A ~£~~l~~~~ll~£~!lll~l~l~tl!!l~!l~l!~ll~l~~~l~~jl~l~!~~ ~~"~~R'mfil~i!QN@l;[email protected]~1i!liC!a:B~g T H E F IF T D EC A D· TomyLordBiJhopofBAT HE and VV Et L s. E P 1 s T. J. Dijilurfi•g •fshe w•fts •nrimeARts •fshein&rtaje rf P•pery.·~ B -oooo onoo-• o Y what meanes the Romilh Religion bath in thefc latter g. · .• times prevailed fo much over the world, (Right Reverend and Honourable) is a contideration both weighty and ufefull1 for hence may we frame our fdves either to prcvem, or imitate them : to imitate them in what wt may ; or prevent them inwhat rhcy lbould not. I meddle not with the mcanes of their tirO: rifings : the munificence ofChrifiian Princes, the honcfl: devotions of well-meaning Comributers, the divifion of the Chritlian world, the buficendevours of forward Princes, for the recovery ofthe Holy-land, with neglect of their owne; tbe ambitious infinuarions ofthat Sea, the fame and large dominion ofthofc C feven hils : the compatled indulgence and connivencc offume trcacherous,ofother timorous Rulers ; the lbamtldfe flattery of Paralircs; the rude ignoroncc ofTimes; orifthcrcbeanyothcrofthis kindc: My thoughts and words lball bc-fpem upon thcprefcnt, andlarefiAge. All theworldknowes, how that pretended Chaire of Ptttr tottered, and cracked, fome rhr«fcore yeares agoc, threaming a fpeedy ruine ro her fcarefull ufurper: How is it that IHII it fl:ands , and foemes now to boall: of fomc fetlcdnefl'e ~ Cenainly , if Hell bad not contrived a ne1v fupporc, the Angell bad longfincc faid, It is fallen, it is fallen; and the ~er.chams, Alas, alas,_ the great Citie. The brood oftbatlamc L•J•I•lhall have th1s m1ferablc honour, Without our cnvie; that if they had not bc-cne, R•me had not beene. By what meanes, it rolls now to enquire, · D It is not fo much their zeale for fallbood;which yet we adnowledge,and admire not. If Satan were not more bufic then they, we had lofrnothing. Their dcfperate attemprs, bold intrufions, imporcunarc follicimtions, have bot returned empty ; yet rh<ir policy bath done more then their force. That Popilb world was then foule, and debauched, as in dochine, win life 1 and now began to be afitamed of it felfe; When thefe holy Farhers, as fome Saints dropt out ofheaven, fuddenly profcfl'ed ~n unufuallllriC!ncfl'c, fad pictie,refolved mortification;and to drew the eyes and hearts ofmen after them, that poore foulcs began to think<, it could not beother then divine, which they taught; other then holy, which they couched. The vrry tim.s (not [, I dome) give as great advantage, as our owne bell: Aren~rh : and rhe vicesof orhers give glory ro rhofc which either arc, or appearc vcnuous. They f•w how ready the E world was to bite at the bait;and now followed their fuccelfe,wirh newhelps.Plenty of pretended miracles mufi blcfl'e, on all fides, the endeavours ofrhis new Sect; and cals for both approbation, and wond<r. Thole thingsby the report oftheir own pens (other wirneflcs I fco none) have beene done by the ten Patriarkes of the )d'uiti!h Rdigion,botbalive and dead,which can hardly be marched of hirn,whofenamethey have ufitrp<d. And now the vulgar can hy ,If thefe menwere not of God,they could doe nothing : Howcan aman that is a finncr doe fuch miracles~ not difirulling either rhe fame, or the workc; bur applauding the Authors , for what was faid to bedone. But now lrll rheenvie ofthe fact fitould furpaffnhe wonder, they have learned to call: this glory upon their woodden Ladies, and to communicate rhc gaine unto the whole Religion : Two blocks at H•lt and Scherpen htuve!J, havcfaid and done more for Poperie, then all Friers, ever fince Fr•ntil wore his breeches onhis head. But beI--------------------------------~F_f __ ~--------------~c=au=f<=e~~-----
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