firms, that Caiphas was your high-prieft, when Chrift was crucified, and our Lord confirms the authority of fucceffion when he orders obedience to be paid to the chair of Mofes, but not to copy their lives; fo that, though their doctrine were divine, themfelves were fallible. The infallibility of the pope is the cause of great contention betwixt proteftants and catholics. We wish to have a right understanding in this matter that has divided all christendom, and rent the feamlefs garment of Chrift, which was a type of unity and univerfal love and order throughout his church, (otherwife how can he be termed Prince of Peace) and appointed a primate to maintain this bleffing and unifor mity without a head, confufion must take place. This we are eye-witneffes to in our reformation, which, if we may ufe the expreffion, is shattered into a thoufand religions and daily sprouting

out new ones.

Mof. We will firft fearch out and confider the article of infallibility which proteftants rail and exclaim againft. The pope, fay they, is feated in Peter's chair and proclaims himfelf God, and allows no fuperior. I have examined the decrees and decifions of the general, councils, writings of their doctors, and other bigotted papifts, catechifms, particularly that ordered by the council of Trent. I have confidered and compared them through every age and period of the church, from Peter to the prefent pope, and cannot find one God amongst 236 popes. Many of this number laid down their lives for Jefus Chrift, neither of them ever

at

attempted to add, alter, or diminish the ca- ́ tholic faith they received from their predeceffors; they have on all emergencies followed the example of Peter, when any invaders have attempted to bring in herefies, or in the smallest pretenfions to alter the faith, or introduce novelties, by fummoning a council to canvass the matter, and if neceffary call a general council to decide according to the faith and difcipline of the church. This is the rule Chrift delivered, when he faid, if a brother offend, reprimand him; if he continues ob.. ftinate, apply to the church, and if he will not obey the church, let him be as a heathen and publican.

This we fee put in practice by the apostles, who called the firft council in the Chriftian church, to be an example to their fucceffors to the end of the world. I will give it to you in brief, Acts 15. The Jews that became Chriftians contended, that it was neceffary for the heathen converts to follow the law of Mofes, which Paul and others opposed; they immediately applied to Peter, and other apoftles and elders to give fentence on the matter; they accordingly called a council, who pronounced the following fentence: It has feemed good to the Holy Ghoft, and to us, to lay no farther burden upon you than thefe neceffary things, that you abstain from things facrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things ftrangled, and from fornication, from which things keeping yourfelves, you fhall do well.

The

The infallibility of the popes, and blafphemy of the general councils (against fchifmatics and heretics), in the world, it feemeth good to the Holy Ghoft and to us, was granted, and commanded or iffued from Jefus Chrift, and firft practiced, and example given by the apoftle in the words just quoted.

Luth. & Calv. You have opened to us a new scene, to make a comparifon betwixt fpiritual and temporal power. According to our fyftem, the pope is figured in the perfon of the King of France, (our greatest adversary, always laying in wait to intrap poor Old Britain) wields the fceptre, and makes all things bend to his hard, imperious, arrogant, haughty, infolent, proud, and unrelenting brow, who rules arbitrarily, tyrannically, abfolutely, defpotic, without controul; a common fcourge, whofe ambition clafps univerfal monarchy. This is the conception all proteftants imbibe from their infant ftate against the pope, both in fpirituals and temporals. We now fee him. figured in the perfon of our glorious George, or King of Great Britain, the temporal laws, conftitution, and legiflature of Great Britain, which are praised and envied by all nations of the earth, feems in all its branches and parts to correfpond, copied and derived from this fpiritual and great covenant of Chrift. we often pleafed ourselves with the qualities of our laws and conftitution, and painted to ourselves how nearly they are allied to the fpirit and. maxims of the gofpels, lenient, mild, and disinterested,

Mof.

Mof. The laws and conftitution of Great Britain are taken from fpirituals.

Luth. I have often attempted to draw these waters from our church, but in the pulpit; when I have thought to enter on the subject, I found a damp fweat overcome me, with a faintnefs which prevented my forcing a matter of the greatest magnitude,. I could no way prove, as I know, that our laws and conftitution was feveral years older than the protestant reformation, and that we were indebted to our Roman Catholic ancestors for whatever we now enjoy; yet I had not the honefty even to acknowledge the debt.

Calv. So far was I from paying the tribute of gratitude, that I thought it impoffible to get quit of the ftench and abomination of po

pery.

Mof. I have information that in the Torrid Zone they have what they call Carrion Crows, whofe ftench is much more offenfive than the carrion they devour; fo with you, dignified gentlemen, I am told you have marked out as a privileged fanctuary, a thoufand yards about your playhouses for a reception, chiefly after your deceafe, where fome thoufands of your unhappy offspring affociate with the vileft mifcreants, and exhale, fume, and fteain forth the most noifome, noxious, offenfive, ftinking, and nafty stench. This fulfills the words of your gofpel, you fee the mote in your neighbour's eye, but will not fee the beam in thine own eye. Ye charge the chriftians with celibacy and abftemious living, as very great crimes; fay you,

the

the belly for meat and meat for the belly. But what does Paul tell you, God will deftroy both belly and meat. I fee you both look white and pale, through a long custom of filling and cramming yourfelves. What monfters have they brought, exhaling fo powerful a fmell, on the table?

Lutb. & Calv. It fmells deliciously, both ftrong and favoury, most rich and faucy to the palate; favour us that we may regale ourselves, I will defcribe it. It is the back or calipatch of a tortoife, which we had filled with diffe rent ingredients, fuch as the nofe, ears, tail, brains and odder of a fow that fuckles, the combs, gills and brains of 12 capons, pettytoes of 2 fucking pigs, hafelet of a kid, with the trotters, two pair of fnipes, extract from the bones of different animals, i ox-tail, the lips, kidney and mufk of a goat, two dried herrings powdered, the liver of a fifh and pair of roes, 1 pair of ox-eyes, 2 vipers, the marrow of 2 ox-horns, I pound and a half of bacon, ditto dried gander, 3 tea fpoonfuls of kian pepper, 6 cloves of garlic, 1 onion, 12 fhalots, half a pound of butter, the whole made into a mince with fweet herbs, &c. You fee your dinner, with a rabbit ftewed down in a bottle of Madeira, with fpice and kian to 2 ducks a-la-mode, with other little matters, a plumbpudding and half a dozen mince-pyes, &c. Mof. Permit me to give you grace.

Luib. & Calv. You will not partake of our flight repaft?

G

Mof.