ADVICE TO Protestants.  
'tIS not at all becoming Christians, Those especially who pretend to Reform Christianity according to the Purity of the Primitive Times, to permit amongst them such abominable Profanations, as speak them rather to be Maintainers of Judaisme or Infidelity, than Professors of any Christianity at all. Upon this Score it is I become an Adviser to Protestants, because I see their Indiscreet Zeal against Popery, is like to betray them into such Practices, as suit better with the wild's of Africa and Unbelieving Turks, than with Those, who glory that they are born in a Christian Soil, and bred up in the most Moderate and best Tempered Religion in the World. For I appeal now to any Christian, whose Soul is not wholly feered and stupefied, whether That Show, which on Thursday last, March 17. was led through the Principal Streets of this Protestant City, viz. Bears with Crosses in their Foreheads, a Bull with a Cross on each Horn, a Mastiff-Dog with a Cross in his Forehead, was not a Mockery of Heaven; and a most profane Ridiculing of the Chief Mystery of the Christian Religion? And yet such was the Pastime of this City, while passing through so many Streets, that Sacred Sign of Man's Redemption was exposed to the scornful Smiles of the Ignorant Crowds, and met with None, as I can hear of, that had Religion enough to disturb the Profanation.  
If this had been acted in a City peopled with Jews, Infidels or Turks, it had been only agreeable to their Principles, and would neither have called for Advice or Wonder from any Christian Beholder; but that this should be done in a Christian City, and in the middle of such Christians too, who pretend to take up nothing of Christianity, but such as is Reformed, Pure and Uncorrupt, 'tis matter of Admiration; and if it should pass without Censure or Reproof, 'twould be a just entit'ling those Beasts that wore the Cross to the Christianity of the Town, and give occasion to Foreigners to think, that the Title of Beast did not belong so much to those that bore the Crosses, as to the Looker's on and Permitters, and much more to the Promoters and Applauders of it. I must make bold therefore to tell you, My Protestants, that this sort of Protestancy is not at all becoming; and that 'tis something to be feared, that while some Hot Spirits are teaching their Followers to hate Popery, they'll put 'em upon over doing the work, and oblige 'em to be No Christians whilst they are teaching them to be No Papists. through we had enough of this kind of Protestantism, when Oats and Bedloe, with Others that made Gospel of Their Divinity, taught people to be Barbarous and Mad for Conscience sake; when Sir william Waller joinng Jew and Christian all in one, Burnt Crucifixes and Crosses for the promoting Christianity. But it seems, tho' these be out of the way, their Spirit is yet behind, 'tis kept alive, 'tis encouraged, animated; They that can expose the Cross to Contempt upon the Foreheads and Horns of Beasts, no doubt are disposed enough, were the time come, to close this triumph by committing it to the Flames. O how unlike this is to the spirit of the Primitive Christians, whose Religion you pretend to follow. You say, you are of the Religion of Constantine, chrysostom, Augustin, etc. But do you think those Holy Fathers could have seen, heard, or passed by such an impious mocking as this, without just indignation and a zealous reproof? Constantine honoured the Cross, and laid it up for the preservation of his Regal City: chrysostom tells us, that Kings have a Cross on their Robes, a Cross on their Crowns, a Cross at their Prayers, a Cross upon their Arms, a Cross upon the Altar; and that a Prince's Head is more honoured with a Cross than with a Crown. St. Austin likewise declares, That the Cross is made honourable now amongst Christians, and an end put to its reproach, but not to its Glory: From Places of Execution, 'tis now translated, says he, to the Foreheads of Emperors: But now how unlike are you to these Ancient Fathers, whilst having torn the Cross from the Altar, you set it out to scorn upon the Horns of Beasts, and from the Foreheads of Kings and Christians, and even from your own too in Baptism, you most profanely translate it to that of Bears and Dogs, as if it were they who are to fight under the Standard of Christ. Is this the Religion of the Primitive Times? Is this according to the Purity of the Gospel? This kind of spirit was too Active indeed in the time of the Reformation, but sure the world has had enough of it; there's no need now of trampling upon the Cross to teach us to be Christians. And if this has been now done by the Ignorant Rabble; at least, why do not others, that know better Reprove or Correct it? A Private Person cannot suppose himself wronged, but he must presently clear his Reputation: but when Christianity is injured, there's no body appears in its behalf: Will not the World cry shame upon such Christians?   

Published with Allowance.   

LONDON, Printed by Henry Hills, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, For his Household and Chapel, 1687.