Point so thoroughly as I have done, in Regard of the infinite Mischiefs, which it occasions to States; as wi•…•…l appear by the following Treatise.
3. No Man can exceed bounds in expressing his Abhorrence of Popery, provided he forbear reflecting upon innocent Persons, as I have carefully done, for certainly the Malignity of t•…•…e Romish Religion and Clergy, goes beyond all Expression or Idea; and if I have Reason on my side, as it appears I have, all honest Papists will think the•…•…selves obliged to me▪ fo•…•… disabusing them, and if they can convict me of a Mistake, I am wi•…•…ling to bear the reproach of it.
The Wits of this Age will perhaps find fault with my Stile and manner of Expression, and complain that it is dull and not genteel, for most People now a days look for a fine Stile in Books. But besides, that my Matter will not admit of a fl•…•…uri∣shing Stile nor sallies of Fancy, I freely own, that I am none of those who are fond, of the Title of a fine Wit, an Orator or Polite Writer: I am concent if I can discover, in my rude Method, such things as are of the highest Importance, and Use to Men and Christians, which no body else hath taken notice of. And I hope that those who love Solid and Important Discoveries, and the Order and Good of the Commonwealth, will do me Iustice. Those that have finer Pens t•…•…an I, may perhaps Handle this Subject better after me, Correct my Faults, Sup∣ply my Defects, and Add to my Discoveries, it being a Maxim as true •…•…s common, Facile est inventis addere.
For my own part, I must confess that I expect more from Works of this na•…•…ure, towards the Destruction of Popery, than from all the Books of Controversies that shall be writ hence∣forward. Great Men never Read them, and for the most part, they govern themselves meerly by sensible Reasons and Visible Interest. Those that I propose here are Uncontrovertible, beyond all Exception, and Intelligible to People of the meanest Capacities, if they have but patience to hear them; so that all that remains to be Controverted, is the degree of the Mischief occasioned by Popery, and whether it be so great, as Ihave represented it or not.
I have chosen to insist on the Instance of France, to prove the infinite Malignity of the Romish Religion, rather than on that of any other Popish State, because that Country is best known to me, and that last year I undertook to make it appear that