Non-Specific Humans A weak brother Hypocrite A Prodigy Christians
Proper Names Nero
Mythological Figures Hector Devils Angels the "old man" Saint
Animals Monster Bulls Wild Beasts
[two rules]
I2s a Fanatic Hector, that has found out by a very ſtrange Way of new Light, how to transform all the Devils into Angels of Light ; for he believes all Religion conſiſts in Looſeneſs, and that Sin and Vice is the whole Duty of Man. He puts off the old Man, but puts it on again upon the new one, and makes his Pagan Vices ſerve to preſerve his Chriſtian Virtues from wearing out ; for if he ſhould uſe his Piety and Devotion al- ways it would hold out but a little while. He is loth that Iniquity and Vice ſhould be thrown away, as long as there may be good Uſe of it ; for if that, which is wickedly gotten, may be diſposed to pious Uſes, why ſhould not Wickedneſs itſelf as well? He believes himſelf Shot-free againſt all the Attempts of the Devil, the World, and the Flesh, and therefore is not afraid to attack them in their own Quarters, and encounter them at their own Weapons.
For as ſtrong Bodies may freely venture to do,
and ſuffer that, without any Hurt to them-
ſelves, which would deſtroy thoſe that are
feeble: So a Saint, that is ſtrong in Grace,
may boldly engage himſelf in thoſe great Sins
and Iniquities, that would eaſily damn a weak
Brother, and yet come off never the worſe.
He believes Deeds of Darkneſs to be only thoſe
Sins that are committed in private, not thoſe
that are acted openly and owned. He is but
an Hypocrite turned the wrong Side outward ;
for, as the one wears his Vices within, and
the other without, ſo when they are counter-
changed the Ranter becomes an Hypocrite, and
the Hypocrite an able Ranter. His Church is
the Devil's Chappel ; for it agrees exactly both
in Doctorine and Diſicipline with the beſt reform-
ed Baudy-Houſes. He is a Monſter produced
by the Madneſs of this latter Age ; but if it
had been his Fate to have been whelped in old
Rome he had paſt for a Prodigy, and been re-
ceived among raining of Stones and the ſpeak-
ing of Bulls, and would have put a ſtop to all
public Affairs, until he had been expiated.
Nero cloathed Chriſtians in the Skins of wild
Beaſts ; but he wraps wild Beaſts in the Skins
of Chriſtians.