SB 
 
^Jru^ s. C/*-+*m~< 
 
 
 
 
 
 PERKINS LIBRARY 
 
 Duke University 
 Rare Dooks 
 
 
 
 
 
/ ^ 
 
 THE 
 
 BISHOP of SAKVM\ 
 PASTORAL LETTER. 
 
 4 
 
^ 
 
 LICENSED, 
 
 May 1 6. 1689. 
 
 
PASTORAL LETTER 
 
 WRIT BY 
 The Right Reverend Father in God 
 
 GILBERT, 
 
 Lord Bifoop of S A R V M, 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 CLERGY of his DIOCESS, 
 
 CONCERNING 
 
 %fy €>atf# of allegiance an& ^upjeroacg 
 
 T O 
 
 K. William and Q.Mary. 
 
 l o M d N: 
 
 Printed for % ^tatfti: £ ; and Mc. Cf>tft»ell, at the 
 
 Rofe and Craven in St ?auf* Church- Yard. MDCLXXXIX. 
 

 I 
 
 Digitized by the Internet' Archive 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/pastoralletterwrOOburn 
 
■I 
 
 .ft 6* 
 
 A 
 
 PASTOPvAL LETTER 
 
 Writ by 
 The Right Reverend Father in God 
 
 GILBERT, 
 
 Lord Bi&op of S A R V M 9 
 
 To the CLERGY of his Diocefs, fc*S. 
 
 INCE I cannot yet come 
 to do the Duties of my 
 Function among yon, I think 
 my felf obliged to fupply 
 my abfence by watching o- 
 ver you as effectually as I 
 can at this diftance. And fince fome have 
 railed fo many Doubts and Difficulties con- 
 
 A 3 cerning 
 
The Bi[hop of SarumV 
 
 cerning the Allegiance which is due to 
 the King and Queen, that the minds of 
 the people may be diftracted by them ; 
 efpecially if they fhould obferve , that 
 thofe of the Clergy who have more oc- 
 cafion to enquire into fuch matters than 
 other people , and whofe Examples ought 
 to have great authority , fhould be fo far 
 pofleffed with thefe Scruples , that they 
 fhould rather choofe to defert their Sta- 
 tions , than fwear the Oaths required by 
 Law ; I have thought it incumbent on 
 me , to lay this beiore you in the beft 
 Light in which 1 could put it, in order 
 to the fatisfying of all thofe Objections 
 which may ariie upon this Occafion. 
 
 i. The importance of this Matter is too 
 vifible to need any reflections upon it to 
 make it more fenfible : it does not only 
 concern you in your own particular , tho 
 that is a confideration in which the pre- 
 ient Intereft that is of its fide , may tempt 
 a Good man to be a little jealous of it : 
 Yet , on the other hand , men that are in 
 a ftation, in which they may do fervice 
 
 to 
 
Paftoral Letter. 
 
 to God, and the Church, and from which 
 they cannot withdraw without doing a con- 
 fiderable prejudice to the publick Peace $ 
 and without fhaking , as far as in them 
 lies, the prefent Settlement of the Na- 
 tion ; ought to confider well the Grounds 
 upon which they go , before they venture 
 on the fetting themfelves againil a Work, 
 which, in the whole progrefs of it has 
 had many fignal Characters of a favou- 
 rable Providence conducting it ; and that 
 gives us the faireft beginnings of the moft 
 defirable things that we can hope or wiflx 
 for on Earth. 
 
 It gives us all the fecurity , that , hu- 
 manely fpeaking, we can look for, both 
 for the Proteftant Religion , and for Ci- 
 vil Liberty. It is our prefent fence from 
 the three things in the World ; which , if 
 they were afunder, ought to give us the 
 greateft terror ; but being now all joined 
 together , if they do not both unite and 
 awaken us againft fo dreadful an appear- 
 ance , it looks like a Curfe from God up- 
 on us , that is the certain forerunner of 
 
 our 
 
The Bifhop of SarumV 
 
 our Ruine -, and thefe are , ^Optft f£yim* 
 m* & n 3W Cmrquca ana flt^aflacre, and 
 f ttnti) Tdatbavitv anD Cruelty If our Sa- 
 viour has denounced a terrible Woe againfl: 
 thole , who lay a [tumbling Block before 
 one of his Little Ones, under how much 
 greater damnation do they fall, who lay 
 iiich a itumbling Block, as the refilling the 
 Oaths will be, before a whole Nation, and 
 a Nation in whole Strength and Union , 
 the fecurity both of Religion and Liberty 
 confifes } A man that adventures on io dan- 
 gerous a thing, had need be very fure that 
 he is in all this matter in the right J other- 
 wife he runs a rifque of fighting againft 
 God , if he fliould happen to be in the 
 
 wrong. 
 
 2. But all this may look like a pathe- 
 tical aggravating of the Matter, unlefs it 
 {hould appear to be w r ell fupported. I go 
 therefore in the next place to let before 
 you thofe Reafons that feem convincing to 
 me, even though there were no more to 
 be faid for the prefent Settlement , but 
 that we have a Throne filled , and a King 
 
 and 
 
ratoral Letter. < 
 
 P aft oral' Letter 
 
 and Queen in Poffeffibn-. The bringing the 
 ftate of the Queftion io low, may feem at firft 
 View not to be of fo much advantage to Their 
 Majefties Tide ; butfince I intend to carry the 
 matter farther before'! leaveit, I hope it may 
 be no incongruous Method to bes;in at that 
 which will take in the greateit numbers, 
 fince there is no Difpute in this, that they are 
 actually in PoiTeffion of the Throne, that they 
 protect us, and that we by living under their 
 Protection, and enjoying the benefit of it, 
 are therefore bound to make fome Returns 
 to them for it. 
 
 3. - A Man may Lawfully promife to 
 do every thing which he may Lawfully do ; 
 fo that if it is Lawful to obey the King, it 
 is alfo Lawful to promife to do it. And 
 therefore fince it does- not appear that any 
 Perfons do doubt of the Lawfulnefs of obey- 
 ing, it cannot wkh any colour of Reafon 
 be laid to be Unlawful to promife it ; and 
 if it is Lawful to promife it, it is alfo Lawful 
 to fwear it ; for an Oath being -only %d 
 Sacred Confirmation of a Pfttaifev v * e ' 
 may Lawfully {wear every thing that we- 
 
 B may 
 
 j 
 
The Bifhop of Sarum'. 
 
 may Lawfully promife : And as it appears 
 that there lies no juft Objection to the 
 fwearing Obedience , fo there arifes none 
 from the Word Allegiance , for that being 
 in its Original Signification, nothing but 
 the Service that a VaiTal owed to the 
 Chief Lord of the Fee. If the King is 
 owned in Fact to be our King, then he is 
 the Lord of the Fee , and by confequence 
 Allegiance is due to him ; Allegiance being al- 
 io now in our prefent acceptation, An 0- 
 bedietice according to Law, that is to fay, not 
 a Blind nor Abfolute Obedience, but fuch 
 an Obedience, as is defined and limitted by 
 the Law, then the Scruple that arifes out of 
 the Word Allegiance vaniflies. 
 
 4. This is either true, or all thefe who 
 live upon a Continent, and that are fubjecl: 
 to the Conquefts and Invafions of their 
 Neighbours muft be miferable : For tho our 
 Happy Scituation has exempted us for a 
 whole Age from falling under any fuch 
 Difficulties i yet this is a Cafe that falls 
 often out in all different States, which are 
 on the fame Continent; for if Subjects owe 
 
 their 
 
P aft oral Letter, j 
 
 their natural Prince fuch an Obftinate Allegi- 
 ance, that neither Deferdon nor Concjueft 
 can diflolve it, then in what a miierable 
 Condition muft they be, when they fall 
 under the Power of their Enemy, that ne- 
 ver thinks himfelf fecure of them, but treats 
 them ftill as Enemies, till they iwear Al- 
 legiance to him. Now all the true Max- 
 ims of Government being fuch , that they 
 muft tend to the Prefervation and not to 
 the Ruin of Mankind, it is certain that all 
 thofe are falle which tend to the inevita- 
 ble Deftruction of Cities, and Societies ; and 
 therefore this of an indiffeafable Allegiance, 
 muft be reckoned among thefe, fince the 
 fatal Confequences that muft attend upon it 
 are evident, and this is the Opinion in which 
 all who have confidered this matter, either 
 as Lawyers or Cafuifts do agree. 
 
 5. If we confider the whole Hiftory of 
 the Old Teftament, in which there were 
 much plainer Rules, with relation to their 
 Policy given by God himfelf, than can 
 be pretended to be given to Chriftians ; 
 we clearly fee that after any Revolution 
 
 B 2 that 
 
The Biftoy of Sarum'. 
 
 that happened , of which there are many 
 
 Inftances- in the Hiftory of the Ten 
 
 Tribes, the . People acquieiced always in 
 
 the Fofleflion ; and the Prophets that were 
 
 among them , never charged them with 
 
 this, nor required them to return back 
 
 to thofe Princes, or Families which they 
 
 had fliaken off. It is true this is but a 
 
 Negative Authority ; yet when we confi- 
 
 der how. particular the Prophets are in the 
 
 enumeration of their Sins, their, illence on 
 
 this Head is at leaft a great Prefumption, 
 
 that they had not contracted much guile 
 
 on this account. The fame may be laid 
 
 of the Obedience of thofe mjudak to Ath.i- 
 
 liah during her unjuft and bloody lliur- 
 
 pation i which {hews, that tho the Tide 
 
 of a Prince were manifeftly Unjuft, yet it 
 
 may be Lawful to take Protection under 
 
 him, and that, in moft States cannot be 
 
 had without both giving Obedience, and the 
 
 entring into fuch engagements for it, as are 
 
 required by the Rules of that Conftitution ; 
 
 inch was the making Covenants with 
 
 their Kings among the Jews ; fuch was the 
 
 Military 
 
P aft oral Letter. 
 
 Military Oath among the (Romans, and fuch 
 are the Oaths of Allegiance where the Fendal 
 Law prevails. 
 
 6. The Jews were obliged by a plain 
 and exprefs Law, Deut. 1.7. ver. 15. To 
 jet a I\jng over them from among their Bre- 
 thren, and not to fet a Stranger oyer them ivho 
 was not their (Brother $ Here was a pofitive 
 exclufion of all Aliens,- io that any Stran- 
 ger that Reigned over them , could only 
 be their i\jng -in Fat~i, but not in ^(ight : 
 Yet in our Saviour's time the %omans, from 
 granting the Jews their Protection againft 
 the Kings of Syria, had fo far extended 
 their Authority, that not only the Race of 
 the Iviaccabees, who had long Reigned over 
 them, was defcroyed, but even the mew of 
 Freedom which was left, while Herod, that 
 was Circumcifed and Allied to the Family of 
 the Maccabees, was their King, was taken a- 
 way, and judea was reduc'd into the form 
 of a Province : and that but lately , when 
 the Queftion was put to our Saviour, Whether 
 they JJ?ould pay Tribute to Cefar or not ? . Upon 
 this our Saviour plainly determined for their 
 
 obeying 
 
io J be Bijhop.of SarumV 
 
 obeying the Romans : And according to the 
 Opinion or almoft all Interpreters , he 
 drew his Argument for it from this, That 
 their Current Coin carrying Cefars Super- 
 scription upon it , this was an acknowledging 
 of his Authority; and that therefore fince 
 they had once fubmitted to Cefar, they 
 ought ftill to render to him all that was his, 
 that is to fay, all that he was then poffeffedof 
 in FaB. This feems to be a very exprefs de- 
 cifion in this Matter ; and that even when 
 the Poffeffion fell within the Memory of 
 Man, fo that it was not fortified by Pre- 
 icription or Immemorial Practice , and 
 when the Righteous Heir was known, and 
 while the Pharilees kept up the Debate, by 
 refufing to own a Foreign and Idolatrous 
 Authority. Yet our Saviour, whofe whole 
 Doctrine tended chiefly to fecure the Peace 
 of the World, decided plainly in favour of 
 Poffeffion 3 for it were in deed a great Mife- 
 ry, and would throw Men into vail: Diffra- 
 ctions if they were obliged to examine all 
 Titles, and in every Revolution to pe- 
 riflh , for the fake of thofe by whofe 
 
 means 
 
Pafioral Letter. 1 1 
 
 means they had like to have perifhed 
 before. 
 
 7. It is upon the fame Reafon that St. 
 <Pau\ writing to the Romans ^ declares in fa- 
 vour of the Towers that were; a form of 
 Speech not unlike ours , of the I\jng for 
 the time being , whom he calls the Ordinance 
 of Gody and he requires all Men to be juh- 
 jeB to them. We know very well what was 
 the true Ancient Government among the 
 (Romans, and that not only the Rights of the 
 People and Senate were as fully fecured, as 
 any thing could poflibly be in any human 
 Conftitution, but that by the Valerian Law 
 it was Lawful for any private Perfbn to kill 
 any Magiftrate that fliould go about to 
 invade the Liberties of the People , and 
 that the Crime for which Catilins Memory is 
 held in Deteftation; proving more fuccefs- 
 ful in the hands of Julius Cejar and Auguflus, 
 they became the Ufurpers of the Liberties of 
 their Country ; and though fomething like 
 a confent was obtain d from the Senate and. 
 People, yet it is evident that this was ex- 
 torted from them by force; we alfo fee 
 
 from 
 
12 The Bifhop of SarumV 
 
 from all that remains of Tiknuss Reign in 
 Tacitus, that the Defign which he conftantly 
 purfued, was to overthrow all that was left 
 of their Freedom « and to rob the People 
 of fuch of their Liberties . as remain'd yet 
 in their hands ; fo that it was a conftant 
 Progrefs of Ufurpation and Tyranny • and 
 this was yet more barefac'd and blacker 
 under Caligula - } yet when St. Taul writ to 
 the Chriftians of ^ome^ he is expreis in this; 
 That they fliould not trouble themfelves 
 with Inquiries into Titles, but mould take 
 things as they found them, and confider 
 the State of the Empire under which they 
 lived, as fuch an effect of the Providence 
 of God , that they ought to be fubject to 
 it, and not refill it : But this related only 
 to the Chriftians , who were neither con- 
 cern'd in the Authority of the People, nor 
 in the Jurifdi&ion of the Senate ; fo that 
 unlefs we will think that the Holy 
 Ghoft approved of the blacked and 
 Cruelleft Ufurpation that ever was, we 
 muft conclude, that it is the Will of God, 
 that all Private Perfons ought to be 
 
 fubjeft 
 
Pafioral fetter. i 3 
 
 fubjectto chat authority, which is in ,poi- 
 feffion, and that prevails in the places and 
 times in which they live. 
 
 8. It is clear from the whole rHiftory o,f 
 the Church, That the Primitive Chriftians 
 understood this to be the Doctrine of Ch rift J 
 for notwithstanding all dhe revolutions of 
 the -Empire, that were often fealed with the 
 blood of the Dethroned Emperour, they ad- 
 hered ftill to the poffeffion. And fince,we 
 fee bv Tertullums dpolqgctkk, as well as from 
 feverai other indications, that many of them 
 were in the Army , they certainly fwore 
 the Military Oath to every one that pre- 
 vailed, and were never once fo much as 
 reduced to any (traits, much lels put to trou- 
 ble for their adhering to the Dethroned 
 Emperour, or for their refufing to acknowr 
 kdge the new one. This appeared emi<- 
 nently in the Cafe of Maximus who had 
 murdered Gratlan and ufurped his (hare q( 
 the Empire; And yet all the Bifhcps of the 
 Welt, not excepting the Great St.. .Martin., 
 who was i called i %h\ tfpoflle. of fi'Atue ;, m%$£ 
 their applications; to iiirrr, and - foil o wed his 
 
 C Court, 
 
14 The Bijhop of SarumV 
 
 Court, as much , if not more, than thev 
 did any Prince's of that Age : nor is there 
 one fingle inftance, that I could ever yet 
 hear of, in any part or age of the Chri- 
 stian Church , where the Clergy refufed 
 to acknowledge him that was their f£mx in 
 FaEl ; or to give him all thole fecurities of 
 their Allegiance and fidelity to him > which 
 were required of them. 
 
 9. It appears in another inftance which is 
 indeed foreign to this matter, That our Sa- 
 viour judged that the minds of the people 
 ought not to be diftracted with enquiring 
 into Titles, but that they ought to acquiefce 
 in the pofTeffion, even when the Title was 
 vifibly and unexceptionably bad. In the 
 Jewiflh Religion as the High-Pried: was 
 the firft of all the facred Tribe, ib the 
 greateft piece of their Religion, w T hich was 
 the Annual Expiation, was to be perform 'd 
 by him ,• & by their Law it was provided that 
 the High-Prie(Vs eldeft Son flhouid be anoin- 
 ted to ferve before the Lord in his Father's 
 ftead, unlels Tie had any of thoie Blemilhes 
 tn his Body tha£ rendred him unfit for it. 
 
 So 
 
Pajloral Letter. 
 
 So that the high Priefthood went by in* 
 heritance , and their Genealogies were Co 
 carefully preferved, that it was not poffi- 
 ble for them to be miftaken in him that 
 of right ought to have been their High* 
 Pried ; yet in our Saviour's time this facred 
 office was fet to fale by the Romans, lb 
 that Qiiapbits had both purchafed it with his 
 Mony, and had al(b thruft out him to 
 whom it belonged by the Law of God. 
 Here were all the Nullities that could al- 
 mod be in a Title : Yet Our Saviour owned 
 this Mercenary High-Prieft, he joined in 
 all the parts of the Temple-fervice; and 
 fince he fulfilled allrighteoufnefs, no doubt he o- 
 beyed that Law, of going thither on the 
 day of the general Atonement for the fins 
 of the whole people, though he had no 
 need of it in his own particular : he alfo 
 acknowledged the High-Prieft s authority by 
 anfwering to him when he was brought 
 before him, and adjured by him to fpeak 
 the truth. St. <Patd not only did the fame, 
 but when he had been guilty of an in* 
 decency to Ananias, not knowing him to be 
 
 C i the 
 
\6 The Bifhop ofS&mms 
 
 the High-Prieft, he made an apology for it ; 
 in which as he pleads his ignorance,fo he plain- 
 ly acknowledges therefpect that was due to 
 him. This it yet carried further by St. John who- 
 fays that Caiapbaszs High-Prieft for that year 
 prophefied. All this fhews that even when 
 rules were given by God himfelfand were 
 notorioufly and infamoufly broken in the 
 offices of the higheft natur6 ; yet the peace 
 and quiet of mankind were to be prefer- 
 red to all pofitive Laws, and that all 
 perfons were directed by an infallible au* 
 dtority, to acknowledge thofe who were m- 
 T^ffeffion. 
 
 10. But now I will advance the ftate of 
 the Queftion a little further , beyond that of 
 i bare poffeffion , into that of a Title declared 
 by thofe who only can be fuppofed to be 
 the proper Judges of k : and in order to 
 the opening this , it ought to be con fide- 
 red, That there is this difference between all 
 fpectilative points o( opinion and all queftions 
 that relate to matters of Facl; ; that in 
 the former every Man muft ftill think ac- 
 cording to the fenfe, that he himfelf has* 
 
 and; 
 
V ' ■ ; 
 
 Pajioral Litter. ' 1 7 
 
 and muft not fubdue his underftanding ta 
 any Authority whatfoever , nor yield 
 to any pretended infallibility, but 111 
 matters of Fact; if a Man belongs to any 
 body that' "makes any deciiiou* relating to 
 them, he muft agree 'to it, and accjuiefce in 
 it, though he thinks it wrong. A Member 
 of any Court of Juftice in which an un- 
 juft Electee is pa ft', though he is bound 
 to crppbfe it', while it is in agitation ; 
 yet when it is paft, he himfelf not only 
 acquieices in it, but muft afterwards iffue- 
 out .fuch Orders as are confecjuent to 
 chat Decree , as readily 2s if he himfelf 
 had concurred in the making of it. Thar 
 this is a certain truth there needs no other 
 proof but this, That it is limply and in-- 
 difpenfibly necelTary to the preferving the 
 Pe'ac'e of Mankind , and tOt.he, keeping of 
 all Societies in Union and' Order ; and every 
 Maxim that* is of fuch abfolure neceffiry to 
 Mankind mnff-.be true, Now, with relation to 
 the fubjecl now' under confid'eratron, there 
 are Two Queft ions which may be' made i 
 jthe Firft is, A Poinrof (peculation^ how far 
 
 Subjects 
 
1 8 The Bifbop of SarumV 
 
 Subjects arc bound to obey, or iubmit to 
 the Supreme Power, and whether they 
 may refill them in any cafe ; and more 
 particularly, if that may be done on the 
 account of Religion. And as to this there 
 is no Debate at prefent, Co that all Men 
 may retain their former Opinions. But 
 the Second relates to the Hiftory and Po- 
 licy of England, Whether the King derives 
 his Power from God, and fo is accoun* 
 table only to him ,- or if he holds it by 
 an Original Contrail: with his People, fo 
 that upon his breaking it, they likewife may 
 be acquitted from all Obligations to him. 
 This depends on - our Laws , Records 
 and Hiftories, and the refolution of it, 
 can only be taken from them ; fb thele 
 being all Matters of Fact, whatlbever deci- 
 lion was made by thole who are the only 
 competent Judges, it mud oblige all Per* 
 Tons, not excepting even thofr who be- 
 ing of that Body oppoled it while it was 
 a making: and therefore all En^iijh M?n, are 
 bound to act according to that Judgn.ent,and 
 by confluence to fwear that they will do it. 
 
 And 
 
Paftoral Letter. 19 
 
 And therefore no private Perfbn ought 
 to let his particular Notions of our Govern-' 
 ment determine him, but is bound to re- 
 fign them up to the decifion that has been 
 fo publickly made in it. Here it were 
 an eafie thing to urge all thofe Topicks 
 which have been made uie of with rela- 
 tion to the DiiTenters, who in the mat- 
 ters of Government have fet up their own 
 doubts and fcruples in oppofition to Laws 
 and eftablifhed Rules. But this Argument 
 might feem invidious, and therefore I will 
 not infift upon it. 
 
 11. But I will, in the laft place, carry 
 this matter further to juftifie the prefenc 
 fettlement, as a thing right and lawful in 
 it felf ; and in order to the ftating this 
 aright, this mud be acknowledged , That 
 there are few of thofe, tho' (ome feem now to 
 be in fc^me doubt concerning this matter,, 
 who did not think that the King, when 
 he was Prince of Orange y had a juftcauJe 
 of War, when he firft undertook this bu- 
 finefs ; for even at Common -Law an Heir 
 ia Remainder has juft caufe to fue him that 
 
20 The Biffiof of SarumV 
 
 is in poffeffion, if he makes wafts on the 
 Inheritance which is his in Reverfion. It 
 is much more reafonable, fince the thing is 
 much more important, That the Heir of a 
 Crown (hould interpofe when he fees him 
 that is in Poffeffion hurried on blindfold 
 ro fubjedt an independent Kingdom to a 
 Foreign Jurifdiclion , and thereby co rob 
 it both of ics Glory, and of its fecurity. 
 And when it is manifeft that this mull 
 occafion the greatefl: Ruine and ~Mifeks 
 poffible to that Kingdom : And when a 
 pretended Heir was fee up in fuch a man- 
 ner that the whole Kingdom believed him 
 fpurious. In fuch a Cafe it cannot be denyed, 
 even according to the higheft principles of 
 Paffive Obedience, That another Soveraign 
 Prince might make War on a King foabu* 
 fing his power ; and that this was the Cafe 
 in fa6t, will not be called in qiieftiori by 
 any Protcftant. So then here was a War 
 begun upon juft and lawful grounds, and 
 a War being fb begun,4t is the un controverted' 
 opinion of all Lawyers, That the j-ucccjs ■ hp'it 
 jtijl War .gives a lawful title to -that which' l is 
 
 acquired 
 
Vajlord Letter. 21 
 
 V. 1 
 
 acquired in the frogrefs of it. Therefore King 
 James having fo far funk in the War, that he 
 both abandoned his People, and delerted 
 the Government, all his Right and Tide 
 did accrue to the King, in the right of a 
 Conqtieft over him ■ fo that if he had then 
 affumed the Crown , the Opinion of all 
 Lawyers mull: have been on his fide : Bat 
 he chofe rather to leave the Matter to the 
 Determination of the Peers and People of 
 England, chofen and aflembled together with 
 all poffible freedom, who did upon that de- 
 clare him their King • fo that with relation 
 to King James's Rights, he was vefted with 
 them by the SuccelTes of a Juft War, and 
 yet he was willing, with relation to the 
 People, to receive the Crown by their De- 
 claration, rather than to hold it in the Right 
 of his Sword : And indeed which way fo- 
 ever that King James's deferting the Govern- 
 ment is turned, this Aigumenx has much 
 weight ; for if he was forced to it, then 
 here was a Conqueft ; and if it was volun- 
 tary, it was a wilful Defertion : the Great 
 Seal's being caft into the Thames, is an un- 
 
 D ac- 
 
i <2 2 The Bijhop of SarumV 
 
 accountable part of it, and feems to imply 
 this ac lead, That either he did not think 
 of returning again, or that if he fhould re- 
 turn, that he would no more Govern by 
 the fh'ew of Law, of which the Great Seal 
 feems always to carry fome Prints. 
 
 So that, in a word, the People of England 
 being kft without a Government, and in 
 the Hands of one that could and might 
 have affumed it, and that ftood fo near 
 the immediate Succeffion to the Crown, 
 were reduced to the neceffity, either of con- 
 tinuing in a State of Anarchy ; for a Re- 
 gency for Life, which Was offered by thoie 
 who except to the Oaths, though it was a 
 real diverting of King James of our Alle- 
 giance, and the tranllating it to another, is 
 no better in the conftruclion of the Law, 
 it having no legal Security in it to conduct 
 the Government, or fo much as to indem- 
 nify thofe that fhould act under it ,. or of re- 
 turning back to that Mifery which they had 
 fo much dreaded but a few Months before, 
 or of fettling themfelves upon fuch a legal 
 
 Foun- 
 
Vafloral Letter. 23. 
 
 Foundation as might fecure the Peace a.n,^ 
 Quiet of the Nation ; and in all Extre- 
 mities relating to the Government, that is 
 always beft which is fafeft $ and every Re- 
 folution which is neceffary to the Peace and 
 Happineis of the Nation, is upon that 
 very Account Juft and Good, becaufe it 
 is neceffary. 
 
 And now I have gone over this Argu- 
 ment, in all the Branches and different 
 Views in which it may be fet, and have laid 
 before you the Reafons that make me con- 
 clude, that the Settlement now made, was 
 founded on good Grounds, and that tho the 
 Grounds were doubtful, yet that all the Sub- 
 jects ought to be determined by the Deci- 
 fion made by the Reprefentative of the 
 Kingdom : And beyond all this, that even 
 a PoiTeffion, without, fo great a Support, 
 ought to quiet all Mens Minds,at leaft fo far, 
 that they ought to fubrait and fwear to ic 
 without any Scruple. 
 
 It remains that I fliould fay fomewhat 
 in Anfwer to thefe Objections that may 
 
 D 2 arife 
 
24 The Bijhof of SarumV 
 
 arife againft all this, the chief of which 
 are taken from thofe Oaths and En- 
 gagements by which you were bound to 
 King James and his Heirs: And from 
 this, that Allegiance feems to be a perfo- 
 nal Tie which binds you to him during 
 Life, and after his Death partes to his 
 Heirs ; but if it is certain that Allegiance 
 is a Tie to a Prince, in consideration of 
 the Protection which he gives, then, when 
 he can no more protect thofe who owed 
 him Allegiance, they can be no longer 
 bound to him, but muft give their Allegi- 
 ance to him that protects them. 
 
 The very Term of Allegiance rites out 
 of the Feudal Law, by which the chief 
 Lord of a Fee, when he made any Grants 
 to hrs VaiTals, took them bound in coniide- 
 ration of thefe Grants to adhere to him, 
 to defend his Perfon, and to affift him in 
 his Wars ; but all this being done by the 
 VaiTals in confideration of the Fee that was 
 granted, an Original Contract is plainly im- 
 plied in it- fo that if the Lord of the 
 
 Fee 
 
Taftoral Letter. 25 
 
 Fee fhould go to take away the Fee it felf, 
 or to change the Nature of the Subjecti- 
 on in which the ValTals were put by the 
 firft Grant, then the Oath which was ground- 
 ed on it could not be fuppofed to bind them 
 any longer. 
 
 Nor can any Man be bound to a Man's 
 Heir before he himfelf is Dead • fo that 
 the Tie arifing from the word Heir can fig- 
 nify nothing, till the Inheritance is opened 
 by Death ; and in that Cafe we muft re- 
 turn to this, that Allegiance and Pro- 
 tection being reciprocal, there can be no Al- 
 legiance due, where there can be no Pro- 
 tection given. In fhort, the declaring of 
 this Government, and the degrees of the 
 Submiflion which the Subjects owe our 
 Prince, and of the Perfon to whom their 
 Allegiance is due, can only be made by 
 the Peers and People of England: and 
 when that is done, you muft reft there, 
 and give your felves no further trouble, 
 Qtherways ysu take to your felves an Au- 
 thority of judging in a Matter relating to 
 
 vour 
 
— 
 
 26 The Bifhcp of SarumV 
 
 your Government, after thofe who arc 
 the only competent Judges have decided 
 it. 
 
 This being then the true State of the 
 Queftion, it is now reduced to this, that 
 fince there is on the one fide, fuch clear 
 and apparent Reafons leading us to obey, 
 and that on the other fide there is nothing 
 but an Opinion, that fome Men whofe 
 Studies have never led them to examine, 
 either the Nature of Civil Societies in Ge- 
 neral, according to the Roman Law, or 
 the Nature of the Englifli Government 
 from the Laws and Hiftory of England, 
 with that care that was Neceffary, have 
 taken up that there is an uncontroulable 
 and Supream Power lodged with our 
 Kings by a Divine Deputation, which ex- 
 empts them from being called to an Ac- 
 count, or refifted by their People, let their 
 Violations of the Law be never Co many 
 or fo eminent ; When, I fay, thefe two 
 things are weighed the one againft the 
 other, it feems very plain that the former 
 muft far down- weigh the other. 
 
 I 
 
Pajioral Letter. 
 
 — 
 
 2 7 
 
 I will not here enter into this Argument, 
 that muft carry me very far if I fhould 
 once undertake it ; I have done it upon 
 another Occafion, and I will only add one 
 thing in this Paper; That the Original 
 Articles of the Magna Charta granted by 
 King John, is now in my Hands, with his 
 Great Seal to it ; which has been ever 
 fince that Time efteemed the Meafure of 
 the Englifli Government- and by it, it 
 25 exprefly provided; 
 
 £tjat in cafe tlje Bing lljouib tuo^ 
 late anp $att of tt, ant* 0joulb refufe 
 to rectify tbDat fjeljaD Doneamtfs, it 
 OjottlD be lawful fo? ttje batons, anD 
 
 ttje M)l)0!e people Of England, to w 
 
 ftrefs t)i!ii b? ail tt)e mmvs tfjep 
 coulb t|)mft on ; fuel) as, tt)e feeing 
 on i)ts Caftles, lUnbs, anb $oU 
 feffions, pjobiflon being onip mabe 
 fo? f l)e S>af etp of tDe jettons of tf)e 
 Bins anb j©tteen, anb of tljeir Ct)ii= 
 bren* 
 
 And 
 
8 The Bijhop of Sarum'j 
 
 And the Subje&s are not only warranted, 
 but required to enter into Affociations and 
 Oaths for that Effect. This is an Evidence, 
 that by the Ancient Conftitution of Engl&nd, 
 there was no fuch irrefiftible Authority in 
 our Kings, as fome have been inclined to 
 imagine. 
 
 But after all, if there be any who are fo 
 pofleft with their preconceited Opinions, 
 that they either cannot lay them down, or 
 will not confefs that they have been mifta- 
 ken in their Notions of Politicks, thefe 
 ought to be very lure that they are in the 
 Right, before they will adventure, as far as 
 in them lies, to undermine and (hake the pre- 
 fent Conftituiion. 
 
 To conclude ; I hope you will examine 
 this whole Matter with the Care and Attenti- 
 on that it delerves ,• that you will weigh the 
 Reafons of both Sides, without partiality ; 
 that you will Fall: and Pray, in order to the 
 preparing your Minds for the finding out of 
 the Truth j and that you will hearken to all 
 
 that 
 
Pajioral Letter, 29 
 
 that can be faid of both hands, being neither 
 byafled to the Affirniative by your prefent 
 Interns, nor inclined to the Negative as to 
 the received Opinion, neither affecting Sin- 
 gularity, nor throwing your felves into the 
 Croud ; but that you will feek to hear Rea- 
 fon, and examine what is mod agreeable 
 to the Scriptures, and be determined by it. 
 This is the daily and rrioft earneft Prayer 
 of 
 
 Reverend and dear Brethren^ 
 May the 1 $tk 
 
 Tour moft Affe&ionate 
 Brother and moft Hum- 
 ble Servant. 
 
 Gil. SarU 
 
 M« 
 
 — 
 
 £ 
 
Books Printed for John Starkey. 
 
 AN Hiflorical and Political Difcourfe of the Laws and Government of Eng- 
 land, from the firft times to the end of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth 
 with a Vindication of the Ancient way of Parliaments in England, Collected 
 from fome Manufcript Notes of John Selden, Efq ; by Nathaniel Bacon of Or ays- 
 Inn Efq; in Folio, Price bound 1 2 s. For Printing this Bool^ John Starkey wot 
 Outlaw d, in the year 1682, which is mwby him New Publiflied. 
 
 The journals of all the Parliaments, during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth 
 both of the Houfe of Lords, and Houfe of Commons. Collected by Sir Simmonds 
 D'Erves of Sufcll^ Knight and Baronet. Revifed and Publifhed by Paul Eowes 
 of the Middle-temple Efq; in folio price bound 20 s. 
 
 A New Syfteme of rhe Apocalypfe, or Plain and Methodical llluflraticns of aB 
 the Fz/nn* in the Revelations of St. John, Written by a French Minifter in 
 the year 1685, and finifht but two days before the Dragoons plunder'd him of 
 all except this Treadle, to which is added this Authors Defence of his Ill*ftra* 
 tions concerning the Non-Effufion of the Vial, in anfwer to Mr. Jurieu ; faith* 
 fully Englimed : In 1 20. Price bound 2 s. 6 d. 
 
 D 
 
 Books Lately Printed for Richard Chi/well. 
 
 R. GILBERT B V R N E T 'S Hiftory of the Reformation of the 
 Church of England, in 2 Volumes in Folio. 
 -His. Abridgment of the faid Hiftory of the Reformation. 
 .Hiftory of the Rights of Princes in difpofing of Ecclefiaftical Benefices, and 
 
 Church Lands, 12 . 
 . Life of Dr. William Bedell Bifhop of Kilmore in Ireland, to which are An- 
 nexed theLetrers betwixt Him and IVadfworth, about Religion. 
 ■ His Two Letters Written upon the Difcovery of the Popifh Plot, together 
 with a Collection of feveral other Tracts and Difcourfes : Written by him 
 betwixt the years 1578. to 1685. To which is added a Letter 
 written to Dr. Burnet, giving an Account of Cardinal Pools Secret 
 Powers. The Hiftory of the Powder Treafon, with a Vindication of 
 the Proceedings thereupon. An Impartial Confederation cfthe Five 
 Jefuites dying Speeches, who were Executed for rhe Popifh Plot, 1579. 
 -His Account of the Life and Death of the Earl of Rochefter. 
 ■A Vindication of the Ordinations of the Church of England: In which 
 is demonftrated, that all the Eflential? of Ordination, according t© the 
 Practice of the Primitive and Greek Churches are ftill retained in 
 the Church. 
 
 — Reflexions on the Relation of the Englifh Reformation lately printed 
 
 at Oxford In two Parts. 4^0. 
 
 — kiiimadverfions on the RefkcYions upon Dr. B V A N E Ti Travels. 80. 
 
 — Reflexions on a Paper, intitled his Ma-jeflies Reafons for withdrawing 
 
 himfelf from Rochefter. 
 An Enquiry into the prefent State of Affairs, and in particular,whethe- 
 
 we owe Allegiance to the King in thefe Circumftances ? And wher 
 
 ther we are bound to Treat with Him, and call Him back or no > 
 — A. Sermon .Preached in St. James's Chappel before the Prince of 
 
 Orarge 2$d.Decemb. 1688. 
 —A Sermon Preached before the Houfe of Commons 31 January i*588. 
 
 being 
 
Books tate[y Printed for Richard Chifwell. 
 
 being the Thankfgiving day for the deliverance of this Kingdom from 
 Popery and Arbitrary Power. 
 •——His Eighteen Paper? relating to the Affairs of Church and State, du« 
 ring the Reign of King James the .Second. Seventeen whereof were 
 written in Holland, and firft Printed there ; the other at Exeter, foon 
 after the Prince of 0>ange\ Landing in England. 
 
 — •* A Letter to Mr. tbevenot. Containing a Cenfure of Mr. Le Grand's 
 
 Hiftory of A'ing Henrj the Eighth's Divorce. To which is added, a 
 Cenfure of Mr. de Meaux's Hiftory of the Variations of the Proteffant 
 Churches. Together with fome further ReflecYious on Mr Le Grand. 
 
 ———A Sermon Preached at the Corouation of William III. and Mary IF. 
 King and Queen of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland. At Weft- 
 tninftcr, April nth. 1689. 
 
 Dr. PARtR ICKS Parable of the Pilgrim. The Sixth Edition correfted. 
 
 A Private Prayer to be ulcd in difficult Times. 85. 
 
 Expofnion of the Ten Commandments: 80. 
 
 « His Sermon before the Prince of Orange, 20. January 16S8. 
 
 His Sermon before the Queen at Whitehall, March 1- 1688. 
 
 The Pillar and Ground of Truth : A Treatife fhewing that the Ro- 
 man Church falfly claims to be that Church, and the Pillar of that 
 Truth mentioned by St. .Paul in his firft Epiftle to Timothy Chap.^.v.i^. 
 
 —————His Sermon preached on St. Ptters day, published with Enlargements ■ 
 
 ———His Sermon preached at St. Pauls Client Garden , on the firft Sunday 
 in Lent, being a Second part of s Sermon preached before the 
 Prince of Orange newly publifhed. 
 
 Preparation for Death being a Letter fent to a Young Gentlewoman in France 
 in a d'rftemper of which me died, Ey WILLIAM IV A K E,M. A. 
 Preacher to the Honourable Society of Grays- Inn. 
 
 His Two Difcourfesof Purgatory and prayers for the Dead. 43. 
 
 —His Expofition of the Doftrine of the Church of England, in 
 
 the feveral Articles propofed by the late BISHOP of C N D J/, 
 [Jin his Expofition of the DoSrine of the Catholnl^ChurchJ 
 
 His Defence of theExpofitioa of the Doft.of zhcChurch of England ;agah{\ 
 
 the Exceptions of Mr. de Meanx,hte B. of Condom,:.<nd his Vindicator. 
 
 A Second Defence of the Expofition of the DocVine of the Church of 
 
 England, againfi the new Exceptions of Mcnfieur de A.eaux, late Bi- 
 fhop cf Condom, and his Vindicator. The FIRST PART: in 
 which the Account that has been given o: the Bilhop of Meauxs Ex- 
 pofition.. is fully Vindicated; the Difitinftion of Old and New Popery 
 YHftoiically aflerted.and the Doftrine of the ChWcfi of Rome, in point 
 of Image Worjhip, more particu.'ai iy confidered. 
 
 , ■ ■ ^Second Defence of the Expofition of the Doct. of the Church of. Eng- 
 
 landagzmil Mr. de MwHaand his Vindication, the SECOND PART. 
 
 \ A Continuation of the ftate of the Controverfie between the Church of 
 
 England and the Church of Rome, being a full account of the Books 
 that have been of late written on both fides. 
 
 _ An Hifiorical Treatife of Tranfubf ten nation. Written by an Author 
 
 cf the Comirunion of the Church of Rome $ rendred into EngMh 
 By Wtlliam Wal^e M. A. With a Preface. 
 
 Boolet 
 
Books lately Printed for Richard Chifwell. 
 
 Booh lately Publifietl. 
 
 Script orm Ecc left aft i cor um Hifloria Liter aria a Chrijlo nato ufque ad Ssculum XIV r 
 Faciti Methodo digtfia. Qua de Vita illorum ac Rebus geftis, de Sefta, Dog- 
 matibus, Elogio, $t)t$', de Scriptis geminis,dubiis, {uppo{ititiis,ineditis,de\*rditis, 
 Fragmentis; deque variis Operum Editionihus perfpicne agitur. Accedunt Script* 
 res Gentiles, Chriftian* Religions Oppugnatores ; for cujufvh Ssculi Breviarium. In- 
 ftrur.tur furs has Veterum aliquot Opufcula & Fragmenta, turn Gr&ca, turn Latina 
 bailenus inedita, Prsmijja denize Prolegomena, quibus plurima ad Antiquitatts 
 Ecclefiaflic&ftudixm fpeBantia traduntur. Opus Indicibus neceflariis inftruftum. 
 Autore GVILIELMO CAVE, SS. Theol. Profef. Canonico Windeforienft. Accedit ai> 
 AliatAanu appendix ab ineunte Sxculo XIV. ad Annum ufque MDXVII. Fol. 1689* 
 
 "A Letter Written by a Clergy Man to hisNcighbour concerning the prefent circura- 
 ftances of the Kingdom, and the Allegiance that is due to the King and C^ueen. 
 
 The Cafe of Allegiance in our prefent circumfrances confidered, in a Letter 
 from a Minifter in the City, to a Minifter in the Country. 
 
 A Sermon preached at Fulham, in the Chappel of the Palace upon Fafler day 
 1689. at the Confecration of the Right Reverend Father in God Gilbert Lord 
 Bifhop of Sarum : By Anthony ffrneck, D. D. 
 
 The Judgments of God upon the Roman Catholic^ Church, from its firfl Rigid 
 Laws for Univtrfal Conformity to it, unto its Iaft End With a profped of thefe 
 near approaching Revolutions, Vix. The Revival of the Protejfont profeflion in 
 an Eminent Kingdom, where it was totally fupprefled. The laft End of all 
 Turnip) HofHhties. The general Mortification of the power of the Roman 
 Church in all pares of its Dominions. In Explication of the Trumpets and Vials 
 of the Apocahpj'e, upon Principles generally acknowledged by Protejiant Inter- 
 preters. Ey bn<e Creffener, D. D. 
 
 A Breriate of the State of Scotland in its Government, Supream Courts, Of- 
 ficers of State, Inferiour Officers, Offices and I nferiour Courts, Diftrifts, Juris- 
 dictions, Burroughs Royal, and Free Corporations. Fol. 
 
 Seme Confiderations touching Succeffion and Allegiance. 
 
 A Difcourfe concerning the Worfhip of Images ; preached before the Umverfiry 
 of Oxford: By George Tully Sub- Dean of To\, for which he was procured to 
 be fufpendedby Obadiah Walter. 
 
 Reflexions upon the late Great Revolution: Written by a Lay- Hand in the 
 Country, for the fatisfacYion of fome Neighbours . 
 
 The Hiftory of the DilTertionj or an Account of all thepublick Affairs in En- 
 gland, from the beginning of September 1688. to the Twelfth of February follow- 
 ing. Wirh an Anfwer to a Piece call'd The Diflertion difcuffed, in a Letter to 
 a Country Gentleman. By a Perfon of Quality. , 
 
 K. William and K. Lewis, wherein is fet forth the inevitable neceffity thefe 
 Nations lie under of fubmitting wholly to one or other of thefe Kings •, And the 
 matter in Controverfie is not now between K • William and K, James, but be- 
 tween K. William and K. Lewis of Frane for the Government of thefe Nations. 
 
 An Examina o 1 of the S rubles of thofe who refufe to take the Oath of Al- 
 legiance, by a Dirine of the Church of England. 
 
 A Dialogue betwixt two Friends, a Jacobite and a Wdliamite ; occafon'd by 
 the iate R ? 1 .don of Affair-, and theOa:hof Allegiance. 
 
 Two Sermons, one againfr, Murmuring, the other againft Ccnfuring ; By Sy- 
 mm Partrtik; D. D. 
 
, 
 



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