THE CHARACTER OF A PAPIST. Quis credit tantum Religio suasisse malorum. printer's or publisher's device London▪ Printed in the Year 1673. THE CHARACTER OF A PAPIST. A Papist is a thing like a Man, but more unhappy than a Beast, since he is so far from being reasonable, that he wants the use of his Senses, God made him a Man, but his own zealous Ignorance transforms him into an Idol, not unlike that of the Psalmist, He hath Eyes and sees not. For he cannot (or which is worse, out of a resolute Blindness will not) distinguish between the Colour, Taste, and Substance of Flesh and a Wafer. He is one that thinks it safest walking blindfold, and puts out his own Eyes, (we mean his Reason the Lamp of the Soul) to be guided through thick and thin by another, and prefers the dark Lantern of an inveighing Priest, before the bright Taper of God's Word, or the natural Light of his Conscience which the wisest of Men styles the Candle of the Lord. His main boast is of good Works, though no Man's Life is more debauched and sullied with the continual stains of repent Crimes: Yet so confident he is not only to quit scores with Heaven, but to oblige it too by his superarogating Merits, Whilst his conniving Ghostly Father, easily winks at his Venial sins, As, Swearing, Lying, Whoreing, etc. And his Holiness, for a petty Sum, Cancels those more frightful ones of Adultery, and Incest; and Enrolls him in the Calendar of Saints, for perpetrating the useful Villainies of Murder, Rebellion, and Treason. His Faith exceeds that of Devils, for they believe the Truth and Tremble, but he can resolutely credit the most nonsensical Lies in Nature, and never quake or boggle at the matter. He is as safe in his Creed, as a Conjurer in his Enchanting Circle. He believes as his Church, and his Church believes as he does: That Church which is an Individuum vagum, a very Bull in expression, an Absurdity in Terminis, Roman, Yet Catholic; Catholic. Yet Roman, a particular General like the Nursery Phrase, Enter Seven Devils, Solus: A Church universal confined to the Pope's Person, like Legion Cramped up in a single Lucifer. A Church that is but a mere trick of State, a Politic Stratagem, to awe the simple, and maintain the crafty Hierarchy that first contrived it in pride and Idleness. A Spiritual Legerdemain to bubble the credulous at once li●th out of their wits and Money. Their Miracles are equally more numerous and more thin and ayerical, than those recounted in Holy Scripture; For what Christ and his Apostles performed were so gross and visible, that all men's Senses could evidence them, but these are so fine and rarified, and yet so many, that it at once puzzles the most piercing Eye to perceive them and the ablest Arithmetician to Sum them up: Yet must we not call our Papist an Atheist, he hath a God, but he keeps it in a Box. A Wafer which by the wonderful Words of a shaveling Priest, you must believe in an instant Metamorphosed (or if you will) transubstantiated into very Flesh, and Blood, Which is no sooner made, but forthwith they devour it, which raises a Question, Whether a Cannibal or Papist, be the ●a●kest Flesh eater, since the former eats only Man's Flesh, the later that of his God. He fancies the Court of Heaven to be like those of Earthly Princes, where all Addresses must be made by the mediation of Favourites, and therefore as if our Saviour's Intercession were insufficient, Courts the suffrages of Saints, and spends more time in Imploring their Assistance then in supplicating the Mercy of the Almighty; He offers such blasphemous Titles to the ever blessed Virgin, as would (if glorified Essences be capable of disturbance) make her blush and be troubled to hear them; and worries others for Intercession in such trivial affairs, as he is ashamed to relate to his Confessor. Here in England (which affords no Wolves but those in Sheep's Clothing) he appears a pretty Innocent Beast; but in the Inquisition proves a Lion Rampant; he is not Inspired with the Blessed gentle Dove, but carries the Talons of a Devouring Vulture, thinks it the only way of Conversion to knock Religion into people's heads with Pole-Axes, and esteem no Arguments so proper for the promoting his Catholic Faith, as Fire and Faggot, Racks and Tortures; All England, Ireland, France, Germany, the Valtoline and West-Indies too they have Consecrated with their Sacrifices, as if the whole World were but their Golgatha, or Acheldema, so much more dainty is their Idol-Worship than that of Bell and Dragon of old, by how much the Blood of Saints is more precious than that of Beasts; yet all this they shall justify by that Text in the vulgar Latin, Hominem Hereticum devita; that is, as these Masters of Language Interpret it, de vita tolle; If his Impiety of Rome, the Bell-wether of this Superstitious Flock, be St Peter's Successors in any thing, 'tis certainly in denying his Master, for never were any things more Diametrically opposite, than the humble, sweet and gentle example of the blessed Jesus, and the proud insulting domineering, and usurping humour of this his pretended Vicar. Infine, a Papist is one that has a Privilege not inferior to Paul the Roman, born at Tarsus, for what Countryman soever he be, he is still a Roman; so true to the Holy See, that he is false to all the World besides, his very Religion, if he understands it, prompts him to Disloyalty, and according to those cursed Tenets, his Priest have instilled into him, 'tis impossible for him at once to serve God, and honour his Kings yet will they ever boast themselves the best Subjects, but 'tis only then and there were their Interest fall in; at other times he will stir no further in his Prince's cause, than he has orders from Rome, one Bull from whence he believes, can in a moment Absolve him from all Allegiance, and the most sacred Ties of Obedience; In most things the Court of Rome makes use of him, as the Ape of the Cat's foot, to take the Chestnut out of the Fire, and generally the Jesuit behind the Certain that gives him motion; That, and the Inquisition are the Buckle and Thong of Popery, the two Plasters whereby the Pope hopes to cure the wounds he received from Luther, and one's more by their help to ride in Triumph on the Necks of Kings and Emperors; But 'tis time to conclude, which we think fit to do in the following Hymn: To the Daughter of Babylon. A PAPIST, He is the best Christian Wight, If you will believe it, you may. And he unto Heaven doth go full right. The clean contrary way, Oh! the clean contrary way. His Church of all Christian Churches the first, If you will believe it, you may. And he that's not of it, is surely accurst, The clean contrary way, Oh! the clean contrary way. Of all Christian Churches the Pope is the Head, If you will believe it, you may. He leads men to Heaven when they are dead. The clean contrary way, Oh! the clean contrary way. All sins he pardon's both past and to come, If you will believe it you may. Then you are sure to escape the last doom, The clean contrary way, Oh! the clean contrary way. Legend of Legions, all Miracles sure, If you will believe it you may. More to be credited, than Scripture pure, The clean contrary way, Oh! the clean contrary way. A Wafer the Priest Charms into a God, If you will believe it you may. And so it becomes true Flesh, and Blood, The clean contrary way, Oh! the clean contrary way. Then into your mouth he puts it all raw, If you will believe it, you may. Which surely will bleed if that you it Chew, The clean contrary way, Oh! the clean contrary way. He is the best Friend to a Protestant, If you will believe it, you may. And will supply him in what he doth want, The clean contrary way, Oh! the clean contrary way. They are the best Leaders that can be chose. If you will believe it, you may. To teach Protestants to fight with their Foes, The clean contrary way, Oh! the clean contrary way, A Papist best Subject is to a King, If you will believe it, you may, And most to be trusted in any thing, The clean contrary way, Oh! the clean contrary way. FINIS.