings Honour That same was the reason of their engaging him in a War against so many Potentates all at once to the end they might weaken him and prevent his setting his thoughts upon Enterprizes a thousand times more great glorious and profitable such as that of delivering his own Kingdom from the Slavery of the Pope and so many foolish Superstitions of Popery of which the honest Papists themselves are ashamed and also that they might prevent his pushing on his Conquests on the side of Italy where he might have made War with much more success and advantage than against so many powerful States and strong Towns as he had to rencounter elsewhere Article XVII relates to the Incontinence and Whordom of the Romish Clergy which is a large Field and much might be said upon it but many Authors have enlarg'd on this Head already It 's known to every Body by Experience that the Celibacy of that wretched Clergy is the source of an Universal and Loathsom Impurity among them and that the least Crimes committed by those of that Order are Fornications and Adulteries It 's well enough known that their Divines teach that Sins against Nature of every sort don't render an Ecclesiastick Irregular but Marriage does and that their Casuists do continually cram their Books with Extenuations of those Crimes and add more and more Fewel to the impure Flames by their obscene Questions and the Niceties and Subtleties they have found out to advance and encrease those impure pleasures It is also known that the Pope Authorizes Publick Stews and Protects them in order to draw a considerable Revenue from them but it is not so universally known that to advance the Reputation of that Crime which indeed is not accounted any by the Court of Rome the Popes will not suffer any Women to prostitute themselves unless they be Christians and therefore by order of his Holiness Jewish Pagan and Mahometan Women who have a mind to set up that Trade at Rome must first be Baptized This makes it the more relishing to Anti-christ to think that Jesus Christ is thereby the more offended But seeing the Church oâ—… Rome is already branded in the Holy Scriptures with the Name of Sodom and the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth both upon the account of her Corruâ—…tion and because of her Idolatries Hereâ—…ies and Blasphemies we have no reason to doubt that she is so and therefore I shall not insist upon this as a Vice which is so much favoured and nourished by that Church but only in relation to the infinite number of Mischiefs which it occasions in humane Society It many times happens that the Popish Princes are no better in this respect than the Clergy that hath corrupted them or don 't teach 'em their duty in this matter so that being wholly given up to Unchastity themselves the Subordinate Magistrates and Officers are corrupted by their Example and consequently take no care to suppress that Vice which ruins and lays wast Nations and fills them with all sorts of Crimes for experience teaches us that this one Crime draws all others after
and Religion of Rome and the Happiness and Prosperity of Princes States and People that the said Church and its Religion is false to the highest degree there never having been any Religion in the World so contrary to the good of Mankind It hath no remainders of old Christianity but just so much as is necessary to constitute the Form of Antichristianism by way of Excellence that is to say the most perfect Enmity against Jesus Christ by ascribing to him all sorts of Idolatry and Impiety making him the Author of their Tyranny and Cruelty and feigning an adherence to him like Judas in order to betray him and to dishonour him the more as an Adulterous Woman dishonours her Husband while at the same time they persecute his Followers with the height of Rage and fill the Universe with Blood and Confusion and trample under foot ruin and devour Princes and their Subjects and all in the name of Jesus Christ. The True Religion being come from God who is the Creator and Preserver of Men and Society cannot tend to the Ruin and Destruction of States except we establish with the Manichees two eternal Principles one good and the other evil which is so gross that it deserves no Conâ—…utation If the Romish Religion be good with all those Mischiefs and Disorders which we have seen it produces naturally and necessarily in all Countries where it obtains God who is all Just all Holy and Holiness it self the Preserver of Nations and Mankind and the Author of the Old and New Testament can neither be Just Holy Good Wise True nor the Author and Preserver of Humane Society and the Old and New Testament cannot have proceeded from any other but the wicked Spirit Absit Blasphemia God must likewise if the Religion of the Church of Rome be True be contrary to the Propagation of Mankind which it appears to be one of the favourite Designs of Providence He must also according to them approve of Deceit and Imposture and Cozenage in the Ministers of his Religion and in his Worship he must likewise love Injustice Impiety Perfidiousness Tyranny Laziness Idleness Cruelty Incontinence Robbery Profanity Perjury Hypocrisy Murder and Calumny which are so essential to the Popish Religion and the Roman Clergy I leave it to Divines to treat of the Idolatry Heresie Superstitions c. of this pretended Church which agree so well and are so very becoming to all the rest which we have seen and which cannot indeed be otherwise and are the natural Effects of the Ambition of those Mischievous Creatures as well as the rest for as Saint Chrysostome says well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. that Ambition or a desire of Dominion is the Mother of Heresies and therefore St. Paul reckons Heresie amongst the Works of the Flesh. For the Popes not being able to establish their Authority in the World but by introducing those Practices into the Church and the Disorders of which we have spoke before that ruine all the Popish Nations have been oblig'd entirely to corrupt the Morals and Doctrine thereof and to suppress the Light of the Gospel which would have discover'd their Exorbitanciâ—…s and Iniquity to Mankind and have inclin'd them to oppose their Ambition For this reason they favoured all manner of Ignorance and Vice that they might the better extinguish amongst Men all Fear and Knowledge of God and all Generosity And seeing Men could not live without Religion good or bad they afterwards hurry'd them head-long into all sorts of Idolatry and Impiety If they had not intirely corrupted and falsified the Christian Religion and People had known the Doctrine of the Old and New Testament they would never have submitted to Practices and Customs so contrary to the Publick Good Princes and their Ministers would never have suffered a Religion to be Established among them which is so much contrary to their Rights Arts Husbandry Manufacture Commerce Propagation good Morals and the â—…ublick Peace of Nations Let us but read and consider the Old anâ—… New Testament or only the Ten Commandments of Gods Law we shall find nothing commanded therein but what is Excellent and Worthy of God and wonderfully suited not only to the Temporal good and advantage of every Man in particular but also to that of People and Countries and the whole World in general So that if the great Wits of this Age who pretend to be Men of Parts though they be indeed meer Fools would consider this sedately they would be obliged to own whether they would or not by comparing this with the Conduct of all the Politicians in the World and their Pretended Skill in the Government of their People that there are no oâ—…her Rules of True Policy for regulating of Morals and making every particular Man as profitable as can be to Society but those that the Law of God and the Gospel furnish us with and that every thing which does not agree with that and is not conformable thereunto is nothing else but Errour and Destruction I don't mean only the Political Laws of Moses as they are call'd to distinguish them from the Moral Law under which the Commonwealth of Israel became so flourishing and was Peopled in such a manner as seems Incredible to those that read their History but I mean also and chiefly the Moral Law which certainly contributed still more than the Political Laws of that People tho' but very ill observed to make them so rich and powerful I joyn also thereunto at present the Gospel which not only regulates our Actions but also our Thoughts and Words and hath giv'n us a Model of Incomparable Charity and furnish'd us with new and powerful Motives to this Vertue by revealing to us clearly the saving Grace of God that we may live all in general Princes and People and every one in particular Soberly Justly and Religiously which comprehends all our Duty to God our Neighbours and our selves wherein if we did acquit our selves Men would not only be happy in the Life to come but also in this and Nations would become incomparably more powerful populous and rich than they are For Godliness hath the promises of this Life and that which is to come Which of it self might be enough to convince our Deists many of whom value themselves highly on the account of their sense and ability and think they are able to Govern Kingdoms of the Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures if there were no other proofs of it In that Divine Book alone are the true Rules of Policy to be found All the World agrees in this without thinking on it when they say that Honesty is the best Policy that is to say to observe the Law of God and cause it to be observ'd by others which is no less essentially Necessary for the good of the State than for Salvation But â—…he Church of Rome hath confounded all those Notions as I have already said and having govern'd the World for a long time hath introduced a
or suffered a Religion so ridiculous and ruinous to Sovereigns and their People and so contrary to good Manners to take place and be the Religion of the State This Treatise which proves so evidently and in a Method suited to the Capacity of the most Ignorant and Unlearned Persons thé Falshood and Transcendent Malignity of the Church of Rome and her Religion and which I defie all or any of them ever to answer will hence-forward take off the Mask from all the Hypocritical Clergy of that Church who though they believe nothing of their Religion themselves yet they pretend to be sincerely of her Communion under a Counterfeit Allegation that the Holy Scripture is Obscure and that the said Church is Infallible whereas they are in good earnest retain'd in her Communion meerly by their Love of Ease and the World and a Spirit of Profanity that they may enjoy the Sensual Pleaâ—…ures and Carnal Delights which are the Lot or Inheritance of the Romish Clergy So that henceforward the Popish Clergy can't but be understood ev'n in Popish Countries themâ—…elves to be the greatest Enemies of the State and of Mankind And henceforward we shall have reason also to look upon all the other Papists who can read or have heard those Reasons Disâ—…ours'd of as Impious Profane People without Religion and that Love nothing but the World if they still continue in the unhappy Communion of that great Harlot seeing her Shame and Uncleanness cannot in any wise be conceal'd We shall moreover have more Reason now than ever to look upon all Protestants Great or Small Princes or Subjects that renounce the Reformation or rather Christianity to embrace Popery as declared Enemies of the State seeing Popery is so evidently prov'd to be the Bane of all Countries where it is the obtaining Religion Nor can we in particular entertain any more favourable Opinion of those English â—…rotestants who continue Jacobites though they do not change their Religion This should also make such Protestants blush who entertain or rather would bring others to entertain a good Opinion of the Church of Rome as if it were still a True Church and comparable in any degree to the Church of England or other Reformed Churches whereas there 's no more comparison to be made between them than between Christ and Belial the Temple of God and that of Idols I hope also by this way of writing to deliver the World from abundance of Disputes and Vain Questions about the Popes Supremacy whether he be the Center of Unity the Source and Fountain of Ecclesiastical Ministry that is of the Mission of all Bishops and Ministers to which Pretensions he has no more Right than the Muphti as also about the Insallibility of the Pope and his Church Transubstantiation Invocation and Adoration of Saints and Angels and a thousand Inanimate Creatures in which Vain and Foolish Disputes the Protestants lost abundance of Time in endeavouring to convince the Popish Clergy of the Folly and Falshood of those Opinions which they themselves know to be False as well as we and without Foundation and laugh at us in their sleeve that we should think them so simple as to believe those nonsensical and ridiculous Opinions If they believed their own Doctrines and pretended Mysteries they would not prosaâ—…e them as they do forcing People by a thousand torments to go to their Mass and to swallow down their pretended God of Bread which the Protestants profess publickly to abominate as they do their other Mysteries By this means I hope I have also delivered our Divines from a sort of Necessity they lay under by reason of their Controversies with the Papists to read again and again those Books call'd the Fathers Ecclesiastical History the History of Councils the School-Divines Canonists and Decretals of the Popes c. which are all of 'em Vain Studies for the most part yet they were oblig'd to spend a great deal of time in following them which might have been better improved in applying themselves only to Meditating and searching out the Meaning of the Holy Scriptures which haâ—… been much better understood since the Reformation than in all the Ages preceding and is the only Study in which a Mans whole Life can be profitably spent Hence we may also perceive of how little consequence it is to us in regard of our Controversies with the Church of Rome to know which of the two Histories of the Council of Trent is the Truest and most Faithful viz. that of the Incomparable Fra. Paolo or that of the Profane Candinal Pallavicini call'd of a long time his New Gospel which does not deserve to be read seeing we have a thousand other stronger Proofs of the Impiety of the Court of Rome and their pretended Religion than that History of Father Paolo though excellent in it self as to the Matter of Fact We may very well say that the Council of Constance and Lateran did Evidence and Establish as great Impieties as the Council of Trent diverse Ages before it That which was most fatal to Christianity in that Impious last Council was that all the Idolatries and Heresies of the Church of Rome as also her Tyranny were therein Consecrated and Established in Form of Laws with Anathemas so that if there were any remainder of Christianity in that pretended Church before the Council of Trent which is indeed very much to be doubted it was absolutely destroyed thereby especially if we consider that by Vertue of the Decisions of that pretended Council where the Protestants could not assist because it was not free and all was done therein by Bribes Violence and Treachery against the Protestations of almost all the Princes of Europe even Papists who had demanded a Free Council By Vertue I say of the Decisions of that Profane and Impious Assembly the Pope and his Clergy did afterwards put in practise all the Cruelties and Barbarities imaginable in order to quench the Light of the Gospel in the Blood of the Reformers and did also highly raise the fury of their Inquisition which Tribunal alone proves the absolute Reprobation of the Romish Church better than any thing that was done in the Council of Trent The Church of Rome has retain'd nothing of Christianity but the Name and some small Appearances of it in order to enrich her self by them just as the Rouers of Algiers who put out a Christian Flag when they design to enslave and swallow up the Christians for at the bottom there 's nothing in the Church of Rome but Idolatry Perfidiousness Cruelty and Tyranny It would seem reasonable also that after so many and so evident prooss that the Pope is the greatest Enemy of all the Christian States and of Christianity it self that Protestant Travellers should be more scrupulous to kiss the Popes Foot when they are at Rome For 't is not as a Temporal Prince that the Pope imposes upon them such as Ignominious and Abject Submission but as the Antichrist or Vicar of
And can any Society be more guilty of this than the Church of Rome who orders those of her Communion to violate all the Commandments of God all the Maxims of Christianity and all the Laws of Nature and Society to Convert Men as she calls it to her Religion Can there be any thing more effronted and impudent than that pretended Church when in her Debates with us she asserts also as I have said already her own Infallibility in Pillaging Ruining and laying Desolate those Nations that submit to her Yoke and likewise by denying that there was any Persecution in France or that their pretended Sacrament is Real Bread c. To what purpose is it to Dispute of Religion with such a Church which for several Ages hath impudently Anathematiz'd those who Communicate in both kinds though she own'd at the same time that Jesus Christ commanded we should do so when he instituted that Sacrament and that the Apostles and Primitive Church did the like It exceedingly delights the Popish Clergy so find the Protestants seriously Disputing against their Ridiculous Doctrines for they value themselves upon it as having Wit enough to make all their Extravagancies seem Problematical at least For it requires as much ingenuity to put a fair colour on their Follies as if a Man should undertake to prove that the Devil loves Truth Justice and Holiness or that that which is call'd Truth and Holiness is False and Sinful What delight would not the Devil take to hear Men Disputing whether he is to be Worshipp'd and Religiously Served as well as God This comparison is not too harsh for in many places of the Scripture the Adoration of Creatures both Animated and Inanimated such as the Papists are guilty of is call'd The Adoration of Devils to drink the Cup of Idols is call'd a drinking the Cup of Devils to Sacrifice to Idols as the Papists do when they Invoke and Adore so many Creatures in Heaven or Earth and when they offer the Sacrifice of their Mass to pretended Saints who are dead and meer Idols that 's call'd in Scripture a Sacrisice to Devils the Adoration of Images of Gold and Silver is joyn'd with the Adoration of Devils And several Doctrines which seem to be none of the most Impious of the Romish Church are call'd the Doctrines of Devils such as is their prohibiting their Ecclesiasticks to Marry and eating such and such sorts of Meat c. I mention all this by the by without quoting the places of Scripture because I am no Divine but those who read the Scriptures know what I say is true They know also that the Romish Church is call'd in Scripture by the Names of Sodom Egypt and Babylon as if the Spirit of God had fought for the harshest Terms to denote to us in some degree the infinite Malignity of the Romish Church which is beyond all Expression and Idea Their Clergy I say take a great delight to see our Divines busied in confuting their Opinions as those who undertake the Apology of Folly do when they see others seriously confuting their foolish Arguments If it were not for the Riches of Popery and the Princes and the numbers of People who follow that Beast and false Prophet according to the Prophecies of the New Testament it would appear to the Judgment of the Papists themselves the most Execrable Religion that ever was and I hope there will come a time when all the World will be amazed to understand by History that there hath ever been in the World such a Portentous and Monstrous Religion as that is I promis'd at the beginning of this Work to demonstrate the great Advantages which the King and Kingdom of France might reap by abolishing Popery in order to shew by that single example what Advantage other Popish Nations might reap by the same and the great ones that England and other Protestant Countries enjoy by the Reformation I shall therefore now say that should it please God to put it into the heart of the K. of France who Reigns at present and who of a long time seems to a great many people to be destin'd to do great things to deliver his Kingdom from the Tyranny of the Pope he would reap abundance of more true glory from it before God and Man than he would have done had he been able to conquer the whole World That would be an Action truly Heroick infinitely greater than any thing he hath done hitherto and would be a clearer demonstration to the World that he â—…ath a Great and Noble Soul This return to God to Himself and to his People would compensate for all the past Miscarriages of his Reign and preserve those great Titles which have either been given him by others or assum'd by himself as also the Glory of all the great things that he may have done Then indeed he would deserve the Title of Most Christian King which can never be properly given to a Popish Prince because Popery and Christianity are Antipodes to one another at least as much as darkness is to ligâ—…t It is well known that ever since he ascended the Throne the honester sort of Papists in that Kingdom have entertain'd hopes that this great and glorious Prince would deliver it from the Popes disgraceful Yoke by creating a Patriarch But the Court of Rome by the pernicious Counsels of her Clergy who have sold themselves to Iniquity diverted him from that design by inspiring him with false Ideas of the Glory and Grandeur he would acquire by extirpating the Protestant Religion which they call Heresie out of his Kingdom that is to say to persecute such True Christians as were in the same with all manner of Fury in order to subject them to the Pope instead of making War upon that Grand Enemy of Jesus Christ the greatest that ever he had or can have It must be confessed that the design of establishing a Patriarch in France was very considerable seeing by that means they had design'd to deliver the Kingdom from a Foreign Yoke as ruinous as possible but it must be acknowledged on the other hand that it would be abundantly and more assuredly Glorious and Advantagious to Reform the National Religion entirely from so many frightful Errors in Doctrine and so great a number of Customs and Superstitions that are pernicious to the State and were introduc'd into the same under the favour of that profound darkness which the Tyranny of the Pope hath spread therein and which in their turn maintain and support that Tyranny For if we consider things duly that horrid Darkness and Ignorance could not have been dissipated by the meer Creation of a Patriarch for notwithstanding that most of those ruinous Disorders represented in the forementioned 18 Articles would still have continued because they are the natural Dependances and Necessary Consequences of the other Principles of the Romish Religion which would have remain'd entire notwithstanding the Creation of a Patriarch the Abolition of the Papal
THE Political Mischiefs OF POPERY OR Arguments Demonstrating I. That the Romish Religion Ruines all those Countries where 't is Establish'd II. That it occasions the loss of above 200 Millions of Livres or 16 Millions Sterling per An. to France in particular III. That if Popery were Abolished in France that Kingdom would become incomparably more Rich and Populous and the King's Revenues would Advance above 100 Millions of Livres or 8 Millions Sterling per Annum IV. That it is impossible that France should ever be Re-established whilst Popery is their National Religion By a Person of Quality a Native of France Author of The Desolation of France demonstrated LONDON Sold by J. Harris at the Harrow in Little Britain 1698. TO The Honourable THE House of Commons THIS Treatise which I take the Liberty to Dedicate to your Honours with all imaginable Respect was published sometime ago in French and by several Persons of Great Judgment thought not Unworthy to be presented to your view in English because of the Importance of the Matter and the Profit which they thought might from thence redound to Church and State The design of it is to prove by Political Arguments a Method New and Extraordinary that the Romish Religion is the Falsest of any that hath hitherto appeared in the World because it is the destruction and plague of all Countries where it is Established and Ruins Nations more than any other False Religion that we have yet heard of This I demonstrate by the Instance of France and make it evident that Popery occasions the loss of above 200 Millions of Livres per Annum to that Kingdom whence it follows that even as to Temporals the Kingdom of England reaps unspeakable Advantages by the Reformation which hath delivered her from that Cruel and Unsupportable Yoke I have so much the greater Reason to hope that this Book will not be unacceptable to your Honours because it tends more and more to confirm the Protestant Religion in this Kingdom for the defence of which against the Tyranny of Popery you have on all occasions testified an ardent Zeal The tender Care and great Charity which you have manifested towards the poor Refugees who suffer for the said Religion but above all the Courage and Zeal you have discover'd in this last War by sparing nothing that was necessary for the preservation of the Protestant Interest have made it gloriously appear to all the Nations of the Earth that you value neither your Treasures nor your Blood when there 's a necessity of spending them in defence of your Religion And in effect there was no less at Stake than the loosing or preserving it for your selves and your Posterity nay I may say for the whole Protestant World and together with that you must have lost your precious Liberties and all that is dear to you as Men and Christians That it would please God that by your Genenerous Example and Sage Resolves you may transmit to all succeeding Parliaments that same Prudence Magnanimity and Zeal for the Mainteâ—…ance of the Protestant Religion and your Publick Liberties against all Attempts of Popery is and shall be the constant Prayer of him who is with all possible Submission and profound Respect Your Honours Most humble and most Obedient Servant De Soulignê Grandson to M. Du Plessis Mornay THE PREFACE TO THE READER ABout a Year ago I published a Treatise for the Service of this Nation upon the present State of France Entituled The Desolation of France Demonstrated And there in short I made it evident That Popery was the principal Cause of all the Misery and Ruin that hath befall'n that Kingdom The Book was pleasing to this Nation in general but some were apt to think I had aggravated Matters and that the Condition of France was not so bad as I had represented it Amongst others a certain Gentleman of great Parts was pleased to write a Manuscript upon that Subject full of Wit and diametrically opposite to what I had advanced but did not think fit to publish it The Events that happened since have confirmed in part what I then said whereupon that Ingenious Person hath acknowledged in a curious piece lately published That I had Reason on my side for what I had writ in general as to the Condition of France But diverse other Persons of Worth having wished that I would justifie the Proposition which I had advanced in the same Book viz. That Popery occasions the loss of 200 Millions per An. to France which to them seem'd a Paradox I thought my self obliged to saâ—…isfie their desire To this end I publish'd what I had writ upon that Subject sometime ago in French that by the Iudgment which others gave upon it I might be the better enabled to conjecture what was proper to be Added or Corrected in the English Edition which I nâ—…w present to the Publick with several Additions and had done it sooner but for some Reasons not fit to be here related But I supposed besides that People will have more Inclination to Read such Pieces now the War is over during which they lov'd to hear of nothing but bloody Battles and Princes Dethron'd according to the humour of the Romans in Horace his time as he expresseth it in the following Lines Pugnas exactos Tyrannos Densum humeris bibit aure vulgus I doubt not but some people will say That I write with too much heat against Popery To which I reply 1. That those Persons don't know Popery well enough nor have they ever examined it throughly They are misled by some common Prejudices and judge of that Religion not according to its essential Principles and constant Practise but only by the external Behaviour of some that profess it as Laicks who are sâ—…metimes as well Polished Civilized Learned and Honest in outward appearance as Protestants and here those People stop withâ—…ut consulting the Scripture or considering that the Dâ—…ctrine Morals and Tyranny of the Romish Clergy are more becoming Devils than Men. I confess that they are Men and Women as well as others and that there are People morally Honest among them as there are among Pagans Iews and Mahumetans and even among the Romish Clergy there are sone who are honester as to the matter of Society than their Religiâ—…n obliges them to be But those Gentlemen I speak of think there 's no hurt in their Idolatry nor don 't consider the Mischiefs their Religion does to ail Mankind in general because they think it never did them any so that according to this Maxim of theirs all Religions should be alike for there are Rational and Moral People of all Perswasions 2. I may Reply That there was never any Protestant that had more Reason than my self to write sharply against Popery there having been no Man hitherto who hath studied that Point so thoroughly as I have done in Regard of the infinite Mischiefs which it occasions to States as wiâ—…l appear by the following
Treatise 3. No Man can exceed bounds in expressing his Abhorrence of Popery provided he forbear reflecting upon innocent Persons as I have carefully done for certainly the Malignity of tâ—…e Romish Religion and Clergy goes beyond all Expression or Idea and if I have Reason on my side as it appears I have all honest Papists will think theâ—…selves obliged to me foâ—… disabusing them and if they can convict me of a Mistake I am wiâ—…ling to bear the reproach of it The Wits of this Age will perhaps find fault with my Stile and manner of Expression and complain that it is dull and not genteel for most People now a days look for a fine Stile in Books But besides that my Matter will not admit of a flâ—…urishing Stile nor sallies of Fancy I freely own that I am none of those who are fond of the Title of a fine Wit an Orator or Polite Writer I am concent if I can discover in my rude Method such things as are of the highest Importance and Use to Men and Christians which no body else hath taken notice of And I hope that those who love Solid and Important Discoveries and the Order and Good of the Commonwealth will do me Iustice. Those that have finer Pens tâ—…an I may perhaps Handle this Subject better after me Correct my Faults Supply my Defects and Add to my Discoveries it being a Maxim as true â—…s common Facile est inventis addere For my own part I must confess that I expect more from Works of this naâ—…ure towards the Destruction of Popery than from all the Books of Controversies that shall be writ henceforward Great Men never Read them and for the most part they govern themselves meerly by sensible Reasons and Visible Interest Those that I propose here are Uncontrovertible beyond all Exception and Intelligible to People of the meanest Capacities if they have but patience to hear them so that all that remains to be Controverted is the degree of the Mischief occasioned by Popery and whether it be so great as Ihave represented it or not I have chosen to insist on the Instance of France to prove the infinite Malignity of the Romish Religion rather than on that of any other Popish State because that Country is best known to me and that last year I undertook to make it appear that the Ruin of France proceeded mostly from Popery so that â—…is Treatise is an Appendix of that I am forced contrary to my inclination to represent the Mischiefs of the Government of France but what I say is the Truth and with no design to offend any Man my intention being only to display the desperate Malignity of Popery I own that those who Govern in France are endowed with many greaâ—… and rare Qualities but Popery striveth continually either to Stiste them or to Employ tâ—…em to base and pernicions Ends. There is nothing more certain than that all would do well there were it not for the Popish Clergy and especially the Iesuites whâ—… carry the chief Sway in that Nation I propose â—…o other end to my self in this but to serve the Church of God and my present Country the Kingdom of England in which I have hitherto found some Bread and where I hope I shall not be suffered to starve in time to come Whereas on the contrary I have been robb'd of all in France for serving Goâ—… according to my own Conscience and it 's probable that if I and others â—…ad slaid there till now we should not only have been dâ—…riev'd of our Lives but had the same endeavours us'd to ruine our Souls that have been made use of to ruine those of others And moreover it may be easily evinced that all I say might be of infinite advantage to France if she knew how to make use of it seeing she might thereby become abâ—…ndantly moâ—… Rich Poâ—…ent and Happy than ever she was So that in tâ—… respect I discover a thousand times more Love for France than those do who Govern her or than indâ—…d she discovers for her self THE Translator's Letter TO THE Book-Seller SIR THE following Book being now Traâ—…slated must take its Faâ—…e in the World The Worthy Author hath performed his part to Admiration and as it became a Grandson of the Greâ—…t du Plesfis Mornay though under a much greater Disadvantage than he Thâ—… Grandfather when he wrote his Books which have eterniz'd his Fame was one of the chief of the Protestants of France then a flourishing and formidable â—…ody and abounded in all things necessary for his Undertaking but the Grandson on the contrary hath had much ado to escape with his Life and is cast upon our Island as part of the valuable Wreck of that once renown'd Protestant Church Yet in that forlorn Condition with little encouragement from Men and as little help of Books he hath given us many proofs of his Zeal and Abilities to serve the Protestant Interest His Book Entituled The Desolation of France demonstrated c. met with deservâ—…d Applaufe and if the dignity of the Subject depth of Thought and strength of Argument have any influence upon Mankind there 's no Reason to think that this he now offers to the Publick can meet with less As for the Translation which is my own part you know I have performed it duâ—…ing a hurry of other business so that if it be passable English it is as much as you can expect The Author will bear me witness that I have kept to his Sense and indeed as there is something uncommon in his Thought there is the same in his manner of Expression which is more adapâ—…ed to inform the Judgment than to please the Fancy and therefore to have attempted to set off or rather to disguise by flourishes of Stile what the Author designed should be intelligible to every one would have been an injury to the pattern he hath set me I have nothing to add but that as in the last Century God raised up many great Men â—…o discover the False Doctrines of the Râ—…mish Church which made such People as had any due regard to their Salvation to come out of her Who knows â—…ut that he same Providence by raising up others to disâ—…over the Pâ—…li ical Mischiefs of that Religion to Kingdoms and States mâ—…y thereby stir up the Kings and Princes of thâ—… Earth to hate the Whore and burn her flesh with fire That this mâ—…y be one of the effects of this Book the best if nâ—…t the only Treaâ—…ise that ever was writ upon the Subject and that it maâ—… Aâ—…swer your Expectâ—…tion and Procure the Author that Reâ—…pect and Esteem which he deserves â—…rom all good Men is the unfeigned wish and hearty desire of Your humble Servant G. Ridpath ERRATA PAg. 2. line 27. less read more p. 56. l. 34. r. Flesh-meat p. 59. l. 27. r. bought in Lent p. 60. l. 7. VIOLENC r. Violence p. 113. l. 5. r. But when shall they be able to do it p.
a part of the Kingdom than a Cancer is which devours the Body that it seizes on or thaâ—… a Palsie which renders diverse of the Members of the Body useless can be a part of the same and this is so much the truer that the Clergy as I have already said acknowledge the Authority of and have sworn Obedience to another Sovereign Prince who must of necessity be a natural Enemy to France because of the Usurpations that he hath made and designs to make oâ—… that Kingdom in which he cannot maintain his old nor make new Usurpations without eâ—…feebling the Kingdom from time to time proportionably as he sees its power and the Authority of the Kings Increase and to this end he serves himself of his Ecclesiasticks who under a Cloak of Religion have attain'd a mighty Credit and are maintain'd on the Fat of the Land at the Expence of others and that which is a wonderful thing have their Generals in great number and Garrisons in all Ciâ—…ies consisting of diverse Regiments of diâ—…erent Liveries that is to say the different Orders of Ecclesiasticks who under Spiritual Pretences enjoy the Temporal Estates of the Kingdom keep Princes and Subjects under the Popes Yoke and so Constitute one formidable Empire within another Imperium in Imperio It is certain tho' it can't be denied that the Taxes in France are excessive that if the Clergy had contributed proportionably to their Revenues with the rest of the People the Kingdom had been worth one half more than 't is except the King had augmented the Taxes in proportion and in that case he would have almost doubled his Revenues If the Clergy had paid the share they ought to have paid of the Impositions the Kingdom would have been much less harras'd and ruin'd than it is so that this Article reaches a great way throughout the Kingdom That we may the better understand it suppose that any Man has two Slaves or two Carriage-Horses of equal streâ—…gth in his possession capable of working or carrying considerable burdens it is certain if he work them equally and load neither of them above their ability that both of them may hold out a long time but if he overcharge the one excessively to ease the other that which is overloaded cannot hold out but must languish by degrees and become unable either for Work or Carriage except it be little or nothing and does quickly die Suppose then that it does not hold out above half the time that it might have done had it been treated as the other or that it does not work half so much as it might have done otherwise there is one half lost or if it hold not out or work not above a 4th part that is three fourths loss Thus it is with the people of France they are much less profitable to the King and State than they would be if the Clergy bore one hâ—…lf of the charge of the Kingdom as they ought to do I believe this Article may amount to forty or fifty Millions per Annum for besides the Taxes from whence they are exempted they are not subject as I have already said to any of the Vexations which are committed in the Levying 'em nor to quartering of Soldiers nor are they pillag'd by Civil Officers Farmers general and their Underlings but on the contrary they pillage them Article XV relates to their Practice and Morals I mean those of the Clergy this occasions an infinite number of Crimes which are committed without Scruple nay they think they merit Heaven by the Commission of them for they Act them by a Principle of Conscience The Mischiefs which they have committed on the Account of their pretended Religion are to be ascribed to their Morals They have Consecrated and Canoniz'd Perfidiousness Cruelty Murther the Ravishing of Matrons and Virgins and the Stealing of Children and Estates It is not easie to compute this loss in Money but all people of Sense must needs perceive that this does ruin or very much incommode Trade Arts Manufactures Navigation and all sort of Handy-labour for the Persecutors as well as the Persecuted suffer incredibly thereby without mentioning the value of the Men and Women whom they Massacre and Kill in a hundr'd manners either all at once or gradually This doth moreover occasion a general and incredible Corruption in the whole Nation for people perceiving that the Crimes committed on the account of Religion which of all things in the World ought to be the most Sacred are not punish'd but applauded and rewarded by the Clergy or at their Suggestion by those who govern them they readily conclude that if it be lawful to Commit such things for the good of the Church it is more lawful to Commit them for other ends By this means the people become desperately wicked at the heart and if they were not afraid of Secular Justice would become a meer Society of Thieves and Robbers That we may the better understand this let us suppose that the Civil Magistrate should approve Crimes in the same manner promise Heaven to the Criminals and reward them also in this life as the Clergy have compensated those who were the most Zealous in committing all sorts of Cruelties and Indignities against the Protestants I say if the Civil Government should thus countenance the Destruction of Honest and Substantial Men all humane Society must be forthwith dissolv'd and unable to subsist Or otherwise let us suppose that a multitude of Villains should prevail over Mankind and commit all imaginable crimes out of a principle of Conscience in order to oblige Men to say that they believe an Onion a Tree a Stone or an Horse are adorable and deserve the Worship which the Papists call Dulia and Latria as well as God and force them in effect to Invoke and Adore those Creatures and that this numerous multitude of Villains should call themselves Infallible at the same time and by all sorts of Cruelty and Torture force people to acknowledge them as such and that none durst oppose them on pain of losing their Liberty Estate Honour and Life what unspeakable disorders would this occasion in a State For honest Men who would not be guilty of such unbecoming unmanly practices should be outragiously persecuted put to death by their Orders and the multitude would think themselves oblig'd to take party with those Villains to avoid their own Ruin and for fear of becoming suspected to those Wretches become as wicked themselves But the Divine Providence hath not permitted humane Justice to be deprav'd to that height as is the Religion of the Church of Rome which is abundantly more wicked than the most wicked of Men and herein it is directly opposite to other Religions which tho' they be wicked in themselves do nevertheless teach better Morals than those of the people that profess them whereas on the contrary the Laicks of â—…he Church of Rome are more honest and less Villainous than their Religion I think it
and therefore ought to be accounted Sacred by all Men for that very reason It does as much as can be to frustrate the End which God propos'd by the Formation and distinction of two Sexes viz. the Propagation and Multiplication of Mankind by means of Marriage and therefore he did not give two Wives to Adam nor two Husbands to Eve Those who are addicted to this Vice have no regard for one another but only with respect to their impure Inclinations and if they don't think them as bad as themselves they do all they can to make them so and to corrupt them by all Methods either directly by themselves or indirectly by others hence it comes to pass that we see every day so many handsom Women of good natural parts and many times of good Families thus seduced and drawn away which is a horrid Mischief for which those who have any remainder of Conscience left cannot but grieve In the esteem of those Debauchees I say who assoon as they immerse ' emselves in those Villanies lose all Sense of Religion and of the Excellency of Man and the Nobility of his Extraction Mankind is valued but little above Dogs and Swine which they see Engender much in the same manner as they do themselves that is to say indifferently with all of their Species that they meet according to their brutal Appetites without reason or consideration without any regard to God the Good of Society or the Honour and Dignity of Man so that they corrupt themselves in what they know naturally as Bruit Beasts as the Holy Scriptures express it Hence it is that in Society there is so little Charity Friendship and Respect for one another a debauch'd Man looks upon all Women to be tained with this Vice Women commonly shew less disrespect for debauched Men than Men shew for Lewd Women yet at the same time they would have more esteem for those that they believe to be free from that Vice which renders those that are tainted with it Contemptible even to persons that are most Vicious themselves tho' they make use of them for asswaging their brutish Lust and hence it comes that they do readily call all Women Whores and Bitches and Children Sons of Whores or Young Dogs which occasions many Quarrels Law-Suits and Insolences yea sometimes Murthers It is not to be expressed what prejudice this Vice does to Commerce in those Countries which lye Commodiously for Traffick by Sea and therefore are oblig'd to take more care therein than others because Plenty produces nourishes and entertains this Vice if the Magistrates be not persons of Honour love the Publick Welfare and keep good Discipline and the Consequences of it are more mischievous in such Countries than elsewhere from this it was that Plato said Mare improbitatis Magister the Sea teaches Wickedness and hence also it was that the Poets feign'd that Venus was bred of the Froth of the Sea and that a Latine Poet express'd it thus Hispanae Navis Magister dedecorum pretiosus Emptâ—…r implying that Masters of Ships spare no cost to debauch Women There is nothing more contrary to the growth of a State either in number of Men or Riches than to suffer Whordom to go unpunished It troubles me to think that amongst so many able Men who have treated of Commerce and of what is contrary to it none of them have observ'd that this Vice is one of the chief Obstacles to the Prosperity of a Nation I know a State to which I wish well from the bottom of my heart to which it occasions the loss of diverse Millions per Annum which I could eaâ—…ily demonstrate and am very certain that if they would give necessary Orders in good earnest for preventing it which would not be so difficult to do neither as is generally believed at least for the greatest part there would be abundance of more people than there are and Trade Arts Manufacture and Agriculture would thrive there a great deal better than they do Men Women and Children would be abundantly more healthsul and fewer of them would in comparison die of Consumptions This Vice must be abundantly greater in Popish than Protestant Countries because the Popish Clergy favour it by their Principles Auricular Confession their own Example and that of the Court of Româ—… as also by the easiness of Absolution in Confessing themselves to a Priest who is himself immers'd in such Impurities or by giving him Money a good Dinner or hireing him to say Masses c. The Unchastity of all their Clergy Male and Female caused by their Celibacy and Execrable Morals as well as by the Example of the chiefest Prelates at Rome is a very great prejudice to Popish Kingdoms which it fills with Adulteries Fornication Incests and Crimes yet more Execrable yea with Millions of open and hidden Crimes as Abortions Murthers and such like for the Clergy who are guilty of those Vices make no scruple so they can but conceal them to murther both the Mothers and Children As to Protestant States it 's well enough known that they are infected with this Vice by the Neighbourhood of the Popish ones and it 's confidently asserted not without ground that in the two last Reigns all those sorts of Disorders were favoured in England for the better and more easie Establishment of Popery Article XVIII relates to the Drunkenness of the Popish Clergy which as well as their Incontinence is chargeable upon the Morals of their Church for the greatest part of the Clergy-men except some Bishops and Curates in the biggest Towns and some particular Men in Monastries are Drunkards and by their Example the Common People do mostly become so This Vice does likewise occasion abundance of Mischief tho' much less than the other as I could here demonstrate contrary to the opinion of some Men if it were proper The truth of this appears by this one thing viz. that the Popish Clergy are unchaste by Principle and in a manner of necessity because Marriage is forbid to them that so they may have less dependance upon the State and may be more profitable and apply themselves with the greater Application to the Interests of the Pope which they call the Church And besides this Libertinage which pleases them infinitely makes them love the Pope and his Religion which grants them so great Priviledges whereof others are depriv'd viz. that they may enjoy Women without any trouble as it 's said to be practis'd by the Republick of Venice who to assure themselves of the Fidelity of their Clergy grant them a greater Liberty in this matter than is allowed in other parts of Italy Now one may easily Judge what disorders this Example of the Libertinage of the Clergy must necessarily produce in Society and what Ravage they make of the Womens Chastity by their Auricular Confession and Absolution and what influence those things have upon the Women and Maids who are by this means delivered into their hands as a prey
Popes was the cause of the Mahometans subduing part of Europe and that the Empire of the East of Christian became Mahometan The Ambition of the Popes hath also torn in pieces the Empire of the West and spoil'd its Emperours of part of their Dominions even of Rome it self and made them their Vassals and Slaves in a manner so as to tread upon them in person sometimes with Impunity so that by the Ambition of the Roman Clergy and their Popes the Empire is no other than a meer Shadow of what it formerly was It is very well known that by the perfidiousness of the Pope the Turks rendred themselves Masters of Hungary the Court of Rome having oblig'd the unhappy King Uladislaus to violate his Faith and break the Treaty he had made with them which Violation was followed by a Total Defeat of that King at the Battle of Varnâ—… and the loss of the Kingdom which the Infidels seized upon as may be seen by the following Distich wherein that â—…nfortunate King is made to complain that the Pope and his Clergy had ruined him by their perfidious Counsel Me nisi Pontifices jussissent rumpere faedus Non ferret Scythicum Pannonis or a jugum May be thus English'd By Popes command had I my League ne'r broke Pannonia ne'r had felt the Scythian Yoke For above 1000 years the Popes and their Clergy have been constantly aspiring to the Universal Monarchy and have made it their constant business to sow Divisions betwixt Christian Princes and their Subjects and to kindle War amongst those Princes to weaken them by one another that so they might bring them all under their Yoke By this method they make themselves Arbitrators and Masters of their differences and always cast the Ballance on the side of their own Interest without any regard to Honour or Justice and that not by Armies or open Force but by the Intrigues of Confessors Monks and Prostitutes or as the Scripture represents it by their Cups Draughts and Witchcrasts as becometh the great Prostitute that hath made the Kings and the Princes of the Earth drunk with the VVine of her Fornication They still foment now as formerly and without ceasing Divisions and Factions in all the Countries of Europe yea even amongst Protestants by their secret Emissaries whom they imploy in great numbers in order to bring them gradually under their Yoke one way or other by a Million of Crimes A famous Spanish Polititian who knew their Game well enough said that there is not so much as a Sword drawn noâ—… a Pike carried in Christendom that hath not been sharpen'd in the Forge of Rome No se Saca espada non se arbola pica cuyo el hierro no estuviere aguzado en la fraga de Roma They had the greatest share in the War newly concluded and made their profit on 't tho' the simple Vulgar are apt to think they have no hand in it No Body is Ignorant of the cunning Invention made use of by the Popes formerly to bring part of Asia under their Yoke without putting themselves to any charge and at the same time to increase their own Authority and Conquests in Europe at the expence of the Christian Princes whom they dispoil'd Their way was to perswade those poor innocent Princes to go in Person to Asia with great Fleets and Navies to chase the Mahometans from that Country for which end the Popes call'd it the Holy Land as if that Land had been holier than another after having put the Lord Jesus Christ to death And while those Princes were in that Country with numerous Armies of their Subjects by which they dispeopled their own Dominions the Popes endeavoured to make themselves Masters of tâ—…e same or at least suck'd their Subjects to the bone and drain'd out all the Riches of their Countries by means of their Clergy France and England suffered very much by this means and we have no reason to doubt but they would have been much more rich and populous had it not been for that All the World knows that the Romish Clergy or Church hath destroyed or caus'd to be destroyed by their Orders more people â—…nder pretence of Religion than all the Heathen Emperours and more than all the Nations of the habitable World have done upon that account since the Creation of the World France and England can testifie this from sad Experience It 's well enough known that their Councils that is to say the Luminaries of Popery the most enlightned and sincere part of the Church of Rome a mark of the Absolute Reprobation of that Church for several Ages It 's well enough known I say that those Councils have establish'd it as a Maxim or Rule for several Ages past that they are not oblig'd to keep Faith with Hereticks and that Princes are obliged on pain of eternal Damnation and the loss of their Dominions to destroy them Whence it comes to pass that not only all the Murders Robberies Perjuries Rapes and all Crimes in general are permitted but commanded against all those Christians who oppose themselves never so little to the Interests Tyranny or Ambition of the Pope and Clergy which Sentence doth à fortiori include also Jews Pagans and Mahometans when the Church of Rome shall think meet seeing it is clear that they ought not to have any more favour shew'd them than those they call Hereticks From those Principles have proceeded so many Massacres Persecutions Violations of Faith Religious Wars Croisades and Leagues to extirpate those who were called Hereticks Hence also proceeded many Assassinations of Princes and Attempts upon their Lives which France hath often had experience of hence came the Civil Wars in England and Ireland the burning of Towns and Conspiracies against the State One of the Kings of France was formerly whipp'd at Rome in the Person of his Ambassador by the Popes Order which is the highest Ignominy that can be done to a Nation or Prince And if we have not fresh and daily Instances from their Church of such decrees as those of the Councils of Constance and Latâ—…ran or such remarkable demonstrations of their Pride and Cruelty it 's not because they have chang'd their Principles but because there is no opportunity offers to do it with safety and for the advantage of the Pope It is not want of good will The Habit remains still though the Acts are not continually exerted A Shoemaker says Horace though he lays aside all the Tools of his Art and shuts up his Shop is a Shoemaker still Alfenus vafer omni Abjecto instrumento Artis clausâque tabernâ—… Sutor erat c. We see what that Church hath occasion'd to be done lately and does yet at present in France against the Protestants and what they would have done in England and for their Inquisition it continues still the same It may be clearly seen by all those proofs which we have produc'd of the Natural and Necessary Opposition there is betwixt the Church
this case Ambitious Persons would reason with themselves much after the same manner as he did formerly who said Si violandum est jus regnandi causa violandum est If it be lawful to break through Law in any case it is lawful to do it for a Crown and a Scepter The Heart of Man is universally and at all times the same Let us suppose that some Ambitious Prelate had Authority enough among the Proâ—…estants to Form such Designs as were those of the Bishops of Rome to raise themselves in the first place above other Bishops and Priests and afterwards over Princes and People they would go near to make use of the same methods as the Popes and their Clergy did and as they should receive opposition from time to time from those that would endeavour to restrain and tie them up to the Laws of God and Men if they and their Successors should overcome those Oppositions they would by degrees suppress the Holy Scripture overâ—…throw all Morality and introduce an Universal dissoluteness of Manners so that the Protestant or Christian Religion without changing its Name for that to be sure they would not do should become in the first place like that of the Church of Rome in Government and Discipline and next in Doctrine and Worship that is to say a perfect Brigandage or Robbery and that Protesâ—…ant Pope should become a Tyrant over Protestant Princes and People by calling himself their Common Father and should likewise become Master of the States Honour and Repose of their Subjects without any hopes of Reformation but by a Miracle wrought by the Almighty They would also Establish an Inquisition and infinitely multiply the number of their Ecclesiasticks that is to say their Guard-men and would neither spare Perfidiousness nor Cruelty to accomplish their Designs and to maintain and augment their Authority They would pretend to Infallibility as well as the Pope and claim as much Right as he to change the Law of God and to make that sin which is no sin and sin to be accounted Duty They would pretend to all power in Heaven and Earth and would labour incessantly to divide Protestant Princes amongst themselves and with their Subjects weaken them by all means that they might keep a curb in their Jaws and hold them in dependance upon themselves They would raise wars for them without number massacre those that should oppose their Impieties and Ambition from time to time nor would they be wanting if they found it necessary to have Orders of Clergy-men resembling the Monks and Jesuites or worse than those if they could under other Names and would likewise Assemble Councils wherein they would Establish and Make Decrees like those of Constance Lateran and Trent Et totus Orbis Protestantium miraretur se esse Antichristianum so that the whole Protestant World should wonder at its being become Anti-christian So that while the Pope and the Romish Clergy are possessed of a power of Dominion and Rule and that they will always be unless God stir up some great and potenâ—… Prince to bring that rascally Crew to themselves as I hope he will but until that time they must always of necessity be cruel and perfidious by their Principles and Maxims and pretend to Infallibility in their Doctrine Worship and Moralâ—… because they have neither Titles nor Foundation for their Usurpations which are palpable and gross for if they had they could no more be charg'd with Usurpations and Injustice and if they were not Usurpers they would not maintain their own Rights nor Gods as they impiously pretend by committing so many Crimes and pretending to Infallibility with so much Impudence as they do when they find no other way to colour their Impieties There 's none but unjust and barbarous Usurpers who can make use of those pretences as they do The most clear sighted Protestants ordinarily look upon the Church of Rome in regard of its Doctrine as a Medly of Idolatries Heresies Superstitions Errors and Blasphemous Doctrines and in regard of their Morals as a Composition of Perfidiousness and Infideliy Cruelty Impurity and Pride and they Judge that all those together constitute and make up the esâ—…ential Form of that Church and they are not deceived But at the bottom it is Ambition alone as I have said which hath produc'd and maintains all those things and is the Soul of their Church One proof of this is that there 's no Men who do less believe their Doctâ—…ines than the Men of Parts amongst themselves who govern all but chiefly the Court of Rome In their Civil Conversation among other Men they don't appear much worse than they as has been said already and there 's no room to doubt but if the Pope and his Clergy could be assur'd by the Orthodox Church that in case they would embrace the pure Christian Religion of the Protestants they should have the same Dominion and Power over the Kings Princes and People of the Earth and the same Revenues Dignities and Means to advance all those who adhere to them there 's no doubt I say but they would prefer it how wicked so ever they may be because it is more conformable to Scripture Reason and the Natural Light of Conscience which oft pinches them notwithstanding their profound and inveterate Habits of Error and Crimes I confess that it were impossible for their Tyranny and Authority to subsist with that Religion which is pure Christianity and the only Religion becoming the Excellence of Man and therefore they were obliged to root it out of the Church of Rome that so they might reign in it But they have at least so much Equity that Men of Sense among them who would perswade others to embrace their Communion don't demand that they should believe their Doctrines which they have no esteem of themselves but only that they should go to their Church and for other things permit them to believe as they please It must then be purely and simply Ambition and a desire of Dominion which hath ruined the Church of Rome or the Clergy and which continues to ruin them still take but that Vice away from them their Tyranny will cease Christian Morality would reassume its place they would neither be Idolatrous Superstitious nor Heritical Cruel nor Perfidious Transubstantiation and the Infallibility of their Church and all other monstrous Opinions would fall their Discipline Observations Customs and Usages so pernicious to the Welâ—…are of People and Countries should be abolish'd and we sâ—…ould see Industry Arts Manufactures Commerce Agriculture Sciences flourish every where and their Clergy themselves would become Christians upon the matter and honest Men. Though there never was any Religion in the World more contrary to the Gospel and Reason than that of the Pope in regard of Doctrine and Worship yet I will adventure to say that it is still more detestable in regard of the Tyranny which is exercised therein by the Pope and his Clergy For the better understanding
of this I maintain that if it were possible there were but two Religions in the World one whose Doctrine was well Founded on Scripture and Reason but the Morals Impious and the Maxims of Ecclesiastical Government Tyrannical and tending to the Oppression and Ruin of Princes and their Dominions And that on the contrary the Doctrines of the other were Abominable contrary to Scripture and good Sense but its Moral Practise Good and its Ecclesiastical Government tending to the advantage of Sovereigns and their People to make Countries Flourishing Rich and Populous and maintaining Peace and Tranquillity in them There 's no Man of Sense but would confess the second Religion would deserve the Protection of the State better than the first So that if the Protestants should become Idolaters and Hereticks teach Transubstantiation Purgatory the Invocation of Saints Adoration of the half of one of the two Sacraments and that of Statues and Images or such like Doctrines their Morals and Maxims of Ecclesiastical Government remaining the same as they are at present that is to say allowing to God Princes and People all their Rights as to what relates to Morals and the Government of Church and State their Religion should better deserve the Protection of the State than that of a Church which should detest Transubstantiation Purgatory c. and at the same time by their Maxims Observations and Tyranny fill the World with Desolation and Vice and ruin Princes and People as the Roman Religion does So that it appears hence that the Church and Religion of Rome are yet more abominable by their Tyranny and Morals than by their Idolatries and Errors The Pope and his Clergy are more Antichristian by the Tyranny that they Exercise over the Souls and Bodies the Estates Honour Life and Repose of Princes and People than in regard of their Speculative Impieties and Worship But I confess that the one cannot be without the other Where there is such an horrible Tyranny Religion cannot long remain pure in Doctrine and where the Opinions are so monstrous their Morality and Church-Government must needs become detestable and tend to the ruin of States I confess that in relation to God it is equally impossible according to Scripture for private Idolaters and those that practise a Morality destructive to Society to be sav'd So that in that respect the matter is equal but it is not so with reference to the State Experience teaches us that there are Idolaters who are Morally Honest as to Dealings betwixt Man and Man and good Country-men who deserve the Protection of Magistrates and that there are ill Men amongst the Orthodox who deserve to be cut off or chastised severely as Murderers Fornicators Robbers c. As to Sovereigns and all Magistrates the good of the State is always preferr'd to that of the Church as Nature in order preceeds Grace and the Light of Reason that of Faith For the Church cannot subsist without the State but the State can subsist well enough without the Church hence it follows that Disturbers of the Publick Peace and those that plunder and ruin People deserve better to be cut off or banished out of a Country than Idolaters or Hereticks that don't trouble the State And that the Church of Rome who is guilty of both that is to say ruines States and is Idolatrous deserves more to be destroyed upon the former account than the latter History informs us that the Spirit of Domineering and Tyranny began first in the Church of Rome after which Vice and Ignorance and next Idolatries and Herefies infected her in Crouds and destroyed all her Doctrine and Worship For the Popes did first attack the Temporal Rights of Sovereigns and People before they made any attempt upon the Publick Worship Had they been chastis'd for their Ambition and kept undâ—… as they ought the Christian Religion had not been destroyed utterly among 'em and People and Princes would have preserved their Rights It is the Natural Order of the Ambition of the Popes and their Clergy that in order to promote their Designs upon the Temporal Rights of Sovereigns and People they make use of what they call Spiritual Methods to attain their end Whence it follows that Sovereigns ought to abhor them more for their Ambition and Tyranny than for their Doctrine tho' the one cannot subsist without the other and they ought not to delay one moment the exterminating of such a Religion out of their Dominions when it is so clearly demonstrated to 'em as I have done that it lays them desolate in such a terrible and amazing manner After so great a number of Political Reasons which so manifestly prove the falshood of the Romish Religion the Papists who henceâ—…orth continue obstinate must find out other Methoâ—…s to palliate it and not apply themselves to refuâ—…e all our Arguments from Scripture Reason and Sense against their Opinions and pretended Mysteries but to prove if they can that all the reâ—…sons I have broâ—…ght agâ—…inst them are false and that the XVIII Articles by which I â—…ave made it appear that they lay Countries desolate are supposititious or of â—…o 〈◊〉 But tho' they should be able to do it They will not find it easie to 〈◊〉 themselves from the Argumenâ—…s 〈◊〉 â—…aid dowâ—… which are so 〈◊〉 and obviouâ—… to Sense It will â—…e to no purpose for them to alledge the Iâ—…fallibility of their Church as they have successfully done to maintain Transubstantiation for here their Sophisms câ—…nnot so much as impose upon a Servant-Maid who of her self may Judge of my Arguments which relate to matters of Fact that they themselves touch and manage are visible and plain and proportioned to the Capacities of the most Ignorant and which may all be examined to the bottom in a very little time There 's no need of understanding Hebrew Greek or Latine for this nor Divinity and Philosophy nor so much as to read the Old and New Testament or those they call the Fathers The discussion of this Point is not â—…edious and it will be to no purpose for the Papists to alledge Prescription in this no more than it would be for a Troop of Highway-men Pickpockets or False Coiners who had been accâ—…stomed to the cutting of Purses without being taken Notice of or had for a long time cheated and ruined a senseless People who did not observe that their Money was Couâ—…terfeited The Mischiefs are too great and maniâ—…est not to have a remedy attempted assoon as possible when ever they are discovered otherwise Princes and People who are so much concern'd therein must have lost their Senses It appears plain by what I have said that so many Peâ—…sons who for diverse Ages have pass'd â—…or greaâ—… Ministers of State and Politicians in Popisâ—… States and Kingdoms were in reality nothing but on the contrary mean spirited Men that either did not perceive those Disorders of opery which are obvious to every Mans view nay as I may say leap on his Face
Authority only being excepted Besides such an Inconsiderable Change as this the rest of the Popish Religion being continued would neither have been Advantagious for the Salvation of Men Glorious to the King nor Profitable to the State For Idolatry and the other Heresies remaining there would have always been an Impossibility of being saved in that Religion and the greatest part of the Oppression attending it being also continued the people would have had but little relief by it nor would the King of France have reap'd the fourth part of the Advantage which he might expect from a thorough Reformation Neither is it to be thought that so small a change could be solid and durable for at the bottom it 's certain that it 's the Popes who have made the Religion of the Church of Rome to be what it is either by corrupting the Doctrine of the Apostles or Adopting the Idolatry and Worship of the Pagans or by Forging now and then new Articles of Faith for their own private Interest and that of their Clergy And it is certain that their Religion is founded on no other Authority but that of the Pope and therefore Cardinal Pallavicini had reason to say in his History of the Council of Trent call'd by some his New Gospel Tutti gli Articoli della Religione unitamente considerati non hanno altra certezza prossima ed immediata che l'Autorita del summo Pontefice i. e. that all the Articles of their Religion considered together have no other certain and immediate foundation but the Authority of the Pope So that if we reason consequentially from this Principle the Popish Religion cannot be preserved but by the preservation of the Papal Authority from which it derives all the Authority that gives it any value in the eyes of the World It is also probable that if a greater Reformation were not made immediately upon the Creation of a Patriarch the Popes Authority would be again Re-established â—…or he should without doubt have always a great Party in the Kingdom under the â—…avour of that horrid Darkness which must have continued therein if it had been no other but for the Jesuites and Monks who would be constantly Jealous that the Patriarch would pair their Nails One Party of the Nation would always have entertained a Correspondence with the Popes Friends being united by their Communion in the same Religion excepting the Opinion of the Authority of the Pope tho'some would have made semblance of rejecting that too for fear of their King yet they would effectually endeavour the Re-establishment of the Papal Authority And so much the more that the Court of Rome would have been prodigal of their Treasures and have spar'd nothing on this occasion to maintain their Tyranny And moreover iâ—… the King who had created a Patriarch should come to have died before the Reformation should have been compleated and a Prince of less Authority had Succeeded there would have been an end of the Patriarchat This erecting of a Patriarch would not have pleased the Popish Princes neither so that they would have joyned with the Pope and the Party that adher'd to him in France and would either have stirr'd up Civil Wars there or have made War upon it themselves Nor could this imperfect Change have satisfied the Protestant Princes who would always have look'd upon France as Idolatrous and Heretical and ready to return again to wallow in that mire whence she had made some Effort to get out and begun to lift up her head so that they would never put any confidence in her It should happen to France in this case as it always happens to Neutral Princes in the quarrels of Neighbouring Potentates their Neutrality does not reconcile them with their Enemies nor yet procure â—…hem any Friends Neutralitas neâ—… Amicos pariâ—… neque Inimicos tollit saith Tacitus In such cases we must be either t'one or t'other and avoid that which is call'd Consilia Media Such a faint Reformation would have serv'd for nought but to awake all the Malice of the Pope and the Mischievous Ecclesiasticks of the Kingdom who would have reap'd the same Advantage from this that a strong Man does from the Impotent Menaces of his Enemy which serve only to put him on his Guard and set him at Work to prevent the threatned Mischief according to the Italian Proverb Le Minaccie sono l'Armi del Minacciaâ—…o Threats sound an allarum to the threatned Man to take Arms either to deâ—…end himself or offend his Enemy as occasion requires Whereas if the King of France did not do things by halves but should together with his Subjects renounce all at once the false Doctrines Worship Superstition and Abuses of the Church of Rome and Free his Kingdom from that Tyranny by Establishing the light of the Gospel to enlighten his People amongst whom it is hid under a Candlestick he might assure himself that such an Evangelical Reformation would be followed by unexpressible Advantages to himself and his People both in regard of Temporal and Eternal Life Some may perhaps object that such a compleâ—…t and sudden Reformation must needs shake the Kingdom of France and that there 's no passing so suddenly from one Extream to another without danger that is to say from the thick darkness of Popery to the bright shining light of Christianity and therefore it muâ—…t be done gradually as our Saviour did when he restored sight to the Blind they did not at first see all Objects disâ—…inctly but Men walking like Trees and that God does not make us pass from the dark night to the bright day but by the dawning of the Morning and therefore according to that Wisdom it were proper first to Establish a Patriarchat in France before they endeavour a Gospel-Reformation To this I answer That as to the Authority of the Pope which the Creation of a Patriarch would have over-turn'd all the Parliaments of France and amongst others that of Paris all Persons of Learning Sense and Honesty ev'n amongst the Clergy themselves do not acknowledge that Authority in their heart nay they despise all other Doctrines contrary to those of the Protestants as being evidently false or unprofitable The Kings Authority and the Respect or Fear that they have for him are the only Ties which retain them lest he should destroy or ruine them if they did â—…urn Protestants They have had many Doctors of a long time who have opened their Eyes in regard of the Popes Authority and diverse other such Doctrines as the Chancellor Gerson and the Drs. Richer de Launoy the Author of the Book call'd Les Moyens Seurs Honnetes Sure and Honest Methods Elias Du Pin and many other without mentioning the Books of Protestants and besides the Jansenists the New Philosophy and the present Quietists do something of that Nature And there 's ground of hope that all the Nation will be moved at the infinite number of Mischiess which Popery occasions in the State when they are