The Virginia Gazette

For the VIRGINIA GAZETTE.

On ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT, extracted from a letter written to the Venerable Mufti, Successor of the Prophets and Messengers of God, dated Paris, 10th of the 6th moon of the year 1643, by Mahmut the Arabian, a Turkish spy, Who lived five and forty years undiscovered at Paris, giving, in a series of letters, an account to the Divan at CONSTANTINOPLE of the most remarkable transactions of EUROPE, and discovering several intrigues and secrets of the Christian Courts, especially that of FRANCE, &c.

THE Christian Church seems to be a stately building, whereof prelacy is the corner-stone; if this were removed, all would fall to the ground. That which they call the hierarchy, if it could once be dissolved or pulled down, we should soon see all Christendom laid in ruins. This hierarchy is a gradual subordination of Archbishops, Bishops, and Priests; the inferior depending on the superior, and all deriving their orders and dignities from their chief Patriarchs. These are the links which compose that chain that fastens Christendom together; were this but once broke, the united interest of Europe would soon fall into pieces. The way must be, by beginning at the lowermost link. Could but the Priests be rendered independent on the Bishops, and on each other, it would be a fair step towards dismantling of the outworks, these Priests drawing infinite numbers of people after them; as it is apparent in Geneva, Holland, Switzerland, and other places, where they have quite abolished the order and authority of Bishop: And it is observable that none of these forementioned countries, since that time, have ever been instrumental in opposing the victorious arms of the Ottoman Empire: As if, with the downfall of Episcopacy, the charm were dissipated, which had for some ages precipitated these nations (among others) to a rash and obstinate resistance of that force, which is destined by fate "Weigh this thought well, and thou wilt find that the order of Bishops is essential and necessary to the good estate of Christendom; and that the only way for the Mahometans to undermine all Europe, will be to supplant this order, and introduce an ecclesiastical independency among the Priests; by which means every one shall assume to himself, not only his proper fragment of the torn dignity, but the whole fundamental power of a Bishop; taking upon him to do those offices, which before it was not accounted lawful for any but a mitred head to perform. Hence, in time, will follow innumerable inconveniences, disputes and broils; and perhaps as many schisms, as there are particular Priests to head them: Since every one will be apt to think himself capable of dictating to all the rest, and judge it below him to receive the law from any. Thus will there be a clear stage for ambition, avarice, and lust to act their parts on: And when, by the craft of designing men, and superstition of bigots, and the easiness of the credulous, the greatest part shall be so divided, that it will be difficult to find two men of the same mind in articles of faith; it will then be easy, either by thy intelligible reasons in the Alcoran, or the more cogent arguments of the sword, to plant the true and undefiled faith in these countries.