Full and easy satisfaction which is the true and safe religion in a conference…Full and easie satisfaction which is the true and safe religion in a conference…

R. With many Papists confident and vehement protestations go instead of Arguments, and we oft hear them say, [If this be not true, I am content to be torn in a thousand pieces: We will seal it with our blood: We will lay our salvation on it: And do you think we have not souls to save? &c.] Which is much like as if they would end all Controversies by laying Wagers that they are in the right, or by protesting that they are honester and credibler men than their adversaries: And it is no more than a Quaker or other such Sectary will say: the most proud and ignorant being usually the most confident: But yet though I expect not that you should receive any thing from me, upon Protestations, but upon Proofs, I will here promise you that I will charge nothing on the Papists, but what in my Conscience I am verily persuaded to be true.

R. With many Papists confident and vehement protestations go instead of Arguments, and we oft hear them say, [If this be not true, I am content to be torn in a thousand pieces: We will seal it with our blood: We will lay our salvation on it: And do you think we have not souls to save? &c.] Which is much like as if they would end all Controversies by laying Wagers that they are in the right, or by protesting that they are honester and credibler men than their adversaries: And it is no more than a Quaker or other such Sectary will say: the most proud and ignorant being usually the most confident: But yet though I expect not that you should receive any thing from me, upon Protestations, but upon Proofs, I will here promise you that I will charge nothing on the Papists, but what in my Conscience I am verily perswaded to be true.

The Reasons which resolve me against Popery are these and such like.

I. Reason, Their Doctrine of Transubstantiation is so notoriously false and inhumane, even contrary to the fullest ascertaining evidence that mankind can expect on earth, (viz. for all men on pain of damnation to believe, that there is no Bread, and no Wine, when all the soundest senses of any men in the world, do perceive Bread and Wine, by seeing it, tasting it, feeling it, smelling it, and by the notorious effects; and all this built upon no Revelation of God, no Reason at all, nor any true consent of the Primitive Church, but clean contrary to them all;) that I solemnly profess, that I find it an utter Impossibility to believe it: And it often puts me to a doubt, Whether it be possible for any mortal man unfeignedly and fully to believe it, and Whether there be really any such Papist in the world: or Whether most do not for carnal respects take on them to believe it, when they do not; or rather the Vulgar understand their words, as not really excluding the true being of Bread and Wine; and the rest only somewhat overawing their own reason with a reverence of their Church, so far as not to contradict, or so far as notionally to own it, when they do not from the heart believe the thing.