Jesuites and Phanatiques compar'd.
Bum. Ay, Ay, Citt, they're a damn'd Generation of Hell-hounds. But, as I was thinking just now; we have so many things among Us, like some things among Them, that I have been run down some times allmost, as if We our selves were Jesuites; though I know there's as much difference, as betwixt Light, and Darknesse: and for my part, I defie them as I do the Devill.
A vast Difference betwixt them.
But Citt thou hast so wonderfull a way of making matters plain, I'de give any thing in the world thou'dst but teach me what to say in some Cases, when I'm put to't. One told me t'other day, You are rather worse then the Jesuites; (says he) for when They break an Oath, they have some mental Reservation or other for a Come-off: But You Swallow your Perjuryes, just as Cormorants do Eeles; an Oath's no sooner In at One End, then Out at t'other.
Citt. Let your Answer be This, Bumpkin, That the Lawmaker is Master of his own Laws; and that the Spirits dictating of a New Law, is the Superseding of an Old one.
Their Practices compar'd.
Bum. These are hard words, Citt; but he told me further, don't You Justifie King-Killing (says he) as well as the Jesuits? Only They do't with Pistol, Dagger, and Poyson; and You come with Your Horse, Foot, and Cannon: They proceed by Excomunicating, and Deposing; by dissolving the Character, first, and then destroying the Person; and just so did You. First, ye Depos'd the King, and Then ye Beheaded Charles Stuart. And then you need never go to Rome for a Pardon, when every man among you is his own Pope.
The Fanaticks Clear'd.
Citt. Now your Answer must be This; That we had, First, the Warrant, for what we did, of an Extraordinary Dispensation. (as appear'd in the providence of our Successes) Secondly, we had the Laws of Necessity, and Self-preservation to Support us. And Thirdly, the Government being Coordinate, and the King only One of the Three Estates; any Two of the Three might deal with the Third as They thought Fit: Beside the Ultimate Soveraignty of the People, over and above. And now take notice, that the same Argument holds in the Subversion of the Government.
Bum. Now you have Arm'd me Thus far, pray'e help me on, one step farther; for I was hard put to't not long Since, about the businesse of the Protestant Religion. What is That, I pray'e, that ye call the Protestant Religion?