thefe Abfurdities, with a villainous Intent to confound the Understandings, and to destroy the Liberties of Mankind. Judge. You Gentlemen of the Clergy, fince the Jury has acquitted the Prisoner, and brought you in guilty, I fhall pass that juft Sentences which is established by that Law, which requires an Eye for an Eye. May the Laiety fhew you the fame Mercy they have ever received from you. The End of the TRIAL. POPERY POPERY a CRAFT, AND POPISH PRIESTS the CHIEF CRAFTS-MEN, A SERMON DELIVERED On the Fifth of November. First printed in the Year 1735 D5 ACTS xix. 25. ---Sirs! ye know that by this Craft we have our Wealth. W E need only transfer the Scene of Action from Ephefus to Rome, or to any other City or Country, where Ambitious and Worldly Priefts trample upon all the Rights of Truth, Reafon and Confcience, in order to prove thefe Two Points, I. That POPERY is a Craft, a Human Craft. II. That it is a Craft, a Trade invented and managed with a fole View to get Wealth, Power and Greatness; or, to exalt Priests into Lords over Mankind. And it is the Gainfulness of this Craft, which infpires the Popish Priefts with so furious a D 6 Zeal Zeal to maintain its Credit, and fupport its Practice. It is equally true that all worldly Establishments, and Anti-chriftian Devices brought into Religion are Crafts, political Engines, for loading a Set of Proud, Tyrannical, Worldly Clergymen with the Wealth of the Laity. Confequently, a Deliverance from fuch a Set of Men, is a very great and merciful Deliverance, and ought to be had in everlasting Remembrance. The Whole may be reduced to this one Point, namely, That POPERY is a Human Invention to befool, enflave, and impoverish the Laity; and to magnify and enrich the Clergy. No Wonder then, if the Spiritual Tradesmen are very loth to give up their Gainful Craft. I fhall name a few of the Doctrines and Prac tices of the Church of Rome; a fhort View of which will fhew the Truth of our Pofitions, and justify the Application of the Text to our present Purpofe. For |