The Mysteries of Popery Unveiled; In the Unparalleled Sufferings of John Coustos, at the Inquisition of Lisbon (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: IT was not vanity that induced me to publish the following accurate and faithful relation of my sufferings in the Inquisition of Lisbon. A strong desire to justify myself with regard to the false accusations brought by that tribunal against me; as well as against the brotherhood of free-masons, of which I have the honour to be a member, were the chief motives for my taking up the pen. I am likewise very willing the whole world should receive all the light and information I am capable of giving, concerning the shocking injustice, and the horrid cruelties exercised in the pretended holy office. Persons who live in countries where this tribunal is considered an abomination, will, from the perusal of the following work, have fresh cause to bless Providence for not fixing their abode among the Spauiarus, the Portuguese, or the Italians. M uL $ Such of my readers as may hereafter reside m countries where this barbarous tribunal is established, will here find very salutary instruction for their conduct; and consequently be less liable to fall into the hands of the unrelenting Inquisitors. And should any one yet have the sad misfortune to become their innocent victims, he will here be taught to avoid the snares laid, in order to aggravate the charge brought against him. These snares ought the more to be guarded against, as they are but toa often spread by the Inquisitors, merely to give a specious air of justice and equity to their iniquitous prosecutions. Should the relation which I now offer be found of use to the public, I shall be happy in having performed my duty; and shall be still more gratified if my narrative helps to open the eyes of those who, liurried on by a blind zeal, think it meritorious in the sight of Heaven, to persecute all persons whose religious pri...