IT is certain and apparent to all considering People, that the greatest Troubles with which this Nation, and indeed most part of Europe, have been afflicted for more than 150 Years last past, have proceeded from, or been promoted by, the Controversies concerning such Matters of Religion as are commonly called Popery. And it is an certain and apparent, that all those Controver­sies arose from, or were occasioned by the Usurpations, Corruptions, and Scandals of the Papacy and Papal Faction; of which many of the most learned and truly religious Per­sons in all Nations complained long before. So that it can­not be denied that there was great need of a Reformation, when what is now so call'd was begun. And it is also cer­tain, that tho' a Free General Council was earnestly desired, both by Princes and People, by Laity and Clergy, for an orderly Reformation, it was more than 20 Years delayed before any Session could be had; and then was continued and kept on foot for 18 Years more before it was conclud­ed, and so managed the while, that instead of reforming or composing Differences, much of the Matters complain'd of were established, and the Differences made irreconcile­able, while the Authority of that Council is maintained; a Council, which consisted but of 270 Prelates in all, in all [Page 2] that time; and of them, 187 Italians, most very ignorant, and but 83, not a third part, of all other Nations; and some only Titular, and mere Agents for the Papacy; di­vers indigent Pensioners to the Pope; and but part, and no great part of those at most Sessions. Such was this Free General Council.

But it is as certain and apparent again on the other side, that that necessary Work of Reformation was so disorderly managed, that it remains a very imperfect Work, and not without much Deformation, in all Parts, where it has been promoted, to this day. And tho' the Fault of this may in great measure be justly chargeable upon the Perverseness and Obstinacy of the Papal Faction; yet so it is, and is appa­rently so, even by the Differences and Contentions which are continued, or rather, daily increased among all the Pre­tenders to Reformation; tho' all are ready to join against the Papists, as their Common Enemy. So that these two Parties are like two Mastiffs worrying one another, and nei­ther can get the Victory, because equally match'd by reason of Faults on both sides, and something of Truth on each side, which supports them. And neither will be perswaded to see, or if they do see, to reform what is amiss on their side, that Truth alone might prevail.

The Faults are, on the one side, Papal Corruptions and Innovations maintained as Catholick Truth, which is Real Popery distinct from what is truly Catholick: on the other Catholick 'Truth opposed as Popery, which is Mistaken Po­pery: and the irresistible Truth between them both, what is truly Catholick. This neither can withstand; and there­fore so far as it is retained, is the Strength of that Party against the other: and where it is intirely retained with­out Mixture, tho' by never so small a Party, cannot be re­sisted with any Evidence of Truth or sound Reason, or op­posed with any thing but Force and Violence, or Falshood, Lies and Calumnies.

Of this I my self, by the Grace and secret Conduct of God, have had considerable Experience, and given a sensible Experiment, and such a Manifestation of his Truth, against the Corruptions on each side, as neither have been able to gainsay or resist. The one side have not been able to resist the Power of Truth, but with most shameful Lies and Ca­lumnies, one of the greatest Evidences of a powerful Con­viction; nor the other to maintain or defend their own Cause, by true Catholick Principles, or other than false and sophistical Arguments, as I have already in part made ap­pear in my True Account, &c. and shall more fully to un­deniable Conviction, if I may have that Encouragement which is but reasonable and necessary.

It is true, violent Prejudice against Mistaken Popery hath brought forth no less Mischief, Scandal, Shame and Con­fusion in these Nations, than real Popery hath in other parts of Europe. But it is Real Popery continued amongst us, which has been the Original and is the continued Incentive of that Prejudice and Jealousie, which hath produced these violent Proceedings. And therefore tho' a just and com­pleat Cure of this Prejudice against Mistaken Popery would of it self be the most effectual Cure of the Real, not only in these Nations, but in our Neighbours, even France it self; yet since that is hard to be removed, while the other re­mains, there is a Necessity that the Application be more effectually to that, of Real Popery, and that compleatly effected, will of it self allay the Prejudice, and facilitate the Cure of the other also.

This Necessity is brought upon us by the Craft and Po­licy of the Papal Faction and their Agents, who know very well that if those Faults on our side were healed, they should have nothing against us, nor be able to withstand so com­pleat and prevalent a Testimony against them. And this is the true reason why divers Zealotes for the Roman Fa­ction, who were sensible of this Secret, look'd upon King [Page 4] Charles I. and Arch-Bishop Laud, and others, as their grea­test Enemies; because they were sensible of the Mistake, and desir'd and endeavour'd, as far as the Madness of the People would permit, to have it rectified; which these Zealotes well know would have greatly indanger'd their Cause, by leaving them nothing solid and defensible on their side to support it. And this was not the least part of the Project of the Representer, my Visitant, in his pretended Letter from a Dissenter to the Divines of the Church of Eng­land, in order to a Ʋnion, who indeavour'd thereby not only to gratifie his own Private Revenge, by representing the learned Divine of the Church of England, who had de­tected and answered his stolen Wares, as a Papist in Disguise, but to promote the publick Service of the Faction, by re­viving and exciting the old Jealousie and Prejudice, which had before been so serviceable to it. And for the same reason it was that divers of them have treated me, not as a Friend, but a most dangerous Person to them. And this Consideration ought to move all serious Antipapists to be­ware of this Prejudice, lest they inconsiderately promote their Designs, while they think to oppose them, as Mr. Baxter has rightly observed they often do.

The true Reason,Why all the Means hitherto used have been no more effectual, is, because they have been too vio­lent and unnatural; and not so skilfully apply'd as they ought to haven been. Their Nobility and Gentry, and the rest of the Laity, are Persons of as much Sense and Reason, and Honour and Virtue, as others: And if there was but opened a fair Retreat to them; and then the Deceitfulness of their Principles sufficiently explain'd, we should then find them as willing to be eased of the Burthens, as the Nation of the Trouble of the Emissaries. And two things very rea­sonable and easie to be granted, would inable any Person well qualified to do this Work effectually; of which an Account will be ready to be given to whom it is proper, of desired.