TIS not at all becoming Christians, Those especially who pretend to Reform Chri­stianity according to the Purity of the Primitive Times, to permit amongst them such abominable Prophanations, as speak them rather to be Maintainers of Judaism or Infidelity, than Professors of any Christianity at all. Upon this Score it is I become an Adviser to Protestants, be­cause I see their Indiscreet Zeal against Popery, is like to betray them into such Practices, as suit bet­ter with the Wilds of Africa and Unbelieving Turks, than with Those, who glory that they are born in a Christian Soil, and bred up in the most Mo­derate [Page 2] and best Temper'd Religion in the World. For I appeal now to any Christian, whose Soul is not wholly feer'd and stupified, whether That Shew, which on Thursday last, March 17. was led through the Principal Streets of this Protestant City, viz. Bears with Crosses in their Foreheads, a Bull with a Cross on each Horn, a Mastiff-Dog with a Cross in his Forehead, was not a Mockery of Heaven; and a most prophane Ridiculing of the Chief Mystery of the Christian Religion? And yet such was the Pastime of this City, while passing through so many Streets, that Sacred Sign of Mans Redemption was ex­pos'd to the scornful Smiles of the Ignorant Crowds, and met with None, as I can hear of, that had Reli­gion enough to disturb the Prophanation.

If this had been acted in a City peopled with Jews, Infidels or Turks, it had been only agreeable to their Principles, and would neither have call'd for Advice or Wonder from any Christian Beholder; but that this should be done in a Christian City, and in the middle of such Christians too, who pretend to take up nothing of Christianity, but such as is Reform'd, Pure and Ʋncorrupt, 'tis matter of Admi­ration; and if it should pass without Censure or Reproof, 'twould be a just entit'ling those Beasts that wore the Cross to the Christianity of the Town, and give occasion to Forreigners to think, that the Title of Beast did not belong so much to those that bore the Crosses, as to the Lookers on and Permitters, and much more to the Promoters and Applauders of it. I must make bold therefore to tell you, My Protestants, that this sort of Protestancy is not at all becoming; and that 'tis something to be fear'd, [Page] that while some Hot Spirits are teaching their Fo­lowers to hate Popery, they'l put 'em upon over doing the work, and oblige 'em to be No Christians whilst they are teaching them to be No Papists. throught we had enough of this kind of Protestan­tism, when Oates and Bedloe, with Others that made Gospel of Their Divinity, taught people to be Batba­rous and Mad for Conscience sake; when Sir Wi­liam Waller joinng Jew and Christian all in one, Burnt Crucifixes and Crosses for the promoting Christianity. But it seems, tho' these be out of the way, their Spi­rit is yet behind, 'tis kept alive, 'tis encourag'd, ani­mated; They that can expose the Cross to Contempt upon the Foreheads and Horns of Beasts, no doubt are dispos'd enough, were the time come, to close this triumph by committing it to the Flames. O how unlike this is to the spirit of the Primitive Christi­ans, whose Religion you pretend to follow. You say, you are of the Religion of Constantine, Chrysostome, Augustin, &c. But do you think those Holy Fathers could have seen, heard, or pass'd by such an impious mocking as this, without just indignation and a zealous reproof? Constantine honour'd the Cross, and laid it up for the preservation of his Regal City: Chrysostome tells us, that Kings have a Cross on their Robes, a Cross on their Crowns, a Cross at their Prayers, a Cross upon their Arms, a Cross upon the Altar; and that a Princes Head is more honour'd with a Cross than with a Crown. St. Austin like­wise declares, That the Cross is made honourable now amongst Christians, and an end put to its re­proach, but not to its Glory: From Places of Exe­cution, 'tis now translated, says he, to the Foreheads [Page 4] of Emperors: But now how unlike are you to these Ancient Fathers, whilst having torn the Cross from the Altar, you set it out to scorn upon the Horns of Beasts, and from the Foreheads of Kings and Christians, and even from your own too in Baptism, you most prophanely translate it to that of Bears and Dogs, as if it were they who are to fight under the Standard of Christ. Is this the Religion of the Pri­mitive Times? Is this according to the Purity of the Gospel? This kind of spirit was too Active indeed in the time of the Reformation, but sure the world has had enough of it; there's no need now of tram­pling upon the Cross to teach us to be Christians. And if this has been now done by the Ignorant Ra­ble; at least, why do not others, that know better Reprove or Correct it? A Private Person cannot suppose himself wrong'd, but he must presently clear his Reputation: but when Christianity is injur'd, there's no body appears in its behalf: Will not the World cry shame upon such Christians?