The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• A Collection of Tracts.
• The Sense of the People Concerning the Present State of Affairs, With Remarks Upon Some Passages of Our Own and the Roman History. In a Letter to a Member of Parliament. Anno 1721.
• A Compleat History of the Late Septennial Parliament; Wherein All Their Proceedings Are Particularly Enquired Into, and Faithfully Related; With Proper Remarks, and Many Secret Memoirs Interspersed, Concerning the Late Times. to Which Is Prefixed, Hones
• An Essay On the Practice of Stock-jobbing, and Some Remarks On the Right Use, and Regular Improvement of Money. In a Letter to a Gentleman, and a Proprietor of South-sea Stock. Anno 1724.
• An Authentic Narrative of the Late Proceedings and Cruel Execution At Thorn; With Two Letters Written Upon That Occasion By Britannicus, In the London Journal. to Which Is Prefixed, an Account of the Rights and Privileges of the City of Thorn. a
• A Short View of the Conspiracy, With Some Reflections On the Present State of Affairs. In a Letter to an Old Whig In the Country. By Cato. Anno 1723.
• Royal Gallantry: Or, the Amours of a Certain K—g of a Certain Country, Who Kept His C—rt At a Certain Place, Much In the Same Latitude With That of W-st-m-nst-r, Related In the Unhappy Adventures of Palmiris and Lindamira; In Which the Characters
• A Letter to a Gentleman At Edinburgh, Concerning the Busy and Assuming Spirit of the Ecclesiastics, and Their Extravagant Demands Upon the Laity. Anno 1725.
• The Craftsmen: a Sermon, Or Paraphrase Upon Several Verses of the Xix Th Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Composed In the Style of the Late Daniel Burgess. Anno 1723.
• A Serious Expostulation With the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of London, On His Letter to the Clergy and People of London and Westminster. Anno 1750.
• Seasonable Advice to the Electors of Great Britain; With a Word Or Two Relating to the Influence of the Clergy In Elections. Anno 1722.
• The True Picture of a Modern Tory; Or a High-churchman Painted to the Life. Anno 1722.
• A Sermon Preached Before the Learned Society of Lincoln’s-inn, On January 30, 1732, From Job XXXIV. 30. That the Hypocrite Reign Not, Lest the People Be Insnared. Anno 1733.
• A Supplement to the Sermon Preached At Lincoln’s-inn, On January 30. 1732. Addressed to a Very Important and Most Solemn Churchman, Sollicitor-general For Causes Ecclesiastical. Anno 1733.
• A Letter to the Reverend Dr. Codex, On the Subject of His Modest Instruction to the Crown, Inserted In the Daily Journal of February 27 Th, 1733. From the Second Volume of Burnet’ S History. Anno 1734.
• The Preface to the Fourth Collection of Cato’ S Letters.
• The Preface to the Sixth Collection of Cato’s Letters.
• The Creed of an Independent Whig; With an Orthodox Introduction, Concerning Canons, Councils, Mysteries, Miracles, and Church Authority. Anno 1720.
• Priestianity: Or, a View of the Disparity Between the Apostles and the Modern Inferior Clergy. Anno 1720.

The Creed of an Independent Whig; with an orthodox Introduction, concerning Canons, Councils, Mysteries, Miracles, and Church Authority.

Anno 1720.

ByThomas Gordon,Esq;

THE Opinions of Mankind are as various as their Complexions; and he must be a very bad Marksman, who shoots among a Crowd of People, and misses every one: But notwithstanding there is such a Diversity of Faith in the World, yet I am persuaded I shall meet with many who will heartily embrace my Sentiments in the following Creed. I challenge the Universe to disprove any one Article; and what makes me the more sanguine herein, is, that I am very well assured that there is not a Tenet which can be justly called Pseudodox.

I am sensible of the numerous Herds of Bigots, who will not allow a Man to have a Competency of orthodox Learning, who has not trifled away a few Years at a University; but if we would follow the Example of the good Husbandman, and purge our Granaries, we should quickly find more Tares than good Corn.

It grieves me to see that the World has such a just Cause to reflect on Alma Mater, and affirm, that (for many Years past, and even to this Day) instead of administring wholesome Nourishment, she has, and does, viciate the most hale Constitutions. Oh, that she would retrieve her lost Reputation of being one of the best Nurses in Christendom! But her Milk is become sour, and curdles in each tender Stomach.

I have spent many a tedious Night in searching diligently into the Lives and Characters of the primitive Believers; nor have I been remiss in endeavouring to discover the Manners and Behaviour of the Moderns: For the Satisfaction therefore of our Houshold, to corroborate the Weak, to establish the Wavering, and in full and certain Hope of making Proselytes, I have with much Pains and Watching, Fatigue and Study, finished my Creed; a Work much desired, and long wanted.

Take heed, my Brethren, that ye do not relapse into Infidelity; let me caution ye not to be deluded by the Wiles and Artifices of a particular Set of People called Hocus-Pocus Blades: These Sons of the Craft pretend to prove a Succession of Legerdemain Gentlemen from the first Juglers, and treading in the Paths of their Predecessors, have entered into a mutual Compact to bambouzle our Senses, and to deprive Mankind of Reason.

These Men have more Ways of imposing upon you, than by their Hands, though I must acknowledge That to be the chief Imposition of any. You may safely belive one Thing which they tell you, though at the same time they would not have you give Credit to their Words, viz. If your Eyes are not as nimble as your Fingers, they will deceive you.

So I have seen a Carpet laid, and when the proper Utensils were spread upon the Table, a Jugler begin his Farce with this short Prologue.

• Behold my little Cups and little Ball;
• See, there are no false Bottoms here at all.

You may easily judge from this inimitable Piece of Poetry, that the subsequent Oratory must needs be very elegant. He has an admirable Knack of deluding the Credulous with three little Balls, which you see him place fairly under three Cups; but by using a few of his Rhetorical Flourishes, as Presto, pass, begone; the three Balls are not to be found, but instead of them, you behold one large one. Now, to convince you that he is a Master of Art, he again pronounces the aforementioned Words, which are of such Efficacy, that the one Balvanishes, and the Three appear in statu quo. Nay, he will bring back the one Ball, and change it into a living Body; as a Hen, a Chicken, or the like: How great then is the miraculous Power of Hocus-Pocus? But I should have told you, that if you have but Ten-pence in your Pocket, he will demand one with an authoritative Air, which you must pay for being deluded; so that he is sure to have you here or there, as he terms it in the Prologue.

There are another Set of People, whom you ought carefully to avoid, Men of pretended Sanctity, I mean Priests, whose Love to their Bottle and Mistress exceeds any Layman’s. And by the Bye you may note (for it is an Axiom that will not bear Contradiction) that much outward Piety is an infallible Indication of an Exuberance of inward Knavery. They will offer to persuade you that they can wash an Æthiopian white, and release you from your Debts; but beware that you rely not on their Words, lest you incense your Creditor, and he casts you into Prison for being insolvent.

A Priest, with much Importunity, was prevailed upon to quit his Pipe and Glass, and attend a Gentleman who was making his Exit. The holy Father was very diligent in the Execution of his Office, and performed all the superstitious Ceremonies customary to be done to a dying Person. It happened, that while he was pronouncing the Absolution, and one Hand was signing the Gentleman with the Mark of the Cross, the other (through Inadvertency rather than Design) was very busy in picking his Pocket; the sick Man’s Thoughts were not so very intent upon the other World, as might be expected from one in his Condition, but observing what the Priest was doing, starts up in his Bed, and laid hold of his Breeches. By this sudden Motion he broke an Imposthume which was within him, and had caused his being so very weak; and recovering his Health in a few Days, renounced the Heterodox Faith in which he had been educated, and embraced and adhered to that which was orthodox.

The last Advice which I shall give you is, to weigh Things maturely before you proceed to a final Determination: Condemn not other People because they cannot be of the same Opinion with you in all Matters; for by the same Parity of Reason, they may condemn you. Remember that there are more Ways to the Wood than one. Does that Man merit the Name of Saint, Pope, or Bishop, who in a diabolical Passion shall pronounce whole Nations damned, who cannot swallow all and singular of his Absurdities? Who shall deliver over to the Devil and his Angels the major Part, not only of the Christian World, but also of all the Inhabitants of the Earth, to be tormented in Hell for ever; merely because they will not sacrifice their Reason (that noble Characteristic of Man, that Portion of Divine Goodness) to Forgeries and Blasphemy? Must we be damned for opposing this false Doctrine? This is a hard Saying, and who can bear it?

As I have laboured hard in the Vineyard, so I hope I have brought forth Wine; and they who approve the Juice of my Grapes, shall drink, make their Hearts glad, and be welcome. I will force no Man; Compulsion is neither hospitable nor lawful; I shall therefore allow a Liberty to all Men, observing the golden Rule, of doing as I would be done unto. I shall not speak in dark Parables to deceive any Man, but am willing to declare the Truth, and abide by it, tho’ perhaps this may be deemed a Work too dirty for the Sons of Levi to meddle with; which Practice I recommend to you my Fellow Believers, and persuade myself you will fight manfully under so glorious a Banner, even though the Jesuits, or any of the Order of Friar Francis should oppose you.

The INTRODUCTION.

THE Imposition of Creeds is looked upon by all thinking People to be analogous to the Imposition of ——— something else; and, indeed, if the Traditions of Men are not to be admitted as a Standard of Faith, which no Protestant will allow, I do affirm, that we ought not to depend on the Decrees of Councils and Synods. The former has been condemned by our Saviour Christ, and the latter cannot be deemed orthodox, if we look into the History of the Ancients; because each of them has censured and declared some, if not all the Articles of their Predecessors to be heterodox.

From hence I would infer, that their Credenda were not the Dictates of a Divine Spirit, because they contradict and clash against each other; but were rather the seeming Opinions of such as were biassed by Interest or Policy. I do not say absolutely that this is a true State of the Case, but to me it seems to carry a Face of Probability; and as I will not pin my Faith upon the Assertion of any Body of Men whatever, so I shall leave every Man at Liberty to believe what, and as much as he judges requisite. Provided, nevertheless, that no Man shall believe all, because he will not then leave a Share for his Neighbours; and I must needs own I hate a Monopoly of any Kind; for which Reason I wish there were a Law to prevent ingrossing of———.

He that can read, and has a common Portion of Reason, may find such plain and easy Directions in the New Testament, as will instruct him how to find the ready Way to Heaven; by which he will avoid the tedious Ambages of a mercenary Guide. I think that the Gentleman managed the Tack with Prudence, who resolving to travel to the Lands-End, contracted for the Journey: If he had hired a Guide by the Day, no doubt but the Fellow would have conducted him the farthest Way about.

Happy the Man who swallows the Absurdities of the Popish Religion; he need not be anxious of his Welfare hereafter; and I could name another Religion, which has gained so much Ground, that it is thought ’twill come up with, if not overtake, the former: They resemble the Bank and the South-Sea Companies in vying with each other; and I wish that we may not at last discover a Mississipi in both.

That the Bible is the Rule of Faith, abstracted from its Interpolations and erroneous Translations, dare not be denied by the most consummate Priest-craft; and therefore he who endeavours to persuade me that such Articles are necessary to Salvation, which are not made fundamental in Scripture, palms his own, or another’s Suggestions upon me, and gives great Cause of Suspicion that there is some vile Roguery at the Bottom.

How pathetically does St. Paul speak! how noble are his Thoughts! how beautiful and how amiable his Description of Charity! and he concludes with assuring us, that all Moral Virtues, that even Faith without Charity availeth nothing. If therefore Charity is so essential, what Opinion must we entertain of that Creed, in which Uncharitableness is placed in the most glaring Light, and made an Article of Faith! a Creed, whose Author, or Authors, cannot be proved, nor its Tenets plainly made out from Scripture.

There is a Religion which has three Creeds, and yet properly speaking, they Three are but One. This is very Emblematical, and I love an out-of-the-way Fancy; ’tis something new, and may be of great Emolument in this improving Age.

I could mention a Creed, which has its Title from some Men, who were as little concerned in the Composure of it, as the late King’s James’s Queen: And there is one Article or two, which have been proved by a Gentleman now living, to be foisted upon us by some zealous ———* : This Gentleman is as well versed in the Divinity, as in the Laws of his Country; and if Merit may be allowed to take Place, he ought not to give the Right-hand to any of the Long petticoat Tribe, of what Denomination soever.

I have Reason to imagine, that there is not a Shop where Titery, Quorum, or Gin (call it by what Name you will) is sold, but what has its peculiar Devotees, and peculiar Sect of Faith. And if it be an undeniable Maxim, that Orthodoxy must surely be found where the Spirit is most predominant, then the Distiller can furnish us with Infallibility, either by Wholesale or Retail.

Faith has of late Years been bandied about like a Ball in a Tennis-Court; and every old Woman believes, as justly as any young Levite, that she has a Right to dabble in Politics, find Fault with the Administration, and meliorate our Constitution; and truly I think the one has as legal Pretensions as the other.

Si. Toby* is a very eminent Lawyer, and took the Oaths when tendered to him; declaring, that he defied any Parliament to frame an Oath which he would refuse; for, says he, I will trust G—d with my Soul, before I will trust Man with my Estate. How stupendous is some Men’s Faith! no doubt but the Knight had an Exuberance; and though I will not say that he can remove a Mountain, yet I affirm he has removed many a weighty Cause.

The Creeds of the Papists are innumerable; I shall therefore recite only two Articles of their voluminous Catalogue, the Legend which carry the surest Face of Probability: This I propose to do with all the Brevity imaginable.

‘St. Agatha was a Virgin of the strictest Virtue, Piety, and regular Way of living; she was the Domina of a Nunnery, to which some Corn-Fields were appropriated for the Support of the Faithful. It happened, that some wild Geese infested those Fields, and eat up the Fruits of the Earth; but upon Complaint to the Saint, she ordered ’em to surrender themselves Prisoners to the Steward, who confined the passive Enemy in the Barn. It happened that one of the Sisterhood was in a longing Condition, and yet she had preserved her Chastity; and by the Consent of some others, killed one of the Geese, and eat it. St. Agatha taking into Consideration the Sufferings of the Captives, who had fasted forty Days, which was Penance enough, as she thought, dismissed ’em; however not without a Reprimand for the Sacrilege they had committed, and upon Promise not to offend for the future. The Prisoners were released, but hovered about the Nunnery for three Days. St. Agatha commanded their Leader to declare their Grievance, who, in a prostrate manner, thus spoke; O thou merciful and forgiving Virgin, some of your Houshold have killed and eaten one of our Flock, contrary to the Articles to which we consented. The compassionate Saint inquired into the Merits of the Complaint, and finding them to be true, commanded the Goose to rise from the [Editor: illegible word], assume its Feathers, which had been scattered by the Wind, and join with its Associates.’ This was effected as soon as spoken; but ’tis said that all the Flock soon turned Tail.

‘The Devil appeared to St. Francis in the Shape of a Flea, who being as nimble as one of the French Harlequins, skipped up and down, to and fro, and disturbed the Friar in his nocturnal Lucubrations. The pious old Man, by incessant Prayer, prevailed to have Dominion over the Devil, and confine him to stand Centinel on the Page of his Book when he left off reading.

‘This he did constantly till the Time of his Confinement was elapsed. But the Devil resolving to tempt him again, essayed many Ways to delude the Saint, but did not prove successful; for the Friar having a Power given him, ordered him upon Duty a second time, to hold a Candle in his Hand, which he was forced to obey, till he burned his Fingers to the Stumps; and then he was released.’ Some People affirm, that ’tis a hard thing to hold a Candle to the Devil, but sure ’tis the Devil to hold a Candle to a Friar. ‘However the restless Fiend would not desist, but (not regarding the Proverb, Beware of the third Time) makes another Essay, with all the Rashness and vain Hopes of a Modern Tory. The good Saint Francis finding that wholesome Severities rendered the Devil more obstinate and daring, made a Noose of his Girdle, and slipping it about Satan’s Neck, hanged him on a Beam in the Monastery, till he was dead, dead, dead.’

I shall now hasten to a Conclusion, believing that a Word to the Wise is sufficient; and shall only give this Advice to my Readers,

This, I hope, will not be looked upon as an Encouragement of, or promoting Hypocrisy; for we ought to become all Things to all Men, in order to save some.

The CREED.

I BELIEVE that no Bishop nor Presbyter, Priest or Deacon, of what Church or Persuasion soever, whether England, Rome, or Geneva, can remit Sins; and he that pretends to it, does blasphemously usurp the Prerogative of God, and surreptitiously make void the Mediatorship of Christ.

I believe that the Protestant Religion is the most pure and undefiled of any Religion in the Universe; nevertheless it may admit of Emendations.

I believe that the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity cannot be proved by the Light of Nature; and he that attempts to do it must be a Man of much Vanity, and an Impostor. His Vanity is manifested in asserting what is in its own Nature absurd which no Man of Learning, Piety, and Integrity ever; essayed; and his imposing upon the Credulity of the World, his empty Arguments, Self-Contradictions, and ridiculous Sophistry declare him to be a Knave.

I believe that the Inferior Clergy are a Sett of Clean, Spruce, Sociable, Fashionable, Spiritual Beaus.

I believe that King George (whom God long preserve) has a just Title by the Laws of God and Man to the Imperial Crown of these Realms; and that the Person called the Pretender was not begotten by King James, or came from the Body of his Queen Mary.

I believe that it is necessary to have a Regimen in the Church, such as is now Established; and that they ought not to be independent on the State.

I believe that the Clergy exercise a Jurisdiction, which Christ and his Apostles never did, or ever gave them Authority to do.

I believe that few of the inferior Clergy adhere to the Canons of the Church, or to the Oaths they have taken, or the Subscriptions they have made.

I believe there are three Things, which will prove a Blot to Old England for ever: The Case of the Rochellers, the horrid Regicide of King Charles the First, and the Sacrifice of the brave Catalans.

I believe that Church-Organs are not very edifying to such who have no good Ear, or Judgment in Music.

I believe that the Nonjuring-Clergy are Men of more Conscience and Probity than Those who for Interest swear Allegiance to King George, yet disown him in their Hearts, and countenance Rebellion. ——— It was not my Enemy did this; but thou my Familiar, my Friend, and Acquaintance, whom I trusted.

I believe that St. Paul was no Prevaricator, maugre the Opinion of Mr. Secretary H—gs; but I concur with that pious Gentleman in saying there are many erroneous Translations in the Bible; and ’tis hoped that he will speedily favour the World with his new Version of the Revelations; a Piece of many Years Work.

I believe his Subscribers would rejoice to see their Money returned, or to have the long promised Book.

I believe that the Apostles and Primitive Christians soon wrought the Redemption of their Brother’s Covering, when St. Paul told them that he left his Cloak at Troas; but had that Declaration been made in our Days, I Believe it might have laid dormant till Moth-Eaten.

I believe it was once deemed a Crime to speak in Favour of the Hanover Succession; I Believe such evil Times will never return.

I believe I shall not be hanged for plotting against his Majesty King George, or any of his Family, being Protestants.

I believe it is no Crime to drink to the Memory of the Dead, especially to a certain Monarch lately deceased; with Submission to that once great Lover of King William, of ever Glorious and Immortal Memory, Dr. Peter Browne, the present Bishop of Cork.

I believe the surest way to get a good Place is not to stand in need of one.

I believe I shall displease some People, and please others.

I believe that as the Corruption of the Army in the late Wars proceeded from the many Upstarts who were in it, seeing there were Men in Commission, who had no other Qualifications to recommend them than their being Pimps, Pages, or Valets; so the Corruption of the High Clergy proceeded from the Ordination of Beardless Young Men, and Indigent Souls.

I believe that Religion is not a Cheat, though many of its Professors do justly fall under that Denomination.

I believe that St. Paul spoke Truth, when he said, He that covets the Office of a Bishop covets a good Thing.

I believe that all Men have Portions in this World; and therefore I advise them to follow my Example, and each Man take unto him a Wife.

I believe it is better to Marry than Burn; yet Marriage produces many a Heart Burn.

I believe that a Rich Man’s getting into a Shop-keeper’s Book is like a Lawyer’s getting a Foot into a poor Man’s Estate; if he can make no farther Encroachment, he will be sure to keep his Possession.

I believe that Daniel de Foe was in the Right when he said,

Of all the Plagues with which Mankind are curst,

Ecclesiastic Tyranny’s the worst.

I believe that the People of England talk more of Religion, and practise it less than any one Nation under the Sun.

I believe that a Beau, who has Wit, and a Courtier that’s affable are as great Rarities as a Brace of Wood-cocks at Mid-summer.

I believe that Great-Britain is the Land of Promise.

I believe that Dr. Sacheverell will not be fobb’d off with an Irish Bishoprick.

I believe that a Westminster Justice has a good Benefit Ticket.

I believe that a Day of Judgment will come, when the Secrets of all Hearts will be opened; and then we shall see ’Squires who have no Right to their Estates, Lords who have no Title to their Honour, and Soldiers who fought more for Interest than Principle.

I believe the Pretender will not want an Heir, provided the Polish Young Princess be fruitful.

I believe there is many a broad-shouldered brawny-backed Priest in Italy; and the Rhemish Bible asserts, we may do Evil that Good may come of it.

I believe the best Way to reform the Age, is for the Inferior Clergy to begin a Reformation of themselves.

I believe that the Czar will be glad to make Peace, when the Squadrons of England and the Allies appear in the Baltick.

I believe that the Regulation of the Army was very apropos.

I believe there’s as much Honesty in a Stock-Jobber, as Sincerity in a Jew, or Chastity in a Bawd.

I believe that Exchange-Alley has ruined more Families, than the Groom-Porters or the Royal-Oak-Lottery.

I believe we have very good Laws, but very ill executed,

I believe that many a Scoundrel jumps into Preferment, while many a Loyal Poor Gentlemen loses his Aim.

I believe there is little Regard to Merit.———Gold has an attractive Virtue,

I believe there are more Plays than are good, more Sermons than are orthodox, and more Whores than will ever be reclaimed.

I believe there are four, I may say five, Things in this World, which we shall not be troubled with in the World to come. Saucy Valets, Corrupted Juries, Perjured Clergymen, Cannibal Creditors, and Scoundrel Attorneys.

I believe that the Word Church, an innocent Word in its Nature, has done more Mischief, than ever I fear it will do Good; for when Artfully mouth’d by a Priest, it stirs up the People to Rebellion, and is made a Cloak for Murder and Treason.

I believe that the Author of the Independent Whig is a facetious, witty, smart Fellow; but hang him, he’ll ne’er make Proselytes, because he has such an unseasonable Knack of speaking much Truth.

I believe there are many, who go to Church with the same Intention which draws ’em to a Play-House; to see and be seen. But sure he must needs be endued with the Apathy of a Stoic, who cannot be moved with the Gestures of Harlequin, or the Grimaces of Scaramouch.

I believe there is as much Sanctity in a Black-Cloak as in Black-Gown.

I believe that many a Man has paid through the Nose for taking up Linnen, and being benevolent to his Neighbour.

I believe the Poor Prisoners will greatly rejoice when the Bill for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors has passed.

I believe if every one’s Faults were wrote in the Forehead, Masks would be much more in Fashion than Hoop-Petticoats.

I believe that he who has a good Wife ought to make much of her; for ’tis a thousand to one if e’er he gets another.

I believe that he who marries, does well; but he who does not marry, may do better. And if there be no Harmony without a Dissonant, Matrimony must sure be a pleasant State.

I believe if there be any such Place as Purgatory, it must be in Newgate or the Marshalsea.

I believe the Apostles never took Money for Baptizing those who required it, or for Visiting the Sick; I wish I could say as much for all our inferior Clergy.

I believe I shall never become a Subscriber to the Charitable Society in Spring-Garden, even though I should be worth Fifty Pounds, and all my Debts paid.

I believe I have very good Reasons for saying so.

I believe that the Westminster Bubble will never catch half as many Gudgeons as have been hooked by the Bubbles about the Royal Exchange.

I believe that the Man is unworthy to eat the King’s Bread, who reflects on the late Expedition to Vigo.

I believe Mr. Law is as much embarrassed to keep up the Credit of his Mississipi Project, as our Neighbours the D—to find Ways and Means to make good Deficiencies.

I believe that the Great Athanasius was not so wicked as some Writers have made him; and I believe there is no Necessity for putting him into the Kalendar.

I believe he was not the Author of the Creed which goes by his Name.

I believe the Story is true of the Butcher’s cleaving the Pericranium of a Levite, whom he caught in Bed with his Wife; and that the Clergyman spoke from his Heart, when (upon the Jury’s acquitting the Butcher of Murder) he said, If such Things are suffered, there will be no living for us.

I believe that Sir Harry Wotton spoke with the Spirit of an Englishman, who, when he was asked by a Monk, Where was your Religion before Luther? answered without Hesitation, In the Bible, where yours never was.

I believe there was many an honest Gentleman in the Army, who never said Amen heartily to the following Petition in our Common-Prayer-Book; Give Peace in our Time, O Lord.

I believe that Self-preservation is the first Law of Nature, and consequently that Resistance is lawful on many Accounts, any thing contained in Dr. Sacheverell’s Doctrine to the contrary, notwithstanding.

I believe that Aristocracy is inconsistent with the Constitution of Great Britain.

I believe there are many of our British Youth who glory in deflouring a Virgin: ’Tis stabbing a Person that’s weak and defenceless; and I believe the Mock Hero will gain as little Applause by the Action, as a General who should draw down all his Forces and Artillery, to oblige a poor Country Village to surrender.

I believe that Lord have Mercy upon us ought to be writ on every Man’s Door, if it be a damnable Sin to resist upon any Pretence whatsoever.

I believe there is Priest-craft in England, as well as in Popish Countries.

I believe that one Man cannot serve two Masters; if so, how can Pluralities be justified?

I believe that no Ecclesiastic has Power to force or bind Men’s Consciences.

I believe there are more Ways to Paradise-Row, than going through Chelsea-College.

I believe that Three are more than One, and One is not as many as Three.

I believe it is better to continue the War with Spain, than to give up Gibraltar or Port-Mahon.

I believe he’s no Friend to Great Britain, who would advise the Surrender of either.

I believe that those B———s were Protestants who signed an Address to his Majesty, declaring their Detestation of the late unnatural Rebellion.

I believe that the late Duke of Ormond repents his flying from England.

I believe he had never been impeached had he staid,

I believe he has Reason to curse the Hour in which he was Priest-guided.

I believe that Scammony is a Drug of the Convolvulus or Caterpillar kind; that our present Scammony is different from the Scammony of the Ancients, and is adulterated; that which is black is not much esteemed.

I believe that Scammony wants a Corrector, and is very adhesive.

I believe that the Compilers of our Common-Prayer-Book were very sensible, that every Man must needs be in a languishing Condition, who enters into the State of Matrimony; else why did they place the Visitation of the Sick immediately after that Piece of Formality.

I believe that Cardinal Alberoni is in Lim. Pat.

I believe that the Jacobite Faction do not relish his Confinement.

I believe there are many in Places of Profit, who were averse to the Hanover Succession.

I believe I could name some.

I believe a perpetual Motion may be found at Billingsgate.

I believe that some of our inferior High Clergy have studied Rhetoric in the Billingsgate Grammar.

I believe that too much Learning will ne’er make ’em mad.

I believe that Tory and Traitor begin with a Letter, so do Priest-craft and Perjury.

I believe I need not pause long to determine, whether they are synonimous Terms.

I believe that to find out a Longitude, a Man would do well to attend a Law-Suit in the Chancery of Ireland.

I believe that a Woman is generally at the Bottom of Mischief, and that great Mischief is generally at the Bottom of a Woman.

I believe I could prove, by the Rule of Good-fellowship, that a Beau makes a Figure only among Cyphers, and that he is a Cypher among Figures.

I believe that my very good Friend, Mr. Congreve, was in the Right, when he questioned whether the Bible saved more Souls in Westminster-Abbey, than it damned in Westminster-Hall.

I believe that some Lords are wise, and some are otherwise.

I believe that Father Abraham was older than his Son Isaac.

I believe that three Groats make one Shilling, and not three Shillings.

I believe that the Anathemas of our inferior Clergy are not ratified in Heaven; and that there is a Power on Earth which can reverse them, maugre the Opinion of the charitable and meek Dr. Sacheverell.

I believe that the said Gentlemen love Eating and Drinking as well as their Neighbours.

I believe that some Lords deserve to be Kenmurized who now sleep in a whole Skin.

I believe that Gregg was a Fool and a Traitor.

I believe ———

Sat est quod sufficit.

There are now in the Press, and will speedily be published, the following Books, viz.

1. THE Independency, Supremacy, and Divinity of the P——— Clergy asserted. By Harry of Holbourn.

2. A Canker in some Men’s Estates, or the Necessity of restoring Abby-Lands. By St. Michael of Hammersmith.

3. Faith without Reason: Or, The Laity have no Right to their Senses. By the wealthy Dean of C———r.

4. Modern and orthodox Inconsistencies: Or, Papists better Friends to the* Church than Dissenters. By Luke Presbyter.

5. St. Peter robbed of his Keys: Or, the Porters of Heaven found guilty of Fraud and Corruption. By twelve Laymen.

6. An Argument proving that to preach the Lawfulness of Vice and Immorality, is the most effectual Method to prevent those Evils. By a Lover of the Mathematics.

Nitimur in Vetitum.

7. The Clergy reformed. A very valuable Piece.

Diu multumq; desideratum.

[* ]Sir Peter King, who wrote on the Apostle’s Creed.

[* ]He flourished about forty Years ago in Ireland.

[* ]Qu. What Church?