we call Avarice and Simony is an honest and lawful means to support the honour and the Majesty of the Church CHAPTER XII The Eighth Character of Antichristianism which agrees to the Papacy The Spirit of Impurity and Reprobation IN the 16th Chapter of the Revelations we have an admirable Character of Antichristianism and a very plain and evident one where He speaks of three unclean Spirits coming out of the mouth of the Dragon of the Beast and the False Prophet V. 13. And I saw three unclean spirits like Frogs come out of the Mouth of the Dragon and out of the Mouth of the beast and out of the Mouth of the false Prophet V. 14. For they are the Spirits of Devils working Miracles which go forth unto the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World to gather them to the battel of that great day of God Almighty V. 15. And he gatherd them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon The Spirits coming out of the Mouth of the Dragon are his words I cannot think that any man who will consider without prejudice the interpretation we have given of this Oracle in our Accomplishment of Prophecies can doubt of the truth of it 'T is manifest that those Spirits coming out of the mouth must be understood of words for so words are exprest in a figurative stile in the H. Scripture The Spirits therfore which come out of the mouth of the Dragon the Beast and the False Prophet are doubtless the Words Laws and Doctrine of Antichrist And termed Vnclean Spirits because of the Impiety Folly Extravagance and Character of Reprobation which is to be apparent in those Laws and in that Doctrine of Antichrist Let us see whether this agree to the Papacy whether their words be not impious and impure extravagant and foolish and bear the marks of a Reprobate Spirit We must look for this in the words of Antichristianism that is what hath been said and taught by those who have liv'd in the Antichristian Kingdom in one word by the Doctors of the Church of Rome They are of several ranks and degrees Schoolmen Canonists Legendaries Preachers Casuists and the Authors of Mystical Theology Devotion and Controversy If we examin the words of all those different Authors we shall find in 'em the Characters of these impure and diabolical Spirits which come out of the mouth of the Dragon the Beast and the False Prophet The Impurity of the Schoolmen In the first rank are the Schoolmen a sort of Doctors who started up in the twelvth Century when the Devil had just compleated the Antichristian Monarchy and made up the confused mass of Errors and Superstitions which belong to Antichrist the Beast spake and innumerable lying Doctors appear'd under his Authority to abuse the People and continue them in the darkness of Ignorance The Patriarchs of this kind of Doctors who gave rise to this Monstrous Theology were Lombard whom they call the Master of the Sentences Albertus Magnus Abelardus and Thomas Aquinas The H. Scripture was buried in oblivion Aristotle succeeded in the place of S. Paul and a barbarous Philosophy brought forth a Divinity that was much more barbarous What is this Divinity of the Papists 'T is a black and gloomy science rising from the Bottomless Pit cover'd with Clouds and Darkness 'T is a Dedalus an inextricable Labyrinth which the wisest of mankind can never unriddle 'T is a dark and confused Chaos where a very little of that which is good is buried under a great deal of that which is otherwise 'T is a new and barbarous Language invented to astonish and confound the simple where they talk of nothing else but Quiddities and Entities Formalities and Modalities Hecceities and Identities Categoricks and Syncategoricks and a thousand such like things good for nothing but to darken the minds of men and hinder the light of Truth by an infinity of trifling unintelligble distinctions 'T is an Heap of frivolous Questions knotty impenetrable obscure and oftentimes blasphemous In this Scholastick Divinity they gravely inquire whether God can seperate a Relation from its subject whether the Body of J. Christ could be in the Eucharist before his Incarnation whether God could become a Woman whether this Proposition God is a snail or a pumkin be as possible as this God is man whether God could command all sorts of Crimes even the Haâ—red of himself and the Hypocrisie and Dissimulation of all good Actions even in his own Service whether numeral words do add any thing real to the Divinity whether the number of divine Persons ought to belong to first or to second Intentions whether this Proposition God the Father hates his Son be possible or no whether the second person of the Trinity might not have been united to a Devill to a Stone to a Plant to an Asse and if that be supposed how the Stone or Plant could have been crucified have preacht and wrought Miracles c. In all this one may plainly perceive an Impure and Reprobate Spirit and the unclean spirits which come out of the mouth of the false Prophet There is none of the Christian Mysteries but they have polluted and blemisht by their bold Questions that of the Trinity of the Incarnation of the Divine Nature and Providence And tho of late they are a little come off from that way there yet remains so much of it as is sufficient to discover this character of Antichristianism The Errors and Superstitions and Idolatries of Popery are concealed and cloak't under the niceties and darkness of this Divinity 'T is this that hath coin'd those numberless distinctions which are so many Subterfuges where error and Idolatry secure themselves when we attempt to discover ' em 'T is to this Theology that we owe those famous terms of worship absolute and relative Dulia Latria and Hyperdulia of Transubstantiation Concomitance and an hundred others like these Impurities of the Canonists The Canonists are another kind of the Mouths wherby the Dragon the Beast and the False Prophet do speak their words likewise have the Character of unclean and diabolical Spirits Burchard Bishop of Wormes Albertus Abbot of Gemblour Anselme Bishop of Lucca Ives Bishop of Chartres Gratian a Benedictine Monk of Bologna Raimond of Penna Fortè were the principal Composers of the Papal Laws and of those Decrees of the Papacy the body whereof makes up the Canon Law and they are in truth the unclean and diabolical spirits which come out to deceive the Kings of the Earth and to gather them together in battell against God in the place of Armageddon and that under the bond and tye of Excommunication It may be said truly that there is no Folly Filthiness Extravagance or Blasphemy which is not to be found in these Authors of the Canon Law. In one place we read that a Community of Wives is a very good thing and that Plato who would have introduc't it was the wisest of all
conformable to the common Rule of all Christians let them not instance in the Unity of one God the adorable Trinity of Persons in the Godhead the Incarnation of the second person in our nature who is call'd J. Christ His death which was the Ransom and Redemption of mankind his Resurrection which hath ascertain'd ours his Ascension which hath open'd Heaven and made way for our admission his sitting at the Right hand of his Father who hath constituted him Lord and King of the Church and of the World his Intercession which procures for Believers all the good that is necessary to their Eternal Blessedness the Efficacy of the Redeemer's blood with respect to men The Life Everlasting the Resurrection of the dead and the last Judgment Let them not I say instance in any of these to prove the agreement of their Religion with the H. Scripture for 't is not to the purpose All that is Christianity and not Popery 't is my Religion as well as theirs We know very well that Christianity hath continued in the Papacy but we know likewise that Paganism hath been built upon it in the Church of Rome and this is that which makes it truly Antichristian Popery is that which constitutes a particular Sect and distinguisheth it from all others and this we assert hath no kind of Conformity to the Law of J. Christ The Sacrisice of the Mass hath no foundation in Scripture Let us instance in the Sacrifice of the Mass a point of very great importance if in any Religion there be any such because it concerns the sacrifice of a God unto God thereby to obtain Eternal Life the remission of sins and all the blessings of Heaven and Earth for mankind Because it treats of establishing a new Priesthood and new Priests and such as in the act of sacrificing are superior to their own God who is but a meer victim Now in making this Sacrifice I assert that they have altogether neglected and slighted the H. Scripture and had no regard at all to the revelation and Law of J. Christ After the establishment of this Sacrifice it was thought fit to search the Scripture for arguments to prove it but antecedent to such an establishment this was not thought of insomuch that the passages brought to prove the Sacrifice of the Mass seem to be collected and produc'd for no other end than to expose the Christian Religion to the scoffs of the Profane and the raillery of Infidels From the old Testament these words in the book of Genesis are quoted Genes 14. 1 Sam. 2.34 that Melchisedeck brought forth or offer'd unto Abraham bread and wine those words of God to Eli I will raise me up a Faithfull Priest who shall do according to that which is in my mind and in my heart And that which the wise man saith in the book of Proverbs Chap. 9.1 Wisdom hath built her an house c. she hath furnished her Table and the words of the Prophet Malachy In every place Incense shall be offer'd unto my name and a pure offering 1. C. 11. From the new Testament are alledged the words of our Lord to his Apostles Do this in Remembrance of me 26. Matth. And these of our Lord to the Samaritan Woman Believe me the hour cometh 4 John 21. when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father but they that worship him shall worship him in Spirit and Truth And those words of S. Luke 13 Acts. v. 2. And as they ministred to the Lord and those of S. Paul to the Corinthians You cannot drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devills you cannot partake of the Table of the Lord and the Table of Devills and in another place we have an Altar whereof they could not partake who served at the Tabernacle One would wonder how these Texts should be produc't as Proofs in this case Where is the Victim where is the Priest where are the Ceremonies the Consecration Elevation Adoration and Oblation of the Sacrifice where are the Introitus the Gradual the Canon the Offertory used by the Romanists If the Jews to maintain their worship their Sacrifices and the different orders of their Ministers who serv'd at their Altats their High Priest their Feasts their Pascal Lamb their Continual Sacrifice Morning and Evening their Scape-Goat their Ark their Mercy-seat their Cherubims their Distinction of Meats their Circumcision if I say to justifie these things the Jews had produced such Texts of Scripture and said these contain the Proofs of our Religion this is our Authority for it I 'am confident they would have past for Mad-men and if the World were once cured of their Prejudices they would say as much concerning the Papists This is one great point wherin Popery is not sollicitous to keep any agreement with the Scripture the common Rule of all Christians There is no Scripture Evidence for the Pope There is another Instance no less notorious than the former After the Sacrifice it naturally followes that we consider the Priest now Popery hath an High Priest and Head of the Universal Church a Vicar of J. Christ a Lieutenant of God on Earth This is the binding stone of the Arch 't is the Center of the Union So capital an Affair that there is no salvation without adhereing to this High Priest and must we be put off to Tradition for the proof of such an Article as this what Title is there in the scripture to this great Office what Call to such a Charge This is alledged Thou art Peter and on this Rock will I build my Church and what thou hast bound on earth shall be bound in Heaven feed my sheep I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not All this is spoken by our Ld. to the Apostle Peter and this is the establishment of the office and Imployment of High Priest which the Pope claims as his peculiar I would that a meer Turk who is not prepossest with the sentiments of a particular sect might be our judge in this case Let him look upon the Infallible man at Rome with his Triple Crown on his head who pretends to be the Judge the King the Spiritual Soveraign of all Christians even of Kings themselves and examin those passages cited out of our Law in savour of his Pretentions 'T is manifest that this Turk would believe you mockt him Where is there any thing here would he say of the City of Rome where are the Cardinals where is there any appointment of this Soveraign Tribunal to which all the World must appeal If those words bestow any special priviledge upon S. Peter is it said he must have a Successor in those Prerogatives and if he was to have a Successor is there any one syllable that should make us imagine that this Successor must have his Seat at Rome 'T is certain they may say that S. Peter was at Rome that He did
forc'd King John to possess it only as his subject and as the Vassal of the Church One Innocent IV. who was summon'd before the tribunal of God saith Matthew Paris and accused to have render'd the Church of Christ abject and Contemptible as a despicable Servant to have made it a shop of exchange to have overturn'd both Faith and Manners destroyed Justice and concealed the Truth 'T was this Pope who told his Kindred at his death wherefore do you Weep ye wretches shall I not leave you Rich we also meet with one Martin IV. whose Encomium was this that he had the outside of a Shepherd but within was a Wolf 't was he that among other Wishes made this one that all Germany might be turr'd into a Pool of Blood One Boniface VIII who entred into the Popedom as a Fox liv'd there as a Lion and left it as a Dog inrag'd and desperate One Benedict XII who bought the Sister of Petrarkus not of Petrarque himself who abhorr'd the Popes their Persons and their Lives but of Gerard his Brother One John XXII who was deposed in the Councill of Constance as an Heretick Simoniack Perjured Murderer Poisoner Adulterer and Sodomite After the Councill of Constance we find Alphonsus Borgia Pope under the name of Calistus III. An. 1455. who pillag'd all Europe under pretence of solliciting the Princes to make War against the Turk An. 1458. To him succeeded Pius II. who confesses his debaucheries in the Books we have yet extant of his and for the Reward of his Good Works he dyed with this Testimony that he was without faith and without Piety Quickly after comes Paul II. An. 1464. declared enemy of all honest men especially men of learning a Simoniack who sold all Ecclesiastical Preferments a meer brute and yet Proud and stately a great Lover of Jewels and precious Stones wherof he had heapt together a vast quantity An. 1471. After this we meet with Sixtus IV. who from being a Cordelier got to be Pope whose character Baptista Mantua hath left us he saith in short that he was Luxurious Debaucht a Drunkard Adulterer and whatever can be imagin'd that was abominable T is concerning him that we read in History Wesselius Croning Tract Thes Indulg that when the family of the Cardinal of S. Lucy presented him with a Request to have permission to use Sodomy during the three hot moneths of the year that he wrote at the bottom of the request so let it be as is desired To this Sixtus succeeded one Innocent VIII who was Lascivious beyond measure and left eight Bastard Sons and as many Daughters besides this he was a Glutton Covetous and excessively Idle so that no Vice was a Stranger to him Immediately after this we find Alexander VI. An. 1484. Guiccardin whose Enorimities were sufficient to efface the memory of all those of his Predecessors He purchased the Popedom with money he liv'd there in Incest with the famous Lucretia who was his own daughter whom he married to his own Son Caesar Borgia She was therefore his daughter his wife his daughter in law Pontificis filia sponsa nurus He Poyson'd many that were Rich to get their Estates and after he had acted a thousand Villanies was kill'd by that Poyson which himself had prepared for Cardinal Adrian After him comes Julius II. a Proud Head-strong man Turbulent and Cruel who acted the Souldier and fill'd all Europe with Confusions This was he who had such famous Quarrells with Lewis XII King of France named the Father of the People On which occasion that King coyn'd a Medal on which was a Pope with a Tripple Crown and on the reverse these words Perdam Babylonis nomen I 'le destroy the name of Babylon Leo X. succeeded him 'T was in his Reign that the famous Revolution of the Reformation hapned He had not a dram of Religion as every body Grants A meer Worldling that minded nothing but to make a Figure to spend high and heap together Moneys to serve his Luxury 'T is notorious that he did not so much as believe a God and one day told Cardinal Bembo that this Fable of J. Christ hath done us good service Adrian VI. succeeded him they say he was an honest man but a bad Pope Thus the Papists themselves speak of him and so confess that a skilful Pope and an Honest Man are inconsistent Clement VII comes next Guicchardin tells us he was a Bastard a Knave a Hypocrite a Coward Credulous a Slave to his Domesticks and yet Proud Restless always aspiring to new Greatness Paul III. succeeded him Never was the Memory of any man loaded with more heinous Accusations He had sold his sister Julia Farnese to Alexander VI. for a Cardinals Hat. He lay with another of his Sisters and out of jealousie poyson'd her Laura Farnese his Niece was his Miss He endeavourd besides to debauch another Niece which was young and hansom He lay with his own daughter Constantia and poysoned Bosius â—fortia her husband and consequently his Son-in-law A Book that came out after his death accuseth him of all this if but a quarter be true 't would be enough John Maria de Monte was chosen Pope by the name of Julius III. the most Voluptuous Man in the World. He was suspected of Sodomy with a strange young Boy call'd Innocent whom he made a Cardinal But Sodomy in a Pope is a meer triste there is scarce an Italian who is free from it Paul IV. was the proudest Creature in the world He would stamp with his Foot and say I 'le bring down all the Kings under this Foot. He fill'd all Italie with Commotions and made himself so odious to the people that no sooner was his Breath gone but his Statues were pull'd down and thrown into the Sewers Pius IV. who finisht the Council of Trent was Wise as to the World one of the most cunning Politicians of that Age His Policy was tryed to purpose with the difficulties he met with in managing that Councill in order to the keeping up his Soveraignty and hindring it from doing any dammage to the Court of Rome Pius V. was a cruel Persecutor of the Truth Gregory XIII approved of the Massacre at Paris he orderd that Tokens of publick Joy should be made at Rome for it And to perpetuate the Memory of it as of the most gallant act which was performed in his Reign he coyn'd a Medal on one side was himself on the reverse a representation of the Massacre with these words Hugonotorum strages the slaughter of the Hugonots This Massacre was an abominable Fact and whoever approves of it must either be Antichrist or the Son of Antichrist Sixtus V. who succeeded was the Patron of the League he set all France in a flame This proved that he must have been a very good friend of the Spaniards And yet they have told the World that he was a Conjurer and made a Compact
new Temples and Chappels are every day built to her Honour How those have far'd who condemn'd this Excess It may yet be said that there are some in the Church of Rome who condemn this excess Mr. Arnaud in his Apology for the Catholicks cites his good Friend the Bishop of Castoria M. Pavillon the Bishop of Alet and some others and above all we have the Advice of the H. Virgin to her Indiscreet Votaries which takes away all These abuses But these sorts of writings which are but a few are so far from convincing us that this Idolatry is past that it teaches us the contrary that it is yet in vigor At that very time when that little Book came forth there were those who said That a man might be assur'd of his salvation tho he liv'd in Sin if he did but bear any devotion to the Virgin that God could not damn those who had any external Devotion to the Virgin that Devotion to the Virgin was a sign of Predestination that the virgin brought back her votaries from Hell to give 'em space to repent that a man might be saved without the Love of God if he apply'd himself to our Lady that a man might render all Honours to the Virgin tho he forgot that which was due unto God that the Virgin is more merciful than J. Christ that the Virgin is an Inferior Divinity without whom there can be no access to God that she is the Mediatrix of Mankind and hath a great deal of Merit which she never receiv'd from her Son that she is the Joynt-Redeemer and Saviour of the World with J. Christ that we may appeal from God's Tribunal to hers that she hath an Empire and Kingdom distinct from that of the Father that she may be plac't parallell with her Son that Mercy belongs to her but Justice to Christ that we may apply our selves only to her and neglect her Son that Devotion to the Virgin may be prefer'd to the Love of God and trust in him that we may put our confidence in Images and that a difference is to be made between the several Images of the virgin as to efficacy and vertue and consequently that there must be a difference in our Devotion to ' em If those wicked and abominable Extravagancies are past and forgotten this modern Author was much to blame to give so particular an account of them in order to his charge against them that could be of nouse but to revive ' em But for the fuller conviction that these Impieties are still the Religion of the Papacy we must consider how that Book The Advice of the Virgin c. Was receiv'd viz. as an Heretical Book Father Crasset a famous Jesuite wrote an answer to it he treats the Author in his Preface as one that deserv'd the Inquisition and 't is certain had he been in the hands of the Spanish Inquisitors they would have burnt him as a Lutheran In a word Father Crasset confutes him and establisheth all those Impieties which the other had condemn'd he doth I say establish and confirm 'em one after another proving the truth of 'em and the Piety of the practice of these things supporting his own Opinion by the testimony many hundred Authors which he thinks of great weight and this Book is printed with Approbation and Priviledge and sold publickly throughout all France On the contrary the Book of The Advice c. and other such pieces are disperst very secretly concealing the Authors names and with evident tokens of being dislik't and discountenanc't 'T was not long ago that the Cordeliers of Rheims caus'd this Inscription to be put upon the Frontispiece of their Convent Deo Homini Beato Francisco Utrique Crucifixo To God-man and to S. Francis who were both Crucified Some or other abhorring this Blasphemy wrote against it but was forc't to hide himself under the name of S. Saviour and to print his paper with great Secrecy Few at this day dare openly condemn these extravagances In the mean while it may be said that there are great numbers of Papists in France cur'd of these Follies I grant and believe it and 't is that which makes me hope that Popery will ere long be banisht out of France but it must be observed that those very men who in their hearts it may be condemn those foolish Devotions to the Saints do yet practice 'em to appear Good Catholicks in the eyes of the World. We gave an instance in the late Marshal de Faber who was of all men the least taken with these Fooleries and perfectly despis'd the Roman Religion And yet after his death among his Papers were found Bulis and Letters of Filiation that he had procur'd to have a part in the merits of the Monks we also mention'd the Example of the Arch-Bishop of Rheims one of those who would be thought to be free and disingag'd from the Errors of the vulgar and yet hath caus'd the Confrairies of S. Sebastian to be set up in his Metropolitan City with all kinds of Indulgence annext plenary fuller and most full Lastly we have given the Relation of a matter of Fact which all Paris is witness to and whereof the Narrative hath been printed 'T is the Translation of the Reliques which the Princesse Palatine bequeath'd to the Abbey of S. Germain des Pres. The Ceremony was perform'd by the Arch-Bishop of Paris with all the Impiety and Idolatry that could have been practis'd in an age of the grossest Ignorance Nevertheless this Arch-Bishop of Paris is in all appearance one of the moderate men of the Religion of Mr. Arnaud and the Bishop of Meaux who condemn the Devotions of the Monks To all these Examples I will add another 't is of Father Mascaron as Formerly he was call'd but now Bishop of Agen. A Benedictine Monk named Dom Gabriel Preacht at Duras on the day of our Lady in March 1686. in his sermon he vented all the Impieties and Extravagances wherof we have given some Instances in the foregoing Chapters This made a great noise the new Converts complain'd of it the Bishop was wrote to about it who sends Dom Gabriel the following Letter From Reole 4. Aug. 1686. YEsterday Sir I had a Letter imparted to me which I judged you would be glad to read a copy of the subject of it was this A Benedictine Father of the Convent in this City who preacht the last Lent at Duras made a sermon on the day of our Lady in March wherein he made use of several very bold and extravagant Expressions concerning the veneration due to the H. Virgin in so much that not only New Converts but many of the ancient Catholicks were scandaliz'd at it among others that were offended were the Curate and the First Consul of the City who sent their complaints to this Preacher to have had him repair that fault in his next sermon But as he resus'd to do so every one on either side took
ever since and take a little rest after so many violent motions in removing And 't is very probable that it will never be removed from thence for since the time of Luther and Calvin the Angels are not so forward as heretofore to work such kind of Miracles in favor of Mary That you may not imagin this to be a Fable you must know that the people of Recanati who were ignorant whence this wonderful House should come were duely informed of the truth of all these Miracles by a devout person whom the Virgin obliged with a particular Revelation of the whole matter that the B. Virgin might not fail of being devoutly worshipt in this place But because the people were incredulous and had not faith enough to credit the story of the old man they sent sixteen Ambassadors grave pious and credible persons from Recanati to Nazareth with the exact measures of the House and there they Discovered the Foundations of an House that had been built there perfectly corresponding to the measures they had brought with them and which is more considerable near the place they found an Inscription which certified that there had been such a Church formerly there but it was miraculously translated After all this who can in the least question the truth of this History especially since it is ingraven on Tables of Brass which are hung up in the House it self The Jesuite Tursellin hath related the whole History in very good Latin and adorned it with many curious Circumstances which for the sake of brevity we omit and hath inlarged it by the account of very many Miracles wrought by the Virgin in favor of her House and Image The whole confirmed by the Priviledge and Approbation of Pope Clement VIII and fortified with the Testimony of the gravest Authors of the Roman Church such as Rainaldus Bzovius and Spondanus who have not forgot to mention this memorable History in their Annals and for a larger account of it refer us to Tursellin as an Author of such exactness and fidelity that none can be supposed to question his Authority in Italy especially in the Neighbourhood of Recanati To speak seriously was there ever any thing so ridiculous absurd and silly imposed upon the world the Metamorphoses of Ovid and the Book of Palephatus contain nothing so foolish and incredible But they got their End by it which was to promote the Worship of the Virgin to establish the Doctrine of Devils i. e. Demons these Fables are invented to this very intent exactly as S Paul fore-told Several Impâ—ous and Riâ—â—ulous Miracles wrought by the Virgin. To finish the History let us see some of the Miracles which these wretched Idolaters pretend to be wrought by the Virgin in the composition of these Fables they not only seem to have lost all Shame but to have renounc't common Sense as if they designed to render Christianity the most ridiculous of all Religious for Example can any thing be more enormous and abominable than what they make the Virgin do in favor of one Beatrix who had the charge of the Keys of a certaine Convent she was debaucht by a Priest and Privately left the Convent and for fifteen years frequented the Stews and the most infamous places during all which time the H. Virgin supplied her place in the Convent and was Door-keeper in her room that it might not be observed that she was absent Insomuch that at her return she reassum'd her former Offices and Imploy without the least blemish to her Reputation This was because she was extremely devoted to the Virgin. Because an Abbess of another Convent was one of her Votaries she suffered no damage for being with child by the Steward of the House the Bishop had notice of it and was preparing to punish her but the Virgin gave Commission to two Angels to transport the Abbess unto a private place where she was safely delivered and then restored her Virginity to her so that when the Bishop caused her to be searcht her Accusers were put to shame and confuted and the Bishop was fore't to crave her pardon Is there any thing more horrible than what the Annals of the Jacobins say of the Virgin They make her to be married to Dominick their founder she comes to him and discourses him after this manner Dominick my son my dear Husband Alanus Redivivus because by the inspiration of Jesus thou hast strenuously contested against the Enemies of the faith behold I am come to thy succor I whom thou hast so often invok't then the Virgin receives him into her Virginal Bosome kisses him with the most Amorous tenderness and having open'd to him her breasts gives him to tast of her Milk aâ—â— perfectly cures him If I had not related the very words of the Author I could not expect to find credit in the recital of so horrid a Passage The same Alanus who reports this of S. Dominick would be thought to have had the same Honour no matter tho the B. Virgin be made guilty of Polygamy by it she must it seems have several Husbands The Virgin then espoused Alain de la Roche in the presence of I Christ divers of the Saints who assisted at the wedding she gave him the ring of her Virginity made of her Virginal Hair. After this the Sweet Lady kiss'd him and let him suck her Breasts Can such things as these be read without Horror and Trembling 'T is incredible how many several Husbands this Holy Virgin is said to have espoused how pure a Virgin soever she be The Legend of Surius relates the History of one Herman surnamed Joseph because he was married to the Virgin. Mary comes with two Angels to demand Marriage of him the poor Fellow was astonisht at such a demand Incitabat amor retinebat pudor Love prompted him to accept but shame and bashfulness kept him back Caesarius tells the History of a certain Soldier who was in love with his Captains Wife The Virgin to divert him from so criminal an Amour presents her self to him as a most Charming Beauty and tells him I will be thy Wife give me a Kiss and constrain'd him to it Are there any worse impurities to be found in the Chronicle of Venus among the Fables of the Heathen We may see how the fire of lust discover'd it self in the impure Fancies of these wicked Monks who composed these Legends To what purpose is all this 't is to persuade the World that the Virgin doth passionately desire to be ador'd and worshipt for all these favors are granted to such as were her special Votaries The design of the Legendaries is to promote the Adoration of the Virgin. 'T is with the same design that those wretched Annalists of the Virgin would make us believe that there is no danger from which the Virgin doth not deliver those who devoutly worship her and give her the preference to all others Father Crasset hath lately made an whole book
to that purpose and therein he affirms that there is no man so wicked so much accursed of God that can want the Mercy of the Virgin provided that he be truly devout towards her he quotes the words of Bonaventure who saith O Mary how wretched and miserable so ere a sinner be you have for him all the Tenderness of a Mother you imbrace him you hug him in your Virginal Bosom 'T is with the intent to perswade to and promote these impieties that Father Crasset hath heapt together innumerable Examples of such as have been saved by the Virgin tho they were the vilest of men and Monsters of Wickedness Such is that of one Theophilus of Cilicia who had given himself to the Devil by means of a Jew who was a Magician but by the help of the Virgin was delivered such again is the Example of a young Soldier of Gascony who having given himself to the Devil denied God and J. Christ but would never renounce or disown the Virgin tho the Devil very earnestly prest him to it and this saved him for the Virgin undertook his cause and carried it against the Father and the Son. And that Woman who prayed to the Virgin to confound her Neighbour who had tempted away her husband from her the Image of the Virgin replied to the Woman and told her She of whom thou speakest is wont to offer me very acceptable Praises and Worship I cannot do any thing for her Confusion The same Authors tell us the Virgin hath often delivered her Votaries from the Gallows in Storms at Sea out of the grave and out of Hell it self to give them time to confess themselves that they may be saved only because they had been careful to Worship the Virgin and to fast every Saturday to her honour So shameful are these Romances of the Virgin that the very Heathens would disdain to apply 'em to their Diana or Minerva The design of them is plainly Diabolical for they would have us to believe the Virgin to be a Fool to be ambitious and Usurping minding nothing but to make her self ador'd and Worshipping and courting those that adore her as if she meant to appropriate all divine Honour to her self exclusively of God and J. Christ as if she would advance her Throne of Mercy above the Throne of Grace of our B. Saviour CHAPTER XX. A short Account of some of the Fables which the Papacy hath invented to establish the Worship and Invocation of Saints THe Legends are a Sea wherin a man may lose himself so large are they but 't is such a Sea as the Prophet Isaiah speaks of that casts forth mire and dirt for nothing is more filthy and hideous than the stories they tell us We will take notice of some few Instances only sufficient to make us abhor ' em First You must know that the Holy places or places of Devotion among the Papists to which they go in ' Pilgrimage to Worship and invoke such and such Saints are all founded upon meer Fables For instance the famous devotion of S. James of Compostella in Galicia a Province of Spain Original of the devotion to S. James in Spain is built upon a Fabulous History which saith that S. James the Greater who suffer'd Martyrdom under Herod Agrippa as is related 12th of the Acts he came into Spain preacht the Gospel there and returned from thence to Jerusalem where he dyed and his Bones were carried into Spain and reposited at Compostella where men come from the other end of the Earth to worship'em It would not be safe to call this History in question in the Spanish Dominions a man could not escape the Inquisition for doing so Nevertheless 't is so gross and palpable a Falshood that few understanding men in the Roman Church will go about to maintain it And if it were necessary it would not be very difficult to prove that S. James could not have been in Spain and that his Bones were never carried thither The fable of S. Denis the Areopagite near Paris France hath little reason to reproach Spain for this Fable because that of their Apostle S. Denis the Areopagite is yet more silly and ridiculous if you will give credit to the Venerable Monks of the Abbey of S. Denis near Paris and believe their Annals they have the true Body of S. Denis the Athenian disciple of S. Paul. He was first Bishop of Athens and afterward came to Rome to suffer Martyrdom there with S. Paul his Master But â—t so fell out that he came too late and that S. Paul had been beheaded some time before his arrival Clement who succeeded S. Peter judg'd it more to the purpose to send this S. Denis into Gaule to plant the Christian Faith there He comes to Paris with Rusticus and Eleutherus his Companions After this they are thrown into a dark and nasty Prison and loaded with Irons Some few days after these Martyrs were rackt and after that S. Denis is fasten'd to a Gridiron and roasted on the Fire he comes out of that torment and is thrown to the Lions but by making the sign of the Cross he presently stops their Fury and shuts their Mouths He is cast into a burning Furnace the Fire doth not in the least hurt him he comes forth out of the furnace without being singed The Tyrant inraged that no means would be effectual to take away his life tries one more makes him be extended on a cross Gibbet and his Members stretcht out upon it in order to quarter him but neither could they by this punishment put an end to his Life therupon he is again committed to Prison where he sung Mass for all the Prisoners during the service our B. Saviour comes down from Heaven with all his holy Angels fills the Prison with a glorious Light and gives S. Denis the Communion After this the Tyrant causeth him and his Companions to be fetcht out of Prison and they are all Beheaded When these Heads were separated from their Bodies their Tongues mov'd spake and sung the Praises of God and to compleat the wonder the Body of S. Denis rises up takes his Head in its Arms and marches two miles from Paris and throws it into the Bosom of a devout Woman named Catulla This is a short account of the History of S. Denis which many in our days will not believe especially since the learned de Launoy a Doctor of the Sorbon hath had the courage to prove it to be a meer Fable There is hardly any Devotion more renown'd than that of the Magdalen of Provence The Fable of S. Magdalen in Provence of the Holy Balsom and of the Blood of Jesus Christ in the Church of St. Maximin that doth visibly bubble up every year on the day of his Passion This Devotion is bottom'd on a ridiculous and impertinent Legend if ever there were any Let us see what was the occasion that brought Magdalen from the heart of Palestine