diſmal in its Conſequences, as carried all the Marks of that Hell, where alone ſuch a Monſter could be engendred. A notable Argument of Their Charity to Mens Souls, who found out this new Fire for purging them! A Holy Zeal indeed, for King, Prince, Clergy, Nobility, and the whole People Repreſentative (all pretended to be in a State of Damnation) to be blown away into Eternity at once, without one Moment's Leiſure for Repentance! An extraordinary Honour done to Religion, ſhameleſly to abuſe that ſacred Name,Thuanus, Lib 135. p. 2. and proſtitute its ſolmneſt Ties of Oaths and Sacraments, to advance Rome Chriſtian, by Meaſures ſo treacherous and inhumane, as the Principles of Rome Heathen would have rejected with the utmoſt indignation and Scorn!
I would not by any means, nor did our then injured Sovereign, undertake to charge all of that Perſuaſion with a part in, or even Approbation of, this unparalell'd Villany. Many, we charitably hope, are not ſo entirely at the Devotion of their intrigueing-Caſuiſts, as by Their Sophiſtry to be argued out of the firſt and: brighteſt Maxims of Morality and common Honeſty. But, whether we can think ſo favourably of one celebrated Order among them, and the governing part of their Church, let their own Conduct in this ſingle point determine. The firſt Atttempt was to diſcredit, and, with their uſual Modeſty, deny the Fact. A Labour, which many concurrent Intimations from Abroad, but eſpecially the Circumſtances of the Diſcovery, the hardned Gloryings of Some, and the unextorted[1] Confeſſions of Other Accomplices, did quickly then, and always ought to render unfucceſſsful. Beaten from this Evaſion, their Next was then to lament it.Tortur. Tort. p. 75, &c. But what did they lament? The Wickedneſs, or the Diſappointment of this Conſpiracy? For they have left us under juſt Sufpenſe. Sufpenſe ſhall I ſay? Or rather that they have ſufficiently explain'd themſelves, by the- ↑ Of these Confeſſions ſee Thaun Lib. 135 part.2.
