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Religion pretended, Mischief intended. [ 1416]
CElsus the Philosophe•• upon his defence of Paganism,* 1.1 setteth an Inscripti∣on o•• the Word of Truth; Manicheus, that blasphemous Heretick, taking in hand to write to the Church his damnable Paradoxes, doubteth not to be∣gin thus,* 1.2 Manicheus Apostolus Iesu Christi, &c. Manicheus the Apostle of Jesus Christ; The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 H••reticks were alwayes saying, Nos recta••fide i••cedi∣mus, We wa••k in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 right Faith; All of them seeking the cloak and coverture of Religion; It is the old Prove••••,* 1.3 In nomine Domini incipit omne malum, well Englished; In my name have they prophesied lies, Ier. 23. Thus it was with them; and is it not the ••ame (••ay worse, considering the abundance of means afforded to be better) with us now,* 1.4 and but some few years ago; Parsons, that Arch-traytor, when he was hatching mis••hief against his Prince and Native Country, set forth (as if he had been wholly made up of devotion) that excel∣lent piece of Christian Resolution; And now, For Sio••s sake, I will not hold my tongue, sayes one, &c. So, sayes another; and so a third; Sion at the tip of the tongue,* 1.5 but Babel at the bottom of the Heart; Religion prete••ded, Mischief in∣tended; like Sons of Simon, rather then children of Sion, writing P••••rmaca me∣dicines, where they should write venena poysons; And by this means they do sugar the brims of their intoxicated cups, that Men the more gr••edily, and without suspition, may suck in their venomous doctrines, that are administred un∣to th••m therein.