Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 4.djvu/414

406 introduce popery. He puts an excuse into their mouths, by which they would endeavour to justify their change of religion: popery is not what it was before the reformation: things are now much mended, and farther corrections might be expected, if we would enter into a treaty with them: in particular, they see the errour of proceeding severely with hereticks; so that there is no reason to apprehend the returns of such cruelties, as were practised an age and a half ago.

This he assures us is a plea offered by the tories in defence of themselves, for going about at this juncture to establish the popish religion among us: what argument does he bring to prove the fact itself?

Nothing but this tedious introduction, wherein he supposes it all along as a thing granted. That there might be a perfect union in the whole christian church, is a blessing which every good man wishes, but no reasonable man can hope. That the more polite Roman catholicks have, in several places, given up some of their superstitious fopperies particularly concerning legends, relicks, and the like, is what no body denies. But the material points in difference between us and them, are universally retained and asserted, in all their controversial writings. And if his lordship really thinks that every man who differs from him, under the name of a tory, in some church and state opinions, is ready to believe transubstantiation, Purgatory, the infallibility of pope or councils, to worship saints and angels, and the like; I can only pray God to enlighten