A Modest Inquiry Into the Carriage of Some of the Dissenting Bishops; With Reflections upon the late B. of E. LETTER, Compared with their own Vindication.  

Licenced according to Order.   
We read in the Sacred Writings, That the Children of Israel, when in any Extraordinary Danger or Trouble seemed to be mightily concerned, under it, and to make strong Resolutions against those 〈◊〉 that had procured it, to cry earnestly to God for ●●trance therefrom, and withal to use all Lawful 〈◊〉 in order to their Recovery from it. But no soon●● the Storm over, but they forgot what God had 〈◊〉 for them, and returned with the Dog to his Vo●●●. This was the Temper of the Generality of the ●●le of Israel: And 'twere to be wished that the same 〈◊〉 of Spirit were not too visible in some of the ●est Character of our Church-Guides, who no less 〈◊〉 that People have forgot the wonderful Deliver●● God has wrought for us, and too daringly tempt 〈◊〉 and turn back in their Hearts to Egypt. It is not 〈◊〉 years ago that some at least of these very persons ●●ed to stand up mightily to stem the Flood of Po●●●hich then (had not God in his Mercy prevented it) had undoubtedly overflown our Land; so as they would not give their Concurrence to any thing that might in the least weaken the Protestant Interest, and therefore rather than they would have any hand in reading the late K. James' Declaration, in order to have the Penal Laws and Test Repealed (which yet might have been done in a Parliamentary way without Sin, and shows that they themselves would deny Obedience to the Civil Power in some things not forbidden in the Word of God, when so doing was found to be for the general good, as well as those the; have exposed for so doing as the worst of men) they chose to undergo what Penalties the Law could inflict upon them for their Refusal. And 'tis not unknown how much this Action has been magnified, not only by themselves, but by their great Admirers, who have frequently extolled it even above what was fitting, when some persons Zealously affected towards Their Present Majesties seemed to show their displeasure at their refusing the Oaths, by telling them, Had it not been for them what had become of us and our Religion ere now? But how those Reverend persons can reconcile that Action with their Carriage and Deportment since is justly the Admiration of any thinking Man. The Protestant Religion we all know was in no small danger then, and they did run well, who has hindered them since? But should they carry their designs now so as to bring their Friend Mr. Redding (as the Canting Letter terms the late King) back, and resettle him, I would gladly know whether the Protestant Religion would not be in infinitely worse Circumstances than it could possibly have been in then, even though the Penal Laws & Test had been actually Repealed. For than we had not made our Address to the Protestants abroad, which considering our Innate strength at home, and the Assarance we had of their Assistance for the common Safety was a terror to our Enemies. But now we have already had help from them, and it has pleased God to bless it so far that our Liberties were in no Reign so well settled as now they are; and had it not been for those Reverend persons and the Party influenced by them we had ere now been the Terror of our Enemies. But should the late King be restored, no rational Security could be proposed for us. For that turn of Affairs here, would undoubtedly be of Fatal Influence on all the Protestant Princes and States abroad, so that we could not ●●pect the least Assistance from them, whom the pe●●diousness of some of us would destroy with ourselves; the Country here is mightily Empoverished by reason of the prolonging of the War; and 'tis not to be supposed but that the Flower of our Nobility and Gentry, with the best of our Commons will Sacrifice their Lives for the Religion and Liberty of their Country, rather than come again under the Clutches of one who has showed himself so implicitly abandoned to the Council of the Jesuits: And if it should please God to punish us so far for our Sins as to permit him to prevail over us, 'twould be no hard matter for him with his French and Irish Soldiers poured in upon us to guide the rest as he pleased. All which plainly shows what great Friends to the Protestant Religion, some at least, of those Holy Confessors, those Golden Candlesticks have been, who pretended to stand up for it, when it was nothing near in so great Danger, and yet would betray it in its greatest Exigency, and that upon such slender Pretences that a Child would even be ashamed to mention.  
How mightily the English World has wondered after those Dissenting Gentlemen needs not be insisted upon, nor how strong a Party of easy  men have been brought over by their means, to King James' side, notwithstanding their fair Pretence in their own Vindication, That they would always by God's Grace make it their daily practice to study to be quiet, to bear their Cross patiently, and to s●ek the good of their Native Country.  
It has been the Admiration of not a few, that the Publisher of the Modest Enquiry, was so severely threatened, since it was done from so great a Zeal for their Majesty's Government, and to awaken people from their sluggish Security in a time of so great a danger a● that was, merely because they seemed to expose in their own Colours those dissenting Prelates, who eve● in their own Vindication (however it was by some of their Admirers ready to be entertained with, T●● Voice of a God and not of a Man) make so superficial a● Defence, that in the Judgement of all Impartial Readers rather bewrays their Gild than any way evinces their Innocence. As if Romish-like the Protestant Religion and Government should be Sacrificed to the Caprice of a few sullen Prelates. But now it has pleased God of his Infinite Mercy to give us a plain Evidence of the Integrity of at least some of them; one of whom (as is reported by his Admirers) is now go●● over to France to prevent that Arbitrary E●wer (as he with the rest have it in the common Vindication) from coming upon us and prevailing ov●r us; or rather 〈◊〉 prevent its too late coming among us, (as his Lette●● imports.) A few Remarks upon which comparing it with their Vindication, I shall here subjoin.  
But before I begin it may not be amiss to say some what as to the Reality of the matter of Fact, viz. that 'tis not a Fiction on purpose to asperse so holy a● Man's Name; and this is plain enough if we consider that these Two Letters were seized among the re●● that were sent over to France by my Lord Prest●● 〈◊〉 the rest, and known to be his by undoubted Evidence. But besides, it is further confirmed by this, that 'tis 〈◊〉 to be supposed that any thing less than a Consciousness of Gild could Induce this Reverend Person 〈◊〉 withdraw himself at this Juncture, even tho' he might be sensible enough that the Government is so m●● that tho' his crime was of a Crimson dye, yet no further rigour would have been used against him, tha● to keep him from betraying that Church which he pretends so great a Zeal for, (but in Truth, it s●●● never designed to serve her, but his own Interest a●● Ambition.) And whether he may not be reckon●● amongst the Hireling Shepherds, who when he 〈◊〉 brought some of his Votaries as near destruction 〈◊〉 may be, forsakes them, I leave to the World to ju●●● It might have been thought that one that would 〈◊〉 renounce his Hopes of Heaven (absit blasphemia!) is 〈◊〉 would swerve in the least from K. James ' s Interest, w●●● not have thus betrayed it by a cowardly flight, esr●●● ally when standing to it, and laying down his Life 〈◊〉 so good a Cause would have been of such mighty Inf●●ence on all his Votaries, who now when their 〈◊〉 leader has thus faintly turned back, can do no o●● than follow his Example. But I will now proceed● the Letter; which is penned in the same fulsome that dropped from the Mouths of those that 〈◊〉 preaching people into that Slavery that was to 〈◊〉 in Popery.  
Tho' the Bearer will do us the Justice [Observe● quietly soever the Holy Man protests before Go● live, in his Vindication, yet he would not be so●● represented to his most Gracious Sovereign Ja●● just] to assure you that we are as full of Duly, etc. as 〈◊〉 self could wish. [This speaks the Gentleman's meaning plainly enough; Now look to your se●ves you that spoke so much in the favours of the Dissenting— sticks, that tho' they had some insuperable Scruples upon their Consciences, which hindered them from appearing Zealous for this Government, yet they were so devoted to the Protestant Religion, that they nor any one of them would ●ever act so much to its prejudice as to carry on Plots to introduce the late King.] And his next words do more fully explain his meaning; Yet this Gentleman has undertaken you will forgive the Presumption [wards expressing the deepest sense of Devotion, that they must be as senseless as Stones that do not see what a Zeal for the cause these words import] If I give myself the honour to give you this fresh assurance in a few words which own 〈◊〉 by cur, Actions: [The old flattering Language of Eighty three, Eighty four, Eighty five. And we see by the word Actions, how little difference there is between the solemn Protestations before Almighty God made by them in their Vindication, and that of the Order of the Name Jesus. But 'tis true since their designs now jump so together, 'tis no wonder if the measures to accomplish them be much the same. And they are mightily biased or shallowpated that are not sensible, that what the Jesuits are in the Romish, that a parcel of Highflown Tantivy-men are in the Protestant Church. 'Tis not unknown to the World how this Party has inveighed against Dissenters as the worst of men (so that their Admirers to this very day reckon them worse than Roman Catholics) and Moderate Churchmen, upon a Presence of their being of so Seditious Principles, who have both notwithstanding, not only here but in the Neighbouring Kingdom, showed as much Zeal for Their Present Majesty's Government as ever Subjects did. And it may deserve our Consideration, whether Persons be more desirable in a Kingdom; those whose Loyaly is showed only to Princes, who in modest speaking are Princes neither of Religion nor Honesty, and who by their Flatteries and Counsels hurry those Princes to commit more Extravagancies than possibly their Natures would prompt 'em to; but when Princes of undoubted Religion and Honesty come to the Throne, pretend I do not know not what Conscience against it (more like one acted by the Prince of Darkness, than the Father of Light:) Or those who tho' they seem not to give much countenance to bad Princes, yet follow after Judgement when returned unto Righteousness, whom that Kingly Prophet declares to be right-hearted men. But how much credit soever has been given to that sort of Men, when out of a malicious design calumniating their Fellow Subjects, for aught can be rationally concluded from either of their I Practices men of much more Religion and Integrity than themselves, I hope they will not gain such ground as they have formerly with men at left of any Morals, since not only from their carriage in the latter end of the Reign of K. Charles II. and the beginning of the late King's, 'tis easy to know what they are, but from their demeanour now it will be obvious enough to any to reply to their Calumnies, Quis tuler it Gracchoes the seditione querentes?  
But left we should think this the Sentiments only o● one Non-Con-Prelate (as if he were using We By virtue of his Apostolical Function) he plainly solves the riddle himself by telling us; I speak in the P●ur●● Number, because I writ my Elder Brother's sentiments as we●● as my own, and the rest of my Family. [What he means by his Eldest Brother is obvious enough, and by the rest of his Family, nothing else can be meant bu● the rest of the Dissenting Tribe, for 'tis easily suppose able that his Domestic Family could do but littl● Service to the Cause. And if he speaks Truth (as we are bound to believe a Gentleman of his Function) than there's never a Barrel better Herring.]  
He tells us next, Tho' lessened in Number [Which suppose refers to the Two Worthy Prelates, who a● they ftood up for the Protestant Religion (not in pretence, but) really; so they have persevered in s● good a Work, by emproving all their Interest t● support Their Present Majesties, with whom 〈◊〉 must now suffer the same Fate, and another, wh●● had sucked in those Principles with his Mother's Mill● sometimes since deceased, but whose Intercessions fo● the good of the Cause, no doubt they expect] yet 〈◊〉 we are not mightily out in our Accounts [which we hope they shall to their own Confusion; for the Prover says. They that reckon before their Host, must count twic● We are growing in our Interests, that is, in Yours. [Th● former is too true to be denied, and is too sad 〈◊〉 Indication what hollow-hearted Protestants we hav● amongst us. And by the Letter we plainly see wh●● Confessors they are for the Protestant Interest, King James' Interest (which he has plainly declared to the World was to advance the Romish Idolatries) and theirs is become one and the same.— was indeed the Jealousy of not a few, that th● would never have stood it out so much as they d● and it seems they thought they had done too muc● and therefore resolved to make amends for the ●●ture.  
The Conclusion of this Letter is much the sa●● with the rest of it; and therefore I pass it.  
That to Mrs. Redding (the late Queen) tho' it much to the same purpose with the former, yet I sh●● briefly take notice of it.  
And first, As it is impossible for me to express that extraordinary satisfaction it gave me this time twelve mo●● to receive that Mark of your Favour and Goodness u●● your own hand: [This is a plain Indication that 〈◊〉 Holy Father is not a Plotter of yesterday: Other● 'tis not probable that the late Queen would h●● vouchsafed such a special Favour as to write to 〈◊〉 with her own hand.] So I have lived in some pai● an Opportunity to write to you my Humble Acknowledgements, and Truest Duty: [It had been much more becoming his Coat to have traveled in pain to discharge the duty he lay under to his great Master, in feeding the Flock committed to his Inspection, which if he had been so faithful in as became a Bishop, he would have been very indifferent of paying his Duty to the late Queen.] From which (by the Grace of God) I am no more capable of swerving than of Renouncing my Hopes of Heaven. [I thought this Reverend Prelate had been a great Opposer of the Impossibility of the Elects final Apostasy; but the confident Language he expresses himself by, would induce us to believe that he is turned over to Infallibility. I wish his Hopes of Heaven be well grounded: But I am afraid that if they had been such as he pretends, he would never have put them in the balance with his pretended Allegiance to Her.] I say this in behalf of my Elder Brother— You may entirely depend upon us, not only for a constant Adherence to so well chosen a Principle [the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Jure Divinity of Succession, Nonresistance, with all its Appurtenances, which has been sufficiently lashed these two years; and this Beast has received more Wounds than ever his Apost— ship will be able to heal] Butler for our utmost Activity to promote your Interests, which are inseparably our own. [This with a Witness is a Discovery of the Candour and Ingenuity (to say nothing of his Brethren whom he makes as Guilty as himself) of his Solemn Protestations (in the Common Vindication) as in the presence of Almighty God, that he knew of no Plot against the Government! What greater Dissimulation with God Alty could the most perfidious Jesuit have been guilty of, than for him to protest there, that he knew of no Plot, when yet he himself was promoting K. James' Interest with his greatest activity? For we have no reason to believe that he has changed his mind in the least since. Nay, their Vindication itself shows they have no great affection to their present Majesties; for while they pray for all sorts of Subjects, they have not a good wish to spare for Their Majesties, whom the Apostle Ranked first, and they themselves 〈◊〉 times, and would now, had they a King according 〈◊〉 their own hearts.  
He concludes, Our Young Master has all our 〈◊〉 Wishes [Similes habent sua labra Lactucas; a Spur●●● Prelate and Prince. How great a Friend is this Gentleman to the Succession he so much pretends to, wh●● he would thrust by the Genuine Issue, and bring 〈◊〉 Race no Body knows of what Extract? Since 'tis obstain that for all the noise has been made about 〈◊〉 proving of his Legitimacy, no Legal Proof could 〈◊〉 adduced, nor ever will: And whatever Presumption there might be of his Legitimacy, which are fear 〈◊〉 probable, 'twould be very unfair dealing to pre●●● him to them, whose Legitimacy is unquestionab●●● Had there not been Imposture in the case, 'tis no● 〈◊〉 be supposed any thing would have been omitted 〈◊〉 might have contributed to the Legal proof of it N●●● believe there are some persons can justify that 〈◊〉 Prelate has sometimes been of another Opinion 〈◊〉 any Body rather than Their Present Majesties shall 〈◊〉 our Holy Prelates Young Master: And good rea●●● why: for His Majesty shall never be forgiven his ●●ving the Royal Assent to the Act for suspending 〈◊〉 Laws against Protestant Dissenters: Which K. Charles 〈◊〉 of Blessed Memory, a Man according to God's o●● heart would have been very loath to have done. 〈◊〉 no wonder then that they can be no Well wish●●● a Government that takes their sting from them 〈◊〉 da●ly gains more Friends, and We get ground of hi●●●versaries. [How confident soever he is of the 〈…〉 of his Party, yet blessed be God we have odds en●●●● nor are we dissatisfied at it, since thereby we 〈◊〉 only lost those men, whose being for any 〈◊〉 would make a Man of any Integrity to suspect 〈◊〉 Gentlemen, for the generality of them, that have 〈◊〉 little either Religion or Morality, as the Two L●●● Horses, and take away those two sorts of Men 〈◊〉 of them commonly called K— and F— the Philosopher might Light a Candle to find another M●●● and lose his labour.   

London, Printed for J. K. 1691.