PREFACE and APPENDIX, CATHOLICK MORALS, FROM Old Calumnies revived and collected in a To which is Annext The Reform'd Churches prov'd destitute The THIRD EDITION Revifèd and Corrected. Be ready always to give an answer to every Man that 1 Printed at R O U E N, Ann. 1721, 130. f. 39. iii The PREFACE F the Dorine and Morals of the first Chriftians had been I fuch, as they were continually reprefented by their Adverfaries then in Power, no Monfter had ever been fo frightful as the Chriftian Religion. And if the Faith and Morals of Catholicks had really thofe Deformities under which they are but too often painted even from the Pulpit, and in thofe very Books which are put into the Hands of the People, as neceffary Prefervatives against Popery, I freely own it were better to be of no Religion at all, than to be a Papist. What then was commonly faid and thought of the first and best Chriftians that ever were in the World? The moft diftinguishing part of their Character was, that they utterly denyed the God-head, as is witneffed by St. Justin Apol. 1. pag. 56. Some accufed them of giving Divine Wor Ship to the Crofs, as we find it recorded in Minutius Felix and Tertullian. Others faid they gave it to the Sun, to an Affes Head, and other Things not fit to be Named. Next, they give it out that they had no Men of Senfe or Learning amongst them. That they kept the common People in Awe with Superstitious Fears. That their pre tended Miracles were only Tricks of Art or Magical Enchant ments. That they were Traitors to the Government, and guilty of all the Evils that happen'd to the State. That in their most facred Meetings they feafted on the Flesh of murder'd Infants, made delicious Sippets in their warm and innocent Blood, and closed at length the barbarous Solemnity with all forts of lewd and incestuous Embracès. In a word, that they were profefs'd Enemies to Honour and Confcience, to God and Man. All thefe Things are at tefted by Origen, Tertullian, St. Juftin, &c. and fhew how true this Saying of Tertullian is, viz. That Truth and the Hatred of it began together. This brief and faithful Account of the general Hatred of Chriftian Religion in it's very Infancy may ferve for a a 2 Key |