YOur Servant Neighbour Theophilus.

I am heartily glad to see you Juliano, the rather for that I was lately in­formed you were dead.

How? dead! have people talkt me into a Ghost? I'le e'en run to the Prerogative and enter a Caveat my self, least some Kn [...]ve or other should take Administration of my Estate. Dead! I protest I know no business I shall have in the other World this fifty years: There's nothing in Nature I hate so much as dying this cold weather, for truly I conceive a Tomb, though made of Marble, and placed in the Chancel, but a damp untoward Lodging; besides it yields no good company, for the men lose their Sences before they come thither; and as soon as the women have been there a while, they all grow flat-nos'd.

I perceive you mind dying but little; but if you fear catching cold in your Grave, you were best charge your Executor to bury you Legally in Flannel: however I doubt you may have more reason to aprehend burning torments, than Cold, for I hear you are dead Spiritually: I mean, Twice dead and pluckt up by the roots, as the Apostle Phrases it: That you [Page 3] have forfeited your Discretion, cast your Reason over-board, and abandon'd your Religion.

I hate dissembling, and must own my self a Roman-Catholick.

Can you hate Dissemulation, and yet own at the same time a Religion that is made up of nothing but Frauds, Cheats, and Delusions: That very Title Roman Catholique, is a Falicy, or at best an Absurdity in Terminis; for since the English, and proper signification of the Word Catholique is no more then general or universal: to joyn Rome to it, is an in­significant Bull, and as pure non-sence, as to say a particular, Universal, or a general Individual.

I shall not quarrel with you about words; I am a mem­ber of the Church of Rome, that Mother Church where true Re­ligion has flourisht ever since it was first planted there, by the Apo­stles in an uninterupted Succession: that Church to which our Savi­our has given Priviledge to be the infallible Judge of all Controuer­sies, and promised, the gates of Hell shall never prevail against it

Alas Sir! you boast of the Casket when the Jewels are gone; The Church of Rome, sailing under the merry gale of Earthly pomp and prosperity, has long since discharged her self of that rich Laden she was fraught with, when she Traded for Souls under the Fathers of the Primitive Ages, there having since been such a succession of Imperious great­ness in that Chair, that Rome is more like the proud triumph­ant Chappel of Antichrist, than the poor militant Church of God.

The Primary ever the Apostles and Spirit of infabili­lity was delivered to Peter, and thence conveyed down in his suc­cessors Bishops of Rome, so that there could be no such Apostacy as you pretend.

These parivolous pretences are easily confuted; but not to enter into a tedious Discourse, I shall only ask you this serious Question, since you can cast your eyes upon no story where the villary of Popes is not largely discovered, how can you conceit that the pure Spirit of God should endow with [Page 4] infalibility of judgement, Monsters so visibly debauch'd? or how can you believe the Holy Ghost, which under the Law forbad all impurity, though in outward Ceremony should now under the brighter light of the Gospel suffer himself to be poured out of one unclean vessel, into another, beginning again with a Conjurer, where he left off with a Sodomite?

I cannot believe any Popes were ever guilty of such Crimes, or if they were, these are still personal Infirmities.

But most gross ones in those that blasphemously stile themselves Their Holinesses, and impudently boast to the world that they cannot err, nor can deny the truth of their impieties, as to matter of fact without proclaiming your own ignorance in History.

Truly Sir, you know I am but a Lay-man, and do not pretend too much Reading.

The fitter to imbrace a Religion, whose chiefest sup­port is ignorance: But for your information, I care not if I draw a short Historical Scheme of your Romish Church, that you may see by what means and degrees it first intruded to that Grandeur, with the gawdy Lustre whereof your eyes have been so far dazled, as to chuse a Cloud for Juno, change a Diamond for a Bristol-stone, and forsake the true Spouse of Christ, to wantonize in the embraces of a painted Harlot.

I am satisfied with my choice, yet care not if I give you the hearing, since you will needs take upon you as a Doctor.

Thus then, after the piety of some primitive Bishops of Rome, augmented by the flame of that Imperial City had purchased them reputation, so that they got first to be Arch-Bishops, then Patriarchs, and at last to the Papal Title (A name 'tis thought derived Quasie pater Patriarcharum) which for Brevity was written Papa.) They soon began to change their piety for promotion, and takeing the advantage of new­kindled zeal, whereby they led Princes and people at plea­sure; they had the opportunity to carve themselves almost what power or Riches they list. But as policy can seldome tread long in that narrow path that guides to Heaven, so [Page 5] at last it led them into a World of Impieties, by encroach­ing under pretence of Religion, upon higher Jurisdiction and power, than could belong to subjects, which they co­lour'd as the Donations of Princes, who had indeed no bet­ter Titles to their Crowns than Usurpation on the weaknesse of the former possessors: And were therefore glad of the Popes protection, because people out of Ignorance esteemed those most just that were most favour'd by the Clergy. Thus a bargain was often driven for mutual assistance between U­surpers and the Pope, who in his approbations diligently laid up their petitions, and his grants to remain as presi­dents whereby to guide to posterity. The Cloud of Ignor­ance then covering the World, was a great help to keep their Juggling undiscovered; that little learning extant, was wholly included in Monastick Cells; who took the oppor­tunity to make most Books speak in their favour: which be­ing only a few Manuscripts might easily be effected. Besides the Clergy were kept unmarried on purpose, that being free from all other obligations, they might solely intend the promoting their own Interest, (which they called the power and Immunities of the Church) So that in time by the Indul­gence of good, and necessity of wicked and Illegitimate prin­ces, they freed their whole society from the temporal Juris­diction: And now having purchased Ease, Honour, and Im­punity; such as were Poor, Guilty, or Ambitious, Listed themselves of their fellowship, and being for the most part of the best Abilities, soon learned the skill so to work on the con­sciences of dying people affrighted with their sins, that the Church was left Heir of the best part of Christendome. Nor did they only make use of the profitable errors left them by their fore-fathers, but brought in new ones of their own con­triveing, guilding them with the splendid Tytles of things ne­cessary, and of Religious use: Thus Images came to be Idoliz­ed, the Cognizance of the Cross made a Tutelary God, looking no higher in their Extremities, and the blessed Saints scanda­lized with the worship given to them, and their Reliques. [Page 6] Thus a fire is kindled in purgatory, only to maintain that in the Popes Kitchin, confession is devised as a pick-lock to dis­cover each mans secrets, pardons for all past sins, and Indul­gences for never so many to come, are publiquely Exposed, and in brief all Religion almost made subservient to their Poli­cies & cursed Avarice; whilst the Monks and all sorts of Fry­ers are daily promoted and armed with Immense priviledges, as a strong and faithful Militia in all Countries for the Sea of Rome, yet fed and paid by the respective Princes, that tame­ly suffer themselves to be enslaved by Popish Tyranny. To con­clude most of the things in dispute, which you would Impose on our Church concern, either profit or honour; and were brought in by the subtile Preists long since the primitive times, taking advantage from the Ignorance of preceeding Ages, nor can such Papists as are wise conversant in History, and ac­quainted with the present practice of the Court of Rome, but be souly suspected of Atheisme, because conscience can never be perswaded against a convinceing experience.

Sure you have rail'd your self out of breath by this time against the Pope, but I cannot now stand to answer your Invective story particularly, haveing some occasions that oblige me to take my leave.

I shall freely dismiss you, only desire you would be­fore you go, favour me with some brief Relation, how you came to be thus seduced, winnow and sift your heart, to find out what threw you into this Abiss. He that falls into the wa­ter by breaking through the Ice, must rise where he fell, or he is lost beyond recovery.

Truly Sir, I came to embrace the Catholique Religion; as it were by accident, being about two Months ago, at my Cozen Esquire Preistridden's after Dinner being very merry; Topeing off three or four dozen Bottles of wine, with two strange Gentlemen, that happen'd to be there, one of them began by degrees to feel my pulse as to Religion, and did applaud the Romish Church as the onely certain true easie and orthodox way, and so far decry the protestant, that I who then had more mind to sleep than dispute, knew not scarce [Page 7] what to answer; and at last the whole Company plying me so hard at once with strong Arguments, and full Glasses, that I seemingly con­sented; whereupon next day the two Gentlemen (who as I may tell you under the Rose were a couple of reveren'd Fathers of t [...] society of Jesus) came to my house, and there continued till they had com­pleated my Conversion.

A most excellent method. These are the Jesuites who compass Land and Sea for a proselite, and barbarously caused more than a 100000 silly Americans to be murthered, to the disgrace of Christianity, I cannot but adm [...]re so many of our English Gentry (in other things very Judicious) should suffer themselves to be rookt, opprest, enslaved, and often undone by these Aegyptian Locusts. I knew a young Gentleman of 2000l. a year, married not above three years ago into a Catholike family, who by their art seduced him to their Religion; where­upon he was continually haunted with such Shoals of these Roman Horsleaches, that preying continually on his means, they soon brought his estate into a Consumption, and his wife dying, wheadled him to bestow the remainder on a Colledge of theirs, & Imure himself for the wretched remainder of his [...]ife in a Monastery: thus they bought their Pallace at Dulevort, with the vast portion of a ghost-led Maid, who was forced after­wards to Live afflictedly upon their sorry Alms, and repent of her mistaken Charity. Thus their Abbey of Lanspring, they subtlely recovered from the Lutherans; so they fool'd a doat­ing old Abbot with false Alarms out of England, till he Invest­ed them in their Colledge at Doway, & purchased their sump­tuous House at Paris, by a trick no less Impious and fraudu­lent. In brief, Treason, Rebellion, Fraud, Deceit, and Circum­vention have bin their continual study, since Loyola hatcht them into the world, concerning which I shall only tell you one story; and then refer you to your occasions. Once upon a time, (for so all tales use to beg [...]n) [...]ome was with-child, and she brought forth her eldest Son. The Benedictine Monk, to him as Heir she gave her Lands, she remain'd free a while, but at last she was with child again, and brought into the Light [Page 8] Twins. The Dominican and the Franciscan Fryer: to the first ha­ving already bestowed her Lands. she gave certain Houses & Moneys by way of pension: to the other (having now nothing else lest) The Wallet, and set him out of doors a begging: she stood clear again for a considerable time, till at last she was once more Mountain-big, she long'd, she groan'd, she drew her breath short, and made store of out-landish faces, but in Conclusion gave the World a Lusty Boy, who was no sooner born, out he utter'd from natures backdoor, the Midwives Lapful, which was interpreted an omen of future good Luck. This was the fiery Jesuite, and his Mother having given away Lands, Houses, Wallet and all, took him up gave him a smart clap on the right Buttock, and said, My Darling, shift for thy self, and so he has done ever since most accurately, to the De­struction of all places where he comes.

I will be in Debt to you for this story till our next meet­ing: In the Interim, consider your condition, and remember, that out of the Church there is no Salvation.

I do consider my own condition and pitty yours; remembring the punishment attending them who turn their backs on sacred truths, they have once professed, and make void the Law of God by their vain Traditions.