The devil appeared to St. Francis in the fhape of a flea, who being as nimble as one of the French harlequins, fkipped up and down, to and fro, and difturbed the friar in his nocturnal lucubrations. The pious old man, by inceffant prayer, prevailed to have dominion over the devil, and confine him to ftand centinel on the 6 page of his book when he left off reading.

:

This he did conftantly till the Time of his confinement was elapfed. But the devil refolving to tempt him again, effayed many ways to delude the faint, but did not prove fuccessful for the friar having a power given him, ordered him · upon duty a fecond time, and to hold a candle in his hand, which he was forced to obey, till he burned his fingers to the ftumps; and then he was released." Some people affirm that it is a hard thing to hold a candle to the devil, but sure it is the devil to hold a candle to a friar. However the reftlefs fiend would not defift, but (not regarding the Proverb, Beware of the third time) makes another effay, with all the rafhnefs and vain hopes of a modern tory. The good faint Francis finding that wholfom feverities rendered the devil more obftinate and daring, made a noofe of his girdle, and flipping it about Satan's neck, hanged him on a beam in the monastery 'till he was dead, dead, dead.'

I fhall

I fhall now haften to a conclufion, believing that a word to the wife is fufficient; and fhall only give this advice to my readers,

Cum focio credere finge tuo.

This I hope will not be looked upon as an encouragement of, or promoting hypocrify; for we ought to become all things to all men, in order to fave fome.

THE

THE

CREE D

OF AN

INDEPENDENT WHIG.

I

BELIEVE that no bifhop nor prefbyter, prieft or deacon, of what church or perfuafion foever, whether England, Rome, or Geneva, can remit fins: and he that pretends to it, does blafphemoufly ufurp the prerogative of God, and furreptitiously make void the mediatorship of Christ.`

I believe that the protestant religion is the most pure and undefiled of any religion in the univerfe; nevertheless it may admit of emendations.

I believe that the mystery of the bleffed TRINITY cannot be proved by the light of nature; and he that attempts to do it must VOL. II.

D

be

be a man of much vanity, and an impoftor, His vanity is manifested in afferting what is in its own nature abfurd; which no man of learning, piety, and integrity ever effayed; and his impofing upon the credulity of the world, his empty arguments, felf-contradictions, and ridiculous sophistry, declare him to be a knave.

I believe that the inferior clergy are a fet of clean, Spruce, fociable, fashionable, fpiritual beaus. I believe that King GEORGE (whom God long preserve) has a juft title by the laws of God and man to the imperial crown of thefe realms; and that the perfon called the pretender was not begotten by King JAMES, or came from the body of his Queen MARY.

I believe that it is neceffary to have a regimen

in the church, fuch as is now established; and that they ought not to be independent on the state.

I believe that the clergy exercise a jurisdiction, which Chrift and his apostles never did, or gave them authority to do.

I believe that few of the inferior clergy adhere to the canons of the church, or to the oaths they have taken, or the fubfcriptions they have made.

I believe there are three things, which will prove

a blot to old England for ever: the cafe

of

of the ROCHELLERS, the horrid regicide of King CHARLES the First, and the facrifice of the brave CATALANS.

I believe that church organs are not very edifying to fuch who have no good ear, or judgment in mufic.

I believe that the nonjuring clergy are men of more confcience and probity than those who for interest swear allegiance to King GEORGE, yet difown him in their hearts, and countenance rebellion. It was not my enemy did this; but thou my familiar, my friend, and acquaintance, whom I trufted.

I believe that St. PAUL was no prevaricator, maugre the opinion of Mr. Secretary H-gs; but I concur with that pious gentleman in faying there are many erroneous translations in the bible; and it is hoped that he will fpeedily favour the world with his new verfion of the Revelations; a piece of many years work.

I believe his fubfcribers would rejoice to see their money returned, or to have the long promised book.

I believe that the apoftles and primitive chriftians foon wrought the redemption of their brother's covering, when St. Paul told them that he left his cloak at Troas; but had that declaration been made in our days, I beD 2

lieve