#papist

Transcript

Stamp Office, Oxford

2nd November, 1745

May it please your Grace,

To give me leave humbly to lay before you a Declaration, I heard last night in a Common Inn or Alehouse in the City from one———–Richardson a farmer in Brailes in the County of Warwick. He declared that the Protestants there were in the greatest consternation [worry] by the Threats and Menaces of the Papists; for the Papists threaten’d to turn the Protestants out of the Church before Christmas day next: and further declared that a Great House in the said Parish, wherein one————-Bishop lives, (who as he apprehends is a Romish Priest) they constantly go to Mass.

Upon Enquiring of him (the said Richardson) what Number of Papists he believed were in the Parish He replyd about an Hundred Families.

I being a faithfull subject and servant to his Majesty, stirred up by my Zeal and Duty, imbolden’d me to give your Grace the trouble of this, My good Intentions, I hope will plead the Pardon of Your Grace.

Most Dutifull, Obedient, and humble Servant,

God’s character, as portrayed in the Bible, is the most beautiful and perfect conceivable. He is there represented as at once righteous and merciful, a just God and a Savior. I admire this character as one worthy of the Creator of the world; so much so, that if, when in another state I were assured that the God of the Bible was nowhere to be found, I should ask, with amazement, Who, then, is God? If, instead, there were pointed out to me any other, such as Heathen, Mohammedan, or Papist gods, I should not find it possible, in my nature, to render the homage required, even at the peril of my life. The atheist is so foolish and blind, that he can no more than a mole discern the eternal power and Godhead in the wonderful structure of his own frame, in the curious formation of leaf and flower, or in the marvelous glory of all created things; therefore he comes to the conclusion that there is no God. So may the mole, who has never seen them, make sure there is neither king nor palace. Thou atheistic mole, who hast never travelled nor inquired enough to decide there is no God, all thou canst say is, that thou hast not yet seen Him, and hast no desire to see. How knowest thou that His existence is not so manifest beyond the river of death, and throughout the whole realm of eternity, that denial or even doubt is impossible. The mole may, of course, maintain that there is no Grand Lama in Tibet, because he has never been so far in his travels; but his testimony would have no sort of value. So the atheistic worm must have been through all the regions of death, misery and destruction, and explored all the realms of happiness through the Heaven of heavens, embracing in the circuit of his travels the whole of time and eternity, and able also to comprehend all the modes and forms in which it is possible for Deity to exist, before he can successfully deny the existence of a God.

▪Murdered previous Popes

▪Sold the Papacy

▪Installed a harem and gave its members de facto power to rule the citizenry

▪Raped pilgrims

▪Covered for the rape of children

▪Sold indulgences

▪Engaged in Papal orgies

▪Complained that those tortured did not scream loudly enough

▪Had a corpse exhumed, “tried”, and mutilated

Lord Herbert recounting a cardinal addressing the pope

Quoted by Isaac D'Israeli 1842