The truth of Christian religion in six books / written in Latine by Hugo Grotius ; and now translated into English, with the addition of a seventh book, by Symon Patrick ...

SECT. XI. Another is the way of promoting their Religion.

THERE is this Argument also against it (as Grotius speaks of Paganism, Book 4. Sect. 10.) taken from the Religion it self; that if it be not supported by humane power, or policy, immediately it falls to the ground. For as the Church of Rome (it hath been ob∣served by wise Men of our own) got and in∣creased its absolute Authority over Mens con∣sciences, by obtruding on the World supposi∣titious Writings, and corrupting the Monu∣ments of former times; by false Miracles, and forging false stories; by Wars also and Per∣secutions; by Massacres, Treasons and Rebel∣lions; in short, by all manner of carnal means, whether violent or fraudulent: so take away these supports, and that Religion cannot stand by its own strength.

And truly his reason in the Third Section of the same Book against the Paganish worship, that it was from evil Spirits, because they in∣stigated their Worshippers to destroy them that worshipped one God; holds good still (if there be any force in it) to prove the Ro∣man Church not to be acted by the good Spirit of God; because they would not let those live (had they sufficient power) who worship only one God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and content themselves with the Belief before mentioned, into which they were Baptized; not presuming to superadd any thing else, as necessary to Salvation.

And, which is worse, while they have been most cruel to those, who for fear of offending God, dare not allow the worship they give to Saints, which they think belongs to him alone; nor fall down before the Sacrament and adore it, as very God Himself: They have tolera∣ted such without any censure, who have raised St. Francis into an equality with, if not superi∣ority unto, our blessed Saviour; and made the blessed Virgin a kind of Goddess; nay called the Pope the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords; giving him such a power o∣ver all Kings and Kingdoms, as sober Men a∣mong themselves are ashamed to own. Which is just after the example of the Pagans, among whom, as Grotius observes, it was lawful for the Poets, to sing what they pleased, though

never so lewd, concerning the Gods, and for the Epicures to take Providence out of the World: while the Jews were made ridicu∣lous, and the Christians most barbarously used, as if they had been the vilest of Mankind. Of which more anon.