The Virginia Gazette

EXTRACTS from a Sermon preached by Archbishop TILLOTSON on the 5th of November 1678, before the Honourable the House of Commons on the following Text.

LUKE IX. 55, 56.

But he turned and rebuked them and said, ye know not what Manner of Spirit ye are of; for the Son of Man is not come to destroy Men's Lives, but to save them.

Let us beware of that Church, which countenanceth this unchristian Spirit here condemned by our Saviour; and which teaches us such Doctrines and Warrants such Practices, as are consonant thereto. You all know, without my saying so, that I mean the Church of Rome; in which are taught such Doctrines as these, that Hereticks, that is, all who differ from them in Matters of Faith are to be extirpated by Fire and Sword; which was decreed in the third and fourth Lateran Councils, where all Christians are strictly charged to endeavour this to the uttermost of their Power, as they desire to be esteemed and accounted Christians. Next their Doctrines of deposing Kings, and of absolving their Subjects from Obedience to them, which are not only universally believed, but practiced by the Pope and Roman Church for several Ages. Indeed this Doctrine hath not been at all Times alike rankly and openly avowed, but is undoubtedly theirs; and hath frequently been put in Execution, though they have not thought it so convenient at all Turns to make Profession of it. It is a certain Kind of Engine, which is to be screwed up or let down, as Occasion serves; and is commonly kept like Goliath's Sword in the Sanctuary behind the Ephod, but yet so that the High Priest can lend it out upon any extraordinary Occasion.

And for Practices consonant to these Doctrines, I shall go no farther than the horrid and bloody Design of this Day. Such a Mystery of Iniquity, as had been hid from Ages and Generations; such a Masterpiece of Villainy, as Eye had not seen, nor Ear heard, nor ever before entered into the Heart of Man; so prodigiously barbarous, both in the Substance and Circumstances of it, as is not to be paralleled in all the voluminous Records of Time, from the Foundation of the World.

Good God! that any Thing that is called Religion, Should so perfectly strip Men of all Humanity, and transform the mild and gentle Race of Mankind into such Wolves and Tigers; that ever a pretended Zeal for Thy Glory should instigate Men to dishonour THEE at such a Rate! It is believed by many, and not without Cause, that the Pope and his Faction are the Antichrist. I will say no more than I know in this Matter; I am not so sure that it is he that is particularly designed in Scripture by that Name, as I am of the main Articles of the Christian Faith; but, however that be, I challenge Antichrist himself, whoever he be, and whenever he comes, to do worse and wickeder Things than these.

But I must remember my Text and take Heed of imitating that Spirit which is there condemned, whilst I am inveighing against it. And, in Truth, it almost looks uncharitably to speak the Truth in these Matters and barely to relate what these Men have not blushed to do. I need not, nay I cannot, aggravate these Things; they are too horrible in themselves, even when they are expressed in the softest and gentlest Words.

I doubt not but Papists are made like other Men. Nature hath not generally given them such savage and cruel Dispositions, but their Religion hath made them so. I am loth to say it, and yet, I am confident it is very true, that many Papists would have been excellent Persons and very good Men, if their Religion had not hindered them; if the Doctrines and Principles of their Church had not perverted and spoiled their natural Dispositions.

I speak not this to exasperate you, worthy Patriots and the great Bulwark of our Religion, to any unreasonable or unnecessary, much less unchristian Severities against them; no, let us not do like them; let us never do any thing for Religion that is contrary to it; but I speak it to awaken your Care thus far, that, if their Priests will always be putting these pernicious Principles into the Minds of the People, effectual Provision may be made, that it may never be in their Power again to put them in Practice. We have found by Experience, that ever since the Reformation they have been continually pecking at the Foundations of our Peace and Religion; when, God knows, we have been so far from thirsting after their Blood, that we did not so much as desire their Disquiet, but in Order to our own necessary Safety, and indeed to theirs.

A reasonable and just Toleration to Dissenters of every Denomination is my Delight. But the Establishment of such a Religion, as is above described, in any part of the British Dominions, and barely to tolerate Protestantism, ought surely to awaken the Attention of every Well-wisher to our Church or State.

CAVEAT.

An Admirer of the Reformation,
A devoted Servant to our Gracious Sovereign,
And a warm Friend to the Protestant Succession.