Popery Anatomized, Title page – To the reader
A BRIEF DISCOVERY OF THE BLOODY, REBELLIOUS AND TREASONABLE Principles and Practiſes of Papiſts: Wherein is evidently demonstrated,
That they teach and commit Treaſons and Rebellions againſt the lives of Princes, and peace of Nations; and diſſolve the obligation of all Oaths and Bonds; and making Perjury and Rebellion, duties and meritorious works; they have been the Authors of Warrs, Commotions and Combuſtions, both before, and ever ſince the Reformation, in Kingdoms and Common-wealths; and have uſed unparalleled cruelty, and unheard-of inhumanity towards Proteſtants, where ever they had the upper-hand. And the excuſes of H.T. the Author of the Manual of Controverſies, are evidenced to be falſe and frivolous.
2. Tim. 3.1. In the last dayes, perillous times ſhal come: For men ſhal be lovers of their own ſelves, covetous, boaſters, proud, blaſphemers, diſobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, truce-breakers, falſe accuſers, incontinent, &c. Traitors, heady, high-minded, &c. From ſuch turn away.
TO THE LOVERS OF THE Reformed Religion, in Britain and Ireland, Grace, mercy, and peace.
DEarly beloved in the Lord,
The great increaſe of Popery every where, is ſo viſibly ſeen, and ſo evidently known, that to ſpeak any thing to prove and evidence the ſame, were altogether needleſs: ſeeing he is a great ſtranger in our Iſrael that knoweth it not. But, alace! there is very great decay of zeal and hatred againſt that Whore: that if our glorious Predeceſſors (whoſe excellent Motto it always was, No peace with Rome) were alive, they would wonder to ſee us ſo brutiſh and ſenſleſs, indifferent, and lukewarm, in ae matter of ſo great moment, wherein the honor and glory of God, the eternal happineſs and felicity of our own, and our posterities ſouls, and the ſafety and preſervation of Kings, Kingdoms, our lives, eſtats, and all that is near and dear to us, is ſo much and ſo nearly concerned: Therefore for letting us ſee our hazard in all and every one of theſe, as we have reviſed and republiſhed the above written excellent Treatiſe of that learned, godly, and eminently zealous and faithful ſervant of Chriſt M. John Welſch, whoſe memory is very precious in the Church of Chriſt: who doth learnedly and plainly, to any ordinary capacity, diſcover the abominations of that Whore, and ſolidly prove her doctrine both to be most heretical and damnable, and her ſelf to be the very Antichrist, that all who love the truth of God, and the ſalvation of their immortal ſouls, may be ſtirred up to a just zeal and indignation against her: So we have thought fit to ſubjoyn this following Treatiſe, for diſcovering to all and every one who love the Reformed Religion, and reſolve to adhere thereto, what treaſonable and bloody principles, and inhumane and matchleſly cruel practiſes, are maintained and committed by Papists, in reference both to Kings, Princes and People, who profeſs the Reformed Religion; and conſequently what all and every one of us may expect to meet with, if Popery prevail: that ſo being convinced of our hazard, both in body and ſoul, and in all that is near and dear to us, we may be ſtirred up to a real hatred and indignation against that Whore, and may be much in the exerciſe of prayer, repentance, and other lawful and commanded duties, for the putting a ſtop to the growth of the ſpreading abominations of that Whore, which is earnestly prayed for, by
Yours for the truth, M. C.