The character of a trimmer concerning religion, laws and liberties by a person of honour, Mss. H. Halifax, George Savile, Marquis of, 1633-1695. 1689 Approx. 125 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 24 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A44641 Wing H299 ESTC R40539 19349635 ocm 19349635 108761 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A44641) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 108761) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1672:8) The character of a trimmer concerning religion, laws and liberties by a person of honour, Mss. H. Halifax, George Savile, Marquis of, 1633-1695. Coventry, William, Sir, 1628?-1686. 47 p. [s.n.], London printed : MDCLXXXIX [1689] Sometimes erroneously ascribed to Sir William Coventry--NUC pre-1956 imprints. Reproduction of original in the Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Great Britain -- History -- Restoration, 1660-1688. Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1660-1688. 2003-10 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-11 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-12 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2003-12 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE CHARACTER OF A TRIMMER Concerning RELIGION , LAWS and LIBERTIES . By a Person of Honour , Mss. H. LONDON , Printed in the Year , MDCLXXXIX . The Character of a TRIMMER . THE PREFACE . IT must be more than an ordinary provocation that can tempt a Man to writ in an Age , over-run with Scriblers , as Aegypt was with Flies and Locusts ; that worse Vermine of small Authors hath given the World such a surfeit , that instead of desiring to Writ , a Man would be inclined to wish for his own ease , that he could not Read. But there are some things which do raise Our passions , that Our Reason can make no Resistance ; and when mad . Men in two Extremes shall agree to make common Sense Treason , and joyn to fix an ill Character upon the only Men in a Nation , who deserved a good One , I am no longer Master of my better Resolutions to let the World alone , and break loose from any more Reasonable Thoughts , to expose those false Coins , who would make their Copper words pass upon us for good payment . Amongst all the Engines of Dissention , there hath been none more powerful in all times , than the fixing names upon one another of contumely and reproach ; and the Reason is plain , in respect of the people , who tho generally they are incapable of making a Sologism , or forming an Argument , yet they can pronounce a word that serveth their turn , to throw it with their dull Malice , at the head of those they do not like . Such ever begin in jest , and end in blood ; And the word which maketh the company merry , groweth in time to a Military Signal , to cut one anothers throats . These mistakes are to be lamented , the not easily to be cured , being suitable enough to the corrupt Nature of Mankind . But it 's hard , that Men will not only invent ill names , but they will wrest and misinterpret good Ones : so afraid some are even of a reconciling sound , that they raise another noise to keep it from being heard , lest it should set up and encourage a dangerous sort of Men , who prefer peace and Agreement before violence and confusion . Were it not for this , why after we have play'd the fool with throwing Whig and Tory at one another , as Boys do Snow Balls , do we grow angry at a new name , which by its true signification might do as much to put us into our Wits , as the other have done to put us out of them ? This innocent word Trimmer signifieth no more then this , that if men are together in a Boat , one part of the Company would weigh it down of one side , another would make it lean as much to the contrary : It happeneth there is a third opinion , who conceive it would do as well if the Boat went even without endangering the Passengers . Now it is hard to imagine by what figure in Language , or by what rule in Sense , this cometh to be a Fault ; and it is much more a wonder that it should be thought a Heresie . But so it happeneth that the poor Trimmer hath now all the Ponder spent upon him alone , whilst the Whig is forgotten or at least a neglected Enemie ; There is no danger now to the State ( if some men be believed ) but from the beast called a Trimmer ; take heed of him , he is the Instrument that must destroy Church and State. A strange kind of Monster whose deformity is so exposed , that were it a true Picture that is made of him , it would be enough to fright Children and make Women miscarry at the sight of it . But it may be worth examining , whether he is such a beast as he is painted ; I am not of that opinion , and am so far from thinking him an Infidel either in Church or State , that I am neither affraid to expose the Articles of his Faith in Relation to Government , nor to lay that I preferr them before any other Political Creed , that either our Angry Divines , or our refin'd States-men would impose upon us . I have therefore in the following discourse endeavoured to explain the Trimmers Principles and Opinions , and then leave it to all discerning and impartial , Judges , whether he can with Justice be so arraign'd and whether those who deliberatly pervert a good name , do not very justly deserve the worst that can be put upon them . THE TRIMMERS Opinion , about Laws and Government in General , With some Reflections , Relating to our Own. OUR Trimmer hath a great Veneration for Laws in general , as he hath more particularly for our own : He looketh upon them as the chains that tye up our unruly passions , which else like wild Beasts , would reduce the World into its first state of Barbarism and Hostility ; All the good things we enjoy we owe to them ; And all the ill things we avoid is by their protection . GOD Himself thought it not enough to be a Creator , without being a Law-giver , and His goodness had been defective towards Mankind in making them , If he had not prescribed rules to make them happy too . All Laws flow from that of nature , and where that is not the Foundation , they may be legally imposed , but they will be lamely obeyed . By this nature is not meant that which Fools and Libertines would misquot to justifie their excesses it is innocent and uncorrupted nature , That which disposeth Men to choice Vertue without its being prescribed , and which is so far from inspiring ill thoughts into us , that we take pains to surpress the good ones it infuseth . The Civilized World hath ever payed a willing Subjection to Laws , even Conquerors have done homage to them , as the Romans took Patrons of good Laws , even from those they have subdued , and at the same time they Triumphed over an enslaved people , the Laws of that very place did not only remain safe , but became Victorious , their new Masters instead of suppressing them payed them more respect than they who first made them : And by this wise Method they arrived to such an admirable constitution of Laws , that to this day they do reign by them : The excellency of them triumpheth still , and the World now payeth an acknowledgement of their obedience to that mighty Empire , tho so many Ages after is is dissolved . And by a later instance , the Kings of France who in practice use the Laws pretty familiarly , yet they think their Picture is drawn with most advantage upon their Seals , when they are placed in their seats of Justice ; and tho the Hieroglyphick is not of so much use to the people there as they might Wish , yet it sheweth , that no Prince is so great as not to think fit for his own credit to give at least an outward , when he refuseth a real worship to the Laws : They are to Mankind that which the Sun is to the Plants , as it Cherisheth and preserveth them ; where they have their Force and are not clouded or suppressed , every thing smileth and Flourisheth ; but where they are Darkned and not suffered to Shine out , it maketh every thing wither and decay : They secure Men not only against one another , but against themselves too . They are a Sanctuary to which the Crown hath occasion to resort as often as the people , so that it hath an Interest as well as a Duty to preserve them . There would be no end of making a Panegyrick of Laws ; let it be enough to add , that without the Laws the World would become a wilderness , and Men little less than beasts : But withall this the best things may come to be the worst , if they are not in good hands ; And if it be true that the Wise Men generally make the Laws , it is as true that the strongest too often interpret them : And as Rivers belong as much to the channel where they run , as to the Spring from whence they first arise ; so the Laws as much depend upon the pipes thorow which they are to pass , as upon the Fountain from whence they flow . Our Trimmer would have them appear in their full Lustre , and would be grieved to see the day when instead of their speaking with Authority from the Seat of Justice , they should speak out of a Grate with a lamenting voice , like prisoners that desire to be rescued . He wisheth that the Bench may ever have a Natural as well as a Legal Superiority to the Barr. He thinketh Mens Abilities very much displaced , when the reason of those who plead is visibly too strong for those who are to Judge and give Sentence . When these from the Barr seem to dictat to their Superiors upon the Bench , their furrs will look scurvily about them , and the Respect of the World will leave the bare Character of a Judge to follow the Essential knowledge of a Lawyer , who may be greater in himself than others can ever be with all their Trappings . An uncontested Superiority in any calling will have the better of any discountenance that Authority can put upon it , and therefore if ever such an unnatural method should be introduced , it is then that Westminster-Hall might be said to stand upon its head ; and tho Justice it self can never be so , yet the Administration of it would be rendred Ridiculous . A judge hath such a power lodged in him that the King will never be thought to have chosen well , where the voice of mankind hath not before recommended the man to his Election ; when men are made judges of what they doe not understand , the World censureth such a choice not out of ill will to the men but fear for themselves . If the King had th● sole power of choising Physicians , men would tremble to see bunglers preferred , yet the necessity of taking Physick from a Doctor is generally not so great as that of receiving Justice from a Judge . The inferences would be very severe in such cases , for either it will be thought that such Men bought what they know not how to deserve ; or which is as bad , that obedience shall be looked upon as a better qualification in a Judge then Skill or integrity . When such Sacred things as the Laws are not only touched , but guided by prophane hands , Men will fear that out of the tree of the Law from whence we expect shade or shelter , such work men will make Cudgels to beat us with , or rather that they will turn the Cannon upon our Properties that were intrusted with them for their Defence . To see the Laws Mangled , Disguised , made speake quite another Language then their own , to see them thrown from the Dignity of protecting Mankind to the disgraceful Office of destroying them , and notwithstanding their Innocence in themselves , to be made the worst Instruments that the most refined Villany can make use of , will raise Mens anger above their Power to lay it down again , and tempt them to follow the ill Example given them of Judging without Hearing , when so provoked by their desire of revenge . Our Trimmer therefore as he thinketh the Laws are Jewels , so he believeth they are no where better set than in the Constitution of our English Government , if rightly understood and carefully preserved , It would be too great Partiality to say it is perfect or lyable to no Objection , such things are not of this World , but if it hath more Excellency and fewer faults then any other we know , it is enough to recommend it to our esteem . The Dispute which is the greater Beautie , a Monarchy , or a Common-Wealth hath lasted long between their contending Lovers ; and they have behaved themselves so like Lovers who in good manners must be out of their Wits ; used such Figures to exalt their own Idol , on either side & such angry aggravations to reproach one another in the Contest , that moderate Men have in all times smilled upon this Eagerness , and thought it differed verie little from a down right Frenzie : Wee in England by a happy use of this Controversie conclude them both in the wrong , and reject them from being our Pattern , tak●ing the words in the outmost extent , which is , " Monarchie is a thing which leaveth men " no Libertie , and a Common wealth such an one as alloweth them no quiet . We think that a wise mean betwixt those Barbarous Extremes , is that which self preservation ought to dictate to our wishes , and we may say we have attained to this mean in a greater Measure , then any Nation now in being , and perhaps then any we read of , tho never so much Celebrated for the Wisdom or the Felicitie of their Constitution . We take from one , the too great Power of doing hurt , and yet leave enough to Govern and Protect us . We take from the other the confusion of parity , the Animosities , and the Licence , and yet reserve a due care of such a Liberty as may consist with Mens Allegiance . But being hard , if not Impossible to be exactly even , our Government hath much the stronger Byass towards Monarchie , which by the more General content and Practice of Mankind seemeth to have the Advantage in the dispute against the Common-wealth . The rules of a Common-wealth are too hard for the bulk of Mankind to come up to , that Form of Government require●h such a Spirit to carry it on , as do not dwell in great numbers but is restrain●d to so very few especially in this Age , That let the Methods appear never so Reasonable in Paper , they must faile in Practice , which will never be suited more to in Mens Nature as it is , then as it should be . Monarchie is liked by the People for the Bells and the Tinsel , the outward Pompe and the Guilding , and there must be Milk for Babes , the greater part of Mankind are , and ever will be included in that list ; and it is approved by wiser and more thinking Men as the best when compar'd with others , and all Circumstances and Objections Impartially considered , then it hath so great an advantage above all other forms when the Administration of that Power falleth into a good hand , that all other Governments look out of Countenance when they are set in competition with it . Lycurgus might have saved himself the trouble of making Laws , if either he had been immortal , or that he● could have secured to Posterity a Succeeding race of Princes like himself ; His own example was a better Law ; then he could with all his skill tell how to make : Such a Prince is a living Law that dictateth to his Subjects , whose thoughts in that case never rise above their obedience ; the confidence they have in the knowledge and vertue of the Master , preventing the Scruples and Apprehensions to which Men are Naturally inclined in Relation to those that govern them . Such a Magistrate is the Life and Soul of Justice , whereas the Law is but the Body and a dead one too , without his influence to give it Warmth and Vigour ; and by the irresistable power of his Vertue doth so reconcile Dominion and Allegiance , that all disputes between them are 〈◊〉 and subdued . And indeed no Monarchy can be perfect and Absolute without exception , but where the Prince is Superior by his Vertue , as well as by his Character and his Power . So that to serve out Presidents of unlimited Power is a plain Diminution to a Prince that Nature hath made Great , and who had better make himself a Glorious Example to Posterity , than borrow an Authority from dark Records raised out of the Grave , which beside their own usage have always in them matters of Controversie and Debate . And it may be affirmed , that the instances are very rare of Princes having the worst in the Dispute with their people , if they were Eminent either for Justice in time of Peace , or Conduct in time of Warr : Such advantage the Crowngiveth to those who adorn and confirm it by their own personal Vertues . But since for the greater honour of good and wise Princes , and the better to set off their Character by the comparison , Heaven hath decreed that there must be a mixture , and that such as are perve●se , and insufficient , or perhaps both , are at least to have their equal turns in the Government of the World ; And besides that the Will of Man is so various and unbounded a thing , and so fatal too when joyned with power misapplyed , it s no wonder if those who are to be governed are unwilling to have so dangerous as well as so uncertain a standard of their obedience : There must be therefore Rules and Laws , for want of which , or at least the Observation of them , it was as Capital for a Man to say , " Nero did not play well upon the Lute , as to commit Treason , or Blaspheme the Gods , and even Vespasian himself had like to have lost his Life for sleeping , whilst he should have attended and admired that Emperours impertinencie upon the Stage . There is a wantonness in too great power that men are generally too apt to be corrupted with , and for that reason a wife Prince to prevent the temptations arising from common frailty , would choose to Govern by Rules for his own sake , as well as for his Peoples ; since it only secureth him from Errors , and doth not lessen the real Authority that a good Magistrate would care to be possessed of . For if the will of a Prince is either contrary to reason it self , or to the Universal Opinion of his Subjects , the Law by a kind restraint rescueth him from a Disease that would undoe him . If his will on the other side is reasonable and well directed , that will immediately become a Law , and he is Arbitrary by an easie and natural consequence , without taking pains or overturning the World for it . If Princes consider Laws as things imposed on them , they have the appearance of Fetters of Iron , but to such as would make them their choice as well as their practice , they are Chains of Gold , and in that respect an Ornament , as in others they are a Defence to them : And by a Comparison not improper for Gods Vicegerents upon Earth , As our Maker never commandeth our obedience to anything , that as reasonable Creatures we ought not to make our own Election , so a good and a wise Governour , tho all Laws were abolished , would by the voluntary Direction of his own reason , do without constraint the very same things , that they would have enjoyned . Our Trimmer thinketh that a King and a Kingdom are to be one Creature ; not to be separated in their Political Capacity , and when either of them undertake to act a part , it is like the crawling of Worms after they are cut in pieces , which cannot be a lasting Motion , the whole Creature not stirring at a time . If the Body hath the dead Palsie , the Head cannot make it move , and GOD hath not Delegated such a healing power to Princes , as that they can in a moment say to a Languishing people oppressed into despair , Take up your Bed and Walk . The Figure of a King , is so comprehensive and so exalted a thing , that it is a kind of degrading him to lodge that power separately in his own natural person , which can never be truely nor safely great , but where they are so united to him , as to be Flesh of his Flesh , and Bone of his Bone : For when he is reduced to the single definition of a Man , he shrinketh into into so low a Character , that it is a temptation upon Mens Allegiance , and an im , paring of that Veneration which is necessary to preserve their duty to him : Whereas a Prince that is so joined to his People , that they seem to be his Limbs rather than his Subjects , clothed with Mercy and Justice rightly applyed in their several places , His Throne supported by Love , as by Power , and the warm wishes of his devouted Subjects like a never failling Incense , still ascending towards him , looketh so like the best Image we can frame to our selves of God Almighty , that men would have much adoe not to fall down and worship him , and would be much more tempted to the sin of Idolatrie , then to that of disobedience . Our Trimmer is of opinion , that there must be so much Dignity inseparablie annexed to the Regal Function . As may be sufficient to secure it from insolence and contempt : And there must be condescentions too from the Throne like kind showers from Heaven . That the Prince may look the more like GOD Almighties Deputy upon Earth ; for power without love hath a terrifying Aspect . And the worship that is payed to it , is like that which the Indians give out of Fear to wild Beasts and Devils . He that feareth GOD only , because there is a Hell , must with there were no God : And he who feareth a King only because he can punish , must wish there were no King. So that without a principle of Love there can be no true Allegiance ; And there must remain perpetual Seeds of Resistance against a Power that is founded upon such an unnatural Foundation , as that of Fear and Terror . All force is a kind of foul play , and who ever owneth it himself , doth by implication allow it to those he playeth with . So that there will be ever matter prepared in the minds of the People when they are so provok'd , and the Prince to secure himself , must live in the midst of his own Subjects , as if he were in a Conquered Countrey , raise Armies , as if he were immediately to make or resist an Invasion , & all this while sleep as unquietly from the fear of the Remedies , as he did before from that of the Disease ; it being hard for him to forget that more Princes have been destroyed by their Guards , than by their people ; and that even the time when the Rule was Quod Principi placuit Lex esto , the Armies and Pretorian Bands which were the Instruments of that unruly power , were frequently the Means made use of to destroy those who had it . There will ever be this difference between God and his Vicegerents , that God is always above the Instruments he useth , and out of that danger of receiving hart from them ; but Princes can never lodge power in any hands , which may not at some time turn it back upon them . For tho it is possible for a King to have power enough to satisfie his Ambition , yet no Kingdom hath money enough to satisfie the Avarice of the under-workmen , who learn from that Prince who will exact more than belongeth to him , to expect from him as much more than they deserve , and growing angry upon the first disappointment , they are like Devils which grow terrible to the Conjurers themselves who brought them up , but cannot send them down again . And besides that there can be no lasting Radical security , but where the Governed are satisfied with the Governours : It must be a Dominion very unpleasant to a Prince of an elevated mind , to impose an abject and a forced Servilty instead of receiving the willing Sacrifice of Duty and Obedience . The bravest Princes in all times , who were incapable of any other kind of Fear , have feared to grieve there own People ; such a fear is a Glory , and in this sense it is an in●amy not to be a Coward : so that the mistaken Hero's who are void of this generous kind of Fear , need no other Aggravation to compleat their ill Character . When a Despotick Prince hath bruised all his Subjects into a Slavish Obedience , all the force he can use , cannot subdue his own Fears ; enemies of his own Creation , to which he can never be reconciled , it being impossible to do Injustice , and not fear a Revenge ; There is no cure for this Fear but the not deserving to be hurt , and therefore a Prince which doth not allow his thoughts to ●●ray beyond the Rule of Justice , hath alwayes the Blessing of an Inward quiet and assurance , as a Natural effect of his good meaning to his People & tho he will not neglect du● Precautions to secure himself in all events , yet he is uncapable of Entertaining vain and remote suspitions of those of whom he resolves never to deserve ill . It is verie hard for a Prince to fear a Rebellion , who never doth nor intendeth any thing to provoke it , therefore too great a diligence in the Governours to raise and improve Fears , and dangers from the People , is no very good Symptome , and naturally begets an Infere●ce that they have thoughts of putting their Subjects Allegiance to a Tryal : And therefore not without some Reason , Fear before hand , that the irregularities they intend , raise Men to a Resiliance . Our Trimmer thinketh it no advantage to a Government to endeavour the suppressing all kind of Right , which may remain in the body of the people , or to imploy small Authors in it , whose officiousness or want of money may encourage them to write , tho it is not very easie to have abilities equal to such a Subject . They forget that in their too high strain'd Arguments for the Rights of Princes , they very often plead against Humane Nature , which will alwayes give a byass to these Reasons , which seem to be of her side . 'T is the people that readeth these Books , and it is the people that must judge of them , and therefore no maxime should be laid down for the right of Government , to which there can be any reasonable Objection ; for the World hath an interest , and for that reason is more than ordinary decerning to find out the weak sides of such Arguments , as are intended to do them hurt : And it is a Diminution to a Government , to promote or countenance such well affected Mistakes , which are turned upon it with Disadvantage , when ever they they are Detected and Exposed : And naturally the too earnest endeavours to take from Men the Right they have , tempt them , by the Example to claim that which they have not . And in power as in most other things , the way for Princes to keep it , is not to grasp more than their Arms can well hold . The nice and unnecessary Inquiry into these things , or the Licensing some Books , and suppressing others , without sufficient Reason to justifie the doing , is so far from being an Advantage to a Governme●● , that it exposeth it to be the censure of being partial , and to the suspition of having some hidden Designs , to be carried on by these unusual Methods . When all is said , there is a Natural Reason of State , an undefinable thing , grounded upon the common good of Mankind , which is immortal , and in all Changes and Revolutions still preserveth its Original Right of saving a Nation , when the Letter of the Law perhaps would destroy it , and by whatsoever means it moveth , carrieth a power with it , that admitteth no Opposition , being supported by Nature , which inspireth an immediate con●nt at some critical Times , into every individual Member , to that which visibly tendeth to the preservation of the whole : and this being so , a wise Prince in stead of controverting the Right of this Reason of State , will by all means endeavour it may ever be of his side , and then he will be secure . Our Trimmer cannot conceive that the power of any Prince can be lasting , but where it is built upon the Foundation of his own unborrowed vertue : He must not only be the first mover , and the Fountain from whence all the Great Acts of State orginally flow ; but he must be thought so by his People , that they may preserve their Veneration to him : He must be jealous of his Power , and not impart so much of it to any about him , as that he may suffer an Eclipse by it . He cannot take too much care to keep himself up , for when a Prince is thought to be led by those , with whom he should advise , and that the commands he giveth are transmitted thorow him , and are not of his own growth , the World will look upon him , as a Bird adorn'd with feathers that are not his own , or consider him rather as an engine than a living creature . Besides it would be a contradiction for a Prince , to fear a Common-wealth , and at the same time to creat one himself , by delegating such a Power to any number of Men near him , as is inconsistent with the true figure of a Monarch ; It is the worst kind of Co-ordination the Crown can submit to : For it is the exercise of power that draweth the respect along with it , and when that is parted with , the bare Character of a King is not sufficient to keep it up . But tho it is a Diminution to a Prince to parcel out his power so liberally amongst his Favourites , it is yet worse to divide with any other man , to bring himself in competion with a single Rival , a partner in Government , is so unnatural a thing , that it is a squint ey'd Allegiance which must be payed to such a double bottomed Monarchy . The two Czaars are an example that the more Civilized part of the World will not be proud to follow , and whatever gloss may be put upon this method , by those to whom it may be of some use , the Prince will do well to remember and reflect upon the story of certain men , who had set up a Statue in Honour of the Sun , yet in a very little time they turned their back to the Sun , and their Faces to the Statue . These mystical Unions are better placed in the other World than they are in this , and we shall have much adoe , when in a Monarchy Gods Vicegerency is delegated to more Heads , than that which is anointed . Princes may lend some of their Light to make another shine , but they must still prefer the superiority of being the brighter planet , and when it hapneth that the Reversion is in Mens eyes , there is more care necessary to keep up the Dignity of possession , that Men may not forget who is King , either out of their Hopes or their Fears who shall be . If the Sun should part with all its Light to any of the Stars , the Indians would not know where to find their God , after he had so deposed himself , and would make the Light where ever it went , the object of their worship All Usurpation is alike upon the Soveraignity , it is no matter from what Hand it cometh , and crowned Heads are to be the more circumspect , in respect that Mens Thoughts are naturally apt to ramble beyond what is present ; They love to work at a Distance , and in the greedy Expectation , their Minds may be filled with of a New Master , the Old One may be left to look a little out of countenance Our Trimmer owneth a passion for Liberty , yet so restrained , that it doth not in the least impair or taint his Allegiance : He thinketh it is hard for a Soul that doth not love Liberty , ever to raise it self to another World ; He taketh it to be the Foundation of all Vertue , and the only Reasoning that giveth a relish to Life : And tho the laziness of a slavish subjection hath its charms for the more gross and Earthly part of Mankind , Yet to Men made of a better sort of Clay , all that the World can give without Liberty hath no taste ; It is true nothing is sold so cheap by unthinking Men , but that doth no more lessen the real value of it , then a Country Fellows ignorance doth that of a Diamond in selling it for a pot of Ale. Liberty is the Mistres of Mankind , she hath powerful charms which do so dazle us , that we find beauties in her which perhaps are not there , as we do in other Mistresses : Yet if she was not a Beauty , the World would not run mad for her . Therefore since the reasonable desire of it ought not to be restrained , and even the unreasonable desire of it cannot be suppressed ; those who will take it away from a people possessed of it , are likely either to fail in their attaining , or to be very unquiet in keeping of it . Our Trimmer admireth our blessed Constitution in which Dominion and Liberty are so happily reconciled ; It giveth to the Prince the Glorious Power of commanding Free-men , and to the Subject the satisfaction of seing that Power so lodged , as that their Liberties are secure : It doth not allow the Crown such a ruining power as that no grass can grow wherever it tradeth , but a cherishing & protecting Power , such an one as hath a Grim Aspect only to the ofsending Subjects , but it is the joy and pride of the good ones , their own Interest being so bound up in it , as to engage them to Defend and Support it : As the King is in some in●tances restrained ; so nothing in the Government can move without him . Our Laws make a true distinction betwixt Vassallage and Obedien●e , between a devouring Prerogative and a Licentious ungovernable Freedom ; And as of all the orders of Building , the Composit is the best , so ours by a wise mixture and happy choise of what is best in others , is brought into a form that is our Felicitie who live under it , and the envy of our Neighbours who cannot Imitate it . The Crown hath power sufficient to protect our Liberti●s , the People hath so much Liberty as is necessar to make them useful to the Crown : Our Government is in a just proportion , no ●impany , no unnatural swelling either of Power or Libertie ; And whereas in all overgrown Monarchies , reason , Learning , and Enquiry are banished , hange● in Effigie for Mutiners , here they are encouraged and cherished , as the surest Friends to a Government established upon the Foundation of Law and Justice . When all is done , those who look for perfection in this World , may look as long as the Iews have done for their M●ssias ; And therefore our Trimmer is not so unreasonably Partial as to free our Government from all Objections : No doubt there have been fatal instances of its sickness , and more then that of its Mortality for some time , tho by a Miracle it hath been revived again . But till we have another Mankind , in all Constitutions that are bounded there will be ever some mat●er of strife , and contention , and rather then want pretences , Mens passions and Int●re●ts will raise them from the most inconsiderable causes . Our Government is like our Clymat , there are winds that are sometime loud and unquiet , and yet with all the trouble they give us we owe a great part of our Health to them , they cleanse the Air which would else be like a standing pool , and instead of a Re●reshment would be a disease to us . There may be fresh Ga●es of a●●erted Liberty ; without turning into such storms or Hurricanes , as that the State should run any hazard of being cast away be them : These struglings which are natural to all mixed Governments , whilst they are keeped from growing into Convulsions , do by a mutual Agitation from the several parts rather support and strengthen , and weaken or maim the Constitution ; and the whole frame instead of being torn or disjoynted , cometh to be the better and closser knit by being thus exercised . But what ever faults our Government may have , or whatever spots a decerning Critick may find in it , when he looketh upon it alone , let any other be set against it , and then it sheweth its Comparative Beautie : Let us look upon the most glittering outside of unbounded Authority , and upon a nearer Enquiry we shall find nothing but poor and miserable deformity within . Let us imagine a Prince living in his Kingdom , as if he was in a great Gally ; his Subjects tugging at the Oar loaden with Chains , and reduced to ●eal raggs , to gain him imaginary Laurels : Let us Represent him gazing among his Flatterers , like a child never contradicted , and therefore always cozned , or like a Lady Complemented only to be abused ; condemned never to hear Truth , and consequently never to do Justice , wallowing in the soft bed of Wanton and unbridled greatness , not less odious to the Instrument than to the Objects of his Tyranny ; Blown up into an Ambitious dropsie , never to be satisfied by the Conquest of other People or by the oppression of his own ; by aiming to be more then a Man , he becometh a beast ; A mistaken Creature swelled with Panegyricks , and fla●tered out of his Senses ; Nor only an incumbrance , but a common nusance to Mankind ; A hardned and unrelenting Soul ; and like some Creatures that groweth fat with Poysons , he groweth great by other Mens miseries : An Ambitious Ape of the Divine greatness ; an unruly Gyant , that would storm even Heaven its self , but his scaling Ledder is not long enough : In short a wild Beast in rich Trappings , and with all his Pride no more than a Whip in God Almighties hand , to be thrown into the fire , when the World hath been sufficiently scourged with it . This Picture laid in right Colours , would not invite men to wish for such a Government ; but rather to acknowledge the happiness of our own , under which we enjoy all the Priviledges reasonable men can desire , and avoid all the miseries many others are subject to . So that our Trimmer would fain keep it with all its Faults , and doth as little fore-give those who give the Occasion of breaking it , as he doth those that take it . Our Trimmer is a Friend to Parliaments , notwithstanding all their faults and excesses , which of late have given much ma●ter of objection to them ; He thinketh that tho they may at some times be troublesome to Authority , yet they add the greatest strength to it under a wise Administration : He believeth no Government is perfect , except a kind of Omnipotence reside in it , To be exerced upon great occasions : Now this cannot be attained by force upon the People , let it be never so great ; there must be their consent too , or else a nation moveth only ( by being driven ) a sluggish and constrained motion , void of that life and vigor , which is necessary to produce great things . Whereas the virtual consent of the whole being included in their Representatives , and the King giving the Sanction to the united Sense of the People , every Act done by such an Authority seemeth to be an Act of their choise , as well as a part of their duty ; and they do with an eagerness of which men are uncapable whilst under a force , execute whatever is so enjoyned as their own will better explained by Parliament , rather then from the terror of incurring the penaltie of the Law for omitting it . And by the means of this Political Omnipotence , what ever Sap or Juice there is in a Nation , may be to the last drop produced , whilst it riseth naturally from the Root ? Whereas all power exerced without consent is like wounds and Gashes , and Topping a Tree at unseasonable Times , for the present occasion which in a very little time must needs destroy it . Our Trimmer believeth that by the Advantage of Our Situation , there can hardly any such sudden discase come upon us , but that the King may have time enough left to consult with his Physicians in Parliament . Pretences indeed may be made , but a real necessity so pressing , that no delay is to admitted , is hardly to be imagined ; and it will neither be able to give an instance of any such thing for the time past , or reasonable to presume it will ever happen for the time to come . But if that strange thing should happen to fall out , our Trimmer is not so strait lac'd , as to let a Nation die or be stiffled , rather then it should be helped by others then the proper Officers ; the cases themselves would bring the Remedies along with them , and he is not afraid to allow , that in order to its preservation , there is a hidden power in Government which should be lost if it was defined ; A certain mystery by vertue of which a Nation may be at some Critical time secured from Ruine : But then it must be keeped as a Mystery . It is rendered useless when touched by unskilful hands ; and no Government ever had or deserved to have that power , which was so warrie as to Anticipat their claim to it . Our Trimmer cannot help thinking it had been better , if the Triennial Act had been observed ; First , Because it is the Law , and he would not have the Crown , by such an example , teach the Nation to break it : All Irregularity is catching , it hath contagion in it , especially in an Age so much more inclined to follow ill Paterns , then good ones : He would have had a Parliament , because it is an Essential part of the Constitution , even without the Law , it being the only provision in extraordinary cases , in which there would otherways be no Remedy : And there can be no greater Solicism in Government , than a failing of Justice : He would have had one , because nothing else can unite and heal us , all other means are meer shifts and projects , houses of Cards blown down with the least breath , and that cannot resist the difficulties which are ever to be presumed in things of this kind : And he would have had one , because it might have done the King good , and could not possibly have done him hurt without his own consent , which in that case is not to be supposed . Therefore , for him to fear it , is so strange and so little to be comprehended , that the reasons can never be presumed to grow in our soil , or to thrive in it , when transplanted from any other Country : And no doubt there are such irresistable Arguments for the calling a Parliament , that tho it might be denyed to the unmannerly threatnings of men , that are Mutinous and disaffected , it would be granted to the soft and obsequious murmours of his Majesties best Subjects : And there would be such a Rhetorick in their silent grief , that it will at last prevail against the Artifices of those , who either out of guilt or Interest , afraid to throw themselves upon their Country , knowing how scurvily they have us'd it . That day of Judgment will come , tho we know neither the day nor the hour , and Our Trimmer would live so , as to be prepared for it , with full assurance in the meantime , that the Lamenting voice of a Nation cannot long be resisted , and that a Prince , who would so forgive his People when they had been in the wrong , cannot fail to hear them when they are in the right . THE TRIMMERS Opinion Concerning RELIGION , to the Producing Quiet amongst our Selves . RELIGION hath such a Superiority above all others things , and that indispensable influence upon all mankind , that it is as necessary to our living happily in this World : as it is to our being saved in the next : Without it man is an abandoned Creature , one of the worst beasts nature hath produced , and fit only for the Society of Wolves and Bears . Therefore in all Ages it hath been the foundation of Government ; and tho False Gods have been imposed upon the Credulity of the World ; yet they were God's still in their opinion : And the aw & deference Men had to them , and their Oracles kept them within bounds towards one another , which the Laws alone with all their Authority could never have affected without the help of Religion , the Laws would not be able to subdue the perversness of Mens wills , which are wild Beasts that require a double chain to keep them down . For this Reason it is said , that it is not a sufficient ground to make War on a neighbouring State , because they are of an other Religion : let it be never so differing ; yet if they worship and acknowlege no Deity at all , they may be invaded as publick Enemies of Mankind , because they reject the only thing that can bind men to live well with an other . The consideration of Religion is so tuisted with the Government , that it is never to be separated , and tho the Foundations of it are to be unchangable and eternal , yet the forms and Circumstances of Discipline , are to be suited to the several Climates and Constitutions , so as they may keep men in a willing acquiescence to them without discomposing the World by Nice Disputes , which can never be of equal Moment with the publick Peace . Our Religion here in England , seemeth to be distinguished by a peculiar Effect of God Almighties goodness , in permitting it to be introduced or more properly restored , by a more Regular method , Then the circumstances of most other Reformed Churches , would allow them to do in Relation to the Government , and the Dignity with which it hath supported it self ; and the great men our Church hath produced , ought to recommend it to the esteem of all Protestants ; At least our Trimmer is very partial to it for these Reasons and many more , and desirous that it may preserve its due Jurisdiction and Authority , so far he is from wishing it opprest , by the malicious or unreasonable Cavils of those who take pains to raise Objections to it . The Question then will be how , and by what methods this Church shall best support it self , the present Circumstances considered in relation to Dissenters of all Sorts ? I will first lay it for a ground , that as there can be no true Religion without Charity , so there can be no humane prudence without bearing and Condescention . This principal doth not extend to oblige the Church alwayes to yield to those , who are disposted to contest with it , the expediencie of doing it , is to be considered and determined according to the occasion ; And this leadeth me to lay open the thoughts of our Trimmer , in reference first to the Protestant and then to the Popish Recusants . What heat lately happned amongst us , makes an Apology necessary for saying any thing that looketh like favour towards any sort of men , who have brought themselves under such a disadvantage . The late conspiracy hath such broad Symptoms of the disaffection of the whole party , that upon the first Reflection whilst our Thoughts are warm , it would almost perswade us to put them out of the Protection of our good nature , and to think that the Christian indulgence , which our compassion for other Mens sufferings cannot easily deny , seemeth against , and even becometh a Crime when it is so misapplyed . Yet for all this , upon second and colder thoughts , moderate men will not be so ready to involve a whole party in the guilt of a few , or to admite inferences and presumptions , to be evidences in a case , where the Sentence must be so heavy , as it ought to be against all those , who have a fixed Resolution against the Government established . Besides men who act by a principle grounded upon a Moral Vertue can never let it be intirely extinguished by the most repeated Provocations . I● a right thing agreeable to nature and good sense taketh root in the heart of a Man , that is impartial and unbyassed , no outward Circumstances can ever destroy it ; 'T is true the degree of Mans zeal for the Prosecution of it may be differing , the faults of other Men , the consideration of the Publick , and the reasonable Prudence by which wise Men will ever be directed , may give great Allays , they may lessen , and perhaps for a time suppress the exercise of that , which in a general Proposition may be reasonable but what ever is so , will inevitable grow and spring up again , having a Foundation in nature which is not to be destroyed . Our Trimmer therefore endeavours to separate the detestation he hath of those who had either a hand or a thought in the late Plot , from the principle of Prudential , as well as Christian Charity towards Mankind ; And for that reason , would fain use the means of Reconciling such of the Dissenters as are not incurable , and of even off bearing to a degree those that are , as far as may consist with the publick interest and security . He is far from justifying an affected separation from the Communion of the Church , and even in those who mean well and are misled , he looketh upon it as a disease that hath sea●ed upon their minds , very troublesome to themselves , as well as dangerous by the Consequences it may produce . He do●h not go about to excu●e their making it an indispensable duty to meet in numbers to say their Prayers ; such meetings may prove mischievous to the State , at least the Laws which are the best Judges have determined that there is danger in them ; He hath good nature enough to Lament , that the perversness of a part should have drawn Rigorous Laws upon the Body of Dissenters , but when they are once made no Private Opinion , must stand in opposition to them . If they are in themselves reasonable , they are in that respect to be observed , even without being enjoyned , if by the change of times and circumstances they should become less reasonable than when they were first made , even then the● are to be obeyed too , because they are Laws till they are mended or repeled by the same Authority that enacted them . He hath too much deference to the constitution of our Government , to wish any more Prerogative Declarations in favours of Scrupulous men , or to Dispense with Penal Laws in such a manner , or to such an end . That suspecting men might with some reason apprehend , that so hated a thing as a Persecution could never make way for it self with any hope of Success , otherwayes then by preparing the deluded World with a false prospect of Liberty and Indulgence . The inward Springs and Wheels by which that Engine moved are not so fully laid open and exposed , that it is not supposable such a baffled Experiment should ever b●tryed again . The effect it had at that time , and the spirit it raised will not easily be forgotten ; and it may be presumed that the remembrance of it may secure us from any more attempts of that kind for the future ; we must no more break a Law to give a man ease , then we are to Robb a house , with a devout intention of giving the plunder to the Poor : In this case our compassion would be ill directed , as our Charity in the other ; in short , the Veneration due to the Laws is never to be thrown off , let the pretensions be never so specious . Yet for all this , he cannot bring himself to think that an extraordinary diligence to exact the outmost penalties of the Law , ●upon a poor offending Neighbour , is of it self such an alsufficient Vertue , that without something else to recommend men , it should Entittle them to all kind of Preserments and Rewards . He would not detract from the merits of those who execute the Laws , yet he cannot think that such a piece of service as this , can entirely change the Man , or either make him a better Divine , or a more knowing Magistrate then he was before , especially if it be done with a partial and unequal hand , in reference to great and more dangerous Offenders . Our Trimmer would have these mistaken Men ready to throw themselves in the Arms of the Church , and he would have these Arms as ready to receive them : He would have no Supercilious looks to fright these stray'd Sheep from coming into the Fold again , no ill natured Maxims of Eternal Suspition , or a belief that these who have been in the wrong can never be in the right again ; But a visible preparation of the mind to receive with joy , all the Proselites that shall come to us , and a much greater Earnestness to reclaim , then punish them . It is to be confessed , that when there is a great deal to forgive , it is task hard enough for a Church to provoked : But that must not cut off all hopes of being reconciled . Yet i● there must be some Anger left still , let it break out into a Christian Revenge , and by being kinder to these ●hildren of Dis●bedience then they deserve , let the injured Church Triumph by throwing Shame and Confusion of Face upon them , there should not alwayes be Stormes and Thunder , a clearer Skie sometimes would make the Church look more like Heaven , and would do more towards Reclaiming these Wanderers , then a perpetual Terror , which seemeth to have no Intermission : For there are many and particularly in England , that by a mistaken pleasure in resisting the Dictates of Rigorous Authority , whose Stomach riseth against a hard Imposition ; Nay be in some a Lust in suffering from a wrong point of Honour , which yet doth not want the Applause of the great part of Mankind , who have not learned to distinguish : Constancie will be thought a vertue even when it is a mistake , and the ill judging World will be apt to think the Opinion most in the Right , which produceth the greater Numbers of those who are willing to suffer for it ; all this is prevented and falls to the ground by using well-timed Indulgences . And the stubborn Adversary who valueth himself upon his Resistance whilst he is oppressed , yieldeth unsensibly to kinder methods when they are applyed to him ; And the same man melteth naturally into conformity , who perhaps would never have been beaten into it . We may be taught ●by the Compassion that attendeth the most Criminal Men when they are Condem'd , that Faults are much more natural things then Punishments , and that even the most necessary Acts of Severity , do some kind of Violence to our Nature , whose Indulgence will not be confined within the strick bounds of exorable Justice● ! So that this should be an Argument for Gentleness . Besides that it is the likeliest way to make these men ashamed of their Separation , whilst the pressing them too hard tendeth rather to make them proud of it . Our Trimmer would have the Clergy supported in their Lawful Rights , and in all the Power and Dignity that belongeth to them ; and yet he thinketh that possibly there may be in some of them , a too great eagerness to extend the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction , which tho' it may be well intended , yet the straining it too high , hath an appearance of Ambition , that raiseth mens Objections to it , and is so very unlike the Apostolick Zeal , which was quite otherwayes Applied , that the World draweth inferences from it , which do the Church no service : He is troubled to see Men of all sides sick of a Calenture of a Mistaken Devotion , and it ●●emeth to him , that the devout Fire of Mutual Charity with which the Primitive Christians were inflamed , is long since extinguished and instead of it , a devouring a fire of Anger and Persecution breaking out in the World. We wrangle with one another for Religion , till the Blood cometh ; whilst the Commandments have no more Authority with us , then if they were so many Absolute Laws , or Proclamations out of date . He thinketh that a Nation will hardly be mended by Principles of Religion , where Morality is made an Heretick ; And therefore , as he believeth Devotion to be misplaced , when it getteth into a Conventicle , he concludeth that Loyalty is so too , when it is lodged in a drunken Club. These vertues deserve a better seat of Empire , and they are degraded when such men undertake their defence , as have too great need of an Apology for themselves . Our Trimmer wisheth that some knowledge may go along with Zeal on the right side ; and that those that are in possession of the Pulpit , would Quot at least as often the Authority of the Scriptures , as they do that of the State. There are many , who borrow too often from the Government Arms to use against their Adversaries , and neglect those that are more proper , and would be more powerful . A Divine groweth less , and putteth a Diminution upon his own Character , when he Quoteth any Law but that of God Almighty , to get the better of those that contest with him ; And as it is a sign of a decaying Constitution , when nature with good dyet cannot expel noxious humours , without calling Forraign Drugs to her Assistance , so it looketh like want of Health in a Church , when instead of depending upon the power of that Truth which it holdeth , and the good example of those who teach it , to support it self and suppress Errrors , it should have a perpetual recourse to the Secular Authority , and even , upon the slightest occasions . Our Trimmer hath his Objections to the o● busied diligence and overdoing of some of the Dissenting Clergy , and he doth as little Approve those of our Church who weare God Almightie's Livery , as some old Warders in the Tower do the King 's : who do nothing that belongs unto their place , but receiving the wages for it . He thinketh that the Liberty of the late times gave men to much Light , and diffused it so Universally among the People , that they are not now to be dealt with , as they might have been in an Age of less enquity And therefore tho in some well chosen and dearly beloved Auditories , good resolute Non-sense backed with Authority may prevail , yet generally Men are become so good Judges of what they hear , that the Clergy ought to be very warry , before they go about to impose upon their understandings , which are grown less humble than they were in former times , when the Men in Black had made Learning such a Sin for the Laity , that for fear of offending they made a Conscience of being able to read . But now the World is grown so wise , and expecteth Reasons , and good ones too , before they give up their own Opinions to other Men's Dictates , tho' never so Magisterially delivered to them . And our Trimmer is farr from approving they Hypocrisie which seemeth to be the Reigning Vice among some of the Dissenting Clergy ; He thinketh it the most provoking Sin men can be guilty of in Relation to Heaven , and yet ( which may seem strange ) that very sin which shall destroy the Soul of the man who preacheth , may help to ●ave those of the Company that hear him , and even those that are cheated by the false Ostentation of the strictness of his Life , may by that pattern be encouraged to the real practice of these Christian Vertues , which he doth so deceitfully pro●ess : So that the Detestation of his ●ault , may possibly be carried too farr by our more Orthodox Divines , and a wor●e extreme for men of that Character , who by going to the outmost Line of Christian Libetry , will certainly encourage others to go beyond it . No Man doth less approve the ill-bred Method of some of the Dissenters in Rebuking Authority , who behave themselves as if they thought ill manners necessary to Salvation ; yet he cannot but distinguish and desire a mean between the of some of the Scotish Apostles and the indecent Courtship of some silken Divines , who one would think did practice to bow at the Altar , only to learn to make the better legs at Court. Our Trimmer approveth the principle of our Church , That Dominion is not founded in Grace ; And that our obedience is to be given to a Popish King in other things , at the same time that our compl●ance with him in Religion is to be denyed : Yet he cannot but think it a very extraordinary thing , if a Protestant Church should by a voluntary Election choose a Papist for their Guardain , and receive Directions for supporting our Religion from one who must believe it a mortal sin not to endeavour to destroy it : Such a refined peece of breeding would not seem to be very well placed in the Clergy , who will hardly be able to find precedents to justifie such an extravagant kind of Courtship ; And which is so unlike the primitive Methods , that ought to be our pattern . He hath no such unreasonable tenderness for any sort of Men , as to expect their Faults should not be impartially laid open , as they give occasion for it . And yet he cannot but smile to see , that the same Man who setteth up all his sailes of Rhetorick to fall upon the Dissenters ; when Popery is ●o be handled , he doth it so gingerly , that he looketh like an Ass mumbling of a Thristle , so affraid he is of letting himself loose upon a Subject , when he may be in danger of letting his Duty get the better of his Discretion . Our Trimmer is so far from relishing the impertinent wanderings of these who pour out long prayers upon the Congregation , and all from their own flock , which GOD knoweth for the most part is a barren soil , that produceth weeds in stead of flowers ; And by this means they expose Religion it self , rather than promote Mens Devotions . On the other side there may be too great Restraint put upon Men , whom GOD & Nature hath distinguished from their Fellow Labourers , by blessing them with a happier Talent ; And by giving them not only good sense , but a powerful utterance too , hath enabled them to gush out upon the attentive Authority , with a mighty stream of Devout and Unaffected Eloquence : When a Man is qualified and endued with Learning , and above all , adorned with a good Life , breaking out into a warm and well delivered prayer before his Sermon , it hath appearance of a Divine Rapture , he raiseth and leadeth the hearts of an Assembly in another manner , than most studied , best composed form of set Words can attain to , & the Pray ●●●e's who serve up all their Sermons with the same garnishing , would look like so many Statues , or Men of straw in the Pulpit , compared with those who speak with such a powerful Zeal , that Men are tempted at the moment , to believe Heaven it self had dictated their words to them Our Trimmer is not so unreasonably indulgent to the Dissenters , as to excuse the irregularities of their complaints , or to approve their Threatning stile , which is so ill suted to their Circumstances , as well as to their Duty : He would have them shew their grief , and not their Anger to the Government , and by such a submission to Authority as becometh them ; if they cannot inwardly acquiesce in what is imposed , let them desire a Legislative Remedy to their sufferings . There being no other way to give them perfect Redress , then either to seek it , or pretend to give it , would not only be vain but criminal too , in those that go about it . Yet for all this , there may be in the mean time a Prudential Latitude left , as to the manner of prosecuting the Laws now in force against them , the Government is in some Degree answerable for such an Administration , as may be free from the censure of Impartial Judges : And in order to that it will be necessary that one of these Methods be pursued , either to let loose the Laws , to their outmo●t extent , without any Moderation or Restraint ; In which at the least , the Equality of the Government would be without Objection , the penalties being exacted without Remission from the Dissenters in all kinds ; or if that will no● be done , ( as indeed there is no Reason it should ) there is a necessity of some connivance to the Protestant Dissenters , to excuse that which must in Humanity be allowed the Papists , even without any leaning to them , which might be supposed in those who are or shall be in the Administration of publick business ; and it will follow , that according to our circumstances the Distribution of such Connivances must be made in such a manner , that the greater part of it may fall on the Protestant side , or else the Objections will be so strong , and the Inference so clear , that the Friends as well as the Enemies of the Crown , will be sure to take hold of them . It will not be sufficient to say , the Papists may be connived at because they are good Subjects ; But , that the Protestant Dissenters must suffer because they are ill ones : These general Maxims will not convince discerning Men , neither will any late instances make them forget what hath passed at other times in the World ; Both Sides have had their turns in being good or ill Subjects , and therefore it is easie to imagine what suspitions would arise in the present Conjuncture , if such a partial Argument as this should be imposed upon us . The truth is , the matter speaketh so much of it self , that it is not only unnecessary , but it may be unmannerly to say any more of it . Our Trimmer therefore could wish , that since notwithstanding the Laws , which deny Churches to say Mass in , not only the Exercise , but even the Ostentation of popery , is as well or better performed in the Chappels of so many Forraign Ministers , where the English resort , in spite of Proclamations and Orders of Council , which are grown to be as harmless things unto them , as the Popes Bulls , and Excommunication are to Hereticks who are out of his reach , I say ; that he could wish , that by a seasonable as well as by an equal piece of Justice , there might be so much consideration had of the Protestant Dissenters , as that there might be at some times and in some places a vail thrown over an innocent and retired Conventicle : And that such an indulgence may be practised with less prejudice to the Church , or diminution to the Laws , it might be done , so as to look rather like a kind Omission , to enquire strictly , than an allowed Tolleration , of that which is against the Rule established , such a skilful hand as this is very necessary in our Circumstances , and the Government , by making no sort of Men entirely desperate , doth not only secure it self from the danger of any wild or Villanous attempt , but layeth such a foundation for healing and uniting Laws , when ever a Parliament shall meet , that the seeds of Difference and Animosities betwixt the several contending Sects may ( Heaven consenting ) for ever be destroyed . THE TRIMMERS Opinion Concerning PAPISTS . To speak of Popery leadeth one into such a Sea of matter , that it is not easie to forebear lanching in it being invited , by such a fruithful Theme , and by a variety never to be exhausted ; But to confine it to the present subject , I will only say a short word of Religion it self , of its influence here at this time , And of our Trimmer's Opinion in relation of our manner of living with them . If a Man would speak maliciously of this Religion ; One might say it is like these Diseases , where as long as one drop of the infection remaineth , there is still a danger of having the whole mass of Blood corrupted by it . In Swedland there was an absolute cure , and nothing of Popery heard of till Queen Christian ( whether moved by Arguments of this or the other World , would not be good manners to enquire ) thought fit to change her Religion , and her Country , and to live at Rome , where she might find better Judges of her vertues , and less ungentle censures of those Princely Liberties she was sometime deposed to , when she lived at Stockholm where the good breeding of the Climat is much inferiour to that of Rome , as well as the civility of the Religion : And the Cardinals having refined the Church from these clownish methods the Fisher-Men had first introduced , & mended that Pattern so effectually , that a Man of that Age , if he should now come into the World , would not possibly know it . In Denmark the Reformation was intire . In some States of Germany as well as Geneva , the cure was universal . But in the rest of the World , where the Protestant Religion took place , the Popish humour was too tough to be totally expelled ; And so it was in England , tho' the change was made with all the Advantage imaginable to the Reformation , it being countenanced and introduced by Legal Authority , and by that means perhaps have been as perfect as in any other place , if the short Reign of Edward the 6th , and the succession of a Popish Queen , had not given such advantage to that Religion , that it hath subsisted ever since under all the hardships that have been put upon it , it hath been a closs compact Body , and made the more so by their sufferings , it was not strong enough to prevail , but it was still able with the help of forraign support to carry on an interest which gave the Crown trouble to make a considerable , not to say a dangerous , figure in the Nation , so much as this would not have been without some hopes , nor these hopes kept up , without some considerable grounds . In Queen Elizabeth's time , the Spanish zeal of their Religion , and their Revenge for ( 88 ) gave warmth to the Papists here ; And above all , the Right of the Queen of SCOTS to succeed , was whilst she lived , sufficient to give them a better prospect of their Affairs . In King James time , the Spanish Match and his Gentleness towards them , kept them up , which they were ready to interpret more in their Favours , than was either reasonable , or then became them , so little tenderness they have where it is most due , if the interest of their Religion come in competition with it . As for the last King , tho' he gave the most glorious Evidence , that ever Man did of his being Protestant , yet by the more then ordinary influence the Queen was thought to have over him , and it so happening , that the greater part of his anger was direct against the Puritans , there was such an Advantage given to Men disposed to suspect , that they were ready to interpret it a leaning towards Popery , without which handl● , it was morally impossible that the ill affected part of the Nation could ever have seduced the rest unto Rebellion ; That which helped to confirm many well meaning Men in their misapprehensions of the King , was the long and unusual intermissions of Parliaments , so that every year that passed without one , made up a new Argument to increase their suspitions , and made them presume that the papists had a principal hand in keeping of them off : This raised such heat in Mens minds , to think that Men who were obnoxious to the Laws , instead of being punished , should have credit enough even to secure themselves , even at the price of destroying the fundamental Constitutions , that it broke out into a flame , which before it could be quenched , had almost reduced the Nation to ashes . Amongst the miserable effects of that unnatural Warr , none hath been more fatal to Us , than the forcing our Princes to breath in an other Air , and to receive the Earthly impression of a Forraign Education . The barbarity of the English toward their King , and the Royal Family , might very well tempt him to think the better of every thing be found abroad , and might naturally produce more g●ntleness towards a Religion , by which he was Hospitally received , at the same time he was thrown off , and persecuted by the Protestants tho' his own Subjects too , to aggravate the Offence . The Queen Mother ( as generally Ladies do ) with Age grew more devout , and earnest in her Religion , and besides the Temporal Rewards of getting larger subsidies from the French Clergie , she had Motives of another kind to perswade her to shew her zeal : And since by the Roman Dispensatory , a Soul converted to the Church , is a soveraign Remedy , and layeth up a mighty stock of Merit ; She was also solicitous to secure her self in all events , and therefore first ●et upon the Duke of Glocester , who depended so much upon her good will , That she might for that Reason be induced to believe , that the Conquest would not be difficult : But it so fell out , that he either from his own constancie , or that he had those near him by whom he was otherwise advised , choosed rather to run away from her importunity , than by staving , to bear the continual weight of it . 'T is believed she had better success with another of her Sons , who if he was not quite brought off from our Religion , at least such beginnings were made , as made them very easie to be finished ; his being of a Generous and Aspiring Nature , and in that respect less patient the Drugery of Arguing ; might propably help to recommend a Church to him , that exempteth the Laytie from the vexation of enquiring ; Perhaps he might ( tho' by mistake ) look upon that Religion as more Favourable to the enlarged power of a King , a consideration that might have its weight with a young Prince in his warm blood , and that was brought up in Armies . I cannot hinder my self from a small Digression to consider with Admiration : That this old Lady of Rome , with all her wrinkles should yet have Charms able to subdue great Princes , so far from handsome , and yet so Imperious , so painted and yet so pretending , after having Abused , Destroyed and Murdered so many of her Lovers , she still findeth others glad of her new Charms : A thing so strange to indifferent Judges , that those who will allow no other Miracles in the Church of Rome , must needs grant that this is one not to be contested . She sitteth in her shop , and selleth at dare Rates , her Rattles and her Hoby-Horses , whilst the deluded World still continueth to furnish her with Customers . But whether am I carried with this Contemplation . It is high time to return to my Text , and to consider the wonderful manner of the King 's coming home again , led by the hand of Heaven , and called by the voice of his People , who received him , with a joy equall to the blessings which his Restoration brought along with it . By this there was an end put to the Hopes , some might have abroad , of makeing use of his less happy circumstances , to throw him into Forreign Interests or opinions , which had been wholly inconsistent with our Religion , our Laws and all other things that are dear to us ; yet with all this , something of those Tinctures and Impressions , might so far Remain , as tho' they were very Innocent in him , yet they might have ill Effect here , by softning the Animosity which seemeth necessary to the Defender of the Protestant Faith , in opposition to such a powerfull and irreconcilable Enemy . You may be sure , that among all other sort of Men who applyed themselves to the King , at his first coming for his protection , the Papists were not the last , nor ( as they fain would have flattered themselves ) the least welcome , having their past sufferings a swell as their present professions to Recommend them : Since so it happened , That the Indulgence promised to Dissenters at Breda , was carried on in such a manner , that the Papists were to divide with them . And though the Parliament , notwithstanding its Resignation to the Crown in all other things , rejected with Scorn and Anger , a Declaration formed for this purpose , yet the Birth and Steps of it gave such an Alarm , that Mens Suspicions once raised were not easily laid a sleep again . To omit other things , the breach of the Triple League , and the Dutch Warr , with its appertinences , raised Jealousies to the highest pitch imaginable ; and fed the hopes of one partie , and the Fears of the other to such a Degree , that some very Critical Resolutions were generally expected : when the ill Success of that Warr , and the sacrifice France thought fit to make of the Papists here to their own Interest abroad , gave another checkt , and the Act of enjoining the Test to all in Office , was thought no ill Bargan to the Nation , tho bought at the price of 1200000 lib. and the Mony applyed to the continuance of the Warr against the Dutch , then which nothing could be more unpopular or less approved . Notwithstanding these Discouragements , Popery is a plant which may be mowed down , but the root will still remain , and in spight of the Laws , it will sprout up and grow again , especially if it should happen , that there will ever be Men in power , who in stead of Weeding it out of our Garden , will take cae to cherish it , and keep it alive And tho the Law of Excluding them from places , was to tolerably kept , as to the outward form , yet there were many Circumstances which being improved by the quick sighted Malice of ill affected Men , did keep up the World in their suspicions , and blow up Jealousies to such a hight , both in and out of Parliament , that the remembrance of them is very unpleasant , and the Examples so Extravagant , that it is hoped in our age , nothing like it will be attempted . But to come closer to the Case in Question , in this condition we stand with the Papists , what shall now be done according to our Trimmers opinion , in Order to the Better bearing this Grievance ; since as I have said before there is no hope of being intirely freed from it . Papists we must have among us , and if their Religion keepeth them from bringing Honey to the Hyve , let the Government try , at lea●t by Gentle and not by Violent Means , to take away the sting from them . The first Foundation to be laid is , that a Distinct consideration is to be had of the Popish Clergy , who have such an eternal Interest against all accommodation , that it is a hopless thing to propose any thing to them less then all ; their stomachs having been set for it since the Reformation . They have pined themselves to a principle , that will admit no Mean , they believe Protestants must be damned , and therefore by an extraordinary Effect of Christian Charity , they would destroy one half of England , that the other might be saved . Then for this World they must be in possession for GOD Almighty , and receive his Rents for him , not to accompt till the day of Iudgement , which is a good kind of Tenure , and you cannot well blame the good Men , that they stir up the Laity to run any hazard , in order to the getting them restored . What is it to the Priest , if the deluded Zelot undoeth himself in the attempt , he singeth Mass as Jollily ; and with as good a voice at Rome , or St. Omers as ever he did ; he is a single man and can have no wants , but such as may be easily supplied : Yet that he may not seem altogether in●ensi●le or ungrateful to those who are his Martyrs , He is ready to assure th●ir executors , and if they please will procure a Grant sub annulo Piscatoris That the good Man by being hanged hath got a great Bargain , and saved a singing of some hundred of years , which he would else have had in Purgatory . There is no cu●e for this order of Men , no expedient to be proposed : So that tho' the outmost severity of the Laws against them may in some sort be Mitigated , yet no Treaty can be made wi●h them , who in this case have left themselves no free will , but are musled by zeal , tyed by vows , and kept up by such unchangeable Maxims of the Priest-hood ; That they are to be left as desperate Patients , and to be looked upon as men who will continue in an eternal State of H●stility , till the Nation is intirely subdued unto them . It is therefore only the Lay Papist that is capable of being Treated with . And we are to Examine of what Temper he is , what Arguments are most like to prevaile upon him , and how far it is adviseable for the Government to be Indulgent to him . The Lay Papists generally keep their Religion , rather because they will not break company with those of their own Party , than out of a settled Zeal that hath any Root in them . Most of them do by the Mediation of the Priests , Marrie amongst one another ; and so keep up an Ignorant opposition , by hearing only one side . Others look upon it as the better Scutcheon , the more ancient Religion of the two ; and as some men of good Pedegree will despise meanner men , tho never so much Superior to them by Nature : So those undervalue the Reformation as an upstart , and think that there is more Honour in supporting an old Error , them embracing what seemeth to them a new Truth . The Laws have made men of Pleasure , by excluding them from publick Business , and it hapneth well that they are so , since they will be more easily perswad●d by Arguments of Ease and Conveniencie to them . They have not put off the Man in General , nor the English man in particular ; those who in the late Storme against them , went into other Countries , tho they had all the Advan●ages that might recommend them to a good reception , yet after a little while they choose to Steal over again , and live here with Hazard , rather then abroad with Security . There is a smell in our Native Earth , better then all the Perfumes of the East . There is something in a Mother tho never so angry , that the Children will naturally trust sooner then the most studied Civilties of Strangers , let them be never so Hospital . Therefore it is not adviseable , nor at all agreeing with the Rules of Governing Prudence , to provoke Men by hardships to forget that Nature which else is sure to be on our side . When these Men by fair usage are put again into their Right Senses they will have quite differing Reflections from those which Rigor and Persecution had raised in them . A Lay-Papist will first consider his Abbey Lands , which notwithstanding what ever hath been or can be alledged , must certainly sink considerably in the value the moment that Popery prevaileth , and it being a disputable matter whether zeal might not in a little time get the better of the Law , in this case a considering man would admit that as an Argument to perswade him to be content with things as they are , rather then run this , and the other hazard by a change , in which perhaps he may have no other advantage , ●han that his own humble Confessor may be raised to a Bishoprick , and from thence look down Superciliously upon his Patron , and which is worse , come to take Possession for God Almighty of his Abbey , in such a manner that the u●urping Land Lord ( as he will there be called ) shall hardly be admitted to be so much as a Tennent unto his own Land , left his Title might prejudge that of the Church , which will then be the Language . He will think what advantage it is to be looked upon , as a separate Creature , depending upon a Forreign Interest and Authority , and for that reason exposed to the Jealousie and suspicion of his Country-men . He will reflect what an incumbrance it is to have his house a Pasture for hungry Priests to Grass in , who have such a never failing Influence upon the Foolish , which is the greatest part of every mans Family , that a mans Dominion even over his own Children is mangled and divided , if not totally underminded by them . Then to be subject to what Arbitrary Taxes the Popish Convocation shall impose upon them for the carring on the common Interest of that Religion , under the penalty of being marked out for half an Heretick , by the rest of the party : To have no share in Business , no opportunity of shewing his own value to the World , to live at the best an useless , and by others to be thought a Dangerous Member of the Nation where he is born , is a burden to a Generous Mind that cannot be taken off by all the pleasures of an easie unmanly Life , or by the Nauseous enjoyment of a dull plenty , that produceth no food for the mind , which will ever be considered in the first place , by a man that hath a Soul. When he shall think , that if his Religion should after wading through a Sea of Blood , come at last to prevail it would infinitly lessen , if not intirely destroy the Glory , Riches , Strength , and Liberty of his own Country ; and what a Sacrifice is this to make to Rome , whe●e they are wise enough to wonder there should be such fools the World , as to venture , strugle and contend , nav even to die Martyrs for that , which should it succeed , would prove a Judgement , instead of a Blessing to them . He will conclude that the Advantages of throwing some of their Children back again to God Almighty , when they have too many , are not equal to inconvenie●cies they may either feel or fear by continuing their separation from the Religion established . Mortal things will have their weight in this World ; And tho' Zeal may prevail for a time and get yet the better in a Skirmish , yet the War endeth generally on the side of Flesh and Blood , and will do so , till Mankind is another thing then it is at present : And therefore a wise Papist in cold Blood considering these and many other Circumstances , will believe it worth his pains to try if he can unmufle himself from the Mask of Infalibility , and we think it reasonable to set his imprisoned Senses at Liberty , and that he hath a right to see with his own Eyes , hear with his own Ears , and judge with his own Reason ; The consequence of which , migh● probably by the weighting things in a right Scale , and seeing them in their true colours , be able to make him distinguish between the merit of suffering for a right Cause , and the foolish ostentation of drawing inconveniencies upon himself , and therefore will not be unwilling to be convinced that our Protestant Creed may make him happy in the next , and easier in this World : a few of such wise Prosylites would by their Example draw so many after them , that the Party would insensibly melt away and in a little time , without an angry Word , we should come to an Union , that all good Men would have Reason to rejoyce at . But we are not to presume upon these conversions , without preparing Men for it , by kind and reconciling Arguments ; Nothing is so against our Nature as to believe those can be in the Right , who are too hard upon us ? there is a Deformity in every thing that doth us hurt , it will look scurvily in our Eye whilst the smart continueth , and a Man must have an extraordinary measure of Grace to think well of a Religion , that reduceth him and his Family to misery ; In this respect our Trimmer would consent to a Mitigation of such Laws as were made ( as is said , Henry the 8th got Queen Elizabeth ) in a heat against Rome . It may be said , that even States as well as private Men are subject to passions , a just indignation of a villanous attempt produceth at the time such Remedies as perhaps are not without a mixture of some Revenge : And therefore tho' time cannot Repeal a Law , it may by a Natural Effect soften the Execution of it . There is less danger to rouse Lyons when they are at rest , than to awake Laws that are intended to have their time of sleeping ; Nay , more than that , in some cases their Natural Periods of Life too are dying of themselves , without the Solemnity of being revocked any other wayes , than by the common consent of Mankind , who cease to execute , when the Reasons in great measure fall , that first created and justified the rigour of unusual penalties : Our Trimmer is not eager to pick out sore places in Histories against this or any other Partie ; quite contrary , is very solicitous to find out any thing that may be healing , or tend to an Agreement . But to prescribe the means of this Gentleness , so as to make it effectual , must come from the only place that can furnish Remedies for this cure ; viz. a Parliament : In the mean t●me it is to be wished , there might be such a mutual calmness of Mind , That the Protestants might not be so J●●●ous , as still to smell the Match which was to have blown up the King and both Houses in the Gun Powder Treason , or to star● at every appearance o● Popery , as if it was just taking Possession . On the other side , that the Papists may not suffer themselves to be led by any hopes , tho' never so flattering , to a Confidence or Ostentation which must provoke men to be less kind to them ; that they may use Modesty on their side , and the Protestants Indulgence on theirs . By this means there would ●e an overlooking of all Venial faults , a Tacite connivance at all things that did not cary scandal withthem , & it would amount to a kind of natural Dispensation with the severe Laws , since there would be no more Accusers , were the occasions of Anger and Animosities once removed . Let the Papists in the mean time remember , that there is a Respect due from all lesser Numbers to Greater . A Deference to be payed by an Opinion that is exploded , to one that is Established : Such a thought well digested , will have an influence upon their behaviours , and produce such a Temper , as must win their eager Adv●rsaries out of their ill humour to them , and give them a Title to all the favour that may be consistent with the Publick Peace and Securitie . THE TRIMMERS Opinion in Relation to things ABROAD . THE World is so composed , that it is hard if not impossible for a Nation not to be a good dale involved in the State of their Neighbours : and tho by the felicity of our Situation , we are more independent than any other people ; yet we have in all Ages been concerned for our own sakes in the Revolutions Abroad . There was a time when England was an Ove●-ballancing power of Christendom , and that either by Inheritance or Conquest , the better part of France received Laws from Us. After that , we being reduced into our own Limi●s , France and Spain became the Rivals for the Universal Monarchie ; And our Third power , tho in it self less than either of the other ●●apned to be Superior to any one of them , by the choice we had of throwing the Scales on that side to which we gave our Friendship . And we do not know whether this figure did not make us great as our former Conquests , to be a perpetual Umpire between the two great contending Powers , who gave us all their Courship , and offered all their Incense at our Altar , whilst their fat seemed to depend upon the Oracles we delivered . For a King of England to sit on his Throne ( as in a Supreme Court of Justice with the last Appeal of two great Monarchs pleading their cause , and expecting the sentence Declaring which side was on the Right , or at least ( if we pleased ) which side should have the better of it ) was a piece of greatn●ss which was peculiar to us ; and no wonder if we endeavoured to preserve it , as we did for a considerable time : It being our sa●tie as well as our Glory to maintain it . But by a fatality upon our Councils , or by the refined Policy of this latter Age , we have thought fit to use Industry to destroy this mighty Power which we had so long enjoyed ; and that equality between the two Monarchs which we might for ever have preserved , hath been chiefly broken by us , whose interest above all things it was to have maintained it . When one of them like the overflowing of the Sea , had gained more upon the other then our conveniencie or indeed our safety would allow , instead of mending the Banks or making new ones , we our selves with our own hands helped to cut them , to invite and make way for a farther inu●dation . Spain and France have had their several turns of making use of our mistakes , and we have been formerly as deaf to the then weaker part of the World , to help them against the house of Austria , as we can now be to the earnestness of Spain , that we would assist them against the power of France . Gondemar was as Saucy and as powerful too in K : Iame's his Court , as any French Ambassador can have been in any time since ; Men talked as wrong then on the Spanish side , and made their Court as well by it , as any can have done since by talking as much for the French. So that from that time , instead of weighing in a false Ballance the power of either Crowns , it looketh as if we had learned only to weigh the pensions and take the heaviest . It would be tedious as well as unwelcome to recapitulat all our wrong steps , so that I will go no farther than the King's Restoration , at which time the Ballance was on the side of France , and that by the means of Cromwel , who for a separate Interest of his own , had sacrificed that of the Nation , by joyning with the stronger side to suppress the Power of Spain , which he ought to have supported : Such a method was natural enough to an Usurper , and shewed he was not the Lawful Father of the People , by having so li●tle care of them . And the example coming from that hand , one would think for that Reason should be less likely to be followed . But to go on , here cometh the King followed with Courtship , from all Nations Abroad ; of which , some did it , not only to make him forget how familiarly they had used him whilst he was in other Circumstances , but to bespeak the Friendship of a Prince , who besides his other greatness was yet more Considerable by being re established by the Love of his People . France had an interest either to dispose us to so much good will , or at least to put us in such a condition , that we might give no Opposition to their Designs : And Flanders being a perpetual Object in their Eye , a lasting Beauty for which they have an incurable Passion , and not being kind enough to consent to them , they meditat to commit a Rape upon her ; which they thought would not be easie to do , whilst England and Holland were agreed to rescue her , when ever they should hear cry out for help to them . To this end they put in practice seasonable and Artificial Whispers to widen things between us and the States ; Amboyna , and the Fishery must be talked of here ; the Freedom of the Seas , and the preservation of Trade insinuated there , and their being Combustible matter on both sides , in a little time it took fire , which gave those that kindled it sufficient cause to smile , and hug themselves to see us both fall into the Net , they had laid for us . And it is observable and of good example to us if we will take it , that their design being to set us together at cuffs to weaken us , they kept themselves indifferent and lookers on , till our Victories begun to break the Ballance : And then the King of France like a wise Prince was resolved to support the beaten side , and would no more let the power of the Sea , than we ought to suffer the Monarchy of Europe , to fall into one Hand . In pursuance to this , he took part with the Dutch , and in a little time made himself Umpire of the Peace between Us. Sometime after upon a pretence of his Queen's Title to a part of Flanders by right of Devolution , he falleth into it with a mighty Force , for which the Spaniards were so little prepared , that he made a very swift progress , and had such a Torrent of indisputed Victory , ● that England and Holland ( tho the Wounds they had given one another were yet green ) being struck with the apprehension of so near a Danger to them , thought it necessary for their own Defence to make up a sudden League ( into which Sweden was taken in ) to interpose for a Peace between the two Crowns . This had so good an Effect , that France was stopped in its Career , and the peace of Aix la Chapel was a little after concluded : It was a forced putt , and the French wisely dissembled their Dissatisfactions ; yet from the very moment , they re●olved to unty this triple Knot what ever it cost them : For his Christian Majesty after his conquering Meals , ever riseth with a stomach , and he liked the Patern so well , that it gave him a longing to have the whole piece . Amongst the other Means used to attain this end , the sending over the Dutches of Orleans , was not the least powerful ; she was a very welcome Guest here , and her own Charms and Dexterity joyned with all other Advantages which might help her perswations , gave her such an Ascendent , that she could hardly fail of success . One of the preliminaries of her Treaty , tho' a trivial thing in it self , yet was considerable in the consequence , as very small circumstances are in relation to the Government of the whole World. About that time a general humour in opposition to France , had made us throw of● their Fashion , and put on Vests , that we might look more like a distinct People , and not be under the servility of Imitation , which ever payeth a greater Deference to the Original , than is consisting with the Equality , all independing Nations would pretend too . France did not like this small beginning of ill humour , or at least of Emulation ; and wisely considering , that it is a natural introduction , first to make the World their Apes , that they may be afterwards their Slaves : It was thought that one of the Instructions Madam brought along with her , was to laugh Us out of these Vests , which she performed so effectually , that in a moment , like so many Footmen that had quited their Masters Livery , we all took it again , and returned to our Service : So that the very time of doing it gave a critical advantage to France , since it looked like an Evidence of our returning to their Interests , as well as to their Fashion ; and would give such a distrust of us to our New All●yes , that it might facilitate the Dissolution of this Knot , which tyed them so within their bounds , that they were very impatient till they were freed from the Restraint . But this Lady had a more bounded Commission than this , and had no doubt laid the Foundation of making a new strict Allyance lately engaged ; And of this there was such early appearances , that the World began to look upon us as falling into Apost●cy from the common Interest . Notwithstanding all this , France did not neglect at the same time to give very good words to the Dutch , and even to feed them with hopes of supporting them against us ; when on a sudden , that never to be forgotten Declaration of War against them cometh out , to vindicate his own Glor● , and to revenge the injuries done to his Brother of England ; by which he became our second in this Duel ; so humble can this Prince be ! When at the same time he doth us more honour then we deserved , he layeth a greater share of the blame upon our shoulders then did naturally belong to us . The particulars of that War ; our part in whilst we sta●ed in , and when we were out of Breath , our leaving the French to make an end of it , are things too well known to make it necessary , and too unwelcome of themselves to make me repeat them . Only the wisdom of France is in this to be observed , that when we had made a separate Peace , which left them single to oppose the united force of the Confederates , they were so far from being Angry , That they would not so much as shew the least coldness , hoping to get as much by our Mediation for a Peace as they would have expected from our Assistance in the War , our circumstances at that time considered . This seasonable peace of Indulgence in not Reproaching us , but rather allowing those necessities of State , which we gave for our excuse , was ●uch an ingaging method , that it went a great way to keep us still in his chains , when to the eye of the World , we had Absolutely broken loose from them ; And by what passed afterwards at Nemeghen , tho' the Kings Neutrality gave him the figure of a Mediator , it appeared that his Interposition was extremely suspected of partiality by the Confederats , who upon that ground did both at , and before the conclusion of the Treatie , treate his Ministers there with a great dale of neglect . In this peace as well as that of the Pireneans , and of Aix la Chapel , the K : of France at the moment of making , had the thoughts of breaking of it ; for a very little time after he broached his pretentions upon A Lost , &c. Things had they been offered by a less formidable hand , would have been smiled at . But ill Arguments being seconded with good Armies , carry such a power with them , that naked Sense is a very unequal Adversary : It was thought that those Airie Claims were raised with the getting of Luxenburgh for the Equivalent ; and this Opinion was confirmed by the blocking it up after pretending to the County of Chimay ; and that it might be intirely surrendred to the French Dominions , it was so pressed that it most have fallen in a little time , if the King of France had not sent Orders to his Troops to retire , and his Christian generosity which was assigned for the Reason of it , made the World smile , since it was seen how differently his devout Zeal worketh in Hungarie . That sp●cious Reason was in many respects ill timed , and France it self gave it so faintly , that at the very time it looked out of countenance . The true ground of this Retireing is worth our Observation , for at the instance of the Confeder●tes , Offices were done , and Memorials given , but all ineffectual till the Word Parliament was put into them ; That powerful Word had such an Effect , that even at that distance , it raised the Siege , which may convince us of what Efficacy a King of Englands Words are , when he will give them their full Weight , and threaten with his Parliament . It is then that he appeareth , that great Figure we ought to represent him in our Minds ; The Nation his Body , he the Head , and joyned with that Harmony , That the very word he pronounceth is the Word of a Kingdom , such words ( even by this Example ) are as effectual as Fleets or Armies , because they can creat them : And without this , his words found abroad , like a Faint Wisper , That is either not hard , or which is worse , not minded . But tho' France had made this step of forced complyance , it did not mean to leave off the persuit of their Pretensions ; and therefore Immediately proposed the Arbitration of it to the King. But it appeared that notwithstanding his Merits towards the Confederates , in saving Luxenburgh , the remembrance of what passed before had left so ill a Taste in their Mouths , That they could not Relish our being put in a Condition , to dispose of their Interests , and therefore Declined it by Insisting upon a General Treaty , to which France hath ever since continued Averse . Our great earnestness to p●●swade the Confederates to consent to it , was so unusual and Suspitious a Method , that it might naturally make them believe , that France spoke to them by our Mouth ; and for that Reason ( if there had been no other ) might hinder their accepting it . And so little care hath been taken to Cure this or other Jealousies the Confederates might have Entertained , that quite contrary their Ministers take every day Fresh Alarms , from what they observe in smal , as well as in great Circumstances ; And tho they , both being apt to take and improve Apprehensions of this kind , draw such Inferences from them , as make them entirely despair of us . Thus we now stand , far from being innocent Specta●ors of our Neighbours Ruine , and by a fatal Mistake forgetting what a certain Forerunner it is to our own . And now it 's time that our Trimmer should tell somewhat of his Opinion upon this present state of things Abroad . He first Professeth to have no Byass either for , or against France , and that his Thoughts are wholly directed by the Interest of his own Country . He alloweth and hath read , that Spain used the same Methods when it was in it's height as France doth now ; and therefore it is not Partiality that moveth him , but the just Fear that all reasonable M●n must be possessed with of a● overgrown Power . Ambition is a devouring Beast , when it hath swallowed one Province , instead of being cloyed with it , it hath so much the greater Stomach to another ; And by being Fed becometh still the more Hungry : So that for the Confederates to expect a Security from any thing but from their own united Strength , is a most miserable fallacy ; and if they cannot resist the incr●achments of France by their Armes , it is in vain for them to dream of any other means of preservation . It would have better Grace , besides the saving of so much blood and ruine , to give up all at once , make a present of themselves to appease this haughty Monarch , rather than be whispered , flattered , or cozned out of their Liberty . Nothing is so soft as the first applications of a great Prince to engage a weaker , but that smiling countenance is but a Vizard , it is not the true face , for as soon as the turn is served , the Courtship falleth to some other Prince or State , where the same part is to be acted , leaveth the old mistaken Friend to neglect and contempt ; And like an insolent Lover to a Chaste Mistris , reproacheth her even with the Infamy of which he himself was the Author . Sweden , Bavaria , Palatineat , &c. may by their fresh Example teach other Princes what they are reasonably to expect , and what Snakes are hidden under the Flowers which the Court of France so liberally throweth upon them , whilst they can be useful . The various Methods , and the deep Intrigues , the different Notes , in several Countries , doth not only give suspicion , but assurance , that every thing is put in practice by which the Universal Monarchy may be obtained : Who can reconcile the withdrawing his Troops from Luxenburgh in consideration of the War in Hungarie , which was not then declared , and presently thereafter encouraging the Turk to take Vienna , and consequently to destroy the Empire ! Or who can think that the persecution of the poor Protestants in France will be accepted by God as an Attonment for hazarding the loss of the whole Christian Faith ? Can he be thought in earnest when he would seem afraid of the Spainards , and for that Reason must have Luxenburgh ? And that he cannot be safe from Germany , except he be in possession of Strasburgh ? All injustice and violence must in it self be grievous ; but the aggravation of supporting them by false Arguments and insulting Reasons , hath something in it yet more provoking , then the injuries themselves : And the World hath ground enough to apprehend from such a method of arguing , that even their Senses are to be subdued as well as their Liberties . Then the several varities of Arguments used by France in several Countries is very observable . In England and Denmark nothing is insisted on , but the Greatness and Authority of the Crown . On the other side the great Men in Poland , are commended who differ in Opinion with the King , and they argue like kind Friends to the priviledges of the Diet , against the separate Power of the Crown : In Sweden they are something troubled that the King should have changed somethings there of late by his ●ingle Authoritie from the Ancient and settled Constitution . At Ratisbone his most Christian Majestie taketh the Liberties of all the Electors and free States into his immediate protection , and telleth them the Emperor is a dangerous Man , an aspiring Hero , that would infallibly devour them , if he was not at hand to resist him in their behalf : But above all , in Holland he hath the most oblidging tenderness for the Common wealth , and is in such Disquiets lest it should be invaded by the Prince of Orange , that they can do no less in gratitude than to undoe themselves when he biddeth , to shew how sensible they are of his good Nature . Yet in spite of all these Contradictions , there are in the World such very refin'd States Men , as will upon their Credit affirm the following paradoxes to be real Truths . First , That France alone is sincere , and keepeth its Faith ; and consequently , that it is the only Friend we can rely upon . That the King of France of all Men living hath the lest mind to be ● Conqueror That he is a sleepy Tame Creature , void of all Ambition , a poor kind of a Man , that hath no further thought than of being quiet . That he is charmed by his Friendship to Us , that it is impossible he should ever do us hurt : And therefore tho Flanders was lost , it should not in the least concern Us. That he would fain help the Crown of England to be Absolute , ; which would be to take pains to put Us in a condition to oppose him ; as it is and must be our interest as long as he continues in such an overballancing greatness . Such a Creed as this , if once received , might prepare our Belief for greater things : And as he that taught Men to eat a Dagger , began first with a Pen knife ; so if We can be prevailed with to digest these smaller mistakes , we may at last make our Stomacks strong enough for that of Transubstantiation . Our Trimmer cannot easily be converted out of his Senses by these State Sophisters , and yet he hath no such peevish obstinacy , as to reject all Correspondence with France , because We ought to be apprehensive of the too great power of it . He would not have the Kings Friendship to the Confederates extend to the involving him in any unreasonable or dangerous Engagements , neither would he have him lay aside the Considerations of his better Establishment at home , out of an excessive zeal to secure his Allies Abroad ; But sure there might be a mean between the two opposite Extremes , and it may be wished that our Friendship with France should at least be so bounded , that it may consist with the Honour as well as with the Interest of England . There is no Woman but hath her Fears of contracting too great an Intimacie with a much greater Beauty , because it exposed her too often to a comparison that is not advantagious to her : and sure it may become a Prince to be as Jealous of his Digntty , as a Lady ●an be of her good Looks ; and be as much out of countenance to be thought an humble Companion to so much a greater power , to be alwayes seen in such an ill Light , to be so darkned by the brightness of a greater Star , is somewhat Mortifying . And when England might Ride Admiral at the Head of the Confederates , to look like an Kitchin Yaught to the Grand Lewis , is but a scurvy Figure for us to make in the Mapp of Christendom ; it would rise upon our Trimmers stomach if ever ( which God forbid ) the power of Calling and Intermitting Parliaments here , should be transferred to the Crown of France , and that all the opportunities of our Settlements at Home , should give way to their Degsins and Projects Abroad ; and that our Interest should be so far sacrificed to our humour , that all the Omnipotence of France , can never make us full amends for it . In the mean time , he shrinketh at the dismal Prospect he can by no means drive away from his thoughts , that when France hath gathered all the Fruit arising from our mistakes , and that we can bear no more , they they will cut down the Tree and throw it into the fire . All this while some Superfine Statesmen to comfort us , would fain perswade the world , that this or that Accident may save us , and all which is or ought to be dear to us , would have us rely meerly upon Chance , not considering that Fortune is Wisdoms ●reature ; and that God Almighty loveth to be on the wisest as well as on the strongest side : Therefore this is such a miserable shift , such a shameful Evasion , that they would be laughed to death for it , if the ruining consequence of this Mistake did not more dispole men to the Rage and detestation of it . Our Trimmer is far from Idolatry in other things , and in one thing only he cometh somewhat near it , his Countrey is in some Degree his Idol ! He doth not Worship the Sun , because it is not Peculiar to us , it ram●leth about the World , and is less kind to us then it is to other Countries ; but for the ●arth of England , tho perhaps inferiour to many places Abroad , to him there is Divinitie in it , and he had rather die then see a Spi●e of English grass trampled upon by a Forreign Grashopper . He thinketh that there are a great many of his Mind , for all Plants are not to taste of the soil in which they grow and we that grow , here have a root that produceth in us a stock of English juice , which is not to be changed by Grafting or Forreign In●usion , and I do not know whether any thing less will prevail then the Modern experiment , by which the Blood of one Creature is Transmitted into another ; according to which , before the French Blood can be let into our Bodies , every drop of our own must be drawn out of them . Our Trimmer cannot but lament that , by a Sacrifice too great for one Nation to make to another , we should live like a rich Mine made useless for want only of being wrought , and that the life and vigor which should move us against our Enemies is miserably applyed to tear our own Bowels . That being made by our happy situation not only safer , but if we please greater too , then Countries which far exceed us in Extent ; that having Courage by Nature , Learning by Indust●y , Riches by Trade , we should corrupt all those advantages , so as to make them insignificant , and by a fatality which seemeth peculiar to us , misplace our active rage one against another , whilst we are turned into Statues on that side where lyeth our greatest danger to be inconcerned , not only at our Neighbours Ruine but our own , and let our Island ly like a great bulk in the Sea , without Rudder or Sails , all the men cast away in her , or as if we were all Children Rocked a sleep to a Forreign Tune , I say when Our Trimmer representeth to his Mind , our Roses blasted and discoloured , whilst the Lillies triumph and grow insolent upon the comparison ; when he considereth our once flowrishing Laurels now withered and dying , and nothing le●t us but the remembrance of a better part in History , then We shall make for the next Age , which will now be no more to Us than a Scutcheon hung up●n our doors when we are dead ; when he foreseeth from hence growing , infam●e from abroad , confusion at home , and all this without the possibility of a cure , in respect of the voluntary Fetters , Good Men put upon themselves by their Allegiance , without a great measure of preventing Grace , He would be tempted to go out of the World like a Roman Philosopher , rather than endure the burden of Li●e under such a discouraging prospect . But mistakes as all other have their periods , and many times the way to cure is not to oppose them , but stay till they are crushed with their own weight : For Nature will not allow any thing to continue long that is Violent ; Violence is a Wound , and a Wound must be cureable in a little time , or else it is mortal : But a Nation cometh near being Immortal , therefore the Wound will one time or another be cured , tho perhaps by such rough methods , if too long ●oreborn , as may make even the best Remedies we can propose , to be at the same time a Melancholly Contemplation to us . There is but one thing ( GODS Providence excepted ) to support a Man from sinking under these afflicting thoughts , and that is the hopes we draw singly from the King himself , without the mixture of any other Consideration . Tho' the Nation was lavish of their Kindness to him at his first coming , yet there remaineth still a stock of warmth in Mens Hearts for him , besides the good influences of his happy Planet are not yet all spent : And tho' the Stars of Men past their Youth are generally declining , and have less Force , like Eyes of decaying Beauties ; Yet , by a ble●●ing peculiar to himself , we may yet hope to be saved even by his Autumnal Fortune . He hath something about him that will draw down a healing Miracle for his and our Deliverance . A Prince that seemeth fitted for such an offending Age , in which Mens Crimes have been so generall , that the not foregiving his People had been destroying them ? Whose Gentleness giveth him a Natural Dominion that hath no bounds , with such a Noble mixture of Greatness and Condescention , an engaging look that disarmeth Men of their ill Humour , and their Resentments , something in him that wanteth a name , and can no more be defined than it can be resisted , a gift of Heaven of its last finishing , where it will be peculiarly kind ! The only Prince in the World that dares be familiar , or that hath right to Triumph over those forms which were first invented to give aw to those that could not Judge , and to hid Defects from those that could : A Prince that hath exhausted himself by his Liberality , and endangered himself by his Mercy , who only shineth by his own Light , and by his natural vertues excelleth all the varnish of studied Acquisitions ; his faults are like shades to a good picture , or like Allay to Gold to make it more useful ; he may have some , but for any man to see them through so many Reconciling vertues , is a Sacrilegious piece of ill nature , of which no generous mind can be guilty . A Prince that deserveth to be loved for his own sake , even without the helps of a Comparison , our love , our duty , and our danger , all join to cement our Obedience to him : In short whatever he can do , it is no more possible for us to be angry with him , than with the bank that secureth us from the raging Sea , the kind shade that hideth us from the scortching Sun , the welcome hand that reacheth us a Reprive , or with the Guardian Angel that rescueth our Soul from the devouring Jaws of wretched Eternity . THE CONCLUSION . TO Conclude , Our Trimmer is so fully satisfied of the Truth of those Principles by which he is directed in reference to the publick , that he will neither be Bauled , Threatned , Laughed , nor Drunk out of them ; and instead of being Convicted by the Arguments of his Adversaries to their Opinion he is very much confirmed in his own by them . He professeth Solemnly that were it in his Power to choose , be rather have had his Ambition bounded by the Commandments of a Wise and Great Master , then let it Range with a Popular Licence , tho' Crowned with Success . Yet he cannot commit such a sin against the Glorious thing called Libertie , or let his Soul stoop so much below it self , as to be content without repining to have his reason intirely subdued , or the Priviledge of Acting like a sensible Creature torn from him by the Imperious Dictates of unlimited Authority , in what hands soever it happeneth to be placed . What is there in this , that is so Criminal as to deserve the penalty of that most singular Apothegm , A Trimmer is worse than a Rebel ? What do angry Men aile to rail so against Moderation ? Doth it not look as if they were going to some Scurvie Extreme , that is too strong to be digested by the more considering part of Mankind . These Arbitrary Methods , besides the unjustice of them are , GOD bethanked , very unskilful too , for they fright the Birds by talking so loud from coming into the net that is laid for them . When Men agree to riffle a house , they seldom give warning , or blow a Trumpet ; but there are some small States Men who are so full charged with their own expectations , that they cannot contain ; and kind Heaven by sending such a seasonable case upon their Understandings , hath made their Ignorance an Antidote against their Malice ; some of these cannot treat peaceably , yeelding will not satisfie them , they will have Men by storm . There are others who must have plots to make their service necessary , and have an Interest to keep them alive since they are to live upon them ; These Men would perswade the King to Retrench his own greatness , so as to shrink into the Head of a party , which is a betraying him into such an un-Princely mistake , and into such a wilful diminution of himself , that they are the last Enemies he ought to allow himself to forgive . Such Men , if they could , would prevail with the Sun to shine only upon them and their Friends , and to have all the rest of the World in the dark . This is a very unusual Monopoly , and may come within the Equity of the Law , which maketh it Treason to imprison the King , when such unfitting bounds are put to his Favour , and be confined to the narrow circle of a particular set of Men , that would enclose him . These Honest and only Loyal Gentlemen , if they may be allowed to bear witness for themselves , make a King their Engine , and degrade hi● into a property , at the ver● time that their Flattery would make him believe that they payed Divine Worship to him . Besides thes● there is a flying Squadron on both sides , that are afraid the World should agree , small D●blers in conjuring , that ra●se angrie Apparitions to keep Men from being reconciled ; like Wasps they flie up and down , buz and sting to keep Men unquiet ; But those Insects are commonly short lived Creatures , ●nd no doubt in a little time Mankind will be rid of them : they were Gyants at least who on●e fought against H●aven , but for such Pigmees as these to contend against it , it is such a provoking Folly , that the insolent Buglers ought to be Laughed and Hissed out of the World for it . They should consider , there is a Soul in that great Body of the People , which may for a time be drowsie and unactive ; but when the Leviathan is roused , it mov●th like an angry creature , and will neither be convinced nor resisted . The People can never agree to show their united power , till they are extremely tempted and provoked to it : So that to apply Cuping-glasses to a great Beast naturally disposed to sleep , and to force the same thing whether it will or no to be valiant , must be learned out of some other Book than Machiavel , who would never have prescribed such a preposterous Method . It is to be remembred , that if Princes have Law and Authority on their side , the People on theirs may have Nature , which is a Formidable Adversaty . Duty , Justice , Religion , na● even Humane Prudence to● biddeth the people suffer every thing rather than resist : But corrupted Nature where ever it feeleth a smart will run to the nearest Remedy . Mens passions are in this case to be considered as much as their Dut● , let it be never so strongly enforced ; for if their passions are provoked , they being as much a part of us as any of our Limbs , they lea● Men into a short way of Arguing that admitteth no Distinctions , and from the foundations of self defence : They will draw inferences that will have miserable effects upon the quiet of a Government . Our Trimmer therefore dreadeth a general discontent , because he thinketh it differeth from a Rebellion , only as a sp●ted Fever doth from the Plague , the same species under a lower Degree of Malignity ; It worketh several wayes , sometimes like a slow poyson that hath its effects a great distance from the time that it is given , sometimes like dry flax prepared to catch at the first fire , or like seed in the ground ready to sprout upon the first shower , in every shape it is fatal . And our Trimmer thinketh no pains or caution can be too great to prevent it . In short , he thinketh himself in the Right , grounding his Opinions upon that Truth , which equally hateth to be under the oppression of wrangling Sophi●●r● of one side , or the short Dictates of mistaken Authority on the other . Our Trimmer adoreth the Goddess Truth , tho in all Ages She hath been scurvily used , as well as those that worshipped her . It is of late become such a reigning Vertue , that Mankind seemeth to be agreed , to commend and avoid it , yet the want of practice which repealeth all other Laws , hath no influence upon the Law of Truth , because it hath a r●●t in Heaven , and an intrinsick value in it self that can never be impared . She sheweth her greatness in this , that her Enemies even when they are succesful , are ashamed to own it . Nothing but powerful Truth hath the Prerogative of Triumphing not only ●ver Victory , but in spite of it , and to put conquest it self out of countenance : she may be kept under and suppressed , but her Dignity still remaineth with her even when she is in chains . False-hood with all its impudence hath not enough to speak ill of her before her face ; such Majesty she carrieth about her , that her most prosperous Enemies are fain to whisper their Treason ; All the power on Earth can never extinguish her , she hath lived in all Ages , and let the mistakes of prevailing Authority christen any opposition to it with what name they please , make it not only an ugly and unmannerly thing to profess it , she hath lived so still very retiredly indeed ; nay , sometimes so buried , that only some few of the more discerning part of Mankind could have a glimpse of her : With all she hath Eternity in her , she knoweth not how to die , and from the darkest clouds that can shade or cover her , she breaket out from time to time with triumph for her Friends , and terror to her Enemies . Our Trimmer therefore inspired by this Divine Vertue , thinketh fit to conclude with these Assertions , That our Clymat is a Trimmer between that part of the World where Men are roasted , and the other where they are frozen : That our Church is a Trimmer between the phrenzie of Phanatick Visions , and the Lethargick ignorance of Popish dreams . That Our Laws are Trimmers between the Excesses of unbounded power , and the Extravagance of Liberty not enough restrained . That true Vertue hath ever been thought a Trimmer , and to have its dwelling in the midle between the two Extremes ; That even GOD Almighty Himself is divided between his two great Attributes , His Mercy , and His Justice . In such Company Our Trimmer is not ashamed of his name , and wilingly leaveth to the bold Champions of either Extremes , the Honour of contending with no less Adversaries than NATURE , RELIGION , LIBERTY , PRUDENCE , HUMANITY , and Common-Sense . FINIS . INTELLIGENT READER , If this be pleasant to thy Taste , Expect two such Dishes from the said Author ; viz. REASONS against Repealling the Acts of Parliament concerning the TEST . The other , A Letter to a Dissenter , &c.