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one Syllable after another, without understanding ef "ther the Senfe of what they read, or the Words (a). The Particulars of what he fays concerning the common Drunkennefs and Incontinency of Priests, who (because they make Confcience of Marriage) keep Whores in their Houfes, concerning the diffolute Lives of Monks, and concerning Nunneries, " Which inftead "of being the Sanctuaries of God, were the abominable "Stews of Venus, and the Receptacles of lafcivious

young Men, wou'd be too tedious to repeat." And to fhew that he does not speak these Things of a few, but with Relation to the general Corruption of that Age, he adds, that (b) "Wickedness did fo abound in all Orders

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of Men, that scarce one among a Thousand was to be "found, who did truly live up to his Profeffion: And if "there was any one that did not follow these lewd "Courses, he became ridiculous to others, and was "branded either as an infolent, fingular Madman, or an

Hypocrite." This long Teftimony fhall be concluded with a Character which he gives of one of the Popes of his Time, Clement, by Name. He fays, that (c)" He * chiefly apply'd himself to gratify all the Parafites and "Buffoons that had any Intereft in the feveral Courts * of Princes; and to this End, did confer upon these, and › upon handsome young Boys, (which he much delighted in) almost all the vacant Bishopricks, and moft of the other Church Dignities."

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If we enquire into the Lives and Manners of the Priesthood nearer Home, we thall find, by what King Alfred tells us, that (d)" In England there was not one

Prieft on the South-fide of Thames, cou'd give the "Meaning of the ufual Service in English, and few on "the North of it, cou'd read it."

It is recorded by Gulielmus Neubrigenfis, (e) who lived in King Henry the Second's Time, that in that Reign,

(a) Cap. 21, 20, 23. (b) Cap, 25. (c) Cap. 27. (d) Ad Lib. Paftor. Gregorii. (e) Gul. Neubri. Lib. 2. Cap. 16.

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there grew great Contests, touching the Prerogatives of the Clergy. This Author adds, that," The Judges complained that there were many Robberies, and Rapes, "and Murthers then committed within the Realm, by "ecclefiaftical Perfons; and therefore made Request in "Parliament, that good Confideration might be had of "it, for tho' they themselves were temporal Minifters, "yet they had neither Law nor Jurifdiction to deal against the Clergy. As for the Bishops, fays he, whofe "Duty it was to fee fuch Disorders corrected, of fo many thousand wicked Priefts, they never degraded, nor punished fo much as one. For they, fays Neubrigenfis, looking more carefully how to maintain the Dignity "and Liberty of their Clergy, than the Correction of "their Manners, think they do good Service to God, "and to his Church, if they maintain'd wicked Priests, "against the good Order of the common Weal, whereby, fays he, it cometh to país, that the Priefts, that "fhou'd fhine as Stars in the Heavens, having free Liberty to do what they lift, care neither for God, nor for Man."

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To this Effect we might have produced many more Teftimonies, if it was not univerfally acknowledged by the popifh Writers, that the Devil had many hundred Years to play his Pranks in, before the Reformation.

Any one therefore, that will reflect on the dismal State of Religion in the Romish Church, and the monstrous Practices of the Roman Bishops, and their fervile Clergy in thofe Ages, the ftrange Fates they play'd, and what Abfurdities they impos'd upon the fuperftitious Credulity of Princes and People, may readily imagine, not only the Poffibility, but the Eafinefs of innovating new Doctrines, as they thought proper, under the fpecious Pretence of Ant quity, and constant and uninterrupted Tradition.

Here we behold the Church in her declining State, when Knowledge being decay'd, Superftition ufurp'd the Place of Zeal; and instead of the right Adminiftration of the Sacraments, the Ido'arrous Maís, was by Piecemeal brought into the Church; and the People, instead of the pure Milk of the Word, were entertained with feigned

Legends,

Legends, and ridiculous and monftrous Miracles, and their Consciences loaden with almost an innumerable Number of unprofitable Ceremonies, and unwarrantable Traditions: Now was there much Confidence put in hallow'd Beads, Agnus Dei's, and fuch Baubles, the Honour due to the Creator, being given to the Creature; nay, even the foolish Works of Mens Hands. Now, the People were taught, that all Abftinence from certain Meats and Drinks were meritorious; that the Opus Ope ratum, the Work done, was fufficient in the Sacraments and their Devotions. Now, the Crown of Martyrdom, wherewith the firft Bishops of Rome were honoured, became changed into a triple Crown of Gold, enrich'd with Jewels: And the paftoral Staff began to quarrel with the princely Scepter. And all thefe Things were carry'd by the Name of the Church; the People, for the moft Part, defiring but to believe as the Church believed, and this Church was the Roman, and this Roman Church was, and now is, the Pope.

All Europe defired a Reformation of thefe Things, But a great Cardinal told the Pope, (a) " That unle's he "cou'd live upon St. Peter's Patrimony, he must not "think of it; for dividing his Holiness's Revenues inte "four Parts, three of them, that is to fay, the Profits "of the Roman Church; the Revenues from the ec"clefiaftical Preferments, and the Income from Purga

tory, Indulgences, r. wou'd all be taken from him "by this Project." After which the Pepe wou'd never confent to it.

When the Proteftants in the first Convocation in Queen Mary's Days, were too hard for their Adverfaries, Wefton, the Prolocutor, difmiis'd the Affembly, saying, (b) "You have the Word, but we have the Sword. "Inquifitions, Fire and Fagot are requifite Inftruments "for fuch a Caufe." But the Roman Church never be

(a) Confil. Trium. Epifc. ad Paul 3. apud Wolf. Memor. Lect. Tom. 2. P. 549. (b) Heilin. Hift. Cap. 5.

P. 53.

gan

gan to put Diffenters to death, 'till their Doctrines were fo evidently corrupt, that Fear was neceffary to awe Men into an unwilling Submiffion to them: For while the Church was pure, all fuch Courfes were declar'd unlawful, and Hereticks only used thofe cruel Methods, or if any other did, the Catholick Bishops excommunicated them.

It is therefore moft apparent why the Roman Church is neceffitated to impofe upon Mankind that damnable Doctrine of (a)" Implicit Faith," that is, believing as. the Church believes, tho' they know not what it is, and that of "Blind Obedience," in doing whatsoever their Superiors enjoin, without examining, renouncing their own Judgment, and even their Senfes, and delivering up themfelves entirely to be guided by their spiritual Mafter; fo ftrictly impos'd upon them, and generally taught by the Jefuits, and affirm'd by a la e Pope, (b) to be agreeable to the Doctrine of the Church; and alfo to eftablish her Religion by thofe two vile Methods, of keeping her eafy Profelites in Ignorance, and perfecuting all Diffenters, with the utmoft Force and Fury.

(a) Exercit. Spiritual. Ignat, Loy. Reg. 1. P. 138. et Reg. 13. P. 141. (b) Bulla Paul. 3. prafix. V. Liber.

CHAP.

CHA P. XIII.

This laft Chapter is briefly to fhew the just Caufe of our Separation from the prefent Church of Rome, wherein we shall offer fome Arguments, for our perfevering in the Proteftant Principles.

ROM what has been fhewn, it is most manifeft, that the juft Caufe of our Separation from the prefent Church of Rome, was to free our felves from thofe Pollu tions with which fhe is most abominably defiled; and keep our felves from those Idols which he has revived and multiplied, and that we might not be Partakers with her in thofe Sins of cruel Perfecution and Tyranny, established by her Authority; and that Ignorance of true Chriftian Principles, which the encourages in those who are of her Communion. All which begun to be fet up in thofe Ages, wherein fcarce any Body knew, what the Doctrine of Chrift was; when a general Ignorance of Letters, and almost an univerfal Stupidity and Madness had feized upon the Minds of Men; when there was a horrid Depravation of Manners, a general Failure of Virtue and Piety, both in the Head and Members of the Church; when the Generality of Bishops and Priests were ignorant in the Scriptures; and in the Lewdnefs of their Lives did furpass the vileft of the People. Here Experience tells us, that in what Age foever, there are a great Number of fuperftitious People, there will never be wanting a few crafty Fellows to make use of this cafy and pli-. able Humour to their own Ends,

Now,

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