It, Afferting the independency of the Church. 2dly, Their Power of Excommunication, as binding as that of the Roman Church. 3dly, Auricular Confeffion made neceffary to Salvation, Vide Br--tt's Sermon. 4thly, Abfolution determined in as pofitive a manner as that of Rome. 5thly, A very tender and loofe Diftinction between the Real and Corporal Prefence in the Sacrament. 6tbly, Judging of Scrupulous Confciences by Tefts of Malice and Roman Revenge. 7thly, Rebelling, when out of Place and Power. 8thly, Dif penfing with Oaths, or taking them in what Sense they pleafe; with many more of fuch Principles, which are either entirely Popish, or have a direct Tendency that way.

This Game have the Popishly-affected Clergy been driving-on for a Century and upwards; perhaps not all with an intent to throw themfelves into the Bofoin of the Roman Communion, but to make themselves as Abfolute, by lodging in the Suburbs of it; whereas the cunning Sophifters of the Roman Church, who had the Management of this part, laugh'd at the fantastick Schemes of our Church-Politicians; who proposed to go fuch determinate Lengths towards Rome, and not actually go-in to her; knowing that a Church of England Abfoluté, and above the Law, is a Monster, and not to be tolerated by Proteftants; and that the muft either fubmit to the Establishment, or call-in Popery and Arbitrary Power in the End, to fupport her.

This we have lived to fee accomplished at this Hour; and blush to find Numbers openly profeffing the Proteftant Faith, lifting under the Banners of Popery, to perfect the Reformation. But this was the natural Tendency of fuch impious Doctrines, and an Ambition for Power, warranted neither by the Gofpel, nor the Laws of the

Land.

Land. Upon thefe Principies, the Treafon, the Perjury, and Rebellion of the High Church and their Pupils, at this Time, gives no Manner of Surprife to the thinking part of Mankind. But the Conduct of the profeff'd Papifts is fomewhat extraordinary. One would think that this Caft of Men fhould have been very wary in engaging in fo defperate an Exploit. The many execrable Attempts made, not only upon the Conftitution, but likewife upon the Perfons of our Princes, have long fince blotted them out of the Roll of Protection, and call'd loudly for Vengeance. The Smithfield Fires of the bloody Mary; the repeated Plots against Queen Elizabeth; the Spanish Invafion; the Powder-Confpiracy; the fufpicious Exit of James I. by Plafter and Potions; the matchlefs Ingratitude of the Popish Crew, in the Murder of Charles II. who fkreen'd them from Justice at the Expence of his Honour, and his People's Love ;— fhould, in the natural Course of Revenge, have been repaid with a total Extirpation of their Perfons or Principles; and how at prefent they can hope to escape the Indignation of a Proteftant Parliament, is left to them to confider.

It has been talk'd with Affurance, that there are many Conftitution Papifts in this Kingdom, who had rather live with fome Restrictions under our gentle

* From the evidence on this subject that is distinctly stated in Ralph's History of England, it seems highly probable that King Charles the Second was poisoned by some Romish Priests, to prevent the execution of a design he had formed to recall the Duke of Monmouth and receive him again into favour. This design the King had communicated to his favourite mistress, the Dutchess of Portsmouth, and she had revealed it to her Popish Confessor, as the Dutchess declared about ten years after in the reign of King Williamn the Third,

Laws,

Laws, than fettle in a foreign Country, even with a free Enjoyment of their Religion. But let fuch credulous Wretches know, that it is as impoffible for a Papift to be difinterested in the Affair of Religion, or cool in the Advancement of what they Blafphemously call the Holy Cause, as for a Mifer to be easy in the fight of Gold, without coveting it, or a Glutton to be contented with a flender Meal, when a Feaft is in view.

I fhall conclude with one Inftance of their Holy Rage, to show the Sentiments of that inhuman Race; and that is the Motto, which, Tradition tells us, was impressed on the Catholick Banners, in order to be displayed, if the accurfed Powder-plot had been duly executed by thofe Devils Incarnate.

The Motto, or rather Curfe, runs thus:

In Nomine Diva Marie!

Corruat Ecclefia Angliæ Schifmatica!

Pereat, non fire Pontificis

Opt. Max. Numine, Jacobus,

Fidei fubverfor, unà cum Stirpe Regiâ !
Deleatur Senatus !

Cujufcunque Ordinis Hæretici Exterminentur !
Reftauretur denique per Cades, per ftrages, per
Ruinas, Romana Fides, verè Apoftolica!

In plain English thus:

Let the Schifmatical, (viz. the Proteftant) Church of England, become an Heap of Ruins !

Let James, the Subverter of the Faith, together with his Royal Iffue, be destroyed by the holy Influence and Approbation of the Pope!

Let the very Name of Parliaments be blotted-out!

Let

Let Hereticks of all degrees be exterminated! And the truely Apoftolical Romish Religion at length be restored by Blood, by Ruin, and by Devastation!

This gives us fo painful an Image of the brutal Cruelty of the Papifts, that a warm Imagination cannot well be trusted with proper Animadverfions upon it: The naked expreffions carry fo much Horror along with them, that they want no Colours to enliven them.

End of the Introduction to the Second Edition of the Debates on the Exclufion-Bill, published in the Year 1716.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE SENTIMENTS OF THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF ORANGE, CONCERNING THE REPEAL OF THE TEST-ACT IN ENGLAND, BY WHICH PAPISTS WERE EXCLUDED FROM HOLDING CIVIL AND MILITARY EMPLOYMENTS; TO WHICH REPEAL THEY WERE SOLLICITED BY KING JAMES II. IN THE YEAR 1687, TO GIVE THEIR CONSENT.

Extracted from Bifbop Burnet's History of bis Own Times, Vol. II. from Page 432 to 453.

THE King was every day faying, "that he was King, and he would be obeyed, and would make those who opposed him feel that he was their King :" And he had both Priests and flatterers about him, that were still pushing him forward. All men grew melancholy with this fad prospect. The hope of the true Proteftants was in the King's two daughters; chiefly on the eldeft, who was out of his reach, and was known to be well-inftructed, and very zealous in matters of religion. The Princess Anne was ftill very steadfast and regular in her devotions, and was very exemplary in the course of her life. But, as care had been taken to put very ordinary Divines about her for her Chaplains, fo fhe had never pursued any study in those points with much application. And, all her Court being put about her by the King and Queen, fhe was befet with fpies. It was therefore much apprehended, that he would be ftrongly affaulted, when all other defigns would fo far fucceed as to make that feasonable. In the mean while