But the real image itself consists of these three parts: — 1. The siuord; 2. The inquisition; 3. Plots and conspiracies.
By these it is that they design to propagate the faith and promote Christian religion; and if hell itself can invent a more deformed image and representation of the sacred truth and work, which it is a counterfeit of, I am much mistaken.
1. Thus have they, in the j^rs^ way, canied Christian religion into
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578 THE CHAMBER OF IMAGERY.
the Indies, especially the western parts of the world so called. First the Pope, out of the plenitude of his power, gives unto the Spaniard all those countries and the inhabitants of them, that they may be made Christians. But Christ dealt not so with his apostles, though he were Lord of all, when he sent them to teach and baptize all nations. He dispossessed none of them of their temporal rights or enjoyments, nor gave to his apostles a foot-breadth of inheritance among them. But upon this grant, the Spanish Catholics propagated the faith, and brought in Christian religion amongst them. And they did it by killing and murdering many millions of innocent per- sons; as some of themselves say, more than are alive in Europe in any one age. And this savage cruelty hath made the name of Christians detestable amongst all that remained of them that had any exercise of reason ; [only] some few slavish brutes being brought by force to submit unto this new kind of idolatry. And this we must think to be done in obedience unto that command of Christ, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned." This is the deformed image which they have set up of obedience unto his holy commands; whereunto they apply that voice to Peter with respect unto the eating of all sorts of creatures, " Rise, Peter; kill, and eat." So have they dealt with those poor nations whom they have devoured. But blood, murder, and unjust war (as all war is for the propagation of religion), with persecution, began in Cain, who derived it from the devil, that " murderer from the beginning;" for he " was of that wicked one, and slew his brother," [1 John iii. 12.] Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to " destroy the works of the devil," [1 John iii. 8.] And he doth it in this world by his word and doctrine, judging and condemning them. And he does it in his disciples by his Spirit, extii'pating them out of their minds, hearts, and ways ; so as that there is not a more assured character of a deri- vation from the evil spirit, than force and blood in religion for the propagating of it.
2. The next part of this image, — the next way used by them for the propagating of the faith, and the conversion of them they call heretics, — is the Inquisition. So much hath been declared and is known thereof, that it is needless here to give a portraiture of it. It may suffice, that it hath been long since opened, like Cacus's den, and discovered to be the greatest arsenal of cruelty, the most dread- ful shambles of blood and slaughter, that ever was in the world. This is that engine which hath supplied the scarlet whore with the blood of saints, and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, until she was drunk with it. And this is the second way or means whereby they propa- gate the faith of the gospel, and endeavour, as they say, the conversion
THE CHAMBER OF IMAGERY. 579
of the souls of men ;^this is the second part of that image which they have set up instead of the holy appointment of Jesus Christ.
8. The third way they insist on unto this purpose, — the third part of this image, — consists in jilots and contrivances to murder princes, to emhroil nations in blood, to stir up sedition unto their ruin, in- veigling and alluring all sorts of vicious, indigent, ambitious person s^ into an association with them, so as to introduce the Catholic religion in the places which they design to subvert. This engine for the pro- pagation of the faith hath been plied with various successes in many nations of Europe, and is still at work unto the same purpose. And hereunto belong all the arts which they use for the infatuation of the minds of princes and great men, — all the baits they lay for others of all sorts, to work them over into a compliance with their designs.
Of these parts, I say, is that dreadful image made up and com- posed, which they set up, embrace, and adore, in the room of the holy way for the propagation of the gospel appointed by Jesus Christ. In his way they can see no beauty, — they can expect no success ; — they cannot believe that ever the world will be converted by it, or be brought in subjection unto the pope; and therefore betake them- selves unto their own. Faith, prayer, holiness, preaching, suffering, all in expectation of the promised presence and assistance of Christ, are no ways, for efficacy, success, and advantage, to be compared unto the sword, inquisition, and underhand designings. And this also is that which they call zeal for the glory of God, and the honour of Christ ! — another deformed image which they have brought into reli- gion. For whereas that grace consists principally in postponing self, and all self-concerns, with an undervaluation of them, unto the glory of God, and the special duties whereby it may be promoted, this im- pious design to destroy mankind by all ways of subtlety and cruelty, unto their own advantage, is set up in the room of it. But the con- sideration of the nature and spirit, of the use and end, of the gospel, — of the design of Christ in it and by it,- — is sufficient to preserve the souls of men, not utterly infatuated, in an abhoiTency of this image of its propagation. It is that wherein " the god of this world," by the help of their blindness and lusts, hath put a cheat on mankind, and prevailed with them, under a pretence of doing Christ honour, to make the vilest representation of him to the world that can be conceived. If he hath appointed this way for the propagating of the gospel, he cannot well be distinguished fi-om Mohammed ; but there is nothing more contrary unto him, — nothing that his holy soul doth more abhor. And had not men lost all spiritual sense of the nature and ends of the gospel, they could never have given up themselves unto these abominations. For any to suppose that the faith of the gospel is to be propagated by such cruelty and blood, — by art and