An ENQIRY into the Reasons for Abrogating the TEST im∣posed on all Members of Parliament. Offered by Sa. Oxon.

WHEN the Cardinals in Rome go abroad without Fiocco's on their Horses heads, it is understood, that they will be then incognito, and they expect nothing of that Respect which is payed them on other Occasions. So since there is no Fioc∣co at the Head of this Discourse, no Name nor Designation, it seems the Writer offers himself to be examined without those nice re∣gards, that may be due to the Dignity he bears: and indeed when a Man forgets what he is him∣self, it is very natural for others to do itlikewise.

It is no wonder to see those of the Ro∣man Communion bestir themselves, so much as they do, to be delivered from the Test, and every thing else, that is uneasie to them: and though others may find it very reasonable to oppose themselves, in all the Just and Legal Ways, that agree with our Constitution, to this Design, yet it is so na∣tural to all, that are under any Pressure, to desire to get free from it, that at the same time that we cannot forbear to withstand them, we cannot much condemn them: But it raises Nature a little, to see a Man that has been so long fatned with the Spoils of our Church, and who has now got up to a degree so disproportioned to his Merit, to turn so treacherously upon it. If he is already weary of his comfortable importance, and will give her into the bargain, and declare himself, no body will be surprized at the change of his Masque, since he has ta∣ken much pains to convince the World, that his Religion goes no deeper than his Habit: yet though his Confidence is of a piece with all his other Vertues, few thought it could have carried him so far; I confess I am not surprized, but rather wonder to see, that o∣thers should be so: for he has given sufficient Warning what he is capable of; he has told the World what is the worst thing that Dr. Burnet can do, pag. 50. but I am sure the Do∣ctor cannot be quit with him, to tell what is the worst thing that he can do; it must needs be a very fruitful Fancy, that can find out all the Degrees of Wickedness to which he can go: and though this Pamphlet is a good Es∣say of his Talent that way, yet that Terra In∣cognia is boundless. In the Title Page it is said, that this was first writ for the Author's own Satisfaction, and now Published for the Benefit of all others whom it may concern. But the words are certainly wrong placed; for the truth of the matter is, That it was writ∣ten for the Author's own Benefit, and that it is now Published for the Satisfaction of all o∣thers whom it may concern: In some sence per∣haps it was written for the Author's own Sa∣tisfaction: for so petulant and so depraved a mind as His, is capable of being delighted with His Treachery: and a poor Bishoprick with the addition of a Presidentship being too low a Prize for his Ambition and Avarice, He resolved to assure Himself of the first great Bishoprick that falls; the Litge Letter lets us see how far the Jesuites were assured of him, and how much courted by him: and that he said, that none but Atheists supported the Pro∣testant Religion now in England; yet how many soever of these may be among us, He is upon the point of lessening their number, by one at Page  13 least: and he takes care to justifie the Hopes which these Fathers conceiv'd of him.

They are severe Masters, and will not be put off with Secret Civilities, Lewd Jests, Enter∣tainments, and Healths drank to their good Suc∣cess; so now the Price of the Presidentship is to be paid, so good a Morsel as this deserved that Dr. Stillingfleet, Dr. Tillotson, Dr. Burnet, and some other Divines should be ill used, and he to preserve the Character of Drawcansir, which is as due to him as that of Bays, falls upon the Articles of the Church, and upon both Houses of Parliament. It is Reproach enough to the House of Lords, that he is of it; but it is somewhat new, and a Character becoming Sa. Oxon, to arraign that House, with all the Insolence to which he can raise his wanton Pen. Laws that are in being, are treated with respect even by those who move for their Repcal; but our Drawcansir scorns that modest strain, He is not contented to arraign the Law, but calls it Barba∣rous, and says, that nothing can be more Barba∣rous and Prophane, then to make the renouncing of a Mistery, so unanimously received, a State Test, p. 133. p. 64. But he ought to have a∣voided the word Prophane, since it leads Men to remember, that he had taxed the Praying for the King, as under God and Christ, as Crude, not to say Prophane: when in the Prospect he had then of a Bishoprick he raised the King a∣bove Christ, but now another Prospect, will make him sink him beneath the Pope, who is but at best Christ's Vicar. But this is not all, there comes another Flower that is worthy of him, he tells us, That the TEST was the first born of Oats's Plot, and brought sorth on purpose to give Credit and Reputation to the Perjury, p. 5. and because this went in common between the two Houses, he bestows a more particular mark of his Favour, on the House of Lords: and tells them, That this was a Monument e∣rected by themselves in honour of so gross an Impo∣sture, (ibid.) But after all, the Royal Assent was added; and here no doubt it itched some∣where, for if it had not been for the manner of the late King's Death, and the Papers published since his Death, he would have wreaked his Malice upon his Memory, for he will never for∣give his not advancing him: And the Late King being so true a Judge of Wit, could not but be much taken with the best Satyr of our Time; & saw that Bays's Wit, when measured with ano∣thers, was of a piece with his Virtues, and there∣fore judged in favour of the Rebearsal Trans∣pros'd: this went deep, and though it gave oc∣casion to the single piece of Modesty, with which he can be charged, of withdrawing from the Town, and not importuning the Press more for some years, since even a Face of Brass must grow red, when it is so burnt as his was then; yet his Malice against the Elder Brother was never extinguished but with his Life: But now a strange Conjuncture has brought him again on the Stage; and Bays will be Bays still.

He begins his Prologue with the only soft word in the whole piece, I humbly Conceive, but he quickly repents him of that Debonarity, and so makes Thunder and Lightning speak the rest, as if his Designs were to Insult over the two Houses, and not to convince them. He who is one of the Punies of his Order, and is certain∣ly one of its justest Reproaches, tells us pag. 8. That to the Shame of the Bishops, this Law was consented to by them in the House of Lords: But what Shame is due to him, who has treated that Venerable Bench, and in particular his Metropo∣litan, in so scurrilous a manner. The Order has much more cause to be ashamed of such a Member: though if there are two or three such as he is among the twenty Six, they may Com∣fort themselves with this, that a dozen of much better Men, had one among them, that I confess was not much worse, if it was not for this, that he let the Price of his Treachery fall much low∣er than Sa. Oxon does, who is still true to his old Maxim, that he delivered in Answer to one who asked him, What was the best Body of Divi∣nity? which was, That that which could help a man to keep a Coach and Six Horses was certain∣ly the best. But now I come to Examine his Reasons for abrogating the Test.

The first is, That it is contrary to the Natural Rights of Peerage, and turns the Birth-Right of the English Nobility, into a Precarious Title: which is at the mercy of every Faction and Passi∣on in Parliament, and that therefore, how useful soever the TEST might have been in its Season, it some time must prove a very ill President against the Right of Peerage: and upon this he tells a Story of a Protestation made in the House of Lords, a∣gainst the TEST, that was brought in, in 1675. together with the Resolution of the House against that Penalty upon the Peers, of losing their Votes in case of a Refusal; be represents this, as a Test Page  14 or Oath of Loyalty, against the Lamfulness of ta∣king Arms upon any pretence whatsoever against the King.

But in Answer to all this, one would gladly know what are the Natural Rights of Peerage, and in what Chapter of the Law of Nature they are to be found, for if those Rights have no other Warrant, but the Constitution of this Government, then they are still subject to the Legislative Authority, and may be regulated by it. The Right of Peerage is still in the Family, only as the exercise of it is limited by the Law to such an Age, so it may be suspended as ost as the Publick Safety comes to require it: even the indelible Character it self, may be brought under a total Suspension, of which our Author may, perhaps, afford an instance at some time or other.

2. Votes in either House of Parliament, are never to be put in Ballance with Establish'd Laws: These are the Opinions of one House, and are changeable.

3. But if the TEST might have been use∣ful in its Season, one would gladly see how it should be so soon out of Season: for its chief Use being to secure the Protestant Religion in 1678. it does not appear, That now in 1688. the Dangers are so quite dissipated, that there is no more need of securing it. In one sence we are in a safer Condition than we were then: for some false Brethren have shewed themselves, and have lost that little Credit which some unhap∣py Accidents had procured them.

4. It was not the Loyalty in the TEST of the Year 1675 that raised the greatest Opposi∣tion to it: but another part of it, That they should never Endeavour any Alteration in the Go∣vernment, either in the Church or State. Now it seemed to be an unreasonable Limitation on the Legislative Body, to have the yenbers engaged to make no Alteration: And it is that which would not have much pleased those, For whose satisfaction this Book is published.

The second Reason was already hinted at, of its dishonourable Birth and Original, p. 10. which according to the decency of his stile, he calls the first Sacrament of the Otesian Villany, p 9. This he aggravates as such a Monstrous and In∣human piece of Barbarity as could never have en∣tred into the thoughts of any Man but the infamous Author of it: This piece of Elegance, though it belongs to this Reason, comes in again in his Fourth Reason, page 6. and to let the House of Lords see their Fate, if they will not yield to his Reasons, he tells them that this will be not only an Eternal National Reproach, but such a blot upon the Peers, that no length of time could wear away, nothing but the Universal Constagra∣tion could destroy, which are the aprest Expres∣sions that I know to mark how deeply, the ma∣ny blots with which he is stigmatized are root∣ed in his Nature. The wanton man in his Drawcansir humour thinks that Parliaments and a House of Peers are to be treated by Him with as much Seorn as is justly due to himself. But to set this matter in its true Light, it is to be re∣membred that in 1678. there were besides the Evidences of the Witnesses, a great many other Discoveries made of Letters and Negotiations in Forreign Pares, chiefly in the Courts of France and Rome, for Extirpating the Protestant Reli∣gion; upon which the Party that was most u∣nited to the Court, set on this Law, for the Test, as that which was both in itself a just and neces∣sary Security for the Establish'd Religion, and that would probably lay the fermentation which was then in the Nation: and the Act was so lit∣tle acceptable to him, whom he calls its Author, that he spake of it then with Contempt, as a Trick of the Court to lay the Nation too soon asleep. The Negotiations beyond Sea were too evidently proved to be denied; and (which is not yet generally known) Mr. Coleman when Examined by the Committe? of the House of Commons, said plain enough to them, that the Late King was concerned in them; but the Com∣mittee would not look into that Matter, and so Mr. Sacheverill, that was their Chairman, did not report it; yet the thing was not so secret but that one to whom it was trusted, gave the Late King an Account of it; who said, That he had not heard of it any other way, and was so fully convinced that the Nuion had cause given them to be jealous, that he himself set forward the Act, and the rather because he saw that the E. of S. did not much like it. The Parliament as long as it was known, that the Religion was safe in the King's Negative, had not taken any great Care of its own Constitution, but it seem∣ed the best Expedient that could be found, for laying the Jealousies of his Late Majesty, and the Apprehensions of the Successor, to take so much Care of the Two Houses, that so the Dangers with which Men were then allarm'd, Page  15 might seem the less formidable, upon so effe∣ctual a Security: And thus all the stir that he keeps with Perjury and Imposture, ought to make no other impression, but the wantonness of his own temper, that meddles so boldly with things of which he knew so little the true Secret. For here was a Law passed, of which all made great use that opposed the Bill of Exclusion, to demonstrate to the Nation that there could be no danger of Popery, even un∣der a Prince of that Religion; but as he would turn the matter, it amounts to this, That that Law might be of good use in that Sea∣son, to lay the Jealousies of the Nation, till there were a Prince on the Throne of that Communion, and then when the turn is served, it must be thrown away, to open the only door that is now shut upon the Re-establishment of that Religion. This is but one hint among a great many more of the state of Affairs at the time that this Act of the TEST was made, to shew that the Evidence given by the Wit∣nesses, had no other share in that matter, but that it gave rise to the other Discoveries; and a fair opportunity to those who knew the Se∣cret of the late Kings Religion, and the Nego∣tiation at Dover, to provide such an effectual Se∣curity, as might both save the Crown, and se∣cure the Religion: and this I am sure some of the Bishops knew, (who to their Honour) were faithful to both.

The Third Reason he gives for Repealing the Act, is the Incompetent Authority of those who Enacted it; for it was of an Ecclesiastical na∣ture: and here he stretches out his Wings to a top-flight, and charges it with nothing less than the Deposing of Christ from his Throne, the disowning, neglecting and assronting his Commissi∣on to his Catholick Church, and entrenching upon this Sacred Prerogative of his holy Catholick Church: and then that he might have occasion to seed his Spleen with railing at the whole Or∣der, he makes a ridiculous Objection of the Bi∣shops being present in the House of Lords, that he might shew his respect to them, by telling in a Parenthesis, That (to their shame) they had consented to it. But has this Scaramuchio no Shame left him? Did the Parliament pretend by this Act to make any Decision in those two points of Transubstantiation and Idolatry? Had not the Convocation desined them both for a∣bove an Age before? In the 28th Article of our Church these words are to be found: Transab∣stantiation (or the change of the substance of bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy writ; but it is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthrows the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many Superstitions; and for the Idolatry of the Church of Rome, that was also declared very expresly in the same Body of Articles; since in the Ar∣ticle 35. the Homilies are declared

And the second of these, which is against the Peril of Idolatry, aggravates the Idolatry of that Church in so many particulars, and with such severe ex∣pressions, that those who at first made those Ar∣ticles, and all those who do now sign them, or oblige others to sign them, must either believe the Church of Rome to be guilty of Idolatry, or that the Church of England is the Impudentest Society that ever assumed the name of a Church, if she proposes such Homilies to the People, in which this Charge is given so home, and yet does not believe it her self. A man must be of Bay's pitch to rise up to this degree of Impu∣dence. Upon the whole matter then, these points had been already determined, and were a part of our Doctrines enacted by Law; all that the Parliament did, was only to take these out of a great many more, that by this Test it might appear, whether they who came into either House were of that Religion or not; and now let our Reasoner try what he can make out of this; or how he can justifie the Scandal that he so boldly throws upon his Order, All this shews to whom he hath pawned both the Bishop and the Lord, and something else too, which is both Conscience and Honour, is he has any lest. When one reflects on two of the Bi∣shops, that were of that Venerable Body, while this Act passed, whose Memory will be blessed Page  16 in the present and following Ages, those two great and good men that filled the Sees of Che∣ster and Oxford, he must conclude, that as the World was not worthy of them, so certainly their Sees were not worthy of them, since they have been plagued with such Successors; that because Bays delights in Figures taken from the Roman Empire, I must tell him, that since Com∣modus succeeded to Marcus Aurelius, I do not find a more incongruous Succession in History. With what sensible regret must those who were so often edified with the Gravity, the Piety, the Generosity, and Charity, of the late Bishop of Oxford, look on, when they see such a Harleguin in his room.

His Fourth Reason is taken from the uncer∣tainty and falshood of the matters contained in the Declaration itself, pag. 9. For our Comedi∣an maintains his Character still, and scorns to speak of Establish'd Laws with any Decency; here he puts in a Paragraph, as was formerly marked, which belonged to his Second Reason; but it seems some of those to whom he has pawn'd himself, thought he had not said enough on that head, and therefore to save blottings, he put it in here. After that, he tells the Gentry, That Transubstantiation was a Notion belonging to the Schoolmen, and Metaphysicians: And that he may bespeak their Favour, he tells them in very soft words: That their Learning was more polite and practicable in the Civil Affairs of Hu∣man Life, to understand the Rules of Honour, and the Laws of their Country, the Practice of Mar∣tial Discipline, and the Examples of Great Men informer Ages, and by them to square their Acti∣ons in their respective Stations: And the like. But sure the Bishop is here without his Fiocco, yet at least for Decencies sake, he should have named Religion and Vertue among the pro∣per Studies of the Gentry: and if he dares not trust them with the Reading the Scri∣ptures, yet at least they might read the Articles of our Church, and hearken to the Homilies; for though it has been long one of the first Maxims that he has infused into all the Clergy that come near him, That the People ought to be brought into an Ignorance in matters of Re∣ligion; that Preaching ought to be laid aside, for a Preaching Church could not stand; that in Sermons no Points of Doctrine ought to be explained, and that only the Rules of Human Life ought to be told the People; yet after all, they may read the short Articles: and though they were as blindly implicite, as he would wish them to be, yet they would without more enquiry, find Transubstantiation to be condem∣ned in them. Next, he triumphs over the re∣nouncing of it, pag, 11.

And he ap∣peals to the Members of both Houses (whom in a fit of Respect he calls Honourable, after he had reproach'd them all he could) I do verily believe none of them have any distinct Notion of Transubstantiation, and that it is not only Morally, but Physically impossible for them to understand it: But one would think that this is enough for declaring that they do not believe it, since the TEST contains no declaration concerning Transub∣stantiation itself, whether it is a true or a false Doctrine; but only concerning the belief of him that takes it. After a Farce of a slight Story, he concludes, That there seems to be nothing but a Prophane Le∣vity in the whole matter; and a shameless abuse put upon God and Religion, to carry on the Wicked Designs of a Rebel-Faction. For he cannot for his heart abate an ace of his Insolence, even when he makes the King, Lords, and Commons, the subject of his scorn. Certainly whatever his Character is, it ought not to be expected that a Man who attacks all that is Sacred, under God and Christ, should not be treated as he deserves: it were a see∣ble weakness, to have so great a regard to a Character that is so prostituted by him. He tells us, pag. 47. and here he makes a long excursion to shew his Learning, in tack∣ing a great many things together, which pas∣ses with ignorant Readers, as a mark of his great Reading: whereas in this, as well as in all his other Books, in which any shews of Learning appear, those who have searched into the Fountains, see that he does nothing but gather from the Collection of others: Page  17 only he spoils them with the Levities of his Buffoon-Stile, and which is worse, with his Dis-ingenuity. I leave all thse matters to be Examined, by those who have leisure for it, and that think him worth their Pains: But as for Transubstantiation, the Words that I have cited from one of our Articles, shew plainly that it is rejected in our Church, so that he is bound either to renounce it, or to renounce our Church: therefore all that shew he makes with our History, comes to nothing, since whatever he may say with relation to Edward the Sixth's Reign, it cannot be denied but they were Enacted by the Convocation in the be∣ginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, and they have been ever since the Doctrine of our Church: so that without going further, 'this is now our Doctrine, and since Sa. Oxon car∣ries the Authority of the Convocation so high, he will find the Original Record of these Ar∣ticles in Corpus-Christi Colledge in Cambridge, subscribed by the Members of both Houses, in which there is a much more positive Decision then is in the Prints, not only against Transub∣stantiation, but against any Corporeal or Real Presence of the Body and Bloud of Christ in the Sa∣crament: And if he will give himself scope, to rail at those who suppressed this, I leave him to his Liberty. But here is the formal decision of this Church, and the pretending that there was no Evidence of Cranmer's Opi∣nion, but in an unknown Manuscript, or a fa∣mous Invisible Manuscript, p. 46. 47. when there are two Books writ on this matter by Cran∣mer himself, and when all the Disputes in Queen Mary's Time, besides, those that were both in Oxford, and Cambridge, in King Edwards time, shew so clearly, that this was his Doctrine, is a strain becoming his Sincerity, that gives this a∣mong many other Essays of the Trust that is due to him.

But it seems he thought that Dr. Tillotson, Dr. Stillingfleet, and Dr. Burnet, besides some others whom he does not Name, had not Re∣putation enough in the World, and there∣fore he intended to raise it, by using them ill: which is all the Effect that his Malice can have. He had set on one of his poor under-work-men, some years ago, to decry the Manuscript which Dr. Stillingfleet had in his keeping for above twenty years, and which Dr. Burnet had in his Hands for many Months, and which they shew∣ed to as many as desired to see, but that had turned so much to his Shame that first vented the Calumny, that it seems he summoned Sa. Oxon to appear his Second in the Slander: and he whose Brow is of so peculiar a Composition, will needs bring it here, tho never so imperti∣nently. But I forgive the Hatred that he bares both to that Manuscript, and to those Doctors, since nothing could be less to the Satisfaction of those for whom he published his Book, then to see the Nature and Regular Methods in which the Reformation was advanced. For the Bishops and Divines were appointed, to Examine all Points with much Care, and to bring every man his Opinion in Writing, all which were compared very faithfully, and upon these the Decisions were made.

There any many other Papers yet extant which by comparing the Hands, shews these to be Originals: and they were in the Salisbury Family probably ever since they were at first brought together. Their Ancestor the Lord Burghly who was Secretary of State, in Edward the Sixth's time, gathered them up; and as ap∣pears in a Letter under his own Hand yet extant, he had six or seven Volumes of them, of which Dr. Stillingfleet had only two: but Dr. Burnet saw two more of these Volumes.

The History of the Reformation sells still so well, that I do not believe Mr. Chiswell the Printer of it has made any Present to this Rea∣soner, to raise its Price: for to attack it with so much Malice, and yet not to offer one Reason to lessen its Credit, is as effectual a Recommen∣dation, as this Author can give it.

He pretends that Dr. Burnet's Design was to make Cranmer appear a meer Sacramentarian as to Doctrine, as he had made him appear an Erastian, as to Discipline: and he thinks the vain Man was flattered into all the Pains he took, that he might give Reputation to the Er∣rors of his Patrons, and that those two grand Forgeries are the grand Singularities of his Hi∣story: and the main things that gave it Popular Vogue and Reputation with his Party. So that were these two blind Stories, and the Reasons depending upon them retrenched, it would be like the Shaving off Sampson's hair, and destroy all the Strength peculiar to the History. But to all this Stuff I shall only say, 1. That the Charge of Forgery falls back on the Reasoner, since as to Cranmer's Opinion of the Sacrament, his Page  18 own Books, and his Dispute at Oxford are such plain Evidences, that none but Bays could have questioned it: and for his being an Erastian, Dr. Burnet had clearly proved that he had changed his Opinion in that point, so that though he shewed that he had been indeed once engaged in those Opinions, yet he proved that he had forsaken them: Let the Reader judge to whom the charge of Forgery belongs. 2. Dr. Burnet has indeed some Temptations to Vanity now, since he is ill used by Bays, and put in such Com∣pany: but I dare say, if he goes to give him his Character, he will never mention so slight a one as Vanity, in which how excessive soever he may be; yet it is the smallest of all his Faults. 3. These two Particulars here mentioned, bear so inconsiderable a share in that History, and have been so little minded, that I dare say of an hundred that are pleased with that Work, there is not one that will assign these as their Motives.

He censures Dr. Burnet, for saying, he had of∣ten head it said that the Articles of our Church were framed by Cranmer and Ridly; as if it were the meanest Trade of an Historian to stoop to bear-say, p. 55. But the best of all the Roman Historians (Salust. in bello Katil.) does it, and in this Dr. Burnet maintains the Character of a sincere Historian, to say nothing that was not well grounded: and since it has been often said by many Writers, that these two Bishops pre∣pared our Articles, he finding no particular E∣vidence of that, delivers it with its own doubt∣fulness. It is very like Sa. Oxan would have been more positive upon half the Grounds, that Dr. Burnet had, but the other chose to write ex∣actly: yet he adds, That it is probable that they penned them: and if either the Dignity of their Sees, or of their Persons be considered, the thing will appear reasonable enough. But I do not wonder to see any thing that looks like a modesty of Stile offend our Author, he is next so kind to Dr. Burnet, as to offer him some Counsel, (p. 50.) That he would be well advi∣sed to imploy his Pain in writing Lampoons upon the present Princes of Christendom (especially his own) which he delights in most; because it is the worst thing that himself can do, then col∣lecting the Records of former times: for the first will require Time and Postage, to pursue his Ma∣lice: but the second is easily traced in the Chimney corner.

One would think that this period was Writ by Mr. Louth, it is so obscure and ill expressed, that nothing is plain, but the malice of it: but he of all men should be the furthest from reproaching any for Writing Lampoons, who has now given so rude a one, on the Late King and the Lords and Commons; if bold Railing without either Wit or Decency, deserves that Name. I will only say this further, that if one had the ill Na∣ture to write a Lampoon on the Government, one of the severest Articles in it, would be, That it seems Writers are hard to be found, when such a Baboon is made use of. It is Lam∣poon enough upon the Age, that he is a Bishop: but it is downright Reproach that he is made the Champion of a Cause, which if it is bad of it self, must suffer extreamly by being in such hands.

And thus I think enough is said in answer to his impertinent digression upon Transubstantia∣tion, let him renounce the Article of our Church, and all that he possesses in Consequence to his having signed it, and then we will argue all the rest with him upon the square: but as long as he owns that, he is bound likewise to own the first Branch of the Test, which is the renouncing of Transubstantiation. In this Discourse he makes his old Hatred to Calvin and the Calvi∣nists return so often, that it appears very Con∣spicuously. I believe it is stronger now than e∣ver, and that for a particular reason: When the Prince and Princess of Orange were Marri∣ed, he was perhaps the only Man in England that expressed his Uneasiness at that happy Con∣junction, in so clownish a manner, that when their Highnesses past through Canterbury he would not go with the rest of that Body, to which he was so long a Blemish, to pay his Du∣ty to them, and when he was asked the Reason, he said, He could have no regard to a Calvinist Prince. Now this Calvinist Prince has declared his mind so openly and fully against the Repeal of the Test, that no doubt this has encreased Bays's Distemper, and heightned his Choler a∣gainst the whole Party.

The second Branch of the Test, is the Decla∣ration made of the Idolatry committed in the Roman Church: upon which he tells us, p. 71, 72. That Idolatry is a Stabbing and Cut-throat Word, and that it is an Inviting and Warranting the Rabble whenever Opportunity favours, to de∣stroy the Roman Catholicks: and here Bays will Page  19 out do himself, since this was a Master-piece of Service, therefore he makes the taxing the Church of Rome with Idolatry, a piece of Inhu∣manity that outdoes the Savages of the Canibals themselves: and damns at once both Body and Soul. He charges Dr. Stillingfleet as the great Founder of this, and all other Anti-catholick and Anti-christian, and Uncharitable Principles a∣mong us, and that the Test is the Swearing to the Truth of his unlearned and Phanatick Notion of Idolatry, p. 130. 135. and the result of all is, That Idolatry made the Plot, and then the Plot made Idolatry, and that the same persons made both. He has also troubled the Reader with a second Impertinence to shew his second-hand Reading again upon the Notion of Idolatry: But all this falls off with a very short answer, if he is of the Church of England and believes that the Homilies contain a Godly and wholsom Doctrine, all this Clamour against Idolatry, turns against himself, for he will find the Church of Rome charged with this, almost an Age before Dr. Stillingfleet was born: and though perhaps none has ever defended the Charge, with so much Learning as he has done, yet no Malice less impudent than his is, could make him the Author of the Accusation. It will be another strain of our Author's Modesty, if he will pre∣tend that our Church is not bound to own the Doctrine that is contained in her Homilies; he must by this make our Church as treacherous to her Members, as Sa. Oxon is to her, for to de∣liver this Doctrine to the People; if we believe it not our selves, is to be as impudent as he himself can pretend to be. A Church may be∣lieve a Doctrine which she does not think neces∣sary to propose to all her Members: but she were indeed a Society sit for such Pastors as he is, if she could propose to the People, a Do∣ctrine, chiefly one of so great Consequence as this is, without she believed it herself. So then he must either renounce our Church and her Articles, or he must answer all his own Plea for clearing that Church of this Imputation, which is so slight, that it will be no hard matter even for such a trifling Writer as himself is, to do it. As for what he says of Stabbing and Cut-throat Words, he may charge us with such Words, if he will, but we know who we may charge with the Deeds; I would gladly see the List of all that have been murder'd by these Words, to try if they can be put in the Ballance, either with the Massacre of Ireland, or that of Paris, upon which I must take Notice of his slight way of mentioning Coligny and his Faction, and telling us in plain Words, p. 45. That they were Rebels. This is perhaps another instance of his kindness to the Calvinist Prince, that is descended from that Great Man.

If Idolatry made our Plot, it was not the first that it made: but his Malignity is still like him∣self, in his charging Dr. Stillingfleet, who he says is the Author of the Imputation of Idolatry, as if he had suborned the Evidence in our Plot. I should congraulate to the Doctor, the Honour that is done him by the Malice of one who must needs be the Object of the Hatred of all good Men, if I did not look upon him as so comtemp∣tible a Person, that his Love and his Hatred are equally insignificant. If he thinks our Church worse than Canibals, I wish he would be at the pains to go and make a trial, and see whether these Salvages will use him as we have done. I dare say they would not eat him, for they would find so much Gall and Choller in him, that the first bit would quite disgust them.