The Cabal of Romish ghosts and mortals, or, The devil deceiv'd and the sick pope

TO THE Jocose, or Serious, READER.

MOst moderate Papists, I imagine, (as they believe) so they abhor the Trans∣actions of this Age: When the simple Vulgar of that Sect, (being egg'd on by the florid Documents of the Romish Clergy) are so wedded to their Opi∣nions, that they dare not trust their Eye-sight, nor Sense, in what they actually and really behold and comprehend. They do not look through magnifying Glasses, but ra∣ther through such Glasses, as make Objects appear less than they in reality are. They will more safely believe, an Image spoke, or that the consecrated Wafer in the Eucha∣rist, leapt out of the Priest's Hands, because he was a wicked Fellow, than to give credit to the abominable Births, brought lately forth from their Church in this Age. This Dialogue, I believe, because it is a little Drolling, may by some be disliked. Some will say perhaps, 'tis only a Flash in a Pan, that it is no serious Argumentati∣on against the Romanists, but like the burning of a Paste-board Pope, on a Gunpow∣der-Treason. To that I Answer, That from this Dialogue a serious Argument might be made, and that though it may be Drollery, yet there may be some Truth in it. It is, I confess, a Medley of Ghosts and Mortals; but by an impartial Reader, some Reason may be picked from it, and a Man may easily create to himself a belief, that it is a Religion grounded altogether upon Policy, to fatten the Clergy, impoverish the Laity, and fill the Pope's Exchequer. As for Example: A Priest shall come to you, when you are almost at the point of Death, shall terrifie you, by a subtil Elo∣quence, with the dreadful pains of Purgatory; and if you are a Man of an Estate, and of a weak-believing Capacity, you will willingly give half your Estate to the Church, to be freed from those dreadful Torments. This is one way they greaze them∣selves by, besides by many more Exactions, Pardons, Absolutions, &c. which would be too long to insert in an Epistle, or Preface. I shall conclude with Democrates Junior, in the old Edition, Page 648. Above all others, saith he, that High-Priest of Rome, the Dam of that monstrous and superstitious Brood, the Bull-bellowing Pope, which now rageth in the West, that three-headed Cerberus, hath play'd his part, whose Religion at this day is meer Policy, a State wholly composed of Superstition and Wit, and needs nothing but Wit and Superstition to maintain it, that useth Colledges and Religious Houses, to as good purpose, as Forts and Castles, and doth more at this day by a company of scribling Parasites, zealous Anachorites, hypocritical Confessors, and those Pretorian Souldiers his Janiza∣ry Jesuits, than by any thing more sound and substantial.