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NONCONFORMIST.
135
X.
The ancient Churches, and the best
By their own Martyrs Blood increas'd;
But he has found out a new Way,
To do it with the Blood of those,
That dare his Church's Growth oppose,
Or her imperious Canons disobey;
And strives to carry on the Work,
Like a true primitive reforming Turk,
With holy Rage, and edifying War,
More safe and pow'rful Ways by far:
For the Turk's Patriarch Mahomet
Was the first great Reformer, and the Chief
Of th' ancient Christian Belief,
That mix'd it with new Light, and Cheat,
With Revelations, Dreams, and Visions,
And apostolic Superstitions,
To be held forth, and carry'd on by War;
And his Successor was a Presbyter
With greater Right, than Haly or Abubeker.[1]
The ancient Churches, and the best
By their own Martyrs Blood increas'd;
But he has found out a new Way,
To do it with the Blood of those,
That dare his Church's Growth oppose,
Or her imperious Canons disobey;
And strives to carry on the Work,
Like a true primitive reforming Turk,
With holy Rage, and edifying War,
More safe and pow'rful Ways by far:
For the Turk's Patriarch Mahomet
Was the first great Reformer, and the Chief
Of th' ancient Christian Belief,
That mix'd it with new Light, and Cheat,
With Revelations, Dreams, and Visions,
And apostolic Superstitions,
To be held forth, and carry'd on by War;
And his Successor was a Presbyter
With greater Right, than Haly or Abubeker.[1]
- ↑ And his Successor was a Presbyter,—With greater right, than Haly or Abubeker.] Haly and Abubeker were Sons-in-law to Mahomet, and his immediate Successors, the one in Arabia, and the other at Bagdat; and from these sprung the two different Sects of the Turkish and Persian Mahometans. Butler in his Hudibras introduces the Independent calling Mahomet the chief of the Presbyterians.As Mahomet (your chief) began,
To mix them in the Alchoran.
Hud. P. 3. C. 2. V. 1101.
And
