A Preliminary Discourse to this Fourth Volume . The History of John Wickliff , his Parts , Doctrines , &c. with a brief Draught of the Complexion of those Times .

IN our three foregoing Tomes we have trac'd the Roman Lucifer from his very Cradle , and pursued him in all his subtle windings , 'till we found him mounted aloft , exalting himself above all that is called God , disposing of the Crowns and Kingdoms of Princes at his pleasure , and trampling their Royal Necks under his audacious Feet . We have also particularly considered the Rise and Progress of the Apostacy , under what pretences the respective Errors , Superstitions , and Idolatries crept into the Church , and how they were entertain'd and promoted from time to time by the Pope and his Clergy , in order to gratifie their own Pride and Covetousness .

Thus have we follow'd the Thread of the Story to the 14 th Century , at which time it pleased God to raise up Wickliff an English-man , who , more loud than any before him , sounded the Alarm-Bell of Reformation , and by continual preaching and writing against the lazy Friars and their Fopperies , that the Impression ; ( altho his wicked Enemies burnt the good Man's Bones long after ) made in the Minds of Men by his Doctrines , could never be totally effaced , but remain'd more or less in several parts , even 'till Luther's days : And indeed it wa● high time for some such burning and shining Light to arise , for 〈◊〉 all the World sat in darkness , and the shadow of Death . The name of Christianity was left , but scarce any thing else ; the true ●nd lively Doctrine of our Blessed Lord and Saviour , was for the most part as unknown to those who call'd themselves after his Name , as to the Heathen themselves . The vileness of our natural State , the strength and turpitude of Sin , the end and use of the Law , the Offices of Christ , and the Holy Ghost the Comforter , the Nature of Faith , the true works of Grace , and liberty of a Christian Man , &c. were Points neither understood , nor enquired after . There was rarely a word of Scripture mentioned ; Divinity and Learning were both confin'd close Prisoners to the Schools , and there miserably perverted into Cobweb Notions , and wrangling Sophistry . Instead of reading the Evangelists and St. Paul , Men spent their time and Brains in studying the crabbed perplexities of Scotus , and the Master of the Sentences , and the World forsaking the vivifying Power of God's Spiritual Word and Doctrine , was altogether first blinded , and then led with external gawdy Pomp , dazling Ceremonies , and multiplied humane Traditions . Scarce any thing else being seen in the Churches , heard in their Sermons , or intended in all their ●evotions ; so that the People were taught to worship nothing but what they saw , and they saw almost nothing which they did not worship : Witness the multitudes of Images , Crosses , Pictures , Reliques , Shrines , Tombs , Altars , &c. all the Objections of their foolish Devotions . Instead of the Poverty and Purity of Christ , here was Pride and Superfluity , and all kinds of abomination of Life ; instead of the Apostolical Labours and Humility , Sloth and Ambition had seiz'd upon the Priests . The simple and unlearned being far from all knowledge of the Holy Scripture , thought it enough for them to know only these things which were delivered them by their Pastors and Teachers , who were almost as ignorant themselves , and taught nothing but what they received from the Court of Rome , whereof the most part tended more to the profit of their Order , advancing the Pope's Interest , or filling with Money his Coffers , than to the Glory of Christ , or real advantage of Souls . The Christian Faith was counted no other thing than to know , That Christ once suffer'd , that is , 't was enough for us to know what the Devils also knew ; Men were so addicted to the Hypocrisie of outward shews , that the Religion and Holiness , even of the most Learned and Pious , seem'd altogether to consist in the observing of Days , Meats , Habits , and such vain circumstances : Hence arose so many different Orders of Religion , or Fraternities of Monks and Friars , with Vestures of several fashions , and various colours : Hence likewise came your Pilgrimages to Loretto , to Rome , to Compostella , &c. As if St. James at Compostella would do that , which Christ could not do at London or Canterbury ; or as if our Omnipotent Omnipresent Jehovah were not of like power or strength , and pity and compassion in every place ; or could not be found , unless by running and gadding hither and thither contrary to his own Requirements . ( Neither at Jerusalem , nor in this Mountain , but in Spirit and Truth shall ye worship the Father , for such he seeketh to worship him . John 4. 22. ) The Holiness requisite all the year was put off to Lent . No Country to be counted Holy , but Palestina , because thereon Christ had walked with his corporeal Feet . Instead of taking up the true Cross of Christ by Patience , Humility , Self-denial , Mortification , &c. people go together by the Ears about the material Cross whereon Christ suffered ; and though they knew not where to find it , yet upon an imagination that it was in those Parts , all Christian Kings and Princes are set agogg , many of them ruin'd , and 't is believ'd , some millions of Men slain and destroy'd in these pretended Holy Wars ; who though otherwise never so debauch'd and wicked , are yet assur'd to go to rights to Heaven , the meritoriousness of this Expedition expiating all their Villanies .

This was the state of Christendom in those days ; and wanted not the World then an Hercules to purge such an Augaean Stable ? Yes certainly ; and Providence provided him , even Wickliff , a valiant and well-appointed Champion , for whom I may borrow that Encomium which Syracides bestows on Simon the Son of Onias , Eccles. 50. 6. He was as the morning Star in the midst of a Cloud , and as the Moon being Full in her Course , as the Sun shining on the Temple of the Most High , and as the Rain-bow diverting our fears of a Deluge , as the Flower of Roses in the early Spring , as Lillies by the Rivers , or as the Branches of the Frankincense-Tree in the time of Summer .

Touching Wickliff's Parentage , all we can find , is , That he was born about the farthest part of York-shire ; and Mr. Birckbek who was Minister of Gilling in those Parts , in his Learned Treatise , Entituled , The Protestants Evidence , printed 1632. Centur. 14. assures us , That some of the Family remain'd there then , and probably may continue to this day ; his words are these : Our Country-man John Wickliff was born in the North , where there is ( near to the place where I live ) an ancient and worshipful House bearing the name of Wickliff of Wickliff . But in what Year he was born , is not Recorded , only 't is certain , that he was liberally Educated , and became Learned beyond that Age , and flourished about the year of our Lord 1371. in the Reign of King Edward the Third , being then Fellow of Merton-Colledge in Oxford : ( A happy Foundation , Illustrious for breeding many most famous Men , as Friar Bacon , Burley , Scotus , Occham , Peccham , Bradwardine , &c. ) He was afterwards Master of Baliol-Colledge in Oxford , where he commenc'd Doctor , and was chosen Reader in Divinity : In which public Lectures he shew'd himself a deep Schoolman , as in his ordinary Sermons a faithful Pastor of the Church , for whose Edification he spar'd no pains , for he Translated the whole Bible into the vulgar Tongue , one Copy whereof , written with his own hand , is , or lately was , extant in St. John Baptist Colledge in Oxford . He was beloved of all good Men for his holy Life , and admired even by his Adversaries for his Learning : For we find Walden , his profess'd and spiteful Enemy , in a certain Letter to Pope Martin the Fifth , forc'd to acknowledge , That he was wonderfully astonish'd at his most forcible Arguments , the various and pertinent Authorities he had gathered , with the vehemence and smartness of his Reasonings . Nor was he unacquainted with Humanity , or polite Civil Learning , ( especially he is observed to have been well read in our English Laws ) and wrote so many large Volumes , as well in Philosophy as Divinity , as the same is almost incredible .

He seem'd to follow in the course of his Studies the method of the Schoolmen , and amongst them was a profess'd follower of Occham , by reading of whose Works , and sundry others who lived about the same time , or not long before , as Bradwardine , Marsilius , St. Amore , Abelardus , Armachanus , and that great and godly Learned Man Rob. Grosthead , and especially and above all by diligent perusal of the Holy Scriptures , God gave him grace and understanding to see the truth of his Gospel , and by seeing it , to loath all superstition , and the ill precepts and practises of the then pretended Rules of the Church . In particular , by Occham and Marsilius he was informed of the Popes Intrusions and Usurpations upon Kings , their Crowns and Dignities . Guido de S. Amore , and Armachanus , shew'd him the sundry abuses of Monks and Friars in upholding this usurped Power . By Abelard and others he began to have a right Apprehension touching the Sacrament of the Lords Supper . Bradwardine taught him the Nature of a true sole justifying Faith , against Meritmongers and Pardoners : Finally , by Grosthead's Work , with which he seem'd most conversant , he descried the Popes to be the very Antichrist , by hindering the Gospel to be preached , and placing unfit and unworthy Men in the Church , and in making all Religion subservient to his damnable Policy .

Being thus enlighten'd , 't is no wonder if in his Writings and Preachings he delivered many things against the then corrupted Doctrine of the Church ; but his Positions were chiefly directed against the several Orders of Begging Friars , ( who were his professed Persecutors ) and all Foreign usurped Jurisdiction of the Pope . By which he purchased some favour , or at least connivance at Court , and got his other Complaints against them for other matters , the more easily heard and regarded , for at that time the Friars Orders , by their manifold and notorious Disorders , were become exceeding odious , and the Popes pretences of Jurisdiction by Provisions , Reservations , and Collations , not only grievous , but utterly intollerable . This made way unto those excellent Acts of Parliament of Praemunire , against any that should appeal to Rome , or draw the Subjects of England , ad aliud Examen , To any Foreign Jurisdiction ; as also against Provisors , and the Abuses of Begging Friars , which fobridled and restrained the Pope's Authority , that he could but little prevail in England , during the Raign of King Edward the Third , or Richard the Second . Towards making which Law , Wickliff had no small Interest , by disposing several of the Nobility and the Body of the Commons thereunto ; maintaining no less Loyalty , and Magnanimously than Learnedly , the King's Jurisdiction , Crown , and Dignity , by the Laws Civil , Canon , and Common . For which reason , the Learned Dr. James , in Wickliff's Life , tells us , That he was by one King sent Ambassador into Foreign Parts , and by another consulted here at home . But amongst all his Arguments , he most insisted upon those , drawn from the common Municipal Laws of England , ( the best Bull-works for the Prerogative and Imperial Right of our Kings , against all the Usurpations and Encroachments of any Exotic Claim ) for the maintenance of his Opinions ; and the better to enable him therein , he had good Directions and Advice from time to time from the Reverend Judges and Sages in the Law .

He was not so much hated of the Monks and Clergy out of Self-interest , because he opposed their lewd Practises ; but he was much indulg'd and favour'd by the Temporal State for his Piety , Learning , and Virtue : For not only many of the Nobility , but the City of London , and the University of Oxford , were his Friends ; which makes Walsingham the Monk angry who upon all occasions vomits out his Gall against poor Wickliff ) that that famous Academy , where ( as he saith ) was the very height and top of Wisdom and Learning , should so kindly entertain him . Nor were they Freshmen , or younger Fry of Students there , that were his Admirers , but even the Heads and Chief of the University ; for Mr. Robert Rigge Vice-Chancellor , and the two Proctors , took part with him ; as also Nicholas Herford , John Ashton of Merton Colledge , John Ashwarby of Oriel Colledge , Minister of St. Maries Church ; these all being Preachers , and Batchelors of Divinity , joined with him , and were put to Trouble for the same .

THE COURANT. Tory.

NAY ! now I think you are met with ; what say you to that ingenious Piece publish'd last week , Entituled , A Postscript of Advice from Geneva .

Truem.

I shall not say much to it , let my Lords the Bishops look after it ; for as Governours ( under His Majesty ) of our Protestant Church , I humbly conceive it concerns them abundantly more than me , since 't is plain , the Libel is the ●pawn of some rank invenom'd Popish Priest ; and whether Nat. Thompson or Gammer Turner ( a profest Papist , or a masqueraded one ) Midwif'd it into the World , is not much material . It pretends indeed to fall soul on the Calvinists , which possibly Striplings in Divinity , or some of the short sighted Laity , may think at this time of day a mighty Service to the King and the Church . But whoever is conversant in Roman-Catholic Authors , cannot but know , that they frequently Nickname the Church of England , and her truest Sons , with that opprobrious Title . I appeal to all the Learned moderate Divines of our established English Church , if this be not true ; nay , I my self at two hours warning could give more than 100 Instances of it : But I shall be content at present only with one , but 't is of a Pope ( who you know is Infallible in his Rogueries ) in a Bull against Blessed Q. Elizabeth , we have these words , Impia Mysteria & Instituta ad Calvini praescriptum , &c. The wicked Mysteries and Institutes , according to Calvin' s prescription , by her received and observed , she hath commanded to be embrac'd by her Subjects . In a word , 't is evident this skulking Author's business is to scandalize all the Learned pious Instruments , which God hath made use of for the first Reformation : As not only Calvin , Zwinglius , and Beza , p. 1 & 2. but Luther , Melancton , Bucer , &c. p. 5. Therefore with what Notion would a Cranmer , or a Ridley , or a Latimer , ( those glorious Martyrs ) or even Patient Hooper himself , or Reverend Jewel , and such-like famous Lights of our Church ( some of them the very Compilers of the Venerable Liturgy ) have beheld such a virulent Pamphlet ? Or can any Man that has a value for the Protestant Religion , but feel his Blood curdle , to see it sold with Impunity at the Royal-Exchange , and through the Streets of a Protestant City , which by the very same devilish Hands was within these 16 years laid in Ashes .

Tory.

Come , come , you are hot and peevish ; I doubt 't is only because it presses you too close ; for only those that know not how to answer Books , would stifle and have them suppress'd .

Truem.

Nay then , let it go on , for I am sure the matter of it has been answer'd 150 times : There 's nothing in this Pamphlet but Parsons , that Bastard of a Jesuit , ( 't is the Complement his own Brother-Priests gave him ) printed long ago . You may find it too in a Book , Entituled , The Image of both Churches , written by one Musket a Jesuit , and printed in King James's time ; or you may have the effect of it in a Pamphlet , Entituled , Philanax Anglicus , scribbled soon after His Majesty's happy Restauration by a Popish Doctor of the Civil Law ; to which , the Reverend Du Moulin , one of the Prebends of Canterbury , return'd an Answer . But if no such Refutations were extant ( as 100 are ) yet all the World knows your Bolsec was a most prostituted Liar , and the rest of your Authors forg'd and Counterfeit . Nor will , I hope , any that are truly of the Church of England , be bubbled with such stale Shams ; but rather take notice who they are that thus blow these Coals , and keep such a noise against Calvinists , such a stir against Ignoramus Juries , and are so overjoy'd at the prosecution of Conscientious Dissenters ; and if they find them at bottom no other than either Papists , or Atheists , or Debauchees ( who are half one half tother ) they may then competently judge whose Interest is promoted by these Intrigues .

Tory.

Well there 's no talk to you now ; but I 'le warrant you L'Estrange will Crow bravely this fortnight for the other days work in the City .

Truem.

What! because his old friend John Starkey is made one of the Common-Council ? I tell you , Sir , I value Roger's Observatorisms , no more than I do Eustace Commyne's Narrativisms ; they both pretend to serve the Royal Family and the Bishops , and in truth they both perform it at the same Rate . Nor will you find much more reason upon the whole matter to thank St. Thomas , than you have to Sacrifice to Madam Address , who , 't is forty to one when you come to try her , will prove as Errand a Jilt , and as Insignificant as an Irish Evidence .

Printed for Langley Curtis , 1681.

Objections against Wickliff , answer'd . An Example or two of his writing in his own ancient Style . His Troubles . The Vniversity like to reject the Popes Bull , &c.

THE Papists ( who are most exquisite and ready forgers of Lies and Scandals on all that oppose or go about to detect their Villanies ) have raised several Aspersions and Calumnies against honest Wickliff .

As first , they affirm , That his Preaching was not out of Conscience , but spite and desire of Revenge , because ( forsooth ) he was put by the Bishopprick of Worcester , which he aim'd at — Therefore he declaim'd so fiercely against the Church .

Answ. This is only the malicious suggestion of Parsons and Brerely , and such upstart Pettifoggers for the Church of Rome : There is no ancient Author ( tho most of them , as being Monks , rail horribly against poor Wickliff ) that mentions any such matter : Nay , Parsons himself gives himself the Lie , for in his three Conversions , Part 3. Cap. 5. Numb. 14. he saith , Wickliff condemn'd all temporal Goods — How then should he so greedily affect the Bishopprick of Worcester ? And elsewhere he confesses , That Wickliff was in great favour with the Duke of Lancaster , who bore chief sway during the time of King Edward the Third ; so that if Wickliff had been so fond of a Bishopprick , sure that Duke's Interest might have got him one .

2. They object , that Wickliff taught , That so long as a Man is in deadly Sin , he is no Bishop or Prelate , neither doth truly Consecrate or Baptize .

Answ. If Wickliff did say so , what more did he say , than what St. Ambrose had said before him — Vnless thou embrace and follow the good works of a Bishop , a Bishop thou canst not be . — Ambr. de dignit . Sacerd. cap. 4. Nay , there is a Vote of a Council ( if that will help the matter ) in a Case almost to the same effect — Quicunque sub Ordinatione Presbyterii vel Episcopatûs , mortali Crimine se dixerint esse pollutos à supradictis Ordinationibus submovendos esse Censuimus : Whoever coming under Ordination of the Presbytery or Eiscopacy , shall be polluted with mortal Sin , we think it fit , That such be removed from those Orders , saith the Synod of Valentia , held under Damascus , cap. 4. It must be remembred , that Wickliff lived in a most corrupt Age , when the Clergy were so seared in Impiety , that it required sharp Launcings , and good store of Vinegar to make them sensible . It was only their abuses he inveigh'd against so tartly , for elsewhere he reproves those that would not obey their lawful Prelates ; and in his Book of the verity of the Scripture , he thus explains his meaning : Nomen non facit Episcopum sed vita , &c. It is not the Name , but the Life that makes a Bishop . If a Man have the Name of a Prelate , and does not answer the reason thereof in sincerity of Doctrine , and integrity of Life , but live scandalously in open Sin , he is but a Nomine-tenus Sacerdos , A Bishop or Priest in Name , not in Truth . Yet still Wickliff did not deny , but that such an ones Ministerial Acts were valid ; for so in the same Treatise , p. 138. he saith — Unless the Christian Priest be united unto Christ by Grace , Christ cannot be his Saviour ; Nec sine falsitate dicit verba Sacramentalia , Nor can he pronounce the Sacramental words without Lying ; Licet prosint Capacibus , The notwithstanding they are available so far , that the worthy Receiver is thereby nothing hinder'd from partaking of the Grace signified .

Obj. 3. They pretend , that Wickliff maintain'd , That it was not lawful for any Ecclesiastical persons to have any Temporal Possessions , or property in any thing .

Answ. This is falsly imputed to him ; he only tax'd the Abuses of the Revenues given to so many Abbies , Priories , and Monasteries , tending only to Superstition , and the keeping so many Drones in idleness : And therefore he was of opinion , That our Kings might dispossess them thereof , and give them Genti facienti Justitiam , to good and godly Uses . The Poverty he exhorted to , was no other than that which St. Paul recommends , viz. Having Food and Rayment , therewith to be content . He did not debar Ministers from actual having , but from Covetous affecting the things of this World , which are to be Renounc'd ( saith he ) Per Cogitationem & Affectum , in the Mind and the Affections .

Obj. 4. They charge him with asserting , That God ought to obey the Devil .

Answ. This is so senseless and improbable a Slander , that no Man in his Wits can believe it . And on the quite contrary , Wickliff in his Commentary on Psal. 112. Expresly affirms , That the Devil can do nothing without God's permission .

Obj. 5. Well , but if they cannot fix Blasphemy upon him , they will charge him with Treason . This is a frequent Stratagem of the Devils and his Instruments — If thou suffer this Man , thou art not Cesar' s Friend , said the Jews of old ; not that they cared for Cesar , but only to gratifie their own Revenge . Thus the Papists charge Wickliff as a Teacher of Sedition , and an opposer of Magistrates ; and that if a Civil Magistrate be in a mortal Sin , he is no longer to be obey'd .

Answ. There is much craft and malice , but very little truth and no reason for this Slander . Wickliff indeed , in several of his Works , admonisheth the King ( and all other inferiour Officers and Magistrates ) that he beareth not the Sword in vain , nor hath his Office for nought , but to discharge well and truly the part and Office of a King , by seeing wholsom Laws duly executed , and Justice impartially administer'd : And tells him , That if he be defective in such his Duty , by suffering the Sword of Justice to rust in its Scabard , and his People to perish for want of good Governance , then he is not properly and truly a King , that is , in effect and operation , for so the words must necessarily be understood , being spoken by way of Exhortation . But otherwise , so far was Wickliff from mutinying himself , or persuading others to any act that was Rebellious , that never any Man in those times did so stoutly assert the King's Supremacy in all Causes , and over all Persons , as well Ecclesiastical as Civil , against all usurped foreign Jurisdiction , for which ( amongst many others ) he gives this reason : That otherwise our Soveraign should not be King over all England , but Regulus parvae partis , a petty ▪ Governour of some small parts of the Realm . — Nor does any thing , tending to countenance Rebellion , appear in any of his Works that are extant . But the Friars and proud Clergy having an inveterate spleen against Wickliff , and there happening to fall out about the same time a grievous Insurrection of the Commons under Wat Tyler ; occasioned chiefly upon a civil score , about Taxes , Commons , and Servitude , but much augmented by one John Ball a Priest , ( and one of Baal's Priests too for ought I know , for he does not at all appear to be any of Wickliff's Followers ) therefore , in spight to Wickliff , they cast the odium of that Frantic Tumult upon him and his Doctrine .

But indeed as Wickliff was a person of extraordinary Learning and Piety , so that in substance he held and taught the very same Doctrines as are at this day maintained by the Church of England , is demonstrated by the Learned Dr. James , Oxford Library-keeper , in his Book , Intituled — An Apology for John Wickliff , shewing his Conformity with the now Church of England , &c. Printed Anno 1608.

However to the end the vulgar Reader may better judge of this reverend man and his Works ; I shall here produce some few passages out of two of his Books , Printed by the said James from the Original Manuscripts , remaining one in Bennet Colledge Cambridge , the other in the Publick Library at Oxford . The English being excusable considering 't was wrote above 300 years agoe in his complaint to King Richard the Second , and his Parliament . Article 2. He hath these words — Nothing ought to be damned as errour and false , but if it favour errour or unrightewiseness against Gods Law .

And Article 4. He prays . That Christ's teaching O beleave of the Sacrament of his own Body , that is plainly tawght by Christ and his Apostles , in Gospels and Pistles mayen be tawght openlie in Churches of Christen People , and the contrary teaching and false beleave is brought up by cursed Hypocrits and worldlie Priests unkunning in Gods Law , which say they are Apostles of Christ but are Fools .

And he concludes that Article with these words — As Christ saved the wordle by writing and teaching of foure Evangelists , so the Fiend casteth to Damme the wordle and Priests , for letting to Preach the Gospel by these four ; by fayned Contemplation , by Songs , by Salisbury use , and by worldly business of Priests .

And in his Treatise against the Orders of Friars , Ca. 4. runs thus :

Friars sayen , that if a man be once professed to their Religion , he may never leave it , and be saved , though he be never so unable thereto ; for al time of his life , and they wil nede him to live in such a state ever more , to which God makes him ever unable , and so nede him to be damned . Alas , out on such heresie that Mans Ordinance is holden stronger than is the Ordinance of God . For if a man enter into the newe Religion against mans ordinance , he maie lawfully forsake it ; but if he enter against Gods Ordinance , when God makes him unable thereto , he shall not be suffered by Antichrist's power to leave it . And if this reason were wel declared , sith no man wote which man is able to this new Religion by Gods dome , and which is not able , no man should be constrained to hold forth this new sect , and thus this new Religion maie not last , but if it be by this Blasphemie to constraine a man unable by Gods dome to hold this new sect , and suffer him not to come to freedome of Christs Order . And Chapter the 4th . Friars saien , if a man bee professed to there holie Order , hee shal not Preach freelie and generallie , the Gospel of Christian men without en licence of his Soveraign , for virtue of obedience be his Soveraign never so cursed man of life and uncunning of Gods Law and enimie to Christian men souls , and in case a foule Devil of Hel ; thowgh this man professed have receaved of God never so much cuninge of Gods Law , and power , and wil , to work after this cuninge ; and so this man shall needes be damned for misspending of Gods treasure . For sith Gods Law saies , that hee is out of Charity that helps not his Brother with bodilie Almes , if he maie in his nede , much more is he out of Charity , that helpes not his Brothers soule , with teaching of Gods Law , when hee sees him runne to Hel , yea by ●gnorance . And thus to magnifie and maintaine their rotten sects , they neden men by Hypocrisie , falseteaching , and strong paines , to break Gods heasts and leese Charity . Out on this false heresie and tyrantrie of Antichrist , that men be neded strangely to keep more his Lawes and obaye more to them then to Christ's Commandements ever rightful .

And Page 17. Thus — As Christ saved the wordle by writing and teaching of foure Evangelists , so the Fiend casteth to Damme the wordle and Priests for letting to Preach the Gospel by these foure ; by fained Contemplation , by Songs , by Salisbury use , and by wordly buysiness of Priests .

The COURANT. — Illa propago Contemptrix Superûm , Saevaeque avidissima Caedis Et violenta fuit ; Scires è Sanguine Natos . Ovid. I. Metam . Tory

T was bravely done to ' ther day in the West . I love people that will go thorough stitch with their Business ; I can shew you a French Author , Naudaeus by Name that affirms , the Bartholomew-Massacre at Paris , had been one of the most glorious acts of Christianity , if it had not unluckily been perform'd but by halves .

Truem.

Ay — but destroying of BIBLES ( if that story be true ) was sure attempted a little too soon ; such Exploits would be time enough under a Popish Successor . 'T is our present happiness and comfort ( under God , ) that we live under a Prince who is a Defender of the Protestant Faith , content his loving Subjects should have English Bibles , and much averse in his Royal Nature to such Sanguinary Rigours , as some hot-headed people ( men of as little Estates or Interest in their Country , as of Brains , Piety , or real Loialty ) would fain be practizing , to imbroil us in Confusions and help forward the Popes Design , by weakning the Body of Protestants with unnecessary and unnatural Heats amongst themselves .

Tory.

Well , I am sure our Parson , and hee 's a Gentleman that wears a Scarf already , and hopes to be a Right Reverend ere long , told us last Sunday , that t' was a Duty to teize and worry Dissenters , and that it was their own faults if their Brains were beat out , for why the Vengeance don't they Conform ?

Truem.

Prethee present my Service to his Reverence , and desire him from a Friend of mine , to return an answer to the Case following — Suppose his Doctorship were a Minister of the Reformed Church in France , whether at Charenton , Caen , or Saumurr , it matters not .

Tory.

Hold , hold , do you think our Doctor will suffer himself to be suppos'd into a Damn'd Presbiterian , a Traiterous Villain of a Calvinistical Hugenote .

Truem.

Patience Man ! The supposition I le warrant you shall not infect him , therefore still I say for once suppose him so , and that Monsieur the Intendant of that Province , should thus accost him — Sir being your Neighbour I am so far your Friend , as to pitty and advise you , ( for though you are an Heretick , you are yet one of humane Race , and may easily make a good conformable Catholick , ) the King our Master will have but one Religion in his Dominions , and you must comply , or you are undone . He is resolv'd all his Subjects shall Worship God in the same Mode , therefore go to Church , or your Estate , Liberty , and perhaps your Life will be Sacrific'd to his Royal Indignation and your own obstinate Folly .

Then Imagine he should answer thus . — Monsieur ! I conserve a profound Respect to our Puissant and invincible Monarch , am ready to obey all his just Commands , but in this particular I pray have me Excused , I dread his Majesties displeasure , but am much more apprehensive of God's ; the one may hang , or break me upon the Wheel , but the other will Damn me to Eternity . I beseech you therefore interpose with his Majesty , on the behalf of me and my Brethren , that we may Enjoy the same liberty of Worshiping God as we have hitherto had under him and his Royal Predecessors ; we vow all Duty and Allegiance to his Person and Government , we will defend him with our Lives and Fortunes . Nothing is so dear ( unless our Consciences ) which we will not Sacrifice to his pleasure and Honour , but in the Matters proposed we cannot comply without the offence of God and our Souls .

The Catholick Gentleman ( like any Observator ) replies ; — These are only Flams to colour Hypocrisy , Rebellion , and Disobedience , His Majesty is advis'd to put an end to all Religious Feuds amongst his people , thereby to render his Government more firm and secure ; He is weary of the everlasting Squabbles of different Perswasions . The Temple of Janus shall therefore be shut , he will have no more Religious Wars amogst his Subjects . To grant or connive at any Liberty of serving God after your own own way , is not a course to end Differences but to perpetuate them , for should you be gratified , others may succeed with newscruples , and under pretence of Conscience carry on differences as high as ever , to the weakning of his Authority and Empire , &c.

Now let the Doctor but tell us , what in this case he would Rejoyn to such a Catholick Monsieur , and if from the same Topicks our Protestant Dissenters cannot fairly excuse themselves ; the Doctor shall have all the Money that the Devil and Thompson found out tother day under the Holy-Bush in Mannock-Hill , and a sine Cure into the Bargain .