XII. The burning Papists themselves are not always _serious_ with us: They treat the Church and its Defenders as _fanatical_, and _laugh_ at them as _such_, just as the Church does the Dissenters, and have their elaborate Works of _Drollery_ against their Adversaries. They publish'd a Poem against the _Reformation_, just before the Death of Queen _Anne_, which was design'd to have given such a Stroke to the Protestant Religion among us, under the new projected Revolution, as _Hudibras_ did to _Puritanism_ after the _Restoration_. The Popish Editor, in the Preface to the said Poem, says, "that the Motive of the Author (_Thomas Ward_) for publishing the _History of the Reformation in a Burlesque Style_ (tho a History full of melancholy Incidents, which have distracted the Nation, even beyond the hope of recovery, after so much Blood drawn from all its Veins, and from its Head) was that which he met with in Sir _Roger L'Estrange_'s Preface to the second Part of his _Cit_ and _Bumkin_, express'd in these Words; _Tho this way of fooling is not my Talent, nor Inclination; yet I have great Authorities for the taking up this Humour, in regard not only of the Subject, but of the Age we live in; which is so much upon the Drole, that hardly any thing else will down with it._" And the ingenious Protestant Editor of this Poem at _London_, which he allows to have some Wit in it, concludes the Remarks he makes upon it, by saying, "One thing more we can't forbear hinting at, that a Retaliation would be as happy a Thought as could enter into the Head of a Man of Genius and Spirit. What a fruitful Harvest would the Legends, Tricks, spiritual Jugglings, Convents, and Nunneries, yield to a good Poet? _Buchanan_ in his _Franciscani_, and _Oldham_ in his _Satires_ on the Jesuits, have open'd the Way, and we heartily wish some equal Pen would write the whole Mystery of Iniquity at length." XIII. All the old Puritan Preachers, who were originally Divines of the Church of _England_, sprinkled and season'd their Sermons with a great many _drolling_ Sayings against _Libertinism_ and _Vice_, and against Church Ceremonies; many of which Sayings are reported and handed down to us in Books and Conversation, as are also the Effects of those Sayings, which we are told converted many to _Christ_ on the Spot, or in the Instant of Delivery. Nor is that manner wholly laid aside, but has continued to be kept alive by some Hands at all times; who have been greatly follow'd for their Success in drolling upon _Sinners_, and treating of Religion in humoursom and fantastical Phrases, and fixing that way of Religion in some Mens Minds.