Page:The spiritual venality of Rome.djvu/113

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ooontrf^irlio iriU aay, tliAl«liiii»Miakif oC history^ to be aeen^ read^ and understood of' all nm?— B«l the Oaih of the kmonrable him- bers of the Roman communion! Doubtkftt it was most lagaciousl j suggested^ and laoit pni* dently relied on, as the security of all others, and in addition to all othem , which renderid every fear of ingratitude, or hostility, ludi- eronsly visianary! Men of honour, men of a religion, having once had Christianity in it— tten, so bound, to £ul, and to laugh in the Sme of those who trusted them! O! it was the arcfa^mock of Popery £ar these men gra^y to put forward the anticipatum of their perjury as AjtistificcUion of it*

  • Of the two distinguished individualB lUladed to above, and

ivhosc oxpulsiou from their eminence was not more a disgrace than a calamity to the nation, the first is reported to have acknowledged, that the grcai meaaui-c ^vas a mistake; and the other, while insisting upon its necessity at the time, li-dn declared that, had what ho saw since been foreseen, impediments would have arisen to its accomplibliment. Others have regretted their co-operation as the most unfoitunate of their public acts; and few but those, whose obstinacy or cupidity are of a thorough- going quality, venture to own their mis-shapen and diseased progeny. We are now, in consequence, and in justice, suffering under the infliction of rulers ^ honi tee — that is, those who have not resisted and protested — have chosen. Those are set to rule over us, who will Iiavc government without relipUm, but who, like all the infatuated, are the willhig sL^vea and puppets of a reiiffion^ which» being a cotniptioA the best, ia the woxst;