it flourishes in greater authority and power, whereby the judges of the earth carry on more diligent inquifition against herefies, and more effectually pull them up by the very roots." And because the inquifition is fo effectual a method to extirpate herefies, he gathers from thence, that it was ordained for this purpose by the moft wife providence of God. But what is really unjuft in itself, and carried on by unjuft methods, cannot have God for its author. Nor is fuccefs any argument that the inquifition is from God; the first inquiry is, whether it be fuitable to the nature of the Chriftian doctrine? If it be not, 'tis then unjust and antichriftian; many things are unrighteously undertaken by men, and accomplished by violence and cruelty, by which innocence is oppressed, which although God, in his juft and wife counfel permits, he is far from approving Even in Japan, a cruel perfecution hath extinguished the Chriftian religion, as preached by the Roman priefts, fo that the Roman Catholic religion is equally extinguished there, by the violence of perfecution, as thefe doctrines are in Spain, which are contrary to the church of Rome, and which they render odious by the infamous name of herefy; and yet they will not allow that any juft argument can be drawn from hence to prove, that that perfecution was directed by the Divine Providence, as a most effectual remedy for the extirpation of their religion. If other parties of Chriftians would ufe the fame diligence and cruelty of inquifition against them, I may venture to affirm, that they themselves could not withstand it; but that, within a few years, the Popish religion would be extinguifhed in all Proteftant countries, and fcarce a fingle perfon left who would dare to profefs it. But God forbid that the Christian religion fhould ever be propagated this way, which does not confift in a feigned and hypocritical profeffion, but in a fincere and undiffembled faith. And therefore, as no one ought to affume to himself

the

the power of judging concerning it but God, the fearcher of hearts, to him only let us leave it to pafs the true judgment concerning every man's belief. Let us in the mean while deteft the tyranny of the Papifts, and strive to reduce those who in our judgment hold errors in the way of truth, by the good offices of charity and benevolence, without arrogating to ourselves a judgment over the confciences of others. And, out of a ferious regard to the laft great day of judgment, let us approve our confciences to God, and every one of us, expecting from his mercy an equitable and righteous judgment, pray without ceafing, ARISE, O LORD, AND JUDGE THY CAUSE.

Of CROISADES.

This device is faid to be firft hatched by that fuperAtitious hermit named Peter of Picardy.

Pope Urban very opportunely made ufe of for his advantage, and under the pretence of fympathifing with the unhappy Chriftians at Jerufalem, raised an army to favour the purposes of dominion and authority, and, in a long harangue in a general council of the weft, at Cleremont, in the year 1095, he concluded his oration in the following words: " We therefore release all faithful Chriftians that fhall bear arms against heretics and infidels of great and wonderful penance for their fins, and receive them under the defence of the church, and the protection of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Befides the particular defigns of Urban in this expedition, it frequently was made to ferve other purposes, as their ambition or their refentment inclined them, as we find they were afterwards against the Albigenfes or Waldenfes.

Here it may be very proper to speak a little of the perfecutions carried on againft the Albigenfes or Waldentes, their principles being the fame, the former

name

name being given them from their inhabiting the town Albigium; the latter as having embraced the principles in general of Peter Waldo; and this is amply confirmed by the Popes proceffes, and fentence againft them, it being always in the name of Waldenfes.

The first perfecution was raifed against them by Pope Innocent III. about the year 1198, who pre tended at first to reduce them by reafon and argument, and for that purpose fent two men amongst them, who found them fo well established in their principles, that they offered a free and public difputation. In the mean time Pope Innocent ftrengthened himself, and prepared to deftroy or conquer them. Upon this footing the Pope likewife fent out his fpiritual thunder-bolts, or anathemas, and in the fame or following year erected the inquifition; an office peculiarly intended for the finding out and punifhing fuch as they pleased to call heretics, in which monks were principally employed, and chiefly they of the order of St. Dominic, inftituted by the Pope; and by thefe means, together with the invitations and promifes given by the Popes bulls of full pardon of fin and paradife to all that would come and bear arms againft them for forty days; fo that the army increased to near 100,000*; and hiftory mentions their deftroying in the space of fix months, or thereabout, 200,000 t. He likewife excommunicated and declared war against Raymond Earl of Thoulouse, and his subjects, for not joining in the perfecution of the Albigenfes.

Of the WORSHIP of the CHURCH of ROME. This may be confidered in regard to the objects of it, the stated daily fervice, and alfo as varied at particular times in the folemnities or ceremonies of it, and as performed by the Pope, Cardinal, or Priefts. But *Bennet's Perfecution and Cruelty of the Ch. of Rome." + Dr. Grosvenor's Sermons against Popery.PN

as

as a particular relation of all thefe would exceed the limits of this work, I fhall only give an account of fome of their folemnities and ceremonies that are, moft remarkable, referring the reader, for the form, and method of the common and ordinary fervice, to the Romifh miffal or breviary, &c. ·

Of the ALTAR.

The ALTAR, according to the facred canons, fhould be made of ftone, and it is the bishop's province to confecrate it; the table to be of one fingle ftone, supported by pillars; there fhould be three fteps to go up to it, covered with a carpet, and it is the clerk's bufiness to take care that the table be covered with a chrifmal, that is, a fine cloth, as white as poffible, be laid upon it. All this must be observed with the greatest exactnefs with refpect to the high altar, where Christ's body is for the generality depofited. The clerks must be dreffed in their furplices when they approach it, and immediately kneel down and adore the holy facrament. Certain rules are likewife to be observed in the change of the ornaments: the whole must be bleffed, croffed, &c. fprinkled with holy water. The fame formalities are to be observed with refpect to the tabernacle of the altar, to the pyx, the box where the hoft is locked up, and the corporals on which they confecrate; in all which they are to provide every thing of the greatest value; neither gold, filver, or precious ftones, are fpared to adorn it; and the moft fplendid productions of art contribute to its luftre. Tapers are fet on the right and left fide, which must be made of white wax, except in offices for the dead, &c.

There must be a crucifix in relievo on the altar of curious workmanship, and the crucifix must be so placed as that the foot may be as high as the top of the candlesticks. We fhall pass by the cruets, bafons, &c. for washing, &c. There is alfo the little bell, which is to be rung at the Sanctus, the two elevations; the clerk

clerk must tinkle it twice at each Sanctus, and at each elevation nine times, viz. thrice when the priest kneels down, thrice when he elevates the hoft, and thrice when he fets it down upon the altar. The fame formalities are obferved in regard to the chalice, &c. The altar is inclofed with rails, generally of curious workmanship, and the fervice conducted with much folemnity and great ceremony.

Of the DIVINE SERVICE, Canonical Hours, &c.

The fervice confifts of prayers and holy leffons, which the church has appointed to be read every day by the clergy at particular hours. This fervice is called by the church the canonical hours; becaufe it was ordained by the canons of the church, which not only prescribed the hours in which it is to be faid, but likewife the particular circumstances in which it is to be faid. This office is in general called the breviary, which has its name from being an abridgment of a longer service, that was formerly used, than is at prefent.

This office is to be faid in a ftanding posture, purfuant to the ancient cuftom of the church, and upon the knees on the days of penance.

The office confifts of seven hours, if mattins and lauds are to be reckoned one, but eight in cafe they are divided. In the more early ages it was compofed but of fix parts, which were Tierce, Sexte, and None, for the day, and for night, the evening, the midnight, and morning prayers. At prefent they are divided into feven or eight, viz. mattins for night, lauds for the morning, prime, tierce, fexte, none for the day, vefpers for the evening, and compline for the beginning of the night. The hour of faying prime, is directly after fun-rifing, tierce is fixed to the third hour of the day, fexte at the fixth, none at the ninth hour, vefpers towards the evening, and compline after fun-fet; and due care is

taken