> ^ ^^7 \». > HUMOURIST: O R. An entertaining Difplay of the Abfurditics of the Roman Catholicks and Nonprors. CONTAINING Remarks upon E^orcifm, with the Sfory of St. Grap\ Exorcifing away all the Rats in the County of Aofi. The Form of confecrating the 2)a^ger for the \^AIfajJination of Princes. THe Story of St. Anthony"^ Gboft. The Highlander and the DeviL The Britifti Hottentots, The Farce of the Greek and Armenian Tfiefis drif^ ing away the Ticvil on Eafter Eve. The forms of confecrating Holy Oyly and Holy tfa^gr, AVith a great Variety of other devout Pranks,' Extra^^l ed from various Hillorys, Voyages, Travels, ^c, InfcrtVd to Dr. Deacon. To, which is Addcv-?, The Si^s^ Tears, and Groam\ Of the ChMtcn of J/ratl i With the -Story of Little John and Mn. Abigail. LONDON: Printed and Sold by the Bo^k fellers in Town and Country^ \T^i, ^rice^ Three Shillings and 6ix-pencc. THE PREFACE TH E Epiftle to a Friend being more than once referred to in the Jucceeding Pages , fome Particulars relating to if may not be unac- cep table to the Reader \ as they may tend to illuf- trate fome Pajj'ages in the Jollowing Letter. It is well known ^ that after the ExtinBion of the late Rebellion^ the Rebel Heads fix*d up at Manchefter Exchange, had religious Honours paid to them by the Devotees of the Jacobite Fa5lion» Mr, NichoUs, a learned^ ingenious and loyal Clergyman in that ^own preach' d^ and afterwards in his own Defence publifljed, a very feafonable Difcourfe on that Occafion, therein he fjew'd, that Rebels and Traytors guilty of the mo ft atrocious Crimes, and whofe Lives had been as immoral as their Deaths 'were infa^ mous, had no juli Claims to the DifiinBions of Chriftlan Martyrdom ; and that thofe who had been Enemies to lU Righteoufnefs, both in a moral and political Capacity^ could not be faid to fiiffer for Righteoufnefs Sake, Jacobitifm took Alarm at this^ and the Alarm begat the Epiftle to a Friend ; the low Defign of ijohich 'Was^ to travefly Mr, NichoUs's Sermon* But A 2 h0 %w The PREFACE. Be who fets about to ridicule good Senfe^ betrays bis Want of it^ and by attempting to wound the Reputation of another^ bids fair^ in the IJfue^ to damn his own. Mr. Owen, had likewife^ in a Thankfgiving Sermon on the Defeat of the Rebellion^ ob/erv*d the Indecency and 'Impropriety oj reverencing ^raytors and MyrmidoJis as Chriftian Martyrs^ md making the Scum oj the Earth the Glory ^ nay the Pride ^ oj Heaven, In a Marginal ISote^ he referred to a Paragraph inferted in the Man- chefter Magazine, by an Eye-Witnefs to the Fa6t^ to jupport the Charge of Skull-Worjhip, Be- Jides thiSy Mr. Owen publifhed a Letter in the Supplement to the Gentleman's Magazine ly^b^ relating to the Manchefter Jacobite PaSiion, ^his was Provocation fufficient to intitle him to the ISIotice of the Manchesfter Verfe-wright in his Epiftle to a Friend. Such Oppofition to the licentious Spirit of Jacobitifm, arifing from different garters, gave a Swell to Jacobite Rages I'he Trumpet of Sedition was blown ; the Clouds of DifaffeBionbur/l^ and dlfcharged them- Jelves upon the Magiliracy , loyal Clergy^ ^nd all the Gover7imenf s Friends, in Showers oj Wrath and Fury, The Mafter-Tool was ordered to his Po/ly from whence he has fince been preach- ing up Politenefs with Dunghil- Breeding, and, under Pretence of advocating for the true Ca- tholic Church, been labouring to introduce the Worjhip c?/Dunghil-Gods, But The PREFACE. v But, The Author of the Epiftle to a Friend? Here the Reader muli fatisfy him-^ jelf with learning who he is not, as I cannot at prefent inftru6i him who he is. Certain it is, the Author of it cannot be Mr. By rem, and that J or two Reafons. Fir [I, John Byrom, M. A. and R R.S. is both a Gentleman and a Poet^ and therefore can7iot be the Author of the EpiiHe to a Friend. Mr, Byrom, in early Life, dijiinguijhed him^ Jelf by Jome very ijtgenious Efjhys in the Specfta- tor, fign'd John Shadow, and by a fine Pafioral^ Phoebe and Colin, which will always do Honour to his Name. It cannot be conceived therefore^ that he fjould be fo far forfaken by the Graces^ as to be the Author oj the above- mentio7ied E- piftle. To afcribe it to Mr. Byrom, is only a low Stratagem, made Ufe of by f'ome Soul canker d with Envy, in order to blafl that Gentleman s Fame. Secondly, Whatever Difguifes it may be prudential and even neceffary for Mr, Byrona to wear, among Jome of the DifafeBed at Man- chefter, yet when abroad, nx)here he need in- dulge no Referve, and when among Whigs, where every Man has the Privilege to [peak his Senti- ments freely, he is well known to be a jiaunch and (ieady Whig ; a warm Advocate for the prefent Government, and a zealous Friend to the Conftitution both in Church and State. For the vi The P R E F A C E. the Truth of this, I could appeal to feveral Gentlemen of Diftindlion that know him^ that have conversed with him, that have form'd fome Intimacy with him^ and are ready to bear Tejlimony for him. Nay, when abroad amongft honeil Whigs, he has been Jo accomplifli'd a one himfelf^ that fome have even violently fufpeBed him with being a Prefbyterian. However this I take to be a Mi flake, jor Prefbyterians, accord- ding to Dr. Deacon's new Gojpel of Trzdition, mu/l ordinarily be all damn'd, (a) afid confe^ quently Dr. Deacon can have no Friend/hip Jor thofe for whom God has no Mercy or Compaf-^ fion. But Dr. Deacon and Mr. Byrom are very good Friends, as all good Chriftians either are, or ought to be. However from Mr. By- rom's Whig Principles, 'tis evident, he cannot be the Author of the Jacobite Epiftle to a Friend. ^ E. D. It may not be improper to add here, that there has been lately publijhed an excellent, fo- lemn, methodical, true, full, concife, compre- henlive, incomprehenfible, and unanfwerable Defence who wrote it. When fuch a Catechifm and fuch a Ballad, like the two Meteors^ Cador and Pollux, (a) go Hand in Hand, they portend that Jacobitifm has fpent its Rage, that the Storms and Tem^ pelts of Jacobite Fadlion are allay' d. and that their Strength being exhaulled. a Calm will fpeedily fucceed them -. or to diver fify the Ima- gery, our Mafter-Tool, like his Co/in German Tom Tripplett, the Weftminfter Scholar, find- ing a Grove of Birch planted in his Buttocks, makes a Je(l of his own Misfortune, with a View to anticipate his being made the Common- Place "J eft of his Fellows-, and diffembles the Diftrefjes he cannot remove and dare not confefs. It is a Maxim in the Schools. Nihil dat quod non habet. Our Ballad-Catholic-Church Ad^ vocate (a) Caftor and Pollux are Meteors that fometlmes in a great Storm appear flicking to Ships like two, or fometimes more, Balls of Fire. If one Ball only appears ir prognolhcates Danger, bat when two are feen cogeiher they portend an approaching Calm, via The PR E F A C E. wcate confirms that Maxim ^ Learning and Argument he has but little to difplay ; but what he has he will give you, Inffead of a Flow of Wity he'll attejiipt to bear down his Adverfary with a Flood of III- Manners : Inftead oj Argu^ ment he'll give you a Catch : Inftead of Reajon a Rhime : Doggrel infiead of Demonflration ; and inftead of Common Senfe^ he'll fecond the pious Mountebankry of his Friend-Dodlor, and endeavour to fire away the Devil of Loyalty and Whiggijm out oj the Nation^ by writing Verjes, ^hus^ as the py'd piper of Hamel, (fo called from his particoloured Drefs and his Occupation)^ charm' d away all the Brunfwick Rats with his Mufic (^a), jo our Poetical Scaramouch would chafe out of our Landy to adopt his own Exprej'- Jion^ all Hanover Rats with a Ballad. A LET- (a) A Perfon call'd the py'd Piper in Saxony\ contrafted with the Burghers of Hamel in the County of Brunfnjj'icky for a certain Sum of Money, to rid them of all the Rats that infefted the Town ; and accordingly having pip'd them all after him, he led them to the River (VeTer and therein drowned them. But the Town refufing to fulfill it's Bargain, he pip'd again thro' the Streets, and being followed by a Crowd of Children, 130 in Number, thro' one of the Gates of the City, to an adjacent Hill, a wide Chafm open'd in the Side of it, into which him- felf and the Children having enter'd, the Hill clos'd up again, and they were never feen any more. This is faid to have hap- pened July z, 1376. In Memory thereof, it was ordain'd and eftablilhed that in all publick Writings made in that Town, the Year of the going forth of their Children fhould bs added after the Year of our Lord, which Practice has ever fince been ob; ferved and continued among them. 8 Verjieg, Antiq. p. 93. 94- LETTER TO THE MASTER-TOOL, &c. SIR! HAVE fomewhere read of an Order of Knighthood amongft the Hotte?itots^ where the Perfon inftall'd is plentifully hefpatter'd in a very u?igenteel and itide- cejit Manner; which he re- ceives with great Alacrity, ^. the more Indecency, the more Romiir. In a Light fomething analogous to this, I confider your Treatment of me, in a late Epiftle to a Friend. The more Abufe, the more Honour; the more Scurrility you have given Vent to, the more Diftindion you have paid me. Jaco- R bte$ as (lo) bites and i^onjurorSy I have always looked upon a$ a Race of Britipj Hottentots^ as blind and bigotted as their Brethren about the Cape^ but more favage in their Manners. A Specimeri of this from their Writings ? Take one as follows : *' Leave to the low-bred O-ns of the Age, *' Senfe lo belye and Loyalty to rage ^ ** Wit to make Treafon of each Cry and Chat, " And Eyes to fee falfe Worfhip in a Hat ; " WifdomandLove to conftrue Heart and Mien, *' By the new Go/pel of a Magazine'' Epiftle to a Friend, p. 26. Your polite and elaborate Notes upon the above Lines are as follow, " Line 335. Leave to the low-bred. Allud- " ing to a furious fanatic Preacher, in the " Neighbourhood of Manchejler^ who has late- " ly publilh'd fome Sermons in the Spirit here *^ defer ibcd. a " Line 340. A Magazine. Alluding to Mr. Owen's mentioning ihe Story above- men tion- " ed" [i. e. Dr. Deacon's worfhipping the Re- bel Skulls fix'd up on the Exchaftge at Man- chejier] " in his Ranting Sermon on the Thanks* •' givingDay; and citing for it a paltry News- l[ Paper, intitled the Manche/ler Magazine.'* Thcfe (") Thefe few Traits of your Genius illuftrate and confirm my Obfervation above ; that ^ja^ cobites and Nonjurors are but a Race of Briti(b Hottentots^ as blind and bigotted as their Bre- thren about the Cape^ but more favage in their Manners. Why elfe fo much Rage and Viru- lence, exprefs'd by you iS/r, the Mouth and Mafter-Tool of the Fadlion, in the Neighbour- hood of Manche/ier^ again ft a Perfon to whom you are a Stranger ? Exprefs'd againft him ; for wh^t ? For blafpheming the Charafter oi faint* ed Tray tors, and even daring to profcribe Re- bellion. For thefe high and mighty Crimes, I am - — - what am I not ? A 'Bury ; 2i Fanatic j^ ^ low- bred Fellow . Go on Sir ; a little more of the fame Billingsgate Oratory ; •«»» a few more of the fame Bear-Garden De- corations of Language. They well become the Caufe that you plead -, they are the ftrong- eft Pillars that fupport, the nobleft Ornaments that grace, and the moft conclufive Arguments that defend it. Impudent Puppy; Son of a B— ch; Son of a W— re^ are fome other Fi- gures of Speech, which when decently inter-' larded with well-mouth*d Oaths, have done ex-r cellent Service to your Caufe, againft it's two moft inveterate Enemies, the Love of our Country and Common Senfe. As you have fome Military Friends among you, fince the A6t of Indemnity took Place, *tis not doubted but you will be taught how to employ the Fi- B Z gurcv (12) gures of Speech above, as a Corps de Referve^ on a proper Occafion. However as Lofers are allov^'d to complain, and Cidloden w^as a fatal Day ! if a Man cannot ihew his Wit, yet why fhould he not ihew his Teeth ? Believe me, 5/r, I (hall never attempt to reftrain you from the free Exercife and En- joyment of this glorious Privilege. Hard Lan- guage and foft Arguments, (I'll fay nothing of the Heads that form them) can never wound that Caufe which has Truth to fupport it. But "whilft ihe Enemies of the Government endea- vour to poifon Mens Minds with all Manner of flavifh, abfurd, and rebellious Principles, Ihall there be no Antidote difpens'd by the Government's Friends ? Shall a Man fit down, indolent and neutral in his Houfe, while he beholds Thieves rifling his Property, or Incen- diaries fetting his Houfe on a Flame ? Shall State Incendiaries^ you know who I mean, be propagating the Flame of DifafFedtion to the beft of Governments and the bed of Kings, and none endeavour to extinguifh its Rage and Fu- ry ? Yes aS/V, I dare plead the Caufe of Liberty, of Virtue, of Religion, of Ma^ikind, and of my Country, in Spite of all Oppofition. You have invited, you have provoked me into the Field ; and I dare let you know that I am not akin to your Jugitive Hero ; that I fhall not flinch in the Combat. I dare tell you that oar prefent Government has Enemies, and what Kind (13) Kind of Men they are. Be it at Bologne, or AvigJiOTty or whatever other Place, that your vagrant Idol keeps up the mock State of a Court, I dare tell you that the Man who vifits it to procure an Abfolution for having abjured Popery and the Pretender^ and fworn Allegiance to King GEORGE, and yet calls himfelf a good Pf'oteftant and a good Subje^, either affronts other Mens Underftandings, or betrays the Weaknefs of his own. I dare tell both you and your Friends^ that the Features of baje-born Super/litiony are as different from thofe of true Religion, as the hectoring, fvvaggering Rant of your Party over their Cups, is different from true Magnanimity and Courage. I dare tell you that Jacobites and No?2Jurors fliould always herd together, that they pine after the fame Yoke, court the fa?ne Chains, and meet in the fa?ne Center : I cannot fay, with your Brother JVit and Patriot^ Dr. Sacheverely that like two Parallel Lines, they will meet in one Center, (ai If your Libels againd the Gover?2ment and Commo?t Senje^ have from Time to Time cfcap- ed Notice ; if they have received no. Anfwer, 'tis not becaufe they have been unanfvverable, but becaufe they h^ve defervd none. Hov/- ever your late Attack upon me, ur^es me to examine a little into Jacobite and Nonjuring Principles, and to give fuch an Account of them (a) Sachinjinl\ AfTize Sermon a: Oxford. Via. Modern Fa- ntiiic. p. 17. them as may be of fome Service to the Pub- lick. The two Points I propofe, at this Time to join Iffae with you upon, are, Whether Jacoiife and Nonjuring Principles do not ftand juftly chargeable with Fanaticifm^ and whether this Fanaticifm is not, of all o- ther, the mod fovereign and accomplifh'd ? And, as I difown the Authority of all Gofpels but Chrifi'^, Whether Chrifl^s Gofpel or the Nonjuror'^ Gofpel, be the new one^ and which of the two is the more rational and authentic ? As to the firft : I {hall not take upon me to enquire whether the Word Fanatic boafts of a Greek or Latin Extraftion. Be that the applaud- ed Tafk of fome fublime Genius — like your own, whofe Leifure and Talents render him e- qual to Enquiries of fuch folemn Importance. *'Tis enough for my Purpofe, that whatever its Etymology be, the Meaning which Ufe has ftamp*d upon it is this ^ — one who covers bad or the ''oery wor/l Purpofes with a great Shew of Goodnefs and Devotion. The true Spirit of Fanaticifm difcovers itfelf in fuch a wild, out- rageous Zeal for Abfurdities, as grows even in* to devout Madnefs. 'Tis a Spirit that raifes Tumults and Seditions in States, without any juft Provocation ; that difturbs the Peace of Societies, and folemnly invocates Heaven to aid aid in efFeftuating their Ruin. Fanaticifm is a fandtify'd Phrenzy, that pretends much to ex- traordinary Influences and Communications ; to immediate Infpirations J to 2ijamiliar and /ul- Jome Commerce with the Deity. It receives Dreams for divine Truths, and paffes off" wild Reveries for Gofpel Revelations. It's Lan- guage is a lufcious, unintelligible Jargon. The Fanatical Inamorato feels, what he looks upon to be, a facred Rage of Paffion fwell in his Breaft. The Fire of E?ithufiaf?n glows within him, and he cherifhes and feeds it with as much Zeal as the Vefial Virgins of Rome did i\\Q facred Fire in their Temple. In fliort, he riots in all Manner of fpiritual Debaucheries, and talks to his God as the Gallant doth to his Miftrefs. Fanaticifm urges its Votaries to the Obfervance of the mod abfurd and unnatural Rites ; to cut and flafli their own Bodies for the Good of their Souls ; (a) to facrifce their own Children, (b) and makes natural Deliriu??t to be an infallible Token oi fu per natural Grace. Such were the Fanatic Priejis of Bellona ; nay Sir, if you read any Poetry but — your own, me- thinks you might learn that the Fanatic Prie/ls of Bellona were but Types of the Jacobite and Nonjuring Fanatics of our Day, Speak Juvenal^ *' Sed (a) Bellonae fervientes, vcre exfecare Brachium, pracepit Studio Crudelitatis. Caujabon in Lamp. (b) Vid. Lucian de Dea Syria, (i6) Sed ut Fanaticus JEdw, *^ Percuilus, Bellona tuo divinat ; et ingens *' Omen habes, inquit, magni clariq; Triumphi " Regemaliquemcapies, ^uidaTcmone Br ita?2riO " Excidit Avirargus, (a) Florus gives us an Account of one Eunus who by counterfeiting a fanatical Ftir)\ bran- difliing about the Locks of the Syrian Goddefs, pretending to a divine Impulfe ; (and indeed moft Fanatics make God a Party in their Quarrels), kindled a bloody War in the Roman Commonwealth, and induced 60,000 Men to take up Arms againft the State, (b) A learned Writer obferves that Weigelius and Behmen ; your intimate Acquaintance, Jacob Behfnen^ he muft mean, were the Leaders of the Fanatics in Germany ; and both thefe were pupill'd by one Paracelfus a Phyfician. Now Sir, fuppofe I could name a modern T>r:.-Pa7'a^ celfus that teaches and propagates fuch Principles £S the above, that, like your Dark Lanthorn Ja- cob^ inculcates a ilrange Kind of Myftic Divinity upon the Minds of his deluded Votaries ^ that is for raifing Tumults and Infurredions in the State 5 whofe Religious Catechifms are LefTons (a) Jwvenal Sat. 4. (b) Syrus quidam Nomine Eunus (Magnitudo Cladium facit ut meminerimus) fanatico Furore, fimulato, dum Syriae Deae co- mas fpeftat ad Libertatem et Arma Servos guafiNuminum Im- perio concitavit. 8 jT/ww JLib. 3, c. 9. (17) Leffons of Abfurdity and Superftltion, and vvhofc political ones are the Fate of his unhappy Sons (a) will tell what? who dreams of nothing but dethroning of Britidi Princes, and who, like the Worlhippers of the »Sy- r/V/^Goddefs, will facrifice his ownChildren to his Idols. . Will not yon call this Man a Fanw- tic? Would not Juvenal-, would not Florus have caird him fo, had he lived in their Days. But you v/ill fay, do you take me for a School-Boy to read Lectures to me out of fuch moth-eaten Authors as thefc ? Well «?/>, to attone in fome Meafure for putting you under the fevere Difcipline of a School Boy, V\\ wave, for a while, referring you to any more heatben-- i(hy greek and latin Authors, and remit you to an Engliflj one, to learn what Funaticifm is, and to one who has juftly been efteemed one of the politert Writers of this Age. *^ Fanaticifm is a Compofition of Superftiti- " on and Enthufiafm. It overbears all Order *' and Government, all Virtue and found Re- " ligion — « It implys an uncommon Pretence '^ to Religion and San6tity, and fometimes In- *' fpiration itfelf, with an evident Mixture of '^ Madnefs or Infatuation, accompany'd, for *' the moft Part, with a Reftlefsnels and Tur- ** bulency of Spirit, which is inconfillent with C «' the (a) Dr. D"C.-n had three Sons in the R$btIlion. (18) " the Peace of Society and any fettled Form <« of Government. The true Fanatic Is always *' moft earneft about fome palpable Superfti- *' tion, which is not only no Part of found Re- *' lision, but even deftrudiive of it. He con- *' tends with Vehemence for Opinions notori- ** oufly abfurd, and cannot live in any Degree " of Charitv with fuch as differ from him - — -- " His religious Syftem is chequered with Con- *' tradidtions. He is hurryM on by the Impetu- " ofity of his Zeal, to break through all Re- '^ gards of the moft facred Importance, that " feem to thwart his extravagant Schemes, ne- *^ ver confidering the Lawfulnefs, the Expedi- " ency, or the Wifdom of the Means he ufes, •^ nor attending to the Mifchiefs or fatal Confe- ** quences that manifeftly threaten either him- ^^ felf, or Numbers of People, or even whole ** States and Kingdoms. The moft impi- *^ ous as well as the moft ridiculous Notions " will be received with Veneration, by Per- *' Ions of a Janatical Difpofition. There was " a Set of Fafiafics for Inftance, who took a '* Fancy to be godly and naked ^ in Imitation of *' our firft Parents in their State of Innocency. " Their Congregations were held in a warm " Stove. They put off their Clothes at the *' Door, and the Men and Women, the Prieji " ?20t excepted^ fat promifcuoufly upon Bench- *^ es rais'd one above another, without the leaft Covering. When their Devotions were end- cc cc ed (^9) <« ed, they drcfs'd and went to their Houfes « in' the Sinfuhiefs of worldly Garments, (a/ " How fimple and inoffcnfivc foever, the «« Phrenzy of fome Fanatics may be, in the In- " fancy of their Religion yet as they " make Profelytes, it generally appears that " cunning and ambitious Men mix in their " Affemblies, and lead the poor Ignorants by *' Degrees into Projedls, for modelling the «' Laws and the Government, according to their " own wild Fancies 5 the firft Step to which « is, by teaching them to queftion the Autho- *' rity'ofthe Civil Magiftrate. " The Fanatics, of mod Kinds, have adu- " ally taken the Advantage of fome great Con- « vulfion or Divifion in the State, to broach '' their Extravagancies, as being on feveral Ac- '' counts the mod fuitable Seafon for favouring '^ a weak or a wicked Caufe !" I might Sir reft the Matter here, and appeal, - — whether from thefe Charaderiftics, Jacobite and Nonjuring Fanaticijm doth not appear to be of all other the moft fovereign and accom- plifh'd? But a few more Extrads from the C 2 fe^^ (a) Thefe Adamites were a Scft that fpriing up ^s ^arly as the Second Century. Tht-y recommended the Monalhc Life and made Vows of Continence, as our Nonjurors qo ; tf,o , it Credit be due to fome Hillorians, they were Lxamples ot the greateil Incontinency in Pra^ice. (20) fame polite Writer, will not at this Time, and upon this Occaiion, be unacceptable or unenter- taining to the Friends of the prefent Government ^ ivhatever they may be to Tours, The Dodlors of this Church, (i. e. the Nonjurors Church, adds he,) *' tell us loudly there is no *^ coming at Salvation, but thro' their Permif- *' lion. Beware of Counterfeits^ is in Eflfedl *^ their Cry to the People. We have a Patent *^ for a Monopoly of Grace, and it is not to *^ be had pure in this Nation but thro' our *^ Hands." Is not this the very Language of our Modern Pulpit-Dr^-ParacelfuSy in his late Catechifm of bulky Reputation. " A full^ *' true^ and comprehenfive View of Chri[lianity^ *' in Relation to Faith, Pradfice, Worpoip and *' Rituals^ fet forth Jincerely without Regard •^ to any Modern Church, SeB, or Party, as it *^ was taught in the Holy Scriptures, was de- *^ liver' d by the Apoflles, and received by the *' Univerfal Church of Chrifl, during the four *' firfl Centuries:' Well fpoken Dr. ! What could Dr. Green, the famous Stage Orator, have faid more ! What could the eminent Dr. "Baylor, the Occulift, have faid more, as to couching a CataraB, than this Brother DoBor of his has faid, as to curing us of our Spiritual Blindnefs ! There is likev^lfe a Mixture of Madnefs in Jacobite and Nonjuring Schemes, " Their cer- l[ tain Hopes have been long fruftrated '* but (21) '« but ftiU thefe Nonjuring Fanatics^ are of fo ** fanguine a Complexion, that repeated Difap- *' pointments are a Cordial to their Spirits, and " they grow through Delays more confident of " Succefs ; they never fo much as refledt on the *' Medley of concurring Incidents, both Abroad " and at Home, which are to combine in their " Favour, any of which failing, their Chime- ** rical Projeft vaniflieth into Smoke. Befides, " their Madnefs overlooks the Bloodflied and '' Confufion it muft coft to accomplifli their '' wicked Intentions ; and after all, in the up- *< fhot, it is not likely they can be Gainers, *' but highly reafonable to imagine they them- *' felves would f.ll the foremoft Sacrifice to *' their own Infatuation. ** That they are of a reftlefs and turbulent *' Spirit, appears by the late unnatural Rebel- *' lion, (a) in which they were fo adive ; by '« the frequent Riots and Tumults, they have " excited thro' the Nation ; by the Seditious " and Treafonable Books, Pamphlets and Pa- '' pers, they have publifh'd ; by their virulent ** and reviling Speeches, againft the King and *' his Government ; and laftly, by the notori- " ous Evidence of their unwearied Endeavours, *' to engage Foreign Powers to aflift their cruel '' Projeds (a) The Efiays from whence thefe Paflages are extra^ed, were wrote foon after the 15 Rebellion: Upon comparing tliem with the Condudl of our ^vcknt Jacobites and' Noajurorf, it will be found the Spirit of the Party is Itill the lame. (22) '' Projedls, for embroiling their Native Coun* « try in a Civil War." As to their Abfurd Notions; " do not the *' Dodlors of thefe deluded People teach the *^ abfolute Neceflity of Confeffion, and facer- " dotal Abfolution ; the uncontroulable Vali- ** dity of human Benedidlions and Denuncia- *^ tions ; and even the Ufe of Prayers for the *' Dead : And all thefe manifold Superftitions, *' are, to the Deflruclion of found Religion, *' palm'd upon their Difciples for the more re- ** fin'd Doftrines of the Church of England ! *^ Do they not vehemently contend for abfurd *' Opinions, when they write and preach, and *' talk fo warmly for the exalting of their par«- *^ ticular Scheme of Church Authority, to not *' only the over-ruling, but the Subverfion of *' the Civil Power ; as likewife when they " make the Salvation of Mankind, as well as " their whole Title to Chriftianity, depend " upon fuch a Succeflion of Piiefts as cannot " be proved. *' Is it not a Contradidion to common Senfe, " to pretend to infure the eftablifl)'d Proteftant *' Church, by endeavouring to fet a declared " Papi(l on the Throne. Is it not likewife " a notorious Contradicftion to preach up the ** imminent Danger of this Church from the " Proteftant Succeffion, which is the only hu- '^ man Security fhe can have. Their (23) Their Zeal is as defperate as their Princi- ples are abfurd. " Sooner than quit their nnad '* Proje6l they will lay afide all Regard to the *' Laws of their Country, to Religion, and to '^ every Ibcial and moral Virtue. The hazard- *' ing of their own Lives and Fortunes, as well *' as the raining of others ; nay the Defolation ** of the whole Ifland, and even of Mankind, ** would probably not give the leaft Check to " their Fanatical Phrenzy, could they find a *' favourable Opportunity to exert it in its full *' Vigour. From what has been faid, it appears, '^ that *^ the Denomination of Fanaticifm^ tho' the " Vulgar have been taught otherwife, is by no " Means applicable to People of any Commu- " nion, who live foberly, within an orderly •' Regulation, and in due Obedience to the " Laws of their Country. Men may degene- " rate into Fanatics^ under any Form of " Church Difcipline, as well as they may be- *' come Slaves under the Shew of any Confti- *' tution of civil Government. Inafmuch as *' the Members of any Church approach the ** Religious Phrenzy particularized above, in- " fomuchdo they difcolour their Devotion with " Fanaticifm, (a) Thus (a) Freethinker, publilh'd by Dr, Boulter, late Abp« of ^r- (24) Thus Sir, you fee I have dar'd to make Re^ prizals upon you, and have thereby transfcrr'ci the Scene of the War into the Enemy^s Coun- try. I have retorted the Charge of Fanaticifm, in the Language of a very Mafierly Writer, If you are ftill commanded to Print away (the Expreffion willpleafe, it is your .own) it will be neceflary for you to furnmon your whole Political Pojje to meet in a full Houfe, that they may club Wits, and throw their Brains into one common Shot, for the Difcharge of this Reckoning. I have chofe a Metaphor the moft familiar to your Party ; had the Caufe ow'd greater Homage to Mars than to Bacchus, I ihould have faid, it will be neceffary to Mu/ier all your Forces together, to ftand upon the De- fenfive againft fo formidable an Author. Were it requilite to add any more, to difplay Jacobite and JSIonjuring Vanaticijm, in it's pro- per Drefs, it could not be done to greater Ad- vantage than by tranfcribing the Language and Sentiments of the Party, as publi£h*d in their own Writings. But I have no competent Op- portunity, at prefent, of doing this ; however fome Extrads outof one of their admir'd Chiefs, the late Dr. Hicks, lie now before me : After having condemned the whole Frame of our Go- vernment, in Church and State, he proceeds thus ; *' it is upon a wrong Bottom from the *' very firft Foundation of it. Many falfe Max- o " ims (25) CC ims, hurtful to the Church, and extremely *' detrimental to the Chriftian Religion, are ** receiv'd for Law and Truth- as that Tythc9 ^' may become a Lay-fee ; that Patronage is a *' Lay-fee ; that the King is lupreme ordinary. *' The Ads of Parliament touching the Eledlion, " and Confecration of Bifliops,*' adds he, '' are *' unchri/Han, and have been the natural z^ well " as judicial C^ui'c of all theMiferies in Church " and Scate, amongft us for many Years." . And as if this WaS not enough, his Thunder grows louder and hotter, till at laft it breaks upon us in Flames of infernal Fire and Fury. *' They" fays he, meaning the E'^abUt^^'d C/er-^ gy\ '' can perform no valid Acfts of Pricfihood ; '' their very Prayers are Stn ; their Sacraments *^ are no Sacraments ; their Abfolutions are mill^ '^ and of no Force ; God ratifies nothing ia *' Heaven, which they do in his Name upon ** Earthy they, and all that adhere to thrm^ " are out of the Church ; they can claim no *' Benefits of God's Promifcs ; no, not of his " affifting Grace, nor of Remiffion of Sins^ " thro' the Merits of Chris's Blood ; nay, the' *' they (hould die Martyrs in the Schifin, their *^ Martyrdom would not be accepted ; if they ** could die Martyrs more than once^ they could *' not make Amends for their Sin, with their *' Blood r Here the Clergy of the Church of England are all damn'd in a Beach : The Hands of Omnipotence are ty'd up from fhcw- D ing ( 26) ing them any Favour ; and Salvation itfelf can- not fave them, ^— -Heavens prelerve all Prote- ft ant s^ from falling a Sacrifice to the Tyranny of fuch an uncatbolic^ Catholic Church as this \ When he talks of the Priefthood, his favourite Phrafes, are thefe, " The Kingdom oj the *^ Church ; the T^hrones of Royal Priefis : Vice- ** ge rents of the Eternal Melchizedeck ^ Spirit ** tual Principalities. Thou" fays he, " may- " eft fee the Necks oi Kings and Princes, bow- " ed down to the Knees of Bifiops : The Em- *' peror fubmits his Head to the Hands of the ** Prie/i : Let the Bi/hop be honoured as GodJ" Is not this pure and orthodox Dodrine ! He proceeds to tell us his Sentiments, (and I make no Doubt Siry but they are yours too) that it is lefs heinous to be prefent at divine Offices, where Ave Marias^ &c, are faid, than to pray for our P rot eft ant Sovereigns, " Nay, for my *' ov^n Part,*' fays be, " I had rather as a Prieft, *' fay Prayers in a Congregation to Saints and '^ Angels, which is only forbid by a pofitive '^ Law, than thofe Prayers by which my King *^ is abusM, abjur'd, curs'd, and the righteous " King of Kings moft horribly blafphemed.'*(a) Thefe are feme of the Dodlrines of the Nonju- rors J Fanatical ones I take leave to call them ; that are palm'd upon Mankind for the Truth, as it is, — ' in J ejus. And what can we think of thofe Perfons amongft us, who call them- felves (a) CoIle£lion of Dr. Hicks' & Letters, referred toby Dr. Kennet, in his Letter to the Bp. of Carlijle, (27) felves Frotejiants^ join in Communion with Protejlants^ and yet adopt fo portentous a Syf- tern ?— — .What fliall we think of thofe who of- ficiate at our Froteflant Altars, and yet are for eftabHfhing fuch Antiprotejlant Tyranny^ Prieft- craft, Ahlurdittes^vi^SiiperJlitionsl Mu ft they not be Hypocrites ; as true and yet Deceivers ? Nay, rather muft they not be Atheifts ? However, this we may fafely fiy, Their Li'ues make Jiheijlsy and their Doctrines Slaves ! But I fhould be glad to learn, Sir, what it is upon your Principles that conftitutes a Fa?2a- tic? Will you charge Fanaticifm upon any Set of Opinions, that are confiftent with the Peace and good Order of Society -, and with that Obedience which is due to the Civil Ma^ giftrate ? Doth Fa?taticifm confift in wearing a Coat or a Cloak, rather than a Caflbck ? or in worfliipping God in a Strudure, where there is no Bell or no Organ ? Be tender how you affert thefe Things, leaft you bring your Noit^ juring Friends under the fame Imputation. But fliould you give fuch a fatal Stab to their Or- thodoxy, you'll only ftand convided of Chance Medle\\ and not of premeditated Micr^ der, 'Tis taken for granted, that to charge Nonjurors with Vanaticifjn, is as unde of your Intention, as a No7ijurors Creed is w/V^ of com- mon Senfe, and the Bible. Tis prefumed you mean no more by Fanatic s, th?n that they are a Set of Men whom you cordially and devoutly D z hate^ (28) hafey and would have God do fo too. But, however, you and your Friends arrogate to yourfelves, the Name of the true Chriftian^ Ca^ tholic Church, you'll excufe me, if for once I remit you for Inftrudlion, I had almoft faid to the more Chriftian^ but I muft fay to the more Catholic Pagans. 'Tis a Principle among the Terfian Bram* tnines, that vi^hoever feeks God with Sincerity and Uprightnefs, whether he believes him to be the Sun, or the Moon, or fome other Being, ihall be acceptable to him. Accordingly, fay they, on a certain Time, a Mujjulmariy feeing an Hindoo y i. e. a Pagan Prieft in Heaven, he aik'd God how that Infidel, whom Mahomed calls by the Name of Bitter Root^ came thither? .^——The Deity anfwers : If a Bitter Root bring forth fweeter Fruit than any of you, why ihould I not receive him ; whereupon the Muf- fuiman was Speechlefs (a). Now, S>ir^ whilft you charge any of your Proteftant Neighbours, (it would be a Solecifm in me to fay your FeU low Prote/lantsJ with Fanatici/m, without of- fering any Evidence to fupport the Charge ; or whihl you call them Bitter Root in the Ortho- dox MtiJJulman^ Language 5 if thefe very Men bring ionh fweeter Fruits than you, what Au- thority have you to condemn them ? If they are better Friends to rational Religion, to the Civil (a) Baidam\ Phil. Tranf. Vol, 3. p. 500. (29) Civil and Sacred Rights of Mankind, to the Government under which they live; better Friends to the Conftitution, to their Country, and to King GEORGE, than you ; or even Juppoftng that they are no better Friends to all thefe than you ; whatever others have a Right to do, I cannot fee with what Decency you can profcribe them. Will you allow no Roots to bring forth fweet Fruits, but thofe whofe Branches have been lopp'd off hy Rebels lion ? Where is there one of thofe you call ivz- natics, (produce me a fingle In (lance in all Efigland if you can ! ) that during our late Di (tractions, was even fufpecfled of Difaffeftion to the Proteftant Prince that fits on the Briti(b Throne ? Where can you produce an Inftance, among any of our Fanatical Clergy, of one who went on his Knees in the publick Streets, (as you know who did,) to pray for the Young Pre- tender as he paraded it thro* Saljord, at the Head of his Highland Rabble ? Will you have any more upon this Subjedl? Compare your own Principles, and the Princi- ples of thofe you brand with Fanaticijhi, toge- ther ; and then to Reafon let us appeal which are the more fanatical of the two ? As your Charge of Fanaticijm is direftly pointed at me, I may for once be allowed to perfonate that Party, you woul(i wound thro* my Sides. 'Tis one of my Principles, that all Party Cant, and Watch Words, propagated with a View to dif- turb (30) turb the Peace of Society ; to inflame and ex- afperate Men's Minds againft the eflabiifti'd Government, are the Language of Sedition^ that all fuch Seditious Cries are the Seeds of Treafon^ and want only to he cheriflied by the Sun-fhine of fuccefsfLil Fadlion, in order to ri« pen into Rebellion. 'Tis one of yours, that fuch Seditious Cries are only decent Expreflions of Zeal for the Church ; and that to be a bad Neighbour, or a bad Citizen, is of great Im- portance towards conftituting the Characfler of a good Churchman. 'Tis one of my Principles, that if a Man fwears Allegiance to the Govern- ment that proteds him, God will not be fo fevere as to damn him for paying it ; and that therefore he is not obliged to perjure himfelf for Confcience fake. 'Tis one of yours, that Perjury y when pradlis'd by yacobites is no Sin, nay the greateft of all Political Virtues ; and that ^^^^rc/^/^c- Rebellion is no Ad; ofTreafon. 'Tis one of my Principles, that fhewing religi- ous Honours to Rebel Skulls y as empty now they are fix'd on the Exchange^ as they were when fix'd on the Shoulders that once wore them, is Jalfe Wor/hip in the Chriflian Senfe, but true Nonjuring and Jacobite Devotion. 'Tis one of yours, that preferring a Prayer to thefe up'ftart Deities, is worfhipping the Lord in the Beauty of Holinefs, is worfliipping him in Spirit and in Truth, 'Tis one of my Prin- ciples, that the Church of E?2gland's greateft Enemies (30 Enemies are her pretended Friends^ who always Ipread abroad tumultuous Alarms of her Dan-. ger, and aflert the Body to be independent of the Head that governs it. *Tis one of yours, that the Church of England's beft Friends are her avow'd and open Enemies ; that damn and hereticate her as a Schifmatical, Antichrijlian Church! 'Tis one of my Principles, that a Pro- teftant Church requires a Proteftant Prince to be her Faith*s Defender ; but is it not one of Your's, (deny it if you can) that the Puppet o^ Rome^ would be a Guardian Angel to the Churches of 5r/V^//2 ? Jtift fo, the Sheep can never be fafe till they are under the Wolf's Patronage and Protedion ! The Dove can never be fafe till the Hawk has her for his Quarry ! ^Tis one of my Principles, that the Authority of a paltry Magazine, is at all Times as in- fallible, as that of your good Friend the Pope. i~- But is it not one of your's, that a paltry Magazine^ inverts the Nature of Things, and makes Truth Falfhood ; acknowledged, and in- difputable Fa6ts, to be notorious and fcandalous Impoftnre ! Surely, 5/r, it might have been a Popifh Magazine, by it's working fuch Miracles as thefe ! You confefs, that Devotion has been paid to the Gods fpik'd up on the Exchange^ and yet it is a Crime, in me, to refer to a Para- graph in a Magazine that fays fo. — — Would you gravel an Adverfary, engaged in a bad Caufe ? Speak Truth j nothing gravels him more (32) more. But 1*11 not prefs you on this Head any farther. As then, I difown the Authori- ty of every Gofpel, but Chri/i's 5 fuffer me next to examine. Whether Chri/i's Gofpel or the Nonjuror's Gofpel, be the ?2ew one 5 and which of the two is the more rational and authentic ? And now the new Catechifm (a), whofe pompous Title was taken Notice of above, falls under Confi- deration. It would be no difficult Matter to unprofelyte all the learned Do61or's Profelytes, and to overturn the Foundation of his JJniver^ faly Catholic Church, built up at Manchejler^ would his Difciples but make this previous Conceffion, that there is no Herefy in being guided by common Senfe, in Matters of Reli- gion 5 that a Man may be devout, without re- nouncing his Reafon ; very good, without being vttyjilly^ and fit for Heaveny without being fit for Bedlam. The firft Chapter I (hall take Notice of in this new Gofpel, is, the Chapter of Tradition. This, our Author looks upon as more facred and infallible, than the infpired Writings, as appears from his giving it the Preheminence a- bove (a) This Catechifm, is not only faid to be wrote by Dr. Deacon^ a Nonjuring Prieft or Bifhop, and Phyfician at Manchejier, but IS acknowledged as his by his Friends ', which julliiies my confi-; dering him as the Author of it. 9 (33) bove them, (a) 'Tis entirely foreign to my Piirpofe, to ranfack the Reveries of the Fathers,* To leek for unadulterated, found Learning, and good Senfe among them, would be as ablurd and fruitlefs, as to ranfack for Jewels in a Dang-* hill. *Tis allowed, that, even in the early A- ges of Chriftianity, Corruption grew apace iri the Church, as the rankeji Weeds always grow* in the richeft Soil. However, were it of any confiderable Importance, it might eafily be Ihewn, that in the fecond Century, and fome Time nfter, there was no Divinity ftamp'd upon Traditio?2. " If you are Chriftians (in the O- riginal, Dijciples of the Gojpel) fays one of the Fathers, " make the Scriptures your Rule 5 " but if you will talk of unwritten Traditions^ " what Bufmefs have you with us, who pay '' no Regards to any Thing, but what is writ- ** ten ? (b) We afSrm nothing without the •* Scriptures," (c) faith another. ** The holy ** Scriptures are fufficient to propagate the *' Truth; and it is fufficient to believe what i3 «* v/ritten," is the Language of a Third, (d) But if you would fee fome more Authorities of this Kind, 1 refer you to the Margin. E Such (a) Of Traditions and Saipiures. Cat. p. 34. (b) Chrys. de hear. Chrijii cont. ApoU. Tom. i. p. 621. (c) CUm. Alex. Strom. \. 6. (d) Athan. contr. Gentes et de Incarnat. ChriJli. To the fame Purpofe. Qux pertinent ad veram Religionem qusren^' dam et tenendam divina Scriptura non tacuit. Augujl. Epift. 42, In iis t'V/,— — you are " extremely welcome, I never had the Dii- *' tindion fliewn me of your Company before." The Fellow more amazed at the 'Highlander^ than the Highlajider was at the Devil^ retires in great Confufion. Hereupon the Highland Hero awakes his Neighbour; Sawney the De'el has been here, — --and what then, cries Sawney^ yawning ; why fays the Hero, I confoowted him fairly with a "Jext of Scrips ture ; I afk'd him to fmoak a Pipe, and the De'el could neither ftand Fire, nor Smoak. Now iS/r, pray tell me what Gofpel did the Highlander find this Text of Scripture in, un- lefs he met with it, when upon his Expeouion thro' Manchefler^ in jDr. Paraceljus\ new Gof- pel, that fires away the Devil from the Soul ? It muft be fo, beyond all Queftion. St. Dun- jftan, of old, play'd fome very bold Pranks with the Dm/ of the fame Nature with this. The Devil having long tempted, but flill tempted him in vain ! at lafl thought of an Expedi- ent which he promised could not fail. He alTumes (50 affames the Appearance of a fine Lady, and in that Shape renews the Temptation : And yoa know Sir he mufl be a Saint indeed! more than a Saint ! He muft be an Angel, divefted of Fleflj and Bloody that can refift the Attrac- tions of thofe fweet Charmers ! However Dun-' fian was even invulnerable and unconquerable by thefe. Unnatural as he was, he took the fair Devil by the Nofe with a Pair of red hot Pincers, and led her^ or him^ whatever Gender you give it, round, round and round again about the Room, till the Devil was rea- dy to fwoon away, and roar'd out in great A- gony and Anguiili. (a) Poor Devil^ well he might, to be led thus by the Nofe ! Our K\\i\ioi:\ firing away the Devil from the Soul, being a Preface to Baptifm, and one of his folemn Seafons for the Adminiftration of Baptifm being on Eafter Eve, would induce one to believe, that in this, as well as in many Inftances more -— he has a fecret Allufion to a fliperftitious Impofture tran farted on the fame Day, and for the fame Purpofe, viz. driving a^ way the Devil, by the Greek and Armeitian Priefts. The Farce (or the Miracle as they exprefs it) is caird, that of the holy Fire, It is pretended, that on Ealler Eve, a miraculous Flame defcends from Heaven into the holy Se- pulchre, and kindles all the Lamps and Can- G 2 dies (a) Capgra'Vf, (52) dies there, which in the Prefence of the Turh and other Witneffes, had, for the Difplay of the Miracle, been previoufly extinguifhed. This devout Forgery is carried on by the Greek Pa- triarch of Jerufalem^ the Armenian Patriarch of the fame, and the Coptifh Bifliop. Theve^ not fays, the Turks faw tnrough the Cheat and would have prevented it for the future, but the Patriarchs reprefented they could not pay them as much Money as they did, if the Pro- fit of the holy Fire was taken away ; and there- upon the Turks agreed to let them continue the Juggle. The Purport of my jiufhor*s (a) Account of it, is as follows. Coming to the Church of the holy Sepulchre, we found it crouded with a diftradlcd Mob, making hide- ous Clamours, violently running to and fro, crying out Huia, a Word emphatically cxpreffive that theirs is the true Religion, Their Heads being grown vertiginous, and their ^eal enflamed into Phrenzy, they afted a thoufand antic Extravagancies, in ten thoufand more, as antic and extravagant Poftures. Some* times they dragged each other round the Floor, and fometimes march'd around in Mock-State ppon each others Shoulders. Sometimes they played the Part of Tumblers on a Stage, and fometimes plac'd Men with their Heads and Heels inverted, in fuch Attitudes as moft inde- cently expos'd what Nature vails. When the Proceffion (a) Maundreir% Journey from Alleppo to Jerufalm, p. 96, 97. (S3) Proceflion begun, they marched thrice round the holy Sepulchre, with Standards, Streamers, Crucifixes, embroidered Habits, and all the Furbery Superftition could invent or furnifli. The Greeks went firft, and the Armenians fol- lowed after. Prefently a Dove (not an Em- blem of Innocence neither, but one properly train'd for the Service) fluttered into the Cupo^ la over the Sepulchre, which was received with Shouts of Joy by the frantic Throng, believ- ing it to be a vifible Defcent of the Holy Ghofl. The Proceflion being ended, the Ecclefiaftics mentioned above, advanced with folemn Mein and moft reverend Pace towards the Sepulchre, the Doors whereof had been fealed up when the Lights were extinguifhed, under Pretence of guarding againft all Impofture. Thefe Doors being now unfealed, no fooner had the Priefts cnter'd in, but they fhut them again and al- lowed Aimiflion to none but themfelves. The Acclamations of the People grew louder and louder, as the Miracle was expected to be drawing near its Crifis. Every one rufli'd ea- gerly towards the Sepulchre to meet the Priefts as they came out of it, with the holy Fire in their H.inds ; ambitious who fhould be the firft in lighting their Tapers at the celeliial Flame. " The Miracle- Mongers^* faith my Author, " had not been above a Minute in the holy " Sepulchre when the Glimmering of the ho- ly Fire was feen, or imagined to be feen « thro' «c (54) *^ thro' fome Chinks of the Door, and certain- '* ly Bedlam itfelf, never faw fach an unruly ^^ Tranfport as was produc'd in the Mob ** at this Sight. Then came out the ** Priefts with blazing Torches in their Hands, *^ which they held up at the Door of the *^ Sepulchre, while the People throng'd about ** with inexpreffible Ardour, every one ftriv- *^ ing to obtain a Part of the firft and pu- *^ reft Flame," believing that to have moft, wonder-working Virtues to attend it. The Turks in the mean Time that were fet as Guards at the Door, " with huge Clubs laid " them on without Mercy ; but all this could '* not repel them, the Excefs of their Tranf- *' port making them infenfible of Pain. Thofe *^ that got the Fire, immediately applied it to " their Beards, Faces and Bofoms, pretending " that it would not burn like an earthly " Flame ; but I plainly faw, none of them coulct ** endure this Experiment long enough to make ** good that Pretenfion. Innumerable Tapers " were foon lighted ; the whole Church and " Galleries and every Place feemed inftantly *' to be in a Flame, and with this lUuminati- ** on the Ceremony ended. — They within *^ the Sepulchre, performed their Part with *' great Quicknefs and Dexterity. 'Tis the *' deplorable Unhappinefs of their Prie/ls, that " having afted the Cheat fo long already, '^ they are forc'd now to ftand to it, for « fear (55) ** fear of endangering the Apoflacy of the " People. After the Rout was over, we *' fiw feveral People gathered about the Scone" *' of Unftion, who having got a good Store *' of Candles lighted by the Holy Fire, were " employed in daubing Pieces of Linnen with *' the Wicks of them and the melting Wax ; '' which Pieces of Linnen were defigned for *' Winding Sheets; it being the Opinion of *' thefe poor People, that if they can but have ** the Happinefs of being buried in a Shroud^ " fmutted with this Celejiial Fire^ it will cer^ *' tainly fecure them from the Fla?nes of Hell'" Now as our learned Author^ Exorcifmy is to be pradlis'd on the fame Day with this fcan- dalous Impofture, praftis^d by the Greek and Ar^neniaii Priefts, and as the Fire of the holy Sepulchre is deemed by their fuperftitious De- votees to be a Prefervative from the Flames of Hell ; - further, as our learned Catechi/i adopts many other of their ridiculous Rites, 'ii;s probable, to fay no more, that if his Church was once eftabliftied here, we fhould have this Miracle of the Holy Fire tranf^lanted into Britain^ as an infallible Method whereby to preferve from the Flames oj Hell^ or, in our Author ^ Phrafe, to drive away the Evil Spirit » If the Devil be drive?: away fooa enough to refcue the Sinner from eternal Per- dition, 'tis not quite fo material whether it be done at Baptifni or at Burial, All that can be (56) be faid, is, that the longer your holy^ Catholic and Apofiolical Priefi has him in Play, the bet- ter Chance he has of making a good Penny of Satan. But perhaps He may underftand how to make a good Penny of Satan without requiring his perfonal Attendance. If fo, I can but think, upon the Whole, that our Author has the Advantage of the Greek and Armenian Prie(ls^ and that the fooner the De^ vil is prd away the better ! Another remarkable Kind of Exorcifm^ (for I am upon a copious Subjeftj is one made Ufe of by the yefuits to devote Regicides to God, and confecrate the Afluffination of Princes. This I am the more inclined to give you, as 'tis not improbable, but fomething of the Kind was pra