James Stewart's answer to a letter writ by Mijn Heer Fagel, pensioner to the states of Holland & Wes Friesland concerning the repeal of the penal laws and tests.
         Answer to a letter writ by Mijn Heer Fagel
         Stewart, James, Sir, 1635-1713.
      
       
         
           1688
        
      
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             James Stewart's answer to a letter writ by Mijn Heer Fagel, pensioner to the states of Holland & Wes Friesland concerning the repeal of the penal laws and tests.
             Answer to a letter writ by Mijn Heer Fagel
             Stewart, James, Sir, 1635-1713.
          
           35 p.
           
             Printed and are to be sold by Andrew Sowle ...,
             London :
             1688.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Fagel, Gaspar, 1634-1688. -- Letter writ by Mijn Heer Fagel, pensioner of Holland, to Mr. James Stewart, advocate.
           Dissenters, Religious -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- England -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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             James
             Stewart's
          
           ANSWER
           To
           a
           Letter
           writ
           by
           Mijn
           Heer
           Fagel
           Pensioner
           to
           the
           States
           of
           Holland
           &
           West-Friesland
           ,
           Concerning
           the
           REPEAL
           Of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
             and
             Tests
          
           .
        
         
           This
           may
           be
           Printed
           ,
           
             Ja.
             Vernon
          
           .
        
         
           London
           ,
           Printed
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           ,
           by
           
             Andrew
             Sowle
          
           ,
           at
           the
           
             Three
             Kyes
          
           ,
           in
           
             Nags-Head
             Court
          
           ,
           in
           
             Grace-Church
             Street
          
           ,
           over-against
           the
           Conduit
           .
           1688.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           James
           Stewart's
           ANSWER
           To
           Pensioner
           Fagel's
           LETTER
           .
        
         
           
             My
             Lord
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Was
           so
           much
           surprised
           to
           see
           a
           Letter
           appear
           in
           Print
           ,
           in
           January
           last
           ,
           Entituled
           
             A
             Letter
             writ
             by
          
           Mijn
           Heer
           Fagel
           
             Pensioner
             of
          
           Holland
           to
           Mr
           James
           Stewart
           
             Advocate
             ,
             giving
             an
             account
             of
             the
          
           Prince
           and
           Princess
           of
           Orange's
           
             thoughts
             concerning
             the
             Repeal
             of
             the
             Tests
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ;
           that
           reflecting
           on
           my
           own
           meanness
           ,
           with
           the
           far
           different
           figure
           that
           your
           Lordship
           makes
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           withal
           considering
           the
           remoteness
           of
           the
           occasion
           given
           for
           
             that
             Letter
          
           ,
           the
           high
           and
           tender
           import
           of
           the
           matters
           therein
           treated
           ,
           with
           the
           obvious
           Singularity
           of
           such
           a
           forraign
           Interposition
           ,
           beyond
           all
           ordinary
           lines
           and
           rules
           ,
           I
           was
           ,
           at
           first
           inclined
           to
           dis-believe
           my
           own
           Eyes
           .
        
         
           True
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           after
           my
           return
           into
           England
           in
           July
           last
           ,
           I
           was
           so
           well
           satisfied
           with
           what
           I
           observed
           of
           his
           Majesties
           sincere
           Intention
           ,
           and
           steady
           Resolution
           ,
           to
           perfect
           the
           Settlement
           of
           our
           Religious
           Liberty
           by
           a
           Legal
           
           and
           Perpetual
           Establishment
           ,
           (
           which
           I
           doubted
           not
           would
           calm
           the
           late
           violent
           disstractions
           of
           these
           Kingdoms
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           end
           overcome
           that
           froward
           opposition
           which
           remains
           in
           some
           Spirits
           ,
           too
           narrow
           for
           such
           a
           Blessing
           )
           that
           I
           thought
           I
           could
           not
           ,
           in
           my
           little
           Sphere
           ,
           do
           a
           piece
           of
           better
           Service
           both
           to
           God
           and
           Man
           ,
           than
           to
           contribute
           my
           small
           endeavours
           ,
           towards
           the
           advancing
           of
           so
           good
           a
           Work
           ,
           and
           particularly
           ,
           towards
           the
           removing
           of
           some
           mistakes
           and
           jealousies
           ,
           which
           I
           knew
           to
           be
           entertained
           in
           those
           parts
           that
           I
           had
           left
           .
        
         
           For
           this
           end
           ,
           having
           obtained
           leave
           to
           write
           to
           a
           private
           Friend
           ,
           who
           I
           judged
           might
           have
           opportunity
           to
           represent
           any
           thing
           I
           could
           say
           ,
           to
           the
           best
           advantage
           ,
           I
           did
           by
           several
           Letters
           directed
           to
           him
           (
           for
           to
           your
           Lordship
           I
           neither
           sent
           nor
           directed
           any
           ,
           as
           looking
           upon
           that
           to
           be
           a
           thing
           not
           only
           too
           presumtuous
           ,
           but
           also
           most
           improper
           ,
           and
           against
           which
           I
           was
           expresly
           cautioned
           )
           declare
           in
           what
           a
           different
           posture
           I
           had
           found
           things
           in
           these
           Kingdoms
           ,
           from
           what
           I
           and
           others
           had
           believed
           them
           ,
           while
           I
           was
           in
           Holland
           ;
           and
           having
           in
           two
           of
           them
           especially
           ,
           (
           the
           only
           Letters
           intended
           for
           communication
           )
           laid
           down
           for
           my
           ground
           his
           Majesties
           Sincerity
           in
           all
           this
           affair
           ,
           evident
           not
           only
           by
           his
           Royal
           Word
           ,
           but
           even
           demonstrable
           by
           things
           themselves
           ,
           I
           proceeded
           to
           evince
           by
           a
           few
           Arguments
           the
           Equity
           and
           Expediency
           of
           repealing
           both
           Tests
           and
           
             Penal
             Lawes
          
           ,
           and
           that
           with
           a
           peculiar
           regard
           to
           the
           Prince
           and
           Princess
           of
           Orange's
           interest
           .
        
         
           And
           being
           grieved
           in
           my self
           at
           the
           consideration
           of
           
           their
           Highnesses
           Reluctancy
           to
           the
           thing
           ,
           and
           Uneasiness
           about
           it
           ,
           especially
           as
           to
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           Test
           ;
           and
           wishing
           ,
           as
           I
           do
           still
           ,
           that
           from
           the
           beginning
           they
           had
           complyed
           more
           heartily
           with
           his
           Majesties
           pleasure
           for
           the
           establishing
           of
           this
           Liberty
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           would
           yet
           resolve
           to
           concur
           with
           him
           in
           it
           ,
           or
           that
           at
           least
           the
           obstruction
           of
           their
           known
           Dissent
           might
           be
           removed
           ;
           I
           adventured
           to
           add
           the
           best
           perswasives
           I
           could
           think
           on
           for
           that
           effect
           ;
           desiring
           in
           the
           end
           that
           what
           I
           had
           written
           should
           be
           imparted
           to
           Friends
           ,
           &
           chiefly
           to
           those
           at
           the
           Hague
           ,
           (
           whereof
           I
           hope
           your
           Lordship
           is
           still
           One
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           honour
           you
           were
           pleased
           to
           allow
           me
           while
           I
           was
           there
           )
           for
           their
           more
           full
           Information
           and
           Satisfaction
           .
           And
           this
           ,
           to
           the
           best
           of
           my
           remembrance
           ,
           is
           the
           Sum
           and
           Substance
           of
           all
           I
           writ
           on
           that
           occasion
           .
        
         
           To
           this
           ,
           after
           some
           waiting
           ,
           I
           had
           my
           Friends
           Answer
           ,
           telling
           me
           that
           he
           had
           confer'd
           with
           you
           upon
           the
           Subject
           ,
           and
           found
           that
           the
           Prince
           had
           already
           declared
           himself
           in
           these
           matters
           ,
           and
           particularly
           to
           the
           
             Lord
             Albeville
          
           His
           
             Majesties
             Envoy
          
           ;
           and
           that
           He
           was
           not
           to
           be
           moved
           to
           go
           any
           greater
           length
           in
           them
           than
           he
           had
           then
           exprest
           .
           That
           Answer
           having
           drawn
           from
           me
           a
           Return
           of
           some
           more
           earnest
           Expressions
           of
           my
           grief
           for
           so
           great
           an
           unhappiness
           ,
           I
           resolv'd
           to
           insist
           no
           further
           .
           Only
           my
           Friend
           insinuating
           that
           he
           had
           still
           hopes
           to
           get
           a
           more
           distinct
           and
           satisfying
           Answer
           from
           a
           better
           hand
           ,
           (
           tho
           without
           naming
           any
           person
           )
           I
           attended
           the
           issue
           :
           And
           accordingly
           about
           the
           beginning
           of
           November
           (
           almost
           three
           Months
           after
           my
           first
           Writing
           )
           he
           sent
           me
           
           a
           Letter
           from
           your
           Lordship
           writ
           in
           Latin
           ;
           with
           an
           English
           Version
           .
        
         
           Those
           I
           received
           at
           London
           :
           And
           acknowledge
           with
           all
           humility
           the
           singular
           Honour
           you
           were
           pleased
           to
           do
           me
           therein
           ;
           which
           on
           any
           other
           occasion
           I
           should
           certainly
           have
           expressed
           my
           sense
           of
           ,
           with
           all
           readiness
           .
           But
           finding
           them
           to
           be
           Letters
           directly
           from
           your
           Lordship
           ,
           (
           to
           whom
           I
           had
           not
           written
           )
           and
           that
           they
           contained
           an
           account
           of
           their
           Highnesses
           thoughts
           ,
           about
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           Tests
           and
           
             Penal
             Lawes
          
           ,
           (
           which
           I
           had
           not
           desired
           )
           together
           with
           your
           own
           Reasonings
           in
           justification
           thereof
           ;
           Both
           your
           publick
           Character
           ,
           and
           the
           matters
           treated
           ,
           moved
           me
           to
           put
           them
           immediately
           out
           of
           my
           hands
           ,
           in
           the
           most
           safe
           and
           dutiful
           manner
           ;
           resolving
           rather
           to
           refer
           my self
           to
           the
           knowledge
           that
           some
           persons
           had
           of
           my
           ways
           ,
           for
           clearing
           the
           mistake
           insinuated
           in
           the
           entry
           of
           your
           Letter
           ,
           (
           as
           if
           I
           had
           presumed
           to
           write
           to
           you
           ,
           or
           for
           such
           a
           purpose
           )
           than
           to
           pursue
           with
           more
           noise
           an
           explication
           of
           what
           I
           thought
           would
           proceed
           no
           further
           .
           Yet
           my
           Friend
           advising
           me
           ,
           by
           the
           next
           Post
           after
           that
           which
           brought
           your
           Letter
           ,
           that
           when
           you
           gave
           it
           to
           him
           ,
           you
           told
           him
           you
           had
           given
           out
           a
           Copy
           or
           two
           to
           Friends
           there
           ;
           And
           my
           Apprehensions
           suggesting
           that
           a
           Letter
           ,
           so
           dilligently
           and
           accurately
           writ
           upon
           so
           slender
           an
           occasion
           ,
           might
           either
           have
           a
           further
           prospect
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           be
           further
           made
           use
           of
           ,
           I
           immediately
           returned
           him
           answer
           ,
           that
           ,
           tho
           I
           was
           confident
           you
           were
           far
           from
           interposing
           in
           his
           Majesties
           affairs
           ,
           by
           causing
           any
           thing
           to
           
           be
           printed
           to
           his
           Disservice
           ,
           and
           no
           less
           assured
           that
           you
           would
           not
           suffer
           so
           obscure
           a
           name
           as
           mine
           to
           be
           unnecessarily
           heard
           of
           in
           so
           great
           matters
           ,
           yet
           I
           knew
           how
           ready
           some
           persons
           in
           your
           Parts
           were
           to
           lay
           hold
           on
           any
           thing
           that
           might
           cross
           his
           Majesties
           purpose
           for
           the
           Establishing
           of
           this
           Liberty
           ;
           and
           therfore
           I
           intreated
           him
           to
           use
           his
           utmost
           indeavours
           for
           the
           prevention
           thereof
           .
           And
           accordingly
           I
           had
           his
           return
           ,
           that
           though
           he
           feared
           you
           were
           no
           more
           Master
           of
           the
           Copies
           you
           had
           given
           out
           ,
           yet
           as
           to
           my
           private
           Letters
           ,
           writ
           so
           familiarly
           and
           ingenuously
           to
           himself
           ,
           he
           would
           undoubtedly
           secure
           them
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           truly
           when
           I
           first
           saw
           the
           
             printed
             Letter
          
           above
           mentioned
           ,
           and
           perceived
           by
           the
           Impression
           that
           it
           was
           done
           in
           Holland
           ,
           I
           did
           not
           doubt
           but
           it
           was
           done
           without
           your
           Lordships
           privity
           ,
           and
           therefore
           laid
           it
           aside
           without
           once
           Reading
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           now
           that
           there
           is
           come
           abroad
           a
           new
           Print
           in
           your
           Lordships
           name
           ,
           (
           upon
           what
           provocation
           I
           know
           not
           )
           which
           plainly
           affirms
           
             
               That
               you
               were
               very
               earnestly
               desired
               by
               me
               to
               write
               what
               were
               the
            
             Prince
             and
             Princess
             of
             Orange's
             
               thoughts
               ,
               concerning
               the
               Repealing
               of
               the
               Test
               and
               Penal
               Laws
               ,
               and
               that
               it
               was
               intimated
               to
               you
               that
               these
               pressing
               desires
               were
               made
               by
               his
            
             Majesties
             
               Knowledge
               and
               Allowance
            
             ;
          
           I
           can
           no
           longer
           forbear
           ,
           for
           the
           vindication
           of
           his
           Majesties
           Honour
           ,
           and
           my
           own
           Duty
           ,
           to
           crave
           leave
           to
           say
           ,
           with
           all
           submission
           ,
           that
           the
           difference
           of
           this
           Account
           from
           what
           I
           have
           above
           represented
           ,
           (
           and
           which
           I
           am
           sure
           is
           true
           in
           every
           point
           )
           must
           of
           necessity
           flow
           from
           some
           mistake
           in
           the
           Report
           you
           have
           had
           of
           my
           
           Letters
           .
           For
           since
           I
           did
           not
           write
           any
           Letter
           to
           your self
           ,
           and
           that
           my
           writing
           to
           my
           Friend
           was
           not
           out
           of
           any
           curiosity
           to
           know
           their
           Highnesses
           thoughts
           about
           the
           Repealing
           of
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           and
           Tests
           ,
           (
           which
           it
           is
           evident
           I
           already
           knew
           sufficiently
           ,
           and
           which
           had
           been
           ,
           as
           you
           well
           say
           ,
           before
           particularly
           signified
           to
           the
           Marquiss
           of
           Albeville
           )
           But
           for
           a
           quite
           different
           purpose
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           before
           ingenuously
           represented
           it
           ;
           How
           could
           his
           Majesties
           Knowledge
           and
           Allowance
           be
           avouched
           by
           me
           for
           that
           which
           was
           not
           ?
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           I
           find
           it
           said
           in
           one
           of
           mine
           ,
           
             That
             what
             I
             writ
             on
             the
             nineteenth
             of
          
           July
           
             was
             writ
             not
             only
             with
             Permission
             ,
             but
             according
             to
             his
          
           Majesties
           
             minde
             sufficiently
             expressed
          
           .
           And
           this
           may
           also
           have
           been
           elsewhere
           repeated
           in
           other
           terms
           .
           But
           it
           s
           as
           true
           that
           the
           intent
           and
           meaning
           of
           those
           words
           was
           only
           to
           inforce
           some
           Arguments
           I
           had
           used
           for
           Liberty
           ,
           which
           my
           Friend
           inclined
           to
           think
           I
           had
           too
           confidently
           advanced
           ;
           and
           no
           wayes
           to
           assume
           to
           my self
           an
           authority
           for
           writing
           what
           I
           really
           neither
           had
           writ
           ,
           nor
           intended
           to
           write
           .
           There
           being
           nothing
           more
           certain
           than
           that
           ,
           although
           his
           Majesty
           might
           have
           permitted
           me
           ,
           as
           he
           doth
           many
           others
           ,
           to
           use
           my
           little
           endeavours
           for
           the
           advancing
           of
           his
           Service
           ,
           yet
           it
           was
           never
           either
           thought
           by
           my self
           ,
           or
           moved
           to
           me
           by
           any
           other
           ,
           to
           write
           to
           your
           Lordship
           ,
           or
           to
           any
           other
           Person
           ,
           either
           in
           his
           Majesties
           name
           ,
           (
           a
           presumption
           and
           indecency
           which
           I
           cann
           ot
           mention
           without
           blushing
           )
           or
           in
           the
           name
           of
           any
           of
           his
           Secretaries
           :
           And
           neither
           was
           there
           the
           least
           necessity
           to
           inquire
           into
           their
           Highnesses
           thoughts
           in
           the
           aforesaid
           matter
           ,
           since
           they
           were
           already
           perfectly
           
           known
           ,
           and
           to
           none
           more
           distinctly
           than
           to
           his
           Majesty
           himself
           ,
           as
           all
           my
           Letters
           do
           very
           plainly
           suppose
           .
        
         
           Seeing
           therefore
           that
           this
           last
           Print
           doth
           ,
           in
           several
           passages
           ,
           intimate
           that
           your
           Letter
           of
           the
           Fourth
           of
           November
           was
           not
           only
           a
           true
           Letter
           ,
           but
           published
           by
           your
           order
           ,
           (
           tho
           I
           know
           not
           why
           it
           should
           insinuate
           as
           if
           that
           Letter
           had
           been
           first
           printed
           in
           England
           )
           and
           that
           any
           thing
           relating
           to
           me
           is
           manifestly
           extrinsick
           to
           the
           point
           of
           the
           reality
           of
           your
           Letter
           ;
           I
           cannot
           but
           again
           in
           all
           humility
           wish
           that
           
             Your
             Lordship
          
           had
           forborn
           to
           press
           so
           hard
           upon
           me
           ,
           for
           justifying
           a
           Publication
           which
           evidently
           was
           a
           pure
           Act
           of
           your
           own
           free
           choice
           ,
           and
           no
           doubt
           calculated
           for
           a
           far
           different
           End
           than
           what
           was
           by
           me
           intended
           .
        
         
           But
           since
           I
           have
           acknowledged
           that
           you
           did
           me
           the
           honour
           to
           write
           to
           me
           ,
           and
           that
           you
           now
           own
           the
           printed
           Copy
           to
           be
           the
           true
           Copy
           of
           what
           was
           so
           writ
           ,
           and
           thereby
           as
           it
           were
           call
           me
           to
           consider
           it
           more
           particularly
           ;
           I
           shall
           no
           longer
           decline
           the
           liberty
           you
           allow
           me
           ,
           but
           freely
           explain
           my
           thoughts
           upon
           it
           in
           all
           sincerity
           ;
           and
           submit
           them
           to
           your
           profound
           Judgment
           ;
           Especially
           seeing
           it
           is
           in
           order
           to
           no
           other
           Ends
           than
           those
           I
           formerly
           proposed
           ,
           and
           which
           I
           am
           perswaded
           You
           approve
           as
           much
           as
           I
           do
           .
        
         
           What
           you
           declare
           to
           be
           their
           Highnesses
           thoughts
           and
           opinion
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           Test
           and
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           not
           the
           Subject
           of
           my
           Inquiry
           ,
           so
           is
           it
           above
           the
           Sphere
           of
           my
           Consideration
           ;
           only
           seeing
           They
           seem
           to
           be
           under
           no
           restraint
           ,
           as
           to
           a
           full
           compliance
           
           with
           his
           Majesties
           design
           ,
           except
           from
           their
           care
           of
           the
           Security
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           I
           am
           not
           without
           hopes
           that
           ,
           when
           they
           shall
           have
           considered
           his
           Majesties
           no
           less
           express
           Purpose
           for
           the
           Establishment
           of
           Liberty
           ,
           (
           the
           only
           Secular
           Security
           and
           Advantage
           that
           Gods
           Religion
           requires
           )
           than
           for
           the
           procuring
           of
           the
           aforesaid
           Repeal
           in
           order
           to
           Men's
           just
           Relief
           ,
           Their
           Highnesses
           second
           Thoughts
           may
           yet
           happily
           advance
           ,
           and
           ripen
           so
           fair
           an
           Appearance
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           Question
           ,
           as
           by
           me
           formerly
           stated
           ,
           was
           precisely
           ,
           
             Whether
             all
             Protestant
             Dissenters
             ought
             not
             to
             concur
             with
             his
             Majesty
             ,
             by
             contributing
             their
             best
             Endeavours
             to
             have
             the
             Penal
             Laws
             in
             matters
             of
             Religion
             and
             Conscience
             abrogated
             ,
             and
             the
             present
             Liberty
             legally
             Established
             and
             Fixt
             ;
             And
             whether
             ,
             if
             his
             Majesty
             should
             in
             Favour
             of
             his
             
               Roman
               Catholick
            
             Subjects
             think
             fit
             to
             make
             the
             abrogating
             of
             the
             Test
             a
             condition
             of
             the
             continuance
             of
             his
             Grant
             of
             Liberty
             ,
             He
             ought
             not
             in
             this
             also
             to
             be
             readily
             gratified
             ,
             for
             so
             great
             a
             Favour
             .
          
           Now
           your
           Agreement
           as
           to
           the
           entire
           abrogation
           of
           all
           Penal
           Coercive
           Laws
           is
           altogether
           becoming
           your
           Sound
           Judgment
           and
           Christian
           Charity
           .
           Your
           Haesitation
           seems
           to
           be
           about
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Test
           ,
           and
           those
           other
           Laws
           made
           for
           excluding
           RomanCatholicks
           from
           Publick
           Trusts
           ,
           and
           securing
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           ;
           to
           the
           repeal
           whereof
           you
           think
           no
           Protestant
           can
           in
           Conscience
           consent
           .
           And
           the
           sum
           and
           force
           of
           all
           your
           Reasonings
           resolves
           into
           this
           ;
           
             That
             the
             Laws
             for
             the
             Test
             and
             disabling
             Roman
             Cotholicks
             to
             enjoy
             Publick
             Trusts
             contain
             no
             Severities
             against
             them
             ,
             nor
             import
             any
             wrong
             that
             any
             who
             cannot
             comply
             
             with
             their
             Conditions
             ought
             justly
             to
             complain
             of
             ;
             But
             that
             they
             were
             fairly
             made
             according
             to
             the
             Custom
             of
             all
             Christian
             States
             ,
             and
             the
             very
             Natural
             Right
             of
             all
             Politick
             Bodies
             ,
             who
             have
             ever
             made
             Laws
             for
             securing
             the
             publick
             established
             Religion
             ,
             and
             their
             own
             Safety
             ,
             by
             excluding
             the
             Enemies
             thereof
             from
             all
             Publick
             Employments
             .
             And
             the
             Law
             for
             the
             Test
             being
             of
             this
             Sort
             ,
             you
             conclude
             that
             the
             Repeal
             of
             it
             would
             take
             away
             all
             the
             Security
             of
             the
             Protestant
             Religion
             ,
             and
             expose
             the
             Nation
             to
             most
             certain
             Danger
             ;
             Because
             All
             Governours
             do
             naturally
             favour
             those
             of
             their
             own
             Religion
             ;
             and
             the
             way
             of
             Roman
             Catholicks
             is
             so
             unequal
             towards
             Protestants
             ,
             that
             it
             must
             be
             concluded
             they
             would
             never
             agree
             with
             them
             in
             the
             joynt-administration
             of
             Publick
             Trusts
             ,
             but
             would
             press
             his
             Majesty
             in
             Conscience
             until
             they
             were
             possessed
             of
             All
             ,
             even
             to
             the
             depriving
             Protestants
             of
             the
             Support
             of
             the
             Law
             ,
             and
             Protection
             of
             the
             Magistrate
             .
          
           So
           that
           on
           the
           one
           hand
           it
           is
           indeed
           manifest
           by
           the
           whole
           substance
           of
           your
           Discourse
           That
           ,
           if
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           Test
           and
           Admission
           of
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           to
           Publick
           Employments
           do
           take
           away
           all
           the
           Security
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           and
           expose
           it
           to
           Ruin
           ;
           then
           no
           true
           Protestant
           ought
           to
           consent
           to
           it
           :
           But
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           it
           follows
           no
           less
           evidently
           ,
           That
           if
           it
           can
           be
           shewed
           that
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           may
           be
           sufficiently
           secured
           without
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Test
           ,
           and
           moreover
           that
           the
           Legal
           Establishment
           of
           the
           present
           Liberty
           (
           as
           design'd
           by
           his
           Majesty
           )
           doth
           in
           all
           probability
           tend
           more
           to
           the
           Advantage
           than
           Prejudice
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           ;
           then
           they
           both
           may
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           do
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           because
           the
           matters
           in
           hand
           do
           ,
           above
           all
           others
           ,
           require
           a
           clear
           and
           sound
           minde
           ,
           free
           from
           all
           prejudice
           
           and
           pre-possession
           ,
           and
           are
           not
           to
           be
           determined
           by
           general
           rules
           only
           and
           abstract
           notions
           ,
           but
           ought
           to
           be
           examined
           with
           a
           just
           exactness
           in
           all
           their
           circumstances
           ;
           Before
           I
           go
           any
           further
           ,
           I
           must
           intreat
           you
           (
           in
           the
           first
           place
           )
           to
           remember
           the
           solid
           Reflection
           you
           make
           in
           your
           Letter
           upon
           the
           Spirituality
           &
           Heavenliness
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           :
           Which
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           if
           duly
           considered
           and
           improved
           ,
           would
           not
           only
           convince
           others
           ,
           as
           it
           doth
           you
           ,
           of
           the
           absurdity
           of
           all
           forcible
           and
           compulsory
           methods
           for
           its
           advancement
           ,
           but
           also
           compose
           and
           sweeten
           Mens
           minds
           ,
           and
           thereby
           prepare
           them
           to
           a
           more
           clear
           understanding
           and
           equitable
           determination
           of
           the
           point
           in
           Controversie
           .
        
         
           That
           Faith
           and
           Obedience
           towards
           God
           (
           which
           are
           only
           so
           far
           acceptable
           to
           him
           ,
           so
           they
           proceed
           from
           a
           willing
           minde
           )
           cannot
           be
           constrained
           ,
           without
           an
           open
           mockery
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           violence
           to
           the
           rights
           of
           Men
           ,
           is
           a
           plain
           dictate
           of
           Reason
           ,
           which
           all
           Times
           and
           Dispensations
           have
           acknowledged
           .
           But
           more
           especially
           that
           gentle
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           which
           Christ
           so
           often
           owns
           and
           recommends
           ,
           and
           whose
           Characters
           are
           so
           visible
           in
           all
           his
           own
           and
           his
           Apostles
           Practices
           ,
           seems
           to
           carry
           the
           thing
           yet
           a
           greater
           length
           .
           I
           need
           not
           put
           you
           in
           minde
           that
           the
           Gospel
           was
           not
           sent
           (
           as
           the
           Law
           )
           unto
           One
           ,
           but
           unto
           All
           Nations
           ;
           that
           our
           Lord
           ,
           by
           asserting
           his
           Kingdom
           not
           to
           be
           of
           this
           World
           ,
           doth
           not
           only
           assure
           to
           all
           men
           their
           Civil
           Rights
           ,
           as
           then
           by
           them
           possessed
           ,
           but
           in
           my
           opinion
           removes
           its
           Administration
           further
           than
           is
           commonly
           supposed
           from
           all
           Secular
           Mixtures
           ;
           And
           that
           God's
           Choice
           of
           the
           Foolishness
           
           and
           Weakness
           of
           Men
           for
           its
           Propagation
           (
           design
           edly
           and
           expresly
           to
           the
           greater
           commendation
           of
           the
           power
           of
           his
           Grace
           )
           doth
           very
           probably
           supercede
           much
           of
           that
           humane
           Caution
           which
           men
           have
           thought
           fit
           ,
           but
           never
           with
           any
           Success
           ,
           to
           add
           to
           his
           better
           Counsel
           .
           But
           undoubtedly
           if
           any
           man
           seriously
           ponders
           how
           the
           Gospel
           at
           first
           set
           out
           ,
           and
           how
           by
           its
           own
           pure
           and
           spiritual
           Weapons
           ,
           without
           any
           assistance
           of
           men's
           Laws
           ,
           it
           prospered
           ,
           to
           the
           subduing
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           at
           the
           same
           time
           call
           to
           mind
           that
           certain
           Truth
           ,
           That
           every
           thing
           is
           best
           preserved
           by
           the
           same
           Causes
           that
           produced
           it
           ;
           He
           will
           hardly
           be
           induced
           to
           think
           that
           these
           Exclusive
           Laws
           ,
           which
           you
           say
           are
           now
           so
           Customary
           in
           all
           Christian
           Kingdoms
           and
           States
           ,
           are
           indeed
           so
           necessary
           as
           is
           imagined
           for
           the
           Conservation
           and
           Security
           of
           Religion
           .
           For
           my
           part
           ,
           when
           I
           reflect
           on
           plain
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           viz.
           That
           when
           the
           Gospel
           did
           at
           first
           get
           footing
           in
           Cities
           or
           Kingdoms
           ,
           and
           its
           Disciples
           came
           afterwards
           to
           be
           persecuted
           by
           the
           Government
           and
           Body
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           still
           Pagan
           ,
           (
           it
           may
           be
           by
           Tests
           as
           well
           as
           other
           Penal
           Laws
           )
           they
           did
           not
           lay
           the
           stress
           of
           their
           Apologies
           upon
           the
           Truth
           of
           their
           Profession
           (
           which
           they
           knew
           their
           Persecutors
           rejected
           )
           but
           only
           upon
           their
           Civil
           Rights
           and
           Liberties
           ,
           as
           Men
           ;
           I
           cannot
           but
           think
           it
           very
           unjustifiable
           for
           the
           same
           Persons
           ,
           or
           others
           of
           the
           same
           Perswasion
           (
           when
           afterwards
           grown
           more
           numerous
           and
           powerful
           )
           to
           retaliate
           the
           same
           dealing
           to
           their
           old
           Adversaries
           .
           But
           ,
           not
           to
           press
           too
           hard
           upon
           these
           Excluding
           Laws
           ,
           which
           I
           believe
           many
           ,
           thinking
           piously
           that
           Gods
           Gift
           deserved
           their
           best
           care
           ,
           
           have
           introduced
           in
           great
           sincerity
           ;
           I
           shall
           only
           add
           ,
           that
           as
           it
           is
           evident
           they
           were
           never
           any
           where
           enacted
           for
           the
           Preservation
           of
           Religion
           ,
           until
           Religion
           had
           first
           prevailed
           and
           done
           its
           greatest
           work
           ,
           So
           the
           best
           Effects
           they
           have
           ever
           produced
           ,
           have
           always
           been
           ,
           either
           to
           make
           Hypocritical
           Converts
           ,
           or
           else
           to
           distinguish
           ,
           irritate
           ,
           and
           unite
           into
           a
           Factious
           Obstinacy
           ,
           such
           as
           in
           probability
           would
           sooner
           have
           yielded
           to
           a
           more
           equal
           and
           moderate
           Treatment
           .
           But
           the
           best
           of
           it
           is
           ,
           That
           tho
           a
           Ruling
           Clergy
           ,
           (
           the
           worst
           of
           Politicians
           )
           have
           always
           been
           observed
           to
           be
           most
           forward
           to
           procure
           such
           Sanctions
           ,
           Yet
           are
           they
           still
           but
           Human
           Laws
           and
           Expedients
           ,
           and
           therefore
           absolutely
           at
           the
           disposal
           of
           the
           same
           Powers
           that
           made
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           in
           the
           next
           place
           ,
           Since
           you
           have
           been
           pleased
           to
           interpose
           so
           far
           in
           our
           Affairs
           ,
           let
           me
           now
           intreat
           you
           to
           enlarge
           your
           Thoughts
           a
           little
           further
           upon
           our
           present
           Circumstances
           .
           The
           King
           is
           our
           Soveraign
           ;
           And
           his
           Majesties
           Perswasion
           and
           Religion
           ,
           with
           what
           he
           hath
           already
           done
           ,
           and
           may
           hereafter
           do
           ,
           as
           also
           what
           he
           designs
           to
           have
           done
           in
           Parliament
           touching
           this
           Liberty
           ,
           are
           su●●●…ently
           known
           :
           Nor
           are
           you
           altogether
           a
           Stranger
           to
           the
           State
           of
           Religion
           ,
           the
           Parties
           who
           compose
           it
           ,
           the
           Laws
           made
           about
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           Effects
           they
           have
           produced
           ,
           within
           these
           Kingdoms
           .
           Now
           for
           my
           part
           ,
           I
           heartily
           wish
           that
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           had
           always
           been
           as
           much
           Protestant
           as
           at
           present
           she
           pretends
           to
           be
           ;
           That
           now
           ,
           when
           she
           hath
           leisure
           ,
           She
           may
           no
           less
           zealously
           mind
           and
           cleave
           to
           her
           own
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           its
           sincere
           Lovers
           ,
           than
           sometime
           we
           have
           seen
           her
           violent
           for
           her
           
           Ceremonies
           ,
           and
           angry
           at
           Men
           that
           were
           not
           of
           her
           Fashion
           ;
           and
           ,
           what
           ever
           may
           be
           the
           issue
           of
           things
           ,
           That
           all
           
             Protestant
             Dissenters
          
           may
           always
           love
           her
           more
           (
           if
           more
           be
           possible
           )
           for
           our
           agreement
           in
           Substantials
           ,
           than
           she
           hath
           hated
           and
           persecuted
           them
           for
           their
           disagreement
           in
           Circumstantials
           .
           But
           considering
           what
           opinion
           some
           Men
           have
           entertained
           about
           the
           good
           effects
           of
           these
           Penal
           and
           Exclusive
           Laws
           ,
           And
           ,
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           what
           Sufferings
           many
           Thousands
           of
           Protestants
           have
           in
           all
           times
           undergone
           ,
           and
           should
           still
           in
           all
           appearance
           have
           undergone
           by
           them
           ,
           even
           to
           their
           utter
           undoing
           ,
           if
           his
           Majesty
           had
           not
           graciously
           vouchsafed
           to
           hinder
           it
           ;
           And
           observing
           at
           the
           same
           time
           how
           improbable
           ,
           or
           rather
           impossible
           ,
           it
           is
           that
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           if
           in
           Power
           ,
           should
           either
           remain
           without
           those
           Laws
           ,
           or
           suffer
           those
           Laws
           to
           remain
           without
           Execution
           ;
           I
           must
           humbly
           crave
           leave
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           for
           
             Protestant
             Dissenters
          
           to
           neglect
           the
           present
           opportunity
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           comply
           with
           his
           Majesties
           pleasure
           to
           have
           them
           totally
           and
           for
           ever
           abrogated
           ,
           is
           ,
           in
           my
           opinion
           ,
           no
           better
           than
           to
           reject
           the
           Goodness
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           abandon
           themselves
           to
           their
           Adversaries
           .
           It
           hath
           been
           the
           fate
           of
           these
           Kingdoms
           since
           the
           first
           beginning
           of
           our
           Reformation
           ,
           that
           all
           Parties
           ,
           
             Papist
             ,
             Protestant
             ,
             Prelate
             ,
             Presbyterian
             ,
          
           and
           Independent
           also
           ,
           have
           in
           their
           several
           turns
           ,
           both
           practised
           Persecution
           and
           repented
           their
           doing
           it
           :
           And
           now
           of
           late
           when
           the
           last
           Scene
           was
           the
           blackest
           ,
           and
           mens
           troubles
           were
           further
           hightened
           by
           their
           apprehensions
           of
           what
           was
           to
           come
           ,
           It
           hath
           pleased
           God
           to
           raise
           us
           up
           a
           Prince
           ,
           Who
           tho
           he
           be
           of
           another
           Perswasion
           ,
           and
           
           had
           (
           as
           all
           thinking
           men
           must
           grant
           )
           the
           fairest
           advantage
           to
           promote
           it
           ,
           by
           pnrsuing
           only
           those
           methods
           which
           he
           found
           ready
           disposed
           to
           his
           hand
           ;
           yet
           hath
           been
           pleased
           ,
           out
           of
           his
           just
           consideration
           of
           the
           true
           Rights
           of
           God
           and
           Man
           ,
           and
           his
           tender
           and
           fatherly
           care
           of
           all
           his
           People
           ,
           to
           deliver
           us
           out
           of
           bondage
           ,
           and
           introduce
           us
           into
           a
           State
           of
           Christian
           Liberty
           .
           This
           as
           it
           is
           his
           Majesties
           peculiar
           glory
           ,
           denied
           to
           all
           his
           predecessors
           ,
           ought
           the
           rather
           to
           be
           closed
           withal
           by
           his
           People
           .
           And
           surely
           we
           are
           not
           justly
           blamable
           ,
           if
           neither
           the
           unhappy
           relicks
           of
           old
           Prejudices
           ,
           nor
           present
           Jealousies
           ,
           nor
           even
           future
           Hopes
           ,
           do
           hinder
           us
           from
           embracing
           the
           present
           opportunity
           of
           securing
           to
           our selves
           and
           to
           our
           posterity
           so
           great
           a
           Blessing
           .
        
         
           The
           greatest
           part
           of
           what
           I
           have
           here
           said
           I
           know
           you
           will
           readily
           assent
           to
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           is
           only
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Test
           ,
           (
           which
           you
           judg
           to
           be
           both
           righteous
           and
           necessary
           )
           that
           you
           would
           have
           still
           maintained
           .
           And
           therefore
           (
           referring
           my
           full
           Answer
           upon
           that
           head
           to
           its
           proper
           place
           )
           I
           shall
           only
           here
           again
           put
           you
           in
           mind
           that
           the
           King
           is
           our
           Soveraign
           ,
           whose
           power
           goes
           far
           ,
           both
           as
           to
           the
           bestowing
           of
           Publick
           Imployments
           ,
           and
           also
           as
           to
           the
           continuing
           or
           restraining
           of
           our
           present
           Liberty
           at
           his
           pleasure
           ;
           That
           it
           is
           to
           me
           unaccountable
           how
           any
           Protestant
           should
           think
           the
           enjoyment
           of
           our
           present
           Liberty
           not
           to
           be
           more
           valuable
           than
           all
           our
           exclusive
           Laws
           ;
           and
           that
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           above
           given
           a
           hint
           of
           my
           own
           sense
           of
           all
           such
           human
           cautions
           ,
           so
           I
           hope
           it
           will
           easily
           be
           made
           appear
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           neither
           that
           security
           in
           the
           Test
           nor
           danger
           in
           its
           Repeal
           ,
           which
           
           some
           Men
           ,
           pretending
           in
           shew
           to
           keep
           up
           the
           Test
           against
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           ,
           but
           intending
           in
           reallity
           to
           keep
           up
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           against
           Protestant
           Dissenters
           ,
           would
           gladly
           have
           you
           and
           other
           Strangers
           to
           believe
           ,
           on
           their
           bare
           assertion
           .
        
         
           But
           further
           yet
           ,
           I
           would
           again
           humbly
           beseech
           you
           to
           observe
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           not
           a
           simple
           Repeal
           of
           Tests
           and
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           that
           his
           Majesty
           proposes
           ,
           but
           really
           and
           principally
           the
           Establishment
           of
           an
           equal
           and
           fair
           Liberty
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           onely
           Secular
           Advantage
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           already
           said
           ,
           that
           true
           Religion
           requires
           .
           Men
           talk
           ordinarily
           of
           the
           repeal
           of
           Tests
           and
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           as
           if
           that
           were
           the
           only
           thing
           intended
           :
           And
           thereupon
           their
           Minds
           are
           immediately
           over-clouded
           with
           this
           Prejudice
           ;
           That
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           
             must
             needs
             be
             thereby
             divested
             of
             all
             Legal
             Security
             .
          
           Whereas
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           if
           they
           would
           take
           notice
           how
           careful
           
             His
             Majesty
          
           hath
           been
           in
           His
           first
           Proclamation
           ,
           and
           in
           His
           Answer
           to
           most
           of
           the
           Addresses
           ,
           to
           declare
           himself
           for
           such
           a
           just
           and
           secure
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           as
           may
           for
           ever
           set
           us
           free
           from
           Persecutions
           and
           Impositions
           ,
           and
           how
           ,
           in
           His
           late
           Proclamation
           of
           the
           Twenty
           seventh
           of
           April
           last
           ,
           He
           publisheth
           his
           Resolution
           to
           use
           his
           utmost
           indeavours
           
             
               to
               establish
               Liberty
               of
               Conscience
               on
               such
               just
               and
               equal
               Foundations
               as
               will
               render
               it
               unalterable
               ,
               and
               secure
               to
               all
               People
               the
               free
               exercise
               of
               their
               Religion
               for
               ever
            
             ;
          
           They
           might
           easily
           rest
           satisfied
           that
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           is
           to
           lose
           none
           of
           the
           Security
           she
           now
           enjoys
           ,
           by
           all
           that
           is
           intended
           ;
           save
           only
           the
           power
           of
           Persecuting
           and
           Imposing
           upon
           others
           ,
           which
           you
           your self
           do
           Condemn
           .
        
         
         
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           you
           think
           the
           imposing
           of
           Tests
           upon
           all
           Persons
           in
           publick
           Imployments
           is
           no
           undue
           Imposition
           .
           But
           whether
           it
           be
           so
           or
           not
           ,
           and
           whether
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Test
           be
           that
           great
           and
           indispensible
           Security
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           which
           you
           indeavour
           to
           make
           it
           ,
           I
           shall
           now
           go
           on
           to
           consider
           .
           And
           because
           in
           effect
           nothing
           can
           be
           added
           to
           what
           hath
           been
           so
           fully
           said
           ,
           and
           often
           repeated
           ,
           by
           others
           ,
           on
           this
           Subject
           ,
           I
           shall
           do
           it
           with
           all
           possible
           brevity
           .
        
         
           You
           say
           then
           against
           the
           repeal
           of
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Test
           ,
           and
           other
           exclusive
           Laws
           ;
           First
           ,
           
             That
             they
             contain
             no
             unjust
             Severity
             .
          
           2dly
           ,
           
             That
             such
             Laws
             are
             agreeable
             to
             the
             Right
             and
             Rules
             of
             all
             Kingdoms
             and
             Civil
             Societies
             ,
             and
             are
             used
             in
             all
             Christian
             Kingdoms
             and
             Common-Wealths
             .
             And
          
           3dly
           ,
           
             That
             they
             are
             the
             chief
             Security
             of
             the
          
           Protestant
           Religion
           
             in
             these
             Kingdoms
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             taking
             them
             away
             would
             expose
             both
             the
          
           Protestant
           Religion
           
             and
             the
          
           People
           
             of
             these
             Kingdoms
             to
             Danger
             and
             Ruin.
             
          
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           first
           ,
           whether
           the
           exclusive
           Laws
           contain
           any
           unjust
           Severity
           I
           shall
           not
           much
           contend
           .
           It
           is
           known
           that
           within
           these
           few
           Years
           we
           have
           had
           in
           
             England
             Tests
          
           of
           several
           Fashions
           ,
           and
           for
           divers
           Perswasions
           ,
           and
           that
           some
           of
           them
           have
           been
           so
           severe
           as
           to
           throw
           Men
           not
           only
           out
           of
           publick
           Imployments
           ,
           but
           out
           of
           their
           private
           Callings
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           deprive
           them
           of
           their
           
             Daily
             Bread.
          
           A
           Man
           may
           also
           adventure
           to
           say
           that
           ,
           all
           things
           duly
           weighed
           ,
           
             Those
             pretended
             pious
             and
             political
             Tests
          
           have
           in
           our
           real
           Experience
           been
           more
           prejudicial
           to
           the
           true
           Interest
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           Peace
           and
           Wel-fare
           of
           these
           Nations
           ,
           than
           ever
           their
           total
           Repeal
           can
           ,
           in
           the
           most
           
           strained
           rational
           Conjecture
           ,
           be
           hurtful
           to
           either
           of
           them
           .
           So
           strange
           and
           unaccountable
           a
           thing
           is
           this
           humour
           of
           Testing
           .
        
         
           But
           seeing
           you
           seem
           to
           confine
           your self
           to
           the
           Test
           against
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           appointed
           principally
           for
           the
           two
           Houses
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           I
           shall
           add
           more
           particularly
           ;
           First
           ,
           that
           according
           to
           what
           I
           have
           above
           touched
           ,
           this
           appears
           to
           be
           but
           an
           extraneous
           unwarranted
           human
           Caution
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           may
           justly
           be
           thought
           strange
           that
           ,
           after
           Religion
           had
           through
           its
           own
           heavenly
           Power
           and
           Methods
           prevailed
           against
           all
           the
           human
           Laws
           ,
           Councils
           ,
           and
           other
           hinderances
           that
           stood
           in
           its
           way
           ,
           Men
           should
           relaps
           ,
           from
           such
           Divine
           Grounds
           of
           Confidence
           ,
           to
           their
           own
           weak
           Contrivances
           ,
           for
           its
           support
           and
           continuance
           :
           And
           further
           ,
           that
           ,
           however
           innocent
           you
           may
           now
           judge
           this
           Injunction
           to
           be
           ;
           
             Take
             the
          
           Test
           ,
           
             or
             quit
             all
             publick
             Imployments
          
           ;
           Yet
           I
           am
           fully
           assured
           ,
           that
           ,
           If
           in
           the
           Primitive
           times
           a
           Prince
           or
           other
           Magistrate
           ,
           turning
           Christian
           ,
           had
           ,
           for
           the
           better
           Conservation
           of
           his
           Religion
           ,
           set
           forth
           an
           Edict
           to
           his
           still
           Pagan
           Subjects
           ,
           commanding
           them
           to
           
             Turn
             from
             vain
             Idols
             to
             serve
             the
             Living
             and
             True
             God
             ,
             or
             else
             to
             forsake
             all
             publick
             Places
             and
             Trusts
             ,
          
           He
           would
           have
           been
           Condemned
           for
           it
           by
           Christ
           and
           all
           his
           Apostles
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           That
           the
           effects
           of
           such
           Exclusions
           in
           all
           times
           have
           been
           no
           better
           than
           their
           Causes
           ;
           and
           that
           ,
           instead
           of
           preserving
           and
           securing
           our
           Religion
           ,
           they
           have
           onely
           brought
           into
           it
           hypocritical
           and
           false
           Converts
           ,
           or
           provoked
           those
           that
           were
           rejected
           to
           a
           more
           froward
           Obstinacy
           ,
           and
           worse
           Practices
           ,
           who
           otherwise
           might
           have
           
           been
           gained
           by
           Gentleness
           and
           Patience
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           genuine
           Methods
           of
           true
           Christianity
           .
        
         
           And
           Thirdly
           ,
           That
           those
           who
           by
           Birth-right
           have
           a
           real
           Title
           to
           all
           the
           Honours
           and
           Priviledges
           of
           Peerage
           ,
           And
           even
           All
           Men
           ,
           Who
           ,
           upon
           the
           like
           ground
           ,
           do
           naturally
           judge
           that
           they
           have
           at
           least
           an
           equal
           right
           of
           access
           to
           Places
           and
           Preferments
           in
           the
           Societies
           whereof
           they
           are
           Members
           with
           others
           of
           their
           Degree
           and
           Quality
           ,
           will
           never
           be
           perswaded
           to
           think
           that
           there
           is
           no
           
             unjust
             Severity
          
           in
           those
           excluding
           Laws
           which
           deprive
           them
           either
           of
           their
           acknowledged
           Priviledge
           ,
           or
           no
           less
           valuable
           Pretensions
           .
           And
           since
           you
           are
           pleased
           to
           tell
           us
           That
           it
           is
           their
           Highnesses
           Judgment
           ,
           
             That
             no
             man
             should
             be
             ill
             used
             because
             he
             differs
             from
             the
             Publick
             and
             Established
             Religion
             ,
          
           I
           question
           a
           little
           how
           you
           can
           reconcile
           the
           
             deposing
             of
             Peers
          
           ,
           and
           
             civil
             Excommunication
          
           of
           all
           others
           ,
           (
           which
           I
           am
           sure
           is
           no
           good
           usage
           )
           for
           not
           taking
           the
           Test
           ,
           to
           so
           true
           and
           honest
           a
           Judgment
           .
           It
           is
           easie
           for
           men
           who
           have
           either
           got
           themselves
           into
           publick
           Places
           ,
           or
           got
           above
           the
           desire
           of
           such
           Places
           by
           a
           true
           
             Christian
             Mortification
          
           ,
           to
           say
           with
           you
           ,
           
             That
             it
             is
             but
             a
             small
             ,
             if
             indeed
             any
             ,
             Advantage
             to
             have
             a
             share
             in
             the
             Government
             .
          
           But
           ,
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           If
           it
           be
           considered
           that
           ,
           As
           hundreds
           of
           Freemen
           can
           willingly
           confine
           themselves
           to
           the
           narrow
           corner
           of
           a
           private
           House
           ,
           who
           yet
           could
           not
           endure
           to
           be
           imprisoned
           in
           a
           Palace
           ,
           So
           it
           is
           the
           Exclusion
           ,
           especially
           when
           lookt
           upon
           as
           Causeless
           and
           Unjust
           ,
           that
           in
           this
           Case
           is
           really
           grievous
           ,
           I
           am
           perswaded
           no
           impartial
           man
           will
           undertake
           to
           vindicate
           the
           Laws
           that
           enacted
           it
           from
           a
           great
           measure
           of
           Severity
           .
           And
           this
           I
           say
           from
           so
           
           disinteressed
           and
           so
           unbyassed
           a
           Judgment
           ,
           that
           ,
           for
           my
           own
           part
           ,
           I
           sincerely
           protest
           that
           I
           am
           not
           only
           well
           content
           with
           my
           present
           Condition
           ,
           but
           (
           if
           it
           might
           in
           any
           sort
           facilitate
           his
           Majesties
           Christian
           design
           of
           Liberty
           )
           I
           would
           also
           readily
           consent
           that
           all
           Dissenters
           ,
           and
           my self
           amongst
           the
           rest
           ,
           should
           be
           made
           incapable
           of
           all
           the
           more
           tempting
           publick
           Imployments
           for
           ever
           .
        
         
           But
           for
           justifying
           of
           these
           exclusive
           Laws
           ,
           you
           say
           in
           the
           second
           place
           ,
           
             That
             they
             are
             agreeable
             to
             the
             Right
             and
             Rules
             of
             all
             Kingdoms
             and
             Civil
             Societies
             ,
             to
             whom
             it
             was
             never
             denied
             to
             make
             Laws
             for
             their
             own
             safety
             ,
             and
             for
             that
             end
             to
             prescribe
             the
             Conditions
             and
             Qualities
             that
             they
             judge
             necessary
             for
             all
             that
             shall
             bear
             publick
             Imployments
             .
          
           Now
           that
           all
           Governours
           may
           and
           ought
           to
           make
           rational
           and
           just
           Laws
           for
           their
           safety
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           due
           conferring
           of
           their
           publick
           Imployments
           ,
           is
           in
           my
           mind
           so
           little
           to
           be
           doubted
           ,
           that
           it
           needed
           not
           at
           all
           to
           have
           been
           mentioned
           .
           The
           only
           Speculation
           proper
           for
           our
           case
           is
           ,
           
             Whether
             These
             Exclusive
             Laws
             upon
             the
             account
             of
             difference
             in
             Religion
             ,
          
           be
           either
           warrantable
           or
           profitable
           .
           And
           seeing
           that
           I
           have
           already
           told
           you
           that
           they
           not
           only
           incroach
           upon
           Mens
           natural
           and
           civil
           Rights
           and
           Liberties
           ,
           the
           principal
           Ends
           of
           Government
           ,
           but
           do
           also
           in
           some
           sort
           bring
           a
           constraint
           upon
           the
           Profession
           of
           the
           Truth
           ,
           which
           ought
           to
           be
           most
           free
           ,
           and
           which
           the
           Apostle
           expressly
           will
           have
           
             to
             stand
             not
             in
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             Man
          
           (
           such
           as
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           and
           Tests
           are
           )
           
             but
             in
             the
             Power
             of
             God
             ,
          
           or
           in
           the
           same
           spiritual
           and
           heavenly
           
           means
           whereby
           it
           was
           first
           established
           and
           is
           undoubtedly
           best
           preserved
           ,
           I
           shall
           not
           trouble
           you
           with
           Repetitions
           .
           I
           see
           you
           add
           that
           such
           Laws
           have
           also
           been
           and
           are
           used
           in
           all
           Christian
           Kingdoms
           and
           Common-Wealths
           ;
           and
           you
           might
           as
           truly
           have
           subjoyned
           ,
           That
           even
           Protestants
           ,
           when
           prevalent
           ,
           do
           by
           their
           Practices
           justifie
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           in
           that
           very
           point
           for
           which
           they
           condemn
           them
           in
           their
           Discourses
           .
           But
           tho
           I
           confess
           that
           there
           is
           nothing
           more
           natural
           than
           for
           Men
           to
           be
           anxiously
           careful
           to
           preserve
           what
           they
           esteem
           ,
           and
           in
           this
           their
           anxiety
           to
           judge
           their
           own
           way
           the
           best
           ,
           especially
           when
           either
           Passion
           or
           Self-interest
           enter
           into
           the
           deliberation
           ;
           Yet
           considering
           the
           experience
           we
           have
           had
           of
           the
           fruitlesness
           of
           these
           Exclusions
           ,
           and
           that
           there
           is
           nothing
           more
           becoming
           Men
           professing
           to
           be
           assured
           that
           their
           Religion
           is
           Christs
           true
           Religion
           ,
           than
           to
           rest
           upon
           the
           same
           methods
           for
           its
           conservation
           which
           he
           ,
           who
           had
           the
           choice
           of
           all
           ,
           thought
           only
           fit
           to
           make
           use
           of
           for
           its
           propagation
           ;
           and
           considering
           also
           that
           it
           hath
           pleased
           God
           so
           to
           order
           things
           ,
           that
           his
           Majesty
           (
           the
           Head
           &
           Fountain
           of
           the
           Government
           )
           is
           of
           a
           different
           perswasion
           from
           the
           main
           Body
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           so
           might
           justly
           turn
           all
           this
           your
           reasoning
           against
           us
           ;
           I
           can
           scarce
           forbear
           to
           wonder
           that
           Men
           should
           refuse
           the
           fair
           Equality
           which
           he
           proposeth
           .
           Had
           it
           been
           the
           Divine
           Will
           that
           his
           Majesty
           and
           his
           People
           had
           agreed
           in
           the
           same
           Profession
           ,
           it
           is
           more
           than
           probable
           that
           ,
           whatever
           might
           have
           been
           
           his
           Majesty's
           Indulgent
           disposition
           the
           present
           Question
           would
           not
           have
           been
           moved
           .
           But
           since
           this
           is
           not
           our
           case
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Kingdom
           and
           Government
           are
           certainly
           in
           his
           Hands
           ,
           I
           must
           crave
           leave
           to
           say
           that
           your
           Arguments
           from
           the
           Rights
           and
           Customs
           ,
           and
           from
           the
           providencial
           Councils
           of
           all
           Governments
           ,
           makes
           more
           against
           you
           than
           for
           you
           ;
           and
           that
           I
           am
           very
           inclinable
           to
           believe
           that
           if
           the
           Soveraign
           Power
           were
           as
           much
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           in
           your
           Provinces
           as
           it
           is
           with
           us
           ,
           it
           would
           produce
           suitable
           Effects
           .
           And
           therefore
           ,
           since
           your
           Argument
           rather
           commends
           his
           Majesties
           gracious
           Condescention
           ,
           than
           any
           way
           impugns
           his
           Design
           ,
           I
           cannot
           but
           wish
           that
           ,
           in
           a
           matter
           in
           itself
           so
           indifferent
           ,
           it
           may
           accordingly
           perswade
           all
           Men
           to
           a
           just
           compliance
           .
        
         
           But
           because
           the
           Indifferency
           I
           here
           mention
           is
           that
           which
           you
           can
           hardly
           bear
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           force
           of
           all
           your
           Reasonings
           lies
           in
           the
           third
           Point
           ,
           
             viz.
             That
             these
             Exclusive
             Laws
             are
             the
             chief
             Security
             of
             the
          
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           
             and
             that
             the
             taking
             them
             away
             would
             expose
             the
          
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           
             and
             the
          
           People
           of
           these
           Kingdoms
           ,
           
             to
             Danger
             and
             Ruin
          
           ,
           I
           shall
           now
           proceed
           to
           examin
           more
           closely
           what
           you
           are
           pleased
           to
           say
           upon
           it
           :
           Not
           doubting
           ,
           in
           the
           mean
           while
           ,
           but
           we
           are
           fully
           agreed
           that
           the
           true
           and
           principal
           Security
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           consists
           in
           its
           being
           the
           immovable
           Truth
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           if
           well
           laid
           to
           Heart
           would
           contribute
           more
           to
           its
           Preservation
           than
           all
           the
           Tests
           and
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           And
           in
           treating
           
           you
           still
           to
           remember
           that
           it
           is
           not
           a
           bare
           Repeal
           of
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           and
           Tests
           that
           his
           Majesty
           designs
           ,
           but
           the
           sure
           and
           firm
           Establishment
           of
           Liberty
           ,
           (
           the
           only
           secular
           Advantage
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           often
           said
           ,
           that
           Gods
           Truth
           requires
           )
           Which
           if
           rightly
           understood
           ,
           and
           if
           a
           just
           distinction
           were
           made
           between
           the
           free
           Enjoyment
           of
           Civil
           Rights
           (
           the
           proper
           Object
           and
           End
           of
           Government
           )
           and
           that
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           over
           which
           God
           has
           reserved
           to
           himself
           the
           incommunicable
           Right
           ,
           would
           quickly
           bring
           the
           World
           to
           the
           happiest
           State
           that
           it
           can
           ever
           attain
           to
           .
           These
           things
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           being
           premised
           ,
           I
           proceed
           to
           observe
           what
           you
           say
           for
           making
           out
           your
           Assertion
           ,
           
             viz.
             That
             the
             taking
             away
             of
             these
             Exclusive
             Laws
             would
             bring
          
           Roman
           Catholicks
           
             into
             both
             Houses
             of
             Parliament
             and
             all
             other
             publick
             Imployments
             ;
             That
             in
             these
             Imployments
             they
             would
             not
             agree
             with
          
           Protestants
           ;
           
             But
             that
             because
             of
             their
             contrary
             Principles
             ,
             Jealousies
             would
             arise
             ,
             which
             his
          
           Majesty
           
             would
             not
             be
             able
             to
             repress
             ;
             And
             that
             there
             is
             a
             great
             difference
             between
          
           Roman
           Catholicks
           and
           Protestants
           ,
           
             because
             the
             former
             Exclude
             ,
             Suppress
             and
             Persecute
             ,
             where
             ever
             they
             can
             do
             it
             safely
             ;
             And
             if
             they
             were
             admitted
             into
             Trusts
             they
             would
             not
             only
             favour
             their
             own
             Religion
             ,
             as
             all
             Menin
             Power
             do
             ,
             but
             it
             would
             not
             be
             easie
             for
             the
          
           King
           
             to
             resist
             them
             ,
             because
             they
             would
             press
             him
             in
             point
             of
             Conscience
             ;
             and
             that
             then
          
           Protestants
           
             would
             want
             all
             Support
             of
             Law
             ,
             and
             Encouragement
             from
             the
             Magistrates
             .
          
        
         
           This
           way
           of
           Reasoning
           ,
           so
           manifestly
           proceeding
           from
           an
           over
           anxious
           Jealousie
           ,
           must
           needs
           be
           so
           
           much
           the
           less
           Satisfactory
           ,
           in
           that
           it
           is
           obvious
           to
           all
           Men
           how
           much
           that
           cross
           and
           froward
           Humour
           is
           disposed
           to
           convert
           the
           most
           proper
           Antidotes
           for
           its
           Cure
           ,
           into
           the
           Nourishment
           of
           its
           Malady
           .
        
         
           But
           more
           particularly
           ,
           First
           ,
           It
           is
           evident
           that
           the
           strength
           of
           all
           objected
           ,
           tho
           in
           softer
           Expressions
           ,
           Is
           
             That
             this
             design
             of
             Liberty
             is
             only
             pretended
             and
             carried
             on
             for
             the
             better
             advancement
             of
             Popery
             .
          
           But
           ,
           seeing
           his
           Majesty
           hath
           in
           this
           matter
           declared
           the
           uprightness
           of
           his
           Intentions
           with
           the
           clearest
           and
           most
           forcible
           Expressions
           ,
           delivered
           with
           all
           the
           binding
           Circumstances
           of
           a
           full
           Assurance
           ,
           which
           from
           a
           Prince
           of
           his
           Veracity
           and
           Firmness
           may
           be
           sufficient
           to
           convince
           the
           most
           Incredulous
           ,
           and
           also
           confirmed
           the
           Sincerity
           of
           his
           Purpose
           by
           the
           Evidence
           of
           things
           incapable
           of
           any
           consistency
           with
           the
           Design
           suspected
           ,
           what
           place
           can
           be
           found
           for
           so
           improbable
           a
           Suggestion
           ?
           For
           it
           being
           undeniably
           evident
           to
           all
           considering
           Men
           that
           the
           plain
           contrary
           Methods
           to
           what
           his
           Majesty
           now
           practises
           had
           been
           the
           most
           direct
           and
           effectual
           Ones
           for
           the
           introducing
           of
           Popery
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           pressing
           and
           carrying
           on
           the
           Execution
           of
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           begun
           to
           his
           Hand
           ,
           might
           in
           all
           human
           appearance
           have
           broken
           and
           undone
           that
           Party
           which
           has
           in
           all
           times
           been
           judged
           remotest
           from
           ,
           and
           most
           Opposite
           and
           Zealous
           against
           Popery
           ;
           and
           so
           have
           left
           that
           other
           Party
           ,
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           (
           who
           after
           the
           acting
           of
           such
           an
           unchristian
           Persecution
           ,
           would
           never
           have
           been
           strong
           enough
           nor
           have
           had
           the
           Hearts
           to
           indure
           the
           like
           ,
           and
           whose
           sequacious
           Temper
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           falling
           in
           with
           the
           Interest
           of
           their
           Livings
           and
           Dignities
           ,
           
           may
           abundantly
           be
           seen
           in
           our
           Records
           )
           to
           be
           the
           only
           feeble
           Defenders
           of
           Protestancy
           ,
           already
           more
           than
           half
           ruined
           ;
           Ought
           not
           his
           Majesties
           Moderate
           and
           Generous
           Deportment
           so
           contrary
           to
           those
           Methods
           for
           ever
           free
           Him
           from
           so
           foul
           a
           Suspition
           ?
           This
           real
           and
           most
           sensible
           Demonstration
           of
           his
           Majesties
           Truth
           and
           Sincerity
           is
           so
           much
           the
           more
           to
           be
           regarded
           ,
           in
           that
           it
           is
           known
           how
           His
           entry
           into
           the
           Government
           was
           fortified
           with
           the
           suppressing
           of
           Insurrections
           ;
           which
           not
           only
           might
           have
           rendred
           His
           Power
           more
           terrible
           ,
           and
           provok'd
           Him
           to
           greater
           Severities
           ,
           but
           also
           might
           have
           been
           made
           use
           of
           to
           have
           involved
           one
           way
           or
           other
           (
           no
           new
           thing
           in
           the
           World
           )
           a
           great
           part
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           in
           the
           Fate
           and
           Ruin
           of
           those
           broken
           Parties
           .
        
         
           But
           ,
           Secondly
           ,
           although
           you
           say
           
             There
             is
             a
             great
             difference
             betwixt
             Roman
             Catholicks
             and
             Protestants
             in
             the
             business
             of
             Persecution
             ,
          
           Yet
           in
           the
           present
           Controversie
           ,
           I
           must
           beg
           leave
           of
           you
           ,
           and
           all
           Protestants
           ,
           to
           say
           that
           this
           comes
           ill
           from
           those
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           whose
           Exclusions
           ,
           Suppressions
           and
           Persecutions
           ,
           (
           to
           use
           your
           own
           terms
           )
           all
           things
           considered
           ,
           are
           in
           the
           Judgment
           of
           many
           sober
           People
           more
           Unchristian
           (
           tho
           perhaps
           not
           so
           Severe
           )
           than
           any
           of
           those
           deplorable
           Instances
           which
           you
           say
           are
           in
           many
           places
           abroad
           this
           Day
           before
           our
           Eyes
           .
           It
           is
           true
           that
           Strangers
           ,
           having
           easier
           opportunity
           to
           know
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           agreeing
           with
           that
           of
           the
           best
           Protestants
           ,
           than
           to
           observe
           their
           dealings
           with
           their
           Dissenting
           Brethren
           for
           the
           rejecting
           of
           her
           Ceremonies
           ,
           can
           scarce
           think
           it
           possible
           that
           this
           Difference
           should
           have
           produced
           so
           Violent
           
           a
           Persecution
           ;
           especially
           against
           such
           who
           immediately
           before
           had
           done
           them
           the
           greatest
           Service
           ,
           in
           contributing
           so
           readily
           to
           the
           means
           of
           their
           Restitution
           .
           And
           it
           is
           true
           also
           that
           some
           of
           that
           Communion
           ,
           especially
           in
           your
           Parts
           ,
           (
           as
           appears
           by
           their
           late
           Prints
           )
           do
           endeavour
           to
           Apologize
           for
           their
           former
           Rigours
           and
           Cruelties
           ,
           partly
           by
           exclaiming
           against
           Persecution
           ,
           and
           partly
           by
           suggesting
           that
           the
           late
           Severities
           used
           against
           Dissenters
           were
           set
           on
           Foot
           by
           a
           
             Popish
             Party
          
           and
           Design
           at
           Court
           ,
           on
           purpose
           to
           increase
           their
           Number
           and
           render
           them
           more
           unquiet
           ,
           that
           so
           the
           Parliament
           might
           have
           been
           constrain'd
           to
           grant
           a
           general
           Toleration
           wherein
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           might
           be
           included
           ;
           The
           great
           Design
           of
           this
           Mistery
           .
           But
           the
           first
           of
           those
           Excuses
           being
           now
           too
           late
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           being
           false
           ,
           and
           visibly
           affected
           ;
           I
           cannot
           but
           still
           wish
           that
           this
           their
           extraordinary
           Zeal
           for
           the
           Exclusion
           of
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           be
           not
           a
           meer
           effect
           of
           their
           itch
           after
           their
           former
           Power
           and
           Practice
           of
           Persecuting
           
             Protestant
             Dissenters
          
           ;
           and
           withal
           that
           the
           Remembrance
           of
           our
           late
           Sufferings
           may
           put
           Protestants
           as
           well
           as
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           in
           mind
           of
           their
           Failings
           ,
           to
           the
           end
           that
           all
           Parties
           may
           become
           more
           sober
           and
           averse
           to
           all
           manner
           of
           Persecution
           for
           ever
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           Seeing
           you
           lay
           the
           greatest
           stress
           of
           your
           Argument
           upon
           the
           hazard
           that
           you
           pretend
           lies
           in
           the
           making
           of
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           capable
           of
           ,
           and
           giving
           them
           Entry
           into
           publick
           Imployments
           ,
           and
           particularly
           to
           take
           places
           in
           both
           Houses
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           I
           intreat
           you
           to
           observe
           that
           it
           is
           evident
           in
           point
           of
           fact
           ,
           that
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           are
           already
           in
           many
           Publick
           Imployments
           ,
           
           and
           that
           those
           Imployments
           will
           always
           depend
           ,
           as
           they
           have
           ever
           depended
           ,
           upon
           the
           pleasure
           of
           the
           
             Prince
             Regnant
          
           :
           So
           that
           considering
           how
           it
           is
           with
           us
           at
           this
           present
           ,
           any
           Man
           that
           is
           possessed
           with
           this
           Fear
           ought
           rather
           to
           rejoyce
           then
           to
           be
           grieved
           at
           his
           
           Majestie
           's
           design
           of
           Liberty
           ;
           Because
           it
           plainly
           carries
           a
           Relief
           against
           this
           Apprehension
           ,
           by
           opening
           a
           Door
           to
           
             Dissenting
             Protestants
          
           also
           to
           enter
           into
           such
           Imployments
           ,
           who
           are
           not
           forward
           to
           do
           it
           while
           the
           restraining
           Laws
           ,
           that
           lie
           upon
           them
           also
           ,
           remain
           in
           force
           .
           And
           as
           his
           Majesty
           hath
           already
           begun
           to
           shew
           his
           Equality
           in
           conferring
           of
           Publick
           Imployments
           as
           well
           on
           Dissenters
           as
           on
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           ,
           the
           taking
           away
           of
           those
           Laws
           will
           certainly
           induce
           Him
           to
           a
           yet
           greater
           Freedom
           in
           that
           particular
           .
           Whereas
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           it
           is
           more
           than
           probable
           that
           the
           refusing
           to
           gratifie
           Him
           in
           that
           Repeal
           ,
           may
           ,
           instead
           of
           hindering
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           to
           be
           further
           imployed
           in
           Publick
           Trusts
           ,
           rather
           provoke
           Him
           by
           the
           disobligation
           to
           intend
           the
           thing
           more
           vigorously
           ;
           and
           also
           irritate
           that
           whole
           Party
           ,
           (
           who
           must
           needs
           look
           upon
           this
           Denyal
           for
           the
           present
           as
           a
           Threatning
           for
           the
           future
           )
           to
           more
           extraordinary
           and
           worse
           Courses
           .
           And
           as
           to
           what
           is
           commonly
           said
           ,
           that
           the
           keeping
           up
           of
           the
           Test
           will
           at
           least
           be
           a
           Bar
           to
           many
           ,
           who
           otherwise
           might
           be
           tempted
           to
           turn
           by
           the
           Bait
           of
           a
           good
           Imployment
           ;
           as
           also
           that
           it
           will
           be
           some
           Restraint
           upon
           such
           as
           are
           advanced
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           act
           moderately
           ;
           I
           must
           crave
           leave
           to
           say
           that
           the
           contrary
           is
           to
           me
           far
           more
           probable
           :
           For
           whosoever
           can
           be
           supposed
           capable
           to
           turn
           for
           a
           place
           ,
           will
           
           certainly
           time
           his
           turn
           ,
           so
           as
           that
           it
           may
           have
           most
           of
           Merit
           ;
           and
           consequently
           will
           rather
           seek
           to
           recommend
           himself
           by
           a
           frank
           reliance
           upon
           the
           Kings
           Declaration
           for
           Liberty
           ,
           than
           come
           in
           sneakingly
           afterwards
           under
           the
           Security
           of
           the
           desired
           Repeal
           ;
           Especially
           when
           it
           cannot
           be
           doubted
           but
           that
           ,
           both
           by
           the
           Fundamental
           Laws
           of
           Government
           ,
           and
           also
           by
           the
           force
           of
           his
           Majestie
           's
           Prerogative
           ,
           from
           which
           no
           Successor
           will
           willingly
           derogate
           ,
           those
           that
           are
           or
           shall
           be
           imployed
           are
           in
           all
           Events
           secured
           ;
           And
           that
           at
           least
           it
           is
           incontravertibly
           as
           safe
           for
           a
           Man
           to
           accept
           of
           a
           publick
           Imployment
           as
           to
           go
           to
           a
           Conventicle
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           The
           most
           material
           Consideration
           on
           this
           Point
           seems
           to
           be
           much
           by
           you
           neglected
           ,
           
             viz.
             That
             we
             are
             not
             in
             the
             condition
             of
             an
             absolute
             free
             choice
             ,
             but
             under
             the
             limited
             offer
             of
             a
             plain
             alternative
             ,
             I
             mean
             ,
             Either
             that
             the
             present
             Liberty
             shall
             be
             continued
             on
             condition
             that
             the
             restraints
             of
          
           Tests
           
             be
             also
             taken
             off
             from
          
           Roman
           Catholicks
           ;
           
             or
             else
             ,
             if
             this
             be
             denyed
             ,
             that
             the
             other
             shall
             at
             least
             become
             more
             precarious
             .
          
           Now
           ,
           whether
           a
           true
           Protestant
           ,
           having
           the
           fear
           of
           God
           ,
           (
           as
           you
           express
           it
           )
           in
           this
           Conjuncture
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           just
           view
           of
           all
           our
           Circumstances
           ,
           may
           not
           very
           allowably
           think
           that
           the
           free
           Liberty
           of
           the
           Gospel
           (
           as
           being
           Gods
           way
           )
           is
           more
           valuable
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Interest
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           than
           the
           exclusion
           of
           a
           few
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           from
           having
           Place
           in
           Parliament
           ,
           (
           for
           to
           this
           narrow
           Compass
           we
           see
           it
           plainly
           brought
           )
           which
           is
           but
           Man's
           way
           ;
           and
           whether
           this
           last
           may
           not
           well
           be
           consented
           to
           ,
           for
           the
           establishing
           of
           the
           first
           ,
           let
           all
           Impartial
           Men
           judge
           .
           
           You
           tell
           us
           that
           
             If
             the
          
           Protestant
           Dissenters
           
             should
             ,
             upon
             this
             acceunt
             ,
             be
             deprived
             of
             their
             Libetty
             ,
             the
          
           Roman
           Catholicks
           
             are
             only
             to
             blame
             for
             it
          
           ;
           Who
           ,
           rather
           than
           be
           restrained
           from
           having
           a
           share
           in
           the
           Government
           ,
           do
           chuse
           to
           have
           both
           themselves
           and
           the
           
             Protestant
             Dissenters
          
           ly
           still
           under
           the
           weight
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           .
           But
           if
           the
           proposal
           made
           to
           the
           Dissenters
           be
           fair
           ,
           and
           their
           complyance
           not
           sinful
           ,
           you
           must
           of
           necessity
           grant
           that
           for
           them
           to
           be
           dispossessed
           of
           their
           Liberty
           (
           the
           great
           concern
           of
           their
           Souls
           ,
           and
           the
           best
           method
           of
           supporting
           true
           Religion
           )
           is
           but
           poorly
           repaired
           ,
           by
           telling
           them
           that
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           are
           to
           blame
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           Fifthly
           ,
           Your
           frequent
           supposing
           
             That
             the
          
           Roman
           Catholicks
           
             will
             be
             still
             attemping
             to
             overturn
             the
          
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           
             and
             disturb
             the
             Kingdoms
             Peace
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             will
             get
             into
             all
             places
             of
             Trust
             ,
             and
             press
             the
          
           King
           
             in
             Conscience
             ,
             and
             give
             Him
             no
             rest
             until
             they
             accomplish
             their
             Designs
             ,
          
           appear
           to
           me
           to
           be
           too
           manifest
           improvements
           of
           a
           melancholy
           Jealousie
           .
           For
           ,
           as
           hath
           been
           often
           said
           ,
           It
           is
           not
           a
           simple
           Repeal
           of
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           and
           Tests
           ,
           but
           the
           Establishment
           of
           an
           equal
           Liberty
           ,
           whereby
           the
           Protestant
           as
           well
           as
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           may
           be
           secured
           against
           all
           Persecution
           ,
           that
           his
           Majesty
           designs
           .
           So
           that
           it
           is
           not
           possible
           that
           you
           should
           judge
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           Test
           to
           be
           the
           licensing
           of
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           to
           attempt
           the
           ruin
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           ,
           unless
           you
           think
           that
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           can
           never
           by
           Law
           be
           secured
           against
           the
           attempts
           of
           others
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           not
           at
           the
           same
           time
           armed
           with
           a
           Power
           to
           persecute
           them
           .
        
         
         
           Sixthly
           ,
           You
           tell
           us
           ,
           That
           Roman
           Catholicks
           
             are
             not
             shut
             out
             amongst
             you
             from
             Military
             Imployments
             ,
             and
             that
             it
             had
             been
             hard
             to
             have
             done
             it
             ;
             both
             because
             the
             good
             Services
             they
             did
             you
             in
             the
             Wars
             for
             defence
             of
             your
             Liberty
             deserved
             that
             Recompence
             ;
             and
             because
             their
             Numbers
             being
             but
             few
             ,
             any
             Inconvenience
             arising
             from
             their
             admission
             might
             easily
             be
             prevented
             .
          
           Now
           by
           this
           you
           plainly
           acknowledge
           that
           this
           whole
           matter
           is
           subject
           to
           a
           Rational
           Deliberation
           ,
           and
           is
           to
           be
           determined
           by
           the
           weighing
           the
           Conveniencies
           and
           Inconveniencies
           that
           attend
           such
           an
           Admission
           or
           Exclusion
           ,
           without
           entering
           into
           any
           deeper
           reflection
           ,
           about
           the
           Lawfulness
           or
           Unlawfulness
           thereof
           .
           And
           further
           ,
           I
           must
           tell
           you
           that
           his
           Majesty
           has
           not
           only
           the
           same
           Considerations
           that
           you
           mention
           to
           move
           Him
           in
           Favour
           of
           his
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           Subjects
           ,
           but
           ,
           all
           things
           considered
           ,
           I
           think
           it
           may
           very
           well
           be
           asserted
           that
           the
           admitting
           of
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           with
           you
           to
           Military
           Imployments
           is
           much
           more
           unnecessary
           ,
           than
           the
           admitting
           of
           them
           with
           us
           to
           place
           in
           Parliament
           (
           upon
           the
           Conditions
           declared
           )
           can
           be
           dangerous
           ;
           and
           that
           if
           the
           Adventure
           be
           on
           this
           side
           more
           hazardous
           ,
           yet
           it
           it
           compensated
           with
           counterbalancing
           Advantages
           ,
           that
           render
           it
           much
           more
           excusable
           than
           your
           unnecessary
           Practice
           .
        
         
           Seventhly
           ,
           Tho
           you
           are
           pleased
           according
           to
           your
           ordinary
           Prudence
           and
           Moderation
           to
           propose
           your
           Fears
           with
           much
           Modesty
           ,
           yet
           others
           there
           are
           in
           your
           Parts
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           here
           ,
           who
           speak
           out
           the
           Devices
           of
           their
           own
           Imaginations
           more
           plainly
           ,
           and
           tell
           us
           
             That
             if
             the
          
           Test
           
             were
             taken
             away
             ,
             his
          
           Majesty
           
             might
             by
             a
             new
             Creation
             of
             Peers
             ,
             and
             by
             bold
             Returns
             into
             the
             House
             of
             Commons
             ,
             get
             a
             Parliament
             
             of
             such
             a
             Temper
             as
             would
             absolutely
             forbid
             the
             Exercise
             of
             the
          
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           
             Revive
             the
             Act
          
           De
           Comburendo
           
             and
             make
             yet
             greater
             Alterations
             in
             the
             Government
             .
          
           But
           how
           vain
           and
           groundless
           ,
           to
           say
           no
           worse
           ,
           these
           Apprehensions
           are
           may
           appear
           by
           what
           his
           Majesty
           hath
           already
           done
           in
           putting
           a
           stop
           to
           our
           late
           Persecution
           ;
           which
           in
           the
           opinion
           of
           many
           might
           have
           carried
           on
           that
           change
           in
           Religion
           more
           effectually
           (
           because
           more
           easily
           and
           insensibly
           )
           than
           the
           Act
           
             De
             Comburendo
          
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Fires
           that
           it
           kindled
           .
           Besides
           ,
           whatever
           be
           the
           Security
           that
           Men
           ascribe
           to
           these
           Excluding
           Laws
           ,
           it
           is
           only
           from
           the
           force
           they
           have
           as
           Acts
           of
           Parliament
           that
           it
           arises
           .
           Why
           then
           should
           not
           the
           same
           force
           of
           a
           Law
           as
           well
           secure
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           in
           its
           just
           Liberty
           ,
           without
           the
           Power
           of
           persecuting
           ,
           as
           now
           its
           thought
           to
           do
           with
           it
           ?
           And
           as
           for
           the
           Facility
           the
           King
           may
           have
           to
           fill
           both
           Houses
           with
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           ,
           when
           the
           Test
           shall
           be
           abrogated
           ,
           Why
           may
           he
           not
           as
           well
           first
           fill
           them
           in
           that
           manner
           ,
           and
           abrogate
           it
           afterwards
           ?
           For
           it
           is
           judged
           by
           many
           to
           be
           no
           less
           than
           a
           Fundamental
           in
           our
           Government
           that
           the
           
           King
           's
           Call
           ,
           with
           the
           Peoples
           Choice
           ,
           and
           the
           Lords
           and
           Commons
           Assembling
           thereupon
           with
           his
           Majesties
           Approbation
           ,
           are
           all
           the
           Essentialls
           of
           a
           Parliament
           ;
           and
           that
           no
           Parliament
           can
           so
           pre-engage
           and
           limit
           another
           ,
           by
           any
           Act
           or
           Oath
           ,
           that
           it
           cannot
           Act
           as
           a
           Parliament
           until
           it
           first
           comply
           therewithal
           .
           If
           such
           a
           Power
           of
           Limitation
           were
           admitted
           ,
           One
           Parliament
           might
           ,
           by
           an
           Oath
           framed
           for
           the
           purpose
           ,
           restrain
           ,
           weaken
           ,
           and
           even
           make
           
           void
           the
           Power
           of
           all
           succeeding
           Parliaments
           for
           ever
           .
           So
           long
           indeed
           as
           Oaths
           and
           Tests
           appointed
           by
           Acts
           of
           Parliament
           do
           stand
           unrepealed
           ,
           they
           are
           undoubtedly
           binding
           .
           But
           to
           think
           that
           One
           Parliament
           can
           so
           bind
           up
           and
           prescribe
           Rules
           to
           Another
           ,
           that
           ,
           tho
           it
           may
           repeal
           the
           very
           Act
           so
           binding
           and
           prescribing
           ,
           yet
           it
           hath
           not
           Power
           to
           do
           so
           till
           first
           it
           submit
           it self
           by
           Oath
           unto
           the
           Rules
           prescribed
           (
           and
           then
           perjure
           it self
           by
           the
           Repeal
           )
           is
           an
           Absurdity
           against
           the
           very
           Essence
           of
           Parliaments
           .
        
         
           But
           Lastly
           ,
           As
           matters
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           strained
           on
           either
           side
           ,
           (
           especially
           when
           all
           things
           concur
           on
           his
           Majesties
           part
           to
           perswade
           to
           a
           fair
           and
           right
           understanding
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           the
           establishing
           of
           Peace
           ,
           securing
           of
           Right
           and
           Property
           ,
           and
           the
           putting
           an
           end
           to
           our
           so
           unnatural
           and
           unchristian
           Persecutions
           )
           So
           it
           cannot
           be
           doubted
           by
           any
           discerning
           Person
           ,
           that
           the
           present
           Security
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           in
           these
           Kingdoms
           doth
           scarce
           at
           all
           depend
           on
           either
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           or
           Tests
           ,
           but
           principally
           on
           his
           Majesties
           Wisdom
           and
           Moderation
           ,
           on
           the
           Constitution
           of
           our
           Government
           ,
           and
           on
           those
           just
           Arguments
           for
           mutual
           Forbearance
           ,
           which
           our
           present
           Circumstances
           do
           forcibly
           suggest
           to
           all
           Men
           ,
           of
           all
           Parties
           ,
           that
           are
           capable
           to
           understand
           their
           own
           Interest
           ,
           and
           have
           not
           wholy
           abandoned
           the
           care
           of
           it
           .
           Seeing
           therefore
           that
           it
           remains
           evident
           ,
           from
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           ,
           that
           all
           these
           Exclusive
           Laws
           upon
           account
           of
           Religion
           ,
           however
           Lewd
           they
           may
           be
           called
           ,
           are
           no
           ways
           Evangelical
           ;
           and
           〈◊〉
           〈◊〉
           they
           may
           have
           been
           at
           first
           piously
           intended
           for
           the
           Conservation
           of
           Religion
           ,
           
           and
           for
           the
           publick
           safety
           ,
           yet
           in
           the
           event
           they
           have
           always
           proved
           unprofitable
           and
           unpolitick
           ;
           And
           seeing
           also
           that
           all
           the
           Jealousies
           so
           industriously
           raised
           to
           obstruct
           his
           Majesties
           present
           Design
           of
           Liberty
           are
           sufficiently
           removed
           ,
           not
           only
           by
           the
           assurance
           of
           his
           Royal
           Word
           ,
           and
           the
           manifest
           engagement
           of
           his
           Honour
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           demonstrative
           Evidence
           that
           lyes
           in
           the
           circumstances
           of
           things
           themselves
           ,
           I
           cannot
           but
           heartily
           wish
           that
           all
           Men
           ,
           and
           above
           all
           their
           Highnesses
           ,
           may
           give
           their
           effectual
           concurrence
           to
           so
           good
           and
           great
           a
           work
           .
           It
           is
           I
           confess
           ,
           as
           you
           say
           ,
           very
           natural
           for
           All
           persons
           in
           Power
           to
           favour
           those
           of
           their
           own
           Religion
           :
           And
           this
           in
           my
           Opinion
           ought
           to
           oblige
           us
           to
           make
           the
           fairest
           construction
           of
           what
           his
           Majesty
           doth
           in
           behalf
           of
           those
           that
           are
           of
           his
           .
           But
           it
           must
           also
           be
           acknowledged
           that
           it
           is
           a
           very
           extraordinary
           ,
           and
           a
           most
           noble
           and
           generous
           Disposition
           ,
           in
           his
           Majesty
           ,
           to
           be
           so
           gentle
           and
           indulgent
           to
           those
           of
           his
           Subjects
           that
           are
           of
           a
           different
           Religion
           from
           his
           :
           And
           that
           ought
           to
           beget
           in
           us
           an
           intire
           confidence
           in
           what
           he
           promises
           ,
           and
           perswade
           all
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           of
           what
           Profession
           soever
           ,
           to
           rest
           assured
           both
           of
           a
           firm
           Support
           in
           the
           designed
           Law
           of
           Liberty
           ,
           and
           of
           a
           favourable
           Protection
           in
           his
           Majesties
           Authority
           .
        
         
           In
           my
           former
           Letters
           I
           adventured
           to
           insinuate
           to
           my
           Friend
           how
           much
           I
           judged
           their
           Highnesses
           obliged
           ,
           as
           well
           by
           their
           own
           interest
           and
           that
           of
           the
           
             Portestant
             Religion
          
           ,
           as
           by
           their
           Relation
           to
           his
           Majesty
           ,
           to
           comply
           with
           him
           in
           this
           Affair
           .
           But
           that
           being
           a
           Subject
           too
           high
           and
           too
           delicate
           for
           me
           to
           ingage
           any
           further
           in
           ,
           I
           will
           not
           now
           presume
           to
           add
           any
           thing
           further
           upon
           it
           .
        
         
         
           
             My
             Lord
          
           ,
           having
           thus
           faithfully
           represented
           to
           you
           such
           thoughts
           as
           have
           occur'd
           to
           my
           mind
           upon
           the
           perusal
           of
           your
           Letter
           ,
           I
           judge
           it
           not
           needful
           nor
           decent
           for
           me
           to
           enter
           into
           further
           particulars
           ;
           As
           how
           this
           Liberty
           may
           be
           established
           ,
           to
           all
           the
           Intents
           and
           withal
           the
           Advantages
           above
           mentioned
           .
           But
           ,
           in
           my
           humble
           Opinion
           ,
           his
           
             Majesties
             Proclamations
          
           of
           the
           fourth
           of
           April
           1687.
           
           And
           of
           the
           twenty
           fourth
           of
           April
           last
           ,
           are
           a
           very
           excellent
           Foundation
           for
           that
           Work
           ;
           which
           I
           wish
           were
           compleated
           by
           a
           Parliamentary
           Ratification
           ,
           to
           the
           vindicating
           of
           the
           Divine
           Right
           of
           Religion
           and
           Conscience
           from
           all
           Human
           Impositions
           ,
           the
           confirming
           of
           our
           Peace
           ,
           and
           the
           Advancement
           of
           his
           Majesties
           Glory
           and
           the
           Kingdoms
           Prosperity
           .
           It
           is
           not
           doubt
           a
           great
           Undertaking
           to
           offer
           to
           satisfie
           all
           the
           Jealousies
           and
           Fears
           that
           ,
           in
           such
           high
           and
           tender
           matters
           ,
           may
           arise
           from
           the
           conflict
           of
           so
           various
           Interests
           as
           are
           concerned
           therein
           .
           But
           this
           small
           Essay
           that
           I
           have
           made
           ,
           being
           truly
           involuntary
           ,
           &
           such
           as
           your
           Lordship
           hath
           in
           a
           manner
           extorted
           from
           me
           ,
           I
           hope
           those
           Considerations
           will
           be
           accepted
           as
           a
           just
           Apology
           for
           my
           having
           thus
           far
           pursued
           it
           in
           all
           Sincerity
           .
           And
           for
           the
           future
           tho
           I
           am
           firmly
           resolved
           to
           meddle
           no
           more
           in
           such
           Debates
           ,
           Yet
           I
           shal
           always
           remain
           ,
           as
           I
           acknowledge
           my self
           to
           be
           indispensibly
           obliged
           ,
        
         
           
             Edinburgh
             ,
             
               May
               the
               8th
               ,
               1688.
               
            
          
           
             My
             Lord
             ,
          
           
             Your
             Lordships
             most
             Humble
             and
             most
             Obedient
             Servant
             James
             Stewart
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .