This Political Faith of a Malecontent is altogether founded on Hope. He does not give Credit to any thing because it is probable, but because it is pleafing. His Wifhes ferve him inftead of Reasons, to confirm the Truth of what he hears. There is no Report fo incredible or contradictory in itself which he doth not chearfully believe, if it tends to the Advancement of the Cause. In short a Malecontent who is a good Believer has generally reason to repeat the celebrated Rant of an Ancient Father, Credo quia impoffibile eft: Which is as much as to Say, It must be true, because it is impoffible.

It has been very well obferved, that the moft credulous Man in the World is the Atheist, who believes the Univerfe to be the Production of Chance. In the fame manner a Tory, who is the greatest Believer in what is improbable, is the greatest Infidel in what is certain. Let a Friend to the Government relate to him a Matter of Fact, he turns away his Ear from him, and gives him the Lye in every Look. But if one of his own Stamp fhould tell him that the King of Sweden would be fuddenly at Perth, and that his Army is now actually marching thither upon the Ice; he hugs himself at the good News, and gets drunk upon it before he goes to Bed. This fort of People puts one in mind of feveral Towns of Europe that. are inacceffible on the one Side, while they lie open and unguarded on the other. The Minds of our Malecontents are indeed fo depraved with those Falfhoods which they are perpetually imbibing, that they have a natural Relifh for Error, and have quite loft the Tafte of Truth in political Matters. I fhall therefore difmifs this Head with a Saying of King Charles the Second. This Monarch, when he was at Windfor, us'd to amufe himself with the Conversation of the famous Voffius, who was

full

full of Stories relating to the Antiquity, Learning, and Manners of the Chinese; and at the fame time a Free thinker in Points of Religion. The King upon hearing him repeat fome incredible Accounts of thefe Eaftern People, turning to those who were about him, This Learned Divine, faid he, is a very firange Man: He believes every thing but the Bible.

Having thus far confider'd the Political Faith of the Party as it regards Matters of Fact, let us in the next place take a View of it with respect to thofe Doctrines which it embraces, and which are the Fundamental Points whereby they are diftinguished from thofe, whom they used to represent as Enemies to the Conftitution in Church and State. How far their great Articles of Political Faith, with refpect to our Ecclefiaftical and Civil Government, are confiftent with themfelves, and agreeable to Reafon and Truth, may be seen in the following Paradoxes, which are the Effentials of a Tory's Creed, with relation to Political Matters. Under the Name of Tories, Į do not here comprehend Multitudes of welldefigning Men, who were formerly included under that Denomination, but are now in the Intereft of His Majefty and the present Government. Thefe have already feen the evil Tendency of fuch Principles, which are the Credenda of the Party, as it is oppofite to that of the Whigs.

Article I.

That the Church of England will be always in Danger, till it has a Popish King for its Defender.

II.

That, for the Safety of the Church, no Subject fhould be Tolerated in any Religion different from the Establish'd; but that the Head of our

Church

Church may be of that Religion which is most repugnant to it.

III.

That the Proteftant Intereft in this Nation, and in all Europe, could not but flourish under the Protection of One, who thinks himself obliged, on Pain of Damnation, to do all that lies in his Power for the Extirpation of it.

IV.

That we may fafely rely upon the Promises, of One, whofe Religion allows him to make them, and at the fame time obliges him to break them.

V.

That a good Man fhould have a greater Abhorrence of Presbyterianifm, which is Perverseness, than of Popery, which is but Idolatry.

VI.

That a Perfon, who hopes to be King of England by the Affiftance of France, would naturally adhere to the British Intereft, which is always oppofite to that of the French.

VII.

That a Man has no Opportunities of learning how to govern the People of England in any foreign Country, fo well as in France.

VIII.

That ten Millions of People fhould rather choose to fall into Slavery, than not acknowledge their Prince to be invefted with an Hereditary and Indefeasible Right of Oppreffion.

IX.

That we are obliged in Confcience to become Subjects of a Duke of Savoy, or of a French King, rather than enjoy for our Sovereign a Prince, who is the Firft of the Royal Blood in the Proteftant Line.

X. That

X.

That Non-Refiftance is the Duty of every Christian, while he is in a good Place.

XI.

That we ought to profefs the Doctrine of Paffive Obedience till fuch a time as Nature rebels against Principle, that is, till we are put to the Neceffity of practising it.

XII.

That the Papifts have taken up Arms to defend the Church of England with the utmoft Hazard of their Lives and Fortunes.

XIII.

That there is an Unwarrantable Faction in this Island, confifting of King, Lords, and Com

mons.

XIV.

That the Legislature, when there is a Majority of Whigs in it, has not Power to make Laws. XV.

That an Act of Parliament to impower the King to Secure fufpected Perfons in Times of Rebellion, is the Means to establish the Sovereign on the Throne, and confequently a great Infringement of the Liberties of the Subject.

N° 15 Friday, February 10.

Auxilium, quoniam fic cogitis ipfi,

Dixit, ab Hofte petam: Vultus avertite veftros,
Si quis Amicus adeft: Et Gorgonis extulit ora.

Ovid. Met. 1. 5. v. 178.

Since thus unequally you fight; 'tis time,

He cry'd, to punish your prefumptuous Crime, Beware, my Friends; his Friends were soon prepar'd, Their Sight averting; high the Head he rear'd, And Gorgon on his Foes feverely fiar'd.

MANWARING.

T is with great Pleasure that I fee a Race of

The fairest among the Daughters of Great-Britain no longer confine their Cares to a Domestick Life, but are grown anxious for the Welfare of their. Country, and fhew themselves good Statefwomen as well as good Housewives.

Our She Confederates keep pace with us in quafhing that Rebellion which had begun to spread itself among Part of the Fair-Sex. If the Men who are true to their King and Country have taken Prefton and Perth, the Ladies have poffefs'd themfelves of the Opera and the Play-houfe with as little Oppofition or Bloodfhed. The Non-refifting Women, like their Brothers in the Highlands,think no Poft tenable against an Army that makes fo fine an Appearance; and dare not look them in the Face, when they are drawn up in Battle-aray,

As