Political Pamphlets | Page 6

is to be had upon no other terms than their promise to
destroy you. You are therefore to be hugged now, only that you may be
the better squeezed at another time. There must be something
extraordinary when the Church of Rome setteth up bills, and offereth
plaisters, for tender consciences. By all that hath hitherto appeared, her
skill in chirurgery lieth chiefly in a quick hand to cut off limbs; but she
is the worst at healing of any that ever pretended to it.
To come so quick from another extreme is such an unnatural motion
that you ought to be upon your guard. The other day you were Sons of
Belial; now you are Angels of Light. This is a violent change, and it
will be fit for you to pause upon it before you believe it. If your
features are not altered, neither is their opinion of you, whatever may
be pretended. Do you believe less than you did that there is idolatry in
the Church of Rome? Sure you do not. See, then, how they treat, both
in words and writing, those who entertain that opinion. Conclude from
hence, how inconsistent their favour is with this single article, except
they give you a dispensation for this too, and not by a non obstante,
secure you that they will not think the worse of you.
Think a little how dangerous it is to build upon a foundation of
paradoxes. Popery now is the only friend to liberty, and the known
enemy to persecution. The men of Taunton and Tiverton are above all
other eminent for Loyalty. The Quakers, from being declared by the

Papists not to be Christians, are now made favourites, and taken into
their particular protection; they are on a sudden grown the most
accomplished men of the kingdom in good breeding, and give thanks
with the best grace in double-refined language. So that I should not
wonder, though a man of that persuasion, in spite of his hat, should be
Master of the Ceremonies. Not to say harsher words, these are such
very new things, that it is impossible not to suspend our belief, till by a
little more experience, we may be informed whether they are realities
or apparitions. We have been under shameful mistakes, if these
opinions are true; but for the present we are apt to be incredulous,
except that we could be convinced that the priest's words in this case
too are able to make such a sudden and effectual change; and that their
power is not limited to the Sacrament, but that it extendeth to alter the
nature of all other things, as often as they are so disposed.
Let me now speak of the instruments of your friendship, and then leave
you to judge whether they do not afford matter of suspicion. No
sharpness is to be mingled, where healing only is intended; so nothing
will be said to expose particular men, how strong soever the temptation
may be, or how clear the proofs to make it out. A word or two in
general, for your better caution, shall suffice. Suppose then, for
argument's sake, that the mediators of this new alliance should be such
as have been formerly employed in treaties of the same kind, and there
detected to have acted by order, and to have been empowered to give
encouragements and rewards. Would not this be an argument to suspect
them?
If they should plainly be under engagements to one side, their
arguments to the other ought to be received accordingly. Their fair
pretences are to be looked upon as a part of their commission, which
may not improbably give them a dispensation in the case of truth, when
it may bring a prejudice upon the service of those by whom they are
employed.
If there should be men, who having formerly had means and authority
to persuade by secular arguments, have, in pursuance of that power,
sprinkled money among the Dissenting ministers; and if those very men

should now have the same authority, practise the same methods, and
disburse where they cannot otherwise persuade; it seemeth to me to be
rather an evidence than a presumption of the deceit.
If there should be ministers amongst you, who by having fallen under
temptations of this kind, are in some sort engaged to continue their
frailty, by the awe they are in lest it should be exposed; the persuasions
of these unfortunate men must sure have the less force, and their
arguments, though never so specious, are to be suspected, when they
come from men who have mortgaged themselves to severe creditors,
that expect a rigorous observance of the contract, let it be never so
unwarrantable. If these, or any others, should at this time preach up
anger and