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adjudg'd to be guarded by a Statute of Pramunire, against fo much as a bare Cenfure, and the Laws of a Chriftian Kingdom are conftrued to be a Protection for Atheists; when an Audacious Coward is every where cry'd up as a moft celebrated Author, for writing against the Immortality of the Soul, levelling Mankind with the reft of the Brutes, if it do not make him worfe; what can an honeft Man expect from confronting fuch Cattle, but (if he efcape worfe ufage) to be made a May-game and a Laughing-ftock, or at leaft to meet with Contempt and Neglect?

(2.) But fince thefe Defiers of Heaven, and Debauchers of Mankind, are fo fecurely pofted under the Safeguard of their mighty Patrons, I fhall leave both the one and the other to the Judgment of the righteous God, who doubtlefs in his good time will vindicate his own Caufe in fuch manner, as he in his infinite Wisdom knows to be most for his Glory. But though I leave thefe, yet (though I expect no thank for it) I fhall enquire after another fort of Men, and examine, Whether Religion be not as effectually betrayed by fome, who make ftrong Pretenfions to it, and would feem to have a mighty Zeal for it. Man is in Nature fo much Animal Religiofum, that the Atheist can never prevail; the fenfe of a Deity hath taken fuch firm pofleflion of Man's Breaft, that he is ftricken with horrour at Atheistical Expreilions, and it will return at times even upon the worst of Men, and fuch who have made it most their business to eradicate it; fo that it is not to be thought, that the Atheift does or can always believe himfelf: And therefore in my apprehenfion, though perhaps it may feem ftrange to fome others, the moft dangerous and fatal Enemies to true Chriftianity are fuch as pretend to it, but really undermine, corrupt and debauch it in its Principles

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and Practices; the Shaft that pierceth to its Heart muft be plumed with its own Fathers. When the Powers of Earth and Hell bent all their Forces against it, and the Rage of Heathen Emperors made ufe of all Arts and Cruelties to destroy it, though it fuffered in its Profeffors, it flourished in its Purity; the Fire of Perfecution rather refin'd than burt it, and it daily got ground in fpite of all the Malice and Machinations of its Enemies: So true prov'd that Saying, Sanguis Martyrum eft Semen Ecclefiæ. But when all this would not do, and Chriftianity became a glorious Conqueror over all thefe Difficulties and Dangers, the Devil found a way to raise a War in its own Bowels, which hath done it more mifchief than all its other Enemies put together. For when the Profeffors of the Chriftian Religion became Hereticks and Schif maticks, or through Eafe and Wantonnefs grew loofe in their Lives and Principles, then it was foon driven out of divers Countries, and forc'd to wander from Place to Place, till at this day it fcarce any where finds any fure and quiet footing. There was once in this land a Church as well conftituted, and as near the Primitive Pattern, as perhaps any in the whole Chriftian World; but through the Pride and Discontent of fome, Petulancy and Weaknefs of others, and Induftry of the Romanifts, ftrange and deftructive Opinions were fpread up and down in all places; and furious pernicious Sects arofe, who in time grew to that ftrength, that with the Rebel Presbyter in the Van they durft openly oppofe the Church, crying, Down with it, down with it even to the Ground; and they were as good as their word. For they thought they had left neither Root nor Branch of it; and the Land was over-run with fuch variety of Sects and monftrous Opinions, that foine of themfelves ftood amazed to fee it

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fuch a Sink of Sin, and fadly complained of it. But when thefe Men had wearied themselves with their own Wickednefs, it pleafed God, beyond all Mens expectations, to raise this Church as it were from the dead, to make it a Comfort and Support to others, and to become once more the Envy and Terror of the Romanifts, who before infulted as having got an abfolute Conqueft over it. One would think fuch a Deliverance and Bleffing were to be prized, and with thankfulness to God, care taken to preferve it; at least, that in the fame Age, and whilft many of the Perfons, who faw and felt the former Defolations, are ftill living, the Floodgates fhould not be opened, that the might be fwallowed up, and the Land overwhelmed with a Deluge of cankered Opinions, Herefies, and all manner of impious Principles and Practices; but it looks as if it were her Deftiny to fuffer Perfecutions and Trials; for all the Sectaries are now let loose upon her; and it were well if fome of her Sons, or fuch as ought to be her Sons, did not confpire with them to betray their own Mother; and how fhall fhe be able to ftand against Enemies without, and Traytors within? It must be confefs'd, that Villany in this Age is more refined, their Politicks more neat, and the Proceedings and Pretences at leaft of fome of them more finooth; but it is the old Game which is playing again, only the methods are changed: Before they were for downright knocking her o'th' Head, but now fhe is to be hugg'd to Death.

(3.) I fhall not concern my felf with the mad furious Zealots, though poffibly they are the Men who moft plainly and truly fpeak their Minds, and rafhly discover the others real Purposes; for the prefent moft dangerous Enemies of the Church, I take to be thofe, who would give her a quieting Pill, and lay her in a found Sleep, whilft they cut

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her Throat with a Feather; who pretend to enlarge her Borders, whilft they intend to tear out her Bowels; who with fine healing comprehenfive Defigns, would fwallow her up in Confufion, that they might erect their own Idols upon her Ruins. For they are of feveral forts, and even contrary Perfuafions, yet like Sampson's Foxes tyed Tail to Tail closely carry their feveral Firebrands, and can agree well enough to burn the Standing Corn, and deftroy all that is wholfomly and well established. Thefe fmooth Religious Politico's take feveral methods, as may best fuit with their particular defigns; one comes abroad with an Effay for Catholick Communion, a noble and generous Undertaking, had it been purfued with equal Sincerity and Prudence: But when you come to examine the Matter, the Man's whole business is to carry us back into Egypt, and reconcile us to the Pope. Another deals yet more warily, and leaves his Book at Gentlemen's and other Houses, where he thinks it may find entertainment, or have fome effect but with this care and precaution, that after fo many Days liberty to peruse it, either the Book or the Set-price fhall be return'd to him who firft delivered it. I have not been thought worthy to be trufted with this ambulatory Piece, but am told by a good Hand, That in Title it pretends to Anfwer the Arian and Socinian Tenets, but that the Performance is quite contrary; for it fets them forth fully, and with all advantage; but then either anfwers them weakly, or plainly pleads for them; and thus betrays the prime Articles of the Chriftian Faith: And I fuppofe the defign of this worthy Author may be, with Servettus, to reconcile us to the Turk, Thefe Men, whether confcious to themselves of their own deceitful Designs, or apprehenfive that Matters were not

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yet ripe for their purpose, conceal themselves from publick Knowledge, though no industry is wanting to fpread their Books. But then comes another, who, well-back'd with his Party, and of no mean affurance in himself, with open Face lends a friendly lift to the Church, but in another manner: For he hath a Trick to make us all one, by jumbling us all together, and yet dividing us at the fame time: He hath found out a way to heal all our Schifms, not by renouncing and forfaking them, but by fuch a contrivance, that there fhall be no room for fuch a Sin as Schifm. Now Sacrilege was long fince ftruck out of the Catalogue of English Sins, and this worthy Man is fending Schifm packing after it; and if we can from time to time thus drop one Sin after another, we may in time become a very innocent People; though I fear no Body will then believe it but our felves.

(4.) I am very fenfible, that this learned Man is a Perfon of great Reputation, of a long efta, blished Authority, and little lefs than an Oracle among his Party; and therefore what he writes will be fwallowed by them without chewing; and they will as certainly defpife, and without farther Examination condemn any Man who fhall dare to oppofe him. For generally, it is not what is written, but who writes, that is now regarded, But feeing there are yet fome left, who like those Noble Bereans, will fearch whether things be fo and because this Author, who is a Man of great Abilities, hath wrote in as feducing a way as moft of our late Underminers, to prevent what in me lies farther Infection and Mischief, I fhall be fo bold as to examine his Performance.

(5.) The first thing which occurs, is the Title, which carries along with it fo fpecious a Pretence, that it ought not to be pafs'd by. It runs thus: Afhort Hiftory of Schifm; for the promoting of Chri

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