An apology for the Church of England, with relation to the spirit of persecution for which she is accused
         Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
      
       
         
           1688
        
      
       Approx. 33 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         Text Creation Partnership,
         Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :
         2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).
         A30325
         Wing B5762
         ESTC R204526
         11630652
         ocm 11630652
         47931
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
             Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal
            . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.
          
        
      
       
         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A30325)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 47931)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 484:28)
      
       
         
           
             An apology for the Church of England, with relation to the spirit of persecution for which she is accused
             Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
          
           8 p. ; 20 cm.
           
             s.n.,
             [Amsterdam? :
             1688?]
          
           
             Caption title.
             Attributed to Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury. Cf. Halkett & Laing (2nd ed.).
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.
         Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors.
      
       
         EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
         EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
         The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
         Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
         Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
         Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
         The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
         Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).
         
          Keying and markup guidelines are available at the
           Text Creation Partnership web site
          .
        
      
       
         
         
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Freedom of religion -- England.
           Church and state -- Church of England.
        
      
    
     
        2003-10 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2003-10 SPi Global
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2003-12 Olivia Bottum
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2003-12 Olivia Bottum
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2004-02 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
         
           AN
           APOLOGY
           FOR
           THE
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           With
           relation
           to
           the
           Spirit
           of
           PERSECUTION
           :
           For
           which
           She
           is
           Accused
           .
        
         
           I.
           ONE
           should
           think
           ,
           that
           the
           Behaviour
           of
           the
           
             English
             Cl●rgy
          
           for
           some
           years
           past
           ,
           and
           the
           present
           Circumstances
           in
           which
           they
           are
           ,
           should
           set
           them
           beyond
           Slander
           ,
           and
           by
           consequence
           above
           Apologies
           ;
           yet
           since
           the
           Malice
           of
           her
           Enemies
           work
           against
           her
           with
           so
           much
           Spight
           ,
           and
           since
           there
           is
           no
           insinuation
           that
           carries
           so
           much
           Malice
           in
           it
           ,
           and
           that
           seems
           to
           have
           such
           colours
           of
           Truth
           on
           it
           ,
           as
           this
           of
           their
           having
           set
           on
           a
           s●vere
           Persecution
           against
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           of
           being
           still
           sowr'd
           with
           that
           Leven
           ,
           and
           of
           carrying
           the
           same
           implacable
           hatred
           to
           them
           ,
           which
           the
           present
           Reputation
           that
           they
           have
           gained
           ,
           may
           put
           them
           in
           a
           further
           capacity
           of
           executing
           ,
           if
           another
           revolution
           of
           Affairs
           should
           again
           give
           them
           Authority
           to
           set
           about
           it
           ;
           it
           seems
           necessary
           to
           examine
           it
           ,
           and
           ●hat
           the
           rather
           ,
           because
           some
           aggravate
           this
           so
           far
           ,
           as
           if
           nothing
           were
           now
           to
           be
           so
           much
           dreaded
           as
           the
           Church
           of
           
           England's
           getting
           out
           of
           her
           present
           distress
           .
        
         
           II.
           If
           these
           Imputations
           were
           charged
           on
           us
           only
           by
           those
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           ,
           we
           should
           not
           much
           wonder
           at
           it
           ,
           for
           tho
           it
           argues
           a
           good
           degree
           of
           Confidence
           ,
           for
           any
           of
           that
           Communion
           to
           declaim
           against
           the
           Severities
           that
           have
           been
           put
           in
           practice
           among
           us
           ,
           ●ince
           their
           
             little
             finger
             must
             be
             heavier
             than
             ever
             our
             loins
          
           were
           ,
           and
           to
           whose
           Scorpions
           our
           Rods
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           compared
           ;
           yet
           after
           all
           ,
           we
           are
           so
           much
           accustomed
           to
           their
           methods
           ,
           that
           nothing
           from
           them
           can
           surprise
           us
           .
           To
           hear
           Papists
           declare
           against
           Persecution
           ,
           and
           Iesuits
           cry
           up
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscienc●
          
           ,
           are
           ,
           we
           confess
           ,
           unusual
           things
           :
           yet
           there
           are
           some
           degrees
           of
           shame
           ,
           over
           which
           when
           people
           are
           once
           passed
           ,
           all
           things
           become
           so
           familiar
           to
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           can
           no
           more
           be
           put
           out
           of
           countenance
           .
           But
           it
           seems
           very
           strange
           to
           us
           ,
           that
           so●e
           ,
           who
           if
           they
           are
           to
           be
           believed
           ,
           are
           strict
           to
           the
           severest
           forms
           and
           sub-divisions
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           that
           who
           some
           years
           ago
           were
           jealous
           of
           the
           smallest
           steps
           that
           the
           Cour●
           made
           ,
           when
           the
           danger
           was
           more
           remo●e
           ;
           and
           who
           cried
           out
           Popery
           and
           Persecution
           ,
           when
           the
           Design
           was
           so
           ma●●t
           that
           some
           
           well-meaning
           men
           could
           no●
           miss
           being
           deceived
           by
           the
           Promises
           that
           were
           made
           ,
           and
           the
           Disguises
           that
           were
           put
           on
           ;
           that
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           these
           very
           persons
           who
           were
           formerly
           so
           distrustful
           ,
           should
           now
           when
           the
           Mask
           is
           laid
           off
           ,
           and
           the
           Design
           is
           avowed
           ,
           of
           a
           sudden
           grow
           to
           be
           so
           believing
           ,
           as
           to
           throw
           off
           all
           distrust
           ,
           and
           be
           so
           gulled
           as
           to
           betray
           all
           ;
           and
           expose
           us
           to
           the
           Rage
           of
           those
           ▪
           who
           must
           needs
           give
           some
           good
           words
           ,
           till
           they
           have
           gone
           the
           round
           ,
           and
           tried
           how
           effectually
           they
           can
           divide
           and
           deceive
           us
           ,
           that
           ●o
           they
           may
           destroy
           us
           the
           more
           easily
           ;
           this
           is
           indeed
           somewhat
           extraordinary
           .
           They
           are
           not
           so
           ignorant
           as
           not
           to
           know
           ,
           that
           Popery
           cannot
           change
           its
           nature
           ,
           and
           that
           
             Cruelty
             and
             Breach
             of
             Faith
             to
             Hereticks
             ,
          
           a●e
           as
           necessary
           parts
           of
           that
           Religion
           ,
           as
           
             Transubstantiation
             and
             the
             Popes
             Supremacy
          
           are
           ▪
           If
           Papists
           were
           not
           Fools
           ,
           they
           must
           give
           good
           Words
           and
           fair
           Promises
           ,
           till
           by
           these
           they
           have
           so
           far
           deluded
           the
           poor
           credulous
           Hereticks
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           put
           themselves
           in
           a
           posture
           to
           execute
           the
           Decrees
           of
           their
           Church
           against
           them
           :
           and
           tho
           we
           accuse
           that
           Religion
           as
           guilty
           both
           of
           Cruelty
           and
           Treachery
           ,
           yet
           we
           do
           not
           think
           'em
           Fools
           :
           so
           till
           their
           party
           is
           stronger
           than
           God
           be
           thanked
           it
           is
           at
           present
           ,
           they
           can
           take
           no
           other
           method
           than
           that
           they
           take
           .
           The
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           was
           the
           Word
           among
           them
           some
           y●ars
           ago
           ,
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           is
           the
           Word
           at
           present
           ;
           and
           we
           have
           all
           possible
           reason
           to
           assure
           u●
           ,
           that
           the
           promises
           for
           maintaining
           the
           one
           ,
           will
           be
           as
           religiously
           kept
           as
           we
           see
           those
           are
           which
           were
           lately
           made
           with
           so
           great
           profusion
           of
           Protestations
           ,
           and
           shews
           of
           Friendship
           for
           the
           supporting
           of
           the
           other
           .
        
         
           III.
           It
           were
           great
           Injustice
           to
           charge
           all
           the
           Dissenters
           with
           the
           Impertinencies
           that
           have
           appeared
           in
           many
           Addresses
           of
           late
           ,
           or
           ●o
           take
           our
           measures
           of
           them
           ,
           from
           the
           Impudent
           strains
           of
           an
           Alsop
           or
           a
           Care
           ▪
           or
           from
           the
           more
           Important
           and
           now
           more
           visible
           steps
           that
           some
           among
           them
           ,
           of
           a
           higher
           form
           ,
           are
           every
           day
           making
           ;
           and
           yet
           after
           all
           this
           ,
           it
           cannot
           be
           denied
           but
           the
           several
           bodies
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           have
           behaved
           themselves
           of
           late
           like
           men
           that
           understand
           too
           well
           the
           true
           Interest
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           
             English
             Government
          
           ,
           to
           sacrifice
           the
           whole
           and
           themselves
           in
           Conclusion
           to
           their
           private
           resentments
           :
           I
           hope
           the
           same
           justice
           will
           be
           allowed
           me
           in
           stating
           the
           matter
           relating
           to
           the
           so
           much
           decried
           Persecution
           ,
           set
           on
           by
           the
           
             Ch.
             of
             Eng.
          
           and
           that
           I
           may
           be
           suffered
           to
           distinguish
           the
           heats
           of
           some
           angry
           and
           deluded
           men
           ,
           from
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Church
           ▪
           and
           the
           practices
           that
           have
           been
           authorised
           in
           it
           ;
           that
           so
           I
           may
           shew
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           reason
           to
           infer
           from
           past
           Errors
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           incurable
           ;
           or
           that
           new
           Opportunities
           inviting
           us
           again
           into
           the
           same
           severities
           ,
           are
           like
           to
           prevail
           over
           us
           to
           commit
           the
           same
           follies
           over
           again
           .
           I
           will
           first
           state
           what
           i●
           past
           ,
           with
           the
           sincerity
           that
           becomes
           one
           that
           would
           not
           
             lye
             for
             God
          
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           not
           afraid
           nor
           ashamed
           to
           confess
           faults
           ,
           that
           will
           neither
           agrravate
           nor
           extenuate
           them
           beyond
           what
           is
           just
           ;
           and
           that
           yet
           will
           avoid
           the
           saying
           any
           thing
           that
           may
           give
           any
           cause
           of
           offence
           to
           any
           party
           in
           the
           Nation
           .
        
         
           IV.
           I
           am
           sorry
           that
           I
           must
           confess
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           parties
           among
           us
           ,
           have
           shewed
           ,
           that
           as
           their
           turn
           came
           to
           be
           uppermost
           ,
           they
           have
           forgot
           the
           same
           Principles
           of
           Moderation
           and
           Liberty
           which
           they
           all
           claimed
           when
           they
           were
           oppressed
           .
           If
           it
           sho●ld
           shew
           too
           much
           ill
           nature
           to
           examine
           what
           the
           Presbytery
           did
           in
           Scotland
           when
           the
           Covenant
           was
           in
           Dominion
           ,
           or
           what
           the
           Indepedents
           have
           done
           in
           New-England
           ,
           why
           may
           not
           I
           claim
           the
           same
           priviledge
           with
           relation
           to
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           if
           severities
           have
           been
           committed
           by
           her
           while
           she
           bore
           rule
           ?
           Yet
           it
           were
           as
           easie
           as
           it
           would
           be
           invidious
           to
           shew
           ,
           th●t
           both
           Presbyterians
           and
           Independents
           have
           carried
           the
           principle
           of
           Rigour
           in
           the
           point
           of
           Conscience
           much
           higher
           ,
           and
           have
           acted
           more
           implacably
           upon
           it
           than
           ever
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           has
           done
           ,
           even
           in
           its
           angriest
           fits
           ;
           so
           that
           none
           of
           them
           can
           much
           reproach
           another
           for
           their
           excesses
           in
           those
           matters
           .
           And
           as
           of
           all
           the
           Religions
           in
           the
           world
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           the
           most
           persecuting
           ,
           and
           the
           most
           bound
           by
           her
           Principles
           to
           be
           unalterably
           Cruel
           ;
           so
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           is
           the
           least
           persecuting
           in
           her
           principles
           ,
           and
           the
           least
           obliged
           to
           repeat
           any
           errors
           to
           
           which
           the
           intrigues
           of
           Courts
           or
           the
           passions
           incident
           to
           all
           parties
           may
           have
           engaged
           her
           ,
           of
           any
           National
           Church
           in
           Europe
           .
           It
           cannot
           be
           said
           to
           be
           any
           part
           of
           our
           Doctrine
           ▪
           when
           we
           came
           out
           of
           one
           of
           the
           blackest
           persecutions
           that
           is
           in
           History
           ,
           I
           mean
           Q
           Maryes
           ,
           we
           shewed
           how
           little
           we
           retained
           o●
           the
           Cruelty
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           which
           had
           provoked
           us
           so
           severely
           ;
           when
           not
           only
           no
           Enquirie●
           were
           made
           into
           the
           illegal
           acts
           of
           Fury
           ,
           that
           were
           committed
           in
           that
           pe●secuting
           Reign
           ,
           but
           even
           the
           Persecutors
           themselves
           lived
           among
           us
           at
           ease
           and
           in
           peace
           ;
           and
           no
           
             Penal
             Law
          
           was
           made
           ex●ept
           against
           publick
           exercise
           of
           that
           Religion
           ,
           till
           a
           great
           ma●y
           Rebelions
           and
           Treasons
           extorted
           them
           from
           us
           for
           our
           own
           preservation
           .
           This
           is
           an
           Instance
           of
           the
           Clemency
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           that
           perhaps
           cannot
           be
           matched
           in
           History
           ▪
           and
           why
           should
           it
           not
           be
           supposed
           ,
           that
           if
           God
           should
           again
           put
           us
           in
           the
           state
           in
           which
           we
           were
           of
           late
           ,
           that
           we
           should
           rather
           imitate
           so
           Noble
           a
           patte●n
           ,
           than
           return
           to
           those
           mistakes
           of
           which
           we
           are
           now
           ashamed
           ?
        
         
           V.
           It
           is
           to
           be
           considered
           ,
           that
           upon
           the
           late
           Kings
           Restauration
           ,
           the
           remembrance
           of
           the
           former
           War
           ,
           the
           ill
           Usage
           that
           our
           Clergy
           had
           met
           with
           in
           their
           Sequestrations
           ,
           the
           angry
           Resentments
           of
           the
           Cavalier-party
           ,
           who
           were
           ruined
           by
           the
           War
           ,
           the
           Interest
           of
           the
           Court
           to
           have
           all
           those
           principle●
           condemned
           ,
           that
           had
           occasioned
           it
           ,
           the
           heat
           th●t
           all
           Parties
           that
           have
           been
           ill
           used
           are
           apt
           to
           fall
           into
           upon
           a
           Revolution
           ;
           but
           above
           all
           ,
           the
           practices
           of
           those
           who
           have
           still
           blown
           the
           Coals
           ,
           and
           set
           us
           one
           against
           another
           ,
           that
           so
           they
           might
           not
           only
           have
           a
           divided
           force
           to
           deal
           with
           ,
           but
           might
           by
           turns
           make
           the
           Divisins
           among
           us
           serve
           their
           Ends
           :
           all
           these
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           concurred
           to
           make
           us
           lose
           the
           happy
           opportunity
           that
           was
           offer'd
           in
           the
           Year
           1660.
           to
           have
           healed
           all
           our
           Divisions
           ,
           and
           to
           have
           triumphed
           over
           all
           the
           Dissenters
           ;
           not
           by
           ruining
           them
           ,
           but
           by
           overcoming
           them
           with
           a
           spirit
           of
           Love
           and
           Gentleness
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           only
           Vict●ry
           that
           a
           generous
           and
           Christian
           temper
           can
           desi●e
           .
           In
           short
           ,
           unhappy
           Councils
           were
           followed
           ,
           and
           several
           Laws
           were
           made
           .
           But
           after
           all
           ,
           it
           was
           the
           Court-party
           that
           carried
           it
           for
           rougher
           methods
           :
           some
           considerble
           Accidents
           ,
           not
           necessary
           to
           be
           here
           mentioned
           ,
           as
           they
           stopped
           the
           mouths
           of
           some
           that
           had
           formed
           a
           wiser
           Project
           ,
           so
           they
           gave
           a
           fatal
           Advantage
           to
           angry
           and
           crafty
           men
           ,
           that
           to
           our
           misfortune
           ,
           had
           too
           great
           a
           stroak
           in
           th●
           conduct
           of
           our
           Affairs
           at
           that
           time
           .
           This
           Spirit
           of
           Severity
           was
           heightned
           by
           the
           Practices
           of
           the
           Papists
           ,
           who
           engaged
           the
           late
           King
           in
           December
           ,
           1662.
           to
           give
           a
           Declaration
           for
           
             Liber●y
             of
             Conscience
          
           .
           Those
           who
           knew
           the
           secret
           of
           his
           Religion
           ,
           as
           they
           saw
           that
           it
           aimed
           at
           the
           introduction
           to
           Popery
           ,
           so
           they
           thought
           there
           was
           no
           way
           so
           effectual
           ,
           for
           the
           keeping
           out
           of
           Popery
           ,
           as
           the
           maintaining
           the
           Vniformity
           ,
           and
           the
           suppressing
           of
           all
           designs
           for
           a
           Toleration
           .
           But
           while
           those
           who
           managed
           this
           ,
           used
           a
           due
           reserve
           ,
           in
           not
           discovering
           the
           secret
           motive
           that
           led
           them
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           others
           flew
           into
           seve●ity
           ,
           as
           the
           principle
           in
           vogue
           :
           and
           thus
           all
           the
           slacknings
           of
           the
           rigour
           of
           the
           Laws
           ,
           during
           the
           first
           Dutch
           War
           ,
           that
           were
           set
           on
           upon
           the
           pretence
           of
           quieting
           the
           Nation
           ,
           and
           of
           encouraging
           Trade
           ,
           were
           resi●ted
           by
           the
           Instruments
           of
           an
           honest
           
             Minister
             of
             State
          
           ,
           who
           knew
           as
           well
           then
           ,
           as
           we
           do
           now
           ,
           what
           lay
           still
           at
           bottom
           ,
           when
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           was
           pretended
           .
        
         
           VI.
           Upon
           that
           Ministers
           Disgrace
           ,
           some
           that
           saw
           but
           the
           half
           of
           the
           S●cret
           ,
           perceiving
           in
           the
           Court
           a
           great
           inclination
           ●o
           Toleration
           ,
           and
           being
           willing
           to
           take
           measures
           quite
           different
           from
           those
           of
           the
           former
           Ministry
           ,
           they
           entred
           into
           a
           treaty
           for
           a
           
             Comprehension
             of
             some
             Dissenters
             ,
             and
             the
             Tolerating
             of
             others
             ,
          
           and
           some
           Bishops
           and
           Clergymen
           ,
           that
           were
           inferiour
           to
           none
           of
           the
           Age
           in
           which
           they
           lived
           ,
           for
           true
           Worth
           and
           a
           right
           Judgment
           of
           things
           ,
           engaged
           so
           far
           ,
           and
           with
           so
           much
           success
           into
           thi●
           project
           ,
           that
           the
           matter
           seemed
           done
           ,
           all
           thing●
           being
           concerted
           among
           some
           of
           the
           most
           considerable
           men
           of
           the
           differen●
           Parties
           .
           But
           the
           dislike
           of
           that
           Ministry
           ,
           and
           the
           Jealousie
           of
           the
           ill
           designs
           of
           the
           Court
           ,
           gave
           so
           stro●g
           a
           prejudice
           against
           this
           ,
           that
           the
           proposi●ion
           could
           not
           be
           so
           much
           as
           hearkned
           unto
           by
           the
           House
           of
           
           Commons
           :
           and
           then
           it
           appeared
           how
           much
           the
           whole
           
             Popish
             Party
          
           was
           alarm'd
           at
           the
           Project
           :
           it
           is
           well
           known
           with
           how
           much
           Detestation
           they
           speak
           of
           it
           to
           this
           day
           :
           tho
           we
           are
           now
           so
           fully
           satisfied
           of
           their
           Intention●
           to
           destroy
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           zeal
           which
           they
           pretended
           for
           us
           ,
           in
           opposing
           that
           design
           ,
           can
           no
           more
           pass
           upon
           us
           .
        
         
           VII
           .
           At
           last
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1672.
           the
           design
           for
           Popery
           discovering
           it self
           ,
           the
           end
           that
           the
           Court
           had
           in
           favouring
           a
           Toleration
           became
           more
           visible
           :
           and
           when
           the
           Parliament
           met
           ,
           that
           condemned
           the
           
             Declaration
             for
             Liberty
             of
             Conscie●ce
          
           ,
           the
           Member●
           of
           the
           House
           of
           Commons
           ,
           that
           either
           were
           Dissent●rs
           ,
           or
           that
           favoured
           them
           ,
           behaved
           themselves
           so
           worthily
           in
           concurring
           with
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           for
           stifling
           that
           Toleration
           ▪
           choosing
           rather
           to
           lose
           the
           benefit
           of
           it
           ,
           th●n
           to
           open
           a
           breach
           at
           which
           Pope●y
           should
           come
           in
           ,
           that
           many
           of
           the
           members
           that
           were
           for
           ●he
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           promised
           to
           procure
           them
           a
           bill
           o●
           
             Ease
             for
             Protestant
             Dissenters
          
           .
           But
           the
           Session
           was
           not
           long
           enough
           for
           bringing
           that
           to
           perfection
           ;
           and
           all
           the
           Session●
           of
           that
           Parliament
           af●er
           tha●
           ,
           were
           spent
           in
           such
           a
           continual
           struggle
           between
           the
           Court
           and
           Countrey
           Party
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           never
           room
           given
           for
           calm
           and
           wise
           Consultations
           :
           yet
           tho
           the
           Party
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           did
           not
           pe●form
           what
           had
           been
           promised
           by
           some
           Leading
           men
           to
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           there
           was
           little
           or
           nothing
           done
           against
           them
           ,
           after
           that
           ,
           till
           the
           Year
           1681.
           so
           that
           for
           about
           nine
           years
           together
           they
           had
           their
           Meetings
           almost
           as
           publickly
           and
           as
           regularly
           as
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Englan●
          
           had
           their
           Churches
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           that
           time
           ,
           whatsoever
           particular
           hardships
           any
           of
           them
           might
           have
           met
           with
           in
           some
           corners
           of
           England
           ,
           it
           cannot
           be
           denied
           b●t
           they
           had
           the
           free
           Exercise
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           at
           least
           in
           most
           parts
           .
        
         
           VIII
           .
           In
           the
           year
           1678.
           things
           began
           to
           change
           their
           face
           :
           it
           is
           known
           ,
           that
           upon
           the
           breaking
           out
           of
           the
           popish
           plot
           ,
           the
           Clergy
           d●d
           Universally
           express
           a
           great
           desire
           for
           c●ming
           to
           some
           temper
           in
           the
           points
           of
           Confo●mity
           :
           all
           so●ts
           and
           ran●s
           of
           the
           Clergy
           seemed
           to
           be
           so
           well
           disposed
           towards
           it
           ,
           that
           if
           it
           had
           met
           with
           a
           sutable
           entertainment
           ,
           matters
           might
           probably
           have
           been
           in
           a
           greater
           measure
           composed
           .
           But
           the
           Jealousie
           that
           those
           who
           managed
           the
           Civil
           concerns
           of
           the
           Nation
           in
           the
           
             House
             of
             Commons
          
           ,
           took
           off
           all
           that
           was
           done
           at
           Court
           ,
           or
           proposed
           by
           it
           ,
           occasioned
           a
           fatal
           breach
           in
           our
           publick
           Councils
           :
           in
           which
           division
           the
           Clergy
           by
           their
           principles
           ,
           and
           interests
           ,
           and
           their
           disposition
           to
           believe
           well
           of
           the
           Court
           were
           determined
           to
           be
           of
           the
           Kings
           side
           .
           They
           thought
           it
           was
           a
           sin
           to
           mist●ust
           the
           late
           King●
           Word
           ,
           who
           assured
           them
           of
           his
           steadiness
           to
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           so
           often
           ,
           that
           they
           firmly
           depended
           on
           it
           :
           and
           his
           present
           Majes●y
           gave
           them
           so
           many
           Assurances
           of
           his
           
           maintaining
           ●till
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           that
           they
           believed
           him
           likewise
           :
           and
           so
           thought
           that
           the
           Exclusion
           of
           him
           from
           the
           Crown
           ,
           was
           a
           degree
           of
           rigour
           to
           which
           they
           in
           Conscience
           could
           not
           consent
           :
           upon
           which
           they
           were
           generally
           cried
           out
           on
           ,
           as
           the
           Betrayers
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           :
           Those
           who
           demanded
           the
           Exclusion
           ,
           and
           some
           other
           securities
           ,
           to
           which
           the
           Bishops
           would
           not
           consent
           in
           Parliament
           ,
           looked
           on
           them
           a●
           the
           chief
           hindrance
           that
           was
           in
           their
           way
           :
           and
           the
           License
           of
           the
           Press
           at
           that
           time
           was
           such
           ,
           that
           many
           Libels
           and
           some
           severe
           Discourses
           were
           published
           against
           them
           .
           Nor
           can
           it
           be
           denied
           ,
           that
           many
           Churchmen
           ,
           who
           unde●stood
           not
           the
           principles
           of
           Humane
           Society
           ,
           and
           the
           rules
           of
           our
           Government
           ,
           so
           well
           as
           other
           points
           of
           Divinity
           ,
           writ
           several
           T●eatises
           concerning
           the
           measures
           of
           submission
           ,
           that
           were
           then
           as
           much
           censured
           ,
           as
           their
           per●ormances
           since
           against
           Popery
           have
           ●een
           deservedly
           admired
           .
           All
           this
           gave
           such
           a
           Jealousie
           of
           them
           to
           the
           Nation
           ,
           that
           it
           m●st
           be
           confessed
           ,
           that
           the
           Spirit
           which
           was
           then
           in
           fermentation
           went
           very
           high
           against
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           as
           a
           Con●ederate
           ,
           at
           least
           ,
           to
           Popery
           and
           Tyranny
           .
           Nor
           were
           several
           of
           the
           Nonconformists
           wanting
           to
           inflame
           this
           disli●e
           ;
           all
           sec●et
           propositions
           for
           accommodating
           our
           differences
           were
           so
           co●dly
           entertained
           ,
           that
           they
           
           were
           scarce
           hearkned
           unto
           .
           The
           Propositions
           which
           an
           Eminent
           Divine
           made
           even
           in
           his
           Books
           writ
           against
           Separation
           ,
           shewed
           that
           while
           we
           maintained
           the
           War
           in
           the
           way
           of
           dispute
           ,
           yet
           we
           were
           still
           willing
           to
           Treat
           :
           ●or
           th●
           
             G●eat
             Man
          
           made
           not
           those
           ●dv●●●es
           towa●ds
           t●em
           without
           consulting
           with
           his
           S●●eriours
           .
           Yet
           we
           were
           then
           ●a●●lly
           gi●en
           up
           to
           a
           spirit
           of
           Dis●ention
           :
           and
           t●o
           the
           Parliament
           in
           1680.
           entred
           upon
           a
           project
           for
           healing
           ou●
           differences
           ,
           in
           which
           great
           steps
           were
           made
           to
           the
           removing
           of
           all
           the
           occasions
           of
           our
           Contest●
           ;
           the
           
             Leaders
             of
             the
             Dissenters
          
           ,
           to
           the
           ama●ement
           of
           all
           pe●sons
           ,
           made
           no
           account
           of
           this
           :
           and
           even
           seemed
           uneasie
           at
           it
           ,
           of
           which
           the
           Earl
           of
           Nottingham
           and
           Sir
           
             Thomas
             Clarges
          
           ,
           that
           set
           on
           that
           Bill
           with
           much
           zeal
           ,
           can
           give
           a
           more
           particular
           account
           :
           All
           these
           things
           concurred
           to
           make
           those
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             ●ngland
          
           conclude
           ,
           
             a
             little
             too
             rashly
          
           ,
           that
           the●r
           ruin
           was
           resolved
           on
           ;
           and
           then
           it
           was
           no
           wonder
           if
           the
           spirit
           of
           a
           Party
           ,
           the
           remembrance
           of
           the
           
             last
             War
          
           ,
           the
           present
           prospect
           of
           Danger
           ,
           and
           above
           all
           ,
           the
           great
           favour
           that
           was
           shewed
           them
           at
           Court
           ,
           threw
           them
           fatally
           into
           some
           angry
           and
           Violent
           Counsels
           ;
           self-preservation
           is
           very
           natural
           ▪
           and
           it
           is
           plain
           ,
           that
           many
           of
           them
           took
           that
           to
           be
           the
           Case
           ,
           so
           that
           truly
           spaeking
           ,
           it
           was
           not
           so
           much
           at
           first
           a
           spirit
           of
           Persecution
           ,
           as
           a
           desire
           of
           disabling
           those
           who
           they
           believed
           intended
           to
           ruin
           them
           from
           eff●cting
           their
           designs
           ,
           that
           set
           them
           on
           to
           all
           those
           unhappy
           things
           that
           followed
           .
           They
           were
           animated
           to
           all
           they
           did
           by
           the
           continued
           ear●estness
           of
           the
           King
           and
           Duke
           ,
           and
           of
           their
           M●nisters
           .
           That
           Reproach
           of
           Iustice
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           p●ofession
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           who
           is
           now
           so
           ●i●h
           ,
           was
           singled
           out
           for
           no
           other
           end
           ,
           but
           〈◊〉
           the●r
           
             Common
             Hangman
          
           over
           England
           ;
           o●
           whom
           the
           late
           K●ng
           gave
           t●is
           true
           character
           ,
           
             That
             he
             had
             neither
             Wit
             ,
             Law
             ▪
             nor
             Common
             Sen●e
             ;
             b●t
             that
             he
             had
             the
             Impud●nce
             of
             ten
             carted
             W●ores
             in
             him
             .
          
           Another
           Buffo●n
           ,
           〈…〉
           to
           pl●gue
           the
           Nation
           with
           three
           or
           four
           P●pers
           a
           week
           ,
           whi●h
           to
           the
           Reproach
           o●
           t●e
           Age
           in
           which
           we
           live
           ,
           had
           but
           too
           g●eat
           and
           too
           general
           an
           effect
           ,
           for
           poysoning
           the
           spirits
           of
           the
           Clergy
           .
           But
           those
           who
           knew
           how
           all
           this
           was
           managed
           ,
           saw
           that
           it
           was
           not
           only
           set
           on
           ,
           but
           still
           kept
           up
           by
           the
           Court.
           If
           any
           of
           the
           
             Clergy
             had
          
           but
           preached
           a
           word
           for
           moderation
           ,
           he
           had
           a
           chiding
           sent
           him
           presently
           f●om
           the
           Court
           ,
           and
           he
           was
           from
           that
           day
           marked
           out
           as
           a
           
             disa●fected
             person
          
           :
           and
           when
           the
           
             Clergy
             of
             London
          
           did
           very
           worthily
           refuse
           to
           give
           Informations
           against
           their
           Parishioner●
           that
           had
           not
           always
           Conforme●
           ,
           the
           design
           having
           been
           form'd
           ,
           upon
           that
           to
           bring
           them
           into
           the
           
             Spiritual
             Courts
          
           ,
           and
           Excommunicate
           them
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           lose
           their
           right
           of
           Voting
           ,
           that
           so
           the
           
             Charter
             of
             London
          
           might
           have
           been
           delivered
           up
           when
           so
           many
           Citizens
           were
           by
           such
           means
           shut
           out
           of
           the
           Common-Council
           ;
           we
           remember
           well
           how
           severely
           they
           were
           Censured
           for
           this
           ,
           by
           some
           that
           are
           now
           dead
           ,
           and
           others
           that
           are
           yet
           alive
           .
           I
           will
           not
           go
           further
           into
           this
           matter
           :
           I
           will
           not
           deny
           but
           many
           o●
           the
           Dissenters
           were
           put
           to
           great
           hardship●
           ,
           in
           many
           parts
           of
           England
           .
           I
           cannot
           deny
           it
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           sure
           I
           will
           never
           justifie
           i●
           .
           But
           this
           I
           will
           positively
           say
           ,
           having
           observed
           it
           all
           narrowly
           ,
           that
           he
           must
           have
           the
           brow
           of
           a
           Iesuite
           ,
           that
           can
           cast
           this
           wholly
           on
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           and
           free
           the
           Court
           of
           it
           .
           The
           beginnings
           and
           the
           progress
           of
           it
           came
           from
           the
           Court
           ,
           and
           from
           the
           
             Popish
             party
          
           :
           and
           tho
           perhaps
           every
           one
           does
           not
           ●now
           all
           the
           secrets
           of
           this
           matter
           ,
           that
           others
           may
           have
           found
           out
           ,
           yet
           no
           man
           was
           so
           ignorant
           as
           not
           to
           see
           what
           was
           the
           chief
           spring
           of
           all
           those
           Irregular
           motions
           that
           some
           of
           us
           made
           at
           that
           time
           :
           so
           upon
           the
           whole
           matter
           ,
           all
           that
           can
           be
           made
           out
           of
           this
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           the
           pa●sions
           and
           infirmities
           of
           some
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           being
           unhappily
           stirred
           up
           by
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           they
           were
           fatally
           conducted
           by
           the
           
             Popish
             party
          
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           Instruments
           in
           doing
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           mischief
           .
        
         
           IX
           .
           It
           is
           not
           to
           be
           doubted
           ,
           but
           though
           some
           wea●er
           men
           of
           the
           Clergy
           may
           perhaps
           still
           retain
           their
           little
           peevish
           animosities
           against
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           yet
           the
           wiser
           and
           more
           serious
           heads
           of
           that
           great
           and
           
             Worthy
             Body
          
           ,
           see
           now
           their
           Error
           :
           they
           see
           
           who
           drove
           them
           on
           in
           it
           ,
           till
           they
           hoped
           to
           have
           ruined
           them
           by
           it
           .
           And
           as
           they
           have
           appeared
           against
           Popery
           ,
           with
           as
           great
           a
           strength
           of
           Learing
           ,
           annd
           of
           firm
           steadiness
           as
           perhaps
           can
           be
           met
           with
           in
           all
           Church-history
           ,
           so
           it
           cannot
           be
           doubted
           ,
           but
           their
           reflections
           on
           the
           dangers
           into
           which
           our
           Divisions
           have
           thrown
           us
           ,
           have
           given
           them
           truer
           Notions
           with
           relation
           to
           a
           rigorous
           Conformity
           :
           and
           that
           th●
           just
           Detestation
           which
           they
           have
           expressed
           of
           the
           Corruption●
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           has
           led
           them
           to
           consider
           and
           a●hor
           one
           of
           the
           worst
           things
           in
           it
           ,
           I
           mean
           their
           Severity
           towards
           Hereticks
           .
           And
           the
           ill
           ●se
           that
           they
           see
           the
           Court
           ha●
           made
           of
           their
           Zeal
           ●or
           supporting
           the
           Crown
           ,
           to
           justifie
           the
           subversion
           of
           our
           Government
           that
           is
           now
           set
           on
           from
           some
           of
           their
           large
           and
           unwary
           expressions
           ,
           will
           certainly
           make
           them
           hereafter
           more
           cautious
           in
           medling
           with
           Poli●icks
           :
           the
           Bishops
           have
           undo●
           their
           hands
           both
           disowned
           that
           wide
           extent
           of
           the
           Pr●rogative
           ,
           to
           the
           overturning
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           declared
           their
           disposition
           to
           come
           to
           a
           Temper
           in
           the
           matters
           of
           Conformity
           ;
           and
           there
           seems
           to
           be
           no
           doubt
           left
           of
           the
           sincerity
           of
           their
           Intentions
           in
           that
           matter
           .
           Their
           Piety
           and
           Vertue
           ,
           and
           the
           prospect
           that
           they
           now
           have
           of
           suffering
           themselves
           ,
           put
           us
           beyond
           all
           doubt
           as
           to
           their
           sincerity
           ,
           and
           if
           ever
           God
           in
           his
           Providence
           brings
           us
           again
           into
           a
           setled
           State
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           storm
           into
           which
           our
           passions
           and
           folly
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Treach●ry
           of
           others
           has
           brought
           us
           ,
           it
           cannot
           be
           imagined
           ,
           that
           the
           Bishops
           will
           go
           off
           from
           those
           moderate
           Resolutions
           ,
           which
           they
           have
           now
           declared
           ▪
           and
           they
           continuing
           fir●
           to
           them
           ,
           the
           weak
           and
           indiscreet
           pa●sions
           of
           any
           of
           the
           inferiour
           Clergy
           ,
           must
           needs
           vanish
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           under
           the
           conduct
           of
           wise
           and
           worthy
           Leaders
           .
           And
           I
           will
           boldly
           say
           this
           ,
           that
           if
           ●he
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           after
           she
           has
           got
           out
           of
           this
           Storm
           ,
           will
           return
           to
           hearken
           to
           the
           peevishness
           of
           some
           sour
           men
           ,
           she
           will
           be
           abandoned
           bo●h
           of
           God
           and
           man
           ,
           and
           will
           set
           both
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           against
           her
           The
           Nation
           sees
           too
           Visibly
           ,
           how
           dear
           the
           Dispute
           about
           Conformity
           has
           co●t
           us
           ,
           to
           stand
           any
           more
           upon
           such
           Punctilio's
           :
           and
           THOSE
           
             in
             whom
             our
             Deliverance
             is
             wrapt
             up
             ,
          
           understand
           this
           matter
           too
           well
           ,
           and
           judge
           too
           right
           of
           it
           ,
           to
           imagin
           that
           ever
           they
           will
           be
           Priestridden
           in
           this
           point
           ▪
           So
           that
           all
           considerations
           con●ur
           to
           make
           us
           conclude
           ,
           that
           the●e
           is
           no
           danger
           of
           our
           splitting
           a
           second
           time
           upon
           the
           same
           Rock
           :
           and
           indeed
           ,
           if
           any
           Argument
           we●●
           wanting
           to
           complea●
           the
           certainty
           of
           this
           point
           ▪
           tha
           Wise
           and
           Generous
           behaviour
           of
           the
           main
           body
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           in
           thi●
           present
           Juncture
           ,
           has
           given
           them
           so
           just
           a
           Title
           to
           our
           Friendship
           ,
           that
           we
           must
           resolve
           to
           set
           all
           the
           World
           against
           us
           ,
           if
           we
           can
           ever
           forget
           it
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           do
           not
           make
           them
           all
           the
           returns
           of
           Ease
           and
           Favour
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           in
           our
           power
           to
           do
           it
           .
        
         
           X.
           It
           is
           to
           be
           hoped
           ,
           that
           when
           this
           is
           laid
           together
           ,
           it
           will
           have
           that
           effect
           on
           all
           Sober
           and
           True
           Protestants
           ,
           as
           to
           make
           them
           forget
           the
           little
           angry
           Heats
           that
           have
           been
           among
           us
           ,
           and
           even
           to
           forget
           the
           injuries
           that
           have
           been
           done
           us
           :
           all
           that
           we
           do
           now
           one
           against
           another
           ,
           is
           to
           shorten
           the
           work
           of
           our
           Enemies
           ,
           by
           destroying
           one
           another
           ,
           which
           must
           in
           Conclusion
           turn
           to
           all
           our
           Ruin.
           It
           is
           a
           madmans
           Revenge
           to
           des●roy
           our
           Friends
           that
           we
           may
           do
           a
           pleasure
           to
           our
           Enemies
           ,
           upon
           their
           giving
           us
           some
           good
           words
           ;
           and
           if
           the
           Diss●nters
           can
           trust
           to
           Papists
           ,
           after
           the
           usage
           that
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ha●
           met
           with
           at
           their
           hands
           ,
           all
           the
           comfort
           that
           they
           can
           promise
           themselves
           ,
           when
           Popery
           begins
           to
           act
           it●
           natural
           part
           among
           us
           ,
           and
           to
           set
           Smithfield
           again
           in
           a
           Fire
           ,
           is
           that
           which
           befel
           some
           Quakers
           at
           Rome
           ,
           who
           were
           first
           put
           into
           the
           Inquisition
           ,
           but
           were
           afterwards
           removed
           to
           Bedlam
           :
           so
           tho
           those
           false
           Brethren
           among
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           who
           de●eive
           them
           at
           present
           ,
           are
           certainly
           no
           Changlings
           ,
           but
           know
           vvell
           vvhat
           they
           are
           doing
           ;
           yet
           those
           vvho
           can
           be
           chated
           by
           them
           ,
           may
           vvell
           claim
           the
           priviledge
           of
           a
           B●dlam
           ,
           vvhen
           their
           Folly
           has
           left
           them
           no
           other
           ret●eat
           .
        
         
           XI
           .
           I
           vvill
           not
           digress
           too
           far
           from
           my
           present
           pu●pose
           ;
           nor
           enter
           into
           a
           discussion
           of
           the
           
             Dispensing
             power
          
           ,
           vvhich
           vvas
           so
           effectually
           overthrown
           the
           other
           day
           at
           the
           
           Kings-Bench-Bar
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           sure
           all
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           B●nch
           it self
           is
           no
           more
           able
           to
           Support
           it
           :
           yet
           some
           late
           Papers
           in
           favour
           of
           it
           ,
           give
           me
           occasion
           to
           add
           a
           litt●e
           relating
           to
           that
           point
           .
           It
           is
           ●rue
           ,
           the
           Assertor
           of
           the
           
             Dis●ensing
             power
          
           ,
           who
           has
           lately
           appeared
           
             wi●h
             allowance
          
           ,
           pretends
           ,
           that
           it
           can
           only
           be
           applyed
           to
           the
           Test
           for
           publick
           Employments
           ▪
           for
           he
           owns
           ,
           that
           the
           Test
           for
           both
           Houses
           of
           Parliament
           is
           left
           e●tire
           ,
           as
           not
           within
           the
           compass
           of
           this
           extent
           of
           the
           Prerogative
           :
           but
           another
           Writer
           ,
           whom
           by
           his
           sense
           we
           must
           conclude
           an
           
             Irish
             man
          
           ,
           by
           his
           brow
           a
           Iesuit
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           bare
           designation
           in
           the
           Title
           page
           ,
           of
           
             Iames
             Stewarts
             letter
          
           ,
           a
           Quaker
           ,
           goes
           a
           strain
           higher
           ,
           and
           thinks
           the
           King
           is
           so
           ●bsolutely
           the
           Soveraign
           as
           to
           the
           Legislative
           part
           of
           our
           Government
           ,
           that
           he
           may
           dissolve
           even
           the
           
             Parliament
             Test
             ▪
          
           so
           nimbly
           has
           he
           leapt
           from
           being
           a
           
             Secretary
             to
             a
             Rebellion
          
           ,
           to
           be
           an
           
             Advocate
             for
             Tyranny
          
           .
           He
           fancies
           ,
           that
           because
           no
           Parliament
           can
           bind
           up
           another
           ,
           therefore
           they
           cannot
           limit
           the
           Preliminaries
           to
           a
           subsequent
           Parliament
           .
           But
           upon
           what
           i●
           it
           then
           ,
           that
           Counties
           have
           but
           two
           Knights
           ,
           and
           Burroughs
           as
           many
           ▪
           that
           men
           below
           such
           a
           value
           have
           no
           Vote
           ,
           that
           Sheriffs
           only
           receive
           Writs
           and
           return
           Elections
           ,
           besides
           many
           more
           necessary
           requisites
           to
           the
           making
           a
           legal
           Parliament
           .
           In
           short
           ,
           if
           Laws
           do
           not
           regulate
           the
           Election
           and
           Constitution
           of
           a
           Parliament
           ,
           all
           these
           things
           may
           be
           overthrown
           ,
           and
           the
           King
           may
           cast
           the
           whole
           Government
           in
           a
           new
           Mould
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           dissolve
           the
           obligation
           that
           is
           on
           the
           Members
           of
           Parliament
           for
           taking
           the
           Test.
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           that
           as
           soon
           as
           a
           Parliament
           is
           legally
           met
           and
           constituted
           ,
           it
           is
           tyed
           by
           no
           Laws
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           not
           to
           repeal
           th●m
           :
           but
           t●e
           Preliminaries
           to
           a
           Parliament
           are
           still
           sacred
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           the
           Law
           stands
           that
           setled
           them
           :
           for
           the
           Members
           are
           still
           in
           the
           quality
           of
           ordinary
           Subjects
           ,
           and
           not
           entred
           upo●
           their
           share
           in
           the
           Legislative
           power
           ,
           till
           they
           are
           constituted
           in
           a
           Parliament
           Legally
           chosen
           and
           Lawfully
           assembled
           ,
           that
           i●
           ,
           
             having
             observed
             all
             the
             Requisites
             of
             the
             Law.
          
           But
           I
           le●ve
           that
           impudent
           Letter
           to
           return
           to
           the
           most
           Apology
           that
           has
           been
           yet
           writ
           for
           the
           
             Dispensing
             power
          
           .
           It
           yields
           that
           the
           King
           cannot
           abrogate
           Laws
           ,
           and
           pretends
           only
           that
           he
           can
           dispense
           with
           them
           :
           and
           the
           distinction
           it
           puts
           between
           abrogation
           and
           Dispensation
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           the
           one
           is
           a
           total
           repeal
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           other
           is
           only
           a
           slackning
           of
           its
           obligatory
           fo●ce
           ,
           with
           Relation
           to
           a
           particular
           man
           or
           to
           any
           body
           of
           men
           ;
           so
           that
           according
           to
           him
           ,
           a
           simple
           Abrogation
           ,
           or
           a
           
             total
             Repeal
          
           ,
           is
           beyond
           the
           compass
           of
           the
           Prerogative
           .
           I
           desire
           then
           that
           this
           Doctrine
           may
           be
           applyed
           to
           the
           following
           words
           of
           the
           Declaration
           ;
           from
           which
           the
           Reader
           may
           infer
           whether
           these
           do
           import
           a
           
             Simple
             Abrogation
          
           ,
           or
           no●
           ,
           and
           by
           consequence
           ,
           if
           the
           Declaration
           is
           not
           illegal
           ;
           
             We
             do
             hereby
             further
             Declare
             ,
             That
             it
             is
             our
          
           Royal
           will
           and
           pleasure
           
             that
             the
             Oaths
             commonly
             called
             the
             Oaths
             of
             Supremacy
             and
             Allegeance
             ,
             and
             also
             the
             several
             Tests
             and
             Declarations
             —
             shall
             not
          
           at
           any
           time
           hereafter
           ,
           
             be
             required
             to
             be
             taken
             ,
             Declared
             ,
             or
             subscribed
             by
          
           any
           person
           or
           persons
           whatsoever
           ,
           
             who
             is
             or
             shall
             be
             Imployed
             in
             any
             Office
             or
             Place
             of
             Trust
             ,
             either
             Civil
             or
             Military
             ,
             under
             us
             or
             in
             our
             Government
             ,
          
           This
           is
           plain
           English
           ,
           and
           needs
           no
           Commentary
           .
           That
           paper
           offers
           likewise
           an
           Expedient
           for
           securing
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           by
           which
           it
           will
           be
           set
           beyond
           even
           the
           
             Dispensing
             power
          
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           by
           Act
           of
           Parliament
           all
           Persecution
           may
           be
           declared
           to
           be
           a
           thing
           
             evil
             in
             it self
          
           ,
           and
           then
           the
           Prerogative
           canno●
           reach
           it
           .
           But
           unless
           this
           Author
           fancies
           ,
           that
           a
           Parliament
           is
           that
           which
           those
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           believe
           a
           
             General
             Council
          
           to
           be
           ,
           I
           mean
           Infallible
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           see
           that
           such
           an
           Act
           would
           signify
           any
           thing
           at
           all
           .
           An
           Act
           of
           Parliament
           cannot
           change
           the
           nature
           of
           things
           which
           are
           sullen
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           alter
           ,
           because
           a
           hard
           wor●
           is
           clapt
           on
           th●m
           in
           an
           Act
           of
           Parliament
           ;
           nor
           can
           that
           m●ke
           that
           which
           is
           not
           
             evil
             of
             it self
          
           become
           
             evil
             of
             it self
          
           :
           for
           can
           any
           Act
           of
           Parliament
           make
           the
           
             Clipping
             of
             Money
          
           ,
           or
           the
           not
           
             Burying
             in
             Wo●llen
             evil
             of
             it self
             ?
          
           Such
           an
           Act
           were
           in●eed
           
             null
             of
             it self
          
           ,
           and
           would
           sink
           with
           its
           own
           weight
           ▪
           even
           without
           the
           burden
           of
           the
           Prerogative
           to
           press
           it
           down
           :
           and
           yet
           
           upon
           such
           a
           sandy
           foundation
           would
           these
           men
           have
           us
           build
           all
           our
           Hopes
           and
           our
           Securi●ies
           .
           Another
           topick
           like
           this
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           we
           ought
           to
           trust
           to
           the
           truth
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           providence
           and
           protection
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           lean
           so
           much
           to
           Laws
           and
           Tests
           .
           All
           this
           were
           very
           pertinent
           ,
           if
           God
           had
           not
           already
           given
           us
           human●
           Assurances
           against
           the
           Rage
           of
           our
           Enemies
           ,
           which
           we
           are
           now
           desired
           to
           abandon
           ,
           that
           so
           we
           may
           fall
           an
           easie
           and
           cheap
           Sacrifice
           to
           those
           who
           wait
           for
           the
           favourable
           moment
           to
           destroy
           us
           :
           by
           the
           same
           reason
           they
           may
           perswade
           us
           to
           take
           off
           all
           our
           Doors
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           all
           our
           Locks
           and
           Bol●s
           ,
           and
           to
           sleep
           in
           this
           exposed
           condition
           ,
           trusting
           to
           Gods
           Protection
           :
           The
           simily
           may
           appear
           a
           little
           too
           high
           ,
           tho
           it
           is
           really
           short
           of
           the
           matter
           ;
           for
           we
           had
           better
           trust
           our selves
           to
           all
           the
           Thieves
           and
           Robbers
           of
           the
           town
           ,
           who
           would
           be
           perhaps
           contented
           with
           a
           part
           of
           our
           Goods
           ,
           than
           to
           those
           whose
           designs
           are
           equally
           against
           both
           Soul
           and
           Body
           ,
           and
           all
           that
           is
           dear
           to
           us
           .
        
         
           XII
           .
           I
           will
           only
           add
           another
           Reflexion
           upon
           the
           renewing
           of
           the
           Declara●ion
           this
           year
           ,
           which
           has
           occasioned
           the
           present
           ●●orm
           upon
           the
           Clergy
           .
           It
           is
           repeated
           to
           〈◊〉
           that
           so
           we
           may
           see
           ●hat
           the
           King
           continues
           firm
           to
           the
           Promises
           he
           made
           la●t
           year
           .
           Yet
           when
           Men
           of
           Honour
           have
           once
           given
           their
           word
           ,
           they
           take
           it
           ill
           if
           any
           do
           not
           trust
           to
           that
           ,
           but
           must
           needs
           have
           it
           repeated
           to
           them
           :
           in
           the
           ordinary
           commerce
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           the
           repeating
           of
           promises
           over
           and
           over
           again
           ,
           is
           ●ather
           a
           ground
           of
           Suspition
           than
           of
           Confidence
           ,
           and
           if
           w●
           judge
           of
           the
           accompli●hment
           of
           all
           t●e
           other
           parts
           of
           the
           D●●laration
           ,
           from
           th●t
           o●e
           ▪
           which
           relates
           to
           ●he
           m●intaining
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ▪
           
             as
             b●
             Law
             established
          
           ,
           the
           proceedings
           again●t
           the
           
             Fellows
             of
             Magdalen
             Colledge
          
           ,
           gives
           us
           no
           reason
           to
           conclude
           ,
           that
           this
           will
           be
           like
           
             the
             Laws
             of
             the
             Medes
             and
             Persians
             ,
             which
             alter
             not
          
           :
           all
           the
           talk
           of
           the
           New
           
             Magna
             Charta
          
           cannot
           lay
           us
           asleep
           ▪
           when
           we
           see
           so
           little
           regard
           had
           to
           the
           
             Old
             one
          
           .
           As
           for
           the
           security
           which
           is
           offe●ed
           us
           in
           this
           repeating
           of
           the
           Kings
           promise●
           ,
           we
           must
           crave
           leave
           to
           remember
           ,
           that
           the
           
             King
             of
             France
          
           ,
           even
           after
           he
           had
           resolved
           to
           break
           the
           
             Edict
             of
             Nantes
          
           ,
           yet
           repeated
           in
           above
           an
           hundred
           Edicts
           ,
           that
           were
           real
           and
           visible
           violations
           of
           that
           Edict
           ,
           a
           clause
           con●irmatory
           of
           the
           
             Edict
             of
             Nantes
          
           ,
           declaring
           that
           he
           would
           never
           Violate
           it
           :
           and
           in
           that
           we
           may
           see
           what
           account
           is
           to
           be
           had
           of
           all
           promises
           made
           to
           Hereticks
           ,
           in
           matter●
           of
           Religion
           ,
           by
           any
           Prince
           of
           the
           Roman
           Commu●ion
           ,
           but
           more
           particularly
           by
           a
           Prince
           who
           has
           put
           the
           conduct
           of
           his
           Consciince
           in
           the
           hands
           of
           a
           Iesuite
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .