THE prevailing Motive (as I hinted before) towards this Eſſay, is my great Concern at the unbelief of ſome, and the doubts of others about the late Popiſh Plot; having heard Men of all ſorts and Qualities in Coffee-houſes, and at other publick Meetings, conſtantly ſingling out this for the Topick of their Diſcourſe. Amongſt this Mixture of Men, as their Senſe is differing, ſo their Opinions are various; ſome doubting and queſtioning many Circumſtances of the Evidence; others objecting againſt the Reputation and Honeſty of the Witneſſes; one condemning the Plot in groſs, looking upon it as a Forgery, and meer Fiction of Intereſt to depreſs the Romiſh Faction; another concluding it a ſly Trick of demeur Jack Presbyter to ſet the Papiſt and the Loyal Proteſtant to worry one another; to weaken and enfeeble the Party of the Church of England, and then, like a Rebellious Cheat, to vault himſelf into the great Saddle of Government. 'Tis not my purpoſe to determine which of theſe Deſigns the Plot was form'd for; a Plot there was, and for ought I know ſtill is, againſt the beſt of Kings, the Pureſt of Religions, and the freeſt of Governments: And of how dangerous a Conſequence it is not to have a firm and earneſt belief of this Plot, is the whole deſign of this Pamphlet to inſinuate. As I always thought, uſurping the Sovereignty of Cenſure, and aſſuming the Monopoly of Judging, was not to be tolerated; ſo on the other ſide I ever look'd upon a looſneſs of talking, and liberty of thinking any thing, no leſs inſupportable, and therefore concluded extravagancies in belief were as puniſhable by the Magiſtrate, as Corruptions in Manners; Errors in Opinion upon any ſmall diſguſt of the diſaffected Party being ſoon hatch'd into diſorders and breaches of the publick Peace and Repoſe. Thus it is in relation to the Plot; if every Man muſt be his own Carver, and permitted to believe what he pleaſes of it, it will ſoon dwindle into a Chymera, and vaniſh into the contempt of a Romance; for whilſt one denys what the other believes, and a third rejects what both of them believe, and ſo forward, till there are as many Opinions as Men, and theſe proceeding from perverſe Apprehenſions, Paſſions or Intereſt, muſt neceſſarily enervate the force and reality of a Plot; for though all the matter of Fact and Subſtance of it be not diſown'd by any one ſingly, yet if you take them all together, and allow every man the refuſal of his Particular, you'l find by calculation the whole Fabrick no more than a ſtrong Phantaſm, or Enthuſiaſtick Viſion; and this great Machine but a ſtately Paper-Building contriv'd to amuſe and afright an eaſie and credulous People. 'Tis neceſſary therefore in this diſtraction to eſtabliſh an Hypotheſis, on which to rear a certain and unerring Belief; humane Reaſon, I know, wants Sinews to effect it, every one being conceited of his Talent, and thinking it as much againſt the priviledge and freedom of Nature to have Senſe impos'd upon him, as Chains: We muſt have recourſe to a more awful Standard, to a Supreme Being, that has an abſolute Authority over our Opinions, a deſpotick Power to controul our Thoughts, and to ſet up an univerſal unanimity in Belief ſifted from the ſpurious Whimſies of Ignorance and Conceit. To ſettle in all Men ſuch an entire confidence and aſſurance of this damnable Conſpiracy, I do my buſineſs, if I prove, that the Evidence of Dr. Titus Oats and Mr. William Bedloe is Jure Divino, of Divine Authority, and that whatever they ſay in reference to the Plot, can be no Contrivance or Figment of their own, but the Dictate of a Spirit long ſince promis'd out of the Revelations by John the Divine. My intended Explanation of the Text I hope will put the Plot out of all Controverſie, and force us all to confeſs, that Dr. Oates and Mr. Bedloe diſcover by Illumination, or a Supernatural Light, and thereby render their Evidence unqueſtionably true Jure Divino. To be ſhort, the Holy Record in John is this, And I will give power unto my two Witneſſes, and they ſhall prophecie one thouſand two hundred and threeſcore days cloathed in Sackcloth. Revelat. Chap. 11. v. 3.

Ruminating with my ſelf upon the aptneſs of theſe words to the preſent times, I was invited by my curioſity to reflect and dive into their ſenſe, whereupon I found they related to other Chapters, as well as the matter in this; their Latitude comprehending all the remarkable Revolutions foretold by John. But above all this Verſe has ſuch a direct, immediate aſpect and intuition upon the Fall of Babylon, threatned in a following Chapter, which our Proteſtant Divines conclude to be the Church of Rome; that it ſeems to ſquint only, and look awry at other Paſſages, but to appear with a full and gazing face upon this Prediction. The Prophecy of the Down-fall of the See of Rome we all know to be yet uncompleated; the foreboding Signs and Tokens of this Calamity are two preliminary Witneſſes that ſhall prophecy; and as it is Gods uſual Method when He intends to ſtrike, to give warning of the Blow; ſo here it was reveal'd to John to declare, That the Almighty would ſend two Witneſſes to prophecy, and give Evidence of the Whoredoms and Villanies of this Spiritual Strumpet, to diſcover the dark Intrigues of this Helliſh Plot, to bring the Conſpirators to a juſt Puniſhment, to free us all from the Tyranny and Yoke of Popery, and finally to batter down that Monſter of Religion, and Bawd of Sin and Iniquity, the Pope himſelf. It may perhaps be ask'd, why Holy John mentions two Witneſſes indefinitely without offering at ſome deſcription of the Inſtruments in this Great Work? I anſwer, 'twas policy in him to mention them by the general character of Witneſſes; he would not give plain and ſignal Marks of the Perſons that were by an Eternal Providence pitch'd upon to over-turn this damnable Deſign, an Ignatian ſort of People, whom he well knew to be ready charg'd with revenge and malice, by ſuch a light given of the Diſcoverers, might have murdered or ſtrangled them as Inſtruments intended to miſchief their Cauſe, and quench the red-hot Iron upon the Anvel. Without doubt he could have ſupplied us with their Names, at leaſt their two firſt Letters, for this any ordinary Jugler can do by erecting a Scheme, or caſting a Figure; but then this would have expos'd the Divine Myſteries to the buſie curioſities of prying Men, who too often impiouſly attempt to rifle the Cabinet of Heavens Decrees, and proſtitute them to humane Knowledge: I cannot believe that John talk'd at random as Men do in their Dreams, many of his Prophecies have been fulfilled; and to ſay he was not privy to the myſtick Senſe he uttered, were to make no more of a Prophet than a Puppet, that ſqueaks by the Voice, and moves by the Hand of the Manager.

The next thing to be explained is the latter part of the Verſe, which ſays, They ſhall prophecy one thouſand two hundred and threeſcore days cloathed in Sack-cloth.

By this is ſuggeſted Dr. Oates's firſt diſcloſing the Intrigue, and heard with prejudice and averſion, to his great diſcouragement; telling a wonderful and ſtrange Story, a hideous and diſmal Conſpiracy, and not believ'd; at length they ſhall both be received as Oracles of Truth by the Parliament; but by reaſon of ſome Occurrences and Conjunctures of State, that Great Council ſhall be Prorogued, and afterwards Diſſolved; then ſhall theſe two Witneſſes Prophecy in Sack-cloth, i. e. they ſhall be for ſome time under a Cloud, expos'd to the publick Cenſure and Infamy of Cheats, being deprived of that which chiefly invigorated their Evidence: However, they ſhall ſtill prophecy, and ſtoutly adhere to their firſt Affirmations, though ſorrowful and dejected, and with heavy Hearts, and ſad Countenances, for the ſafety of the Kingdom, preach up the imminent danger of a Plot; and ſo from Parliament to Parliament, till one thouſand two hundred and threeſcore days are expired, they ſhall with great conſtancy and hopes of Juſtice expect to have a final Period put to it. And this I dare avouch is no diſtorted or wreſted Senſe of this branch of the Verſe, but a free and natural underſtanding of the Metaphor. And Ver. 7. of the ſame Chapter. When they have finiſhed their Teſtimony, the Beaſt that aſcendeth out of the bottomleſs Pit, ſhall make War againſt them, &c. which interpreted, is, the Jeſuites, with the Remains of an inveterate and cruel malice, ſhall perſecute, and be ever attempting to revenge the ruine of their Cauſe upon the Perſons of theſe two Witneſſes. But I foreſee it will be ask'd by the Curious and Inquiſitive, why are only two Witneſſes nam'd by the Diviner, when there is ſo great a Herd of guilty Reformades come in to give their Teſtimony of, and aſſert the ſame numerical Plot? why ſhould theſe be omitted, who are certainly aſſiſting to win our perſwaſion of it, and but two mention'd? why, I'le tell you: Dr. Oates and Mr. Bedloe were the Principal Men commiſſion'd by Providence to unravel this Bottom of Iniquity; the reſt were only followers appointed by ſecret Purpoſes of the Divine Will to Corroborate and Dignifie the Evidence of the former; it being rather an attendance of State and Triumph annex'd to their Teſtimony, for the greater ſplendor of the Proteſtant Cauſe; for 'twas not neceſſary to intimate any but the Capital Witneſſes; the Evidence of Dr. Oates and Mr. Bedloe being in Law ſufficient to hang all the Subjects in England, if they were guilty. Two Oaths in Court for the King and Country are like a brace of Dragons that depopulate whole Cities, and devour all they approach; the zealous breath of honeſt Witneſſes in point of Treaſon, carrying the ſame force with a ſtrong Weſt-wind of Aegypt, that in a trice ſcours and cleanſes the Land from Locuſts, Malefactors, and Traitors.

Thus I hope I have made out the ſenſe of John's Prophecy, and I appeal to all the Orthodox Divines in Europe, if this be not the moſt proper and genuine Expoſition of the Text.

And now what ſtrange Impiety will it be for any body to deny or queſtion the Truth of this Plot? We muſt not cenſure where Heaven has ſet his Stamp; when the Teſtimony comes from the Eternal ſource of Truth and Wiſdom, 'tis our duty to believe, though we deſpair to apprehend; for where we cannot rely upon our Reaſon, we muſt exerciſe our Faith. Every good Chriſtian and Loyal Subject ought to believe as much of the Plot as is poſitively ſworn, nor does it become us to queſtion or ſtagger at any thing that they with ſo much courage and aſſurance have aſſerted. 'Tis impoſſible in this caſe to be impos'd upon, or allured into the ſnare of Falſhood; for if John were inſpir'd, which we believe as certainly as the Miracle of Cloven Tongues, we are ſure to be grounded upon a firm Faith: His Prophecy being a ſecret of Divinity imparted to Illuſtrate the Attribute of Gods Goodneſs, we have no more reaſon to boggle at the Truth of the two Witneſſes, than the Doctrine of an Apoſtle: 'Tis impoſſible for them upon this Baſis to ſpeak a Falſhood; they are Engines, the Diviner ſays, actuated by Him, Witneſſes He has choſen to lay open the Deſtruction our Enemies deſign'd us. And as it is from hence both irrational and highly irreligious to deny the Being of a Plot in general; ſo to clip and pare part of it off, and believing it by halves, is no leſs impious; for owning the Diſcovery of the whole to Inſpiration, 'twere to imply a Contradiction in Divinity to condemn part, and approve of the reſt. We muſt therefore acknowledge every tittle of it, or it will be to no purpoſe to believe it mincingly. 'Tis not my deſign here to diſcourſe of the Probabilities of Mens Innocence, or Guilt, by weighing Circumſtances and Matters in a Humane Method, and in the Scale of Partial Reaſon; mine is a ſhorter and more compendious way, and not liable to fundamental Errors; Heaven has revealed the Plot, and 'tis needleſs for me to make wrangling ſcrutiny into it; for after I have done my beſt in ſuch a ſearch, I muſt, whether I will or no, acquieſce in a Supine Judgment of its truth, becauſe Holy John hath ſaid it, and I told you before whence he had it. But if we ſhould ſtoop a little to the Cavils of the Contentious, what would this avail or ſignifie? What if you alledge you have good reaſons to doubt of the Truth of ſome Particulars laid to the charge of the late Malefactors? Why, ſuppoſe you have, the main of the Accuſations, and that which hang'd them, was High Treaſon; the throng of ſuch important buſineſs in a Witneſſes Head may eaſily be conceived to juſtle out trivial Circumſtances of Time and Place, and trapan him unawares into a falſe Computation: The Witneſs believes it was ſo and ſo, there done, and in ſuch an order of time, and then punctually ſwears to it; this is no Crime in Conſcience; if he errs, 'tis only a fault in memory; and ſo not a Lie, but a miſtake, which a Court of Juſtice readily paſſes by and pardons: This Maxime being in vogue with us, as well as the Romiſh Caſuiſts; Nemo peccat niſi actu voluntario. So this bubble of an Objection vaniſhes. But to humour the Captious a little further. Granting theſe are Lies couch'd under, and mix'd with the Truth of the Evidence, and ſuppoſing the Witneſſes Knaves, which is the utmoſt Malice can do; yet cannot I think there is any reaſon to ſeparate our ſelves from a total Belief of every thing they ſay, ſince the main of the Plot, in ſpight of the moſt ſear'd obſtinacy in Nature, will compel us to acknowledge a great part of it: And though we wholly depend upon them for our information, and pin our Faith upon their ſleeves, yet ought we not to be ſo uncharitable, as to bring a ſuſpicion of Impoſture upon the whole: 'Tis true, in this caſe we are liable to abuſe, and if they will deceive us in ſome things, they may; but for as much as we want a certain Criterion to judge of, and winnow Truth from Falſhood, and that, if I chooſe to be my own Conductor, 'tis an even Wager but I embrace a Lie, and reject a ſaving Truth; therefore if there were a hundred times more of the Plot ſworn than there now is, I think it prudence to ſwallow all, and diſgorge none; nay, I affirm, if there were ten Millions of Lies, I am obliged by the Law of Nature ſlightly to believe them all, rather than earneſtly diſſent from one precious Truth, which, uneſpous'd, would prove my utter ruine; for otherwiſe the bloody Machinators have as fair play at our Throats as ever, and the Diſcovery will be as ineffectual to fruſtrate their Deſigns, as looking upon a Train of Powder with a lighted Match laid to it, will hinder it from taking fire: The Sum is then, ſeeing we cannot diſtinguiſh between Truth and Falſhood, it behoves us paſſionately to embrace both together for our own ſafety and preſervation. And pray let this be a Bug-bear to no body; for what is there in all this? Shall I keep a clutter and ado about Aſſent and Diſſent, and in the interim have my Throat cut for my Curioſity? Shall I grin, and have an ill opinion of the Evidence, becauſe the Plot is not contriv'd as I would have form'd it, had I been a Conſpirator? This is ſuch Nonſenſe, as nothing but a pragmatical conceited Aſſe would be guilty of: We thank them very heartily for their Critical Wiſdom and Skill in Plots; I am rather perſwaded they are angry and peeviſh, becauſe it was not rightly projected, and would be though to ſtorm at the folly of the Deſign, when they ſecretly blame the ill fortune and ſucceſs of the Undertakers. But it may very materially be urg'd, That in this miſt of Evidence innocent Men may be condemned wrongfully, their Eſtates forfeited, and their Lives taken away, to the great ſcandal of Government, and the impious abuſe of the Sword of Juſtice. To this 'tis anſwer'd, That in Caſes of this moment and weight relating to the Body-Politick, 'tis better that now and then an Innocent ſuffer, than that all Malefactors eſcape; for as in the Body-natural, labouring under a Fever, the Chyrurgeon, to preſerve the whole Maſs from diſſolution, draws from it both good and bad Blood together; there being ſo ſubtil and cloſe a union between the corrupted and ſound part of it, that no Art or Skill of his can free the Body of one, without taking a Portion of the other: So in matters of Juſtice, 'tis impoſſible for any Magiſtrate to make ſuch nice diſcriminations between Innocence and Guilt, as he ſhall be ſure always to puniſh one, and acquit the other; bare Innocence being no vindication of it ſelf, muſt bring proofs and violent preſumptions to plead for it; when theſe are wanting, the Law deveſts her of that Title, and ſets her in the rank of Criminals. But above all, the Witneſſes that are upon their Oaths are to be heard and believ'd, notwithſtanding any contrary conjectures and ſurmiſes, an Oath being to be eſteemed and valued with all reverence as the moſt Sacred Engagement in the World: And for as much as a Witneſs is oblig'd to ſtake his Soul (a thing of ineſtimable price) to the Body of every Man to be Arraigned and Tryed, I think a Judge and Jury are bound in Conſcience to belive one, before the defence of the other; the damnation of a Witneſſes Soul being a far greater loſs, and infinitely above any advantage he can propoſe to himſelf from the deſtruction of his Body whom he Impeaches. There being therefore this vaſt diſparity between the Condition of the Accuſed and the Evidence, we ought to liſten to no Stories, or imaginary Allegations of honeſty in the reputed Offenders, but to lay them aſide, and proceed to ſentence them as Criminals; and Juſtice all this while remains unblemiſh'd; the Witneſſes being her Compurgators, though, if they be ſurprized in a Falſhood, they can be none of their own. Thus the Reputation of well Govern'd Societies skreens it ſelf from all Imputations of Cruelty; and the Perſon condemn'd is not hereby ſo much injured in his Temporal Eſtate, as bettered in his Spiritual, the moſt Important Concern of his Being; for if a Witneſs is pleas'd to forfeit Heaven by Perjury, the dying Man has a clear Conſcience to ſupport him under his misfortune, and 'tis probable may be a greater Gainer by a Sentence of Death, than a Conceſſion of Life, having a bleſs'd opportunity tendered of claiming Salvation by a ſignal Inſtance of Innocence to that God, who never fails to conſider it in the other World. But to drive the matter to a higher Point: I am of opinion, That a Jeſuite, Prieſt, or any other fiery Papiſt, ought to be hook'd within the Penal Cognizance of the Law, as effectually as if he ſtood convicted of being a Party to the Conſpiracy; but this, they ſay, would be barbarous and moſt unparallel'd Injuſtice, becauſe there are no overt Acts tending to the prejudice of the Government. But I look upon every the leaſt of Perſons before-mentioned to be as ſo many Plotſpies, and as deſerving puniſhment as a Scout from the Enemies Camp by Martial Law: Though they cannot all perhaps be proved to engage in the beginning of the Plot, they will be ſure to be ſeen in the end of it: And State-Doctors ſay, Phyſick by way of prevention or anticipation, is ſafer than Remedies applied to encounter a Diſeaſe upon the ſpot; it being very difficult when the Savage Beaſt has faſtened upon the Throat of Government to ſhake him off before he has ſtrangled it. Again, ſuppoſe Jeſuites, Prieſts, and other the zealous Bigots of the Romiſh Religion have not yet actually committed any miſchief, or been corporeally active in any diſtractions amongſt us; yet ought we not to be ſo ſimply good-natur'd to look upon them as harmleſs, inoffenſive Perſons, Intenders of the publick Peace and Tranquillity: Are we not acquainted with their Tenets, their Principles, the abſolute Dominion the Pope has over them, their obligation to blind Obedience, without the liberty of diſputing the moſt impious of his Commands; the conſtant charge given them to promote their Religion upon any Terms, the vileſt courſes and means imaginable; their accounting it no murder to Aſſaſinate a Heretick Prince, and all His Subjects, when the Holy Vizier has excommunicated them; but on the contrary, the higheſt merit and claim that they can prefer to the moſt glittering Crown of Saints; and all theſe horrible Credenda own'd and defended in the Volumes of the moſt Learned, and beſt Caſuiſts of their Church; ſince, I ſay, we are as certain that this is the Subſtance of their Religion, as that Goodneſs, Patience and Loyalty is the Sum of ours; and that theſe Principles are not by them to be maintained in notion only and ſpeculation, but as the depoſited Bullion of the Soul, upon advantageous occaſions to be brought forth, and minted into action; we have more reaſon to fear them, than thoſe that have already made their attempts; for as much as we cannot gueſs when they will pour upon us, their malice being quick and ſudden, and like a Granada, burſting on all ſides into Death and Ruine. We all know that Treaſon but intentionally prov'd, comes within the Verge of the Law, and Condemnation is awarded accordingly; and why pernicious, deſtructive, rebellious Opinions publickly own'd and abetted, ſhould not have the ſame force to condemn, I ſee not the leaſt jot of reaſon: He that harbours an ill and dangerous Principle in his boſom, lodges an Enemy and Traytor in the Country of his Prince, that lies couchant under that Covert, till he has a fit opportunity to rouze, and fly in the face of Majeſty. Every violently evil Man ought to be capitally ſecured from a power of doing miſchief; for ſeeing we cannot execute his bad Principles without himſelf, and whilſt there is life, thene will be Villany, 'tis but juſtice they both ſhould ſuffer together; and in this Caſe, though the Man perhaps, in purſuance of his Judgment, for want of a due time to humour his ſecular Intereſt, never was a notorious Rogue in practice, yet this preponderates nothing; for whether he acts or no, the Vicious, Traiterous Will ought to paſs for the Deed; 'tis High Treaſon in intellectu, and that's enough.

But I find my too great Paſſion and Love for Honeſty, Integrity, and Allegiance has unawares made me deviate from my purpoſe, it being far from my deſign to think to convince any one of the reality of all and every part of this Plot by dint of ratiocination; and therefore I did at firſt inſtitute another Method, which I intend to end with, and which is the only Expedient to allay our heats and animoſities; 'tis this muſt hinder us from contradicting one another; 'tis this muſt make us come to a combination in Judgment concerning the Plot, to believe it, and make no more hums nor ha's about the matter of it; for we are told by Divine Authority, 'tis a damnable deſign againſt our Throats; we may believe too little, but not too much of it; and I do not think in ſo doing I enlarge and ſtretch my Conſcience; that is not to meddle here, being a Judge only of Reaſon, and her Juriſdiction confin'd to Equity: In this Caſe I do but load my Faith, which Heaven has made with a flat bottom, not to be ſunk by a moderate burden. And as I am in obedience oblig'd to receive, ſo in duty am I forbid curiouſly to examine and flaw-find the Plot, which Prohibition is only intended as a means to prevent differences and diſputes amongſt us. Do we ſeriouſly conſider the Senſe of the wiſeſt Heads in the Nation, the Judgment of many cunning Daniels that have been moſt laboriouſly ſollicitous in our Intereſt, the unanimous Declaration and Vote of the Houſe of Commons, the faithful and ingenuous Reports of the Privy-Council, the ſagacious Opinions of all the Judges, we are no more able to reſiſt the Evidence of this Plot, than we can with Chriſtianity reject Articles of Faith agreed and concluded on in a general and lawful Council: Therefore in framing doubts about it, we implicitly Tax the Government with ſillineſs and credulity, and do in effect call our Rulers Fools, and Magiſtrates Aſſes. 'Tis an approved Opinion, That in all Great Aſſemblies and Conſults for the well-fare of a Good King, a true Religion and Government, there is a preſiding Spirit to direct and ſteer their Reſolutions: God Almighty, ever when he is pleaſed himſelf to be the Diſcoverer of the Enemies of his Church, enlightning the Miniſters of Juſtice, enlarging and amplifying the Powers of their Underſtandings, that they may be able to grapple with Stratagems and Intricacies, and to pierce through the darkeſt Shades and receſſes of Night: So that the aſſiduous care of the King and His Council, the inceſſant Proſecutions of Parliament, the Vigilance and Activity of Juſtices of the Peace, do as fully evince the reality of a Plot, as all the oral Depoſitions of the Witneſſes; theſe extraordinary Motions being never raiſed in publick Magiſtrates but by Divine Inſtigation to confront malicious againſt a People whom Heaven has a mind to protect. What a folly is it then for Men to ſhufle and cut, to carp at one Paſſage, and laugh at another of the Plot▪ and when they have done all they can to expoſe the matter of it, to take Sanctuary at Slander, aſperſe and vilifie the Witneſſes, derogate from their Integrity, beſpatter their Lives, and rail againſt Irregularities of their Converſation? this can be nothing certainly but the virulent ſpleen and malice of ſuch who are not to be anſwer'd, but phyſick'd for ſatisfaction, purg'd from thoſe groſs humours that thus fly up into, and annoy the Head. But if there be really any adult, perſonal vices, or extravagancies of the Witneſſes, theſe are ſo far from proving a Ground to ſuſpect the credit of what they ſay, that it beſpeaks rather an itch of objecting, than a rational ſcruple in the Calumniators; for St. Ambroſe ſays, Veritas a quocun que eſt, eſt a Spiritu Sancto; and at this rate we have a Fathers word for it, the Devil, when he ſpeaks truth, does it by Divine Impulſe; 'tis not his being the Father of Lies that will evacuate a Truth; and therefore let the malice of our Adverſaries urge what it can, Truth is Truth in ſpight of Hell. In fine, there is a Plot, a Plot of many years ſtanding, aſſiſted and encouraged by a Conjunction of Popiſh Intereſt throughout all Chriſtendom; the total extirpation, ruine and murder both of Man, Woman and Child threatn'd, intended, and reſolved on; and ſhall we not believe there's a Plot? for my part, I think it a neceſſary Article to be inſerted in my Creed; it being certain, that nothing but a miſtruſt of it can prevent the due effect which the Diſcovery ſhould have upon the Publick: I am ſo ſatisfied and convinced from all outward Circumſtances of the real exiſtence of a Plot, that I'le ſuffer my ſelf to believe all Impoſſibilities, rather than be perſwaded there is none. I paſſionately repeat once more, and lay it home to your Conſciences, That Dr. Oates and Mr. Bedloe are Mediums and Pipes employed by the Almighty to convey the Knowledge of this Maſter-piece of Villany to us: I have demonſtrated this, leo any Man prove the contrary; for unleſs you pronounce John an Impoſtor, I am in the right; you cannot without Atheiſm deny the Antecedent, ergò you muſt own the Sequel; from whence will follow this Corollary; If you believe not theſe Witneſſes, Dr. Oates, and Mr. Bedloe, the Prophets you have now with you, neither would you believe one though he roſe from the Dead.