the conftant objects of their purfuit: that for many ages they manifefted either the groffeft ignorance of the nature and defign of chriftianity, or the most wilful and wicked oppofition to it; and that they fo blinded and deluded the people, that temporal ideas were conftantly annexed to a religion that is fpiritual; and Christ's kingdom, which is not of this wold, was made a worldly kingdom. indeed!

You will fee that what they called the Church, was a mighty Babel, built upon. the ruins of reafon, righteoufnefs, truth,. goodness and mercy, all that is dear and facred to men! You will obferve, that, notwithstanding it was the defign of their holy office to lead men to all happines, they have been the greateft foes to the ease and comfort of men, preferring at all times their own pride and grandeur tothe peace and welfare of nations: That

for this end, they have promoted and encouraged fuperftition in the people, oppreffion and tyranny in princes; have foothe and flattered wicked kings in all their violent and ruinous meafures; have preached doctrines of flavery, juf tified all defpotic and arbitrary encroachments; have taught that obedience to the will of the prince was the indispenfable duty of the people, and that where the latter could not in confcience comply with the demands of the former, thy must not however refift, but be pafive where they could not be active: and that by thefe felfish and lying doctrines, they have brought this nation to the very brink of ruin and perdition.

It will here be manifeft to you, that they were the men that bred all the dif cord betwixt King Charles I. and his parliament; that fuch firebrands as Laud,

Manwaring,

Manwaring, and others (the Sacheverels. of that day) advised and promoted all the cruel and pernicious High-Commission and Star-Chamber courts, and hurried on that prince to those illegal practices, which afterwards justly brought him to the block: for it is evident that he deferved it, and that the people were under a neceffity either of cutting him off, or of being flaves themselves without redemption.

Hence you will learn, that it must be, the extremeft ftupidity and infatuation, the effect either of the greateft ignorance or the greatest malice, to countenance or fupport any power in priefts; and that it is the duty of all men to oppofe and break their power by all poffible means = that it is poifon and deftruction both to religion and civil government, to give the minifters of religion any power, except that of reafon and perfuafion; this being all the power which confifts with the

nature of christianity (a free and rational religion) and with the peace and happiness of human fociety for that wherever priefs had more power, they always employed it to the worst purposes, to blind, deceive, and enflave the world.

You will learn alfo from hence, not to be abused and impofed upon by words and founds, and particularly by the word Church, the most fenfelefs found of all others, which has no meaning but a wicked, one; for the priests never ufe it but either for fond fuperftition or terrible dominion: and when they damn a man in their creeds, worry him in their diabolical courts, and throw him into prison, and call this the Power of the Church, they can mean nothing by that phrase but their own power ; these things being as contrary to chriftianity, as they are to all reafon and natural justice. And indeed, if the christian religion gave the leaft countenance to fuch

practices,

practices, no miracles could fupport its divine pretenfions, at least it could never proceed from a righteous and good being., You will hence reject with fcorn the great. argument urged by priefts in fupport of their oppreffive doings, viz. that they have the laws on their fide; which will justify Popery, the Inquifition, the Baftile, and every tyranny under heaven. You will be amazed, that in fuch an age as this, an age boafting of light and knowledge, there fhould be fo many abfurd doctrines. and fuch iniquitous practices in the established religion: witnefs the Athanafian creed, &c. and witnefs the confifcation of men's goods, and the imprisonment of their perfons for non-payment of tythe, &c. And finally, you will hence plainly fee, that thofe men are the greatest friends to fociety, and worthy of all fupport and encouragement, who are for ftripping priests of all their power: that to vilify

and