A53667:52
A brief and impartial account of the nature of the Protestant religion its present…
A brief and impartial account of the nature of the Protestant religion its present state in the world, its strength and weakness, with the ways and indications of the ruin or continuance of its public national profession / by a Protestant.A brief and impartial account of the nature of the Protestant religion its present state in the world, its strength and weakness, with the wayes and indications of the ruine or continuance of its publick national profession / by a Protestant.
London: printed by J.A., 1682
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Force is the next way whereby the same effect may be produced. And this is that which those of the Roman Interest do place their Principal Confidence in; and it is that which they Judge they may lawfully make use of, whenever they are able so to do. Be the force esteemed necessary unto this End, of what sort it will; be it by private Assassinations, Legal Persecutions, National Oppressions, foreign Invasions, all is alike unto them; they are all of them to be made use of, as their supposed Opportunities do require. That which at present doth most encourage their Hopes and Expectations on this ground of them, is the Power and Inclinations of the French Monarch, and the Influence they have on the Counsels and Actings of other Nations. But that whole Business seems to me on many accounts, to be but res unius aetatis at most; many Countries may be ravaged and spoiled, and new Work cut out for another Age, but a stated Interest for the Papal Advantage, will scarcely be fixed thereby. They must ⟨p. 24⟩be a People of another temper and complexion of mind than our Neighbours are, of a more profound Melancholy and Superstition, than they are Subject unto; of less vehement desires of their own, and less Subject to alter in their Designs on Provocations and Disappointments, who are fit pertinaciously to pursue the Advancement of the Papal Power and Dominion, wherein themselves at length shall be no sharers. But where there is a concurrence of all these things; namely, an Inclination in many of all Sorts unto a Defection, Preparations in the Minds of more thereunto, the Persecution of some so far as the Laws will permit, and just fears of a greater outward force, Relief and Safety is to be expected only from Divine Power and Goodness.
Force is the next way whereby the same effect may be produced. And this is that which those of the Roman Interest do place their Principal Confidence in; and it is that which they Judge they may lawfully make use of, whenever they are able so to do. Be the force esteemed necessary unto this End, of what sort it will; be it by private Assassinations, Legal Persecutions, National Oppressions, forreign Invasions, all is alike unto them; they are all of them to be made use of, as their supposed Opportunities do require. That which at present doth most encourage their Hopes and Expectations on this ground of them, is the Power and Inclinations of the French Monarch, and the Influence they have on the Counsels and Actings of other Nations. But that whole Business seems to me on many accounts, to be but res unius aetatis at most; many Countreys may be ravaged and spoyled, and new Work cut out for another Age, but a stated Interest for the Papal Advantage, will scarcely be fixed thereby. They must